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!

No one would convict SC no one.

Safe journeys

Well if I were convicted, I hope I could prevail upon you to bake me a cake with a file in it Einstein

Waves to all!

Muffins very welcome in the naughty corner Still - we used to have a coffee machine in there.

I seem to have made my kitchen worse before it gets better, having spilled tomato sauce all over the cooker and discovered a leaking bottle of maple syrup in the fridge door .

I am sure there is the possibility of something a bit more substantial than a file should the need be there. After all the fledglings are rather resourceful.

mmmh, pretty certain I could fit a couple of bolt cutters down my Spanx in an emergency Einstein

Sorry about the kitchen Whoknows if only it had been ketchup on the floor which is actually good for getting out stains!

Well know there's an image I wasn't expecting

Ta da
fuck all

To do
fuck all

thus there has been success

SC I could ask to swoop in, torch the nick and then spirit you away over the barbed wire fences?

Ta Da

Stripped bed sheets and mattress and pillow protectors
Flipped mattress
Washed and dried mattress and pillow protectors, put back on bed with fresh sheets
Extracted the detergent drawer for washing machine, thoroughly washed it and it's 'socket' in machine
Dishwasher unload, reload, unload again
Met with two separate removal companies for quotes for our move

Plus, I also doubled up a hoard of Tesco vouchers online and have purchased a Dyson hand held hoover. I have been coveting one for ages and am ridiculously excited about it!!

Einstein

[and leaves out long string of sausages for ]

Big waves to Grey and everyone else!!

Evening all,

Well, DH cleared up most of the kitchen in the end, I spent 2.5 hours at the most tedious meeting you can imagine this evening as my penance.

I did steam clean the cooker, the kitchen taps/drains and the maple syrup-contaminated parts of the fridge before I went out though. And I had quite a good clear up in my bedroom last night. So not too bad.

Grey - I have a cordless Dyson and love it, although the floor brush has just stopped rotating, but we have had it as our only hoover for at least two years now, so it's had a lot of use.

Links for Tuesday

Babystep - check out the Ask Flylady section on the website.

Mission - clear all the crap off your bed. You're ahead Stillliving! Well done.

Tuesday is Planning Day

Scraping in with seconds to spare - have a good trip SC.

Some progress has been made today. Did bake brownies this morning so kitchen still condemned, but there's always tomorrow ....

Good morning lovely fledglings!

Yay for helpful husbands Whoknows!

Thanks Cotswold [hides brownie in pocket for later]

Well, um, dd has her penultimate exam this morning and she was surprised just now that it was Flemish and not Latin as she thought. She assures me she has passed everything so far, but this morning's realisation does not inspire confidence . Oh well, we will hear on the 24/25. Apparently, if she hasn't passed to a sufficient level, we receive a "special, personal phone call" from her titulaire after the délibérations. Oh lawd.

Drum roll ... on the positive front, today is the first day dd is going to school (and back) totally by herself - yay! (It would have been earlier had it not been for terrorism.) The end of school runs - and the lack of presents for teachers (well, 3 small presents as opposed to 14 in primary) - it really is the end of an era!! Another yay!! Although she- has left behind her water bottle and snack--.

Strangely, the mornings (particularly dd herself and the dog tbh) are so much calmer and stress-free when dh isn't here and the dog slept perfectly happily in his own bed in the hall last night; which proves that he doesn't have to sleep in our bed as dh claims. (I loathe dog hair on bed linen.) It's only when dh is away that I realise how much I also loathe the telly being on in the morning (dh is a constant watcher of the news).

Ta da:
rubbish and recycling
animals
finish filling dishwasher and collecting mugs and glasses from around the house
tiny bits hand washing
s&s
tidy hall
dining room table hot spots
wm machines on

To do:
sort laundry for washing
sort laundry for ironing
clean down kitchen surfaces and stove top
tidy boudoir bed
wrap present and write card x 3
wipe down dining room tables
general tidying of ground floor
office desk
start packing

Forgot to say, I must avoid screens now and crack on, but hope everyone has a really productive day

Have a great trip SC

I washed our bedding yesterday, checked the weather forecast on three different apps on my phone obsessive hung it out on the line, then proceeded to watch it get rained on most of the evening.

Sometimes my sink is not shining, because my DH will load the dishwasher in the morning before work.

Ta da
Stripped the children's beds and washed their covers.
Made a cup of tea and had breakfast.

To do
Hang said washing on the line as it is sunny!
Put clean clothes away.
Avoid house stuff by spending time in the garden.

My bed tends to be clear, it's all the other surfaces in my bedroom

Not often I'm in front of things

Ta dad
Fed cats
Clean sink(forgot last nite)
Empty kitchen bin
Make zoolets breakfast
Pack lunches
Locate ds guitar book and sign it(little zoo at least,knows to keep in guitar case!) Ready for lessons at school
School run
Pop shops bread and milk
Wash all lower floors
Clean bath and sink
Harpic lav

Also opt fit in very important nap and 2chapters of a book

Hope DD's exam went ok SC and safe travels.

Waves to everyone else, and

Ahem, been rather crap on the ta da's, but here we go

Applied toner to my hair, to try to get rid of yellow tones
Cleaned bathroom after getting purple toner everywhere
Washed and hung out bedding
Cleared kitchen up
Picked more flowers from the garden
Put bleach down toilets

Have good days tomorrow

SC I had to return to school with a missing lunchbox today.

I am definitely getting more done when I stay off the internet although it makes the day less fun so will continue for a bit, just checking in a couple of times a day.

Utterly manic day coming up tomorrow, not much flying will be done but will attempt to maintain the small areas of order that have almost developed!

Uurgh, so tired! I will just post links and go to bed if no one minds the lack of chat.

Wednesday 22nd

Babystep start building your office in a bag.

Mission - clear to the left of your bed

Wednesday is anti-procrastination day

Hi folks. Sorry have been absent for a few days.

Very little Flying. Hot Spot thing sort of working, could do better, but the idea is definitely sinking in.

Living room generally a bit of a state though. Got another maths class tomorrow so need to get up early and sort that with DH before he leaves (earlier than expected as his shift has been changed - the advantage is that he'll be home at a more civilised hour). Mind you it shouldn't take nearly so long to sort it out as the base level of tidiness has definitely improved.

Feeling spectacularly badmotherish though as I failed to sort out something for DD's party and now it may not happen when planned at all. Argh. Trying to sort it out tomorrow, back up plan is do the proper party in summer as a joint thing with DS (they share lots of friends anyway) and just get some of DD's friends round on Saturday instead. FFS though. Mega fail. Mind you, she doesn't have a clue that when we go to London on her actual birthday, we're going to an exhibition with a load of her friends. So that should help a lot.

Right. Should go to bed. Well actually should tidy stuff. Might try a little bit before heading upstairs. Night.

Hoping you are all well.

Another busy day at work, but have managed a few ta da's
Put away clean washing
Got dcs to sort out their socks and put them away
Load of washing on
Loaded dishwasher

Heavy rain and storms forecast overnight, hoping the plants in my garden survive.

Maths class and piano lessons went well today. I am now full of cold :( :( not great timing considering I have a lesson tomorrow, and DD's birthday on Friday with a trip to London planned :( and her party on Saturday. Feeling rather sorry for myself!