Flylady's fledglings spring clean your nests! March '16

[Greymalkin]

First of all, a big thank you to Fuzzpig for leading us through the February thread, (you can hung up your duster for a bit now!)

If you are struggling with C.H.A.O.S. (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) and S.T.U.F.F. (Something That Undermines Family Fun) then this is the thread where we (loosely) follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own unique, relaxed style) with lots of support and chat along the way.

The FlyLady link is here Don't be put off by the twee language of the site – we all agree that the underlying system is very effective.

This little-and-often system is designed so that you can follow a series of steps and routines each day (which gradually become second nature) in zones of the house which are designated weekly; defining and minimising housework - which in theory should leave you with loads more time to do something more interesting instead.

At the same time it is intended to reduce that panicky "rabbit in headlights" feeling when you are overwhelmed and everything needs doing all at once. No problem if you miss a day or two; just jump right back in and it will all come around next month again!

It's up to you, but we advise not signing up to receive the Flylady e-mails as you will be swamped with her marketing and testimonial nonsense. All the information you need will be linked here on a daily basis.

From the first of the month, we will be following Flylady's steps and routines using a three-pronged approach (dependent on the stage everyone is at):

• start or repeat baby steps
• repeat baby steps + do 15 minutes a day decluttering in the current zone
• reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.
• And if you are really enthusiastic and have finished decluttering - you can go on to detailed deep cleaning in each zone.

There are three key points to keep in mind throughout:

• No perfectionism allowed - this is harder than you would imagine and many of us on this thread struggle with this one.
• You are never behind - just start where you are and anything you do is progress.
• It didn't get into a mess overnight, it won't get tidy over night - accept it will take time to get on top of things.

If you are new; then trying to spend 15mins decluttering daily and doing the babysteps is a good way to start. Some of us (mentioning no names!) can have scary looking ‘ta-da’ lists but don't let that worry you. Do what you can, anything is better than nothing, and don't judge yourself against others.

If all else fails, a + the power of three technique + a bit of support on here can work wonders.

Here's the launch pad for more experienced fledglings.

Don’t let it put you off if we appear a bit cliquey, we really aren’t. Some of us have been on here for years – but all lurkers, intermittent returnees, oldies and newcomers very, very welcome.

Hi all :)

SC I'd love to know this chicken traybake recipe if you wouldn't mind sharing please?

No decluttering today, the knackeredness caught up with me! It wasn't the event itself - as I said they were wonderfully helpful and I was able to rest frequently - but the train ride home was awful as no seats. Ended up squished on the floor. I really wish I was brave enough to ask somebody for their seat! Anyway, it was awesome overall and I'm still amazed we got to do it, as it's something we could never have afforded if it weren't for MN product tests :o

Anyway, when I got back I did manage to do the feedback thread (not done the review yet though) and this morning I sorted some laundry before I took DD to gym. I also met one of my new pupils who is starting lessons with me next week. She's so excited about it, makes me very happy to see such enthusiasm! :)

Ta da
a load of bedding
dw loaded and run
ring hospital
spot a picture frame
has become damaged and take it down before it falls down
request prescription
banking
checking opening times of an activity over weekend
brave the concept and process of buying new make up hopes can still remember how to apply it
several shopping errands
finish up and wrap present
find cards that need writing and sending
take stock of crafting projects and plan order to do
Plug away at a craft project. (As normal cos the crafting gives me the happies)

I have a good to do list but not full of enthusiasm atm

SC I too enjoy your posts so please don't stop. Your poor DD, I do actually feel sorry for her. Wouldn't the teacher use the time more effectively for all concerned actually teaching and ensuring understanding? Probably I speak out of turn! How's the atmosphere in the city now?

Cag If you Google Mary Berry chicken tray bake, she does a good one

I would be getting a needle to the finger Blue, sterilised of course

Ta da (pleased as I've done all my jobs, but not anything in the bedroom)
Swept and mopped.
Dishwasher on/unloaded.
Returns to Next.
Pony.
Dogs x 2.
Cleaned study.
Made a lamb tagine.
Cleaned out chickens fully.
Booked airport parking for holiday.
Washed up.
2 sets of washing on/sorted/folded.
Upgraded our flights for holiday (first time ever for me and DC, how silly to be excited!).
Pour an early glass of wine (It's Easter weekend, right?!).

Oh and dropped DD at school at 5am for her trip.

5am?!

. Not as bad as 3am when DS went to Berlin......

I have had a small glass of wine and suddenly feel very sleepy

I fell asleep accidentally not long after my last post

Right time to get moving again. Stuff to do, flying to ignore...

Thanks for kind words (yet again!) everyone. Much appreciated. This thread really does keep me going in times of stress!

Crikey a Needastrongone no wonder you are feeling sleepy! And congrats on yet another mega-productive day.

Yes about the teaching; it's cultural thing I think. The teachers here mainly see it as their job just to present lots of dry info and they don't actually seem to "teach" much ifyswim. It's seen as the pupil's fault if they find it dull or boring! It's their job to learn it off by rote. Not many concessions made. For example, in primary school it is seen as the parents' fault if the child had not learned their time tables sufficiently well. Now in secondary the emphasis is on the pupil learning by rote themselves. Deathly dull unfortunately except for the Latin teacher who occasionally bursts in to song and dd's form teacher who always wears her cardi inside out and sports wild hair and proper pince nez

See you have had a productive errand day Einstein! Whey hey to new slap!

Caglio the recipe was totally made up so try it at your peril !
Serves 4 generously (def enough for seconds - we have leftovers!).

Pre-heat oven to 225-250)c ish (I think!).

Get big metal baking tray. Add big glug of good quality olive oil. In to which tip pack of chicken legs and pack of chicken thighs. There were about six pieces in each pack, but indiv pieces weren't enormous ifyswim. (Best if the chicken is on the bone for this recipe as more succulent/doesn't dry out). Grap two large metal spoons and quidge around so each piece is lightly covered in oil and season liberally with s&p. Then sprinkle judiciously with tiny bit of chilli powder and a big tablespoon and a half of ground cumin or a bit more (according to taste). (Ras el hanout would also work!) Squidge around a bit more.

Peel a couple of red onions and chop in to eighths (certainly no smaller or they burn) and add to tray. (I also chopped up a small red chilli in to tiny pieces and sprinkled over but I guess that is optional.) Then add a couple of red peppers (big chunks), and I happened to have a very large sweet potato which I cut up in to v large chunks (as it cooks quite quickly). I guess you could add a few new pots too at this point if you wanted to, but I didn't have any. Ditto garlic. Chop up a lemon in to eigths or quarters and put in tray too.

Get a couple of tablespoons of any suitable fresh herbs you happen to have and bung them in too (I happen to have sage, lemon thyme and ordinary thyme in garden and some lemony plant I am not sure the name of but I know is edible!!) Season everything a bit more and squidge all around again so all lightly covered in the oil, herbs and seasoning. (Don't overfill baking tray but don't leave large gaps either. )

This is the slightly wierd bit: squeeze over juice of about a quarter of a lemon. Then sprinkle over (don't afraid to be quite generous - quite a few glugs - of Jerez spanish vinegar - and/or cider vinegar - this cuts the fat) then add about 2 cms of cold water. The amount of water is crucial. Too much and it all becomes soggy, white and unappetising and the resultant "gravy" is tasteless and bland. Too little and it can be burnt to blackened crisp on bottom of baking tray and you end up scraping veggies off it! The idea is that about half of it evaporates. You are aiming for enough liquid in bottom of tray to allow contents to cook and remain succulent but not so much that they don't get lovely and brown and crispy on top! This sounds a lot more complicated than it really is! Better to add less at the beginning and top up if necessary. You just need to watch it from time to time and make sure it doesn't totally evaporate and all go black. Also turn any veg that are getting a bit singed half way through. (You could also add chicken stock too rather than water if you happen to have any.)

Also - half way through the cooking time - I added a handful of ripe cherry toms and tore up some strips of parma ham or proscuitto equivalent and laid them sort of on top and they both add flavour (and parma ham also becomes crispy but be careful if doesn't burn).

Cook in total for about 50 mins to an hour until all brown and crispy on top and meat coming slightly away from bone and sweet potato is soft enough to pierce with knife but not mushy.

Serve chicken on plain white rice with the veg accompaniments and the "gravy".

Should add that the chicken over here tends to be very lean/not fatty (I don't think the dish would work if their were puddles of chicken fat sitting on the top of the "gravy" ifyswim) and my oven works on one setting only: hot and extremely hot!

I think it worked ( bit of a fluke in all honesty!) because the sweet veg and spices balanced out the more acid flavours of the vinegar, lemon and toms. (Hark at me - I shall be talking about foams and meatballs served three ways soon! ) Honestly - the whole dish is really easy! (And the pan is really easy to clean afterwards too because no scraping off of blackened veg involved!)

Blue you sound as though you have a lot on your plate. Hope the various ailments clear up soon and impending visitors not causing too much extra work (although they inevitably do!). Go steady and hope you can get some rest over the holidays .

Ta da:
animals
tidied up kitchen
2 school runs with dog (felt a lot more uneasy with dd at school for entire day today for some reason)
morning routine of dw, wm, s&s and dining room table hotspots
finished Easter choc treat bags
altered and sent second part of letter which got left out of previous one
made soup out of root veg
tiny bit of ironing
make an attempt at decluttering one bag of papers! NOPE!!
start sorting rooms for visitors and making up beds [ran out of steam and only did half]
re-do calendar and check all the school dates again and work out why we are not finding out about things NOPE
hwk supervision
spag bol for supper
early night now as we are all tired and grumpy

G'night! [Waves to all!]

Forgot to say Toffee don't like the sound of those "rail track" bruises but lovely that your colleagues are treating you well!

And Knitting how strange about the school still keeping you guessing about a place for ds2 (but oh how stressful too).

Flightplan for Friday 25th March

We are coming to the end of our time in Zone 4: The Boudoir

The last mission in the bedroom is to blast through any hotspots
Read this musing for an explanation / refresher on what a Hot Spot is

Our next baby step is to read another testimonial; pat yourself on the back for 25 days worth of baby steps; and spam the FatFairy.

Habit of the month is getting dressed to your shoes. A tad controversial on here, some do, some don’t… (I certainly don't)

The focus for Fridays is to declutter your purse, handbag and car day

Thanks SC. The finger is a lot better today, so going with salt water bathing and keeping an eye on it for the mo. Other appointments were for ongoing issues/investigations. Chicken thing sounds lovely.

Today I have done more errands and ferrying about. Failed to collect a parcel because I didn't take proper notice of the opening times at the sorting office. Grr! Also failed to chase up various other things, but did at least get some work done, and everybody in the right places at the right times. Oh, and have rescued a slightly made up as I went along crochet moebius scarf thing, which now has added buttons! And I did have coffee with a school mum this morning, which was nice.

Off to MIL's tomorrow, which will be fine so long as the conversation can be kept away from politics SFIL is a raving Tory

Thank you for the recipe SC and for the recommendation too need :)

SC I'm just catching up with the thread and I am horrified at the maths test thing. I can't actually put into words just how messed up the approach seems.

Tired, but had 2 piano lessons so at least I earned a bit. Haven't hung out the washing, will go and do that now. Erm, in a minute. Or 10.

I also visited the parcel office today - collected what turned out to be an item for DH's new to us car.

On the subject of the recent attacks, Newsround (the children's news programme) did a great explanation for children this morning of the terrorist organisation involved. Very sensitively handled, all credit to them.

Did some shopping, parcel office visit, phone calls, collected DD from school early (end of term) and did our usual Friday feast on Thursday instead. Watched a film with popcorn tonight, used to do that on a Friday as well always with the same film, at least the selection has improved

Tired now, so will head to bed. Have consumed vino, but very interested in the strong tea and raisin variety

Good to know that Newsround can still be good. The few bits I've seen of it over the last few years have all been sleb gossip

Haven't even hung out the washing, bad Cag aching like hell

Morning fledglings,

When DS woke me up this morning the clock said it was something-past-4am .... so...sleepy...still...

For those of you celebrating, I hope you all have lovely Easter weekends.

DS and I made chocolate easter nest cake things yesterday and it was much more successful than the fairy-cake-icing-sugar catastrophe from earlier in the week!

In less joyful news, yesterday I heard a 'pop' sound come from the back of the washing machine, followed by a burning smell. I really hope it was just the fuse in the plug; we've only had the blasted machine for two months tops!
(I'm trying not to stress out that there could be a major electrical fault in the house and the place will go up in flames. Honestly, I really stress about little things being a disaster in disguise)

Good morning!

Very odd. Dh has just kindly left for school rung because I have woken up with dizziness. (Not the kind where you feel faint, but the kind where you don't have your balance.) Extremely wierd. I keep walking in to walls! Dh said that it is part of the bug they had earlier in the week and it usually goes by lunch time. Here's hoping!

(Perhaps it is the same thing you had Cag?)

I have cancelled cleaning lady because I feel so wretched (and nauseous) and prefer to be ill in private but really needed her here to clean house for guests. Oh lawd yes, we have guests turning up. And I can't seem to walk in a straight line ...! Not a good start!

Thanks for Newsround tip Fiz sounds excellent

Cag yes re: ed system. It is basically just one long tick list of various things a child needs to know at a particular age. And it is tested and tested over again until they do (or said child is kept down until next year and they have to do whole year again). There is very little joy in it. No reading around the subject or exploring beyond a subject. Apparently the benefits of the "one size fits all" (which of course it doesn't but is ruthlessly followed through as though it does) is that it is meant to be easier/cheaper to deliver and enables dc from all social backgrounds to reach a good median level of education across the board. If a child is in the third term of the third year at secondary, then everyone teacher in the land will know what they should be studying precisely in what particular week.

I am not defending it I should stress : that is just the apparent theory of it. And it is true that in this country there are not huge disparities in terms of schools performances (ie it is possible for very bright dc from under privileged backgrounds to do really well) so better for social cohesion etc. But how many pupils lose the joy of learning along the way? Or become completely alienated from any sort of academic study?

If they have survived until 4th form in secondary, they then have to make a very clear decision between a very academic stream (ie Greek, Latin, philosophy, maths, languages, sciences) or a purely vocational, less academic, stream. I disagree with this too because it means that dc are pigeonholed way too young. And once they are set within those particular tram lines, there is no going back!

Balanced with that though is that the language teaching is incredibly good. Most dcs end up speaking four or five. - that's just normal.

And dc have 19 weeks holiday a year. So they flog them to death during term time but they do have lots of down time in between. Term time is extremely gruelling and relentless with piles of hwk (which gets worse year on year - you would not believe the amount of hwk a 4th or 5th year secondary students of my acquaintance have of a weekend - it makes you feel sick looking at it - worse than my final year at university!) but then there is virtually no home work given in holiday time. And dc have Wed afternoons off to pursue sports or other artistic extra-curricular pursuits and there is fantastic and varied(state subsidied) provision for that.

The one good thing this education system is good at is putting a subject in an overall context (ie no studying the Tudors in isolation without knowing the surrounding historic time line and background) and everything is very fact based and detailed and frankly (having gone to school in the UK in the relaxed 70s) I learn a lot from dd's hwk every day! But then there is very little practical hands on exploration of subjects and the dc aren't encouraged to think creatively (as they are in UK) or really ask questons. There is no encouragement of original thought. The thinking processes are very rigid in fact.

The one thing that particularly saddens me is that there is virtually no creative writing taught and when it is, it is only for language learning purposes. They did learn a new poem every week in primary school (quite difficult classic ones) but there is virtually no encouragement to write your own.

Don't get me wrong, I don't personally really favour the other extreme end of the spectrum in which dc are encouraged to "explore" a subject without knowing the first thing or fact about it. But surely, in an ideal world, there should be a good balance of both?

Crochet sounds fun ¨Blue safe travelling this weekend!

Right, I know need to try and negotiate my way downstairs which could be tricky.

Newcomers (and oldies) sorry I appear to be waffling on a lot on this thread at the moment.

I sincerely hope all the chat isn't putting you off!

Back to Flying:

To do:
get balance back!
morning routine
slow home bleugh ground floor
bed-making

4 am? Heck, that's too early! Will the child go back to sleep before tonight?!

I hope the dizziness goes soon SC. I don't think you are derailing (or me-railing) the thread, it is interesting to hear from someone on the ground going through it rather than the news reports.

Have made pain au chocolat this morning from the just-rol tube, rather nice. Since all the boxes arrived (furniture) I haven't done much laundry as there is nowhere to hang it but as today might be the best day weather-wise I should get some on the line as strong winds are predicted.

Also the front room is terrible even without the 16 boxes where the dining table should be and needs a lot of work. Will absolutely nail this room today!

We are not travelling this weekend thankfully, so looking forward to some time at home.

Morning SC - How on earth do working parents cope with their child's care/supervision for these19 weeks holiday a year?!?!?

And honestly woman - call the cleaner and ask her to come anyway! after all you are going through and with the recent bad back I think it would be for the best.

x-post Fiz - i sincerely hope hope for everyone's sanity that DS does nap at some point..... (Or else I'll be cracking open the team and raisen wine early ... like I need an excuse )

Morning.

Not doing much today as we have friends around later but thought i'd add my list anyway.

My list:

• wash dishes
• wipe kitchen
• put bleach down the loos
• wipe bathroom basins
• general tidy up
• clear out my handbag

Morning all! Very sleepy today. DH's turn for a lie in though (has been for the whole week really, since he was on getting-up duty on holiday, but he keeps getting up with them!). DCs are upstairs creating an easter egg hunt for us (we still need to do theirs in secret). I'm supposed to be going to a friend's house for a crochet/knitting evening but not sure I can manage it.

I did actually manage to hang out the laundry at around half midnight .

I'm not really sure what we will achieve today TBH. Blah.

Ds is not sleeping atm. I feel like i have been hit by a truck. Soooo tired. 2am he went to bed and it was closer to 3am when sleep was achieved, I was brought coffee bright and early at 10am (a lie from the 7:30am starts that have been combined with the 3am sleeps of the last week). There is also a huge ta da list considering I have a thumping headache and want to sleep for a week!

Ta da
make jam tarts
make cinanemon rolls (and eat)
hot cross buns - prepped to rising ready for dough cross and cooking
make fruit pie for pudding
put a load of washing on
fill dw

We are now heading out into the hills but tbh I would rather stay here and watch Ice Age continental drift. Hey ho. Child to exercise in the vague hope of sleep

Ah yes the old tire-them-out trick. Hope it works! I found on holiday that the DCs slept much better as we went swimming every day. Not so practical back home though.

I've barely left the sofa, feeling like shit here too. Managing to sort out a little bit by getting the others to bring me things/take things to their proper places! Slowly slowly things are improving in the house. I'm just in a grump because I really want to do so much more and I can't.

Gosh Grey and Einstein, you have my sympathy. I remember the bone weary exhaustion of DC that don't sleep, or wake early (DS). No words of wisdom, just sympathy. This too will pass....

The bedroom hasn't really had any attention this week, even though it's supposed to be our mission. I've filled 2 charity bags and tidied out my underwear drawer, but I've been preoccupied getting DD to her skiing holiday and getting in the garden while the weather holds. Plus, the pony takes up extra time as DD is away.

Anyway, whine over..

ta da
Vacuum downstairs.
Aldi.
Garden Centre.
Pony x 2
Weed and dig over herb bed and plant new herbs.
Empty dishwasher.
Put tea in SC.
Chickens.
Pop to friends who sell clothes, buy a top.
Online supermarket shop.
Strip DD's bed and wash, dry.
2 x other washes.
Get ready for 80's party tonight at friends!!!!

Not a very productive day here, feeling crappy still. Did put a wash on and am slowly doing the grocery order.

I'm seeing more and more just how different the house is though, it's all little things like the fact I've finally found uses for the plethora of little Really Useful Boxes - stuff like DS game cartridges, hairbands, DCs' fact cards etc that previously had no home are starting to be organised rather than just being scattered all over the place or shoved in those pesky BRCs!

Enjoy the party Need!