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 Saturday 14th November!

Baby Step No.14: Calendars! Apparently you can read an essay about it…

This is our last day in Zone 2: Kitchen (November 8-14).

Declutter for 15 mins in Zone 2 if you want to.

If you are at this stage, here is the detailed cleaning list for Zone 2.

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.

Have a great Saturday Fledglings!

"I feel totally forgotten about by pretty much everyone at work" it is not that people have cut you out, just that they are living in the moment. When on sick leave the general mass would not contact unless they would have contacted socially when you were in work. It is not personal. So whilst it is hard it is the isolation and the disease talking, not the reflection on the people. I have had this, felt ignored and isolated by my old team peers. It is not that they were ignoring me, they were just busy with their lives and when our paths cross it is like the great meeting of waves, lots of giggles and conversation. Please try not to take it personally, it won't be. :(

I got to the point of going to bed around half midnight and turned on the tv for a little bit to wind down whilst I caught up with FB, bad move as I encountered all of the horrific events in France, the earth quake in Japan and killings in Tel Aviv. 2am before I could sleep but got started on one of those presents I bought wool for last night. Turns out the more stressed I am the faster my fingers work

Small list for today:
mop bathroom floor
return laundry baskets
more laundry - continue working my way through linen cupboard mountain
Wash ds' PE kit
shake my curtains out side and rehang
clean a cupboard out
wash and move books out

Other than that, I intend to sit on my bum and watch tv, and plot what next on the master to do list. Next week is a busy one so need to be careful what doing tomo.

Thank you Cant - I do understand what you mean, and I know that my friends do care about me. It's just that it feels more like they're ignoring me as an organisation IYSWIM. When other people have been off even for a few weeks it's all cards, flowers, collections etc. I hear nothing at all. I understood the first time (a few years ago when I first got very ill), as my sick note just kept getting extended for a week at a time and nobody really knew what was going on. This time I got signed off for two months in one go, so it's not like nobody knows this is a serious thing. Please, please understand it is NOT that I 'want stuff' - and I know also that this is a first world problem and it could be a lot worse so I feel really embarrassed that I'm upset so much by this. It just feels like it's a symbol of how people view this type of controversial and invisible illness - with skepticism and eye rolls. I know from experience that if I was off with a broken leg everyone would be all over me - that is what hurts.

Hi all, we were up late watching the news too. Trying to screen as much of it as possible from dd who tends to (understandably) get very anxious about this sort of thing, particularly as she is still in bed feeling very ill indeed (took her to doc last night who says she has unspecified virus which we just have to ride out and having examined her chest, ears and throat, signed her off school until Tues evening).

W/e has therefore turned out to be a lot less busy than planned; we have had to cancel two things and re-arrange another and I feel very badly about letting people down. The only upside (not really an upside at all but hope you kwim) is that half of dd's class are down with the same thing, so she won't be the only one missing work.

Very somber atmosphere here following Paris incidents. They've tightened up security on the French/Belgian border and armed army personnel were on the streets this morning (with guns at the ready, not just being carried by their sides).

Those poor people. It all feels rather close and disturbing. Sil safe and well fortunately.

Amazing list Can'tsee; think you deserve a medal for that lot! So sorry to hear that you are still battling the endless plaster dust. Enjoy (if you can) your much-deserved knitting sojourn.

Fuzzpig so sorry to hear that you feel so down about work. I am sure you were in their minds when they launched the event; even if they didn't specifically express it and wise words there from Can'tsee. As you say, I am sure there is still far too much ignorance surrounding debilitating conditions such as yours. Surely it is up to management to set the proper tone; you shouldn't have to fight that battle as well.

Whoknows that is fab about the tap dancing and hope you survived visit of friend with immaculate house [shudders]

Shannara hope your dd is enjoying listening to and viewing her fab performance and that of her classmates!!

Hope Grey Scatty Trazzles Dogs and others are ok and big waves to Toffee KNitting Blue Ellie Honu Nicknacks Don'tbuy Fingersmith Buttercup Sayabigthankyou and everyone else I've missed!

I think there is a lot of lack of understanding on how do deal with chronic illness. Half the time I want to slap people who hope I get better soon not how chronic illnesses work you idiot and the other half the time I want to roll my eyes and sometimes even sit in the corner and sob for the loss of what everyone else considers normal. Takes time to accept a new definition of normal. And it is hard. But we will always listen to you if needed fuzzpig

Today I have: a mountain of washing, worked on a present, watched tv.

So a nice easy day. Really did push too hard yesterday and shame I didn't realise until very late. Remaining list will have to be done tomo along with putting clothes away and a nice drive in the afternoon.

Given up and curled up in bed complete with hot water bottle already. Mn and rubbish tv all the way

Fuzz if it is any comfort, I remember a person in our school community who had cancer for about a year (and recovered) getting less attention than someone who had a dramatic A & E intervention (and recovered in a much shorter time, as well as loads of family support unlike the cancer sufferer) Of course it is not a comparisons game, but as you say, people who suffer long term always get a raw deal compared to short term crises where everyone will chip in. One way to solve the problem is often to just ring people up and say you wanted to hear their news as you are out of the loop - breaks the ice.

Shannara well done your dd. It must have been daunting singing in that vast space! But they looked quite at home

Not much happening here. Dh very upset about Paris, as he has a relative there and once lived there, feels incredibly close to home for him, although obviously less than you SC. A very rainy day. Ds1 getting v excited about Sixth form decisions which seem to morph daily. Maths seems to be out now and Drama is in First I have to get him to a proper play! And get him off his bleeping phone.

Whoknows how lovely about ds and the school.

Dcs have gone for walk around the block with dh. Dh still worried about his health and generally tense.

Large curry in oven, for lunch today when it was partially cooked and tomorrow too when it is more mellow. Scrambled egg for supper here.
Washing done.

4 I liked your stern reprimand to those potential parents!

Ikea bookcases are built and filled. I have another huge Ikea wish list though. FIL and Step-MIL have been here today. Had lunch out, which was nice. Things are looking better, but still a long way to go.

The really annoying thing is that the door catch on the tumble dryer has broken. It's a silly little bit of plastic that costs a couple of quid, but the dryer won't work without it, and there is a mountain to dry every day at the moment. :( Replacing or fixing both going to be disproportionately expensive to the problem!!

WhoKnows - I went for coffee with our new neighbour and her house (or the bits I saw!) is immaculate too, so feel your pain!

Links for Sunday 15th November!

Baby Step No.15: Make your bed!

Today we move into Zone 3: Bathroom + Another Room (November 15-21).

Declutter for 15 mins in Zone 3 if you want to.

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

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.

Happy Sunday, Fledglings!

Good morning everyone.

Still very sad atmosphere here atm, particularly following the three raids in Molenbeek and arrests at the border.

DD still ill, so most plans today cancelled but trying to use it productively.

Sil is reporting that Parisians in her neck of the woods are out and about as usual; in defiance of recent events.

Hope everyone has a good a Sunday as possible.

Can't hope you are indeed resting today [stern looks

Urm, i have to get a certain amount of stuff done today, just so that life works. But it will be minimum and done reasonably gently.

Sorry, posted too soon

Take it steady Can't!!!!

Blue that is indeed v annoying about td; perhaps an independent technician would have the approp part (rather than someone who is affiliated to brand/shop who is under pressure to make extra sales all the time ifyswim). Or might be sort of thing one of those swapping sites might have (maybe)?

Fuzz agree with Knitting about people generally not dealing well with long-term illness. Fwiw, I think blokes are particularly bad at this: assiduously concerned and helpful for first few days but then they lose interest and they want the "patient" (for want of a better term) to spring miraculously back to full health, or they lose interest. (Well that is my experience anyway.) Think that attitude is often replicated by organisations/managers: they like things tied up in neat boxes and chronic illness just isn't like that.

Knitting so sorry to hear your dh is (understandably) anxious about his health; he's been through a rough time (as you both have). Hope doc (or consultant or some such) can provide reassurance.

Dh has gone to manfully represent us all at a social occasion where we should have all been present (in fact we were supposed to be hosting initially), and from there off to walk the dog, and I'm about to give the rabbits quarters a thorough going through ... .

Big wing flaps to everyone!

Forgot to say thank you Cant SC and Knitting sorry for the pathetic rant, my self esteem is just rather low at the moment. It's very helpful to be able to talk here

Fuzzpig, it is also a good reminder for myself to take my own advice. Been struggling with the same low thoughts not that long ago too. Glad it helps to talk.

Just popping on to say hello

Big waves to Grey!

Fuzzpig not pathetic at all - this thread is for ranting as well as Flying!

Agh! I've done something really stupid and got a huge Amazon order sent to our old address!! Anyone know if it goes via Royal Mail and will therefore be redirected?! I tried to cancel but they say it's too late.

Links for Monday 16th November!

Baby Step No.16: Testimonials! Ignorable since this thread is pretty much one giant testimonial! And much more fun :o and supportive to boot, thank you all

We are in Zone 3 this week: Bathroom + Another Room (November 15-21).

Declutter for 15 mins in Zone 3 if you want to.

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

Mission for Monday: Clean the outside of your toilet, and then do some decluttering in your 'another room' whatever that may be.

Monday's daily focus is: The Home Bleurgh (a.k.a. The Home Blessing Hour).

The habit for November is: Menu Planning!

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

Have a great start to the week, Fledglings!

Oh bugger Blue! That's awkward :( but an easy mistake to make, you won't be the first. Are you near enough your old house to pop by there and apologise/beg the new owners to take it in for you? Some do go by royal mail though so you may be ok.

Hiya Grey how are you doing?

SC how is DD feeling now?

Cant sorry you've been feeling rough as well.

Off to the cinema in 20 mins - just because on the bus it takes over 90mins! :o it's a free screening of a French cartoon as part of the schools film festival (which home edders have access to also). Feeling rather sleepy.

Have a few other things I need to remember to do as well - talked to DH and agreed I need to see the GP ASAP. Mental health is slipping rather dramatically. Mainly due to unchangeable circumstances so I don't know what will help although I think I'll ask to increase my ADs. But I need to see them and if I get a same-day appt for this afternoon then at least DH can take the DCs (can't really talk in front of them!)

Thank you for the links Fuzz ! Enjoy the cinema and hope you get the appt and support from the doc this afternoon that you are after.

DD is still not well thanks for asking. (She is literally grey in the face.) It's one of those very debilitating viruses that really takes it out of you and she is taking a while to recover. If poss, we are aiming for her to get back to school tomorrow even though she won't be 100%. Dh and I have streaming colds too!

Oh no Blue! Easily done with everything you have going on atm (and let's face it, the Amazon website makes it far too easy to order with the touch of button - as I know to my cost!). Hope you can sort it. Think some of the smaller items come by Royal Mail but if it's all arriving in one big order then you may have to contact your old address.

Starting again for the umpteenth time with small steps today. Feeling a bit low at the prospect as it is seems to be 3 steps forward, 4 back atm!

On the positive front: I am much more up-to-date with laundry and have made significant inroads in to Mt Washmore.

First task is to form a plan regarding the load of second hand clothes and toys I prepared for a sale that we didn't attend (had to cancel our stand when dd got ill). Although I usually use the sale money to contribute to Christmas costs, think I am going to have to forfeit that and send them all to charity instead of having them hanging around until the next sale in March.

Second task is to do a wee shop and make dd some tempting and nutritious dishes in order to help dd to get back on her feet.

Third task is to look at the calendar and plan all of the dates and social events that I don't want to go to-- leading up to Christmas. Unusually for me, not feeling terribly enthusiastic about Christmas this year (only 38 days to go - yikes!) have a strong urge to go away and do something totally different but there all the obligatory suppers, cocktail parties, school events, ballet events, godchildren events, friend and family events to attend (and host) before I can even get to that point. Urgh, don't have the energy or the motivation!

Fourth task is to pack and send back yet more on-line parcels and birthday present to god-daughter.

Fifth task is to keep going with the laundry.

Sxith task is to eat as little as possible while doing the above (if I want to fit in to any of my Christmas "going out" clothes).

Sorry, that was all incredibly tedious and Eeyore-ish (as usual) wasn't it?

Big waves to everyone! Hope everyone has a productive start to the week!

Fortunately, I was able to contact the courier and change the delivery address for the biggest of the parcels. I hope this might also be possible for at least one of the others, but not sure yet. Also contacted the estate agent who have asked the new people to let them know if anything turns up and hold it for us. Phew.

Have also done some more gardening and sorting out of paperwork which should have been done before we moved. Ordered Christmas cards too, and realised that the credit card is maxed out with all the flatpack furniture we've been buying! Eek!!

Fuzz Hope you managed to get an appt.

Passes vat of to the SC household. Hope you all feel better soon.

Thankfully got an appt this afternoon - never heard of this doctor before but figured it was better to see someone today rather than waiting.

Sorry DD is so poorly again SC :(

Just got home from the film screening so only have an hour or so at home. We got to the cinema and I wondered if we were in the wrong place because I couldn't see any school groups milling about. Turns out we were the only ones there! So we had a private viewing... for free :o :o film was lovely too.

Right I really need to stick a wash on before anything else.

Ergh, very boring day, confined to barracks (apart from a 30 min sprint in rain to supermarket and back).

DD not feeling any better. Her abdomen is really bloated and painful. Her throat is worse too.

Hope doc appt went well Fuzz

Thanks for the Blue [sends one over in rtn]. Glad you got parcel (mostly) sorted.

I should be sorting paperwork ... but I'm not ... !

SC so sorry dd is so ill, (and I think you ruled out glandular fever didn't you?) and also hope Brussels not too frightening atm. Just been watching news about the area beginning with M I think.

Not much happening here: I am boiling up some old curry which has probably been in the fridge too long, taken ds2 to tuition and back, dd has last lesson at Spanish tutor (too dark now for her to walk home from it safely) ds1 is searching fruitlessly for the Stars music which he needs to sing at a concert and has disappeared I would say many moons back in the deluge of his bedroom..

Dh is having a nap, very tired out, and stressed; made him take a long walk which helps the stress somewhat I think, and enables a nap!

Fuzz very good idea to stop things getting worse re: ADs. Friends have said in crisis they really did stabilize mood and give time to think of alternate strategies, deal with bad situations calmly. Btw you sound so motivated and calm in your actual daily life, none of this whirling and waffling that I feel when I am under the weather. Well done again for that work video, must be proud of yourself, despite lack of acknowledgement from workplace.

Blue could you just send them a email to say big apology and pretend sent in error, possibly there might be some little niggling thing they need help with (controls of some kind, other post to pick up) and they might be glad to see you.

done
sent back some more EHCP paperwork to experts (not helped by my usual technical fail...can not for the life of me Edit pdfs on screen, despite saving documents in all sorts of drives, just don't understand the toolbars etc.. Even dh was stumped and he does it for a living, something old fashioned perhaps about my computer) in the end I printed out documents, took out a red pen, edited it the old way, photocopied it, and sent it by post I'll have to sort out this problem before I get the real Draft...