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!

Yikes SC :( hugs x

Thanks all! Not to bad a night, if not much sleep! DD no betterbut thankfully no worse. And all starting to make more sense as some of the girls she went on trip with at weekend have gone down with same symptoms (one in hosp but coming out today) so looks like it is some sort of weird gastro, which is reassuring in a way!

BBL to catch up with personals, have a good day one and all!

Duh!

Not too bad !

Meant better gastrointestinal than appendix!

Hopefully the bug will pass soon SC My dp once had gastro that wiped him out and he spent a week in hospital with it.

To Do List

Bottle wash and sterilise
Bins empty
Table and worktops wiped
Empty dryer
Reload dryer
Put wash on
Put dds washing away

DC 4 is all fed and sleepy on my shoulder so I'll put him down, make a brew and crack on

Thanks Afreshstart - that sounds awful about your dp though! Must have been bad to keep him in a week, poor guy.

Aw to baby asleep on shoulder

Btw op - meant to say earlier - I get annoyed when I see unrestrained dogs in a car, never mind dc!

Gawd, sorry, posted on wrong thread! [Sleep deprivation]

Ta Da!

Bottles washed and sterilised
Empty dryer
Reload dryer

To Do List

Bins empty
Table and worktops wiped
Put wash on
Put dds washing away

Ds is starting to stir now so the rest will have to wait I think!

Thanks again for all your kind words about dd. She is still snoozing on sofa atm

Everyone has been working extremely hard I see:

A very warm welcome to Princesspink999! I can so identify with your post because, although we do entertain a fair bit and have lots of visitors/friends over, the lead up to them coming is still extremely stressful in this house - despite things being in much much better shape than when I started Flying many moons ago. It's partly because of the lay-out of our unrenovated house, and only one bathroom etc and partly because of unplastered walls etc we haven't got proper storage! And partly because there is still too much unecessary clutter . So when people come over it sends me in to a panic of box moving and I so wish it weren't like that tbh - especially as dh never 'gets' what I am stressing about - which makes me even more stressed! Also conscious that this is stressful for dd! But can definitely promise that the Flylady system definitely helps over time as I now have two floors which (although still too cluttered) I wouldn't mind strangers or friends walking in to! (Sorry, terrible grammar there but hope you get my gist!) Good luck with it!

Good luck with your list today Afreshstart! (And top marks for list yesterday too - totally amazing stuff with 3 dc + a new baby - take it steady - although prob easier said than done I know!)

Well done Caglio wrt to decluttering textiles and well done to Caglets for tidying too! (Cag I know it can take more effort to encourage dc to tidy than do it yourself sometimes so "chapeau!" to you!)

Fromwestoeast you musn't be hard on yourself for not decluttering! You did loads yesterday! Brill sideboard paper decluttering and gardening and ironing - you will be surprised at how quickly paper work goes down - just doing 15 mins a day (I should really try and stick at this myself !! ) Stray mice and puking dc and other things happen in rl and that's part and parcel! Mustn't blame yourself for it! Yay to prodigal recycling bins returning home!

Stilllivinginazo so sorry about your horrible ECT experience at hosp on Fri and sorry to hear you have to wait so long for MRI. At least you are "in the system" though I guess but it's not nice to wait so long as you must be anxious/fed up about breathlessness/fatigue and want to get to the bottom of it. You've still managed to do some great Flying though! Like the sound of muffin tin eggs and chips!! (I try baked eggs in microwave from time to time but they always explode!!) Hope you can take it a bit steady and look at the inside of your eye lids on a more regular basis!

You deserve to feel the chuff-ed-ness Jointheunicorns that is an extremely respectable list you have ploughed through there!

Wow that's a great start qazxc! Serious decluttering going on there if black bin is stuffed! Good luck with paper/recyclying/ decluttering today but remember to take lots of pauses - don't burn out - slowly does it etc etc! for all the chores too! (Must try this Zoflora stuff of which everyone spks - not sure it has arrived over here yet!) Must remember your "future me" tip!!

Waves to Celeste - another v organised list of things achieved there - would love to work in sweet shop too but would hate to think of the effects on my already blubberous waistline

Foxes whey hey to mahoosive toy decluttering!! And for catching up with all chores! Again, not easy with babe in arms. Are you feeling properly better now? [stern look over pince nez].

Babblehag you are a saint for putting up with friend's dog and peeing for so long! Poor thing is probably a bit discombulated but that doesn't make the constant pee cleaning any easier! I must admit that Celeste articulated what I thought but didn't post, ie if he had been with me, he probably would be living in a lovely warm shed in the garden with lots of tlc/regular play sessions/ and blankets and walks by now and would be banned from the house!!

Furble hope you are recuperating well and you are being looked after by your ma!

Before notre crise yesterday Celeste's kick up the rear had obviously worked because I had ploughed through lots of paperwork (not decluttering of paper sadly though) and done quite a bit of laundry and cooking and the post weekend home bleugh (although house wasn't that bad tbh). Afternoon/evening didn't go so well but hoping to catch up today whilst keeping an eye on dd!

Encouraging wing flaps to everyone I have missed! Keep going everybody! And those of you on half term hols - hope you are surviving enjoying it!

MN keeps switching the post colours around!

I am determined to make some more progress today. We've had a very lazy morning - the Caglets have been playing board games with their teddies and I've just lounged around while DH had a much needed lie in.

I'm finding out about council large item collection. Tumble dryer is on and when it's done we have shitloads of clothes to put away! I've ordered the caglets' new bedding. Need to phone the GP to chase their ASD referral. Also need to put together all the stuff we are taking to a friend's tomorrow.

Ta das
Dishwasher loaded
Laundry folded And more on
Bedrooms room rescue
Dd tidied up her own toys before she went for her nap I'm aware this was just delay tactics but still!

Just sat down with a bacon sandwich we had some bacon delivered with our food shop yesterday even though I didn't order it...tried to give it back but the driver said keep it so that was a nice bonus!

Thanks SC I'm feeling so much better now thank goodness! Hope your dd feels better soon that sounds really horrible

It's not lounging Cagliostro it's pampering. Recuperating. Being kind to yourself. Good luck with this afternoon!

Glad to hear your DD is doing better SC.

Ta da
shopping
washing on
swish and swipe
fed self and DD

To do
Distract baby and try to work
Hang out washing

I ploughed through some paper yesterday, but sadly a bunch of it needs to stay a while longer. Still, the paper bin is pretty full of stuff now so no more till the bins are collected.

Furniture collection sorted, doctors phoned (no they hadn't done the referral FFS!), Caglets are now doing more tidying in their room and have even chosen a few bits to get rid of, while I cut up loads of fabric for their material box (some will be given to Brownies troupe for designer badge task). Tumble drier has apparently finished so laundry can all go away later.

Thanks Unicorn I'm going to recuperate some more now! Went all shaking and dizzy so probably time to have lunch, didn't realise it was 2pm already.

Hi everybody,
So far today I have:
Cleaned and tidied after breakfast
Put a wash on (currently drying)
Ironed more of dp's work clothes
Sorted through some kitchen cupboards and filled a box for charity shop.
Brought box to charity shop with a bag of DD's clothes before I could waver. All lovely stuff I was fond of, but it was never getting used.
This afternoon me and DD did some arts and crafts. And she is now watching paw patrol while I put my feet up.

I have been watching friends dog like a hawk and I have managed to intercept 2 pee's so far, that seems to be working but the damage is done to the carpet, although I have fell onto the doghouse thread and am going to try and rejuvinate it with a bicarb and vinegar soak before I rip it up to see if I can get a bit more out of it. Friends dog will not be staying again, especially as I have almost house trained the puppy. I'm guessing it is because he is unsettled and as he pretty much sticks to me like glue its easier to watch out for the peeing.

yesterday was a fairy productive day, went to do a first order call with one of my ladies, got the weekly shopping done and watched the most gruesome episode of the walking dead I have ever seen.

Today has been ok although nearly lost it with the receptionist at the doctors, went to pick up my prescription for ad's, have been without for a week despite ringing pharmacy daily to find out if they had meds, went in today to be told they still haven't come in, went to docs, only one receptionist on as per, and also the same receptionist who I gave the prescription request to last week, told her that I have been waiting a week for my prescription, I'm on antidepressants for anxiety and depression and I am now getting withdrawal symptoms because my meds aren't prescribed yet, she says "I'll just check for you, oh its here", so I said "I asked for it to be sent to the pharmacy, oh it wasn't documented as to be sent anywhere", I replied "I ticked the box for it to be sent there, the pharmacy has been up to pick it up all week why wasn't it handed over?" she says "it wasnt on the system", I was close to losing it by now so said "but I ticked the box for it to go to the pharmacy, It should have gone to the pharmacy. How long have you had this prescription?"
"since the 18th" she says,
my frind then says" this Lady is mentally ill and needed her medication, she could have been sectioned in the time it has taken for this prescription to get to her, this is not an acceptable way to run a practice. not acceptable at all." We left, I'm still angry about it and its now going to take me another week or two to sleep properly and sort my head out, sorry for ranting just one of the upheavals of today, struggling with panic attacks and sweats today and didn't get much sleep and had a nightmare too.

But I have done my meds and I have taken an order over the road, and I have bagged up the rest of the orders. but i just want to sleep right now.
Feeling a bit like a petulant child as well.

Oh Babble that is absolutely abysmal service from the doctors it is sadly a common theme (DH has managed various pharmacies and there have been a couple of surgeries that have been completely shit and disorganised) :(

What meds are you on if you don't mind me asking? I am a veteran of ADs and have settled back on sertraline - oddly it's actually working this time despite it making no positive impact when I tried it in mid teens and again shortly after birth of DC2. Problem with SSRI type things is that they are faster acting I think so more likely to result in withdrawal etc. Whereas I'm also on amitriptyline for my pain issues but don't struggle if I miss some as it works in a different way.

I have finally caught up with the thread!!! It's been my reward for doing tidying - sit back and read a couple of pages.

Very happy to read of the safe arrival of two squishy babies! Congratulations!

So achievement for today - Caglets have put all their clothes away and now they're settled watching a film I'm going to retreat upstairs to do ours, and sort yet more fabric, while watching catch-up telly on the laptop. Unfortunately while we have made some progress with decluttering etc today the living room is still a pit of despair, so must tackle that later too.

babble you aren't a petulant child.I'd have throttle receptionist. Grr.another AD survivor here
I been off meds a while as kept getting hideous migraines,but I pitch n swing dreadfully into gloom n anxiety and whilst I know lousy diet don't help,sugar keeps me going

Ta das
Wash done,in drier
Zoolets fed

I didn't get my nap due to phone ringing n zoolets rampaging upstairs (sigh).one day when I want a nap I eiil get one undisturbed on a non school day!!!

babble on AD's too for anxiety and depression, I would have felt like throttling that receptionist too.
Ta das
Dinner done
Washing up done
left to do:
Dry and put away washing up/ give sink and surface a wipe.
Have bath / get clothes ready for tomorrow.
The washing is probably dry but I'll leave it in dryer til tomorrow as I can't put it away without waking DD.

Evening everyone!

Sorry to hear you've had that experience Babblehag - v understandable ou are feeling so rough. Utterly ridiculous that you went through all of that for no other reason than someon'e crap organisation and lack of efficiency. And I thought it could be dangerous (physically) to stop taking some medicine's abruptly... could you complain to the practice manager so it doesn't happen again?

YY sounds as though friend's dog is v anxious; well done for pee-catching!

Well done to you Cag and caglets for continued decluttering and tidying today! And for sorting furniture collection too (need to do the same here).

Wow, you've had a hugely productive day qazxc andv well done on the clothes decluttering front - it can be so hard when you are attached to them (I struggle with this even though I know dd and me won't wear half of them again) - congrats on battling through!

stilliving very good of you to continue to volunteer when you are feeling so ill. Hope you did get that nap in the end! Thanks so much for taking the trouble to post that about your dd1 - there certainly are some strange bugs about - I certainly hope it doesn't make a come back in 17 yrs time too!

Very impressive that you manage to Fly so well with a baby Unicorns and it sounds as though the paper decluttering is going really well too with the bin so crammed!

Glad you are properly better Foxes! Again, so impressed that you can Fly with a baby and a lo! Yay to free bacon sandwiches!

Doctor popped in to follow up on dd today and she has booked her in for another scan tomorrow. Dd no worse thankfully but not much better either. I didn't manage to get a huge amount done today but kept sink shiny, dw emptied, and did a couple of loads of laundry. Just basics really.

G'night all!

Tomorrow's baby-step no 26 for Wed 26th Oct is: here. This is about being kind to ourselves, it taking a full month to establish a habit and not giving up if we miss the odd day or two ie you are never behind!

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

Unusually, we are in Zone 5 for the entire week this month: the sitting room/family room/den, 23-29 Oct inclusive here.

Declutter for 15 mins in the current zone!
Once decluttered, you can go on to 15 mins of detailed cleaning.

Wednesday's mission can be found here: clearing hot spots in sitting room. Spend 10 mins sorting and tossing random piles of "stuff".

The daily focus for Wednesday is: anti-procrastination. Do something you have been avoiding!

The habit for October is getting rid of paper clutter,
here: www.flylady.net/d/habits-of-the-month/october/.
(Scroll down for detailed explanation.)

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

Keep going everyone!

Night SC :) certainly seems like they're keeping a close eye on your DD, that's good.

Caglets are off to bed in a mo, they are sooo hyper though [sigh]. I have sorted ALL our laundry to put away. DH pulled out a load of old t-shirts to chuck yesterday, I will do the same - I have never been into clothes shopping so I don't have much other than old work stuff. I need to buy some jeans and hoodies to get me through the winter anyway (aaaargh money!) and I don't think I'll get any more wear out of stuff like cardigans. They were uber cheap and they were frayed and holey even when I wore them to work . It won't make me happy to wear them as I'm no longer working there and have mixed feelings about this as you know (for newbies - I lost my job earlier this year due to my chronic health issues). I'm quite happy living in only a few different basics so the rest may as well go.

I got rid of a pile of clothes :) stuff that is tatty or too small. Yay!

Ta das
Washing up
Decluttered under the sideboard
Then went a bit extra and vacuumed behind computers etc.
Made an apple crumble
Laundry load, with help from DD