Fledglings Flying into June - In or Out we'll find out soon.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es]

Welcome all - and thanks to CotswoldStrife for leading us through May. It's going to be a momentous month on the political front, but this is where we can concentrate on the domestic front instead.

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.

Link to the Flylady website Flylady

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 Launch Pad

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!

Links for Tuesday

Babystep Using a calendar

Mission - wipe doen the walls of your shower and change the sheets on your spare bed (I have neither so that's easy, although I could wipe the tiles behind the bath)

Tuesday is planning day

Ah, I knew there was something I meant to watch tonight, Grey! Will have to look for it on catch up.

Caught up properly now. Welcome back Kruck and welcome to 3perfect! WOW that is some serious decluttering there!

Sorry about the tricky 3yo stage Grey it's bloody hard work. I would say less new things would help. I'm my own worst enemy for that, always say oh I don't get my kids a lot of new things, but then I'm always picking up things in charity shops etc so they do get a pretty steady stream of new (to them) things... argh! I get the impression that your DS is quite a bright little lad though - time for pocket money perhaps? That's definitely helped my 2 appreciate things more.

Re: towels I need to sort that out tomorrow. Often ours just end up crumpled as the hanging storage thing they technically live in isn't really ideal. But I have some of those over the door hangers which I'm going to put in the bathroom. I'll need to tape it down though as when I tried before it wouldn't close properly if there weren't enough towels weighing it down! Anyway, trying to abide by 'the toothbrush principle' (the idea that the best place to store something is where you use it) and cut down on faff by having them all in the bathroom.

I'm feeling knackered but wired. Really should try and sleep now. G'night folks.

still

grey I remember at age 3, DS used to get a toy pretty much every week when we went to Tesco to do our weekly shop. It got ridiculous. He expected it and would get upset if said no, not this time. Actually we did a lot of "not today, maybe soon" or we will buy it when X, with X being an event or significant day etc. TBF, it did not take too long before he stopped being upset and then saying can we buy this when we go stay at granny's or whatever it was. Now we only buy him something at each school holiday eg under £10 at half term and under £20 during the longer holidays (except Christmas).

Towels: Rolled up against each other ala Kondo style. Makes it super neat and tidy all the time. Oh yes, reduce your towel mountain first though!

Hi everyone

Today I need to post my provisional license, I've been putting off learning for years but it's time.

Go shopping
Sort through wardrobe
Complete load of washing
Tidy hallway
Cat litter tray
Wash down bath tiles

Morning folks! DD woke me up asking "Can we do some more tidying today?" and then proceeded to scrub one of the surfaces she cleaned yesterday. :o

Well ok then DD, yes we most certainly can! Going to a friend's to do some Spanish later, but this morning we will try and get some done. :)

Wish zoolets were mini flyers!!

Tada
Hotspot front room(tables are major problems,or is it just us that dump everything in them?)
Fed cats
Washing on
Fed zoolets
Run shop(see below)
Pack lunches made
Wipe bath and sink
Harpic lav
Made beds

We had "marmite gate" this morning-little zoo was apoplectic as used last marmite for pack lunches and after cereal tis the norm to gave toast etc.well today l,knowing marmite jar empty I opt for crumpet stash had in freezer.I felt snug it was all good,but no little zoo demand crumpets NEED marmite as well spread since when?
Cajole a quick practise on guitars before school
School run
Wash in dryer,more on
My breakfast
Sort few letters came yesterday (bills etc)
Empty kitchen bin
Shine sink missed yesterday
Brush long hair cat that was scratch tufts out over floor
Dryer just stop so time go get that out

I am with little zoo Still, crumpets do need marmite too.

Really need to tackle the hot spots in my house, of which there are many.

More washing to do.

Go to the pharmacy to get prescriptions.

There is probably more, but can't think of them.

Errr no. Crumpets require butter and raspberry jam. Mind you I know someone who has poached eggs on crumpets!

tables are major problems,or is it just us that dump everything in them?

No, it is most definitely NOT just you! :o

Feeling rather positive today. Was nice to wake up in a tidy living room (I ended up downstairs as couldn't sleep, was writing up my lesson notes instead) and then as my friend is feeling rough we've had her DS round instead of going there (which saves me the 4 bus rides, long walk etc which I'm not really up to - whereas friend drives so just dropped him off). But the main thing is that I actually felt ABLE to invite him. Before, I wouldn't. But because the living room/stairs/bathroom are pretty good now, it was absolutely fine and I didn't feel all anxious about friend popping in etc. Yay!

Anyway the three of them are just playing now but I should resist the temptation to just sit on the sofa and do nothing. Off to move the laundry along a stage.

I'm with LittleZoo too, crumpets and marmite are the perfect combination, I never ever put sweet things on them.

Seems I am out of touch with modern crumpet eaters

Glad my table hotspot us common place. I just knew I was going to fit in here

Scrub kitchen surface cat chose take nap on while on school run with sticky feet(cat,not me!haha).I don't want to know where he been-feral boy.he knows surfaces are a no nowhich why little sod wait til I out to do it .l that will teach me to feel sorry for them both as was training and let them stay in(other one still asleep in same spot since 8am,surely he will need at least a wee soon,?!)

-2more loads wash done-all that's dry fold and put away.last load drying

As bathrooms this week zone thought I'd go for it as dp has rare weekdays off(wed and Thur) so won't be get much done while he under my feet
-clean tiling round shower
-change hose that leaking on shower
-clean windows and will
-sort out drawers(kids have plastic 4draw set.a draw each for ablutions bits and bobs plus lav rolls on bottom draw)
-empty bin and pop fresh bag in it
-wipe side bath,skirts,radiator and door frame
-wash floor

Pity girls gave trampolining tonight and will need use my lovely clean bathroom later!!

Tea a splintered affair tonight.D's go first and when girls back at 5.30dd2has quick alsnack,little zoo gets tea,then D's and dd2 off fun and faith.dd2fed on return and little ones need snack before bed.just call me lunch lady Doris!!!!
Have 20 minutes to grab a snack before u go pick up kids

So pleased for you cag bout having people in.dd2wants friends round but as 12i more fearful what her friends will say bout clutter and wouldn't want her get picked on(goes all girls school and let's face it we can be bitchy little big madams) hoping we will be in a position soon to let her

Happy flying everyone

This phone is a nightmare.apologys for typos.hope you can make sense what I posted.my friends in hysterics some my texts.esp funny for them when fucking regularly becomes ducking or decking....

I never got my snack before pick up,remembered dd2 ask me fix rip in her favourite baggy shirt to wear tonight so did that instead!

Picked up zoolets
Chivvy little zoo change for trampolining and take earrings out.
Fish chilled drinks from fridge and wave her off!
quick snack D's and I ram other Belgian bun from yesterday
Change showerpipe to the head(leaking)
Wash hall,living room and kitchen floors
Feed ds-pasta and meatballs with broccoli

Girls be back shortly.have fruesli bar at ready for Dd2 snerf in car on way fun and faith after change clothes.once her and D's there its back to feed little zoo and put potato in to bake for dd2 when she gets back!!

Yep autocorrect is a total ducking nightmare :o

IKWYM about the bitchiness and embarrassment. It wasn't so bad when I grew up as while cluttered/messy our house was comparatively big and so it wasn't so obvious. But I dreaded them going in the kitchen because that was horrible.

Is there any way of using this as an incentive to get DDs more involved in helping around the house? It's definitely helping my DD - she is quite social and loves to have friends round, so being able to remind her of this is quite helpful.

They enjoyed having their friend round, and his mum stayed for a bit when she picked him up with her toddler DD and it was so nice not to have to worry about her picking up goodness knows what! Instead they played with our nicely organised basket of musical instruments. All very worthy. :o

I sorted the towels out as well - I tried taping the hook thing down but it didn't work, so I swapped it with a different set of hooks (mum gave us loads a while back) and that does allow the door to shut, so the towels will now live on that. A small thing but it's the small things that add up to a tidier/better organised house I think! Well I hope so anyway, it's not like I've ever had a tidy/organised house before (and a long way to go yet!).

Right. Off I go. :)
I've done the second wash so will stick that in the dryer shortly.

Dd helper
I like it

Shall suggest it later(after she been out and then fed on return and hopefully in food fettle)

Good fettle,although she is very fond of her grub,maybe this phone is start to get to know us

Am totally drained. Ds is in his last term of the school year meltdown phase. Work is insane and in a massive period of change so feeling very discombobulated. Also as working extra days it means i am losing clearing out time. Absolutely shattered as ds is not sleeping well because of first point. Also because of first point he needs more tending to and requires yet more of my time. I have no idea how there is going to be space for the delivery of stuff on thursday ready for the builders next week. As am out tomo from 8:30am until 11pm and I need to go out shortly tonight too. Need an ikea run and as it opens until 8 or 9 i can do a flying visit when it is quiet. Also need to stop at hobby craft but I think that errand can wait until friday when I drive past one rather than having to make a special trip. Just no idea about how to fit everything in. Ideas? Nothing can be cut out already right back to bare minimum and the only options I have is to not sleep/eat as a 'sick day' isn't an option.

Oh and ta da
put load of washing on to tumble dry
get ds to school despite the screamed refusal
work
banking
few shop errands
Picked up some paperwork for records
Ds to a local town for glasses
Stopped for a walk in hills on way home
Discussion about current grounding and technology ban
discussion about up coming school trip
Mention of potential upcoming school events requiring parent attendance (but no detail cos ds wasn't listening to that bit he just knows he wants me there)
eat the sweets i bought for ds tomo so will have to replace (whoops)
sort out payment for something I ordered for mum cos she doesn't do internet shopping.
Sort out calendar

to do
laundry
pack lunch
folding
ironing
clothes away
Ikea
tea cooking (although i think ds said he was cooking his own so will just grab a sandwich or an ikea hot dog or something)
put another load on to wash
Hoover car
start putting stuff back into car
finish unpacking from holiday
finish sorting through drawers and pack ready for storage that which requires it.

Try to figure out correct priorities for meeting deadline of monday for prep for builders taking into account delivery of components and that associated space/timings.

Bollocks, just did all the links and lost them.

Right here we go again (going out, hence early)

Babystepp - add making your bed to your morning routine

Mission clean your toilet roll holder etc and chuck 10 things away from your garage

Daily Habit - Wednesday is Anti-Procrastination Day, all the things you have been putting off.

Evening all

Staying off screens at the moment (back pain has reappeared in a bad way following the translation work a while ago ie sitting is the culprit) so only have a few minutes to post.

But just wanted to say:

A warm welcome to 3perfect

Sorry it is tough going atm Einstein

Congrats on your first lesson Cag

Good luck with the driving lessons ¨Kruck

Grey I am afraid that I am very old school when it comes to whinging in shops - a particular bugbear of mine - dd was briefed from v early age before we set out and reminded again before we entered shop that any whinging or demanding would result in us leaving said shop instantly. And I followed it through a couple of times too which did the trick [horrible mother emoticon]. However, I did reward with small inexpensive toy for non-whinging/demanding behaviour occasionally too.

So very sorry to hear about your friend Stilllivinginazoo and her poor son too

Hope you are feeling a bit better MadSprocker and Cotswold

Very fair points about the cat volunteers and refuges Whoknows! Have a good time tonight!

End of term madness here but I am only dealing with essentials. DD's first end of year exam tomorrow. And of course football fever is all around us.

Flying - just doing essentials such as animals, laundry, washing machine, sink shining, cooking supper.

Having to lie flat while the house goes to pot around me. Heigh ho! Feel relieved we have paid most of our social dues because house not fit for visitors atm. A positive side-product of having to recline all the time though is that I am binge watching House of Cards

Speaking of visitors, I have endless sheets and duvet covers (mostly inherited from both sides of the family) beautiful cotton that is a bugger to launder. Have to keep it though because often have between 9-12 people staying in the summer but it is difficult to keep organised in between.

Blue hope Smokey Joe with you soon!

Oh and I'm with the Marmite brigade on crumpets!!

Big waves to everyone I've missed!

What is this marmite on crumpets weirdness? :o

I've had a lovely day. Rounded off by playing my new card game with DCs (something I got out of my lovely giftcard from colleagues). DD often finds games difficult but she really excelled at this one so it was a big confidence boost.

Only down side for the day was that I burnt my arm while cooking dinner and it really hurts. Bah.

Dryer seems to have finished, need to stick a non-tumble wash on with Badgers/Brownies uniform so DH can iron it tonight. And then I'm going to have a quick session putting out hotspots and suchlike. I hope this motivation lasts!

Am exhausted, horrible wet weather is not helping. I slept really badly last night - weird disturbing dreams, not quite nightmares though.

On the bright side, have lost 1lb of weight - it's taken me 3 weeks to lose that damn lb. It's taken me 6 weeks to lose 4 lbs, every pound is a hard fought victory.

Not done much flying - basically my version of morning and evening routine plus put wash away and did manage to make a healthy dinner even though it was staying late at work day - tomorrow too.

Marmite is just wrong in all circumstances. Crumpets need nothing more than butter, and lots of it!

Lots of bits and bobs done today, including a bit of gardening while it was actually not raining. Took delivery of a parcel of kitten paraphernalia too. All being well, will collect Smokey on Saturday, SC (DH reckons the Joe makes him sound like a bbq restaurant!)

DS1 seems to have some kind of virus, though. Hoping a good night's sleep will help. Was very woebegone when he went to bed. :(

I've just had marmite on toast. I used to just have butter on crumpets but then I saw someone put cheese on them - 'what sorcery is this' I thought, but cheese is fab. I am now wondering about marmite with cheese on top. Unfortunately no crumpets in the house so that's tomorrow's shopping trip sorted!

Today - in and out of the house constantly, no flying, still messy. Although tomorrow's appointment has been cancelled which will give me a chance to spend a day in the house and maybe fit in a tip trip as well. The fact that I find that exciting gives you an idea how dull my life is

Maclellan's Seriously Strong cheese spread is the only thing better than marmite on crumpets.