Fledglings flutter round the May Pole – FlyLady May 2015

[Greymalkin]

First of all, a big thank you to Dogsbum for leading us (for the very first time) through the April thread; fantastic job!

If you are struggling 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 chat along the way.

The FlyLady link is here Don't be put off by the barf-tastic language of the site - the underlying system is sound!

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):

• start or repeat baby steps
• repeat baby steps + do 15 minutes a day decluttering in the current zone
• 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.

There are three key points to keep in mind throughout:

• No perfectionism allowed - this is harder than you would imagine and many of us on this thread struggle with this one!
• You are never behind - just start where you are and anything you do is progress.
• 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 15mins decluttering daily and doing the babysteps is a good way to start. Some of us (mentioning no names!) can have scary looking ‘ta-da’ lists but don't let that worry you! Do what you can, anything is better than nothing, and don't judge yourself against others.

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

Here's the launch pad for more experienced fledglings.

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

Evening all. True to form I have done absolutely no flying. However, I did complete a mornings teaching, and an afternoon of intense revision with year 11. Then went shopping to Meadowhall for a dress for a rather posh dinner occasion I have lined up in a couple of weeks with the new man. Miraculously, because this dress had conditions (had to be long and have shoulders covered) managed to find one..,in fact it was the first one i tried on. Result. Just got home and wind down time. Will attempt to catch up with what everyone has been up to shortly.

Must be serious if you are braving Meadowhell ellie

I went to blackpool today - flying visit, literally. Have sorted insurance, sorted contact arrangements for half term and told the ex to sort his act out or I have ds all summer , in the process of packing and then have a whole heap of printing of odds and sods to do. Tbh I could sit in the corner and fall asleep Anyhow onwards through the to do list.

I am not stupid..,I would never brave Meadowhell on a Saturday or at any point in November, December or January. Let's not forget that i needed a posh dress and I live in the arse end of nowhere where the poshest shop is Matalan

Trying not to be too identifying about the author, Grey, but it's a travel/history book. It hasn't taken up quite as much of today as normal lately, but I don't seem to have got anything else done either.

Links for tomorrow, Friday 22nd May:

Link to the flight plan for an overall summary of the day

Tomorrow’s baby step is something about procrastination and continuing to build your control journal

The Daily focus for Friday is Declutter your Car, Bag and Purse day

Our habit of the month is Moving More

This week we are in Zone 4: The Boudoir aka the Master Bedroom. Declutter in here for 15 minutes each day.

Our mission in this week’s zone is clear off the tops of your chests of drawers

The detailed cleaning list for this zone is Zone 4: here for the more experienced Fledglings

Launch pad is here and is full of all the info you need each day, well worth a look.

So I also managed:
another load of washing and hung it up to dry indoors
folded three loads of dry laundry
emptied the dishwasher
collected DS, did his tea and bed routine

I'm now parking my arse on the sofa with a hot chocolate and a shark documentary

Blue - sorry, didn't mean to be too nosy re your author
Ellie - a dinner destination with a specific dress code? Do tell...
DEM - sympathies re your ex. Sounds very stressful for you, and inevitably your DS

waves to SC, Dogs, WhoKnows, Bless, Castle, Engles, Toffee and everyone else I didn't mean to forget.

Nighty-night

Nah, it was quite venting. I called him and idiot and hung up on him

no
nothing done here
cooked supper
did lots of dreaded driving
ate cheese drank wine stared at mess and refused to engage
teenagers being rather adorable in a scruffy all over the place sort of way

half term tomorrow Yah Hoo!

SC dog's back - I know dachsunds have vulnerable backs if they are picked up? Or could small children have reminded him of previous owner? Sounds really is if he is ill in some way. My cat bites if he is stressed or v unhappy.

Hi to ellie

greymalkin I wish I was YOUUU you sound so young and energetic.

[swigs more wine and eats cheese rinds]

actually had a nice afternoon. Very laid back - chatting to dh and relaxing - despite the mess. Ds2 has been making stop animation films and this morning he did Judo

Feeling super tired again but enjoyed reading all the desert island comments yesterday. Personally I would love a lift to desert island on sounds magical

I haven't done any flying apart from endless washing of baby clothes. I'm very grateful about the huge quantity of second hand baby clothes that I've been given but I feel like I'm living/working in some sort of laundry sweat shop scenario at the moment. I think by the end of tomorrow I will have washed and dried everything though.

Last night me and DP had a lovely time, we went out for a meal followed by a trip to the theatre to see a performance of Pride and Prejudice. It was a wonderful evening, wore me out though I have to confess. That was our last pre-booked/organised type thing to do before Meerkitten arrives and I really enjoyed myself. I think we'll go out for a few more meals out but feels a bit risky/too much for me any more to book anything else in advance, such as theatre tickets, etc.

Morning. Stupid early start this morning. Away for a long weekend. Will catch up with you all when I get back. Fingers crossed that things are not as bad as I fear they will be. Ds at least has not been worrying and has been unusally calm

Good luck to you DEM

Dogs - I love P&P, one of my favourite books. I smiled at your comment about it being too risky to do many more outings before meerkitten arrives. I was almost two weeks overdue with DS when DH and I went to see the first instalment of The Hobbit. Three hour long film in the middle of the row in a packed out cinema. I thought, "surely, this set up will make the bugger shift" - nope! (And the film was crap too....)

Have a good time dem.

Waves toswan your day sounds lovely yesterday.

grey without giving away too much...new man is an officer in the army . I have not a clue about army etiquette but am learning quickly.

Woooohoooo it is half term today and I actually have no lessons today. Free all morning and then Year 11 leavers party this afternoon which involves fancy dress. Last year i had to be a ghostbuster in a boiler suit..,not a good look. This year, as i picked up a yr 11 form for a year, it is cowboys, far better. Busy half term ahead. Away to the caravan tomorrow for a few days. And then on wednesday head to france on a school trip for 3 days. DS is on it as well...I am so going to ruin his street cred.

Have a good day everyone.

I feel another productive day coming on < passes productivity potion onto Swan >

Ta da
Took DS to nursery
Fed cats
Made beds x2
Put more washing on
Dishwasher
Put away three loads of folded laundry
Cleared up cat sick

To do
DH's business accounts
List stuff for eBay including clothes that need ironing first. I hate ironing.
I really ought to clear off the top of our chest of drawers as per today's mission. Its one of those things I never seem to do as there is so much stuff I just don't know where to start. Might set the timer and just see where I get to with it.

Oooh, I need some of that magic potion too, Grey!

Good luck with the trip DEM and safe travelling!

Can you get the to steam prep your ironing Grey? And hats off to your extremely productive day clearing under the bed among many other things.

Ellie Enjoy the leavers party and your various trips too and yay for a bloke with shiny buttons and shoes!

Dogsbum arf at laundry sweatshop! Take it steady!

Swan like the sound of your cheese & wine evening!

Grey/Swan Dog's history even sadder than previously thought ...vet thinks he came from a puppy farm ... and trainer tried a few 'moves' with him yesterday (with me and with dh present for part of it) ... and sadly looks as though he has been hit by a woman somewhere along the line . So we have to be very careful with our body language and how we approach him. Bearing in mind his history, and that he was under-fed and hungry when he came to us, he is behaving incredibly well all in all.

Trainer said we were all being far too vocal and we have to start of training him in virtual silence (all about gestures) and then add vocalisation in afterwards. Her dog sits and asks 'please' to do anything: go through a door, get up on sofa, to put lead on, before eating, lie down on a blanket etc, when visitors ring at the door etc. It is going to take a lot of work and time and patience to get our dog to that level!

Couldn't help but be embarrassed when our dog in final flourish jumped up and humped her leg extremely enthusiastically . (Her method is to ignore the bad and encourage the good so this went on for an excruciatingly long time )

Well I feel so stressed with such a long list to do (a bit of costume making for tomorrow has just been added in) that I honestly feel a bit wierd in the head like I am going to have a stroke. But on that cheery note, I had better start the big school fete cake bake ... prepare for trails of hundreds and thousands and blobs of glacé icing to appear amongst the posts ...

Hope those of you with half-term approaching have a lovely break (we have the Monday off here).

Big waves to Toffee Blue Engels Feetheart Honu Engels Castle Shannara Seaside Whoknows Madwoman Bless Fizrim and anyone else I have missed!

SC - poor dog . But he has fallen on his feet with you. I'm in awe at your patience and kindness with him, particularly when you have so many other demands on your time. Am a bit concerned about your 'weird in the head' feeling: please take care of yourself.

On a similar topic, my DM has been to her GP this morning as she has had a headache which is getting steadily worse. She had it before her bereavement, but it has got much worse since. So she is now on pills and taking a wait-and-see approach.

DM has so far fallen out with one of her estate agents and is on the verge of falling out with another. She is furious with everyone. I gently pointed out to her last night that the estate agents were actually behaving reasonably and perhaps her anger was part of the grieving process (obvious to everyone except her). Astonishingly, she actually listened to me. She's in such a state at the moment - am worried.

Had to go into DS1's school this morning to collect some papers and uniform. DS2 was keen to look round and the very kind receptionist agreed to take him on a mini tour. Everyone seemed so friendly and happy. It feels surreal that DS1 is actually going to be a pupil there.

ta da

Blitzed the kitchen - shined sink, d/w on, floor swept and mopped, etc
Swished and swiped bathroom sink
Washing on
Tidied DS2's bedroom
Washing hung up outside
Visited school
Lunch
Washing up

We have someone here mending our broken kitchen floor at the moment, so am looking forward to having a floor that I don't have to disguise with mats anymore. About to start on a huge pile of ironing. Then have to wash my hair and get ready for neighbours coming round tonight. House still looking pretty good since last massive tidy up, so won't have to do too much first.

Waving back to everyone ... I am in a fit of depression about the awfulness that is statistical analysis of data. Must soldier on though. Also I am about half a stone heavier than I have ever been and as a nutritional therapist this is not good so have to take myself in hand there too. Have been stress eating. Just grrrr to everything.

Evening all - I'm on the whisky this evening, so happily breathing fire with

< Offers a glass to bless >

Links for tomorrow, Saturday 23rd May:

Link to the flight plan for an overall summary of the day

Tomorrow’s baby step is Develop your afternoon/get home from school routine

The Daily focus for Saturday is Family Fun Day

Our habit of the month is Moving More

This week we are in Zone 4: The Boudoir aka the Master Bedroom. Declutter in here for 15 minutes each day.

There are no missions on the weekend.

The detailed cleaning list for this zone is here for the more experienced Fledglings

Launch pad is here and is full of all the info you need each day, well worth a look.

I am about to tackle this:

Good luck with that, Bless.

I am about to tackle our bedroom - again.

ta da in boudoir

Clutter binned or tidied up
Stuff for charity collected together
Dirty clothes bagged up for washing
Room tidied
Clean clothes hung up
Bed made
Floor hoovered
Upstairs landing, bathroom and DS2's bedroom also hoovered
Dinner on

Phew. Time for .

today I've done

in no particular order

lots of drop offs and pickups
cooked lunch of beefburgers and salad
persuaded a very unruly ds2 to wash, go for a long walk, and change into decent Drama clothes
persuaded ds1 to go on a long errand to do my grocery shopping for me
cooked a bacon leek and cheese sauce lasagne( emergency meal planning)
dd went off with some friends and returned safely (phew)
made ds2 lay the table
dw
hung out washing
bought catfood (another walk)

had lie down in afternoon (the soles of my feet/heels are hurting me from wearing too flat shoes)

Toffee your poor mum. I remember my mother getting disproportionately very angry with some relative at my grandfather's funeral and it was on the same principle. Hope she can be nearer you soon. Moving is a stressful business anyway let alone leaving your old life in so many ways.
SC my sister's rescue dog hated men with hats we have no idea what went on before as dog was meant to have lived with an old lady. How fascinating about the body language. I wonder if I can try that with my children - silently point to the dw and mime getting dressed and into the bath or studying. I already do the pulling faces when peeved so I suppose I am half way there I should think if you are used to being shouted at ( I mean as a puppy) then any vocal abrupt sound would trigger a bad response even if was mean to be encouraging.

waves to everyone else - silently and encouragingly

Bonne Chance with the silver balls and the bonbons SC at the fete

Still knackered and still not really flying. Although the fact that I'm not doing much also means that I'm not messing the house up

I have:

• Washed up
• Made bread x 2 (white bloomer for DP and wholemeal and seed filled loaf for me to try and keep me regular not an issue when not pregnant)
• Hoovered kitchen/dining and front room
• Popped into town to buy some new flip flops after last ones broke (they are the easiest thing to wear in my current condition)

Grey you did make me laugh with the too risky to go out on trips comment and your Hobbit story. The risk I meant was entirely based on being a miser, i.e. I don't want to risk buying tickets for something that I might not be able to attend if Meerkitten puts in an early appearance.

But I'm loving the idea of adopting some sort of Jane Austen style confinement period and not risking going out. I think I might need a lace handkerchief to clutch if I'm really going to pull it off though and possible a bodice!! I’ve been chuckling to myself every time I’ve thought of it! I'm not really the delicate damsel type but if ever there was a time to be one then the time would be now. Off to lie on the couch (shame we don't have a chaise longue) and clutch hanky to brow

Steady glad you enjoyed my laundry exploits. I still haven't finished but I've decided it isn't a race so I'm doing it at a more leisurely pace so there is less heating on and hence less of a sweatshop scenario. I think it's for the best

Sorry to hear the sad story of your poor pooch unfurling, I'm starting to feel pretty cross at his previous owners. Does your dog trainer feel positive about him getting through this to a better place? Poor little lad. He's so gorgeous, how could anyone treat him badly?!?!

Oh Bless I feel your pain looking at your paperwork to tidy up, that is exactly what my study looks like both before and two days after a tidy up!!

Hi everyone, links for tomorrow, Sunday 24th May:

Link to the flight plan for an overall summary

Tomorrow’s baby step is Learn about Swish and Swipe in the Bathroom Another popular one on here.

The Daily focus for Sunday is Renew Your Spirit Day

Our habit of the month is Moving More

This week we are moving to Zone 5: The Living Room. Declutter in here for 15 minutes each day.

There are no missions on the weekend.

The detailed cleaning list for this zone is Zone 5: here for the more experienced Fledglings

Launch pad is here and is full of all the info you need each day, well worth a look.

Morning all. Have managed to get my shit together post school and the dc's and I are now happily ensconced on the Yorkshire coast and relaxing. No flying to speak of but everybody needs downtime.