Remember remember through all of November the Fledglings will flutter and fly!

[fuzzpig]

Halloween’s over, Christmas (sorry) is drawing near, but perhaps you have too much S.T.U.F.F. (Something That Undermines Family Fun) getting in the way. Or maybe you want to rid your house of C.H.A.O.S. (Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome)? Have no fear, the Fledglings are here! We are all learning to get into a routine for maintaining the household, so we have more time for that thing called life.

This is where, from the first of the month (seriously, HOW is it November already?!), we follow – loosely – the rules of FlyLady. We ignore the somewhat barftastic language, and also thoroughly recommend NOT signing up to the emails… unless you want your inbox full to bursting.

Here’s some basic info on getting started – but don’t worry, all will be revealed on a daily basis (assuming I get the links right…) so just jump in.

There are 3 basic stages:

• Baby Steps – if you’re new, start here. Or if you’re coming back to us after a break (trust me, we’ve been there!) then these are good way to get back into it.

• Repeat Baby Steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current room or 'zone' - yep, just 15 mins, it makes a difference!

or

• Reinforce Baby Steps + do Daily Missions - if you have finished decluttering (one day I’ll get to that stage… one day…).

There are also detailed cleaning guides if you’re really enthusiastic.

NB
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!

Another NB
Start where you are. There is no need to worry about being perfect – perfectionism = paralysis! There is no such thing as ‘falling behind’ with FlyLady, if you miss anything, just move on and continue as normal the next day.

Any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Good luck!

(that was to knitting sorry not clear)

Afternoon all!

So lovely, and very cheering, to come on here amidst all the doom and gloom and see all of your lovely messages! Thank you very much everyone!

Tbh, it's pretty quiet in our immediate area. Dh sent out a load of messages to staff members and clients last night telling the former to work from home if it was too difficult to get in, and the latter to say it was business as usual (which I pointed out to him could be a difficult combination but, as usual, I was promptly ignored! ).

Minor inconveniences are: bank is closed so I can't collect my new credit card (so on-line shopping plans for today go belly up!). Delivery of new ironing board has been postponed because they are short of drivers. If that's the worst that happens, we can't really complain !

I suppose the thing that goes through one's head is that, were the threat level to be reduced from 4 to 3, and it is declared safe to use public transport, why would it be suddenly safe to use the metro, when it wasn't safe the previous day (if that makes sense)? Other than that, I am taking comfort in what Knitting said is that Bxls is probably in lock-down (we hope!) for the largely pragmatic reason that it is a relatively small city. It would be impossible to carry out similar measures in Paris or London for example.

Must go and do chores and profit from the remaining couple of hours of daylight but just wanted to:

-say "thank you" hugely to Castle for that lovely post! It's so lovely to "see" you back on here! How is life? And how is the lo? I hope you are all thriving! I've also been wondering how you have been getting on too!

• Send a big bunch of to Grey! So sorry you are feeling so rotten!! Broken nights, depression, plus a hugely energetic little 'un, is a mahoosive load to bear all at once, so although you may be feeling you are ineffective, you really aren't because your ds is safe and warm and fed and clothed! (The playing can wait until you feel better!) xxx

Knitting I must try and find a copy of that book! Tbh, aside from current situation, I think I would miss Bxls too if I moved away. There is a lot that I like here (and it's more a question of living in the countryside, rather than the UK specifically that I miss) but it is funny how the grass is always greener somehow! I've two Belgian friends who moved away upon marriage who really wanted to stay put, who send me long missives about how they wish they were back here. It's a funny old world indeed!

I'm very impressed by anyone who has a "bridge brain". Mine is far too woolly ... .

Fuzzpig your links made me cackle because I thought that if any time was appropriate to lie under the bed, then today might be it!!

Big waves in return to Whoknows Blue and Can't and anyone else I've missed!

We are major board game addicts in this house. In fact it's one of the main reasons I would like to get the house more sorted. We have too much S.T.U.F.F. and for us Family Fun very much equals board games! Our huge collection is certainly better organised than it was, but still got a way to go as our lovely (charity shop bargain) unit cupboard thingy still has some very messy overstuffed shelves and drawers. I would love to be at the stage where it's always easy to get to whatever game we want and also for the table (worst Hot Spot in the house) to always be clear so we can just play whenever we want. Our range of board games was even mentioned in our Home Ed report - the inspector person was so impressed with them and said if the DCs play them a lot then they will learn loads from it :o

BTW for any Labyrinth fans, there's a new Star Wars edition out! Not getting it myself (we already have the regular one and a LOTR one we found in a charity shop) but looks cool :) and it goes on Amazon Lightning deal tomorrow (around 5am ).

I've managed some home ed with the DCs today, and did some laundry stuff, and eaten my body weight in cereal. No idea why I'm craving carbs to such a ridiculous extent since yesterday - I'm hoping it's not down to the increase in ADs.

Links for Tuesday 24th November!

Baby Step No.24: Swish and Swipe! A daily spruce up of the bathroom to be added to your morning routine.

We are in Zone 4 this week: Master Bedroom (a.k.a. The Boudoir) (November 22-28).

Declutter for 15 mins in Zone 4 if you want to.

If you are at this stage, here is the detailed cleaning list for Zone 4.

Mission Tuesday: Do a 27 Fling Boogie!

Tuesday's daily focus is: Planning.

The habit for November is: Menu Planning!

A summary of the above (which should update itself daily) can be found here in the Flightplan.

Why is it only Tuesday?!

Aaaargh someone kick me off the sofa! Must do a room rescue!

Everything still on lock-down here (not something I would have expected to be posting on a Flying thread!). Should be a good opportunity to do some intense choring, and I've done quite a bit of washing, tidying and soup-making, but one keeps being drawn to the latest news channels.

Still quiet but it's gone from 'tense but calm' to more 'jittery and worrying, and I want this to stop now' overnight. The corner of our street featured on the lunch time news, empty of any life. Obviously, we can't stop walking the dog and there was absolutely no-one around last night, when normally there is horrible traffic congestion. When the odd car drives past, they are going really slowly and eyeing you up, and you are eyeing them up suspiciously too. Really quite eery tbh!

Even worse, the manager of our local A & E was featured on the news pointing to a stack of white suits which were "available for citizens in case of chemical attack".

Trying to keep as much as this from dd as poss (fortunately she has lots of work to catch up on to keep her occupied) but it's virtually impossible to stop texts flying between her and her friends. She's very apprehensive about going back to school tomorrow but I've told her that it makes sense to go back while the security level remain high and therefore all the extra safety measures are still in place. (Trying to convince myself of this too!)

The plan is that the security level remains at its highest until Monday but between then and now various bits of the metro will open, as will the schools, with increased security measures in each. Have received a list of extra measures from dd's school relating to slightly different procedures for drop off and pick up, visitors needing a special pass and dc not being let out of premises at lunch time.

Heigh ho, we'll just have to see how it goes ... . I've had one friend text me to say that they won't be sending their dc back tomorrow because of lack of sufficient information, but we are definitely going to send dd back, unless the situation changes overnight.

Hope everyone else is OK! Waves to all!

[Making notes about those board games btw Fuzz and Knitting]

well, another EHCP form filled in (long) -just getting worse and worse I seriously think I am going either be master of zen, home school him forever or become a walking talking funny latin word obsessive
more computer skills mastered. More moving of goal posts, important professionals talking over my head and generally feeling like I am the silly junior person in the whole set up..whilst Olympians battle it out.

lots of badtempered kids and dhs (multiple personality ) here
I am swigging paracetamol

Ds1 has just surpassed himself by REFUSING to go to the "devised" play which explains just what is involved in doing drama at local college - screaming and saying he "didn't need to see it" and "someone might recognise him" honestly why do drama in the first place if you feel so worried about these things..I despair. And it is literally 2 mins walk down the road. However the good thing is that a few rants later, he is now in an excellent mood, like someone who has taken a tonic

Drove lots today, and snuggling under duvet for some of it.

Now to wash lots of pots and pans which have been sitting there a while.

SC very evocative account of city under siege and so balanced in your accounts of the people you volunteer with.. I should think you are very safe just you and the dog - I would think not really a target. London is quite tough always, dd has to wear a security pass all the time at her school; they have a horror of unidentified people wandering around. Ds1 aged 15/16 is not allowed out of school at lunchtime ever, but for some reason no id tags, think the uniform is bad enough!

Even the kids here have to wear security pass and the biggest risk is that sheep invade the school field again. nope no one ever let them on the field on purpose to get out of pe

Boring day with appointments and no flying. although about to hit the early bed thingy. Very tired as ds has been in his usual run up to christmas complete meltdown. It has been very ugly around here tbh and I can't see it getting better. But it is pretty much what we consider normal for this time of year so was expected and it is just a case of surviving and not being found rocking in the corner. I have good restorative plans for the weekend

Have had a mildly frustrating day semi-completing a lot of errands. That Amazon order is officially cursed. The non-delivered parcel has now been returned to Amazon as undeliverable, and they're going to refund me for it!!

That does sound very difficult, SC. Hope all goes well tomorrow.

Cheers for brew Blue. That sounds v frustrating about errands and parcels (partic at this time of year when one is trying to get ahead for Christmas). I find that Amazon is normally really good with delivery etc, but when it goes wrong, it goes wrong spectacularly ifyswim!

Can't and Knitting yes, no doubt the security measures here are about 30 years behind the times so the silver lining to this is that they are finally being tightened up.

(Trying to ignore all talk of dedicated 'safe' rooms for dc in schools on the news.)

Not really worried about being a target dog-walking (was passed by 3 police vans and 2 police cars tonight) but the eery silence gets to you a bit! Hopefully things will return to a version of normality tomorrow!

I'll join you rocking in the corner Can't on run-up to Christmas (though for different reasons).

Have two relatives whom we feel obliged to 'prioritise'; both of whom have different demands about when and where and how etc. One wants us to come to them in another European capital (one bedroom flat) as her work schedule is unpredictable and she has elderly dependent pet. The other wants to come to us and wants to know the precise plan (which we can't say because it depends on first relative to an extent). No idea how to combine both. Dh has suggested that we go to "neutral" terrority ie a hotel in the Black Forest or some such, and everyone can like it or lump it but the cost will be extortionate ... . They both phoned tonight and I felt pinned down so gave evasive answers. Had desperate urge to start digging a tunnel in the middle of the sitting room floor in which I can fix escape hatch ... .

Urgghgh, why is the build-up to Christmas always so fraught with tense family negotations and potential hurt feelings? And why is everyone so demanding? It doesn't seem 5 mins since last Christmas anyway!

[Ignore me, I normally love Christmas!]

Knitting sorry to hear that mh (supposed) professionals are being so infuriatingly patronising yet again. Must be very difficult to bite one's tongue.

SC I swear we have this conversation every year

yes I we definitely do

sorry

But haven't yet mentioned not wanting to put up Christmas decorations on crumbling walls featuring cobwebs and holes , as I have every year- for the past five years

ah it is so reassuringly like home around here!

Indeed! Indeed! [smile

Morning all!

DD returned to school fairly happily this morning thank heavens (4 policemen on the door and a news crew in our street plus helicopters overhead) but apparently 10% of parents aren't sending their dc in. Dh and I discussed it last night after dd had gone to bed and felt reasonably happy for her to go back with all the security measures that are in place.

So back to near normality (I hope!) . Have half a day (yes it would be a half day!) to get the house back in shape. DD's been at home for so long (illness + lock-down) that all my routines are out of kilter. Plus have a load of prep to do for Christmas. And of course haven't been able to get to bank or do usual supermarket shops so can now menu plan a bit better.

Ta da:
assembled sports kit
filled in requisite school forms
fed animals
washed animal bowls
hauled laundry baskets downstairs
sorted laundry
morning routine inc wm, dw, s&s

To do:
lots and lots of tidying up
walk dog
letter to ballet teacher with med certificates
on-line parcel rtns
dye Barnet Fair
bank run
pet shop run
supermarket run
ballet run
continue laundry
make pasta sauce for supper

That's enough for now!

Have a good day one and all!

Links for Wednesday 25th November!

Baby Step No.25: Yet More Testimonials! Ignorable.

We are in Zone 4 this week: Master Bedroom (a.k.a. The Boudoir) (November 22-28).

Declutter for 15 mins in Zone 4 if you want to.

If you are at this stage, here is the detailed cleaning list for Zone 4.

Mission for Wednesday: Get rid of another 27 things – this time from a closet.

Wednesday's daily focus is: Anti-procrastination! Do something (or many things!) that you have been putting off.

The habit for November is: Menu Planning!

A summary of the above (which should update itself daily) can be found here in the Flightplan.

Quiet in here. Where ma' Fledglings at? :o

Trying to not kill ds who has spent the last 3 hours singing along with the machine I have been washing the carpet with since 1pm. I am exhausted, have ear ache and in the grumpiest mood ever!!! AND the sodding thing has not come up clean so I need to do battle with it again tomo morning. I could sit in the corner and cry.

I cooked something exotic this evening curried fishcakes and pudding (apple crumble) and I cooked it all by 5pm. Entirely to do with late waking, was so much more energetic today because we all overslept till 8am this morning (a bit of disaster but was sorted and 3 kids to school eventually)

Heating wasn't working for a bit but plumber recommended we change the batteries on the thermostadt a bit obvious that and now it is, hurrah!

Step by step took ds2 through the bus journey home, drove to tuition centre and put him on bus (explained interchange etc, handed oyster card, and backup oyster card and backup money), then drove home myself. My day is cut in half by setting off to pick him up at 2pm everyday, (it is really quite far from any public transport, although ds can walk the 20 mins to catch the bus if trained) I seem to be doing 2 hours of driving a day now...if he continues at tuition centre I need him to start doing one of the days' journey by himself either there or back, as poor dd is missing out on lifts as a result. And as for ds1, he never gets ANY lifts now.

Did a bit of grocery shopping on foot

Stripped bed, washed sheets,
dh did recycling
sprayed basin and loo with loo cleaner
swept floor
cooked fishcakes and apple crumble
loaded dw

chatted to children early evening, who were all much refreshed by the late start...dd in particular is like a different person getting up at 8am instead of 6.30, quite shocking to see how zombie like she is usually after school in comparison. Ds1 in a delightful mood atm, most days, if not told to do his homework too often or asked to go on strange errands!!

What else, nothing much really, house continues to depress but I plod on doing small things and putting meals on table...

4 carpet cleaners are hell, so heavy and so noisy. And the gunge that come out of the tank...vile.

Now, to make that bed, and then I have to finish washing up. Which I havew done but not put away, and sink is very very manky. Actually I don't care.

I managed to declutter a cardigan today. I was wearing it. And I realised it was covered in moth eeurgh....from the ski wear pile (mostly synthetics but one wool cardigan in the stash - I was so cold due to the heating problem that ski wear seemed the answer) so I ripped it off with a shriek and threw it in the bin..a very dramatic start to a day's decluttering unfortunately

Glad you all caught up on some sleep, knitting, even if it did involve being late. Sympathies on all the driving to and fro and the day being cut in half.. DH complains about much the same thing.

fuzz - you are doing a grand job with the links. Thank you.

Good to see you have gone back to a bit of normal life at last, sc. It must be very stressful living with that level of tension in the air.

DS1 is ill - DH had to pick him up early from school yesterday. He has slept most of the time since and communicates with us by typing on his phone because his throat is too sore to speak. Definitely another day off for him tomorrow.

I have been immersed in work stuff. Feeling a bit less like the new girl at last and making sense of all the work-related stuff and the office politics. I don't have enough holiday to go to DS2's two school Christmas events, but he assures me he doesn't mind me missing one of them, although I'm a bit sad about it. DH will video it for me, though.

Very exciting to see the new icons .

Morning all

Quick post as on phone eating breakfast.
Tuesday was amazing.
DD loved it, they all looked so happy and comfortable on the stage. The audience were all clapping and singing along
DD didn't sing her solo because they thought it would be too stressful.
I coped fine walking to the Science Museum on my own. Got back at 12:30 so yesterday didn't do much.
Did speak to ds's head about the bullying, he was great, called Ds straight into the office for info on the latest incident. I now know what details he needs to be able to sort it out easily. Ds had a good day yesterday and has recovered from being abandoned on Tuesday.

To do

Ds's Autism assessment - at least 3 hours trying to remember what she was like when she was little!
Go to library to find books on helping Ds with his stress, anxiety and dealing with emotions.

Will be back later with less me centred post.
Have a good day everyone.

Ds's assessment even. Also have to phone dentist, tooth completely fallen out!