Bitchy takes on the January Fledgling Thread. Buckle in and enjoy the ride...

[BitchyTakesOnManagement]

Ok. Welcome to the January Fledglings thread. Before we get started we have Some important notices

1. The fledglings are a long running thread, We are might seem clicky but that is what happens when some of us have been on the same thread for up to 5 years
2. We are rather partial to new blood Pull up a seat in the naughty corner
3. Don't assume you can march in and impose your way. We follow the fly lady way and we adapt it to suit our lives and needs. You are welcome to come join us for support and chat, don't assume you know best.
4. There is more to us than cleaning. If you want to be obsessive about cleaning you will find us and and our interpretation of fly lady frustrating. You might be happier else where.

Right, as harsh as it might seem, it is important to get that out of the way as we expect this January thread to be busier with newbies and there has been problems in the past.

So the fly lady system there are rules and we have adaptations.

1. NO perfectionism!!!
2. Something is better than nothing and sometimes good enough really is good enough.

3.This is not about the housework, it is about having more time to do fun stuff. Don't ever feel guilty about doing stuff with the kids over doing the housework. The kids are more important.

And the practical adaptations. We have discussed the Marie Kondo book and the approaches within on previous threads. We are all agree two things: the author does not have kids and that the principles are very good for decluttering and that they can be used to in conjunction with the fly lady system (Marie Kondo to get in control, and fly lady to stay in control). As for the fly lady system there are some of the babysteps and things that are advised that are either "huh, why?" or just don't fit in with the household. We advise a pinch of salt and discretion with a dash of reality thrown in. E.g. if you are a no shoes household then clearly the wearing shoes in the house part of babystep 2 is going to make you go This is where adaptations come in and if past threads are to be gone on this will be discussed and there are various takes on it as and when they arise.

Also for the over enthusiastic newbies to the fly lady site and system everything you need will be posted here in the form of links. There are 3 levels:
Newbie: babysteps - get into these habbit
student: Missions and babysteps once the habits are habit the missions are a piece of cake.
Expert: deep cleaning, missions and babysteps - forget this if you have clutter, seriously.
Oh and for the love of all sanity do not subscribe to the email alerts. Seriously. Just don't.

Jump on board, buckle in and lets kick the butt of January.
Bitchy special brew on the naughty corner bar, natch
do we warn the newbies about the special brew or let them find out for themselves?

Sorry about the late links I accidentally locked myself out of mn but password remembered and no harm done.

It is a new week and scarily we are nearly at the end of January. Not sure about you but i had a list of things in my mind i wanted to achieve and i have no done so. Mind you the list was unrealistic and i have achieve some things, just not everything. Anyway I digress the links for Monday

zone 5 start by spending 15mins in this zone decluttering

missions

babystep just to remind you no perfectionism and you are never behind just jump in and keep moving forwards.

monday is home bleurgh

kids challenge

launch pad

I need a list:
put a load of washing on before work
lunch and letters for ds
pack bag for work - make sure have paperwork needed
shower and up
work
sort out training stuff
empty car
finish off a few bits so they can be dropped off
put on another load of washing
Training
Chill out with a craft project
Early night.

Seems like a cunning plan for a Monday to me. Not sure how much of it will happen or if it will work but seems realistically achievable and like a cunning plan.

Is it just me or are mondays just urgh?

Ta da
put a load of washing on before work
lunch and letters for ds
pack pe kit for ds
pack bag for work - make sure have paperwork needed
shower and up
work heading there now
sort out training stuff
empty car
finish off a few bits so they can be dropped off
put on another load of washing
Training
Chill out with a craft project
Early night.

this morning I have an enormous housework TODO list.
so far I have

put out food recycling
and decluttered some newspapers
made ds2 have a bath
sent two children to school bright and early including breakfast
and put some laundry upstairs

pathetic! I have also just reset some parental controls on the computer and found out on google maps how to get somewhere next weekend. You really have to think outside the box on google maps don't you if you are not a driver....Keep finding very circuitous and more convenient ways to get places on public transport than they first suggest.

Maths this morning with ds2. Although I need to clear the kitchen table first Once again I was up far too early for my own sanity and to bed far too late (watched Mr Selfridge new series - the plot clues really hit you like meteorites don't they - not a very subtle script - but ds2 likes watching it with me)

Yes to Urgh Monday here Bitchy. The DCs argued from the minute they woke up to the minute they walked out the door today, which meant they were very slow getting ready, we've had a couple of really good weeks so that was a shame, I ended up raising my voice rather a lot in order to get them moving and they have got a screen ban until after dinner tonight (they usually get half an hour or so of screen time after school).

Flying wise, quite a lot done yesterday, 6 loads of washing, DCs beds changed, argument with DD about getting rid of some stuff (cue much wailing of "my heart will break" and a very small pile of stuff reluctantly given up). Did also dispose of various shoeboxes etc that have been cluttering their room, sorted out all their CDs and I think I will have quite a lot of stuff for the charity shop tomorrow. Oh and a really thorough clean of the bathroom, all shelves cleaned, insides of cabinets decluttered and wiped down etc too.

No spoilers on Mr Selfridge please Swan I recorded it last night but having watched it yet. Is the new serious enjoyable, even if not subtle?

Ta das
Stripped, washed and changed bed
Washing up
Dressed
Bathroom swish and swipe (or whatever it is called)
ESCAL exercise produced for today

To do
Waiting for second load of washing to finish so that I can turn off power and replace two light switches and install a new light fitting
Wash, hoover and dust car
Request prescriptions
Cheque to post office
Hoover and wash kitchen floor

DP is off work from tomorrow for the rest of the week so we are hoping to maybe get away for a couple of days. He's knackered though so needs Tuesday to recover and then we'll see how we go.

Good luck tomorrow with your scans Saymwa, I hope that you aren't too stressed out waiting.

Morning all

Ta da:
Morning routine
Visit back to doctor (slightly embarrassing as I sobbed all over her, but reasonably useful)

To do:
Got to do the mission in the next hour as the house is child free and it will involve getting rid of a tonne of children's magazines off the shelf that they won't even realise are missing, but wouldn't let me throw away if they were here
Going to try and do some general hoovering later
Usual routines

Not a great week for it last week. We went out on the Tuesday evening, so I didn't get on top of things prior to my 3 work days. We've had some catch up over the weekend, and the key thing is that since New Year, we haven't let things slide until it's a disaster zone. DH tackled the lounge yesterday while the DCs and I excavated some of the playroom floor. The kitchen has come dangerously close to looking like a food preparation zone.

Tried something different this morning, "tabata tidying". I set up my tabata timing app to 4 mins tidying, and 40 seconds "rest" to swap rooms and have done a good refresh of the upstairs with it. Much more effective than my usual dripping around! I think its in the spirit of Fly Lady. I'm not really following her routines, but it is motivating me to maintain better than usual. Because we did a big blitz for DS1's birthday in December, then some deeper sorting over new year, it is more managing and keeping it livable than trying to get on top of it. Except the kitchen which is only ever 24 hours away from the gates of Hell.

Just a quick check in here. I seem to forget all about routines or flying over the weekend - must get a grip on that as that's when I've got more time to actually get things done. Instead I think, "Great, hours and hours to while away on FB" and don't achieve much useful.

Hi to all. Thinking of you Saymwa - having had adverse scan results in the past I know how scary and stressful it all is.

Ta da
put a load of washing on
lunch and letters for ds
pack pe kit for ds
pack bag for work - make sure have paperwork needed
shower and up
work
sort out training stuff
empty car *5mins decluttering done
finish off a few bits can't drop off today as timings don't work - 10mins done another 20 to do.
put on another load of washing
Training
Chill out with a craft project
Early night.
--ironing

Hi all

Hear hear to urgh Mondays! It barely got light here today, inside and out.

DD was off school (teaching day) so not a lot of Flying done. She and I went to see a man about a horse, in miserable weather, which turned out to be a complete waste of time in every respect as poor beast wasn't remotely as described, wouldn't stand to be mounted, and, as it turned out, wasn't even sound .

We then had lunch out and picked up some art materials for a 'carnaval' project, and we were going to do some other fun things but, predictably, despite having enouraged/cajoled/warned/egged her on/nagged etc several times on Sat & Sun, plus dh taking her to office for a couple of hrs so she could work on the white board etc etc, dd hadn't finished all of her hwk (having had a full free weekend to complete it) so despite huge protests, I made her come home and finish it (the deal was it all all had to be completed before we 'had fun'). Felt horrible. And all rather stressful. But equally felt had to follow through (particularly as word from school is that she isn't applying herself enough atm.) Wasn't much fun tbh and she now resents me horribly for it.

Thankfully, dh has very kindly (and heroically given his current work load) taken her to ballet tonight, so I am sitting here Mumsnetting for 30 mins while Jamie's tomato sauce simmers, and am indulging in an early (1 hr ahead here!!)

[Pours glasses of out for all fledglings who wish to partake ...and fruit juices/elderflower cordial cocktails for those who do not wish to imbibe/or who are breast-feeding]

Bitchy if it's any consolation, I had a huge list of things that I wanted to achieve in January, and I have only just got to the point where I am beginning to start them now. I always underestimate how much the Christmas period disrupts things.

**
Incidentally, I know I offered to run the thread in February, but would it be OK if I took on March instead? There's just a lot of rl stuff going on here atm (fil, secondary school application, various other "ishews") that needs attending to (some of which may require travel). Any kind person willing to do Feb?

**

Well done for getting back to doc Whispers!

MrsMook thanks for tabata tip - (never heard of it!) will investigate! And well done for not letting things slide! (SC looks shifty )

Will be thinking of you tomorrow Saymwa; good luck at the hospital.

Hope you get away and have a lovely time Dogsbum!

Oh dear @ hearts "broken" over decluttering Whoknows and congrats re extremely productive Sun.

And well done wrt your productive Sun too Greymalkin Absolutely love Wolf Hall (the book) - one of my all time favourites - read it at least four times - although enjoyed 1st episode of TV series too!!

Hope your ds2 feels better soon Blue

NOT pathetic at all Swan! That's a very productive morning!

Ellie thinking of you and hope things are improving a bit for your dd x

Engels and Castle if you happen to be lurkin' while feeding, hope you are both taking it steady and enjoying your little 'uns!!

Big feathery waves to Bless and everyone I've missed!!

[SC goes off in search of more prior to dd's rtn!!]

Oh yes.. Flying ...

Ta da:
morning routine inc wm, dw, rabbits, s&s, dining room table hot spot
folded towels
paired yet more socks
washed uniform jumpers and sports kit
washed grey pinafores
made pizza dough
trip out to countryside
lunch out with dd
bought craft materials
hwk supervision
long telephone conversations with ds1 & ds2
ballet bun etc + last of 'not party' invites

To do:
recycling and ordinary rubbish
set machines for morning

Enjoy your evenings everyone!

oh dear Whoknows that sounds like my children (the arguing first thing I mean) however we have outwitted it by everyone getting up at different times - and a decent interval between each child surfacing. Slightly odd really - like a factory production line here in the morning. Sometimes ds2 to my rage gets up as ds1 is just about to leave the house which always means insults start flying. Today's insult was "moustache boy" (that was ds1 to ds2 - presumably ds1 is "moustache man" ) I was trying to explain to them that the morning starts with a gentle hello not an insult but they seem like irritable zombies when challenged on this.

I've had a rather relaxing day without dh hanging over the home edding and rushing around being efficient in the background . Ds2 and I started work very late - did a bit of grammar, a bit of Moby Dick, tied in some Sinbad the Sailor, looked rather a lot at the webcam on Seefeld and snowreports read all the hilarious mistranslations of German reviews on Trip Advisor for our hotel (which I probably should have read before I booked it One was "the staff were cooked on a stove at breakfast "

Fed children after school - ds1 blackpuddings and kiwi fruit dd pasta with tomato sauce

After a big row with dd yesterday over money (she wants it) she is being very nice and grownup today after we set some boundaries on that. Does every 13 year old require an I-pad? I think not. Apparently there is not enough memory in a phone and the music isn't free. When was music ever free in our youth - we had to pay for it didn't we?

SC Think you were right, if only for peace of mind to send her back. The rows would have been worse later. Isn't it great that the ballet is going well though?

Swan glad to hear you have had a slightly less pressured day than usual (didn't read as altogether "relaxing" if you ask me!!) and arf at cannabalistic hotel

And yes it is great that ballet is going so well. She loves it!! She missed four consecutive sessions recently though (owing to flu) so has a bit of catching up to do! And sadly has unfortunate clash with the weekend of this year's grand show and her very last primary school summerl fete, but hopefully something can be worked out.

Oh and I've just realised why dh was so keen to do ballet run duty. He has just informed me that is off out for a business dinner tonight and will be travelling again from Wed onwards

Do you reckon I could trademark tabata tidying? I've got the app for exercise, but thought I'd try it for something different.

Ta da
put a load of washing on
lunch and letters for ds
pack pe kit for ds
pack bag for work - make sure have paperwork needed
shower and up
work
sort out training stuff
empty car 5mins decluttering done
finish off a few bits can't drop off today as timings don't work - 10mins done another 20 to do.
put on another load of washing
Training
Chill out with a craft project got to play the just bloody go to bed game with ds instead
Early night.
ironing

Also the problem with melting the hand warmers is that it is not so easy to tuck a hot water bottle under a bra strap for soothing a sore shoulder. :(

Anyhoos small matter of the links...

missions

Tuesday is planning day

baby step 27 Menu planning. Another one that is really useful. Plan the week's food before you do the food shop. Purrrfect.

launch pad

Phew - they are all in bed their bedrooms that's all I can say. Ds1 has unfortunately decided he has some homework left to do.

Ds1 went to Confirmation class and enjoyed it He also did some more violin practice, which is unheard of.

I might put the dw on, luckily uniform is ready for tomorrow.

I cleaned the upstairs bathroom too. Earlier. Tidied hall up and put shoes and coats away.

I threw away a big sack of newsprint. Put out milkbottles, unloaded and reloaded dw. Did some grocery shopping. Cooked supper (fishfingers and raw veg) Watched a news programme with ds2.

Hope ds went to bed Bitchy.

Wow, lots of good 'ta da' lists on here today.

Love the German mistranslation about your hotel, Swan

Just posting a quick update so I don't fall off the thread.

ta da

Tea in bed brought to me by DH (good start )
Dressed to slippers
Swished and swiped
Breakfast with DS2
Put rubbish out
Emptied and cleaned one of the litter trays
Put washing on
Emptied and reloaded d/w
Hoovered and mopped kitchen floor
B/fast for DS1
Home ed with DS2, Part 1: read Aladdin and persuaded reluctant DS2 to write about it; revised Roman numerals and did some puzzles to test knowledge; addition practice; ConquerMaths
Lunch break - supplied food to both DC; fed cats
Reminded DS1 to log on for his online Maths
Home ed, Part 2: studied rainforests as habitats in preparation for a trip on Thursday (not to an actual rainforest, sadly)
Washing up
Put wet clothes on radiators to dry
Put yesterday's washing away
Decluttered, wiped down and tidied bathroom shelves
Slightly floored by DS1 asking me a question about secularism
Thought about taking DS2 for a long walk, but...
Had a nap instead whilst DS2 read his new book ('Silverfin' by Charlie Higson)
Dinner

Prep for tomorrow

Am fighting off a virus at the moment, I think, as I have a cold sore trying to come through and keep feeling overwhelmed with tiredness. Luckily, I have Aciclovir tabs to stop the cold sore appearing.

Off to do some prep for tomorrow. Busy day ahead.

Night, fledglings.

ta da
learn how to knit two new stitches.

Knitting has never been a strong point but as i have made loads of blankets for other people I decided to use the money dsis gave me for my birthday last year to acquire some wool and knit a sampler throw. So far i have only used combinations of knit and pearl to create effects but I have every intention of learning how to cable amongst other stitches. Working only in one colour also means creativity of colour to make up the sampler is not possible so this is really going to be able skills development.

again

Snowing heavily here this morning, so I've just spent half an hour clearing two long paths (our and elderly neighbours') plus area in front of garage and pavement. We share parts of our path with three other sets of neighbours, but only one of them ever does any snow shovelling. Still, we all have our different strengths; our immediate neighbours may not do very much snow-related, but are very good at having us over for food and lots of drink. So that's my exercise for the day - thought I'd better not risk cycling as DS came off his bike on the way to school yesterday, and the road looked far more slippery today. Everyone very pleased about the snow as it's just in time for the semester holidays next month, when half the country goes skiing. It does look very pretty, but I've usually had enough after a few days.

Well done on the new stitches, Bitchy. I can only do knit and purl, and had to relearn even those for the blanket projects several years ago.

Hope you manage to fight off the virus, Toffee.

SC It's horrible having to nag, isn't it? You just have to grit your teeth sometimes and tell yourself it's for their own good. DD1 very often leaves her homework until the last minute; I sometimes wonder how she would do if left to her own devices, but DH is very much on her case (too much sometimes, IMO) - I'm very little help with much except English now.

To do this morning:

Morning routine
Decluttering
Look into flights for weekend trip back to UK
Finish job application for long-term project
Try to get to grips with translation software
January invoices
Order contact lenses
Finish letter
Plan Thursday's English lesson
Menu plan/shopping list

Morning fledglings

I am really struggling to get going today. My only chance is the power of 3. So.....

Put slippers on
Pack gym kit
Get sausages out of freezer

(I didn't fall off the thread, oh no not me )

Hi PMPY, any thoughts ofthe gym make me want to retreat to the duvet...

More ta dahs
Made three beds
Hung up finished wash load
Put on another wash
Got me and DS dressed
Made packed lunch and packed day back for zoo trip.

Laters

Tbf Linzer my sampler blanket currently has blocks of seed, stocking and basket weave stitches. Which are all just combinations of stitch and pearl I have never followed a pattern so one of the things I wanted to learn was how to follow a pattern. You tube has some great tutorials for learning new stitches but there are also some rubbish ones too I am hoping that each block will be a completely different stitch so will be making use of you tube and ravelry when i can remember my log in and pass word

Me too Grey, but I haven't been since Christmas and had to lie down to do my jeans up this morning

Am waiting for carpet fitters who are late (or I have forgotten when they're supposed to be coming!)

Next 3....
Room rescue living room
Pay Hmrc
Update finances