October Fledgling thread 2016: where we fluff up our feathers and fall back in to autumnal Flying routines

[Strikingclock]

Welcome to the October 2016 Fledgling Flying thread!

Come and park your broomsticks mops and buckets here!

This is where, from the 1st of the month, we attempt to declutter and follow the 30-step wisdom of Flylady (minus cutesy language and a surfeit of e-mails) with lots of chat and support and mutual motivation (and of course) along the way.

More info available here , here, here and here.

As usual we will be following a three-pronged approach - and don't worry - we are all at different stages. (Some of us are still stuck at the decluttering stage after quite a few years ):

• repeat or start baby steps (again!)
  

• repeat baby steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone
  

or

• reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.
  

And those of you who have decluttered and are really enthusiastic can throw some detailed cleaning in to the mix as well!

The idea is that we focus on short, ring-fenced, daily bursts of activity (steps and routines) that will help our homes run (more or less!) on "automatic pilot" allowing us to do far more interesting things instead!

This is a very long-running thread so we may appear cliquey but we really aren't! All newcomers, long-termers, lurkers and intermittent returnees not only welcome to join in but positively encouraged to do so!

Helpful pointers: No perfectionism allowed! If it took a while to create the current C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome) in your home, then it will probably take a while to reverse the situation (you can't clean clutter!). Small steps are the key! And you are never behind: just jump in where you are at!

Any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Good luck!

[Strikingclock]

Grey - huge apologies - forgot to say good luck on your first day of uni today!! Knock it to 'em! and for afterwards!!

[OctopusArmEnvy]

Parks broomstick and vows to delurk for October.
Thanks SC for thisontgs thread. My bedroom isn't exactly clean or decluttered but very much improved from last month so I have high hopes for October.
Don't know how much flying I will do today as I will be panic cleaning/tidying as we have a babysitter for tonight!!! First night out for me and DH in nearly a year 😳
Ta das
Put away mountain of ironing I tackled last night
5 minute blitz on lounge

To dos
15 minute dining room
Swish and swipe
Clean sink
Laundry x 2
Get ready for babysitter

Happy October everyone!

[celeste83]

Morning all,

Happy Birthday Zoo Hope you have a nice day.

Can't believe its October. How has this happened?! Beautiful morning here.

[Babblehag]

What a glorious morning!! I have loaded dishwasher and got dressed to laces. And have transferred small bunch of flowers that dsm got me last week from and over sized jug to a nice little kilner jar.....looks much better and I've put it on the table in the vain hope it'll make me want to clear it. im going to get on with my list and see what stuff needs doing today.

[Kim82]

Hi everyone, can I join please? I used to be on the cleaning threads but they seem to have died a death. My house is a bit of a tip as we have been redecorating the living room so the rest of the house has been neglected. Am I right in thinking that I do a list of "To do's" (what needs to be done) then a list of "Tada's" (what you've done) that day?

[MercuryRising]

Happy birthday Zoo

I have had a focussed morning and the house is looking much better. I was ill for a couple of days at the beginning of the week and ds2 hasn't been great either so things had really slipped. It is amazing how short an amount of time it takes for the house to descend into chaos!

Ta da
Shoe rack decluttered/ old shoes chucked
Top of the freezer cleared
Dcs old lunchboxes binned
Dds room blitzed
White wash done
Dc cajoled into tidying their rooms
Washing up all done and put away
Kitchen sides cleaned and cleared
Whole house hoovered and mopped (dp)
Bins emptied

This afternoon I am off to buy a tray to make cookies with dd and her friend who is coming to play. I am also off to buy lightbulbs to replace all the ones that don't work, bowls and forks ... I also need to drop some xmas bits I have ordered to my mum so they can be hidden from the dc.

Have a lovely autumnal afternoon fledglings.

[Afreshstartplease]

Thinking of joining this but please me honest with me.....I'm having a baby THIS month, is it at all achievable

[8FencingWire]

Thank you for the thread :)

Paper declutter comes at the right time indeed.
About to have a nap, but will update :)

[CotswoldStrife]

Happy birthday Zoo, hope it's the best day possible for you in the circumstances.

Welcome Afreshstart, I'd just do what you can with a newborn (when baby arrives), I found some days just seemed to evaporate without anything getting done.

Bit rainy here today, have taken DD out to her class this morning (one other place to take her to later on) and looking forward to Strictly this afternoon.

Have done washing up and laundry, but need to crack on with a few more bits before going out again. One more hour ...

[TooStressyForMyOwnGood]

Hi Kim I think so yes. That's what I do anyway but am quite new here! We are visiting relatives this weekend so won't get any flying done at home. Hoping to get some other bits done instead.

Grey hope it's going ok at uni. SC bleated thanks for starting the thread.

Ta das:-
Bit of party planning for DD1
Thought about good presents to buy for DD1

Did plan to bring calendar and school newsletter etc with me to update for next week but left them all at home .

To do:-
Order party bag stuff on Amazon
Decide on bday present for DD1
Look at present from DD2 to DD1.
Start online food shop
15 mins preschool report

[Stilllivinginazoo]

Ta das
Spent best part 2hours tidying front room,returning things to proper hones
2loads wash,2nds in dryer
Bit shopping with zoolets for food-theyve all had a sore throat but dd2 is really struggling to eat(unheard of)she's eating ready brek,baby puree pots,soup,yogurt and doubly grumpy/tearful.I lack any patience at mo so she's been sent upstairs a lot
Woke dp-we left him to sleep whilst we ran some errands locally
Fed zoolets
Trip mil house to collect box photos we need go thru to find some nice ones for order of service at crematorium
Halfords for cycle helmet as D's has bike safety lessons at school start Monday and he's outgrown his and its mandatory as they will bd taking them out onto local (quiet)roads
Trip sainsbo in hope finding something in big supermarket fir dd2
-she reject idea soft bread and hummus(faints)this starting to concern me she is really quite unwell.....
Back to house n fed everyone
Wash kitchen floor
Watched film online with zoolets n dpi watched inside my eyelids and dribbled a little
Can't wait til bedtime i just so emotionally exhausted I just want to sleep.....

[celeste83]

Hi.

We have just mooched around the home today really. Not even achieving much. It started out really lovely blue sky sun out here this morning so we went to the park with ds then after lunch the weather turned meh so I have been watching cbeebies with ds and playing with him and his trainset whilst dh has been doing paperwork and playing xbox. Got a curry cooking now whilst listening to some great dance music on 6music. Am starving.

Ta das

made beds
cleaned both loo's
done some laundry
general tidy up of the lounge after ds

Hi Kim and Fresh I remember you both from the cleaning motivation thread previously which sadly dried up of posts. I just write my ta da lists on here but this thread also gives some good suggestions of detail cleans of things i forget about like skirtings, stair bannisters, etc, which i find useful. Not too long with the baby now Fresh Do you know the sex yet?

[TooStressyForMyOwnGood]

Yes, kim and fresh I was also on the September cleaning thread and joined this one at the same time.

There's something about writing down what I've done and need to do which makes me more likely to do these things. Is nice to be part of a friendly group too. Have been making half hearted attempts to follow Flylady for years so trying to do it one more time!

[foxessocks]

Oh ive missed lots I can't keep up!

Fresh I have a 4 week old and have been here since early September , I've just done small bits and tried to establish some good routines although I did have a huge declutter before I had my ds while I was going through a crazy nesting period! Have to admit I have struggled to keep up with missions last few weeks though but in just trying to keep on top of things right now (but doesn't anyone?!)

[TooStressyForMyOwnGood]

zoo it all sounds so stressful .

Ta da:
Party bag stuff ordered
First draft of report written!!!!!

[Strikingclock]

[SC crawls in on stumps ...]

Evening all! Had a really really lovely time with friends but could have done without the totally self-induced last minute panic; I'm used to prepping for entertaining at the last minute and going down to the wire but this was a truly close shave! DD was a great help though and decorated the cake and the dining room all by herself bless her.

Back is feeling decidedly dodgy this evening having overdone the bending a bit but hopefully it will recover itself in the morning! And the definitely helps with the pain .

Ta da:
animals
emptied dw
consulted cookery books and wrote lists
went out on first supermarket/cash point/florist run
dh kindly did second supermarket run and visited cheese shop (his favourite "chore" ) and gave dog quick walk
went out to craft shop with dd and bought present
quick nip to pet shop for supplies - saw a beautiful rabbit [sigh]
made cake
wrapped five parcels
tidied up downstairs, mainly dining room table hot spots
wrote card and wrapped presents
got dd going on decorating room and setting up 'party' tables
prepped conkers ready for match
made 2 types vinaigrette
prepped six or so platters of food including hot main dish in oven (this took majority of time)
prepped cheese plate
prepped salads
put all nibbly bits in bowls on tables
prepped all glasses/serving jugs etc
uncorked wine
prepped melons/strawberries
supervised dd decorating cake
set table
finally quick shower and gussying up
greeted and paid dog "sitter"
entertained guests
followed by slump in front of telly watching recording of Strictly!





cut up crudites for children

[Strikingclock]

oops list went a bit wrong there but you get the gist ...

More to the point, a very warm welcome to Kim82 and Afreshstart!

Kim yes, the "to dos" and "ta das" help us all to keep motivated and also helps you realise that you do far more in a day than perhaps you appreciate!

Afreshstart congratulations on your imminent baby! I think this system is achievable (inasmuch as any cleaning is achievable with a new born) but it's important to adapt the system to suit yourself and your individual home/priorities. Also, given the fact that "no perfectionism is allowed" and "that you are never behind" and are encouraged to "jump in where you are at" (ie no looking back and regretting the stuff that hasn't got done) then I think it is do-able: even if you just do 15 mins a day. Or one baby step.

Stressy for report completion!

Poor you Zoo . Doesn't sound like much of a fun birthday. And the last thing you need now is an ailing zoolet - hope it is a short-lived illness anyway - hope you can get some rest yourself soon.

Great list there Mercury and glad you are feeling better

Hope you have had/are having a lovely evening Octopus

Hope you got through the volunteer admin Pontification

Big waves to everyone I have missed; can feel my eye lids closing involuntarily here so had better post links before I fall asleep at the keyboard!

G'night all

[Castlelough]

Just about scraping in here for October 1st. Looking forward to the month and hopefully getting back into flying routine - it has been a long time since I joined a thread! Thanks for leading SC. Your food preperations have my mouth watering here. It sounds like you provided a delicious spread for your dinner guests and how lovely that dd was so helpful.
Waves to everyone else.

[BlueEyeshadow]

Waves to all, to Grey and to SC

and to all in need.

It's been family squabbling day here today, but some tidying up happened in the end, with much arguing and fuss along the way.

[Strikingclock]

Tomorrow's baby-step no 2 , for Sun 2nd October 2016 is here. Yes, it's the controversial one about getting dressed in lace up shoes every morning! [Some of us do and some of us don't!] But for those newcomers who are interested this is the rationale behind it.

Newcomers - here is the launch pad from which you can navigate the site: www.flylady.net/c/lp.php .

We are in Zone 1: The Entrance, Front Porch and Dining Room here.

(And for fledglings at a more advanced stage i.e. without clutter: here is the detailed cleaning list for Zone 1.)

No missions tomorrow because it is the weekend!

The daily focus for Sunday is renewing your spirit which is a rather barftastic way of saying "do something for yourself that makes you feel calm and happy".

The habit for October is getting rid of paper clutter. (Scroll down for more detailed explanation.)

The daily flight plan here: //www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=-120 will update itself (hopefully) and if you click on it tomorrow will provide a quick summary of the above.

Have a relaxing Sunday everyone!

**

[Strikingclock]

x posts

Exchanges another glass of with Blue hope you can have a bit of a relax tomorrow!

[Rubs eyes] Gosh Castle is that really you? Yay! How absolutely lovely to have you back [pours another glass]. How are things?

[pontificationcentral]

SC for the mega list!
Zoo - happy b-day! Technically I think it was yesterday in the UK, but it's still your bday here, so I will raise a glass to you

Ta das:
Volunteer Admin
Volunteer banking
Cleared dining table
Cleared hall
Cleared desk and found bookshelf for school books (the house provided
Cleared kitchen sides (dh!)
Recycling (dcs!)
Wiped down kitchen sides (dh!)
Organised volunteer cupboard
Updated budget (thank fuck it is October. Chequetember sucked and dh broke his car)
Laundry x 1
Dishwasher unload/ load
Cancelled dd2 riding tomorrow
Made it to 60th Wedding Anniversary drop-in with minutes to spare (remembered at 11th hour...)

To do:
Update fecking diary so I don't forget anything (like 60thWedding Anniversary celebrations...)
Laundry
Ironing
Ironing
Ironing
Ironing
Ironing
Write paper for school
Plan for volunteer mtg
Vacuum main floor
Email brownie parents re unit closure
Email pathfinder parents and demand paperwork
Email district parents and beg for more volunteers
Agenda for Wednesday district mtg
Persuade dh to sort dinner
Collect dd1 from work

Dh is going away tomorrow for a week. I have a meeting every night until Friday. It is going to be a glorious pain in the derrière. So tomorrow's list is going to include meal prep so we don't eat pizza every night. (Can't eat pizza every night. Just fixed the budget after September lol) I will forgive him though, as he shined the sink after breakfast this morning.

Right, I better make the most of the rest of Saturday!

Happy October everyone!

[Castlelough]

Thanks for warm welcome SC

All well here. House reasonably tidy, if in need of some decluttering and scrubbing , but huge inroads being made into Mt. WashandIronmore recently.

'New' house still in need of much work and garden just at it's very beginning, all topsoil and a few weeds so quite a lot of projects on the go here with limited finances....oh well, Rome wasn't built in a day. Horse, pony, two cats and three hens are all living the good life and dd almost 21mo now!
How are things there?

To do for Sunday:

• church/renew spirit
  
• laundry reboot
  
• more ironing
  
• meal plan for wk
  
• school paperwork and planning
  
• family time
  
• prep dinner
  
• prep a soup for lunch for the week
  
• budget/finances
  
• Ring sisters
  
• Pore over my amateur garden plans
  
• Find trowel or spade or both
  
• Nap to make up for insomnia

[8FencingWire]

I made a coffee and I'm currently annoyed by the kitten who insists on sitting on my mobile. Or hands. Or both. He's got very cold paws

I've unloaded the dishwasher already.
To dos for today:
Make soup (potatoes and parsnip)
Make bread
Tidy DD's room a bit
Meal plan
Budget plan
Buy some euros
Pack the bag for our weekend away.

I'll go for a run once I finished my coffee :)

[MercuryRising]

Wow Ponitification it sounds like you have a manic week ahead of you.

Congratulations on your 21 week bump Castle

I have had another reasonably productive morning but have realised this is a recurring pattern each month, I really need to focus on keeping it up for more than a couple of days

Ta da
Our bed stripped
School t shirts in the dryer
Dc fed and washing up done
Kitchen sides wiped
Swish and swipe
Bathroom bin changed
Room rescue of our bedroom
Supervised Ds1 and Dd completing 2 pieces of homework each.

To do
Wash/dry bedding and remake bed
Iron uniforms
Dd to swimming lesson
Drop stuff to dsis and dm (didn't manage this yesterday)
Check timetable for visits to secondary schools with ds1 next week

Dps mum is coming for dinner this afternoon so we will be enjoying some quality family time.