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!

Ta da
Morning routine
The outside of the front door (it was grim )
Kitchen done

To do
Hang washing outside
Wipe inside the door
Throw out doormat & buy a new one (it's so not worth trying to save haha)
Hoover & mop entrance
15 mins declutter
15 mins planning
Cook curry (leftovers from roast)
Spend some time on me (?? This is the one that probably won't get done today)

Good luck social
foxes the neighbour shouted across the road to me that I'm turning into a proper housewife now , they've probably never seen me do it , cheeky sod , it's a good job I like them haha

lol I can't remember the last time I cleaned my front door (and it's white!!) . Going to do it tonight. Decluttered last night and ordered a nice new doormat and a cage to stop the dog chewing the letters! I'm getting off a bit easy this week as we don't have a dining room and the hall isn't too big. So I'm going to do the top landing and bottom bathroom instead. Only done the morning routine so far as am working ( and it takes forever to get the teen & pre teen out the door in the morning-even worse after a holiday weekend!) xxxx

Meh, day not going to plan at all here but did manage to get GP to prescribe antibiotics for DD although due to an apparent manufacturing issue, they are in short supply and took a little longer to obtain than I'd bargained for. They'd better work! I will also be back in a bit, not much flying done here today - bit of laundry (does a rewashed load count ) and washing up.

Just stopping by to say I still haven't wiped the door!

Hope your dd ok zoo and your dd too Cotswold .

Ds has been even worse at napping today , he has had two 10 minute naps and one 30 minute nap. Not surprisingly he is now grumpy and doesn't want to be put down.

Joining please if I may?
Have fluttered before but never flown!
DC have flown the nest ( but left quite a bit of stuff)DH away so sorting all his desk stuff on kitchen table , cleaned all round desk and under sofa ( yuck)
Did hall cupboard , still has too much in it but I have it ordered and listed on back of door !!
Off to work now
Happy Flying all

Welcome bin

That's crap foxes hope its just a blip and returns to usual sleep patterns

On cleaning the front door it gets done by window cleaner,cept scout cat insists let himself in and as jumps for handle and let's his weight pull it down he slides muddy paw prints door white door.....
Needless to say I needed wipe that today again

Dd2 has inflamed ear canal(explains why she's got deafness and pain)glands are up too.throats been swabbed.as seen nurse she's opt not prescribe anything for the ears(dp took her )so we are no better position.grrr.swabs are back Fri...

Tadas
3loads washing
Hall tidied

Lots cuddles and reassurance

Just go sort little ones tea-(pasta with pea pesto in case you are interested foxes)
Making a nice comforting risotto for me and dd2-pea and courgette with roasted mushrooms and sweet potatoes.yum yum

Ta da
2 loads of washing dried
Planning for the week plus lots of forms that I've been meaning to fill in, school nurse, dd school application etc, took an hour but I guess next time it should only take the 15 mins
Entrance is hoovered , moped and the doormat has been thrown. I'm admitting defeat on the inside of the door though, even though it could really do with it
Decided to have a walk to the park with a friend and the kids - I'm counting that as movement and doing something for me.

To do

Evening routine
Put dry clothes away
Dinner pots

Hope all the little ones start to feel better soon xx

Ooh zoo love hearing what you're having for dinner , I like to make notes of ideas for future meal plans! We had jacket potatoes tonight and the world's smallest quiche because I ordered the wrong size oops! Hope your dd is okay poor her sounds horrible.

Ta das
Dinner cooked and kitchen / dining table tidied
Hoovered living room kitchen and porch
Tidied porch
Rang dentist but no answer so left message and they haven't returned my call
Dusted dressing table
Daily routine
And drumroll please... CLEANED THE FRONT DOOR!! Quite a satisfying amount of dirt came off too.

Ds has fallen asleep on me so fingers crossed I can transfer him to the cot and go and watch some telly...please!!

I forgot I've still got 15 mins declutter to do aswell

All work and no play makes us dull Bunny's Rosa so for opt go park
I need to look at moving in ways other than walking.might start a thread on exercise DVDs....
foxes I will bear that in mind and try and pop up what's for dinner
Well done on the front door too
Hope ds settles and crap TV is all yours with your lap only holding s nice bar chocolate/crisps/snack of choice
My dinner was lush.I now plan sit n watch TV, hopefully without dd2 climbing all over me-just dose up calpol and hopeful get at least an hour peace-one born EV minute on at 9.hoping she sits quiet thru that

Yawn

slumps in naughty corner

afresh

Zoo - I Love One born. ...might just watch a bit and dust the front door in the ad breaks!! Lol xxx

Ugh

Someone motivate me please

Baby ds still asleep and I of course had to go check he is ok ! My only snack has been a raspberry yogurt which is disappointing!

Evening routine and some clothes put away, the rest will have to wait.
zoo that's exactly the reason why I'm trying a different way of doing things, sometimes I feel like all I'm doing is running around and I miss little moments with the kids. Hopefully doing little & often will work better and the kids will have more quality time with a relaxed mummy!

Cuppa and choc watching one born, I can't decide whether it makes me broody or makes me glad I don't have to do that again

Evening all
I need some slightly off topic advice I've posted in gardening too but I think all the gardeners are in bed. Do any of you have any good tips for keeping cats out of your garden. I like cats but I draw the line at them using my lawn as their local poop spot. I know it's because I've redone the lawn so the cats think it's one big litter tray. Someone told me not to weed it but that will take my OCD to new levels

Hiya all, I'm ready for some help please!

I have OCD but also fibromyalgia and anxiety and feel like I'm fighting a losing battle.

I have always had a clean house, my OCD is around cleaning and I've always coped.
My dgm came to live near me last year and she has developed dementia and I have been looking after her and my house has gone to shit pardon the language.

I'm fighting with my OCD and pain and the pain is winning, my anxiety then goes through the roof as I can't stand to be out of routine and my house is up the wall.

So here's my problem- washing.

I have always ironed everything and have made a rod for my own back as now have piles and piles waiting to be done, I have to do it, just lacking the motivation as massively overwhelmed.

Dd has a tiny room and too many toys so we've bagged up her stuff to sort through so hopefully that will be resolved this week, every day I say that today is the day, life gets in the way, if it's not done properly then it's not done at all.

I need ideas, help, advice, thank you :)

Morning all.
Yesterday turned into a bit of a disaster. My car broke down and I spent the morning being recovered by the AA. So I didn't get ds2s hair cut or the gardening I had planned to to done.

I did manage to declutter the porch, do several washloads, complete the morning routine and prepare 3 dinners for the week so it could have been worse.

This morning is a work morning so before we leave at 7.30 I will try to:
Make beds
Wash/ dry up
Hoover downstairs
Wipe down highchair and kitchen sides.

If I can get that done and wrangle the dc out of the door by 7.30 it will be a miracle!

Mermaids have you asked in your local pet shop or garden centre? I know cats don't like orange peal but I bet there is a spray or powder you can buy.

Good morning.

Sorry to be posting links for today so late. Spent most of yesterday in hospital having tests, after which I felt like I had been trampled by a herd of wilder beasts (went straight to bed afterwards). Def have to have op but nothing sinister found so far, so altogether worth it!

There were some seriously ill looking people in that hospital which really gives one pause for thought and makes you count your blessings.

*

The summary for Wednesday 3rd May (available on the Flylady website here under "Today" and via the flight plan, which should update daily, can be found here).

Baby-step no 3 for Wednesday 3rd May is here. Continuing first two steps, shining the kitchen sink and getting dressed to shoes.

We are working in Zone 1 this week (April 30 - May 6): The Entrance, Front Porch and Dining Room here .

Spend 15 mins decluttering in the current zone.

When you have finished decluttering, the detailed cleaning list (if you are at that stage) for Zone 1 is here.

Wednesday's mission is here. Spend 15 mins decluttering your dining room.

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

The monthly habit is moving in May! .

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

Have a good anti-procrastination day everyone!

*

Zoflorabore sorry you are finding things tough going atm and that your dgm has dementia all of which must be very hard indeed.

There are fledglings on this thread suffering similarly who will most likely be able to give you better advice than me. All I know is that I think the Flylady system will be be a good fit for you as there is an emphasis on no perfectionism, and just doing what you can, little and often.

I have a similar issue with ironing and with never getting to the decluttering bit of the system (as you say, rl has a tendency to get in the way!). If you look through the housekeeping threads on Mumsnet you will find lots of "no ironing" threads which include helpful tips. I know lots of people swear by folding things straight out of the td, or hanging things up on hangers to dry etc.

Could you perhaps pay (as a one off) to get the backlog ironed and then do the current stuff bit by little bit? Or tackle all of it an hour per night in front of a favourite box set? I shouldn't really be giving advice though because I have a permanent ironing pile a mile high and a lady who comes to help me with it intermittently . This is rather embarrassing when I work so few hours but my dh gets through 11 shirts a week on average (and other formal wear for his job) and it takes me 15 mins to iron each one (he is a big bloke and I am slow!) so it is worth it for me even though the time would definitely be spent cleaning here.

Mainly though, and I know this is easier said than done, but I would try and put less pressure on yourself if you can. Parenting + battling a horrible illness + looking after a relative with dementia is a mahoosive amount of things to be dealing with and all of us would struggle in those circumstances

Very impressed by all the front door cleaning going on here!

A very warm welcome to Bin85! Sounds as though you have made a great start with the hall cupboard! Good luck with the rest of the decluttering!

Oh no, sorry about the car Mercury sounds as though that you still managed to achieve a lot of Flying though . Good luck with the child wrangling this morning !

Mermaids Sorry, the only advice I can offer about marauding cats (we have many around here!) is to get a dog! (Ours is on permanent cat patrol.)

[Brew] to Afreshstart and Foxes and anyone else enduring broken nights and long days.

Great lists there Rosabella

Cotswold and Zoo hope your dds start to feel better now that you have seen the doc.

Mumontherun good work on the front entrance area! What sort of dog do you have?

Big waves to Whoknows BluePheasant Cag Dudsville Toostressy Honu Socialanxietyrus and anyone else I have missed!

Welcome to more newbies! Nice busy thread. It's a lovely supportive place.

Zoflora I have fibro too. It sucks doesn't it sympathies on the OCD as well, I am autistic and mega anxious, I have an unofficial dx of OCD but never followed it up as I was unwell at the time. Interestingly though the psychiatrist said that the anxiety, obsessions etc had probably contributed to the triggering of the fibro/chronic fatigue etc. It's literally exhausting being so anxious.

Anyway enough waffle. I'm up early and stressing because I have my 12 week scan this morning. So nervous.

Then have 3 pupils throughout the day but thankfully no Brownies today so we can chill in the evening. DS has finished his initial eczema treatment regime, we can now put the cling film back in the kitchen :o and it's a different cream to try. Just hope it keeps improving. I was trying to cut his nails yesterday but some were hurting because his fingertips are still bad bless him.

Yesterday's achievement - cut DS' hair. Was getting too long and they won't let him bounce at trampolining if it's in his eyes, he won't wear a headband so a trim it is!

Emboldening fail there Cag sorry!

As a young teenager (long ago) I used to spend 2 hrs every Tuesday night ironing for a lady whose husband wore 13 shirts / week (only one on Sundays!). She showed me how she wanted it done (stored on hangers so no folding) and I can still iron shirts fast. Any chance of subcontracting to an impoverished teenager and giving them a new life skill?