Fledglings cocoon, we're Flying in June ... .

[SansCollier]

Welcome to the June 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 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!

Never mind a dungeon, can you stick him in the stocks?

I'm feeling rather miserable and pathetic today. Can barely stay awake and only just managed to shower and dress. Feel absolutely shattered. We were supposed to be going home from mum's today but I just can't manage the journey (two buses, a tram and a train - about 2 hours normally) on my own with the Caglets. So we are staying another night and DH is dashing up here after work - probably arriving around midnight - so we can all go back together tomorrow. Ugh I hate being so useless!

I have been declutteirng wine today does this count

Yup you are also getting your five a day, in grape form

Hi all.just popping in on my mobile data as someone feral bunch kids up street has pull loads wire out virgin box,which explains why I have no internet.grrrrr

Pleased other have great story memories if childhood

mermaids sorry bout the job

Einstein dungeon sounds a bit s+m.I personally think stocks ain't a bad idea,but a tasers better

There's 3pages to read I can't rember who said what.hoping pop in tom,I don't have much credit left so if I disappear few days it's just while waiting for wires be reconnected up(sigh)

Hi all, hope everyone is okay. We've had a busy day today so not much flying happening but dh hoovered the whole house so things are looking quite tidy (hoovering makes such a big difference!). Dh works in London and has been at work today so I'm finding things a bit hard but obviously nothing compared to those directly involved. Hope everyone is okay and just to say your lovely chat always cheers me up so thanks

Hello all, trying to sneakily watch a bit of the Manchester concert while doing bedtime and finding it quite life affirming.

Aww foxes, lovely chat is a great way of describing this thread. How annoying zoo, hope you get your internet sorted soon. Cag, sounds sensible to stay the extra night . Mermaids, absolutely counts as decluttering and agree with zoo about the one of your five a day.

Einstein, we have a dungeon?! Can I put my boss in there?

Thanks for links SC

Ta da:-
Suncream bought for DD1 for school
Father's Day cards written by DD1, just need to get DD2 to sign and sort present
Have decluttered a card we have had - birthday card with age 2 for a girl - for about 2 years waiting for a suitable candidate .

Good evening. Hope everyone ok!

Awful, awful news from the capital again. Those poor people and their families. Police absolutely heroic.

A warm welcome back Lifebeginsatforty!! Lovely to have you on the thread again. How are you finding life as an expat? Take it easy on yourself. It's a hard road sometimes

Sorry you are feeling so depleted Cag. This humid weather doesn't help I am sure.

Foxes my dh will be working in London for most of next week so I completely get it.

Cheers Mermaid I have the same cook book!!

A dungeon/stocks can definitely be arranged Einstein [clanks chains]

Hope you are surviving your testing weekend Rosa I remember dance show season (with just one child) and it was tough going!!

Expansive wing flaps back to Toostressy Zoo Cotswold Afreshstart Honu Grey Whoknows DisorderedAllsorts CowParsleyNettle Mumontherun Mercury Bluepheasant Purpledaisies and apologies to anyone else I have forgotten (can't scroll down any further!) and oh yes with a a special mention of Whoknow's clay model of Chank the Bottersnike!!

I have been mahoosively busy on the land today - largely wrestling nettles (which make great compost) - and up ladders trying to mend a greenhouse whilst intermittently delivering doorstop sandwiches to dd who has chosen to revise- on top of a hale bale--. Weather has been glorious. Oh yes, also did a bit of kitchen and bathroom cleaning, shopping for tomorrow when we have another guest (bank holiday here) and a bit of hoovering. Awful to say it, but trying to keep telly news off in front of dd and playing board games instead.

Links coming up! G'night all and keep safe!

Welcome back lifebegins

***

The summary for Monday 5th June 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. 5 for Mon 5th June is here. The one about negative voices ie try and turn them around so you feel more positive about yourself and your home (that is the theory anyway).

We are in Zone 2 this week: Kitchen, Back Porch, Laundry Room, Pantry here. (The website still hasn't entirely caught up but there we are ... .)

Spend 15 mins decluttering the current zone.

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

Monday's mission is here . Take 15 mins and scrub your stove top in a non-perfectionist manner!

The daily focus for Monday is the home blessing, or as we call it, the home bleugh. Spend 10 mins on each of seven essential jobs either on a Monday, on another day of your choice, or spread out throughout the week. Newcomers please note: lots of us find it impossible to achieve this in the time specified, especially the bed-making!

The monthly habit in June is drinking water.

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

Have a productive start to the week everyone!

Merit points for "moving in June" Toostressy!!

Unfortunately not cag the ex redeemed himself by backing me up in a major argument about homework and attitude with ds. Ds of course is extra pissed off that not only can he not divide an conquer nor can he play us against each other. So he has been a right barrel of laughs try screaming banshee since he got back.

Ta da
Ds is still alive
I didn't eat the entire cartoon of ice cream, just a few teaspoons worth.
Oh and ds decided to tidy his room instead of being polite to me about signing homework diary

As the alarms are set for 5am here because of homework issues you will forgive me if I disappear to wait for my fresh bread out the oven tea and just crash.

DD1 asked me at bedtime what you do after explosions happen (don't think she really understands terrorist attacks). I gave her my standard answer of valuing life, etc. I never shy away from talking about death (HCP) etc but didn't think I answered it very well.

Tomorrow I'll show her the Manchester concert and tell her that this is what you do .

Obviously assuming you have the money and infrastructure to organise such a thing...

I would tell her that you are sad for the people who get hurt and the families who lose someone, you are cross with the people who do these things and then you do exactly what you did before the explosion except try to be just a little bit nicer and kinder.
This is pretty much what I have told ds minus the graphic answering of his direct questions about how they id bodies , the crime scene work and why people look for others to blame and generalise in order to have someone to blame. I have made sure to focus on the key thing from Manchester which has been the message that we are not blaming the majority for the actions of a few, and that truly we are stronger together.

Thanks Einstein, good answer .

Explaining the attacks to kids is so hard isn't it, my 6 year old ds doesn't really understand, my 10 year old dd does though and trying to explain why people do this type of thing is hard. We watched the concert together and I explained that there are bad things that happen everyday in the world, but look at all the good things that happen too. Don't ever let fear stop you doing what you want to do, my heart goes out to everyone that's affected in these tragic events.

I have made it through the weekend woohoo!! I have been so exhausted though, last night I just kept crying. Dd2 has fed 3 times again in the night, I've given up on sleep and got up. Strong coffee then I'm going to try to rescue the house from the busy weekend. Kids are still off school today so if I can get most of it done before they get up, we're going to 'relax' in front of the tv this morning.

To do
General tidy
House bleurgh
Look at bank

Eye test
Ds swim lesson

What are your day to day tasks ? My new routine is starting to come together, the more I do this, the more organised I'm becoming. I have been aiming to do 30 mins of ironing a day ( I only iron dd2 clothes and uniforms, everything else I iron as I go) although I've still got a pile, it's slowly going down and for the first time in a long time, the kids are back at school tomorrow and I haven't got to worry about getting the uniforms done because they are already hanging in the wardrobe. I think because I'm timing things, I'm getting a bit of everything done, rather than thinking I've got to catch up on 'x' first before starting anything else, if that makes sense? So far my routine is (not necessarily in this order) make beds, s&s the bathroom, at least 1 load of washing, 15 mins putting clothes away (thinking of putting this upto 30 until caught up) 30 mins ironing, the fly lady tasks, prepping lunch/tea BEFORE everyone is starving (much less stressful mealtimes if I've thought about what we're eating beforehand!) wipe down the kitchen and dishwasher is on, a 10 minute blast downstairs once all the kids are in bed. I don't always get them all done, but tweaking how I do the chores, is making a huge difference and also allowing time to spend with the kids. Do I was just wondering how you lovely people stay organised and on top of everything?

Oh and I've added a 5 min blast after meal times to make sure everything is cleared straight away, rather than having that build up of pots everywhere - the kids love getting involved when there's a timer involved, whether they're helping me with the task or just helping looking after their little sister so I can get thins done. I hope that me changing my ways, will teach them how to look after their home when they're older and it won't be so much of a challenge, just second nature.

Sounds like you are more organised than me Rosa

Back later with tadas

Tadas
Scoutcat fed
Kits fed,litter tray cleaned
Toilet bleached
Recycling out
Empty kitchen and bathroom bins
Pack ups made
Zoolets fed n watered
Bathroom s+s
Stair and landing carpet hoovered whilst lil zoo plays kits ti distract them.I've not use hoover since they've been here as so nervous. Cosima hiss at the toy they were playing with and hid. They are both now sit huddled together in cat carrier out of sight

I can tell it's been a school holiday by state the place.lot my routines go out the window. We are just bordering hovel status

Back later

Forgot to add load number 1 in dryer,no 2 in wash

Zoo your list makes me tired

I need more

Hello! Back from holidays, 30 degrees back to rainy England just the weather you need when have a mountain of washing to do!

Ta das

Kitchen cleaned
Table and chairs wiped
Washing machine on

To do

About 500 more loads washing (there's only 3 or us!wtf???)
Recover the floor spaces throughout house from under holiday debris and half unpacked suitcases.

Waves and to everyone, will catch up properly when have got things under control I may be some time...

Good morning everyone

Ta for Zoo

Toostressy there is a Mumsnet HQ thread here about talking to children about terrorism. One of the links it contains is from Winston's Wish that has some good guidelines I think.

Rosa Sounds as though the weekend activities really took it out of you; I hope you can relax a little today if at all possible.

Sounds as though you are doing really well with the system and I am very happy to hear it is making such a positive difference to your daily routines Don't worry when you are not getting everything done; very few of us do!!

"I was just wondering how you lovely people stay organised and on top of everything?"

Tbh, many of us on this thread find it impossible to stay organised but the Flylady system allows us to keep things at a basically manageable level and to do more chores than we would otherwise. For many on this thread who are dealing with chronic illness, children with SN, mh issues, sleep deprivation and other issues, we just struggle along as best we can.

I don't want to sound at all defeatist, but personally, owing to its size and condition, I will probably never ever be "on top of things" in my house. The task is simply too overwhelming for one person. So to stop myself going mad, and from getting too demoralised, I do the Flylady morning/after school/ and evening routines religiously every day and anything else is a bonus. That's it really. I don't even do much Flying on Tues & Thurs because my focus is on other things on those days. I am very fortunate in many ways but as someone who is a bit of a perfectionist by nature, living in a lovely but very non-perfectionist situation, I have to adopt this strategy of strictly ring-fencing Flying work or else I would get too demoralised to do anything at all!

Having said all of that, there is always room for improvement and Flylady gives me the tram lines in which I can challenge myself a bit and keep chipping away at the rock face when I have the strength!!

Hope that makes sense!! In summary, don't worry if you don't get everything done every time. The routines and missions will come around again each month. You are never behind with this system! And as I said before, it sounds as if you are already doing brilliantly This house keeping lark is a marathon not a sprint so small, realistic, manageable steps is the key.

It's a bank holiday here today so I won't be back on the screens until late tonight or early tomorrow morning. It's lovely weather and a bit less humid too which is a bonus. We have a guest arriving at eleven so had better crack on with some prep!

Have a great start to the week everybody!

Expansive wing flaps to all!

x post

Yay! Welcome back BluePheasant hope you had a lovely time! Good luck with Mt. Washmore!! If you are not back in a couple of days, we will send in a search party

[second for Afreshstart]

Impressive list there Zoo

Morning.
Re explaining terror attacks - the hardest part of explaining is knowing how much information is enough and not too much imo. Ds and I had a very long discussion about motives that took in the video from an alleged former interrogator who was talking about people's motives and perceptions on the west and their actions (especially her star wars analogy), the effect of religion, cults and extremists, mental health etc etc. And yet for some of his peers this would have been way too much information. Yesterday we had to have a conversation about how ptsd affects people and that they can seem ok and fine in one particular moment based on an interview with 2 of the victims of Manchester on the radio. The question was 'how can they say they are traumatised when they sound so happy?' the answer was 'well when your granddad died you had moments when you could smile and joke with your friends even though you were still sad.' PTSD was not in the answer, nor was the effects of it. But that was basically what we were discussing and will probably end up discussing in more detail as he processes the information.

ta da
Ds out to school
Breakfast - fresh bread served to all
dishwasher loaded
school shirt ironed, lunch box made, watch found and ds did 1 set of homework that is due today ignores the 2 other pieces that didn't get done

right need to get moving tackling the to do list:
food shopping
pick up ds' prescription
check when doctor's appointment is
laundry
Stick felt feet onto book case
build bookcase
transfer games out of lounge onto bookcase
Ironing
ds' clothes away
my clothes away
put dishwasher on to run
Move chair and sit in the room that has had building work and do all the computer things.

Yes the room needs skirting boards still, but I have a major deadline for a project on friday and I have not looked at the project in too long and it is going to be a stressful one having left it to the last minute. Not difficult just long......

Organised you say? wtf is organised?!

Anyone else productive in PJs and struggling with the getting up part of the flying?