Autumn leaves flutter as October Fledglings Fly!

[standclear]

Welcome to the October 2015 Fledgling Flying thread!

Park your broomsticks and cauldrons here!! Or is that just me ?

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.

As usual we will be following a three-pronged approach - and don't worry - we are all at different stages. (Some of us are still stuck at the decluttering stage after quite a few 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!

The idea is that we focus on short, ring-fenced, daily steps and routines that will help our homes run (more or less!) on "automatic pilot" allowing us to do far more interesting things instead!

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!

Helpful pointers: No perfectionism allowed! If it took a while to create the current C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome) in your home, then it will probably take a while to reverse the situation (you can't clean clutter!). Small steps are the key! And you are never behind: just jump in where you are at!

Any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Good luck!

Chicken and Toffee I'm so sorry - I meant to wish you "good luck" for your interviews this mornign and completely forgot!!

Glad to hear yours went ok Chicken and prospective job looks good. Fingers crossed for you! Passes over to ease exhaustion.

Passes over more and and and to sustain Blue through yet more waiting .

Toffee how did your interview go? Well, I hope! Sorry to hear about wet washing and broken cup but glad to hear ds1 enjoyed his b'day, bless him! Aw at your ds2's reaction too!!

Can'tsee hope your list went better than mine did today!! (Wednesdays are so bitty (half school day) that I always over-estimate how much I will get done - deeply frustrating.

Made even worse by mahoosive protest and strike against gov today here - didn't realise it was going to be quite so far reaching. Transport was totally up the creek, it's been pouring with rain (of course!) and it took three times longer than usual to get anywhere.

Was therefore slightly late to pick up dd from school, no time to cook her customary pasta lunch (important on Weds between sport at school and ballet in the afternoon) had to have a sandwich en route - and slightly late to ballet itself (although fortunately many others were too). Didn't have time to get back to walk dog poor thing so have to do that tonight now (usually walk at night but mean main walk ifyswim).

Came home to Chinese laundry in sitting room. Had hung up masses of washing last night for fortnightly ironing lady (so would be just at perfect dampness) with Spanish channel on the telly and of course she couldn't get in because of transport disruption. Quailing now at thought of how much ironing there is to do - she is really fast - it takes me 15 mins to do one of dh's shirts properly ... so had better get started!

Big waves to all!

Actually, there is so much to do (esp with dh away) that I will post links for tomorrow now and catch up again in morning!

Have a good evening everyone! (And enjoy GBBO if you will be watching!)

*

Baby-step no. 8 for tomorrow, Thurs 8th Oct, is here. It concerns the start of morning and evening routines which form the beginnings of your control journal. Some of us on here have one, some don't, it's your choice. More info about them: here.

[As it happens, whilst looking for the above link, I came across this list of specifically focused cjs which I hadn't seen before. Have a look here if you are interested.

We are in Zone 2 this week (October 4-10): Kitchen/ back porch/laundry room/pantry. Here!

Declutter for 15 mins in Zone 2 (or do a mission!).

If you are at that stage, the detailed cleaning list for Zone 2 is here.

Thursday's mission can be found here. Clean the insides of your small kitchen appliances such as microwave and vinegar rinse kettle etc.

Thursday's daily focus is running errands.

The habit for October is: www.flylady.net/d/habits-of-the-month/october/ decluttering paper clutter!

A summary of the above (which should update itself daily) can be found here in the Flightplan: www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=-120.

Keep going everyone! If a task seems overwhelming, cut it down in to small chunks and tackle one small step at a time!

**

I'm quite intrigued by this Dr Foster thing. Everyone seems to be talking about it. Glad the interview was good, if mentally challenging! Hope to hear from toffee soon too, was thinking of you both today!

Had a lovely day with DH, slightly marred by the fact that he's not heard back from that interview so looks like he wasn't successful. And also the fact that I've had to agree to a meeting at work re: my sickness. Which is now officially 'long term'. Ouch. Think it's 'the beginning of the end' IYSWIM. I'm starting to accept it, I just wish there was a way round it so I could still work with customers etc. But the nature of the job is physical, lots of manual handling, and my failing body can't handle it :(

On another more ranty note, I am STILL frequently getting asked how I can possibly be home educating when I'm ill... no matter how many times I explain how it is vastly easier both physically and mentally. I can understand why they would naturally think it would be harder 'teaching' my DCs all day, but it's getting rather wearing having to repeat myself. I'm seriously considering writing a diary for a day just to show how well it compares to a typical day when the DCs were at school. I know they don't get it because HE is so different to the norm. But surely there has to come a point where they accept what I've told them, and you know, that it's actually none of their business. Nobody ever questioned how I could possibly cope with dragging unhappy children to school and back when I was ill (incidentally the answer would've been 'tears, stress, pain, fainting, and extortionate taxi fares') but now I'm going against the grain suddenly everyone has an opinion.

Sorry for the rant. It's nice to be able to vent, especially knowing that many of you HE as well.

sc that sounds like such a stressful day. I don't envy you with the ironing either. I rarely iron unless going to an interview or wedding lol. Traffic chaos sounds awful too :-(

toffee and chicken hope the interviews went well. Everything crossed for both of you. They are so exhausting though aren't they!! You'll be needing a chill out night tonight both of you!!

Productive day here today as its my 'weekly home blessing' afternoon (not hour haha). My mum takes the girls on a Wednesday afternoon to let me catch up on the stuff I can't do when I have them. Had soft play date this morning, got our roof fixed ready for valuation and then managed

Steam clean bathroom and bleach bath
Steam clean floors in bathroom, living room and kitchen
Thorough kitchen counter clean
Washing
Shopping delivered and put away
Hoovered
Made all beds

Also my second DVD storage folder arrived this afternoon so planning on sorting the kids DVDs into that while hubby at badminton tonight. Can't believe how much more space we have now I've started this!

Hope everyone else had a good day! Xx

Well done everyone for today, I hope the interviewees hear good things.
I had an awful (ie unproductive, I actually had a great day) day as my parents were here for a visit.
I just put on some laundry and emptied dw, then walked dogs this pm. No proper cleaning or decluttering. I'd hoped to clean out the fridge today. Still haven't properly spoken to the bastard plumber. Another few rounds of phone tennis.
Tomorrow is another day.
Looking forward to Dr Foster, Fuzz it's great, well it's not groundbreaking stuff but it's easy viewing and I like Suranne Jones. There's quite a good summary somewhere on the Telly addicts thread.
Good night all

Dr Foster thread

I got the job!

Wasn't sure I wanted it until I got to the second interview, then really liked the people and what I saw of the company, but felt sure I'd messed it up, partly because I was bold enough to negotiate on salary.

Thinking I'd messed up was a good thing Flying-wise as I spent the afternoon cleaning and tidying.

Then had an email offering me the job!

chicken - good luck with yours. And also to your DH, fuzz. The whole process is exhausting.

Am drinking wine now and trying not to panic at the thought of learning a new job.

Congratulations Toffee

Fab news toffee congratulations. X

Thank you!

Sounds like a lot of stressful days.

Well, one hurdle has been overcome. Theoretically, all that remains is to persuade our buyers not to be idiotic... I'm not holding my breath.

Ooh, massive cross-post!

Congratulations, Toffee

blue you must be so stressed hon. So sorry it's so awful.
Really hope it gets moving for you.

We have valuer coming on Monday so keeping everything crossed it values ok and our sale should go through.
Eeeek.

X

toffee HOORAY!! WELL DONE YOU!
Hope your DH hears back soon fuzz
dontbuy your day sounds awesome.
thanks for the links (I think) sc and snap re chinese laundry!
scatty your afternoon sounds lovely - well, quiet compared to soft play at least!!

ta da
Stuck washer and dishwasher on.
to do
eat biscuits
try not to fret about hearing back
drink wine
watch GBBO
watch Dr Foster (Suranne Jones is brilliant)

I have managed everything on my to do list apart from wash sheets, which I will do shortly. Have also managed paperwork filing, and a whole heap of other stuff that was not on the to do list. Absolutely knackered right now but feeling like small amount of progress has been made. Until I remember the 2 extra balls of wool I got to match the one I got that I picked up for a hat. It really is pretty wool

fuzz - no one who hasn't home educated will ever understand what it's like and they will all feel entitled to give you their opinion. I think you just have to try and let it wash over you. I completely get it. I still remember the blessed relief when I took DS1 out of school to home educate him the first time: suddenly, I had a happy child and peaceful days. Much better.

Scatty - hope the sale goes through ok.

Thank you for all the congrats. This is the easy bit, where I can enjoy basking in the good news, without worrying about learning a new job and living up to all the expectations .

Night all.

Thank you toffee and huge congratulations! :o

Keep losing my post as MN is being a pain but I'm off to bed. Goodnight all :)

Good morning!

Toffee that is brilliant news!! [Views empty bottles and fag ends scattered around naughty corner] Congratulations on getting the job and for negotiating re salary!! Well done you !! And try not to fret - you will be terrific at it - they obviously think so, or else they wouldn't have chosen you about two other strong candidates!!

And - congratulations - to all of you!!! with the boys back at school and you with a job and your dh overcomign some quite serious bouts of ill-health. You've all worked so hard and undergone such stress to get to this point and I'm so happy it's all working out for you xxx

Well done on progress made yesterday Can'tsee!

Hope you hear back about your job interview soon Chicken! Like the "decluttering" of biscuits on your list!

And that your dh hears back too Fuzzpig. Sorry to hear you have to go on long-term sick leave ; you evidently very much enjoyed your job before it became physically too demanding. On the home ed front, could you possibly say to those who enquire "well, it is a challenge, but it's one we all enjoy and the main difference is that we can dictate the pace, not the school" (or words to that effect) and then refuse to utter another word about it!? [harrumphs at rude people!!]

Glad to hear you are one hurdle nearer at least Blue; hope buyers see sense

Hows the teething going Scatty? And well done on your mahoosive "home bleugh" (as we call it) yesterday! (Very impressed by all of your steam cleaning!!) Your ma sounds lovely btw!!

Big encouraging wing flaps to everyone else!

I could cry that it is Thursday already. So little done and so much to do! Have to focus on getting house ready for visitors now and I so don't want to! I want to do some clearing out work rather than maintenance ifswim. Also have already had two e-mails from friends and family asking if they can come and stay before or around Christmas... I feel awful saying 'no' but I genuinely don't know if I can stand it after the summer we had.

Managed to iron (only) 6 shirts last night .. another 7 to go ... and then, um, about four other paniers ... . Think I might have to select and iron all the stuff we need for next week (including uniform etc) and then leave the rest for later [bum, never mind]

Heigh ho, upwards and onwards! Won't get anything done sitting here [reaches to turn off screen]

Have a good day everyone!

above two other strong candidates!

Good morning everyone, I was MIA yesterday as took a trip to London with my brother to see a relative which was lovely.

Toffee I am so pleased for you, well done! It must also be a real confidence boost as I think you said you have been at home for quite a few years now. And I admire you for negotiating the salary, that is quite a set of skills by itself.

Blue really, really hoping all this house moving malarkey sorts itself out soon, must be driving you crazy.

I suspect if you had written down all your ta-das in one go Can't it would have qualified as one of your scary lists- uber productive!

Hope you hear back soon re the interview Chicken

I'm feeling quite stuck today, can't really get going. A sensible list might help:
To do this morning
Bath DS
Take DS for his haircut
Stock up on wine making supplies
Drop some bits off at the charity shop

To do this afternoon
Fold and put away five loads of dry washing
Mission: de scale kettle and coffee maker (and while I'm at it, the iron and show heads x3)
More paper declutter in the dining room

Best get on, catch up later.

shower heads damnit...

Thank you, SC and Grey .

SC - it's lovely that friends and family want to come and stay (you are obviously too good a host for your own good), but don't have them if you can't face it. Could a good compromise be that they stay in a local b&b or hotel instead, maybe? We soon realised that having couples to stay in our tiny house was just too much for everyone (one person we can cope with), so we got rid of the sofa bed in our sitting room (which was uncomfortable anyway) and found some decent local b&bs to recommend instead. Everyone was happier!

Glad you had a lovely day out yesterday, Grey. Re: negotiating a better salary - I actually thought I'd blown it by doing that, so am amazed they gave me what I asked for.

And, SC, the new employers' expectations of me are what is terrifying me. One reason they picked me is because of a job I held years ago. Am not sure I remember any of those skills and am just crossing my fingers that it all comes back to me.

DH is astonishingly keen on taking over the running of the house. I suggested he use the Flylady system, but he wasn't keen. Ah well, he'll have to find his own way. Can't wait to hand the reins over to him!

Will also have to hand over all the boys' various appointments to DH. All the school stuff - meetings, etc - happen during the school day, so I won't be able to go to any of them anymore. Will miss seeing the boys going into and coming out of school and being able to keep up with their teachers.

DS2 astonished me last night by asking to go to a film-making course during the half-term break. This is so unlike him - the boy who always says no to any clubs or courses - that I can only think being at a new school has boosted his confidence in trying new things.

Right, need to get on with Flying and decluttering now. Not many free days left!

possibly grey i do know that I feel like I have been hit by a truck today though. and still have a rather long to do list to be ready for more dust creation tonight. :( I am really rather sick of dust.

I have done:
laundry
grocery shopping
charity shop drop

Our buyer is still being an idiot.