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!

Calm those knees DontBuyANewMumCashmere - you are very welcome!

Goodness, no wonder you are finding the chores a challenge at the moment having moved house a month prior to giving birth!!

Sorry to disappoint but the theory is that you are never behind with Flylady, so you can jump in right now and not wait for the first of the month!!

The reason you are never behind is that tasks come around again every month and if miss you them on one occasion, they will appear again very soon!

Any questions - don't hesitate to ask - and ignore barftastic language of Flylady site, the underlying system is sound!

Good luck!

x post

[Looks hopefully over to Can'tsee for some special brew]

On the naughty corner Bar SC big VAT for all those in need.

Massive fail this morning out of shampoo and conditioner and just had to wash my hair in shower gel. it smells wrong

Thanks for caffeine boost Can't [glugs happily]

Oh no cant see hair disasters are always the worst.
It's awful weather here so can't face going out with the kids but the thought of staying in is even worse lol.
Washing is on, beds made and kids dressed and fed. BabyScat's nap soon so time for my workout and shower then some learning games with ToddlerScat.

Home blessing tomorrow as my mum takes girls on a wed afternoon for me to do it yay.

Today my list is -
Phone work about kit day
Put away washing
Hoover
Swish and swipe bathroom
Spend some quality time with ToddlerScat
Underwear drawer purge

Good luck ladies x

Welcome aboard and don't worry!

SC / Knitting Sorry I wasn't clear. The delay is with the buyers' solicitors who still haven't reviewed query responses they were sent almost a week ago. But because the estate agents don't seem to have any sense of urgency about chasing them up, and always seem to be out of date with what they think is going on, there's a suspicion that they are stalling for some reason they're not letting on about.

We got a phone call yesterday evening from the efficient lot saying that the senior management had speeded things up. But that was 10 minutes after a message from the other shower saying that they would chase them again in a few days!

... And breathe...

well, drive to tuition centre for ds2 (who is homeschooled atm for those a bit ) went very well...hardly any traffic and I found the way (have absolutely no sense of direction) but several trial runs on the bus and getting lost on the Thames Path had helped me focus

He was very nervous - whole new ballgame a very small "school" - he still has so many hangups about losing important items and being told off, or not knowing what he is supposed to do. But he looked tall and handsome and just, grownup when he went in so I think he will be fine - as long as they don't fire too many questions at him..(he tends to go blank in these situations) It is all 1:1 today I don't really see what can go wrong except that he tries to run off

Now I have a few hours to do what I like..and it is housework that beckons..

SC hope dd survives today. Is there a new friend that can be invited over at weekend to make the whole atmosphere more bearable?

Hi Dont!

Don't worry about being behind. The beauty of FlyLady is that you are never behind, just start where you are. I'm trying to get on top of the absolute basics at the moment and will build up from there.

So sleepy this morning although I had another lovely long lie in this morning thanks to well behaved DCs. DD eventually woke me up by playing a new piece she's been learning on the piano - very apt as it's Morning from Peer Gynt :o

to do
Super Skills with DCs
Typing (a few sessions)
Get something out of the freezer for dinner
Learn about Poland with DCs (put them into acrostic poem maybe? Or dare I start our first lapbook?)
Make blood cells out of clay!
Put clothes away
Wash some dressing up clothes and hang out
Cook dinner

Right. Deep breath and off I go. Wingflaps to all! :)

Fuck me but I've had a shit morning. DF been admitted to French hospital with a suspected blocked artery. DS was playing up, and DH is working late.

If anyone wants me, I'll be in the naughty corner rocking gently.

Thanks to you all for waves and encouragement.
I need to keep a bookmark of what to do each day, SC alI saw your evening post last night with links to today, do you do that every day? You are very good at this!
I feel like I've got so many jobs to do today, but I really have to:

• get paperwork signed and witnessed
• hang out laundry
• change bed
• chase plumber for quote
• make dinner

Anything else is a bonus.
So far I have fed dogs, done a poo patrol in garden, put dishwasher on, put washing load on, taken DD to sing and sign, and just put her down for nap.

I'd like to sit down and MN for while but the jobs would be good to get done.

Ha! No irrational fear of sails, I meant jobs!

carpe jeez, here and

welcome dontbuy (your username is too true!) - I'm new too but find this group really helpful in keeping me accountable!

done
wm load
dw load
baby steps (sink, dressed, hotspot)
tea out to defrost

to do
30 mins paper declutter (did none yesterday)
sort some stuff for selling page
kitchen 1 thing off detailed list - stick extractor fan bits in DW
wipe table 1000 times as DS keeps spilling things everywhere!!!
buy wrapping paper and post a bday present
take recycling out

Good morning fledglings, happy birthday to Dogs and for you! And welcome to Cashmere, we're a chatty bunch, do join in.

So far today:
Cats fed and let out
DS up, fed, dressed etc (believe me this is a 'ta da')
Dishwasher emptied
Dishwasher maintenance: salt and rinse aid top up, cleaner cycle
Gathered up all towels and into washing machine
DS bed made
Kitchen table and work tops scrubbed clean

To do:
Trip into town for
*eyebrow threading
*post office
*Stationary shopping
*PJs and sock for DS
make bed now DH has finally got out of it
Put away dry laundry
Take delivery of online shop

Paper decluttering has started well, I've managed to sort out the two heaps on the sofa and now have a smaller pile of stuff that needs 'actioning'. As per today's mission, I am going to set my timer later and do 15 minutes paper purge in the kitchen.

Today I am very much an angry shrew. DH is tiptoeing round me and so he bloody should be. He got a new car yesterday and emptied the contents of his old one into our entrance hall, promising to deal with it last night. Did he fuck. It's still there now and he is about to leave for work for three days.

But worst of all, he let slip a very revealing and hurtful comment; he said that because he pays for a fortnightly cleaner, he doesn't feel remotely bad about not doing anything round the house. I am fighting a losing battle to have a clean, tidy and respectable home. He doesn't give a shit about leaving a trail of clothes, rubbish, junk and detritus in his wake. How the fuck am I going to stand a chance of raising DS to see that men also have a responsibility to do boring every day tasks, that it is not women's responsibility and that I am not their fucking skivvy?

For once I am looking forward to DH buggering off to work for the week. At least I can guarantee the toilet will be clean, the sink not overflowing and there being no dirty pants lying round the house in random places.

I'm going out. I may get wine. Or chocolate. Or ice cream. Or maybe all?

Epic x-post there...

Carpe - hope your DF will be ok, thinking of you

Knitting - fingers crossed for your DS, hope he has a great day, your DD too SC

Wing flaps to everyone else

So far dones
cleared out food cupboards and rationalised dry goods/baking stuff so that some are in cool cupboard in pantry and the rest is in the kitchen
washed dd's sheets from her laundry basket (big backlog there - she's been making her bed and changing sheets but not actually washing them in the meantime - 2 double duvet covers in there!!!)
put the ramekins on a top shelf in kitchen where some of the pasta used to be, and I could never reach it

dh has swept kitchen floor this morning
loaded dw, put dw on
veg box has arrived

been shopping for emergency cat food and potatoes/washing up liquid
and packed lunch ingredients for ds2 (cream cheese and Ribena )

now need to chase up ED psych report for ds2

and do the video shelf (remove the videos) whilst dh is out to business lunch. Want to put all home ed books there

NOOO Grey cleaner keeps things ticking over, they don't replace general organisation. However, it is probably true that your dh may be a bit preoccupied with his work, and therefore not interested in the rubbish from the car. And disclaimer

I emptied a lot of rubbish from our car into the hall a few weeks ago and some of it is still circulating..

Dh's nastiest habit is to empty his pockets of loose change and fluff and just dump it randomly around our bedroom, and worse still to leave little heaps of IMPORTANT STUFF that I am not allowed to touch, carrier bags full of papers, jackets draped over chairs, walking boots. Then if he is looking for said stuff a year later he complains if I've moved it.

Thanks for kind words about ds2 btw. It is only two hours till I have to pick him up...

grey that is infuriating.

Sorry but a cleaner is not paid to pick up underwear and put dishes away and it isn't your responsibility either. I'm a sahm just now while on Mat leave and so I do the majority of household chores and cleaning but I refuse to pick up after hubby if he's left stuff lying about as that isn't cleaning, that's picking up after someone's lazy ass. I agree it's disrespectful and a shocking example to your son.
I would be tempted to go on 'strike' and not do anything for him, no meals or washings or picking up after him until he gets the message. Still do all your other normal stuff but just don't do anything that he has left. It'll be really hard but it sounds like drastic action is needed

I view it as we all deserve a nice home to live in but that means we all need to contribute to it.

I've cleared video shelf (very dusty behind)
rejigged videos (no, I'm not allowed to chuck them!)
put most in a cupboard where no-one sees them
put a lot of home ed literature books on shelf now vacated
hung out some sheets
put another wash on

this is so frustrating...dh is going to return soon and say I've made more mess than I started with, and now I have to pick up ds2 aargh.

Will go back to washing up again the stuff in the sink.

Well, at least have decluttered SOMETHING

Oh no Carpe :( sending healing vibes to your DF!

Grey I find cake best for sublimating rage (and yours is certainly valid!)

Not going well here, feeling rather under the weather and DS is all snotty and grotty.

ta da
Washed bags and bras
Ordered new water bottle and a couple of other bits (one of those easy veg chopper things came up on Amazon lightning deal - hoping it'll make dinner prep much easier for me as I can't always manage slicing and dicing myself and usually rely on DH if he's here)
Super Skills Time
DD typing practice
Bit of piano playing which was nice
Got something out of the freezer for dinner... and once again regretted not labelling anything as I'm not entirely sure what it is...

I don't think I'll get much else done today, but will try!

Can I join Carpe and Grey hiding in the corner with and ?

Lawyers. Again. And this time our buyers are also being thick.

Ended up with over time at work which didn't leave me enough time to run the needed errands, although I did manage to tick one thing off the to do list that has been on there for over a year, so feeling rather frustrated and don't really have the energy to head back out to do the errands. Going to have to though. There is a layer of dust in my bedroom that makes it looks like it has been snowing in there, it did not look like this earlier

there will be strong spirits behind the bar very shortly for those in need.

Right homework, tea, shops, do not kill anyone. Power of three and a bit tonight

Where's that emoticon when you need it?!

Aw blue I'm sorry. I've never found anything more stressful than this house buying and selling.

Our buyers have their mortgage sorted so just praying the valuation refresh comes back at what it was previously and we can put an offer in on the house we like.

I managed most stuff today plus baking with ToddlerScat as that's what she asked to do with her 'mummy time' today. BabyScat has been very bad tempered and my head is burst from her screaming argh. Is it bedtime yet lol.

boys are screaming at each other...ds1 is so at the end of his tether after a day at school including Twilight session. However strangely he suddenly announced he wants to do Maths A Level. WHAAAAT? You can't do Maths!! Oh yes I can and I am going to get an A in gsce..ummm ommm Well that motivate him to get a B which is good.

Meanwhile, ds2 has had a rather uneventful day at tuition centre. I think he thought it was quite tiring to sit and work for fours hours straight but it all seems very peaceful there. Only a tiny bit of socialising though. Tomorrow I hope the mixed classes will be more fun for him.

dd has a bad cold.

Evening! [Eyes up the shorts on the bar and considers clock]

Carpe I'm so very sorry to hear about your father. Awful for you so far away. Rest assured though that if he's in France he will be getting v good treatment. Is he on holiday there or resident? Can he communicate etc? Wishing him a very quick recovery.

Here's an entire vat of for you Blue! I understand why you are concerned if it is your buyers who are not actively pursuing their purchase (I might be confused about this so apologies if I have this wrong). Could you try and find out from them what is going on? And are you sure the buyer's solicitors have actually received the queries? The continuing uncertainty must be beyond horrible for you x

Greymalkin at your dh's attitude from the 1950s!! No wonder you are upset. Sorry but that is simply not on! Totally 'get' why you are concerned about the influence it will have on your ds too. I second Scatty's strike idea!

Very well done with the paper declutteirng btw!!

And thank you - dd didn't have too bad a day in the end!

Can'tsee¨hope power of three proves effective this eve!

Top marks re the food cupboard reorganisation, decluttering, dusting and laundry Knitting! Glad the drive wasn't too bad this morning and hope your ds2's nerves wore off as the day went on! DD unfortunately missed a friend's b'day party last w/e with being ill and therefore missed out on a few of the new alliances that are being made so yes, we will be making an effort to ensure she brings new friends home. Visitors coming next week too - favourite aunt and friend - so hopefully will take her mind off things a bit in the evenings.

Fuzzpig sorry you are not feeling as well as yesterday but glad you managed a lie-in and hope you enjoy your "surprise" supper tonight! How lovely about the Peer Gynt and to be serenaded by your dd! That particular CD is well worn here. DD continually makes up dances to 'Morning' (in fact she's used it as a ballet audition piece) and when she was young, she and her cousins used to pretend to be goblins to the sound of "In the hall of the Mountain King"

Chicken I remember that phase when one was wiping up food spills, glue, paint, general gloops, a million times a day!! It does get better!

Don'tbuy yes, thank you, I post the links every night for the following day. (Or sometimes early in the morning if I am running late.) Everyone takes a turn at thread running during the year. It's easier posting links here because the Flylady site can be a bit convoluted and if you sign up to her e-mails (your choice of course) you tend to get inundated with them. And by now, seasoned thread members can advise on which steps and routines are really helpful and which are completely batty less so. Arf at your irrational "fear of sails" . What dogs do you have btw? [nosy]

Hope the weather allowed you to get out in the end Scatty x

Waves feathers at everyone else!