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 Wednesday.

BAbystep - taking care of you.

Mission - sofa and chair diving

Wednesday is Anti-Procrastination Day

Evening all and welcome newbies - good to have you with us.

I have done a few large loads of washing up today, but the kitchen is still not quite finished. Partly because we keep eating and I made brownies this morning!

DD seems much better, although still suffering a bit. Back at school today, which helped.

Looking forward to attacking the rest of the week with vigour can you tell I am going out for coffee tomorrow

Ta da

errrr. I figured out what the weird feathery thing is and returned it to its owner? - you could ask for an explanation but tbh it is beyond me.

to do
pick up chocolate chips
make brownies
make flapjack
make crumble
school uniform shopping
find tax credit paperwork so I can deal with it and check the deadline
wash a sleeping bag
re wash a sofe throw that got forgotten
wash uniform for work tomo
find the to do list i put in a safe place
hoover office
put chest of drawers back in
put toys back in
put christmas and easter stuff back in
pick up a box from ikea

yesI need that drink and sod the cobwebs.life too short fret over the stuff that don't matter!
I never want to see a 10 year old boy and a 12 year old girl stand on crematorium steps to receive the hearse that their mother us laying inside ever again....

I don't drink in real life or I'd be in a stupor by now. (Prepares to pass out in naughty corner with vodka bottle clutch to chest)

Stillliving - so sad, my DCs are 10 and 12 too, so young for your friends DCs to have to deal with something so terrible.

This is the last evening of links for June. I don't feel I've made a great job of things around the house this month, more keeping things ticking over, but that's the joy of Flylady, you can just jump in and start again, so that's what I intend to do.

Thursday.

Babystep - look at your calendar for next month, put birthday cards on your shopping list etc.

Mission - detailed hoovering of the living room.

Thursday is
Errand Day.

Wow the end of June already! Fabulous thread leading WhoKnows, thanks for the encouragement. What is happening with the July thread, is it an informal summer one?

Out most of today and this evening, but most of my commitments for the rest of July are just around DD, so not much juggling required!

While I was out today I missed a parcel. They left a note to arrange redelivery but didn't put a reference number on, and of course without the number you can't arrange the delivery at a time to suit. They will probably try again tomorrow so I'll be hoping to catch them! An anchor day at home is always useful and I haven't had one this week yet (without a poorly DD's company!)

July thread cos you know i forgot that today was still June (sorry whoknows)

Wahey, parcel has just arrived! So if I need to go out I can do. Plodding through the basics here this morning.

Will check in to the July thread as well.

Hello lovely fledglings! [nicks a flapjack from Einstein's stash]

Not much time to catch up with thread but wanted to say:

Thank you so much to Whoknows for running the thread throughout June despite a hugely hectic schedule

And thanks to Einstein for taking the bull by the horns and sorting our relaxed, informal thread for July

[Newcomers: please note - the posting of daily Fly links will recommence on this thread in September. The reason we've opted to have a more relaxed thread throughout July and August is because this makes sense with so many of us being away and it has worked well in the past. Hope this doesn't cause you problems though so soon after you have joined us! The easiest way of getting the links throughout the summer is to click on Flylady's daily flight plan early in the morning which lists everything you need to know! Don't hesitate to ask if you have any qs though!]

A warm welcome to Imblet and to Tonis2297 and hope all other newcomers are doing ok!

Stilllivinginazoo that is so very sad about your late friend's children. Events such as this certainly put things in to perspective. Hope you and your ds are ok too (well as ok as you can be in the circs). Lifting a glass to your late friend from over the Channel .

[Waves to Zoolets]

Glad your dd is feeling better Cotswold and you get to experience a bit of freedom at last!

Total madness here (still in post referendum shock - been fire fighting in the office already: clients in panic/friends in panic - plus waiting for yay or nay regarding plan C.5 to do with our house renovation/business etc (newbies - it's a long story!).

But had a lovely time away at dd's godfather's wedding in 36°c heat and now have a hectic couple of days to do laundry, catch up with friends much more badly affected than us, pack and shop for items for dd's summer camp. (This is not going well so far, as despite searching entire house, we cannot find dd's walking boots. Plus next week's forecast looks like rain, rain and more rain so off to buy long K-way and Wellingtons shortly.)

DD broke up from school yesterday and we had a morning of meetings with her teachers. She didn't do too badly in her exams in the end but had two échecs out of ten (but thankfully she wasn't in the group that was called in for not reaching overall sufficient level). However, she will have to work on Latin and French over the holidays and re-take the exams at end of August. (Nearly the entire class failed Latin - the pace of the class was ridiculously fast - not helped by dd's last minute cramming - too many declensions to cram frankly!) The French is more worrying as that is the lang 65% of her lessons are taught in, so we are going to have to get a tutor in I think (wished we had done this before tbh). Although, felt vindicated because (v young and inexperienced) French teacher voluntarily admitted that she had been far too adversely critical and negative in her teaching approach, so felt considerably warmer to her after that although didn't raise subject of her constantly looking at her phone in class while ignoring pupils questions.

Dogsbum Whoknows and Blue the atmosphere here is just awful. Our European colleagues are disbelieving and feel we have (to quote this week's Economist) delivered ourselves a "senseless, self-inflicted blow". I was expecting a degree of hostility tbh (as they are all very straight-talking) but what is coming across more is pity. Wish I could post more about the immediate direct effects (such as the DTI not answering the phone and panicked calls from Her Maj's Customs and Excise) but suffice to say: what a completely f**king dog's dinner!! [Hangs up wings, joins everyone in naughty corner and hands around vodka bottle in despondent fashion.]

Madsprocker hope your friend is ok

How did the driving lesson go Kruck?

Cag glad the party went well and arf at hissing cockroach! [I've always longed for a stick insect for some reason.]

Grey hope your ds is feeling better now - sounds as though he has had a rough time of it, good luck with the removals process! [Proffers sustaining ]

Congrats on your v positive work review FoolandFitz!

AuntieHonu can you believe it ? DD passed her maths exam quite well and said she enjoyed it . Lots of credit must go to her totally fab teacher who has been absolutely brilliant this past academic year.

Apologies to anyone I have missed - can't scroll down any more - and must get going anyway!

Big waves to Toffee Feetheart Ellie Knitting Mercury Shannara and the countless people I have missed!

Keep dry everyone!

Glad you are getting a bit more sleep Dogsbum

Welcome back SC, just in time for July. Glad the wedding went well. And yes, dogs dinner indeed. Going to take myself over to the July thread now.