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?

Marking my place

Today's todos

Up, dressed to slippers
Vac again ! ( dog is losing hair making extra unwanted rugs on top of all floors)
Shine sink
15 mins bag
15 mins vac car ( I love my dog but oooh !)
Tidy top of drawers in bedroom

Then for the good bits- go out :)

1. to take old films to be processed ( found them yesterday among computer stuff and am intrigued to know what's on them).

2. to buy boxes to store dvds (and have a mosy around the shops after :) )

Good morning! Hoping the friendly chat here keeps me on track better than in the past! I found it amazing yesterday how having typed out that list of To Dos stayed in my head all day so I didn't get too far off track ??

Today:
So far I have emptied the dishwasher and shone my 2 sinks.

Next:
Get dressed
Decide what's for dinner and get something out of freezer if necessary
Empty horse trailer - find places to store all now un-needed equipment (have just moved DD's pony to full livery from DIY - utter bliss!)
Receive Tesco delivery
Take DD2 swimming
Take DD1 to stables

If possible:
Continue updating financial records
At least look at the sheet of recommended changes to my dissertation proposal and start thinking about them.
Menu plan

Right enough of this lounging around!
Will start properly on Monday as DH back to work
Using kitchen timer for 15 minute bursts with all the boring chores
Dishwasher
Washing
Floor
Surfaces and sink
Bin, recycling and compost
Bathrooms
Paperwork
And repeat!!!
Cheer me on please

Starting in earnest on Monday

Every morning I make sure the living room is tidy and the kitchen work tops are wiped and it's tidy. Also make my bed and make sure the bathroom and bedroom are tidy. Takes less than 10 mins and is done by 9am (in the week)

So I've done that

DH is sorting through some paperwork

I want both of us to spend 30 mins sorting the garage, still need to wipe down the tops of wardrobes and at some point DH will clean the bathroom and toilet (that might be tomorrow)

Erm what else???

Nothing...I am basically very lazy

Wow bitchy that round up was seriously impressive. If you can manage that, the rest of the stuff on your to do list'll be a doddle

Today's another lazy one. Sink has been shined, washing machine is on, recycling is in the bin. I'm not dressed but I have a long bath to look forward to first.

I also need to call my grandad, call my mum and make a start on some coursework. Oh and I'm doing the January Cure and the task on that is to clean all of the floors - my absolute least favourite task ever. Hoovering is DPs job but he has flu and the floors actually do need doing so looks like I'll be doing them too

Did just over an hour in kitchen and it's made a big difference
I find 15 mins really good
Try to leave other jobs and Mumsnet etc and concentrate on one thing

I have de-cheerioed the sink and got it shiny. Some kitchen work top is visible.
After this rest, I'll be relocating objects cleared out of the gym back to their homes.

The house was quite tidy three weeks ago for a party, but some of the deeper parts needed a serious sorting, and while that's being tackled, the routine stuff like the kitchen and lounge have been suffering.

There's my timer, time to sort the rammel!

Job done! It was mostly for ond room, so less traipsing the house than I feared.

very slow start to the day, slept until 12:30pm. Very much needed but still not feeling 80% yet though. Having flicked through the thread and eaten breakfast it is looking like a nap is needed. You are all working hard and productively, keep it up.

We have been extremely productive today and the house looks much better for it.
Ta da
Conservatory decluttered (5 black bags!)
Furniture in conservatory rearranged
Junk drawer dejunked (1 black bag)
Paperwork decluttered (1black bag)
Dc room decluttered
Living room decobwebbed
Living room dusted
Downstairs, stairs and dc room hoovered
Dog bedding washed
Candles on to remove any doggy odours

Still to do
Bathroom to clean
Tidy, dust and hoover

Dsil and family will be arriving shortly so I am aiming to get this completed before they arrive.

Thanks for the roundup, Bitchy.

I had all sorts planned for this weekend, but so far not much has been done.

Ta das

• Dropped off a large bag of DVDs at the charity shop.
• Put the washing machine on

Aaaaand that's it. Going to have lunch, and then:

• Unstack the dishwasher
• Quick pick up in the living room
• Quick kitchen tidy
• Put the clean washing away
• Sort laundry and put on another wash
• Long hot bath
• 15 minute declutter under the stairs

Steady day so far here:

Tada:
Dishwasher emptied
Bedding washed (one lot still drying)
Excess beer relocated to shed (rather than the kitchen floor).
Meters read and updated online
Shopping ordered for delivery tomorrow.
Bags of 'stuff' from yesterday's clear up taken to charity shop
Ds has had photos taken (booth thing) for Rugby Clubemberahip stuff.

To do:
Ds to do 1 x lot of homework
Ds to vac his room
Dh to vac sitting room
Dinner to cook
Party to attend

Phew - hope everyone is having a lovely Saturday.

I will not fall off the flying thread this month...repeat as nauseum.

Afternoon all. Lots of decluttering going on here, too much to put on a ta da list safe to say have been to skip lots.

To do:-
Food shop
Pick dd up from stbxh
Pick ds friend up for sleepover
Cook tea
Clear up from tea
Possibly some school work.

Back later.

Hmm, thought I posted last night but it doesn't seem to have worked. Still at FIL's so no flying, but lots of food and silly games instead...

anyone?

Ta for the tea Blue. Enjoyed reading the posts from all you industrious flyers while having it.

Tadas
Vaccumed
Shone sink
15 mins bag sorted
Top of drawers in bedroom tidied

Todos

• 15 mins vac car- will have to do it tomorrow . I've run out of time but have been working well so that's that.

-take old films to be processed. No time left so I'll have to look when I can do this.

• buy boxes to store dvds (and have a mosy around the shops ) ... going, going , gone !

Wing flaps to all you lovely fledglings, thanks for Blue.

Bitchy - that is one mega round up! And therefore should be added to your ta da list!

Mercury and Ellie sounds like you are on a roll,
Crikey and Bugrit you sound like you both have the bit between the teeth too.

My ta dahs for today:
Cats fed and litter boxes dealt with
DS taken to a lovely play date
Beds made
Wash on and now hung up drying
Clean laundry folded and put away
Dishwasher on
All Christmas decs down, neatly packed away and waiting to go to loft
Sitting room layout returned to normal now the sodding tree has come down

To do:
MN
Tidy kitchen
Hoover sitting room
15 minutes Declutter in dining room
Get sewing machine out to repair some clothing

Catch you all again later :)

Afternoon everyone, thanks for fab round up Bitchy.

Having a lazily productive day. Went to town and sorted car issues. Then got SD cards for the camera and stuff to finish dcs rooms. Dh now taking stuff to charity shops....

Ta das
Cleared kitchen
Sorted brio
Rehomed games
Cleared living room
Rebooted laundry
Cleaned cats areas

To dos
Find tablet case
Put lamp up
Find boxes for craft area
Take decs down... Still... Dh not keen on Christmas being over!!

So, off to try and look busy!!!!

Calling quits on today early. Here are the links for Sunday

Sunday is renew your spirit day this means do something for YOU.

Babystep 4 - post it notes This is a controversial one and some of us don't understand why you would want to add to the clutter, others fear concerns over their sanity. You will have to consider if this would work for you, but if it wont just keep doing what you have done - sink and shoes...

No missions, no zones but here is your launch pad

Not a lot of Flying today. Friend has only just left, so it has been a nice, sociable day, but not very productive for Flying. Am running out of clean clothes because it's so long since I did any washing .

Hi all,

Special waves to Ellie and Toffee

Ta Da for today:
Tree cleared away (well put in a box for DH to put away in storage space)
Good old dust and clear of front room
Washing and drying done.
Study done ad nauseum. First exam on Thursday....eeeeeek
Shopping done

Now for an evening of darts. Everyone welcome to come and sing along with me......."Stand up if you love the darts"....repeated about a million times with no tune whatsoever. It is so original!!!

Evening of darts planned here too, just need friend to text me her address as I've forgotten it since I last visited.

Don't get me started on my love of darts whoknows and pa. You know it is my favourite sport.

Evening everyone

Today hasn't really gone to plan as wanted to get the house back in some sort of order whilst dd was at her dad's. I did manage to get dressed to shoes, shine sink and have a look round the Flylady website as I was supposed to as far as flying is concerned up to day 3 - but other than that I went to zumba, went shopping and had my nails done

However after reading how much everyone else has managed to get done today you gave inspired me to at least try and get the kitchen sorted if nothing else today, will set the timer for 45 minutes and see how much I can get done and report back...

Ashamed to admit I have never watched darts, I now fear I may be missing out.

My house is lovely and tidy and clean. It makes me wonder why I let it get so out of control all the time.

Dp is out this evening so once I have got the dc in to bed I plan on catching up with Eastenders, sort some resources for next week and then go to bed early with a book.

Have a lovely evening fledglings.