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!

Links for Thursday 26th November!

Baby Step No.26: Jump In! This is a very useful thing to remember. The beauty of FlyLady is that you are NEVER BEHIND. Just pick up from wherever you happen to be. Missed something? No matter, it’ll come round again in the schedule.

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 Thursday: Clean up the top of your dresser.

Thursday’s daily focus is: Errand Day.

The habit for November is: Menu Planning!

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

Yikes Cant hope the carpet cleaning thingy works better and makes less noise today!

ds is in school so at least he is not singing along/making random noise with the machine. Carpet was really that dirty (think white that is almost a dark grey).

Done a small patch and just leaving the machine to cool whilst I throw some clothes on, will then do another patch before dropping ds' lunch at school (we ran out of bread -bugger)

Also the fat fairy lies. I am way behind for the next phase of building work. :( Deadling? tomo morning.

if you get chance would you have a looksies here I am a bit stuck and neeed to make a decision.

Hi all

Just going off with dog in a few mins to fetch dd from hwk club (have had a whole blissful 8 hrs to myself today, apart from when dh nipped home for 30 mins at lunch time, and feel much rejuvenated!). Made reasonably good in-roads in to house-tidying although there is still loads to do.

Have also made Mary Berry's arriabiata sauce thing to go with pork chops and kale tonight plus a huge vat of carrot and lentil soup to plug the gaps on ballet nights and through weekend. So nice to have a functioning oven again (although meal plan still a bit askew after recent lock-down, should be veggie night tonight but never mind!).

Plus four loads of washing and packed up two on-line shoping parcels for returning.

Can't have replied to your other thread and hope carpet went ok. Glad you had a few hrs to yourself too today!

Sorry to hear your ds1 is ill Toffee (there's a lot of it about). Hope he recovers soon! Glad work is going well x

Knitting I know what you mean about the difference in dc when they don't have to get up so early for school. We have 6.30 am starts too (to get to school at 7.50 am) and dd just looks white when she returns home, however early she goes to bed. Btw, I like the idea of decluttering clothes by peeling them off at the end of the day straight in to a bin ! It could catch on!

Shannara So glad Tues went well! Huge congrats to your dd (and to you for getting there - partic in current security situation). And fantastic that the head has responded so well to the bullying situation. Hope you and your ds feel reassured. And hope assessment went ok too.

Ditto what Toffee said about the links Fuzzpig¨You are doing a great job!

Must dash!

I've replied to your other thread, Cant, although I prevaricated a lot over my answer and probably didn't help much in the end. I'm sorry you're facing such a dilemma.

SC - good to hear you sounding cheerier. Lovely that your DD is back at school now and there is some semblance of normality again.

Shannara - well done to your DD. And I hope your DS's assessment went well today. I remember how harrowing these things can be from sitting through numerous assessments with DS1 .

Fuzz - good to be reminded that we are never behind, thank you .

Had a mostly good day at work today, although I'm still struggling to get to grips with various aspects of the job and today was particularly tricky in that respect. Battled through, with help from a younger, and more computer savvy, colleague.

DS1 is still really unwell and spent most of today asleep. Definitely no school for him tomorrow either.

We have a particularly demanding weekend coming up, with a visit from a very critical, difficult relative on Saturday, followed by MIL's birthday lunch on Sunday. I have no time to prepare for either and I will need another weekend off to recover from that weekend. Or, failing that, lots of .

Bit of a logistical challenge today, with school events, swimming and then DS2 starting Beavers! Managed it though. Then tomorrow there's Cubs, at the same time as DS1's Christmas fair. Hmm.

Hope the sleep has done your DS1 good, Toffee.

Morning everyone, hope you are all well.

I'm mostly lurking on the thread but after days of doing nothing I've got off my arse and managed to get some things done:

Took DS to nursery
Shower (long overdue )
Two loads of washing done and hung up to dry
Third wash load in the machine, fourth load lined up
Made our bed
Changed sheets on DSs bed, tidied his room
Hoovered the lounge
Emptied the bins
Met with my health visitor at home to get some help with DSs (an my) behaviour - she has given me some useful ideas
Made appointment for cats vaccinations
Now sat down watching a film whilst doing some accounts and book keeping

To do:
Hang up the rest of the washing
Sort through DSs too-small clothes
Declutter in the dining room

I saw my GP for another follow up earlier this week and he wants to double my dose of anti depressants. I wasn't keen but actually, I think I should as I'm still not coping with DS very well. I've been struggling to do even basic things like shower and get dressed, I don't want to go out and haven't eaten a proper dinner for days.

I'm feeling more positive having met with my health visitor this morning, plus having achieved a decent amount at home this morning, I feel more motivated to carry on.

Catch up with you all later

Links for Friday 27th November!

Baby Step No.27: Menu Planning! Which of course is the Monthly Focus for November anyway.

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 Friday: Clear the Hot Spot on your nightstand.

Friday’s daily focus is: Clearing out your bag, car etc.

The habit for November is: Menu Planning!

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

The weekend is nearly here, Fledglings!

Sorry about the late links folks. Just had our family support worker person show up and I'd totally forgotten so was still in my jammies she's only just left.

SC would this be any good for your daughter?

Sorry you're still having a hard time, Gray. Personally, I think antidepressants can be very useful and, if your dr says you need a higher dose, I would listen. I'm glad your HV is being supportive.

A good day at work, but now have to face up to a difficult weekend, which is entirely taken up with tricky relatives.

And DS1 is really unwell . I suspect he may be getting a chest infection. No temperature, but he's sleeping all the time and off his food .

Links for Saturday 28th November!

Baby Step No.28: Look After Yourself! Something we often forget. Eat well, drink water, remember that your health matters too.

This is our last day in Zone 4: 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.

No mission, because it’s a Saturday :o

Saturday's daily focus is: Family Fun Day!

The habit for November is: Menu Planning!

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

How is your DS Toffee?

And have you come to any decisions Can't?

I'm trying to declutter a decent amount before Christmas, got a lot on eBay and DH and I have culled our DVDs - sold 89 on music magpie. They don't pay a huge amount, but I just want the space more than a few extra quid!

Just fluttering by to say hello and apologise once again for being absent so much this month. It is a hectic time of year and even more so as we are planning to put our house on the market and so a REALLY big declutter is underway.

Grey - sorry you are still finding things hard, I'm glad you are still doing a bit of decluttering, I really do think it raises the spirits a little.

Toffee - sorry DS1 is unwell

DS1 has finally turned the corner - thanks for asking, Grey. I was beginning to get really worried. He has been very poorly, but today he's at least sitting up in bed and starting to eat a little.

Very impressive that you are decluttering before Xmas.

Spent all morning frantically tidying up because critical relative was coming back to ours. However, in the end, lunch at the restaurant went on so long she didn't come back! It was very nice coming home to a lovely, clean and tidy house, though, so I don't regret my cleaning splurge.

Glad to hear DS1 is doing better, Toffee and that you're enjoying the tidy house.

Good luck with the decluttering and putting the house on the market, WhoKnows. I still keep decluttering now, and wondering why we didn't cull more stuff before we moved.

We finally have one part of the errant Amazon order, and have re-ordered the other bits!! Will get there in the end...

DH spent quite a lot of today building Ikea cabinets. Hopefully tomorrow we can get at least some of them up, and then start putting things in them!

Thanks Blue, I'm quite nervous but we have been toying with moving for a while and a house we really like has just come on the market, so we decided to bite the bullet. If all else fails at least we will have a decluttered house!

Oooh how exciting about the move Whoknows! Good luck with the mega-declutter!

You sound extremely busy Blue and glad last of the parcels have come home to roost!

And glad to hear your ds1 is feeling better today Toffee (think dd had something similar by the sound of it). Congrats on cleaning splurge and good of you to give up both days of your precious weekend entertaining relatives!

Greymalkin congrats on your 'ta da' list yesterday and hope you feel like eating a bit more soon.

I'm still dithering about how to get rid of the clothes and toys we didn't sell at recent brocante (due to dd being ill); whether to ebay (not very popular here) or give away or half and half. Need to make my mind up as I need to declutter before Christmas. Dithering as usual.

Great tutorial link thanks Can't and a project that I am sure dd would enjoy!! Furry one (being a tad "over-enthusiastic" on his walks) actually wears a harness so I need not worry about his collar taking the full "weight" of the lead ifyswim; it's just there to hold ID tags etc and look stylish, so we'll enjoy doing that!

Big waves to eveyrone else!

Links for Sunday 29th November!

Baby Step No.29: Taking Care Of You - pamper yourself, by order of FlyLady!

Today we move (briefly) into Zone 5: Living Room (November 29-30).

Declutter for 15 mins in Zone 5 if you want to.

If you are at this stage, here is the detailed cleaning list for Zone 5.

No mission, because it’s a Sunday :o

Sunday's daily focus is: Renew your spirit.

The habit for November is: Menu Planning!

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

Hi Fledglings, sorry to post and run. Hope the above is right as I don't have my trusty Word file, I'm at mum's again - I've been really struggling this week, so DH sent me away for a night to get some proper rest!

Sorry I've not been a very motivating thread 'leader' :(

we have all been there fuzzpig just grateful you are ding it at all. Don't worry it is more than fine.

Sorry literally flying through life is too crazy atm. will come back and post properly soon. SC thank you , will rely when I get 5 mins to sit down.

Fuzz - you've been a great thread leader .

I'm feeling very conflicted about this house moving business. The DCs are unsettled, DD partiicularly is strongly against moving. We all love this house, been here 15 years, but it is small, dilapidated (would need a lot of work to get it up to scratch, nothing structural, but we're talking months and months of disruption). Awkward layout and no scope for extension, plus we can afford to move. But it feels very strange and quite scary. The potential new house is lovely, but not perfect, but I don't think the perfect house exists unless you build it yourself and even then there's location. Anyway, the decluttering os going well, DH is very enthusiastic about it all.

fuzz - you've been a brilliant thread leader. Thank you for keeping the thread going, especially when life is difficult . I agree with Cant: we have all been there. Hope your mum looks after you.

Sympathies on inner conflict over house move, WhoKnows. No advice, I'm afraid, as there is really no right or wrong answer: moving is, undeniably, stressful (as Blue will agree), but then so is getting work done on the house (as Cant will testify). Sorry, no help at all .

MIL was here for her 86th birthday today. All went well, so she went away very happy. I managed to get my ironing done over two days this weekend, thus avoiding the ironing strain I incurred last week (was limping for two days after straining a muscle from standing too long). House still looking very tidy .

DS1 was in bed again today, but got up this evening. Clearly, he is still not ok for school tomorrow, although he definitely improving and even ate a little this evening. I'm fretting about the amount of weight he must have lost over the past few days when he is already so underweight, but there really is nothing I can do about it.

Must get to bed now, so I'm awake enough to cope with work tomorrow. Night all.