Fledglings Fly back to school & work, September 2017, decluttering along the way ...

[Sandycarrots]

Hello, it's time to brush the sand off our feet, empty out the suitcases, sharpen our pencils, polish our lace-up shoes, and get stuck in to the September 2017 fledgling Fly thread!

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.

Fly stands for Finally Loving Yourself (cheesy but there is merit to it). The general idea is that short bursts of tidying / organisation are more achievable than marathon efforts. Flylady advises 15 minute bursts of effort but you can tweak this to fit your own circumstances.

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!

More info available here, here and here.

Your choice whether or not you sign up to the Flylady e-mails, but we advise caution as there are lots of them!

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!

Ive had a fun day not
Ds full cold.always a worry as underweight and goes off food when unwell.he got in from school pant n pale.thankfully after a sit diwn he start breath normally again.didnt fancy trip ooh with him later (he has form drop breathing probs in night)
Lil zoo fell oyt best friend.she(zoo) very hormonal and has told fruend has a crush on her....oooh woes being 9
To top that dd2 also full cold and came in furious as had contents bag tip down a stairwell and pin up against a locker.as was well after school ended(she walks a friend in year 6 home) i fire iff vicious email to get it sorted before i take further action...

Good evening all!

Hope everyone survived the day! Thankfully I am ending it in a better mood than when I started.

Ta da:
animals
emptied dw
furry walk 1
sorted rubbish and recycling and Dettoxed recycling bins
hunt for washing all around the house [grrr] and carried downstairs
ditto cups and saucers
sorted and packed jam jars
triaged laundry so the piles look neater even though they are disappearing at a very slow rate indeed!
coaxed remaining ailing wm in to some sort of action
work e-mail
sorted out oven disaster (wip as large shelves are soaking in bath!)
sorted social stuff for this weekend and next week
looked up various dates and logged on calendar
made steps towards sorting French study
logged food intake MFP
quick furry walk 2
made sweet potato, tomato and chick pea curry, plus cooked rice and cauliflower
made separate tomato sauce with peppers and glut of courgettes for freezer/over the weekend
tidied up kitchen, stacked dw
hwk supervision and testing
hung up one load of washing to dry
more laundry
dining room table hot spots

To do:
put cooled down dishes in fridge
hang up white school shirts to dry

Didn't do any of the boudoir tidying (never mind decluttering) which is very disappointing; the day just speeds by too quickly! The list doesn't look like it, but I didn't really sit down all day either. Hey ho!

Also a bit disappointed that we are half way through September and I still haven't properly established this (academic) year's routines. It is starting to fall in to place though.

Glad to hear it went ok at the clinic Cag and bravo to your ds!

Oh dear Zoo that does sound stressful with the Zoolets. I think the reality of "returning to school" is really starting to kick in now. If it's any consolation, I had to remove dd's phone this afternoon because of rude back-chat. And eugh at dodgy cat bums (poor you!). Tomorrow is another day and all of that!

[Btw, I was looking for the chocolate emoticon which seems to have disappeared - only to discover a glitter ball in its place!)

Tis the season!

Good to hear it Einstein! Bravo for taking some much deserved time out! Hope you and your ds have some good quality shut eye tonight.

Thanks for the support Foxes (of course I ended up sorting oven in the end but to be fair to dh, he was in meetings 8 to 8 today). Hope your ds did have a long nap!

Oh no Cotswold about the boiler! Hope it is not too difficult/expensive to sort. And I agree it is definitely a bit chilly today! We are desperately trying to save money atm so haven't put the heating on yet.

Encouraging wing flaps to everyone else! Links coming up!

**

Friday again!! Crikey, that went quickly didn't it?

The summary for Friday 15th September 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. 15 for Fri 15th is here. Add bed-making to your morning routine (although I personally do this later because I like them to air).

A bit of Flylady madness to make you all cackle

"I actually make the bed while I am still in it; by making snow angels to straighten out the covers. "

We are in Zone 3: Main Bathroom and another Room, this week (Sept 10-16 inc.) here.

NB: The "other" room this week is represented by the various "stash and dash spots" in your home such as a bedroom corner, or a nook in a garage or guest room where clutter has begun to assemble!

Spend 15 mins decluttering the current zone.

When you have finished decluttering, the detailed cleaning list for Zone 3 (if you are at that stage) is here.

FYI the detailed cleaning lists this week cover office, laundry room and children's bedrooms.

Friday's mission is: here. Mop the bathroom floor.

For the "other room", choose a "stash and dash corner" - see above - do a 27 fling boogie in your elected space (find 27 things to throw away, give away, or put away!).

The daily focus for Friday is decluttering purses, handbags, cars + date night here.

The monthly habit for September is the before-bed routine:
here.

Flykid's challenge: here (hopefully continually renewing itself).

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

"Make it fun and it will get done" - Flylady (simply barftastic!)

**

NO ONE ELSE IN THIS HOUSE EVER DOES ANYTHING!

As sc and i were discuss this yesterday i believe its something in the air damn pollution

Dd2 teacher emailled me back at 9pm as physical assault as occured school are step up and the email i sent has been firward head of year and head of learning.statements will be taken today.hopeful something will get done
Been lay here since 4.kits mewing furiously at door.they clearly can hear im awake and qre becoming impatient for breakfast

Good morning all.

Eurgh. Grey and raining and miserable here.

I hear you Afreshstart

Glad the school are doing something Zoo

Ds up in the night last night and didnt want to settle - and he was definitely in his sleeping bag this time! Feeling a bit bleary eyed this morning and can't be bothered but have to get dd ready for nursery.

I did do some grout whitening in the bathroom yesterday though so that's something and it looks ok! I'm usually rubbish at all things diy.

Breakfast time and then we need to get a move on really.

Still trying to do blood test. Apparently my fingers just don't bleed. I am so frustrated I could cry!!! 😡

Tadas
Cat/kits fed
Bleach lav
Wash on
Clean kitchen surfaces
Clean hob
Wash kitchen floor
Littertray
Contents plus kitchen bin into wheelie
Make pancakes with berry sauce(as promised yesterday)
Make pack ups

Ds is really struggling with his cold .barely ate anything a snuggled back to bed til i told him was time to get ready for school.i dud say senior he had to gi unless dying but sending him off lookung so poorly i feel awful evil mumwe have same ed welfare there as a and we do not get along so uts not an option stay home.....ive explained he must tell someone feels very ill but he always reluctant as diesnt like people staring .i got my wobbly fingers x he gers better thru the day not worse
Just have wash dishes and do lil zoo hair before we head off to school
Must kerp busy so i not frwtting over ds...

Oh that is very disappointing Foxes, you must feel shattered.

Oh no Cag no advice but huge sympathy. Are there any threads on Mnsnet containing tips that would help?

Zoo and huge sympathy to you too. It's horrible when you have to harden your heart and send a sick child off to school. He hopefully will feel better as the day goes on.

Sorry you are all having such difficult mornings

Just on quickly before work.

Cag, things to try (apologies if tried all of these):-
Hold your hand down for a bit (below chest level) before you attempt to get the reading
Massage finger first - you can do this while cleaning if advised to clean the skin first
Use a warm wet wipe to clean, not cold
Possibly try heat pack / hot water bottle

When you do he finger prick you need to be confident that you are stabbing the skin deeply enough - if it pricks the skin then you may need to squeeze some blood out (don't do this if it flows well as sometimes they advise not to squeeze)
Wait a while - don't be convinced it hasn't worked
You need to find out if you are struggling because you are not piercing the skin or because you are not managing to get the blood out.

If you really can't you need to ring your kid wife / whoever sorted you out with the kit / advice number you are given. They will be well, well used to this and will give you some tips .

Are you properly hydrated Cag ?
Foxes temperature here dropped like a stone last night (I suspect we had a light frost over night) I woke up around 1am for no real reason and feel like I have slept light too. Had to put the heating on for 30mins this morning as my nose was so cold it hurt Under two duvets and hot water bottle and still cold so the weather is definitely changing. --I need to track down the
Zoo hope you get the response you want from the school.

I suppose I should put some clothes on and get moving properly now that I have sent ds to school. I have a lot I need to get done today. Don't want to but need to

Ah ignore the hydrated thing. Use the advise from Stressy the wise and knowledagble one on this.

No, I was about to post I also agree with checking you are well hydrated .

Einstein I couldn't get to sleep last night because it was so cold here! Horrible icy drafts (old house). The weather has definitely turned.

Geat advice Toostressy(waves)

I am waiting for some decorators to come and give me a quote. They are already 45 mins late ...hmm...no texts either

(attempts to knit nose-warmer for Einstein)

Thank you good point about hydration as I had only just woken up (so hopefully easier during the day as I try and drink plenty of water)

Apparently it may be a blood pressure issue as well as mine is low due to POTS.

4th attempt worked but had to do it on the pad of my finger rather than the side. Ouch.

And the greatest irony,.. I then had a massive nosebleed 😂😂😂

Mn just ate my post

Appologies for last nights outburst

Was massively frustrated to come home last night to pig stye house, piles of pots, food on floor, dc not bathed and hadnt read. 'D'p was home alone all day til pm school run. He then swanned off to footie and i tried to sort the mess, yes including changing toilet rolls

We will have words later.

On a brighter note little ds has slept 9-10 hours the past two nights. Amazing!

Cag your baby is so close! I am a bit but then i survey the chaos here and think no, four is plenty.

Hope everyone else is good.

Must crack on.

Absolutely no need to apologise Afreshstart (venting on here helps) and you eloquently summarised in one sentence what I was trying to say earlier in the day in three paragraphs!! No wonder you were furious (esp with your dp being home for most of the day). I would have been livid. Good to hear you had a better night's sleep though.

Well done Cag for battling through although sorry about nosebleed. Take it very steady x

You wouldn't think it would be necessary living with one able adult and one able nearly-adult but I have pinned up some new house rules on the fridge:

1. Please return all side plates, mugs and glasses to kitchen
2. Please place all rubbish in a bin
3. Please place all dirty laundry in a laundry basket and bring it downstairs regularly
4. Please place all plastic bottles and cardboard/paper in appropriate recycling boxes
5. Please return towels to bathroom and do not leave them wet on floor or chair!
6. Please wipe kitchen surfaces after use!

THANK YOU!

Funny you should say about your list sc i just ordered a white board so i can leave lists of thing to be done on my work days!

zoo am so sorry to see all your dc having a rough time

and for you

Oh. I need to buy a birthday present for a ten year old girl, ideally under a tenner. Any ideas?