Combining April showers with Fledgling powers (2016)

[SpareCrust]

Humungous thanks to Greymalkin for leading us so professionally and capably through March!

And thank you in advance to Einstein for covering the first four days of this thread (while I sidle off)!

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.

Flylady link here.

Don't let the somewhat sickly and barftastic language of the site put you off: the underlying system is sound!

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 masses of bumph. 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 brew + the power of three technique + a bit of support on here can work wonders!

Here's the launch pad for more experienced fledglings

Oh and 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 and some of us natter rather a lot – but all lurkers, intermittent returnees, oldies and newcomers are very, very welcome!

SC that all sounds unbelievably stressful. I hope it all resolves well for you very soon.

Not as much flying done here today as planned, but did remember to order repeat prescriptions, shop, send cards etc. The back-to-school first week is always a bit grim, getting used to all the running around and remember to pack and take stuff. DD has already come home with a demand for money and a weekend event.

Trying to look after myself a bit better, drank a couple of large glasses of water with lemon in - quite nice actually. The lemon makes it more palatable for me.

Think I will head off for an early night tonight. See y'all tomorrow. Keeeeeeep flapping ...

Good morning fledglings!

Bit confused because I thought I had posted at 6.30 am this morning but obviously didn't press "post message" button.

Anyway, hope everyone is ok!

Like the sound of the lemon water Cotswold. And sounds like you made the most of errand day yesterday. YY to the back-to-school week being a bit grim; why do I never remember this?! In the two days that dd was back I have received: a demand for money for a concert, a demand to bake thirty portions of cake and a demand to manage a stall for part of the open day

Oooohhhhh Blue [squeals with excitement]. I am a huge fan of JK. A remarkable woman who has lived a remarkable life.

Knitting yes the doc said that most pre-teen and teen girls go through a fainting phase. She has prescribed a funny tasting lemon drinks with various supplements in them plus a balance of salts and sugars. Well done re: all the walking and congrats on doing today's mission in advance!

Caglio and the supper wasn't even that bad - honest - !! Well done re: laundry and happy craft drawer sorting! Those sorts of jobs are v fulfilling when finished until sticky small hands get involved again.

I am hoping for a slightly less stressful day today. (Just have to sign legal papers and will hear middle of next week whether yay or nay concerning huge project.)

DD has (slightly shakily) returned to school and with the help of her "educateur" (who is responsible for absences/detentions/pastoral care) etc she is going to collect all books needed for w/e and work she has missed and come home early. Was self-consciously tittering to myself during my telephone conversation with him this morning because French speakers describe fainting v prettily as "tomber dans les pommes" and we were trying to work out a strategy as to what would happen should dd "tomber dans les pommes" again!

Ta da:
cleared yet more paths for window cleaner
and tidied up for cleaner who hasn't turned up again
animals, wm, td, dw, dining room table hot spots
folded yet more pants and towels
dh did dog walk 1
nipped to cash point and back
cleaned kitchen surfaces
put more laundry on
stripped mattress of cover and took downstairs to wash

To do:
meeting to sign papers
continue folding and bagging up clothes for charity
prep some sort of frozen fish dish for supper (fish pie?)
start on magazine decluttering
long dog walk no 2 over lunch time
clear home office desk

What is the strategy re: decluttering magazines then Fledglings? Mine fall in to two categories: ancient interior design ones that I have kept as inspiration and intended to cut ideas out of "one day" and haven't but there are some cracking ideas in some of them. And my two weekly subscriptions. ( I want to keep two or three certain editions from one subscription and just cut out a few vital articles from the other. ) Trouble is, I always intend to read them with high-lighter pen in hand, and don't, so now I have to look through hundreds just to find one or two articles. [Groan.] That's not really practical is it?

Dh's advice this morning was - succinctly - "dump the lot"

Cheery wing flaps to all!

Sorry - very rudely neglected to thank you all for your v kind words regarding property/bank/project thing - which are much appreciated!

[Am keeping toes, fingers and everything else crossed until middle of week.]

Hi Fledglings! I'm sort of dreading the day ahead as the DCs seem to have woken up rather grumpy, and that's made me grumpy too.

But we have friends popping over later so the DCs are tidying their room a bit and then get on with some learning stuff.

Re: magazines - I'm biased I guess because I don't really like interior design stuff. But those I'd get rid of, because there is a whole world of ideas online now. Also, what I find about home design magazines/TV is that they can make people feel bad. It's like they show you what you don't have, IYSWIM? They put pressure on to keep up with the latest trends and it sucks if you can't. If they induce any feelings like that, definitely ditch them!

Right. Must crack on. Don't wanna.

Meh. Need to get started myself. Meh. More caffeine needed or something ....

Apologies for absence, I need to read the whole thread and catch up, then I can post properly.

hi whoknows.

I am exhausted this morning, despite slightly better sleeping pattern (went to bed early so I could get up at 6.45am with ease)

Driven dd to school (I and 3/4 hour round trip) Three times this week, tis too much.
taken ds1 for sight test (he has borderline shortsight, so not bad enough for normal glasses, but needs them for the blackboard; he is thrilled and feels very cool with glasses on, grownup etc. Next he wants a suit! (they wear suits in sixth form, if and when he gets in)
wheedled ds2 out of the house with the right equipment and bath before (so difficult to get him out of the bath nowadays)
decluttered 4 big gardening books to friend for time being (she may give them back but for now, that is 4 less books in the house)
walked

threw some old food out of the fridge yesterday
hung up some washing

now have to go to football
ds2 has a friend coming over, which is lovely but I need to be in the right mental place for it and cleaning lady is here, which is of course sending me into a state of anxiety...grrr at all the jobs I haven't done, which she will witness...

EHCP seems to have been finally issued with school named, but I am not getting any response from the LA when I try and find out what happens next. I suspect they are still stalling to avoid the funding issues that will follow his placement.

I am still a picture of inactivity here, managed to book a hair appointment for next week and an eyetest for the week after that. Nothing for the house yet ...

More bad news here. I will yet again be missing in action/posting seriously long lists as a coping strategy. Sorry.

Ta Da
change plans for today
wash soft toys by hand
wash wool socks by hand
blanket wash
white wash
black wash
ironing
lunch box and getting ds to school
finish a craft project
put rubbish out
make cottage pie portions for the freezer
drink several cups of coffee
up date planners
plan schedule of to do's vs time available
check bank statement
pick out birthday cards and wrap present
Start a new craft project
finish another craft project
work on a third craft project
deal with hospital letters, bank statements and general post as part of the one touch system
start gathering stuff for ds' weekend bag

About to take a much needed nap before tackling the long to do list some more

Sorry about the bad news Einstein :(

Evening all.

Einstein really sorry to hear about bad news . Take it steady (And bloody no need to apologise!) x

You've been planning Cotswold. That counts!

Knitting I don't pretend to understand how the ed system works in the UK, but I hope your ds2 getting a definite place is a positive step forward.

Really sympathise over the early morning starts; they get to me too. Really disappointed in my fitness and energy levels atm. I can barely get through a normal day. One would have thought that the dog walking would be making a difference, but I just feel even more tired! Aw at your ds1 being thrilled with his glasses.

Lovely to see you Whoknows and knowing your schedule, I am sure you should not be seated in the naughty corner! Out and proud girl!

Thanks for mag advice Cag much appreciated. It's a good point about everything being on line. We are way beyond the latest trends here - having a floor without a hole in the middle is about our level - but realise I have to take the bull by the horns and chuck nonetheless. Don't fully understand why this is hard! I suppose it is all the aspirations I had invested in them that have (so far) come to naught! Hope your morning dread was not justified in the end and that the day went well!

Things didn't go very well at school today as the "educateur" having been full of promises to keep an eye on dd and help her source missing work etc did precisely nothing. Oh well. She did come home early and feels ok-ish and has been very helpful this afternoon assisting me with updating software on my Ipod and phone and prepping baked pots.

Going to post links for tomorrow now and say goodnight as I am totally shattered!

Expansive wing flaps to everyone else and well done on all the high flying achieved fledglings!

***

Baby-step no 16 for tomorrow, Sat 16th April is: here. It's an ignorable one about reading testimonials.

Tomorrow will be our last day in Zone 3 (April 10-16) this week : The bathroom and one extra room. (If you do zone work at weekends that is, which I don't!)

Spend 15 mins decluttering in Zone 3.

When you have finished decluttering, the detailed cleaning list (if you are at that stage) for Zone 3 is here.

No missions because it is the weekend! Yay!

The daily focus for Saturday is family fun.

The monthly habit for April is www.flylady.net/d/habits-of-the-month/april/ making your bed!

For a summary of the above, see the flight plan : www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=-120 which should update itself daily.

**

Enjoy the weekend everyone!

I've done Football drive there, wait in rain, drive back
Friend for ds2 round - they did some filming for a group film, ds2 kept his wet football clothes on "as it was important for continuity"
email from solicitor
downstairs hoovered (by cleaning lady)
kitchen cleaned (by cleaning lady)
fridge cleaned out(by cleaning lady)

ds1 FINALLY produced his Provisional Gsce timetable, scrunched up into a tiny folded up bit of paper which he has been keeping back over the Easter holidays (he claimed it was in his locker at school). I have pinned it to the wall. I may have to photocopy it several times.

I managed a lovely nap from 4-5pm,

and ds1's Galore Park books have turned up. Just history and science, and last year's curriculum really (13+ Common Entrance syllabus)but it seems to cover what he is doing this year NC wise. I also read the first questions in the science book and was very relieved I could answer most of them History text books seem to be a constant reminder of what I DO NOT know in any detail.

Better think about supper now. So cold and rainy here. Actually no idea what to cook, driving, the trauma of the cleaning lady and the football has put all groceries out of my mind. Risotto?

SC why not make a folder of the favourite things in your magazines? I know with husbands (and oneself) it can really help to have a picture of colours and tiles, moodboards if you like...Or make a few real moodboards of how you want everything to look. Often the exact source is less important than deciding one wants a green room or a wooden worktop, actual green paint and wooden worktop can come from anywhere. Could be really enjoyable. No need to chuck anything until you have finished the project anyway. It is not meant to be penitential. I only chucked gardening mags because i had genuinely finished designing my garden and want to concentrate on using it/entertaining more (which means having less stuff in the house) My personal issue really.

Mmm risotto!

Knitting :o at the continuity. DH will be impressed - he really hates sloppy continuity in films and TV!

Have you used Galore Park books before? I've heard good things, but would obviously need them for younger ones (DCs are 8 and 6).

SC YES 'invested' is exactly what it is, re: the magazines. And I honestly think that's all the more reason to get rid. It'll hurt to do it, but then you can move on, rather than have them constantly there as a reminder of what you haven't done, IYSWIM?

My day was pretty good :) managed a little work in the morning, then had friends round for a chat/play. Managed a little more snail's-pace decluttering too.

Yes, Cali I have used them, but they are very dense, and quite expensive - there's a lovely home ed blog called Patch of Puddles, she recommended them for those who like structure and lots of information. obviously only used them with an older child and only History so far, as I like to know the facts before I go off piste.

Hope everything is OK Einstein.

Greatness was not achieved here today. But we have survived the first week back at school and there is always tomorrow.

Thanks Knitting - I wasn't sure how long you've been HEing! Thanks for the blog recommendation too.

I've lost myself in the world of free printables. My poor hard drive.

Just recovering from a crazily busy week with work conference and London Book Fair. Funnily enough, I was also at the Judith Kerr event . I really admire Kerr and was quite overawed to see her in person. She was just as lovely as I hoped she'd be. And it was touching to hear that her DD used to beg her to 'talk the tiger'.

Aiming to tackle the housework at home tomorrow.

Einstein - sorry things are tough

Blue and Toffee I am green, green with envy I tell you, that you got to see Judith Kerr I love her writing and think she is just wonderful.

SC - lots and lots going on for you at the moment, really hope you can all recuperate over the weekend. Thanks for all the links.

< waves to WhoKnows Einstein Cotswold Cag Mercury and all other feathered friends >

I seem to have fallen off the flying wagon after my super productive March. Not too bothered at the moment though, it'll pick up. The whole making your bed thing is my equivalent of shinning the sink. I find that is the one household task that lifts me and gets me going!

DS has had a very long and intense week settling into his second nursery. The teachers are great and the resources they have are incredible. DH and I had a long appointment with the teacher going through paperwork and his routines etc and I feel very reassured that he will be happy and looked after.

While I always insist to my mum that of course DH can cope without me, he's a fully grown man and perfectly competent, it would be nice not to come back to quite so much mess... Sigh.

Sympathies, Blue. Today is also my 'sorting the house out' day.

Grey - have you read her autobiographical trilogy as well (starting with 'When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit')?: I couldn't put it down. I also have 'Judith Kerr's Creatures', which contains some of her childhood drawings.

Glad you feel positive about your DS's new nursery, Grey.

I am also getting back on wagon here. Am also a seized up skeleton today,, as our heating is temporarily on the blink. Next week it is!

We had a brief snow flurry this morning, however the weather has been so lovely this afternoon that I've hung washing out. All the weather in one day here.

Took DD to an activity this morning, visited the local jumble sale and bought a few books for DD and waiting for DH to return with the takeaway. Happy Saturday, y'all!