September 2015 fledglings shine their sink and their lace up shoes and prepare for the new academic year ahead

[standclear]

Welcome to the September 2015 Fledgling Flying thread! Hang up your microfibre cloths and park your buckets here!!

[Sorry - I've namechanged again - but remain SC]

This is where from the 1st of the month, we attempt to declutter and follow the 30-step wisdom of Flylady (minus cutesy language and a surfeit of e-mails) with lots of chat and support and mutual motivation (and of course) along the way. (More info available here and here ) and here.

Humungous thanks to our previous thread leaders (nns relating to a planet and to a colour) for guiding us through the summer and keeping us sane throughout the holidays!

As usual we will be following a three-pronged approach - and don't worry - we are all at different stages. Some of us (SC stares at feet) -are stuck at the decluttering stage after an embarrassingly long number of years :

• repeat or start baby steps (again!)

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

or

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

And those of you who have decluttered and are really enthusiastic can throw some detailed cleaning in to the mix as well!

This is a very long-running thread so we may appear cliquey but we really aren't! All newcomers, long-termers, lurkers and intermittent returnees not only welcome to join in but positively encouraged to do so!

Any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Good luck!

zone one was on the to do list for today. urm...

Thanks SC - I think we're off to a "Flying" start this month.

Welcome to the new Fledglings, don't worry if you can't keep up with the chat, a lot of people dip in and out of it.

Right, I have a few new September resolutions WRT Flying. One is earlier nights, the other is getting dressed straight away in the mornings. The other one is not strictly Flylady, but I'm going to stop taking my phone up to bed and MNing on it, with a view to helping me get to sleep earlier and get up more promptly, we are going to have a big shake-up of routine once DS starts secondary school next week as he will be leaving the house 45 mins earlier than the rest of us.

7th load of washing just finishing, they are all queuing up in the garden shed to get in the tumble dryer in the morning (dryer cycle takes approx twice as long as washer). Pretty well everything else unpacked and cases are back in the loft .

When the rain eased up this afternoon, we went to a 'beach party' at the Gloucester Quays. This consisted of DD playing in sand for a bit, while we had a hot drink to counteract the great British summer. Let's just say we were all wearing waterproof jackets as well. Was more fun than it sounds, honestly. It was raining again by the time we got home so I feel that we made the most of the bank holiday.

Good morning! A bit cold and dark here today (and raining of course). Definite intimations of autumn!

First day back at school across the nation (state schools anyway) so the traffic flow has also increased by about x 20!! Yuck. Sob. Despite my whinging, I love the summer holidays!!

Big day for us too - dd starting secondary school!! Yikes!! Hugely excited and terrified for her at same time (although trying to remain outwardly calm of course)! Not starting until this afternoon though so still have a bit of time to get organised (fortunately).

To do:
morning routine inc shine sink, animals, dw, wm, s& s, and dining room table hot spot
preventative nit combing for entire family!! (lovely!!)
find uniform (esp socks which have gone missing!)
sew on final labels
see dd off and take photos as memento!!
laundry sorting
general tidy around the ground floor (ie mission)
strip beds and carry bedding down to laundry
15 min tidy up in each main area
banking check
finish post and post letters
menu plan for week
quick supermarket run
dog walking
first school run to new school!
hwk supervision (if any)
visit commune for admin reasons
supper
early night for everyone

Well done for getting out to the beach yesterday Fizrim despite the rain - sounds lovely and bracing - I rather like windy beaches!!

Well done re your 7 loads of washing Astimegoesby !! And with your new academic year resolutions!! (Need to make a few of those myself - largely relating to diet again - )

Sympathies on the Zone One front Can'tsee - mine is piled high with exploded suitcases!

And good luck with your crisis clean this morning Fuzzpig!

Have a good day everyone!

Good morning sc and everyone.

I've just got up to prep for the first kids to arrive at 8am. Mine are all still lounging around in bed, boys are back to school on Thursday and it's dd's birthday tomorrow so a busy week.

I like your new resolutions astimegoesby. I also tried to leave my phone downstairs but for emergency reasons changed back again. It's not been good for my sleep routine.

Off to have breakfast and think about my to do list...

Morning! Happy first day of my new routine except it's not as DS doesn't start school until tomorrow. Had a lovely family day yesterday with DBIL & DPIL wandering round the railway museum at York in the rain - the outside mini railway is quite good fun, albeit we got a bit damp!

Today I have washing to do, and then I need to sort out the downstairs hovel study a bit so that DH can work from home tomorrow. Also menu plan and make up shopping list for the week so I can shop tomorrow - ON MY OWN! No DS hanging on to the trolley, running away, generally being a PITA. Is it sad I'm actually looking forward to the supermarket?!

And I desperately need to phone my hairdresser and see if he can fit DS in today (and possibly get an appointment booked in for myself!) as I found out yesterday that his usual barber that DH takes him to is shut on a Tuesday - that'll teach me not to be prepared!

We kind of have another week of 'summer holidays' - off to a wedding this weekend, so we will not be getting back into routine until after that (routine! ha!)

Right I've been up about an hour so I really have no excuse not to get on with the crisis clean. C.H.A.O.S. is no longer an option if I want to earn money as a tutor! At least we have no plans at all after that, so will just flop on the sofa... need to make sure DCs have lunch packed for childcare tomorrow and do laundry but that's about it.

May you all have productive Tuesdays!

Morning

well I sucked at babystep 17 last night this morning BUT I am up at a time that will have to become habit. Ds has been despatched with the warning that I dislike mornings and will be very grumpy if he carries on shouting at me. Having sent him for breakfast I can guarantee he will be sat in front of the tv ignoring the issue of breakfast watching some nonsense. I feel the need for a fry up this morning...

Good luck with the Hairdresser Carpe fx you can get ds' hair cut today.

SC good luck for dd this afternoon

Fizrim sounds like fun on the beach

Astime they sound like sensible resolutions. I should probably follow your good example but we both know that is very unlikely to happen. babystep 17

oh god, DS has started already. "Why do I need a hair cut?"....

Well, I have failed so far today. I may have left my phone downstairs, but DS left the Ipad on my bedside cabinet so I am MNing in bed after all [Blush]. Nick, you have reminded me, that's why I started bringing it up in the first place, safety. Maybe a rethink needed.

Anyway I am about to get up and I did put out my clothes to wear last night.

To do.

Get up, breakfast, attend to laundry
Take DCs to play farm if it's not raining
Get out school uniform stash and start labelling
Check DD's PE kit.
Establish which after school activities start back when.

Good luck to DD today SC.

45min panic tidying done so far, DCs breakfasted. Should have time for another half hour or so.

No idea when I'm actually going to sort out all the crap that I've just shoved into any available vessel, though...

To do today:

Tidy up Lego bomb site
Label school clothes (don't start until Thursday!)
Check PE kit
Take dc to summer art class
Fix car tyres
Put together animal pack for home ed animal swap
Possibly buy dd some trousers for school, I think she has grown!
Wash ds duvet
Finish putting away this washing and do a load.

But first, coffee! Have already trekked into town to get car after we left it there last night after consuming too much alcohol! Oops! Although the tyres was a good excuse to start in the first place!

Haircut booked - thank god for a lovely hairdresser!
Phoned two plumbers (long story!)
Away to phone gym to kickstart health kick.

SC - good luck to your DD this afternoon. Such a big day!

And good luck to everyone else struggling to get back into post-holiday routines. We still have six days to go as DS1 goes back next Monday and DS2 on Tuesday, so I'm behind you all.

Taking DS1 to the GP for a routine appointment this morning, then I need to make a 'to do' list, I think.

Good morning fledglings [squeals with excitement to see SC back in the flock]

Welcome to Cheesecake and Pretty

Lovely as it has been, and totally necessary, to have a more relaxed summer thread, I am really looking forward to getting back to the daily links and structure [control freak]

Right then, Ta da :
DS and I up and breakfasted
Cats fed
Dishwasher emptied and dirties in
Hair cut appointment made for DS
Started making shopping list

To do
Make dentist appointments for DS and I
Email nursery with our holiday dates
Do the food shop
Change bedsheets
Conquer Mount Washmoor
Fold and put away dry laundry
Do hand washing
Declutter in dining room for 15 minutes
Get out DSs stash of big clothes that have been in storage waiting for him to grow into, sort through.
List DSs too small clothes for sale on Facebook

Morning, looking forward to having people to share this sort of thing with (and thanks for all the welcomes).

Ta da
Kitchen clean and tidy (apart from piles of things that need to go back under the sink - although at least they're vaguely organised)
Swished and swiped
Load of washing put on
Cleaned under the sink (having realised pipe was leaking, hence having to take everything out)

To do
Declutter wardrobe (this one keeps getting moved onto the next day)
Take things to charity shop
Start work on planned articles

To not do
Keep refreshing emails to see if there's anything about teaching work

Lunch break:

Thank you very much everyone for all your good wishes for dd which are hugely appreciated! She was actually quite excited and not too nervous when she set out. Just a very short 3 hr induction today! Took a few photos of her in her new uniform! She met up with two 'copines' from primaire outside the main door, so all well so far!

And thanks for the tissues Can'tsee but I actually feel really really happy! Just feel really lucky and blessed that she was able to get in to the really good (state) school that we all wanted, and that she got a place in the 2x lang immersion section too.

Hope everyone getting on OK this mornng!

Looks as if you have been busy this morning Prettygirl and yes, chores can be so boring, it is definitely v motivating to share each small completed task on here, and you also get to see how much you have achieved (usually more than you think!) when you get to write it all down!

Squeals back loudly at Greymalkin¨!! Good luck with your lists!

Good luck with your list too Cheesecake and glad to hear you had a good night out!

Carpe good luck at the hairdressers! And good luck to your ds starting school tomorrow! What a huge change it will be for you both!
Btw have just speed-read through previous threads I'd missed over summer, and I just wanted to say it was great to see that your health concerns have been resolved and all the tests came back ok!

Hope the lesson goes/went well Fuzzpig!

Astimegoesby I'm afraid (and much to dh's disgust) that I get to sleep listening to The Archers most nights on my Iphone so rather essential bit of night-time kit here! Could you take yours up with you but leave it where you can't quite reach it ifyswim?

Enjoy your last week of freedom with the boys Toffee! Goodness, what a huge change it will be for you all when they return to school!

Big waves to everyone else.

Had better get back to the tasks in hand - time has flown by today - will have to leave to pick up dd in just over an hour!!

Afternoon

Hello to old and new. Have half caught up with new thread.

Ta Da

Got Ds off to school
Taken laptop into PC world again, 5 time since November - thank God we paid for know how!
Visited Lidl's for first time - not too bad. Unfortunately no dairy or gluten free food so visit to tescos another day.
DD starts SN secondary school tomorrow, she is so excited she is bouncing off the chair whilst watching Five Nights at Freddy's on YouTube! So nice that both kids are very happy to be going back to school.
Watched Cinderella with DD, Ds refuses to be in the house if it was on.
No washing as basket was empty!!

DH is home which always stops any FLYing - must get on and do something constructive.

Back later, have a great afternoon everyone.
BTW am contemplating a name change.

Hope the induction goes ok for DD this afternoon, SC. Lovely that she's so excited about it. Yes, huge change coming up for me and DH. I have suggested we go out for lunch on the first day both children are at school, although we're worried we'll get a panicky phone call from DS1 asking us to pick him up early. We have had nine weeks trying to keep DS1 going out regularly and I'm delighted that he's done so well, but we're exhausted!

Welcome back, Shannara. Hope DS's first day back at school goes ok and that DD enjoys her new school.

ta da

GP appointment for DS1
Three loads of washing on
Ironing and ironing and more ironing....
Labelled first batch of school clothes
Lint rollered the clothes covered in cat hairs
Hung up washed, ironed clothes
Lunch
Menu planned
Emailed shopping list to DH at work

Ordered various stuff for school last night. It's an expensive business, isn't it ?

Relaxing with the boys now, watching telly.

Right...
Shit tip Study is usable.

Washing is done and hanging out.

School kit is organised and ironed
Living room is hoovered.
Internet is sorted (switch off and on again!)
Dinner is organised
BIL has been texted about the food he left in our fridge tonight's dinner dozy plonker and he has a spare key to get in.

I'm about to roust out DS to go and get his hair cut. Is it bed time yet?

Ooooh, and Ikea texted to say sofa delivery definitely coming on Sunday - roll on the weekend for lounging in the conservatory!

Right, uniform bits for new schools have arrived. The bits I already had have been labelled. My parents have gone home. There's a ton of stuff I ought to do, but suffering major CBA. Boys want to go to the park. Might get something done after that...

More Ta das

Called dentist, made appts
Emailed nursery
X2 loads of washing, one load hung up
Changed bed sheets
Did food shop
Put away food shop
Organised cat sitter for next week
Wrote some more of the letter for my pen pal
Emptied bins, sorted recycling

Have a stinking cold, feeling shite,

New pupil is lovely! DCs kept interrupting the lesson though so I just called it an initial meeting type thing and refused the payment. DCs have been suitably told off as they had PROMISED they would be quiet.

I've got a few others interested in lessons so wherever possible I'll be teaching sans small people

ta da
epic panic tidy
managed to play piggy in the middle with DCs outside
various messages to people re: lessons
put wash on (ok that's still 'to do' but I'm going to do it right now)
planned more of our trip up north next summer
did our vote registration thingy

I am so tired. 5hrs sleep is not good for functioning.

Ta da list is not complete and there is a still to do list

Evict everything from porch and clean top to bottom
Cull shoes
Be left with a pile of random stuff in hall
Ds to library for end of reading challenge
School trousers, pumps and trainers have all been acquired
Not want to kill ex sometimes this is an important achievement
get ds to put all the fecking lego away and ergo tidy his room - no nagging required Result!!!!
Discuss with ds about walking to school by himself and come to agreement
school uniform is laid out
negotiated to do list and computer time with minimal disagreement HUGE result in this house atm
label school uniform etc required for tomo will still have a pile to label for the week after but first things first
make sure meds for school and first aid info is up to date
ensure P.E.kit is ready to go into school
ds' lunch made
Afterschool activity bag pack

To do
Get ds to pack his bag
Sort out snacks for after school activity
Dye hair
sort out stuff needed for tomo morning by me
early night

Evenin' all!

Hope you will forgive me but another one zombified here tonight so just going to post links for tomorrow now and catch up with personals in the morning. 'Twas a good day though - dd very enthusiastic about her new school!

**

Baby-step no. 2 for Wed 2nd Sept 2015 is here. It's the controversial one about getting dressed in lace up shoes as soon as you wake up! Some fledglings do, some fledglings don't - whatever suits.

Either way here is the explanation behind it.

We are currently in Zone 1: The Entrance, Front Porch and Dining Room here.

For those Fledglings at this stage: here is the detailed cleaning list for Zone One.

The missions for tomorrow and for the rest of the week can be found :
here.

Wednesday's mission is spending 15 mins getting rid of things from your dining room ie chuck them out!. Any time left, use to put things away.

The daily focus for Wednesday is anti-procrastination here. Do one or two of those horrid things you have been avoiding!

The habit for September is developing a before-bed routine here

Small steady steps everyone!!