Gather ye dusters (fledglings) while ye May, for soon we shall be Flying ... !

[Slurrycart]

Welcome to the May 2017 fledgling Fly thread!

Feel free to park your mops and buckets here from the 1st of the month!

This is where we attempt to declutter our homes and follow the 30-step wisdom of Flylady (minus cutesy barftastic 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 ):

1 - repeat or start baby steps (again!)

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

or

3 - reinforce babysteps and/or do daily missions
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 welcome!

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!

Evening,

No flying today as is one of my long work days. However, I've already did today's mission on Monday when the food shop was delivered

Same bottle of laundry liquid afresh, def something to bear in mind though thank you. Didn't think about new clothes WhoKnows. She did have a new dress on the day it first happened, could well be that! No recurrence of the rash last night or today so hopefully it's sorted itself out, thank you for everyone's help and advice

Great stuff with the swimming trip Cag

Brilliant list mumontherun, hope the new meds help your DD.

Hope you have a better nights sleep tonight sc. Glad to hear the webinar went well think that is the first time I've ever used that word

No flying chairs definitely a bonus Purple! Hope that doesn't happen too often!

Loving tomorrow's mission, will make the effort to do that one, nice easy one since have 12 hour day tomorrow.

Right am going to slump off to bed! Sleep well all and hope poorly people feel better soon

Well I've made my list of to do's today , but I was up the majority of the night and currently hugging a cuppa trying to muster up a bit of energy to hang the washing out bleurgh at least I don't have to do the task today because that is one part of the kitchen that is organised already .
To do
Morning routine ( we're washed dressed, the kids are at school and I popped the washer on but nothing else has been done)
Hang washing out
5 mins room rescue playroom
15 mins cleaning something in the kitchen (possibly inside the grill)
15 mins car & purse
15 mins ironing
15 mins putting clothes away

slurry I may aim to do 15 mins on each task but I rarely complete them all haha I have to say though, since starting last week, I can see it coming together eventually, even if all of the things don't get done, something is getting done. My issue was I did the same thing all of the time and tried to clean everywhere at once. This way is working better xx

My MH crashed-lack sleep with ds2 hasn't helped.
Took her gp Mon,refer ent
Lil zoo got bad throat and home today,dd2 text me hour ago lost voice and have sea lion cough
Ds struggling thru SATs (school are pushy nightmares)
Dp had meltdown Sunday(which I think took me over the edge

All fun and games at chez zoo

Have manage do the laundry EV day.all fed no one deads as good as its got
< Surveys crap hole and cries>

Totally not flylady related but aaargh this holiday is getting stressful! Turns out DD's friend has been lying about DD to get herself out of trouble. She has form for it TBH but mum won't hear of it. DD has finally started getting the courage to stand up to her friend and clearly said friend doesn't like it. It's really souring our time here now. I cried earlier pathetic as that is. Nothing like this ever happens with any of their other friends. Obviously it's amplified due to being away together but this kind of stuff is happening more and more. Not easy to cut back on contact though really, I'm just going to have to reduce what we choose to do with them. I feel so sad though :(

Yay zoo is back!!

Hope zoolets feel better

Not much flying done here today and it's grim weather which never inspires me much

Have a good day all

Nice to see you zoo. It's a bit the same here with lots of busyness meaning we're just about keeping on top of the stuff that absolutely needs doing and that's about it. Sometimes that's all you can do and you shouldn't feel bad about it. Get well soon to the zoolets.

I've had a much nicer day in work (no furniture flying or swearing which is always a bonus) although I think one of the caterpillars might have escaped which isn't a good thing... I left my lovely lunch in the fridge by accident so had to buy lunch which I was grumpy about. Still, if that's the day's biggest moan I won't complain.

Ta da's
Work
Big sort out of extraneous printing in planning folder and recycling (so satisfying)
Fed guinea pigs

To do
Quick tidy (10 mins)
Sort out holiday with dh's parents (this could be difficult)
BSL practice
Think about work targets/courses

zoo you're back! I was getting worried. Have a nice and hope everyone feeling better soon. Make sure you're looking after yourself

I've also only been doing the bare minimum at the moment and I don't have as much going on as the rest of you, no real excuses just feeling worn out!

Ta das
Daily routine

And umm..oh dh has done another load of washing and mowed the lawn. And I got dh a birthday present. I'm off out tonight so need to start getting ready but the baby has just fallen asleep on me (at 5pm argh! He has hardly slept today)

zoo , good to have you back! Also glad to hear about ent referral. Cag, , sounds stressful. Have a good night tonight foxes! Purple, I am impressed by your BSL learning. I did baby signing with my DDs and was really keen to do proper BSL but it was never the right time.

I have a cold and have nearly lost my voice so am feeling sorry for myself! Just putting DD2 to bed communicating by whispering. DH doing DD1 who is taking her time over homework. Have had enough after that and am going to suggest takeaway or ready meal for tonight. Too tired for lists today!

Wish I was born organised as really do think it would make life easier . Big wing flaps to all.

Thanks stressy, I did level one years ago and I'm using it work now. I'm so rusty but it's great fun to learn again. I'm doing level two in September and I need to back at level one standard by then, plus the better I am the more I use I can be to my students. At least I'm getting lots of practise!

I had the voice loss cold that's been doing the rounds earlier this week. Get well soon-it's miserable.

Hi all

Glad you are back Zoo -hope you are feeling better💐💐💐

What age is your DD Cag? Could you chat more to the mum?

Hi to everyone else hope you've had a good day💐

Meds seem to have worked a bit for DD although she has now developed streaming nose but don't know if that's maybe related to starting the inhaler. Not as much coughing or breathlessness and her colour looks better so fingers crossed.

Ta da's
2 loads washing
School runs
Working today so not had loads of time
Dinner for all
Mammoth homework session with DD as left it all to the last night and the maths is so hard....
Baths

To do
Evening routine
Tidy the tin foil

Xxxx

Evening all

Sorry to hear so many of you/dc are ailing. [Plumps up cushions in naughty corner - which should really be re-named recuperation cabin.]

I always forgot how busy this time of the year is - I am with those of you doing bare minimum Flying atm.

Yay Zoo lovely to have you back! So sorry things are tough. Hope zoolets recover soon. Take it steady, small steps and all of that x

Cag hope holiday "issues" resolve themselves over time, sounds v stressful

Mumontherun hope meds continue to work for your dd and here's hoping for a speedy recovery. Sympathies re: maths angst (stresses me out no end).

Proffers lemon and honey drinks for Toostressy and Purple

Foxes hope you have a good evening out!

Purple arf at caterpillar (flying chairs sound challenging!)

Good to hear the system is working for you Rosa Hope you get a better night's sleep tonight

Hope you survived your 12 hr day BluePheasant

Waves to Mermaids and everyone else.

Busy day. Absolutely zero flying. Take-out pizza for supper I'm afraid.
Bit upset tonight because I had made plans this weekend (b'day) and was told on the phone by dh at lunch-time that they all had to change because of a work crisis. No consultation. No apology. This often happens in his line of work and I know is unavoidable but it would be nice to have just one weekend in the year where I get to make the choices and those choices stand. I hereby give up planning (which is quite appropriate for planning day come to think of it ).

Links coming up. G'night all!

And hope you get your voice back tomorrow Toostressy btw!

***

The summary for Friday 12th May is available on the Flylady website here under "Today" and via the flight plan which should update itself automatically on a daily basis.

Baby-step no 12 for Fri 12th is here. Continue with the steps and routines that we have been doing so far and declutter any Flylady e-mails that we have been receiving (although we advise not signing up in first place - as you will be inundated - but some fledglings find them helpful.)

We are in Zone 2 this week: Kitchen, Back Porch, Laundry Room, Pantry here. (May 07-13)

Spend 15 mins decluttering the current zone.

When you have finished decluttering, the detailed cleaning list (if you are at that stage) for Zone 2 is here.

Friday's mission is here. Spend 5 mins "checking" the cleaning supplies under your sink to see if they need replacing. I wonder if this is Flylady's way of lulling us in to cleaning out the under-sink-cupboard-of-doom?

The daily focus for Friday is cleaning out our handbags, cars, purses etc. And apparently Friday is date night too.

The monthly habit is moving in May!

Daily reminders (which should also update automatically) are here.

Small steps everyone!

*

Oh I'd love to join. My house is a shit tip and my poor DP is getting tired of tidying up after me.

A very warm welcome Sophia Any questions - don't hesitate to ask!

It feels like I have bounced between planned tasks and the unexpected tat of life this week - DD still not herself (especially as one of the tests she's had has caused her more pain ) and I seem to be struggling to even get the basics done.

Will reboot myself with food as usual, &T tonight and treaty breakfast tomorrow. My weight gain continues to be a mystery to me

Holiday bad to worse. Genuinely wish we hadn't bothered. The only nice times we've had are when we've done things just me and the Caglets.

DD is so hurt and I'm just glad a lot of people see my side of it. Basically there is a long list of people who have backed away from this family because of the mum's total unwillingness to accept any wrongdoing on her DD's part at all. The other child always gets the blame and I'm kicking myself for letting that happen. Putting my/DD's side across just doesn't work though, it's pointless.

Sorry for the rant. I just want to run away :( we can't avoid them but I need to back off for DD's sake and that will be hard to do without incurring more wrath.

That's is not nice to hear... I hope the holiday improves and you guys get to enjoy some of it

Cag can't you invent a reason to return home early? Definitely avoid in future though, not fair to have your DD hassled by mean girls

I am not having a stellar morning myself. DD was supposed to be doing an activity tonight with some friends but I am not sure if it will go ahead (being organised by a slightly flakey family). DD has changed her day around to accommodate possible activity and I don't fancy dealing with the disappointment that is likely to occur when it doesn't happen. I don't have my treaty breakfast either as the shop I buy it from is being refitted

It has just been one of those weeks - we all have them - but I could have done with today running smoothly, and I feel especially sorry for DD who has had a grim week and tried so hard. We all have to learn the lesson on flakey friends eventually but I could do without it being this week!

to Cag as I can't send at the moment. I see a fair bit of in my evening tonight

What is everyone else up to during the Flakefest that is today for me?

Cag so hard when things happen with their friends as can cause lots of bother between families. Sounds like a break from that particular friend would do your DD good. Are there any other friends she could invite over or a club she might like to join. My DD has had ups and downs with school pals. She goes to horseriding which she loves and has made some other friends there.

Slurry I know exactly what you mean with weekend plans!! I always think on a Friday of some family things I'd like to do and we never end up doing any of them cos kids want to do their own thing and DH is often working. I end up doing housework and visiting my parents and it's Monday again before you know it...we did go camping a few weeks ago and that was good.

Working at home today as DS now coughing away...he's still asleep.

Got a party tonight with DH so a date night of sorts. Just need to try and not have mega hangover tommorow as seems to last for 2 days now!

Morning routine done and DD to school.
Washing on

To do
More washing
Walk dog
Read the tasks for today

Have a good day all xxx

Sorry Cag I didn't realise -are they on holiday with you? Oh no what a nightmare...

Sorry things not improving Cag

Hello everyone:
Bloomin knackered today and conversation still very frosty between dh and myself (I normally am quite supportive, honest!) but feel less upset than I did yesterday (as he pointed out, he doesn't have a choice in the matter either) so hoisting up my big girl pants and moving on still secretly disappointed though :

Ta da:
animals
dd lunch
drove dd to school (unusually because she had a lot to carry)
quick supermarket shop on way back
furry walk 1
carried all dirty laundry down to basement

Just having a now and then ...

To do:
morning routine:
inc dw, s&s, dining room table hotspot, load wms
collect mugs and saucers from dd's room around the house
ditto towels that have been used and dropped on the floor
ditto text books and random photocopied sheets
and chocolate wrappers
thorough clean out of rabbit room

Cleaner away today so:
general tidy up downstairs
wipe down kitchen surfaces and shine sink
s&s (although actually needs proper clean I think)
foil & cling film and under sink cleaning materials missions
hoover entire downstairs
clean downstairs lav

In addition:
make veggie lentil stew or soup for weekend
make pastry
make apple pie

Argh - look at the time (hour ahead here).

Hope those of you who are ailing are feeling a bit better today! Take it steady though, as there are lots of nasty lingering lurgies about x

Just to add I really notice the difference between girls and boys with how important their friends are. My DS was never as bothered but it's such a big deal for DD.

If they let her down or leave her out then I try and take her to do something nice just the 2 of us. Or invite another friend over from dancing or horseriding and that usually cheers her up. The friend groups at school are constantly changing and she is the youngest in the class so she struggles with it sometimes. Xxx

x posts

Cag yes, unfortunately it is often only when you are up close and personal with people on holiday that you find out their um, particular quirks ... .

Cotswold oh no about flakey friends - hope your dd isn't too disappointed if the worst happens

mumontherun whey hey to date night - hope you have a great time

YY to tonight everyone!