Autumn leaves flutter as October Fledglings Fly!

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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!

Sorry you interveiw prep has not been going to plan toffee

House moves rarely go to time ime. Hope things move quickly for those who are waiting on bits of important paperwork to go through.

Still need to find the time to be ill so that can recover. Today I am mostly sorting boxes of stuff, lots of random stuff that other people have helfully created for me to deal with later rather than borrowing ds when he was younger so it could just get done. Only another 30 or what feels like of the damn things to go.

Crikey, can certainly see why people avoid confronting paper clutter!!

Have just dived in to file brought back from UK after my parents' house was cleared out and sold (never looked at it since). Each of my siblings has one; this contains papers relating to me ie religious certificates, school reports, medical docs, graduation pamphlet thing, many photographs, letters,cards and work-related clippings I'd sent to them over the years. Rather brings it home that my late parents don't have any need of them any more

On a positive front, my school reports weren't half as bad as I'd remembered!! I even got the occasional B minus in maths ! Physical education > "tries hard but is rather slow" [same old, same old!!]

On this basis, would definitely advise keeping our dc's school reports for them to gander at in future as they are hugely entertaining!!

Anyway, that is my 15 mins of paper clutter for today SORTED!!!

Keep going Can'tsee!!

MIL just turned up unexpectedly, as I was washing my hair. The house was a tip because that was the second thing on my list after job prep. Seems DH forgot to tell me she was coming.

I did tell her the house was spotless on Sunday afternoon, after I'd spent all weekend cleaning. Not sure if she believed me, but she was very nice about it.

Am just going to have to wear the dress I wore to my last interview. Wanted to look a bit more polished and professional this time, but it can't be helped. Voice is very croaky and might give out entirely by this afternoon, so I shall have to apologise for that.

Oh dear, mil's are the last people you want around on the morning of an interview!

You will be terrific Toffee!! [And they will not be judging you on your dress sense!!] I am sure you will look lovely anyway with such a lovely figure as yours!! Go for it girl

hi all,

hold out very little hope that this month will see much improvement in my standards but will limp on cheerfully if that is what required...

this thread teaches me to be grateful I have achieved ANYTHING.

This morning I

shook out tablecloth
practised my driving (aka took children to school and ds2 to SALT)
was very nice to dd when she was being a pain (teenage girls can be just so...dramatic)
fed cats
felt blessed by ds1 being in a good mood and for getting up under his own steam and finding his own stuff/clothes/violin

Housework wise...Nil

I've retired to bed for my lunchbreak. Dh is being very tiresome about the new lawn (he says it is the wrong kind of grass - too weak and weedy) but he is playing badminton with ds2 in a grumpy sort of way so I suppose I should not feel cross with him.

SC I don't think that is clutter..it's an ARCHIVE. My mum used to look at her old reports and it gave her a different view on her parents...suddenly she used to imagine them actually standing there reading them and how it must have felt when they were in their forties/fifties and she was a teenager "unfolding" as it were (is that a very Unkondo like concept I wonder?

Toffee stop caring about your MIL's opinions of the house. It is your house and she is a guest, especially if she just drops round unexpectedly. Hurrah for interview and I hope it goes successfully.

mrsmook I am going to try one more time... this month perhaps...

Good luck toffee and thanks for the welcome everyone

sc that sounds like a fab collection (I was a swot but my reports are ruined by the Ds and Es I'd get for PE). I'm a huge Kondo fan, but this sounds like the sort of thing that brought joy to your DP and now will bring joy to you.

I've done the 15min declutter, hooray, plus load of washing and dw on. If DC2 falls asleep, I'll mumsnet for an hour shine the bless-ed sink.

Only just back from dr and shops here so have achieved nothing house wise but have done my errands for the day at least, including posting some stuff I've sold on eBay which counts as declutter lol.

Going to look out the stuff we need to send to the mortgage company for a new mortgage and file some paperwork, brush down stairs and sweep porch, put a washing on and do a 7 min kitchen rescue and 7 min living room rescue instead of a 15 min declutter in one space.

X

Ps

Toffee good luv with interview. I hate when mil shows up unannounced. I now lock my front door and if the doorbell goes and I don't know who it is then I don't answer.

Sc that must have been interested reading but can understand it must have been sad too. I never know what to do with paper like that tbh. I've kept some stuff for my girls so far like cards from grandparents when they were born and for naming days and I've kept a few items of clothing but I've got rid of a lot of my 'emotional clutter' as a lot of it I had kept out of guilt over throwing it away. Now that I've gotten rid of it I never think of it or even remember what it was.

Knitting that sounds like a positive day even if it's not all been house work. Fly lady is about so much more than that, it's about giving yourself time to do things that 'bless' your family and yourself.

Chicken well done on the achievements today xx

First day back on the wagon and I have:

• Got everyone up and out with the correct kit
• Taken DS and neighbour's daughter to school for International Day - neighbour's child looking beautiful in an Iranian outfit, DS looking like a scruff in an Ireland rugby t-shirt and an old jumper with the Union flag on it
• Done and hung out one load of washing
• Got another load on
• WORK - all the monthly contract invoices plus any left over from last month
• Waited impatiently for postman to see whether I have got into London Marathon or not (really hoping not!)
• Arranged to pick free damsons via Freegle but turns out it is someone I know :)

Need to:

• Do breakfast washing up
• Plan dinner for 3 (I'm going out :))
• Tidy throughout before cleaner comes tomorrow so she can actually clean!

Good luck with interview Toffee

Ta da
remove clutter from 2 boxes and reduce to 1/2 box to be found home for contents
clear box of stuff recorded
string a box (school thing don't ask)
found bit of paper with dentist appointment on it and lose it again
wash sofa throws (1 loads)
1 load normal washing
decluttered and put stuff into storage from various surfaces so surfaces easier to de-dust

There is a milk free rice pudding in the oven, rice milk didn't work that well so trying oat milk this time.

Just time to quickly grab a shower and throw some clothes on before sorting out what is needed for ds' after school activities. I have a scary to do list and really really need to learn the definition of rest

Thanks for all the good lucks everyone (especially your moral-boosting one, SC - not so sure it's accurate at present ).

Managed a complete crisis clean of the house, including making up guest bed for DM (just arrived) and DS2 in his brother's bedroom. Another load of washing on.

No Next delivery at all, so am wearing the dress. Can't be helped.

DM and DH have gone to collect the DC from their schools, which gives me 45 minutes alone before I have to leave for the interview. And here I am on MN . But am not sure there's much more I can do to prepare, to be honest. Have answers to 'what is your biggest weakness?' and 'why do you want this job?' buzzing round my head like bees. And am not quite so forgetful yet that I can't remember my own CV.

Looking forward to later.

Good luck Toffee!!! And, um, where do you see yourself in five years time?

Ha ha! On my own Caribbean island, drinking Pimms, hopefully, SC .

Last-minute revision done. Going now.

Argh!

You will be fine Toffee. Don't panic. We believe you can do it. and if the big meanies say otherwise, you just give the nodd and we'll fix 'em for ya

No news today. I can't imagine what state I'd be in if I'd been waiting since May, Scatty - puts it in perspective a bit!

Now on train down to London for a conference followed by a weekend workshop/networking/social event. This involves public speaking and a public discussion of a text I've translated... Haven't had enough mental space to get nervous yet!

SC I have been through boxes of that kind of sentimental clutter that were up in the loft. It is just so hard to deal with. I chucked a lot of old birthday cards, confirmation cards etc, as well as uni ID cards, German bus passes etc. Started getting worried by my hoarding instincts!

How did it go, Toffee?

Waves to everyone else.

Hope it went well toffee. It's hard to have self confidence with these things but I'm sure you more than deserve it.

Blue it's all relative. I probably found it harder right after it fell through than I do now because it was so raw.
What happened with yours? Xx

today is not going well grr.
tomorrow we are going to look at ds2's tuition centre though which should perk things up a bit.
really in a stalemate now waiting for the school place AND waiting for the LA to do something
ds2 is fine today if difficult to pin down but I am tired..and dh being anxious --annoying== about work ..not a good combination.

SALT went well.

We did the Enlightenment today in a general sort of way with scientists and philosophers but I really lacked a proper textbook or explanation..I seem to remember doing a whole term on enlightened despots back in the seventies..where are all the resources gone..perhaps it is all fixed topics in NC now. Bring back Frederick II and Catherine the Great.
I possibly need to go to the library, but my last borrowed book for ds2 has been so overdue Im frightened of library fine and extremely patronising librarians so..hmm. I made ds write down 9 important names and what they did, very briefly like one word..then went to another room and quizzed him. asked ds who Joseph Banks was and he said, an electrician...NOOO that was Benjamin Franklin..and he wasn;t an actual electrican. I know they all sound the same when your mum is mumbling important and useless information.

Home ed is very frustrating..you can see all these fascinating topics slipping away from you..when you want to go into things in greater depth but it is hard enough getting them to remember the most obvious things that you end up skipping stuff. Let alone the washing up.

If it helps knitting I feel that way as a teacher most of the time. I never have the time to do what I want to do with fascinating topics as there is always too much else going on :-(

Aww knitting do you have the book that's overdue? Anyway if you just go in and say 'I owe you some fines' they won't be horrible. At least in our library we wouldn't. Chances are they've seen a LOT worse.

Been thinking of you Toffee.

My DH's interview went well, the interviewer was fascinated by home ed so kept getting sidetracked asking DH about that apparently! He won't know til next week.

SC poor DD, so frustrating that she has to miss more school but it sounds like that's better than pushing herself too much and potentially getting much more run down and having to miss more down the line

DH is bringing DCs back from their first session at Badgers, I had a lovely quiet time playing piano and now listening to Adiemus (DH HATES it so it's up nice and loud while he's out. Ha.)

shiny sink (well, shinyish) and declutter done. Didn't get round to the mission, but DID beat the ironing pile. Go me

Scatty, our sale is going ahead, but has been held up by an apparently continuous stream of incompetence on the part of lawyers and estate agents. Everything crossed we will exchange tomorrow...

Thanks for all the tips and advice about the sentimental paper clutter everyone! Really appreciated!

Oh noooooo Blue that's just NOT fair!!!! Good luck with yr speech (at least that should help you take your mind off property matters!!) and safe travelling x [Will have to follow in your footsteps and be ruthless with the paper clutter btw!!]

Tell us how it went Toffee?!! And well done re: all the Flying you did today too!

[polishes Can'tsees knuckle dusters with Brasso]

Sounds as if your dh's interview went really well Fuzzpig (always a good sign when they go off topic!). [Googles Adiemus]

Well done for Flying high ChickenFox!! (Especially the dreaded ironing pile!)

Knitting yes I was going to say exactly the same as Scattymum re: school topics moving too fast! Congrats on getting so much done so early in the day!!

Can'tsee and Feetheart congrats on ploughing through v. respectable ta da lists!

Hope you feel better soon Can'tsee!

[And yay to the men in green Feetheart bet your lad looked fab too!!]
And you are running a marathon?? [faints] Crikey! Well done!!

You sound very on top of this Flying business Scattymum and good to know I won't miss the sentimental paper clutter when I'm done!! And yes, selling things on Ebay definitely counts!!

Big, encouraging wing flaps to everyone else!!

DD even worse today if anything! She didn't even read or watch telly but just slept all day and has eaten like a sparrow. Doesn't look as if she will be going in tomorrow either and she is devastated to being missing pointe class.

I did manage to get a few things done but not everything on my list:

Ta da list cont'd/...
morning routine inc animals, empty dw, wm, dining room table hot spots, s&s done
baby step one done but didn't do mission
make healthy salad lunches for me NOPE had sandwich
make healthy soup/veggie dish - yes made carrot, onion, potato, celery, red lentil, thyme and bacon lardon soupy/stewy thing for lunches.
Also used up all lingering veg in fridge in baked chicken, garlic, thyme, shallots, baby tom, new pot, yellow and green pepper dish. Was really good even though I say it myself!!
Fr - NOPE!!
exercise NOPE but there's still time now dh is back!
boudoir NOPE ditto above
paper shredding - did 15 mins of paper decluttering in office - yay!!
laundry - yes did three loads and dried two
pack and send back yet more on-line parcel returns NOPE
evening routine [sigh] have yet to clear up supper and put rabbits to bed
Also did 20 mins of v. successful dog training! Yay!!
Also cleaned out and emptied recycling bins which didn't get done as usual this Mon because of teaching day holiday.
Also went out for 8 minute drive with dh in his new car which we don't need.

Also watched GBBO this evening with dh and dd which was on too late last night (hr ahead).

Still things to finish (can I face emptying and filling the dw again tonight I wonder?) so going to post links for tomorrow and say goodnight now!

Well done Fledglings on all of your very productive days!!

Here's hoping for tomorrow Blue [crosses more extremities]!!!

Here are Friday's links:

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Baby-step no. 2 for tomorrow, Friday 2nd Oct , is here! Yes, it is the controversial one about getting dressed in lace-up shoes and doing hair and make up immediately upon rising!

Newcomers: not many of us on here adhere to step 2. This is an example of where you should just adapt the system to suit yourself. Personally, I find the step quite helpful because I have to impose a routine on myself rather than having one imposed on me by work etc.

Here is Flylady's explanation of the step.

We will spend our second day in Zone 1 tomorrow : Entrance, Front Porch & Dining Room here . Spend 15 mins a day decluttering this zone (and/or do a mission!).

If you are at the stage where you have finished decluttering Zone 1, here is the detailed cleaning list for this area.

Btw newcomers - don't be put off by the fact that Flylady is still showing September zones and is still showing zone 5 as the zone of the week . Her website is a bit skew-whiff and takes a while to catch up with the new month!

Friday's mission can be found here. It's a multi-room mission (which may take longer than15 mins). Get rid of the pile of shoes and junk mail by the front door, and declutter the magazines and school papers that are piled on the dining room table.

Friday's daily focus is: here cleaning out and decluttering our cars, purses and handbags!

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 spent on housework is better than nothing!

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