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!

[MrsK]

Morning all, it's another lovely day. I'm back on it after yesterday, off to work shortly then shopping trip with DD after School.

Sorry you've got a poorly DD stillliving, there is something nasty going round. We had 3 people off last week all with sore throats.

My ta da's
Washing hung out to dry
Kitchen tidied
Small amount of ironing
Living room quick tidy, cushions plumped
Cats fed & cuddled

To do's
Finish ironing
Dinner, thinking I'll make a Risotto tonight

Striking, I'm thinking I'll go full on fracking mode in cupboard of Mordor. We have a big decorating project to start after major building works, we've been putting it off for months. But, this thread has given me a much needed kick up the bum!

Have a lovely day

[Shesgotelectricboobs]

Hi all! Have nc'd but was on the old thread (initially then fell off...) but am back with my list.

By the end of October I want to have achieved the following:

-big declutter of entire flat (2 bedrooms 2 baths living room kitchen).

• sell any unwanted clutter/make sure I take it all to charity shop
  
• get back in a routine re after dinner kitchen cleaning
  

-routinely make sure things are returned to their own places

This weekends goals:
Tackle the spare room - usually when I start something like this the spare room is the last place and hence all the junk ends up there. I'm flip-reversing it this time to see if it makes a difference.

The bed will be stripped and bedding washed. While this is happening the wardrobe and drawers will be emptied. And sorted (keep/sell/chuck). Then they will be put back. Cupboard will be emptied and things kept sold chucked. Windows washed. Floors hoovered. Fluff removed from tumble dryer.

Bedding dried and replaced.

I want to make it less of a junk room and more of a guest room.

[Strikingclock]

Just dashing in and out to say "good morning/dag/salut"!

Had a thrilling night out last night - wait for it ....

... at a state subsidised composting workshop . I now know everything there is to know about cold composting. And sadly am committed to returning next week to learn about the hot variety.

Thanks for kind enqs about bank: they agreed in theory to our proposal but want to send their own valuer around now before committing on paper (would have been helpful if they had told us this before we arranged for our valuer to visit but heigh ho). Small steps, small steps ... .

Sorry to hear that two zoolets are now poorly Zoo. Hope you are doing OK too with everything that you and your dp are going through atm.

Hope any others who are ailing feel better soon too!

MrsK wishing you courage re: the Mordor cupboard! [Don't worry, if we don't hear from you in a couple of days we will send in a search party.)

Shesgotelectricboobs good luck with your spare room transformation (it sounds like one of those make-over show projects ) Praps take before and after photos? And enjoy "the big reveal"!

Good to hear that the family are getting on board Blue (albeit reluctantly) long may it continue! It's so demoralising otherwise.

HerdofAntilop arf at porch cupboard of spidery doom . Think you should preserve that for the 31st!

Poor you and the 10pm work sheet Stressy; hope you managed to get some rest too.

Well done with the fridge blitzing Grendel (must do the same today)

Big waves to Foxes Celeste Cotswold Honu Shannara LKim82 Pontification Mercury Greymalkin Octopus Dogsbum Babblehag fencingwire Castleough Afreshstart and apologies to others if I have missed you out!

[Strikingclock]

If any of you are in to gluten free baking, pls visit my thread here.

(Hope I've finally posted this in right place!)

[foxessocks]

Morning all! I'm so tired so sorry about lack of proper chat to you all but I have enjoyed reading all your updates especially in the middle of the night!!

Ds is still sleeping realky badly. I'm still hoping it's just a growth spurt or something but I am so unbelievably tired now.

I have a friend coming over in a few hours so hoping to get a little tidying done before she comes , I know she won't care especially as she has a baby of her own so knows what it's like but I would feel a bit happier I'd things were tidier...I know that sounds silly.

Anyway ds has just done a huge poo and dd needs some lunch. We've done a toddler group this morning but no flying as yet so better crack on!

[celeste83]

Morning,

Boobs Good luck with the de-clutter. I also love your profile name

Fingers crossed with the valuer SC

I hope everyone's poorly little ones get better soon.

This morning i have been on the telephone and arranged 3 primary school visits over the next two weeks. Another school has an open day in November too. This is our first dc off to school so its all new to us, so can anyone be kind enough to advise what questions do you ask and what do you look for on these school visits?

todays ta das

made beds
phoned schools
washed dishes
cleaned fridge
cleaned hob
cleaned microwave
cleaned kitchen bin
zoflora'd kitchen sink and worktops
chucked out of date stuff from fridge and larder
swept and mopped kitchen floor

[foxessocks]

sc I'm genuinely intrigued about the composting...is it to do with a hobby or is it your job? It sounds very worthwhile anyway!

[Shesgotelectricboobs]

I'm off sick at present. So today I've done a load of washing. (Well washing is in the machine. Doing itself).

Have made lists for each room. There will be one big eBay/charity shop mission. Everything and anything I can sell and get rid of will go.

[Furble]

Morning,

Sending get well wishes to those who are currently not well Herd and Zoolets.
MrsK and Electricboobs best of luck with the decorating and spare room reclaiming projects, let us know how you get on?
SC good news re the bank meeting, slowly slowly. Like foxes, I'm intruiged by the composting!
Foxes sorry to hear DS is still not sleeping and for you.
Celeste best of luck with the school visits.

Not much to report my end, just waiting really, still got lots of drawers and bits to declutter to keep me busy but the flat is definitely the tidiest and most organised/nested it's ever been! Just looking forward to meeting baby!

Ta-das
Packed lunch for DH
Made bed and changed dss bed sheets
Swish swipe
Unload reload Dw
One load washing away, one load done and hung
Nipped to shops (more for the walk than anything)
15 mins declutter
15 mins paper clutter

To-do
Kitchen sides, hob, sink and few bits washing up
Fridge mission
Get out for another quick walk
Bake breakfast muffins
Prep dinner (stir fry)

[Cagliostro]

Feeling spectacularly crap today, barely moving. Which means DD can't go to Brownies. Blah.

[foxessocks]

Sorry to hear that caglio

Ta das
Wipe over bathroom
Room rescue living room and bedrooms
Laundry
Hung up washing
Mopped kitchen floor
Emptied kitchen bin
Did a quick declutter of paperwork in kitchen and decluttered a bit generally

To do
Cook some dinner

Just waiting for dh and dd to finish making cookies before I put some dinner on. Got to decide between healthy salmon and veg or not so healthy but very yummy chicken goujons chips and beans!

[pontificationcentral]

Hot composting? That sounds like what happens when the revolting teenagers leave their lunch box leftovers too close to the forced air heating system...
Exciting about the country pile, sc! We have sort of cheated and bought a fake countrified version to live in. Instead of doing the sensible thing and having a weekend/ holiday place like the rest of the world. This leaves us driving three hour round trip to work/ uni and shopping in the local grocery store / buying petrol where everything is twice as expensive due to it being an out of towner's hot spot. Ah well, too late now!
In other news, there is actual snow on my garden. Not much. But I said NOT YET damnitall. People still wear flip flops in -4 here. Ds1 went to school in a t shirt with not even a sweater, let alone a coat. I may kill him later if the weather doesn't get to his frontal lobe first.

Ta da:
Breakfast
Email school
Paid bills
Update budget
Monthly Grocery shop (once a month they have 15% off day ;-) )

To do:
Dishwasher unload/ load
Clean pans (got in at 10pm with a blinding headache and retired to bed after throwing as much as I could in the dishwasher. At least a kid cooked, right?)
Dentist (got cancellation appt for a filling. Boo.)
Accounts prep for mtg
Mtg
Organise paperwork to hand-deliver tomorrow
Find spare sofa covers (currently wash and wear, no one knows which very safe place we put the second set in...)
Read next two chapters of book for tomorrow
4 x marking
Lesson prep for tomorrow
Volunteer email x 2
Grant application
15 mins paperwork declutter in dining room cupboard
Collect donated recycling

Sorry for ridiculous lists btw - it's a brain dump that I use to refer to - have to stay on task somehow!

Good luck with Mordor mrsk!

[Strikingclock]

Yum either way Foxes

Take it steady Cag

Gosh Furble you must be so excited ...and you sound v organised... hope the walking does the trick!

Celeste good luck with making your choice, there is lots of advice contained in various threads here but I think you'll "know" when you find a school that suits your lo. It's more about the atmosphere and the ethos and the teachers than anything else I reckon (although a nice large playground always helps of course!). And always best to look on a normal "non-show" day ifyswim.

Good luck with the decluttering Shesgotelectricboobs

Poor you Foxes that level of fatigue must be so hard.

Foxes and Furble composting is just for my own interest before we 'escape to the country'. I did attend a shorter version of the course a while back but I only understood about a quarter of what they were saying, so thought I would go for the full length version this time having "studied" in advance a bit. It is held at our local 'Les Jardins participatifs' which are amazing (lots of state subsidies). The bureaucracy here drives one insane but the counter side to that is that when they do something, they do it really well and thoroughly ifyswim.

[Strikingclock]

Bloody hell Pont resting on your laurels as usual I see

And at snow!!

YY thinking about it DD already practices another variety of teen hot composting involving the layering of dirty laundry on her bedroom floor I refuse to schlep up 53 steps to bring it down (the agreement was that she brings it down to the level of the laundry on a weekly basis) but no, it is still up there, probably smouldering nicely by now and I am hoovering around it -as it's a stand off--

Yes, I am not at all sure about how splitting life between two locations is going to work in reality seeing as dh never seems to have any time available whatsoever but I reckon as dd and I are on our own so much as it is, we may as well be on our own in pleasant surroundings with furries! It's only an hour's drive between the two though (but that could easily become 3 hrs at peak times) I guess we'll find out!

Hope headache has cleared and dentistry doesn't cause another one! And that you get your reading and marking done.

Oh yes, Flyling, ta da:
animals
dog walk
dining room table hot spots
post office and bank run
filled and emptied dw
3 loads of laundry, 1 td, 2 hung up
one hour office 'work'
made veggie lasagne (not sure about it as it looks a bit stodgy) and pizza dough and tarragon vinaigrette (pizza and sald for lunch - dd's half day)
cleaned out fridge - v. unFlylady as it took me nearly 2 hrs - but it really needed doing
15 mins ripping up papers

sat out on terrace in sunshine and read for 45 mins in peace and quiet at lunch time [blisss]

[Strikingclock]

**

Tomorrow's baby-step no 6 , for Thurs 6th Oct is here and introduces hot spots.

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

We are in Zone 2 (the kitchen) up to and including the 8th Oct : here.

For fledglings at a more advanced stage i.e. without clutter: here is the detailed cleaning list for Zone 2.

Tomorrow's mission is spending 5 mins checking up on your cleaning supplies, making a list and picking them up as part of errand day

The daily focus for Thursday is: running errands dentist, hair and medical appts, dry cleaning, school supplies, shopping etc.

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 if you click on it tomorrow will provide a quick summary of the above.

Keep up the good work fledglings!

*

[pontificationcentral]

OH god. I got over-enthusiastic in the kitchen and descaled the kettle with vinegar this morning. My tea is going to taste rank for a week now. Any ideas how I can rid of the taste?..... (Have fixed the damned smell with half a lemon in the microwave lol)

[Shesgotelectricboobs]

I cleared out my make up/hair/misc drawer.

Did one load of washing

Out a bin bag in the spare room and put some junk in it.

Need to also sort through paperwork and see what I can do with it - get rid of bills, a d get discounts for online bills maybe.

Tomorrow will be back to work. Back to normal. Part of the declutter involves bringing more into the house. I want more Kilner jar type jars in my kitchen for my shelves for spices, teas, pulses etc.

As I'm going to charity shop stuff anyway may as well see if I can do some swaps.

[TooStressyForMyOwnGood]

Hi all, just caught up with the thread. Everyone has been busy. Cag , hope you managed to get a rest. Pont, no idea re the vinegar taste, sorry .

Ta da:-
Bath time done and bedtime torture in progress
Laundry on
Got some work done for my course today

To do:-
Maybe go out for a run but might be too late now
More laundry
Make tea
Birthday card and present
10 mins new job admin

[Cagliostro]

Thank you Fledglings. An easy day has been had. I only put another wash on and wrote some blog stuff.

Today DH got the Caglets referred to child development specialist (pretty sure they have ASD) so that's great.

Also had a long chat with DSD who is at uni. Seems to be settling in pretty well so that's good.

Really really hoping I feel better in the morning, as I'm supposed to be having an afternoon in London by myself! I'm seeing an anime film - DSD would've come with me but has lectures, gutted as anime is our thing, but will attempt to have a nice chilled wander round, lunch with a book to read etc.

[fromwesttoeast]

Just been catching up with the thread. No flying for me this week so far. Haven't even kept up with the washing up! Did a couple of loads yesterday but still some left over till the morning. Did another load this morning but have to get on with other things now - so rest will have to be left for the fairies.
Looking at things and thinking that they must go is as far as I've got with decluttering!

[Greymalkin]

Hi everyone, I've been lurking but not feeling like posting.

Sorry, but I'm about to do a "me me me" whinge (apologies to all the newbies, I don't normally do this)

So DH and I run our own Consultancy firm which is really struggling in the current market - there just isn't the work for him at the moment. Its actually got really, really bad and DH who likes to be the traditional male hunter-gatherer provider type has not been telling me the extent of the problems.

To cut a long story short and to spare my discomfort, we only have a couple of months money left to pay our bills. I desperately want to move house, and at the moment it is still going ahead, but it will mean major sacrifices.

I have withdrawn from my Masters course at university, I am in discussions with them to get a refund of my tuition fees. I am frantically applying for jobs, (I didn't have to work before), we have cancelled loads of non essentials and luxuries including regular payments into DS's savings, monthly charity donations, TV channel subscriptions, DH might have to take his car back to the dealer and we'll have to manage with one car or get a cheap little runaround.

We've gone through all our expenditure over the last few months looking at where we can cut back, I've made an inventory of all the food in the freezer and cupboards so I can do a strict meal plan so we only buy the real essentials.

I'm in panic mode - last night I went to bed really early and read my book rather that sitting in the living room with the lights and TV on! I'm not going to buy any tea or coffee until I've used up all the freebie sachets we've accumulated from hotel rooms etc. It does feel a bit crazy.... Plus I did a load of batch cooking of ingredients in the fridge that would have gone off.

I'm back onto my eBay and Facebook selling enterprises as well, great for decluttering at least! Plus I think I might go on the money saving expert website and follow their guidance on checking for yourself whether you have a PPI claim grasps at straws

Any money saving suggestions greatly appreciated!
Rather than buying any I have the equivalent of 12 bottles currently brewing away. In my ransacking of the kitchen cupboard I found some home brew wine kits so they are now on the go which will help towards the Christmas and New Year celebrations. Oh fuck, Christmas to worry about too

So, sorry about all that... as you were...

Ta Da
DS taken to nursery
Cats fed
Beds made x2
Room rescue in DS's room
Two demijohn's of wine made
Hand washing up
Dishwasher on
Several emails sent to university
Phone calls made to temping agencies

Crap, crap and more crap.

[CotswoldStrife]

Grey that must have been a real shock for you - very sorry to hear your news.

[Babblehag]

I only know a few frugal tips but were pretty much living month to month any way, dp has a low wage and we have no savings. I found that aldi and lidl are fabulous places for my weekly shop, we don't have much on finance, one catalogue bill is it. Compare the market everything, utility bills insurances etc, don't forget to compare when car renewal comes in. as your planning on moving you can renew house insurance, when you update iyswim. other frugal tips save money on water and electric by getting a hob top kettle and water hippos for the loo if your on a meter, showers instead of baths or share bath water. If you have sky ring up to see if they can do you a better deal, if with bt, you could close the account with account holder and open a new one with new deals in the other persons name. make out someone left. check your emersion heater isnt on. dont buy anything unless nessasary or budgeted. if you smoke switch to tobacco and or find someone who sells cheaper tobacco. or switch to vaping, much cheaper option. Looks like you've got it covered on wine front. Charity shops are also your friend, you would not believe what you can find in them, however you may also find cheaper at george/primark. check out christmas thread for deals for kids, and let your f and f know that you'll only be buying for kids this year. also check out your local freecycle/freegle for things, you might find bits going on there. Aldi is great at christmas btw, get a frozen turkey, you can always baste in butter and herbs and it'll taste good, kids wont even know. fudge is really cheap and easy to make and a great little gift if going to anyones house over the holidays, that and a bottle of home made wine and i think you'll have it sorted.

hope this helps x

[Strikingclock]

Hi Greymalkin I'm so sorry to hear your news

It's sounds as this has all come to light rather quickly which must have been a horrible shock for you, especially when you are in the middle of a house move. I'm so sorry you had to give up your course too.

If you look:
here you will find quite a few good tips on these threads.

[Just for info - dh and I inherited a lot of debt from his parents who then became financially dependent on us until they died - it has taken many years to get our heads above water again but we are now ok financially - I know you are not in that position yet but just mentioning this because I want you to know that it can be done!]

Sounds as though you are already engaging in some excellent money saving measures but fwiw...

During that period we lived on a very strict budget (and still do). Sounds obvious but I think budgeting for that day/week/month and sticking to it is vital.

Not going out with credit cards only a small amount of cash.

Making lunches not buying them.

Hardly ever going out though this sounds (!) - all entertaining from home - cooking from scratch (easier said than done if you are working though I know). This is still expensive though but I've found that people are usually very happy to bring one course or to bring wine or a pudding.

When Internet shopping, always allow yourself 24/48 hrs "cooling off" period leaving things in the basket before actually buying anything - I have saved lots of money doing this - asking myself "is it really essential"?

Buying reasonable quality clothes for dc (think very cheap ones are a false economy because they don't wash and wear) but buy them too large!

Having a roast joint every Sunday or every other Sunday and have cold cuts on Mon with veg or salad, shepherds or cottage pie Tuesday etc and/or make stock with bones.

Bake your own cakes/biscuits for lunch boxes.

Meal planning. Eating food that is in season. Veggie night once or twice a week.

Eat lots of eggs and pulses.

(Incidentally my db has just been made redundant and he is the sole wage earner for a family of four living in London. He swears by frozen food and says you waste very little buying frozen veg etc.)

Our house is a bugger to heat and we follow these general rules:
(a) don't let it get totally freezing before you put the central heating on [low] in autumn (it's a false economy as it has to use more energy to heat the entire place again - better to use residual heat from mild weather to kick start the heating up process ifyswim).
(b) have the thermostat permanently on 17.5 during the day/when you are home and wear a jumper or a gilet (or both) if you are cold in the evenings (sofa throws also essential while sitting still watching telly).
(c) have two duvets on each bed.

Only run wms, tds, dw when carrying full loads.

Double up with friends and save on petrol when collecting dc from school trips/sleepovers/sports events. (Same with baby-sitting - take in turns.)

For my clothing - I virtually wear a uniform - and lots of my clothes are the same colour or the same two colours - so I can just buy a couple of pairs of trousers and tops every other year and they all mix and match and all shoes/ accessories go too (I know this sounds a bit sad but it really does work!)

For Christmas and presents (have a big family plus a small office load to buy for) plan out very carefully and budget in advance (with a firm limit for every person and every group of people) and buy things in the sales/throughout the year.

Good luck with it all xx

[Strikingclock]

And please do come on here and whinge - that is a large part of what this thread is about - and it helps to vent!