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

[Dogsbumhair]

The fledglings is a long running thread based on the Flylady cleaning/tidying principles. Personally I’m a newbie with only a couple of months flying under my belt but some members of the group have been on the thread for a number of years, so the thread is a mixed group of more and less experienced fledglings. I have found myself to be very warmly received as a newbie so please don’t be scared to join the gang.

Flylady link link here.

The system initially seems quite confusing so my advice as a fellow newbie would be to just go with it and accept that you will probably feel a bit confused for the first couple of weeks and then it will start to come together and make more sense.

The basic principles are (very) loosely as follows:

1. No perfectionism allowed (it is your enemy and it is stopping you getting anything done)
2. Little and often is the way to go (your house didn’t get in a mess in a day, it wont get sorted in one)
3. You are never behind, just jump in where you are (We are in a different zone of the house each week and all the house zones come round once a month, so all the tasks will come round again soon)
4. The point of this system is that by doing little and often your life isn’t dominated by housework and you have more time to do the fun things that you’d much prefer to be doing

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.

Later on today I will be posting up the links and information for tomorrow’s tasks

The advice from the wise and experienced members of the group is not to subscribe to the emails, but I have to confess that as a foolish newbie I do receive them I have learnt to ruthlessly bin anything beyond the actual flying tasks though.

Hopefully I haven’t missed anything too important off this introduction, but I’m sure someone more experienced will pop up to supplement this information if I have.

Good luck and happy flying through April!……………..

Oh, that's frustrating about Star Struck, SC. Perhaps she'll forget about it if she is distracted enough? .

Am worried about your chest infection. Sounds as if you should go back to the dr and get checked out again, just in case you need a/biotics. I don't want to scare you, but you don't want it turning into pneumonia.

I'm really glad things are going so well with the new addition to the family. He sounds a lovely dog.

DH has taken the day off work and taken DS2 out for the day. Glorious sunshine here, so I'm glad they are making the most of it. DS1's therapist is here at midday, so I have time to tidy the house before she gets here. DS2 managed to leave a large chocolate stain on the carpet after eating a chocolate croissant yesterday so I need to tackle that with carpet cleaner.

It's so insidious Toffee, honestly, the developers of Star Stable should win some sort of award for hypnotising susceptible horse-mad eleven year old girls; you can design and name your horses, design their tack, your own riding outfit, the stable... the sound effects are amazing, you can hear the horse hooves as you gallop through misty meadows and magical mountains; I would love it if I was eleven!! Just not now during exam time purlease!!!!

And would far rather dd was out in the fresh air doing the real thing tbh, but of course on a computer it is all so very 'easy'. That's my main objection to it really, the child thinks it is receiving all the benefits of riding (albeit virtual) without any of the effort involved. Everything on tap! So when you come to do the real thing, it seems difficult and a lot of hassle (as anything worthwhile is!). Perhaps I'm over-reacting and it is the same as using one's imagination when reading a magical book, but I'm not so sure ... would be interested to know what everyone else thinks??

When I asked dd if she wanted to do something else creative during the Easter break, she always preferred to do something on screen (not Star Stable!) which I didn't let her do of course and we baked and did some sewing, but if everything is all-singing, all-dancing, there on a screen at the touch of a button, why bother to assemble glue or mix batter, or make decisions about yarn or put effort in to anything?? And when they do those things, they are not satisfied, as the results are not as "perfect" as you get on screen, which isn't even a real-life result anyway, it is a fantasy!

What do others think; am I being over-precious about this? I know you do acquire other skills when playing computer games. But I'm very uneasy about them.

[Rant over]

And thanks about the pneumonia concern btw. Dd and dh have had the same thing and they have both recovered, but it's taken ages for the chest infection to go, but they've got there in the end, so hoping this will follow same pattern. Will obviously go to doc if not though, promise !!

Hope your dd1's session goes well today and that your dh and dd2 enjoy their 'boys day out'!! Hope you get some time to yourself to enjoy the glorious weather too Toffee!

Been AWOL for a few days and have got to go out in a minute, so just a few quick thoughts.

Swan - quite right to get a receipt, I posted mine as it would have taken a whole half day to hand deliver but I did it by tracked mail and kep copies of the tracking acknowledgements. Also when I sent anything by email later on I insisted on an email acknowledgement in return. Your use pf the expression "bon viveur" made me smile, haven't heard that for a long time, but it is one of those phrases where there really isn't a proper English equivalent.

Washing machine locations - ours is in the kitchen right by the patio doors, very handy for hanging out the washing or taking it to the tumble dryer which is in a shed, but a long way from our bedrooms.

It's a perfect day here, this is one of my favourite times of year. The garden looks amazing, full of blossom and green shoots, freshly cut lawn and we have tidied away all the crap that accumulated on the patio and lawn over winter (footballs, plant pots etc). Sun is out but not too hot and a lovely breeze.

Off to pilates class now, then an appt with DS' speech therapist, then a bit of shopping, hopefully half an hour at the allotment before school run time.

SC Hope you're feeling better soon. My dcs prefer on screen to other activities, and I've already warned them that during our holiday it will be "wi-fi free". I'm really looking forward to that!

Toffee enjoy the sunshine! Lovely day here today as well, but can't seem to budge dc2 outside. One of the dcs managed to spill some tomato sauce on the carpet the other day (my fault for letting them eat in front of the telly I suppose!), and I've scrubbed it a couple times with no joy. Best of luck on your carpet!

Dogsbum well done on the painting completed! I need to get moving on things here too, but keep getting hit with other things that take priority.

Blue good luck getting the admin stuff done!

Swan best of luck for the EHCP. I need gardeners and a new shed - can you send them my way when they're done?

I've been catching up on admin stuff here too. My front garden is a mess and needs to be cleaned up (what it actually needs are those gardeners to come and rip it all out, put in rock and a fence instead of the bloody hedge, but that's an expense I can't afford at the moment, as the rear garden needs to be done first). My poor neighbours must despair at my shoddy garden.

No SC you do not sound precious. We have similar problems with minecraft and terreria here. There will be a ban, a complete and utter ban if he does not sort his act out. His dad is a bloody enabler too

Physio helped a lot but muscles are twinging back and pain is returning so i suspect another session is going to be needed at some point but it is better that it was so that is a complete bonus. I have a pile of stretches and exercises to do so will see if that helps to settle things down.

ta da
deal with wheezy coughy child
ring doctor
deliver child to school and try to sort out paperwork for meds
collect meds from pharmacy
ring hospital re appt
copy info shoved onto white board calendar
speak to mum
physio stretches

lazy day, until afternoon school run, today as feeling beaten up and drained after a busy weekend. all bets are off at school collection as there is a long to do list like getting ds to the optician and speaking to teachers.

new dishwasher installed. Phew.
Also took ds2 out to Regent's Park meetup - although we didn't stay long because he wanted to see Euston station Then we came full circle home by some other mode of transport...
Read some Dombey to him in the morning and did some spelling
Also forced him to do some art although I think he missed the point of the exercise - basically to him mountains are brown skies are blue and grass is green and woe betide any attempts to introduce concepts of colour variation. We were trying to copy a picture by Moran of Colorado mountains landscape.

Amazing weather - just to step outside and anxiety lifts. However not looking forward to our garden being a dustbowl for next few months as work continues. Luckily one half of it is still fine. For now.

Felt very overwhelmed this morning by house and contents of shed which now litter it Hopefully the dw will improve things. Teenage bedrooms are really horrible places aren't they I think I best just shut the doors and never set foot in them

swept kitchen floor
recycling
rubbish
wiped worktops
found bottom of fridge full of water
bought some sausages on way home from artisan butcher for tomorrow (trying to think ahead to tomorrow what a shock)
loaded dw (joy)
put washing in

work with ds2
went to Park
long long walk with ds2
and lots of sun!

birthday supper for ds1 tonight steak and chips which dh has bought on his way back from dr appt. He has been told he cannot do any "sport" but can mobilize otherwise. I don't think dh has done "sport" for a long time He is relieved that he is allowed to sit on a train for an hour at any rate which was a source of concern with a leg clot. So in slightly less grumpy up in air mood.

SC you do not sound precious. But possibly a lone voice crying out in the wilderness dd is addicted to Netflix episodes. ds2 is addicted to watching Top Gear and random youtube and Ds1 has now gravitated from Glee to the Walking Dead so I've failed miserably to enthuse them with any interest in "outdoors" or real activities. However it sounds as if your dd does plenty of other stuff as well as the Star Stable so she possibly is just using it for downtime which is of course underrated. Downtime doesn't need to be improving.

Thanks all! We had serious wailing and gnashing of teeth about it again this evening and general unfairness of life (I have reinstated total Star Stable ban until end June) but fortunately dog was able to distract by playing with his disgusting fabric ferret!

Perhaps I am being a little harsh but dd just cannot go on it for 10 or even 20 mins of an evening, once she is on it she is hooked for an hour or so; it is like an alcoholic and their first glass of wine leading to the next and the next and so on. I am however, letting her have the odd 20 mins of screen time to watch (approved!) music videos or tv progs and other games that are less addictive to her.

That's a good idea to ban screens for an entire holiday period Seaside! Might try that one! (Or try half a holiday at first!)

Yay to the new dw Swan and congrats on completing another energetic day! And I am sure the considerable hassles involved in landscaping will be all worth it in the end!! To my eyes, any work done or money spent on the garden pays a 1000 times the dividends of work done inside which is probably why I still live in a wreck as it keeps on growing/giving enjoyment whereas interiors are 'perfect' for 6 mths if you are lucky, and then start to go downhill!

So glad to hear your dh has been given the 'all clear' as far as short train trips are concerned anyway! That must be such a relief for him!

Ditto Whoknows our garden looks at its best at this time of year and then deteriorates thereafter. The lilac (one of my favourites) is just about to bloom! Agree, it is perfect weather atm! Enjoy the allotment! Oh yes, and of course forgot to mention why my wm is located where it is; for ease of accessibility to garden for hanging out purposes (but this only really applies to 5 mths of the year).

Hope ds a little less wheezy this evening DEM and that your aches and pains have eased a bit.

Feeling a bit better tonight as managed to remain upright and mobile most of the day. Had horrible coughing fits this morning, but feel considerably better this afternoon. Actually managed to do some washing! So good to have some energy back!

Ta da:
sign and photocopy school report done
stack and run dw done
put washing on and hang out in sunhine (late with this!) done
wipe kitchen surfaces done
stroke rabbits done
stroke dog done
cook something for tonight done
try and tidy boudoir a bit and put ironed clothes away NOPE
hwk supervision done

Also did:
extra washing up by hand
wrote long e-mail to friend who has adopted a rabbit!
investigated daschund harness suppliers
sorted laundry
washed more winter woollies

Really, really, really must tackle bedroom tomorrow. And bumper day for dog too as there is a general strike here - so he will be doing lots of extra walking!

Enjoy your evening everyone!

Sounds like a good compromise SC try to take it easy until you are fully recovered you don't want to relapse

Swan glad things are calming down for you. Good luck with all your teenager wrangling.

Ds had his first epic meltdown of the year. I no longer have a voice. Still a bit tender but still very improved from where i was before the physio. Ds is better asthma wise as he has had his inhaler dose increased for the moment. We are now chilling with a sudko book. Most jobs have been done but too tired to help mum alter a top so will do tomo instead.

T

SC It worked last year. I just told the dcs "oh, man, no wi-fi there, so no point bringing any tech stuff with us." Very little moaning, tbh, as we had loads of things to do outdoors and then the one day it rained we had games and puzzles and books. As the telly was freeview, they didn't clamour to watch much telly either. Very enjoyable.

That is seriously good forward planning Seaside! (Don't think I will be able to get away with that now!)

Sorry to hear about the meltdown DEM but good that your aches and pains and your ds's asthma is better!!

G'night all!

Tomorrow’s links…..

Baby-step no. 22 for Wed 22nd April is here

We are in Zone 4 The Master Bedroom this week: here

If you want to, you can declutter for 15 mins a day in Zone 4!

The detailed cleaning list (if you are at that stage) for Zone 4 is here

Wednesday’s mission is here

The daily focus for Wednesday is: Anti-Procrastination Day

The monthly habit for April is making your bed

For a summary of the above, see the flight plan: here

Happy flying…..

Just popping in to say thank you for all your supportive comments, which are very much appreciated. After the initial shock and worry, I'm feeling more positive now and DD1 is taking it all in her stride; she's getting quite proficient at monitoring her glucose levels and injecting herself with insulin. DH has to work tomorrow and Thursday so I'll be spending all day at the hospital then; I've been there most days anyway, and we've been receiving training from the diabetes nurse and dietician. It's definitely a very steep learning curve but I no longer feel like I'm right at the very bottom of it!

Haven't had a chance to read the thread properly but hope you're feeling better soon SC and DEM - apologies if I've missed any other important news. Will be back to catch up properly as soon as I can.

I feel like I've been busy but not a lot to show for it ta da wise:

Bought a few items online
Bought breakdown cover
Bulb de-clutter (checked all bulbs in house then threw away all the many bulbs that don't relate to any ceiling light or lamp in the house!)
Sand and paint window frame and sill in my study (think it's going to need about 4 coats though sadly)
Adjusted bathroom light after plaster fill, made level, painted round and caulked
Washed and hung out place mats
Tidied away some DIY items in my study
Repair to blind in my study

Steady sorry to hear that you are still so much under the weather, glad you've got dog for company as it sounds miserable.

Steady/Seaside thanks for congrats on finishing painting study, it's good to get it sorted, one less thing to think about. I was worried I would find it a bit depressing having to tone down the colour so much but I actually really like the new shade of yellow, it's a nice warm shade.

Dark sorry to hear that you are still in so much pain

Swan congrats on your new DW

Sounds like everyone has been enjoying great weather, it's lovely hear too although I didn't manage to get out and enjoy it today. Hopefully it will still be nice tomorrow.

I've got a Dr apt tomorrow for a mole that has grown really big during pregnancy and the other day started flaking off and bleeding slightly. Sorry it sounds so gross doesn't it, but it's on my breast so I really hope that they are going to actually do something to get rid of it before Meerkitten arrives because I don't want it getting ragged during breast feeding, sounds like breast feeding can be tough enough without having to worry about getting a manky mole knocked/tugged regularly!

Apologies if this is tmi. Has anyone been through anything similar and know what they do to remove them? I'm hoping they'll just freeze or burn it off at Dr surgery like they do with warts so that I can just move on, but I'm not sure if I'm being overly optimistic about the situation. Any input would be appreciated as I didn't find the NHS website very informative or helpful.

Good to hear from you Linzer and glad to hear that DD is taking it in her stride and already injecting, well done her! Glad that you and DH are feeling more confident about situation now that you are getting the training. I can't imagine what a lot there must be to learn but glad to hear that you are all coping so well. I hope you aren't too worn out with all the travelling to and from the hospital. Take care

All three children are in bed. All screens removed..Ds1's GscE coursework short story is at last finished. I put some dirty plates in the new dw and washed some clothes but otherwise my energies are used up.

I forced ds1 to remake his bed with clean sheets and he meekly obeyed - I think even he was slightly horrified by the pigsty he is living in. Now for once he is reading a book.

Dd has also made an effort to tidy her room slightly... At least her personal grooming is faultless!

SC it is horrifying how much two professional gardeners achieved in one day compared to dh and I not achieving in years on end Next to come out is a large tree..not till next Wed though.

Dogs - I need to do that with lightbulbs, we replaced a few light fittings several years ago and still have a stash of bulbs that are no longer any use to us. I find lightbulb buying a complex and dispiriting experience nowadays, so many different variations, it was so easy in the old days of just bayonet fittings and different wattages. Sorry, don't know anything about mole removal, but good luck with the appointment.

Linzer - glad to hear you sounding so positive, and that DD is taking things in her stride.

DEM - sorry about the meltdown, and that you are in so much discomfort, glad you are getting physio though.

Swan - we are heading towards a new potting shed/greenhouse too, the DCs have a little playhouse which is far too small and falling to pieces, so we are going to replace it with something bigger, DH and his DF are going to lay the slab and then we'll get it assembled by the delivery people. Not looking forward to all the muttering and no doubt wrecking of the garden that will occur, but am looking forward to the finished shed.

Well, I didn't get to the allotment, ended up coming home after shopping as I needed the loo, then got waylaid by a flurry of emails and little tidying up jobs. A nice evening though, I've bought something on the say-so of MN, a Cobb oven, which is a portable charcoal grill (cross between a camping stove and a BBQ), so we had dinner from that tonight, it was very relaxing cooking at the patio table and both DCs really enjoyed the food, and so did we.

I've officially started work for DH's business now as well as my own job, but haven't done any work yet (they've ordered me a laptop but it hasn't come). So, in order to fit it in, the DCs will be going to breakfast club 3x/week, which starts tomorrow and means a bit of an upheaval in the morning routines .

Linzer dd sounds brilliant. Children/teenagers are very good at adjusting - I think it is much harder for us as parents because we see the long view - but it is a blessing for us that they can take difficult things in their stride. So much day to day stress for you in the interim of getting to grips with it all though - so glad that at least you don't have to feel bad for dd herself.

Whoknows I know it is so easy with the bulbs to not realise that you've been hanging on to stuff for years that is totally defunct, it took ages to check every fitting and go through two boxes of bulbs. I totally know what you mean about buying bulbs as well, it's hell to find what you want even if you know exactly what you want.

Dogsbum I've had three moles removed now (one in the UK, two here) - not sure if the removal depends on the type of mole, but all of mine were cut out under local anaesthetic and I then had stitches for about a week afterwards. It was absolutely fine (although the four injections I had to have in my finger were a bit painful!), but I had to avoid getting the area wet while I still had the stitches in - you can get "shower plasters" (not sure if that's the correct term in the UK) to cover the area, though. I'm sure you'll be fine; I would much rather have another mole removed than have anything done at the dentist!

Good morning all!

Just wanted to say to Linzer that it is lovely to hear your update. Good that you are feeling a little more reassured. Your dd is obviously being a complete star! Good to know that all the training is progressing well; although I am sure there is huge amounts to take in. Good luck today and tomorrow at the hospital while your dh is at work; will be thinking of you!

How did the interview go yesterday Greymalkin?

Whoknows/Dogsbum yy to the torture that is the buying of light bulbs nowadays. I inevitably end up spending 30 + Euros and come home with the wrong ones, and then have to go back andwait in a long queue to exchange them with everyone else who has bought the wrong ones too!

Whoknows Good luck with your new role working for your dh. Hope not too onerous packing it in to your already v. busy schedule. Cobb oven sounds interesting - will investigate!

Good luck with your mole appt today Dogsbum. DD had to have some sort of wierd pimple thing removed from her knee last year and the procedure was as Linzer described. Very straightforward and the dermatologist offered us a choice as to whether to do it at her accredited hospital or in her ordinary local surgery office (near us here) so we opted for latter. If its any reassurance, dd is very squeamish about injections and this sort of thing and she was absolutely fine!

Swan I always think the same when we have two men to come and do our annual garden tidy up, but think you are being too harsh on yourselves, as they are just concentrating on that, not cooking meals for three, doing school runs, supervising hwk and home edding, cleaning and doing laundry and endless tidying etc. They can just be focused on one thing! I do always admire the pace of professional gardeners though, they never seem to rush, but nevertheless get loads done!

Speaking of which, must get started on the horrendous boudoir as half school day today so not much time available.

HAve a good day fledglings! Waves to DEM and everyone else!

Good to hear your update, Linzer. Your DD is doing amazingly well. Glad you are feeling more positive now the initial shock has worn off.

We have someone coming to measure up our garden for decking this morning. Can't wait to have a tidy garden that we can actually sit in at last.

DS1 and I are going to his prospective (wish I didn't have to keep writing that) school at noon with his LEA teacher. He is showing her round in preparation for starting lessons with her there next week. Just hope I can wash his greasy mop hair first, but he was very resistant to the idea when I mentioned it last night. Ah well, the main thing is that he gets there.

Have a good day all.

Thanks Linzer and Steady that's just what I want to hear regarding mole.

The issue isn't being squeamish the issue is time really what with being 7.5 months pregnant and it being on my breast. I'm really hoping that it can be done as a minor surgery at my local GP so that it can be done and dusted in the next couple of weeks to give it time to heal before Meerkitten arrives.

I just know that if it involves the hospital we'll be talking months to a year wait which would be fine if I wasn't heavily pregnant or if it was on another part of my body.

Anyway, fingers crossed the GP I get today is in favour of my gung ho, let's just hack it off here and now approach

Dogsbum just thought - Linzer and I are both abroad, where it is perhaps more usual to do minor procedures in doc's own surgeries - but at least you know it is poss to sort them out with local anaesthesia etc. Good luck with it and hope it can all be dealt with swiftly!

Best of luck to you and ds1 with school visit Toffee!