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!

have done

driving two kids to school, ds1 was late rising, and had to iron for ds2, that is a nasty shock I have to say, the joys of not having to worry about ds2's clothes most days..ho hum..
and ironing
more freezer food for lunch here (lentil and spinach lasagne portion - I knew it would come in handy for dh)

printed out a SALT form to send back later
put some ironed clothes back in children's rooms
recycling
wash on line
wash in
wash downstairs
booked cat into vet for this afternoon

ds2 at tuition this morning, this is almost more exhausting than home ed!!

dh is packing to go abroad...

Thank you

Done:
Shopping; forgot cheap flowers
Bedroom; not that it will be seen
Bathroom, v satisfying
Shined sink
Slagged off mother on mn, v satisfying
Walked dog
Watched half an episode of obsessive cleaners (for morale)
Two bin bags out
Laundry on

To do
Kitchen
Sitting room
Stairs
Work out how to use Roomba
Watch other half of obsessive cleaners

Hi everyone, just popping on to say hello, not much flying done, only:

DS maintenance: seriously good teeth cleaning, de-ear waxed, nails trimmed
DS and me to the dentist for check up (first proper appointment for him, he did really well)
Trip to the zoo,
Several chapters of my book read whilst DS slept
Washing on

I have no major plans for he rest of the day. DS off to nursery tomorrow so will get my fly lady groove on then.

Waves to Fish, welcome. I also love OCC, as you say, great for motivation and I love Hayley, a proper Essex girl if ever there was one, loud and proud!

Fuzz hope that form is going well, are you family from the valleys as well? I'm Welsh by marriage so don't have a choice but to follow the rugby. The upside is !

Knitting hope your DSs tuition goes well again

Sorry Chicken, I'm really bad at meal planning, there are often threads on MN where people give good ideas. I'm rubbish at this though.

You sound super motivated and productive Feetheart

SC how long are your intruders guest staying? Sounds like a pain...

Blue really hope the completion goes through tomorrow

Reading while DC nap is my favourite activity grey. Horrible weather - I just want to hibernate but am plodding on. Have adapted my to do list from the flying website - apols if this breaks thread rules.

done
Get Dressed
Make Bed
Empty Dishwasher
Reboot Laundry (a Load a Day Keeps CHAOS Away)
Check Your Calendar
What's For Dinner?
Declutter for 15 Minutes (listed stuff on selling sites)
Spend Two Minutes Clearing off a Hot Spot

to do
Swish & Swipe
15 Minutes of exercise
Lay out Your Clothes for tomorrow
Put things needed for tomorrow at the front door inc keys
Shine Your Sink
Wash face/Brush Teeth full on routine

plus take bins out

not bother/not an issue
Check Your Control Journal
Drink Your Water (I drink lots of mint tea coffee and wine)
Go to Bed at a Decent Hour - going to replace this with not go online after 10pm

CBA with vent and light dusting, but I did declutter more paper crap from kitchen.

I actually managed a little housework this morning. I got the DCs involved. Yay :)

Grey DH has Welsh heritage. Not that you'd know it when it comes to football, the hypocrite :o

Chickens re meal planning, i think it helps if you write down things that are eaten. we have a list that has everything from ham egg chips and pizza through to roast dinners and stews. From that list of food that will/can be eaten we then plan around commitments of the week. But build in a bit of flexibility with home made freezer meals for cba days/very quick need to ping it in the microwave turnaround days. We also have some store cupboard meals (eg baking potatos and tinned tuna for people who want to be awkward). I have to be very organised as sometimes I am cooking 4 separate meals, but small batch frozen dinners really helps this.

Flyingwise: it was errand day here.

There is manflu in the house and tempers are more shot than fried. Very grumpy people and atmosphere. The office is snowed under so my days in there are all over the place atm. There will be no flying this weel.

not happening today

Swish & Swipe
15 Minutes of exercise

Will prioritise these tomorrow...

*

Baby-step no. 14 for tomorrow, Wed 14th Oct, is here an essay about using a calendar.

We are in Zone 3 this week: The Bathroom and One Extra Room (October 11 – 17) : here.

Declutter for 15 mins in Zone 3 (or do a mission!) if you want to.

If you are at that stage, the detailed cleaning list for Zone 3 is here.

Wednesday's mission can be found here. 5 minutes wiping down doorknobs, light switches and walls in your bathroom where there might be fingerprints, with an anti-bacterial product.

For the other room: go to the place in your home where you have most paper clutter and spend 15 mins getting rid!

Wednesday's daily focus is: here anti-procrastination. Do something that you have been avoiding!

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.

Small steps everyone! Even 15 mins a day of chores is better than nowt!

**

Chicken

Have posted this on here a few times before (so apologies to anyone I am boring the pants off as usual). I find the following rough meal planning schedule helpful:

Sunday (lunch or dinner): roast with all trimmings + proper pud.

Monday: easy = cold cuts and veg or salad

Tues and Thurs nights (veggie nights - well Thurs night always totally veggie and Tues night totally or mostly veggie): veg pastas, veg lasagnes, veg burgers, big beany lentil stews or thick soups, corn fritters, salads in summer, veg rissottos, baked spuds, cheese and salad etc, Spanish omelettes.

Wednesday: sausages, chicken, or mince-based dishes, ie toad in the hole, sausage beans and chips, marinaded chicken legs, home made chicken goujons, one pot chicken and veg dishes in oven or poss some sort of mince dish ie spag bol, or meatballs of some sort.

Friday (always fish): fish pie, fish fingers, home made fish goujons, steamed fish en papillotte, salmon burgers etc etc

Saturday: take out (usually pizza or Asian food) or 'ping' supper (lucky in that we can get very healthy ping suppers from traiteur-like shops here)

Plus:
-when making veggie meal on Thurs and chopping loads of veg in huge quantity, always try and make soup for weekend at same time

• when making veggie meal on Tues, usually make an extra tom sauce at same time for freezer
• make time on Sun/Mon or Tues to make biscuits and fruit bars for lunch boxes

-make apple compote once a week (but that's quite a Belgian thing!)

• yoghurt and fruit for mid-week puddings

I find meal planning by day of week suits me and my schedule, as it gives me a rough outline to work within ie it stops that panicky blank feeling when I've totally run out of ideas, and yet it is flexible enough to allow for seasonal shopping (which I do a lot because food ££££ here). Don't stick to it religiously but find it works fairly well on the whole and gives me two nights a week when I barely have to cook.

HTH!

Guests here until just after lunch on Sat Greymalkin

consumption already creeping up!

Day 2 survived. Am and pm very demanding. Evening very pleasant.
Already a bit cream-crackered though.

Big encouraging wing flaps to all!

chickens - good news about your second interview. Good luck!

Welcome to the thread, fishbones.

Thank you for running the thread as well as coping with visitors, SC.

Haven't had much time to post as I'm trying to get stuff done before the new job starts. Found a piece of paper with a housework rota written on it: DH is clearly taking his new responsibilities very seriously. Am hoping he's going to be greeting me at the door with a cocktail every evening .

Have ordered new clothes for the job, as I live in jeans and tee shirts and the office style is smart-casual (no jeans allowed). It's been a good excuse to go shopping, but rather depressing to see how many styles and clothes I can't wear anymore .

I must admit I wonder how I am going to cope with full-time work after so long out of the workplace and if my colleagues will notice if I have a midday nap.

Night all.

Wahey, go MrToffee! :o

It'll take a bit of getting used to but I'm sure you'll be ok. Maybe avoid planning anything extra for the first few weeks while you settle in, rather than rushing about doing lots of extra things.

Or take a pillow to work I'll gladly take some of your tiredness, I can't sodding sleep today!

Managed 2 loads of laundry today with DCs helping. Tomorrow (ugh... today) they are with CM so I'll have the day to slowly crisis clean the living room, do more washing/drying and most likely have a nap! Oh but I also have some work to do on the laptop. Need to get a few bits chocolate and some form of fizzy caffeine from the Coop when I drop the DCs off and will try and fit in some proper reading or something rather than spend the whole day faffing about... honest...

Wishing you all a productive midweek!

Toffee I am sure the prospect of the change to f/t work is really daunting, but you've coped so well with so many difficulties previously, the same qualities such as patience, determination, creativity, sensitivity to others, which helped you in the past, will get you through this current challenge. Hope you don't mind me saying but I think you may need to be a little selfish at the beginning and prioritise your sleep, food, health etc and not let (unjustified!) guilt over working 'out of home' lure you in to burning the candle at both ends etc!! Be a bit selfish!! [Easier said than done I know though!]

Great your dh on board with the household chores!

Waves to Fuzzpig and everyone else!

Is it completion day today Blue?

Sorry you're having trouble sleeping, fuzz. Am very impressed by the way you get the DC involved in chores - it's so good for them and will pay dividends for you all. And yes, no danger of me rushing around doing extra stuff after new job. I imagine I'll come home and flake out.

SC - thank you . I am genuinely worried I won't be up to the job and will be thrown out before my probation is up, but I know that's all about confidence. I will just have to take it day by day. And keep a notebook of 'to do' lists with me to combat my dodgy memory.

Right, need to go and get dressed now. Doing the school run this morning, then into work with DH.

SC Hopefully it is exchanging contracts day today, but we'll see...

Be back later.

grrr - really cross today as ds2 cannot go to his tuition due a nasty rash (he says he cannot walk...that kind of rash) Really difficult to explain so I just won't explain to the tutors but today was my big clean day..so rats...

anyway, look on the bright side I now don't have to do any driving to and from tuition centre. I am not pleased with ds...all to do with hygiene etc..

Meal planning here is not good

However, in an ideal world I would be less creative and cook the following
on rotation (for five greedy people): roast chicken with roast potatoes, pasta bake with either mince and tomato or tuna/smoked fish and cheese sauce on top, salmon steaks with boiled potatoes and broccoli, lamb curry with spinach and sweet potato (from hairy bikers cookbook) and turmeric rice, and the standby of sausages and mashed potato and salad. As it is, I tend to go off on tangents and try recipes or soups which no-one eats and Sat without fail becomes a terrible mess due to the sudden input of dh with pizzas or M & S deli food because he thinks there is nothing to eat. And my emergency meal of choice is Baked Potatoes, ham or salami and salad, delicious. Puddings in this house are rice pudding (tinned) semolina (homemade) and nothing else really..everyone is eating biscuits all day anyway [sigh] Fruit vanishes in a trice, I should think everyone is eating 4 apples and 2 bananas daily each.

So must try harder.

Tomorrow the SALT is coming to assess ds2, which annoys me because I now cannot concentrate on the big sort I was planning and have to do crisis cleaning instead in the kitchen. Dh is off in an hour or so for six days.
PEACE but also tiring in a different way as I have to get up at 6.30 every morning.

It's so frustrating when your plans go awry because of other people knitting. I hear you! And snap with the fruit - it never lasts more than a couple of days, even though I buy loads.

Fingers crossed blue. Surely today is your day!

sc Best.Mealplan. Ever. Thank you!! Am shamelessly stealing it, and trying to convince myself I should hit the supermarket instead of read my book and drink hot chocolate (pre-school morning).

thanks for the good wishes toffee. If I get the job, DH will also need to greet me with a cocktail when I get home . You will be fine, I am sure. Have you read about Imposter Syndrome? I so have this but am trying to overcome!! Have a look at Amy Cuddy body language TED talk too - great last minute tips to go in and be fierce!

Waves to all - hope for a good day in the coop.

Hello all,
My meal plans are very simple as I'm just cooking for two, our 10mo DD eats our leftovers and other bits and bobs nicer than it sounds
So each weekend I just plan our meals and buy enough for just those meals. I used to just go round the aisles picking up unnecessary items and letting them spoil but I've got much better at planning. I have a fairly basic repertoire but it's stuff we both like and simple to do. Lasagne, cottage pie, lamb kebabs, stir fry, chicken casserole, fajitas, salmon etc We have pizzas and kievs in the freezer for lazy days.
Then we just do some veg or rice or cous cous to go with it. Often I'll do a large pot of bolognese and then make chilli with the leftovers.
So that's fairly basic and boring, sorry if it's not much help.

Well Monday was good to me, I got all my to dos done, plus some annoying legal paperwork we've been avoiding for weeks.
Then Tues was a bit of a write off, just did laundry, DW, and made dinner.
Today I have DH working from home so maybe I'll get some bits done. When he wfh he cooks so I'm looking forward to a sit down this evening while he's making a mess of my slaving over a hot clean stove
Happy flying!

Guests have gone out (without me this time) so have three mins to say:

OOOOhhh fingers crossed Blue!!!!!!!!! I bet you can hardly dare breathe in anticipation!µ

Hope your sale is going through imminently too Scatty

Greymalkin Whey hey to (and to your dh!!) on Wales's qualification!!!

You're welcome Chicken Good going re: your long list yesterday!

Ha Toffee! I missed the bit about the cocktail!! Have fun clothes shopping!

Bummer Knitting about the change of plan and knock-on cleaning effects! Hope you can manoeuvre around it all, although exhausting I am sure. And hope ds2's rash clears up bless him Good luck with the early starts ahead!

Funnily enough baked spud and ham and salad is one of my all time favourites too (must be the Irish in us!) Love sausage and mash too!

Will give that Hairy Biker recipe a go to now you've recommended it! (Like that book but haven't tried that one yet!)

Ham, egg and chips one of my all time favourites too Can'tsee!!

[extremely greedy emoticon]

Hope you don't succumb to the flu!

Sorry you are not sleeping Fuzzpig hope you can catch up over the next few days

Hope you feel a bit more rested Saymwa and that there isn't too much to do with your dh away

How are you getting on Fishbones??

Waves to Feetheart Whoknows Honu Don'tbuy and eveyrone else I've missed!

xpost

Don'tbuy happy Flying to you too!

Thinking of you Blue!

Toffee thank you, it's really not as impressive as it sounds, but I'm hoping to gradually get them more involved. I try to never have a go at them about being messy because it's not their fault they have me as a mum! And the hypocrisy really used to sting when my parents would tell me off for the state of my room (which was genuinely no worse than the rest of the house). Anyway I'm trying (trying!) to approach it as a 'we should work together' thing. DD doesn't half whinge though so sometimes I do lose my rag a bit. In fact yesterday I did get upset with her because when I was showing DSD our new veg chopper thing (which is AMAZING by the way, a tenner well spent! My achy hands are saved!) and saying how it's so much easier to cut things, DD said that's because you're lazy. I may have got rather cross I know she didn't mean to be horrible but she's said a few things like that lately without thinking, and I am rather sensitive about it - not her fault but we did explain how she has to think before she says things like that, and that it is hurtful for me to be called lazy when actually the reason I can't do everything is that I'm ILL, not that I'm lazy.

Right it's gone past 11 and I told myself I would get off the sofa then (I've rested for an hour after dropping DCs off with CM and dragging shopping home on the bus) and do a few things before my next rest. Somebody give me a kick!

Speaking of needing a kick. I'm sorry I've been so ridiculously grumpy on here lately, and I decided to post a thread in a more appropriate place so I can keep more positive on here while I try and get stuff done! But nobody replied so if anyone has any words of wisdom/experience etc, pretty please could you pop over? (No worries if not, obvs)

Ranty moany thread

Right now I seriously am getting up, dusting off the croissant crumbs off me and mainlining Dr Pepper while I get on with it. 10 minutes later than planned but it must be done!

This is my first ever mumsnet post. I have been following your thread for a bit and am inspired by you all to keep my show on the road by using and completing lists. I have just moved back to London from several years aboard and having had no paid work for all that time am now working 4 days in a fairly stressful office environment. I have one ds (7). The main thing I need to do is establish a morning routine as I am getting up far too late and so the morning is a rush. I am organised in the evening though and always tidy the kitchen and living room before bed (including plumping cushions!!) and laying out gear for the morning. I am a v tidy person too - I have to have a very tidy home to feel comfortable. Another big aim is to start to do more outside of home/ work/ child related activities..to re-establish sport in my life and culture beyond reading.

I think that is enough of an intro for now!