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!

Too hot for me today, I'm not a sun lover. Anything above about 20C and I start to wilt.

So, today I have spent most of my spare time at the allotment again. Not much Flying to report .

Sounds as though your back is gradually improving SC, don't overdo it!

Welcome back Cag and good luck for the inspection.

Has everyone been out enjoying the sunshine today? Typical back to school weather after such a miserable half term here!

Have been to choir this evening, and got lots of little odd bits and bobs done that were neglected last week. And now looking at pictures of kittens. I don't want a kitten, but aww...

Links for Tuesday.

Babystep before bed routine.

Mission - a new one. Clean around your silverware holder (WTF?). I don't have a silverware holder. However I do have the ongoing issue of random elastic bands, football cards, paperclips all around my fruitbowl so I can see what she's getting at. Luckily I hotspotted mine yesterday!

Tuesday's daily habit Planning.

Now, I started following the bullet journal thread a couple of months ago, and I am gradually getting my planning sorted out with a special book and some coloured pens. For me it needs to be daily not weekly though, so in the spirit of the day's babystep I tend to go through it just before bed.

Thanks Whoknows, back definitely stiff and a bit worse this morning. With dh away, there are essential tasks I can't avoid (such as putting out rubbish and recycling) and all the dw & wms all involve bending. Physio said to go down on one knee to bend but I am so unfit that I don't really do that very often tbh Feel a bit miserable about it because I absolutely hate lying down during the day at the best of times - and rarely do - but in this weather it is even worse! And one's hair and clothes all get crumped and getting changed each time is such a faff.

To add to the general gloom this morning I have decided that the new trousers and shirt I bought for this summer look absolutely awful and I must have been either blind or drunk when I tried them on!

And dh keeps sending through lots of boring admin for me to do and pictures of himself and colleagues smiling outside swanky gelato (or should that be gelati?) shops in Rome ... .

Heigh, ho, going to try and sort paper work this morning and go a bit more gently today! So frustrating though because this is effectively the last week when dd is at school all day and once exams start next Wed, she will only be going to school for part of the day until the end of the month when the nine-week summer holiday starts! I had hoped the house would be in a bit better state by then. Mind you I say that every year.

Wing flaps to all! Have a good day fledglings!

Ta da:
ironed gym kit (last night)
dd lunch
rabbits
emptied and filled wm and one load on to dry
breakfast bits in dw

To do:
prep supper while I have energy and back holds out
more laundry
wash dog blankets, harness and toys
on-line parcel returns
sort papers
wrap present

That will do for now .... .

Indeed, what is a silverware holder? I'm pretty certain they have cutlery drawers in the States don't they?

Silverware is American for cutlery, I believe...

Morning all. Forgot to do my ta da from yesterday. I don't work mon or tues, so they are going to be my best ta da days.

Ta da
Pruned various shrubs in the garden, and pulled up a ton of goose grass.
Swept and cleaned my front door and garden path outside.
Loads of washing, saw the bottom of the washing basket for 5 mins, before DH put a shirt in.
Filled bird feeders.
Cleaned out guineas.
Planted dahlias.

Clothes sorting didn't happen, but hopefully today.

To do
Sort children's clothes.
Put away all the washing I did yesterday.
Iron my clothes for work this week.
Get cash out for various clubs.

I am back after a lovely break, had no sleep last night though so need to get off t'internet and get on with some work (and have a nap at some point!). Will catch up with you all shortly!

What is Ta Da? Is it short for something or is it an imitation of a fanfare (which I quite like)?

Yesterday'a Ta Da:
cleaned the cooker top
cleaned the bathroom floor
hand sewed trouser leg hems on my work trousers and DS's school trousers, both of which had come undone on the right side
ironed work clothes for today ( I hardly ever iron but linen clothes do need it)

Today's to do: clean fridge out ready for tomorrow's shopping delivery and sort out cutlery drawer...I mean silverware holder

It's the latter, meant as the opposite of to do, so it's a Done list. Think it might have originated with Flylady but it is definitely in longterm use on this thread. Home Bleugh means home blessing without the tweeness.

bebop just so you know you get odd socks coz you pay the washing machine deity in socks and hr like them one at a time!haha

grey fingers,eyes SBD kegs crossed for the house?

(Waves hello to "foolandfitz* )

*can anyone teach my kids to strip beds?they only know how yo strip food cupboards bare like locusts
slingcrumpimpressive ta da yesterday

So I got a text Sunday night after fan afternoon at park with kids tell me furniture will have to come Monday,not Tuesday,as delivery was too big for van
Cue panic stations-i got up at 4.30 Monday morning and set to work feverishly bag up clutter and ram my room/into D's den...
By 6am was time put out old sofas into garden and recycling,then tackle feed and rally troops for school. After take little ones went mad and did everything from cobwebs to skirt boards!!new furniture arrive at 1pm,just as I finish happily collapse onto it for a not before got kids
I also did 4 loads wash and dry and clean stove top!!!!

Today tada
Fed and water zoolets
Made lunches
Wipe bath and sink--how does toothpaste travel so far only in my house
School run
4loads wash,dry fold and put away
Made start emptying den again,going to he long job
Washed hall,living room and kitchen floors
Bake banana cake a friend
Pick up kids and do snack
Make 2nd cake as kids ELT SNF wanted one!!
Clean 2worksurface
Kids tea
Am now plan sit on my bum and eat in a frenzied fashion!!
Hello to everyone, sorry extensive posting!!

arf at sock deity Let's just say we keep the Supreme Sock Spirit very happy here indeed ...

Stillliving goodness you must be exhausted! Well done for getting everything cleared in time though!

Congrats on your productive day too Foolandfitz think ta da may have been Postiveattitude's's invention (a fledgling from way back)! Definitely fanfare of relief/thank heavens that is done!

Glad you are back safely Cotswold and hope you can catch up on sleep tonight!

Another one who has had a productive day MadSprocker

Waves to Whoknows Blue and everyone else!

Did a paltry amount of magazine decluttering today but took it very carefully because of back. Also did minimal laundry and tidying up. Went out for a walk round about because I can't drive myself to park at the moment (no sitting!) and found it v depressing walking in the loud traffic, benzine fumes, building noises, and the pavements so dirty: dog poo, spit, empty fast food containers. So depressing Wished I stayed indoors frankly!

Bit of excitement here this evening as we endured possibly one of the worst thunder storms ever! Mahoosive lightening and thunder and rain like you have never seen! DD was really scared and the rabbits were shaking poor things. One really really loud bang completely took out all the electricity on our street and the Internet connection for a while. Fortunately, the office maintenance guy was working on something down the road and able to fiddle with our fuse box and restore power.

Only problem is my laundry room is now covered in about an inch of rain water. Machines were mid-cycle when power surge happened and maintenance chap unplugged them before fixing the electricity and said I musn't use them until everything is dry and he has come back and checked it's all OK.

DD might be in difficulty because all of her smalls are incarcerated in the main washing machine!!

Sounds like plenty of excitement for one evening, SC!

Having been humming and hawing about getting a cat (NOT a kitten!) for a while, my ta-da! list for today seems mostly to have consisted of making plans to get a kitten! He's very cute, but we have to have a home visit from the rescue people first (cue massive tidying up!) and then make arrangements to see how badly the boys freak him out, and potentially collect him after that... Am hoping that the need to keep things kitten-proof might prompt a spurt of tidiness all round.

(Ta DA! came from another forum I used to post on way back when.)

SC, bloody hell that must have been frightening! Great excuse to not do any more laundry though, possibly the best we have ever had on this thread!

Thank you all for enlightening me as to what a silverware holder is, I was imagining some sort of elaborate rack full of silver platters and goblets in a kitchen much bigger and grander than mine.

Well, yet again I have not much Flying to report. I really am having to put some effort in at the allotment after my warning letter last month and of course there is a lot of weeding and watering anyway at this time of year, so every time I get a free hour or so off up there I go (luckily it is next to DD's school so easy to combine trips between school runs and work).

So hot though, I hate this humidity, I was sweating the minute I got out of bed and started getting ready this morning and then I've had the horrible sweat and suncream getting into eyes combo at the allotment, yuck.

Cross-poated with Blue - awww! We adopted two rescue cats about 2.5 years ago and they are just adorable, they were a year old at the time, so we did skip the kitten stage though.

Links for Wednesday.

Babystep - get a folder and start writing your routines in it]]

Mission - clear out your fridge. FoolandFitz - if you did do yours today you're ahead! Mine badly needs doing so that's definitely going in tomorrows to do list for me.

WEdnesday is Anti-Procrastination Day tick off some of those To Dos that have been on the list for too long.

Good morning all!

Ooooh to new furries Blue and ahhhhhh to established furries Whoknows!!

Yes it was quite exciting yesterday. First time ever I have actually been a bit worried by a thunder storm. Normally one has a bit of a squeal and a laugh and ignores them. Last night's was seriously scary. I have never seen lightening so close and bright (illuminating entire house!) and thunder so loud! Thankfully though, apart from slightly flooded basement, I have done full house inspection and everything seems fine!

Continuing (very slowly) with my list today. Not achieving much every day but better than nowt.

Also need to try and watch my diet. Weight loss not going well

Have a good anti-procrastination day everyone!

Good morning everyone,

Thanks for the links WhoKnows - I lurk a lot on the bullet journal thread and have adapted it to fit in with what I need. I actually love it, its a bit of a control journal, all my lists in one place, a creative space when the urge takes me...

MadSprocker - busy day for you - its quite nice to have a ta-da list that is garden related. Its so easy to overlook the outside of the house isn't it?

StillLiving panic stations indeed! Loads achieved though and great to have new furniture

SC Steady there lady! Sounds like your back is still very fragile. We also had massive storms here yesterday. DH said it was so loud at one point the meeting he was in at work had to be cut short as they couldn't hear each other over the thunder!

Blue I am a devoted mad cat lady too! I read somewhere that when you bring a rescue cat into your home you are actually rescuing two: your new family member and another cat that can take his/her place in the shelter to be given another chance. Any chance of a photo when you get your new arrival?

< waves to FoolandFitz I don't think I said hello to you yet - welcome >

Big wing flaps to Caglio Cotswold Toffee Einstein Ellie Dogs Mercury MidLife RatBag Honu and all the other new fledglings who's names I can't check on because they are on the previous page

I have a vast to do list, worthy of Einstein proportions... Usually I do my flying on days where DS is at nursery, but for the last few weeks I have picked up a lot of ad hoc shifts at the local hospital on nursery days. So the house is looking rather shabby.

From today though I have two and a bit weeks where I have no shifts < rolls sleeves up, brandishes feather duster, wields hoover and screams war cry > (What do you all think the war cry of a Fledgling should be ?!?!)

I also have to wait in for our new sofas to be delivered today (stressed leather chesterfields < rubs thighs > )

I'm back after finishing my work shifts for this week. I do very little in the house when I'm working, which sounds awful but I work 12.5 hr shifts and come home, eat and go to sleep before the next one. When I'm on days I get up at about 5 am and walk the dogs, then I might wipe down worktops and load dishwasher but that's about it. Cannot face anything in the evening when I get home!

I'm so glad I've inspired some odd sock culling! I've recently discovered a small stash of socks in the garden, yes the garden. I believe one our jack russell has had something to do with this because when I removed them from the garden he got rather upset...

Jumping in to the routine from today, not backtracking (although it's so tempting to try and start from Monday). I'm going to make a real go of this and I'm curious to see if the plan is sound enough to take into consideration that I do very little 2-3 days a week. I'm not looking for show home, just 'visitor ready' the majority of the time would be lovely.

Your ta da lists are making me jealous, you all sound so busy!

Hi all! Finally getting back to normal routine now. Kidzania trip on Monday was fab, but an absolute nightmare getting home due to train cancellations. 4 adults with 10 kids (over half of whom have ASD) was not easy! But they all did really well considering all the stress of it.

Home ed 'inspection' went brilliantly I think. DH had spent Monday tidying so the living room, hallway and stairs look much more presentable. Now we just need to keep on top of it, and improve some more as there are still a few hot spots and deeper cleaning to be done (and I need to do the bathroom/landing before my maths class in case any pupils need the loo during the lesson!). Anyway DD happily chatted away and showed off lots of the work we've been doing, we talked about all the clubs and socialising they do, and the LEA person seemed pretty happy. Will get a written report at some point soon.

Lots of family fun too as we've been playing lots of games including some that we picked up at the convention. This is the stuff I want to be tidy for. Having the space to be able to get games out and have fun playing and being spontaneous rather than thinking oh we don't have time/it's too messy etc. I need to keep this in mind.

Must do some more laundry today and will try and do a little gentle tidying as well as home ed, we're having a quiet day in until DD has Brownies. Pupil isn't coming tonight so less stress there as I'm feeling pretty rough TBH, struggling to get started and DH has gone back to work, boooo.

Have a good day everyone! :)

Grey I'm sure there will be photos as and when. I'm still crossing my fingers we pass the home inspection first - worried about the mess and that they'll think we're too close to the main road (it's not that close really, and the estate is quiet, but still...).

Glad to hear it went well, Cag.

Have been to Zumba and grocery shopping this morning. Now I need to get down to some work!

Right, signing in properly now as I'm all caught up. Today has gone ok so far, with a modest amount of home ed, and I've actually managed tiny bursts of tidying, so I'm feeling good about that. I'm struggling in the heat (and yet I was sooo cold this morning!) but with the windows open we currently have a nice breeze flowing through which is helping. Must get DD ready for Brownies in a bit, and I think the washing is done so I can get that drying and put the next load on. It never stops, does it?!

Another mad cat lady here!rescued my "boys" 4 years ago.ones super neurotic,but loving,other ones more indeowndant,but daft

A good fledgling war cry......hmm.when I used post,many moons ago we used joke bout poking each other pointy sticks if ncessary
-->.maybe pointy stick at the ready??!

On flying front do has rare day off and I don't drive cept my zoolets mad so ran errands today.
Tada
Clean fridge
Wipe bath and sink
Fed cats and kids
Made pack ups
School run
Washing done,dry,fold and put away
Then did errands.just got in school run-hot and sweaty (sorry to much info).luckily like want salad wraps for tea with ham/egg then its get dd2 off to girls brigade and have quiet one to one time(rare) with ds

Zoolets would've been scared soulless that storm
How is dds knicker situation(loved it "best excuse ever not to do laundry")

We had 'an incident once when load machine and went bed intend dry when for up at silly o'clock,as usual.anyway I got up and machine full water still complainingneed sort filter(had a lolly stick and fluff trap in it)by time had work how drain and sort filter dd2 up and in meltdown no clean drawers.she pinch pair mine and safety pin to fit(annoying swine,but had smile ingenuity)