March of the Fledglings 2015

[Slingclutter]

Heartfelt thanks to Whoknows for running the February thread during such a stressful time for her (and to Toffee for helping out.)

If you are strugging with C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome) and S.T.U.F.F. (something that undermines family fun) then this is the thread where we (loosely) follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own, unique, relaxed style) with lots of chat, support and and along the way.

Flylady link link here.

This little-and-often system is designed so that you can follow a series of steps and routines each day (which gradually become second nature) in zones of the house which are designated weekly; defining and minimising housework, which in theory should leave you with loads more time to do something more interesting instead!

At the same time it is intended to reduce that panicky "rabbit in headlights" feeling when you are overwhelmed and everything needs doing all at once. No problem if you miss a day or two; just jump right back in and it will all come around next month again!

It's up to you, but we advise not signing up to receive the Flylady e-mails as you will be inundated! All the information you need will be linked here on a daily basis.

From the first of the month, we will be following Flylady's steps and routines using a three-pronged approach (dependent on the stage everyone is at):

1. start or repeat baby steps

1. repeat baby steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone

1. reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.

[And if you are really enthusiastic and have finished decluttering - you can go on to detailed deep cleaning in each zone.]

More info here on getting started and on Flying lessons. Here's the launch pad for more experienced fledglings.

Don't be put off by the purple prose and barf-tastic language of the site - the underlying system is sound!

Three key points to keep in mind:
(1)No perfectionism allowed (this is harder than you might imagine!)
(2)You are never behind; just start where you are and anything you do is progress.
(3) It didn't get into a mess overnight - it won't get tidy over night - accept it will take time to get on top of things and you will be happier.

If you are new; then trying to spend 15 mins decluttering daily and doing the babysteps is a good way to start. Some of us (mentioning no names!) can have scary looking lists but don't let that worry you! Do what you can, anything is better then nothing, and don't judge yourself against others.

If all else fails, a brew + the power of three technique + a bit of support on here can work wonders!

Oh and don’t let it put you off if we appear a bit cliquey – some of us have been on here for years – but all lurkers, intermittent returnees, regulars, oldies and newcomers very, very welcome!

Morning fledglings

For two days in a row now DS hasn't woken up until 6:20 am which is a massive lie in! Tis lovely.

Yes Fizrim yesterday was my last day at work, there were (happy) tears, as it was a wonderful team to have been a part of.

Thanks for the info SC, I will take a proper look when DS has his nap later.

Waves to Moonwatching and welcome back to the thread. I'm not sure I would order the Flylady office in a bag, I have the Organised Mum family diary, stickers and zip around cover which is much the same thing, and no doubt a lot cheaper! Will see if I can do a link

Crosses fingers....

Organised Mum Life Book

OMG!! It worked! There's hope for me yet.

Plan for the day:
Sort out some washing
Fold and put away dry laundry
Change all bed linen
Hoover lounge (a la fat fairy mission)
Online banking
Send some grumpy customer-service type emails
Wrap up ebay parcels
Trip to town:
*pay in cheques
*ebay parcels to post office

Ta da
stand upright

to do
open eyes
lunch for ds
ds to school
go back to bed

oh an clothes, being dressed for the school run is apparently a thing.

Afternoon all! Tried to post the following about three times this morning but computer so old and cranky it wouldn't let me! Having difficulties scrolling up and down!

(Btw, while I think about it, my computer is going in to 'hospital' tomorrow to see if it is worth soldiering on with or not, so I won't be on-line to help Dogsbum with new thread as I said I would be. So hopefully others will assist where necessary. Bitchy will you be around pls? Sorry to only mention this now but arranged by dh without my knowledge yesterday.)

Good luck Dogsbum!! You'll be great!! And of course you can be trusted!!! Hope my "instructions" were'nt too befuddling And if it's any consolation, I tend to get more Flying done in the months when I am posting the links! (Not that that, with my low standards, is a lot, but better than nowt ifyswim.) Oh and at your 'black' thumb!! (Sure it just needs a bit of practice, that's all!)

Very wild and windy here! Sunshine one minute, strong wind and rain the next!

Bit of a disaster here this morning. DD ill again. Strange because although tired yesterday, she managed school and ballet fine, ate well, went to bed on time etc. She has high temp, stomach ache, swollen glands, and a raging cold. School are going to be livid (end of term exams are over and it is mainly 'games' and religious services this week but even so). We've told her "no sleepovers" next term until she can physically handle them better (although I hate doing this as they are such rare events as it is). Waiting impatiently for blood test results now.

In the middle of compiling a briefing note for dh who will now be going alone to previously scheduled meeting with school directrice. Really disappointed I can't be there as I had a "few points" I wanted to put across! Heigh ho!

How are all of you?

Thank you very much for volunteering too Fizrim! Very good of you and much appreciated! Will pencil you in! .

And thanks, yes, the secondary school clearing thing is a bit stressful, but there is nothing we can do now except sit on our hands until end of April and secretly ask my sister to check out uk schools just in case.

Very at the thought of your Easter Farm Trail - sounds absolutely lovely - would give my right arm to go on one of those this holiday. Instead we are heading down to the bright lights and busy roads of Southern France.

Oh and at the thought of Flylady's dh writing a book and flogging it through the website. I wonder what it is called? "Living with purple puddles" , "My life in 31 steps" , "The truth behind the Fly zones"

Whoknows/Moonwatching yy, remember now what it was about the book! Yes, it does explain the whole system better overall!

Whoknows congratulations - seriously - you sound really on top of your housework and home organisation! A testament to all of your hard graft!

Greymalkin I'm so sorry! I managed to miss that it was your last day at work yesterday somehow! Here's a belated piece of to celebrate! (Although it sounds as though you are going to miss it lots) [And whoo hoo to doing your first link!!

Bitchy!!

Dh back for lunch. Had better go! BBL!

Have been reading the discussion about merits of the Flylady book with interest so I may consider buying, will see if I can look at contents on Amazon and assess.

It's wild, wet and windy here too (Yorkshire). It was pretty stormy here last night. I've got a busted windscreen wiper on my car on drivers side that I haven't replace yet so I probably shouldn't drive today with the on/off rain as it is, which is a bit annoying but then again it's also a good excuse to get a bit less done today as I need to buy some more wood before I can proceed with alcove shelves

Right, there has been no sign of Pushme so I assume that it's ok for me to now proceed to baby step one and try to set up a thread for April. So I'm off to try and do that now. I've never set up a thread before so I don't know what is going to happen but I will report back either way, either to say it's done or to ask for help

See you soon I hope.......

Ok, I've created the new thread and I can get on to it but when I try to search for it I can't find it so I'm not sure if other people can get on to it, can someone have a try for me please?

Thread is called: Let April Spring Cleaning with the Fledglings commence (hopefully Dogsbum wont turn it into too much of a shower....)

First issue that I've spotted with the new thread is that the links didn't work so I will have a go at re-posting just the links in a subsequent message. Off to a flying start!.......

I'm sure you'll crack it Dogsbum - once you do, post the link on this thread then we'll all find it

Thanks Grey it didn't dawn on me that posting the link here was the way to make it possible for you to find the new thread..... can you tell I'm new to all this linking malarkey?! .....

Fingers crossed this works....

April Thread

YesSC i will be about to help. and will do so gladly. It has been a bit of a crazy few weeks in a rather burnout kinda of way. Hopefully trying to get back on track over this week, plus with school holidays there is the option for lie ins. Lies ins are good for the night owl

Ta very muchly Bitchy! (We've been told that I will be computer-less for only a day but I'm sceptical!) Hope you can indeed rest up a bit over Easter hols.

Ooooh Dogsbum and Greymalkin sorry to have missed all the excitement!!! (Just been interceding between dh (who has hot-footed it back from school meeting) and a tearful dd who has been told to get her head down work-wise in no uncertain terms. I am acting as mediator and sitting on fence until blood test results here.)

Dogsbum Whhooooo!! Very excited about shiny new thread!! Thank you so much for it and well done for ploughing on and working it all out!! And, and, the first thing you have done brilliantly is included "fledglings" in the thread; which is very important and I completely forgot to mention [sorry] !! We didn't mention it once and we had about 50,000 newcomers all at once (don't get me wrong, we like lots of newcomers to keep the thread fresh, but preferably not all at once)!! Just going over there to park me bop and mucket ...

Thanks everyone for your thoughts on the book. In return... Recently bought Hidden Treasures on Kindle (shame they don't do her book on Kindle). It helped explain a lot, but in a story format. Haven't finished reading it. No fantastic story but very easy read nonetheless. Finding it very sentimental but think I'm in the right mind for it at present and it's really been prompting me to reflect much more on where I am and where I want to be. Quite hard for me to put down actually.

Thanks Grey re organised mum thingy. Looks amazing but not sure it's quite what I'm after. Will keep looking.

Ooo we had that conversation this morning too! SC ds has declared I don't care because i sent him to school despite the fact he felt sick this morning. He was fine at school, which I knew he would be. And an early night is booked for him as he was disturbed by last night's storms. Nothing a good night's sleep won't cure

You have my sympathies then bitchy. I don't know what to think atm tbh. And if blood tests come back negative, I will be even more confused as dd definitely ill this morning. She perked up after several hrs sleep. But then she turned white and seemed very ill again this pm. She is growing like a weed though. To be fair to the school, they are worried that this could be a psycosomatic problem ie lack of confidence = too scared to try hard in case I fail type thing. We shall see ... .

Thanks for book tip Moonwatching! Will investigate!

"psycosomatic problem" i think for ds that this is the most probably cause combined with stupid growth patterns and not great sleep patterns (which are caused by the growth pattern and associated night terrors) bit of a vicious cycle because if she is worrying about not succeeding then putting her under more pressure to succeed is going to cause more worry and problems. It's a tough one isn't it.

SC - that must be so worrying for you. I wish school would stop putting your DD under pressure. I'm quite cross with them for assuming it may be a psychosomatic problem even before the blood-test results come back. When will you hear the test results?

Have had a productive day. Drank coffee to get me through my afternoon slump, rather than flopping down on the bed and sleeping for two hours.

ta da

My turn to make tea and breakfast
Fended off hungry cats and fed them
Checked emails
Texted friend re playdate for DS2
Stripped DS2's bedclothes and put in the wash
Swished and swiped in bathroom
Unloaded and reloaded d/w
Hoovered downstairs
Mopped kitchen floor
Emptied cat litter, cleaned trays, replaced with fresh litter
Put fresh paper down under litter trays
Tidied sitting room ready for DS1's visit from therapist
Ocado delivery -put away shopping
Draped wet bedclothes over radiators because it started raining
Therapy session with DS1; walk round the block
DS1 fell asleep on the sofa after she'd gone and slept till the afternoon, accompanied by sleeping cats
Lunch
Fed cats again
Drank coffee
Took the opportunity to tackle DS1's bedroom
Opened window to let in fresh air
Collected dirty washing
Bagged up all the rubbish in his room
Hoovered throughout, including under bed, in corners, skirting boards, etc
Wiped down all surfaces
Used Magic Eraser to clean doors, walls and bannisters
Remade DS1's bed
Found various old toys that kept DS2 happily occupied whilst I cleaned

DS1 was bewildered to find me up there with DS2, but seems quite happy with the clean room.

Am having the blood tests tomorrow, so no food after 9pm tonight. Just knowing I can't eat is bound to make me hungry. Am wondering if I'm allowed to drink alcohol before 9 as I have my eye on a chilled bottle of Prosecco in the fridge...

YY indeed, in my bk, no less a problem if psychosomatic; but school has all for one, one for all mentality. On the other hand, how do you confront it without forcing the issue a bit? I dunno! Small steps I suppose Dh just (unhelpfully) keeps repeating the phrase "you can say what you like but the evidence is in black and white in front of me" ie test results. (And she hasn't even done that badly given the circs. OK she did disastrously in conjugaison but above 70% in all the others. Yaargh!)

I have been dithering and worrying and stressing today. Not much Flying has been done . Now need to go and (rather belatedly) set a good example ... .

x posts Toffee¨thank you! Hoping test results will arrive before Easter [fingers crossed].

Wow that is some list! You certainly didn't let fatigue hold you back! Arf at your gleeful tackling of your ds1's room!!

How are the kittens doing now btw? I know they were causing you (and ds1) quite a bit of upset at one stage. Are they more settled now?

Good luck with fasting and blood-test tomorrow! It's good you are getting it done. Surely a bit of an excuse to carbo-load during this evening's supper ?? [SC proffers and ]

I tell you, I am gasping for a glass of on Easter Sunday!! Going to give it up again thereafter but having Easter Sunday (and Grand National day) off!!

Sorry - first of those two posts meant for bitchy - just to be clear!

SC

I am not liking the weather atm. Hail. Yes hail. Storms and hail. would it be too much to want to see some spring like weather? seriously. Pretty please?!

We had sunshine, rain, hail and wind here today Bitchy!

Right you lot, signing off this thread now and directing you to the new April thread so kindly (and skilfully) set up by Dogsbum here!!

See you over there!!