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!

Ta das
Dishwasher emptied and reloaded
Washing put away and more ready to go on

Haven't done much else have just been relaxing really! Off to the park on a bit. Just having our windows measured as we're getting new ones at last (which is a bit of a tall order this close to Christmas because it's costing us a small fortune but we have been talking about doing this for years!). Christmas on a budget this year I think...are we allowed to mention Christmas yet?! Sorry!

I am so hungry all the time at the moment. And really craving sugar which I was trying to cut down on. It isn't going well...

SC don't overdo it and make your back worse. I'm lucky not to have suffered with back pain but my mum and mil both do. My mil has been seeing an osteopath regularly and it has helped. Must be so frustrating though I sympathise.

Zoo your cake list is making me even more hungry!! Send some my way?! Argh I have no willpower.

Will power is for people who like yo be miserable, or who aren't miserable enough

I def overdid things yest and today I am stressed,anxious and thoroughly depressed

Dp gone work now,won't see again til Tuesday and I just want lay in bed and cry.not good on a birthday. Thankfully lil zoo a shy creature that didn't wnt a party so I not got face that(grateful for small mercys)

My back is in agony today, I swear ripping strips off it would be less painful, haven't even got and solpadol to ease the pain, (dp has eaten them all for his headaches I presume). I have taken an amytriptaline and 2 ibuprofen so far, I haven't taken ads yet today, as not sure if i can take painkillers with it or not. I have diazepam and diclofenec and naproxen. they are the strongest painkilling/anti iflammatories I own. docs are of course shut.

sorry just feel like I'm constantly moaning at you all now.

Not at all Babblehag this thread is about a lot more than housework

So sorry about the back pain - it is utterly debilitating - personally I have found diclofenac v helpful (being continental we get them in suppository form here (sorry for tmi) -v effective but it's a drug that comes with a slightly raised stroke risk so I take them v judiciously and have no clue about interaction with other meds such as ADs. Is there an out of hrs clinic you could attend? It would be a shame to have to give up the ADs when you have already put up with quite a lot of nausea.

Sorry you are feeling so low Stilliving take it steady Could you have a "snuggle under the duvet and watch a film party" for the rest of the day? You deserve a rest.

Thanks Foxes I am doing bits here and there and then taking a rest. Hope a bit of time in the park blows the sugar cravings away!

Thanks sc, I am vaguely noticing nearly everyone else is going through there own bits and I do feel for you all, I think it must be the time of year for illnesses, aches, pains, sleeplessness, depression etc, and still thinking of those with new squishy-probably-not-sleeping-much-when-they-are-supposed-to babies as well.

I'm hoping i can start november with fresh thoughts and motivation, luckily with impromptu cancelled housing association visits the house has stayed reasonable.

YY, Babblehag I think this time of year is hard going, and exacerbates everything else going on ifyswim. Like you, I am amazed by how people struggle on in really challenging circumstances on here. It is truly impressive.

I think the Fly system was borne out of Flylady's own struggles with depression etc etc ie the state of one's home being a fair reflection of one's state of mind (fwiw, I'm not sure this is true all the time and conveniently ignores other halves/dcs contribution to the mess) but definitely an indicator anyway! (I hate to think what this wreck says about the balance of my mind for eg!) But seriously that's what I like about this system because 5 mins or 15 mins is usually do-able\realistic depending on how rough one is feeling. Or just 2 mins on a really bad day! It's not nearly enough, but it's something and definitely better than nowt. And more often than not, just five mins of chores achieved drives one on to the next five mins.

Anyway, I'm definitely with you re: a fresh start in November! I've got half a house move to organise and I'm nowhere near ready yet! Here's to renewed motivation and receding back/joint pain !

Hi all, I am back! Did no flying on holiday but am back in the game now . Had a skim read through the thread, sorry lots of you are struggling.

Just to comment on the one bit where I might actually be of help, zoo, really don't view your ECG test as a 'fail'. The very fact that you couldn't complete it and had symptoms shows you need investigating and it sounds as if they have appropriately referred you on for this (with a rubbish wait time of course). It's now 'on record' that you are feeling unwell with exertion and you are in the system to have that investigated . So in itself I would view you having done that test as worth doing from a HCP point of view.

Ta da:-
First load of laundry in
First dishwasher load in
DDs fed
One suitcase unpacked
Both sets of parents phoned
Food shop done
Fruit soaking for Xmas cake making tomorrow (can take no credit for this - cooking is DH's thing)

To do:-
1000 more loads of laundry
Wash up after DDs tea
Bit more unpacking
Make a plan for tomorrow
Bath time
Bedtime
Get some sweets out in case any trick or treaters come round tonight.

Tomorrow I have to go to a bloody swimming party with DD1!!!! Have never been to one as an adult and am absolutely dreading it. Really do not want to see all the school parents in my swimsuit. Ugh.

Ta das
Swish and swipe bathroom
Room rescue bedrooms and living room
Got a few groceries

To do
Have a nice bath while dh cooks dinner / supervises children!

Also afresh YY to be ridiculousness of midwife appt times! I totally sympathise with the stress HCPs are under and suspect the appointment system may not be their doing but it is mad! A friend was given a specific appointment time which clashed with the school run for her two older DC. She rang up to change it (she is also a HCP and was v polite and understanding... at first!) and was told that the midwife couldn't be expected to fit around her! Friend had to repeatedly explain the fact that she had older DC that she had to get to school!

Oh Babble and Zoo sorry you are feeling crap. Please never apologise for ranting/confiding in us lot. It really is much more than a housework thread.

Love the Halloween moniker SC! :)

Done nothing but laze on the sofa browsing Amazon today. Got a few Christmas pressies etc. Decided on a few more games to get rid of as well.

Hi everybody.
We had a day out today. Went to the local shopping centre with dressed up dd (she won a prize) .
They had face painting, pumpkin decorating, story time , dancing , ....
So not a lot got done at home.
Ta das :
Tidied the laundry that was drying overnight
Wash up and shine after meals
Swish and swipe bathroom
Little bit of ironing.

**

NB Remember the clocks go back one hour tonight fledglings!!
(Sorry to those of you already sleep deprived.)

Tomorrow's baby-step no 30 for Sun 30th Oct is: here. Looking at the calendar for next month and putting cards/presents on list for errand day. I could have sworn we have already had this step this month .

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

According to the Flylady website, work in Zone 5 only continues until 29th so I guess we have two days off this month (that can't be right surely?). Don't think I can remember having a Monday off before now anyway. I guess we will know for sure when check the Flight Plan for tomorrow ... .

No mission because it is the weekend!

The daily focus for Sunday is renewing your spirit.

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.

G'night all!

*

Evening all; can't keep up with this thread atm!

Congrats to your dd qazxc your day out sounds great!

Good that you rested Cag

Welcome back TooStressy hope you had a good trip! You sound v organised unpacking and laundering straightaway! Heartfelt sympathies re: swimming party which would be my idea of hell!

[Soft cushions, warm fleeces and for Still and Babble]

Hope you can catch a good few hrs tonight Foxes despite clocks changing!

I managed a bit of laundering, a bit of tidying, a bit of exercise and a bit of cooking today. More of the same to do tomorrow!

Waves to all!

***
Anyone up for leading the thread in November by any chance?

I would offer to do a double but I have half a house move to organise in the next four weeks and I'm mahoosively behind + I am in Blighty for part of next week for half term.

G'night all!

***

Best wishes and and to all of you struggling with health issues. I cut my hours in half term - so feeling much less stressed at the mo.
Usual Saturday activities are on half term break, so a little extra time for Flying.
Ta das today:
Laundry load, including 2 beds changed
Black mould treated on all bedroom window frames and glass cleaned
Net curtain from my bedroom washed (oh so manky!)
Dropped clothes to friend's house (she collects for a charity)
Vacuumed upstairs and stairs
15 minutes decluttering sideboard

I can do November SC :)

I just edited my games inventory and realised in the last few days I've got rid of around 30 games! I'm proud :) got a long way to go but I'm actually feeling motivated.

Good morning!

Thank you Cag v good of you to offer and well done on decluttering front!

Fromwestoeast is the hr reduction permanent or just during half term? Either way, glad you are feeling less stressed and you have certainly made the most of it looking at your splendid list of tasks achieved. Still plugging away at sideboard too!

I am determined to get the house back in better shape today hence early start while dh and dd slumber; furry one and I are cleaning the kitchen - he's on squirrel watch while I scrub!

Early(ish) start here too

Big 3 DC are eating breakfast while I feed the little one then I'm gonna make a start as have people calling round to meet baby later

Nice I'm not only one up!!(rest my street still have curtains shut)

Didn't sleep well so thought I'd do some cleaning.I tend fare better get up n di it or if I wait later in day I get tired and lack motivation! I di pike cleaning before everyone's awake,it kind of relaxing,esp I'd I complete my to do before I've even fed the rabble!!

Tadas
Wash up and put away rest baking chaos
Scrub surfaces and bleach
Washing on
Wipe cupboard fronts
Shine sink and drainer
Clean round cat bowls
Wash kitchen floor in hands n knees (with zoflora)
Found few stray near black bananas so decided make D's favourite banana loaf
Fed furries
Fed zoolets
Wash in dryer,more on
Bath wiped
Sink wiped
Cakes just about ready
House smells lovely-laundry and banana cake(with cinnamon in)

zoo that's an impressive list for this time of day!

Mine is less so!

Ta Da

DC all fed
Dryer on

Why is it whenever the clocks go back or forward in my house the entire household wake up ridiculously early.
Good news though, my back isn't in nearly as much pain as it was yesterday, and owing to the cocktail of sleepy drugs I think I may have finally caught up with the much needed sleep.
I can hear bickering downstairs and already had to warn ds2 about being spiteful, when he took laptop into living room to spite ds3. Couldn't do anything though because ds2 claimed ds3 was interrupting him and ds3 wouldn't deny it nor tell me he was being spiteful, so it looks like I'll be spending the morning refereeing again, karma got him though because it ran out of battery 2 mins later.

to do
dishwasher
laundry
bins
two min hotspot lounge table
5 min room rescue my room, I'll mostly be changing the bed as dp manages to make it honk of vinegar within 3 days. Thank god for bicarb!
15 min declutter, lounge table (yes it is that bad)
swish and swipe
Take dogs for a ruddy long walk, I think I might use this as my renew my spirit, or the long hot bath afterwards.

How old are ds2+3 babble They sound like my boys bickering!

10 and 8, I think between the ages of 8 to 12 they start finding there own feet and aggression levels, to become the men they're destined to be, my eldest seemed to instantly mature at the age of 12 but for the four years before that he was a nightmare, which didn't bode well for ds2 who, when he turned 8 would occassionally square up to the 12 year old ds1, when ds1 would win games/races or just irritated him in general.

Now its starting again because ds3 is becoming irritating and slyly aggressive now (think a swift kick as parent isnt looking) which annoys ds2 and as he knows hes not allowed to square up to him will just become spiteful and nasty instead, his choice of word at the minute is tramp, usually muttered under his breath with venom.

loads of fun with the haglets right now