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

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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!

We haven't got the heating on but then I did have to put the covers back over me this morning!

My ds also up at silly o clock and was awake from 11- 2 last night crying think his teeth were bothering him as he was all red faced and rubbing his head. Poor thing.

I'm just having a coffee then will have to think about getting in the shower. Need to ring dh as well and check he's ok as he had to go really early this morning and he didn't get much sleep either.

Just having coffee here too foxes. Had it combed my hair (yuk) and can't see anything. Both girls on tablets as bribery as need to go through DD1's hair next. Also they are at childcare the next two days so it will be an early start - we may as well have a lazy morning first.

Ta da:-
Not much

To do:-
Not check
Morning routine
Meet friends at park
Stupidly arranged for some other friends to come over later so need to tidy

Have told all friends coming over about nits - half hoped would lead to cancelling but no!

Morning lovely fledglings

Ds2 didn't wake up until 8 so we have had a slow start to the morning. I am sat drinking tea trying to find some motivation. Dd has a friend coming over after lunch so I want to do a mini home bleurgh before then. Yesterday I cleaned the bathroom and changed beds so Im hoping it won't take too long... we shall see.

SC your drunken bumble made me

I was out of the house for 36hrs, the trousers I was drying for work this morning have vanished. Not a scooby where they have gone.
So now i have to try to find some clothes for work that are suitable, not going to cook me and actually fit yeah that last bit

My mood is not good this morning. I suspect there will be angry cleaning and shouting later.

That was odd, just had a family show up for lessons but they got the wrong day! Quite nice to know it's not just me who gets these things wrong sometimes 😂😳

Also extremely relieved that for once I was actually dressed.

Oh no Einstein they've obviously legged it somewhere ...

[sorry]

best I can come up with while trying to work out the price of scaffolding planks ... .

Have a

Did make me think though, how my house is never visitor ready... always a big panic tidy before particular pupils are due! Can I ever get my house better? Ever?

How many children do you have and when is the youngest 18?

The youngest isn't due till November einstein 😂😱

TBH I can't even blame the kids really I was messy and disorganised long before I became a mum 😳😳

Cag I am never ever visitor ready

I hate people popping around

Morning all - I have a day at home without DH or DS under my feet, so have a LOT to do.

Also, I have a handy man here doing loads of little jobs that I have got fed up of asking DH to do.

Ta Da
Took DS to nursery
Fed cats
Took out recycling
Emptied out some kitchen cupboards so handy man can build in some extra shelves
Folded laundry
Wrapped eBay parcels

Zone work done so far:
Emptied ornaments etc off of mantle piece, dusted, wiped down and replaced items
Hoovered and dusted in and around fireplace and hearth
Cleaned TV screen
Dusted TV unit
Sofa dived down one sofa
Hoovered said sofa

Feeling motivated this morning, so I'm off again, will be back later

I do wish this weather would either fuck off or having a proper thunder storm temper! i have given me the worse headache and left me in the biggest round of grumps possible.

I was sat in a house yesterday which was wonderfully calm and tidy. I couldn't figure out why until I realised that the owners are minimalists. Easy not to have clutter when you don't have stuff. I tried to figure out how I would get it to work for me. The answer? It won't I am not a minimalist. I do need a good clear out though. I will be glad when I can cull some board games, and finish the great massive sort all the things (also put all the things back in their normal home cos the building work is finished). I am sick of building work. Can't think why but I am.

cag visitor ready in zoo house is lob everything in bags and launch thru my bedroom door add to heaped up bags
I can't have anyone in without at least 30minute warning.zoolets also drilled at clearance routine.....

I am cold now I have stopped.wish weather would make mind up.its overcast here today and chilly,tho we have had two brief appearances if sun and its warm when shining.grrr
MAKE YOUR MIND UP

Tadas
Fed scout cat
Fed kits,litter tray sorted
Wash on
Tidy under dining table
Feed zoolets
Make banana muffins
Wash in dryer
Dietetics app with ds
Shop on way back
More wash on
Lunch
Help dd2 pack for sleepover
Sweep liv room floor
Clean liv room windows

I am now tired.could really use a nap,but dd2 be picked up shortly and don't look good I not on step to say goodbye!!

Yup ditto zoo it made me really sad recently when I realised I was telling the Caglets to just shove everything in bags :( I'm setting such a bad example :(

I have had a very brief nap today, just saw DD off to a friend's though. Was meant to be doing some errands in town but I'm just too tired.

I fell asleep when baby ds did and woke up with my charm bracelet stuck in my face. It's left a lovely print behind.

I tend to get that with the sofa fabric! Lovely texture :o

I have managed to sort through a small BRC and got a carrier bag of rubbish filled plus a couple of bits for charity. Absolutely shattered so will have a rest before seeing if I can do another.

haha talking of visitor ready - I had an unexpected visitor this morning and I was so embarassed by the mess in my porch, I couldn't even hide it as it was right there!! We were due to go out so I didn't invite them in but part of my reasoning for that was the mess and I feel a bit bad about that now, I was probably really rude not inviting them in even for five minutes!

Ta das
Food shopping (in a real supermarket argh!)
daily routine

To do
Living room mission / declutter
Ironing
HOOVER!! (I don't know if this is going to happen!)

zoo, thank you for kitchen roll tip.

Ta da:-
Took girls to picnic
Had play date
One load laundry done
Some tidying done after play date

To do:-
Tea
Sort out DD1's room which is a mess after play date
Probably take DDs to play out as they are having a rest now so will have energy later!
Declutter - must make an effort to do 15 mins a day as seriously sick of the mess now. I find it so hard to decide though - e.g. there are two board games we hardly ever use, but will we one day? Must read that Kondo book one day .

I'm a board game obsessive stressy so I'm either the best person to ask, or the worst... :o

I tackled the doll drawer. Oh dear lord. I hadn't realised how much other crap was in there. I have moved stuff around a bit and will get DD to repack later with a separate smaller drawer (these are Ikea Trofast buckets) for doll clothes.

Well if they can't be bothered to text in advance Foxes I wouldn't worry! How's the teething going btw?

Arf at "interesting" face prints Afreshstart/Cag

Not surprised you are thoroughly fed up with building work Einstein ; has been going on for ages hasn't it? Hope your trews return to the fold!

Couldn't agree more about headachey weather; a storm has been threatening here all day here but not quite arriving! Plays 'avoc wiv me sinuses. So humid!

Not helped atm by having to do drills with dd in the pronom personnel in Latin [argh]

Ta da so far:
animals
made dd packed lunch
ironed dd sports kit
morning routine inc wm, dw, dining room table hot spots, s&s
hung up overnight washing/td one set towels
tidied up kitchen which had been left in a heap the night before, shined sink, emptied bin, cleaned surfaces etc
furry walk 1
searched for missing towels (dd room)
prepped washing
2.5 hours of budget planning/architect designs/contacting planning permission people
lunch with dh
furry walk 2 together
quick nip to shops to find revision book dd wants without success
re-fed washing machines
triaged dry laundry for fortnightly ironing lady who will hopefully arrive tomorrow
arranged med appt
hwk supervision and drills

Well done re BRC Cag

Impressive list there Zoo and arf at Caglets clearance drill

Hope dietetics appt went ok Zoo

Hope home bleugh wasn't too onerous Mercury

and that your child-dh-free day proved productive Grey - certainly looks like you have some good lists there - hope handyman strutted his stuff!

Hope your half-term holiday continuing to go well Cotswold and weather has improved

Big waves to Whoknows and everyone else!

Right, off to parish meeting shortly so just going to prep supper so dh doesn't have to do too much when he gets in and post last link of the month for tomorrow!

"See" you all in the morning!

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The summary for Wednesday 31st is available on the Flylady website here under "Today" and via the flight plan which should update itself automatically on a daily basis.

Our last baby-step of the month, no. 31, for Wed 31st is here . This always makes me laugh because it reminds me of something a cult leader would say but as it happens, there is some truth in it! Flylady says: don't get bogged down about wanting to know everything about the system in advance. As the clutter disappears, we will have more time to do zone cleaning etc.
You don't need to see the top of the stairs to see the first step etc etc!

Tomorrow will be our last day in Zone 5 : The Living Room, Den, Family Room (May 28-31) here.

Spend 15 mins decluttering the current zone.

When you have finished decluttering, the detailed cleaning list for Zone 5 (if you are at that stage) is here.

Wednesday's mission is here. A detailed hoovering session in the sitting room!

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

The monthly habit is moving in May!. (As I say every May, I have been utterly crap at this ).

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

Well done everyone! You have survived another Flying month!

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Oh yes, btw: June thread here!

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x posts

Well done re: doll drawer Cag [psssst, don't tell anyone, dd still dresses dolls very occasionally when no one is looking so haven't finally got rid of them all]

Picnic sounds lovely Toostressy!! Agree that decluttering is the hardest aspect of the system!