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Housekeeping

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

870 replies

Sandycarrots · 31/08/2017 17:17

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 Wine 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 Blush):

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!

OP posts:
TooStressyForMyOwnGood · 02/09/2017 20:05

Hello all. foxes Brew and some painkillers for you. Glad your DS back home ofazoo. Welcome Goose. Glad you had a nice last day mermaids. Good to have you back Purple. Thanks for links SC and big wing flaps to everyone else Smile.

I did my shift today and it was ok SmileSmile. Not done much since so need to get on now but we have all eaten tea at least.

To do:-
Evening routine
Online food shop
See if we have any chocolate

Cagliostro · 02/09/2017 20:22

Aww foxes it's bittersweet isn't it, you get the freedom back but it's the end of an era and the hormones don't help! Thanks

What steam mop is it please? Depending what floor we end up with when we move I would possibly get one!

foxessocks · 02/09/2017 20:24

It's a vonhaus one. Wasn't too expensive either. I'd recommend!

Newchick · 02/09/2017 20:38

SC I am working on our bedroom this month - did the kitchen last time I was on the thread and got a lot done in a month.

Ta das -
-shined kitchen sink

  • swept kitchen floor
  • 5 mins on hotspots
  • put away couple of loads of washing plus stacks of towels from floor at end of our bed (which had taken up residence there because I have been meaning to turn out the airing cupboard)
GingerIvy · 02/09/2017 21:08

Eeek. I'm rubbish. I've been up to my eyeballs in paperwork and been MIA. Will finish up in the next day or two and be more consistent. Have I mentioned I hate paperwork?? Hmm

PurpleDaisies · 02/09/2017 21:37

My headache never really went and I'm now feeling a bit shivery and dizzy so I think it's a cold. (Thanks for the paracetamol and tea earlier). I went to sleep for most of the afternoon in preparation for school starting properly (kids in class) on Monday.

Not much useful done really. Never mind.

ginger paperwork is a pain in the arse. You have my sympathies.
foxes I hope your pain doesn't last too long. I have steam mop envy.
stressy I hope you found chocolate.
cag how long have you got to go now?

Sandycarrots · 02/09/2017 21:42

Evening everyone!

I don't think you are alone in hating paperwork Ginger but sometimes it just has to take priority so not rubbish either.

I'm with you on the bedroom this month Newchick we have too many clothes and they have got out of hand. Need to do some major reorganising.

So glad to hear the extra shift wasn't too horrendous Toostressy have a Wine

Foxes I think you have done amazingly well persisting with bf for an entire year despite two (at least) bouts of mastitis and major sleep deprivation; seriously impressive Star Flowers

Mumofazoo that sounds really tough re: your ds, glad he is home though Flowers Coordinating candles, winter curtains & command centre sounds v organised indeed!!

Aahh to Cagletini kicks Smile

Mermaids so glad you had a lovely send off! Have some more Flowers

Hope headache has eased Purple

Yay, there you are Zoo (trails cobwebs in tandem) I was getting worried! Smile Ouch about face plant and cracked phone though!

Speaking of cobwebs I must have nuked about 15 of the buggers today (country spiders are extremely industrious) and the rest of the day was spent pruning, scything, mowing and strimming. My muscles are protesting!

Contented but weary wing flaps to everyone I've missed. Links coming up!

OP posts:
Sandycarrots · 02/09/2017 21:44

x post Purple oh no, poor you, worst timing coming down with flu just before the start of term. Hope the flu is short-lived. [Proffers hot toddy with honey & lemon]

OP posts:
Sandycarrots · 02/09/2017 21:45

***

The summary for Sun 3rd 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. 3 for Sun 3rd Sept is here. Maintain steps & & 2 and explore the website.

We are now moving on to Zone 2: The Kitchen. Up to you whether you do zone work at weekends or not.

Spend 15 mins decluttering the current zone (if you do zone work at weekends that is!).

When you have finished decluttering, the detailed cleaning list for Zone2 (if you are at that stage) is here.

No missions on Sunday because it is the weekend! Yay!

Presumably that means no Flykids Challenge too? See launch pad if you are looking for it though!

The daily focus for Sunday is: renewing your spirit which means doing something just for yourself which makes you feel rejuvenated!

The monthly habit for September is: the before-bed routine. (Scroll down.) I've found a better explanation of it here.

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

Enjoy your evenings everyone!

OP posts:
Sandycarrots · 02/09/2017 21:46

Oops, that should have read "maintain steps 1 & 2"

OP posts:
Cagliostro · 02/09/2017 23:18

Purple am 30 weeks tomorrow!

Just set up the new laptop. Huzzah. Although the trackpad is a bit weird so will take some getting used to! One of my tasks soon will be to transfer everything I can from the old one, which will be a challenge as the charger barely works. A true lesson in not being organised as I didn't back up etc when I should have. Sigh.

No energy this evening!

CotswoldStrife · 02/09/2017 23:55

I did finish the washing up today (yay!) and did a few bits of extra uniform shopping (logo-ed stuff from a particular shop). Also managed to pick up an old Wii game for 99p and DD has exhausted herself playing it tonight (it's a very active one that requires a mat we already had).

I also fell over today - at least I was at home when it happened. Unfortunately, I had a (takeaway, cardboard cup) of coffee in each hand but still managed to save one. I may be a bit sore tomorrow!

Going to run the dishwasher now as I go to bed. See you tomorrow!

Stilllivinginazoo · 03/09/2017 07:24

Hope you are ok
cag30wksShock
foxesyou need remind yourself you have done a fab job feeding little one to a year.stoppings hard.but there will be lots new things mum will be needed for still ahead...big hugs though
mumhope ds feeling better.hugs for both of you

Zoolets back to school tues...all in dif schools now and amazingly start play term all same day(unusual) ds will be starting secondary(sobs and frets for him simultaneously) but at least day one is just newbies and sixth form.i have agreed walk him first day.he has be at desk 820(school ends 3pm 3 days.thur n fri 230)so be out door by 745(gulps)dd2 walking in a yr 6 thats recently had leave our street(landlord evicted them in favour turning house into student digs)she will be leaving at 725 to collect her before school as shes never walked anywhere alone and as mornings will soon be darker dd2 offer .as all hols ds n dd2 bern up to crazy oclock they arent waking as early.i have today and tom reset them for school.eeeeek
(Heads off shake them awake offering cheerywing flaps to alk)

foxessocks · 03/09/2017 07:38

Thanks everyone for your kind words , I slept really badly as so uncomfortable but hopefully through the worst of it and dh is here to help today. Not feeling so emotional today which is good!

Purple can't believe it's back to school time already where did that summer go?!

Zoo good luck to your ds starting secondary school that's a big step but exciting too.

Cotswold hope you're not too bruised today

I've got to try and finish some work this morning but not even got out of bed yet Brew

Afreshstartplease · 03/09/2017 08:12

Foxes Brew i cannot help re bf but as ds is now almost 11 month i can relate on the baby growing up emotions! Are there no more little foxes planned?

Cag as you mention flooring in new house i would like to discourage you from buying light coloured wooden flooring. We have it through our entire downstairs and it is a BASTARD. Seriously it looks like it needs mopping about 4 times a day and it misses me right off.

GingerIvy · 03/09/2017 08:13

Cag a new laptop sounds wonderful. This one is quite old and overheats a lot. The battery is mucked up and can only use it plugged in. Hmm But it's better than nothing at this point. Someday I will get a new laptop....

Up and dressed, bread baking, dcs meds and breakfast done, kitchen cleaned. Need to work on paperwork a little this morning again, but happily an end is in sight for it!

Afreshstartplease · 03/09/2017 08:14

PISSES not misses

GingerIvy · 03/09/2017 08:18

We have light wood flooring throughout the house as well. And annoyingly it's smooth but unfinished so is a pain to keep clean. I gave up and put down floor rugs for the main areas. I didn't have time to get it done prior to moving our things in when we moved here, and now getting it one would be extremely difficult and expensive. Even fully carpeting would be horribly expensive and I'm loathe to take on the expense while the dcs are still young enough to stain it a lot. Hmm So floor rugs it is for the time being. I have toyed with the idea of putting down the vinyl wood-look flooring over it that I could do myself, so it's cheaper, still looks like wood, but is a darker wood (which I prefer), but haven't yet made a decision on that.

Stilllivinginazoo · 03/09/2017 08:27

We have beech laminate.it shows dirt.but i prefer to see sticky patches rather than unknowingly sstepin themBlush
Brewall round i think as we up in sunday before 9(pre kid so uncivilised unless rolling in from night out)

Tadas
Cat/kits fed
Littertray done
Pop co op MORE milk(grrrr)
Pay council tax installment(double grrr)whilst there

Wash on
Time for breakfast
Zoolets have church(whilst i intend do quick blitz)
Then walk town for scientific calculators and coloured pencils
Pm hoping chillax a dvd and games with zoolets.i shall miss having them around except my huge food bills

Afreshstartplease · 03/09/2017 08:39

See i miss nasty grey lino of old house, it hid the sticky so well

Cagliostro · 03/09/2017 09:04

Aww how lovely of your DD2 to walk them to school still 💕

Hope all poorly Fledglings/Fledglets are feeling better today.

Thanks for steam mop info foxes I've put it on my wishlist to remind me in the future.

Re: flooring I agree, but it's a case of we get what we're given really (waiting on council housing, currently private rent) so will wait and see, and then will be asking advice for the best thing to clean with! Got to be better than here anyway, cheap beige carpet and trade paint and... carpeted bathroom .

Last day of holidays here technically. Figured tomorrow can be start of 'term'. Need to consider how to fit in TV/screen time during the week - we used to not have it during the 'school' day, but now that every weekday has an afterschool club, that means the Caglets will miss out (sometimes I let them do it after they got home but I really can't do that as part of the decent bedtime routine now). So will have to figure something out where they still get time during the day without it taking over.

Planning to start proper evening routine as well - not completely so will write the basics on the list (teeth, medication, clothes in laundry) and gradually add to it. They do need a bath tonight but will do that early to include hair wash/dry for now.

Achy as hell this morning, not sure how productive I'll be.

Afreshstartplease · 03/09/2017 09:11

Who in their right mind carpets a bathroom! Shock

Dc1+2 back in school tuesday. Dc3 starts on wednesday! Still have three lots of uniforms to iron and name label!

Dc4 still teething, up twice last night. Yawn.

Ta da

Washer on
Dryer on
Cot stripped

PurpleDaisies · 03/09/2017 09:33

I've woken up feeling as bad as yesterday so I think it'll be a mostly lazy day.

Ta da's
Fed guinea pigs
Put washing up away
Quick tidy

To do
Sort school bag
Ironing
Finish weekly clean jobs

Cagliostro · 03/09/2017 09:34

I know 😱😱 it's horrible, basically the LLs bought the house as a cheapie new build and didn't decorate or anything so it's just what was put in at the least possible expense. We will be allowed to decorate in our council house which will be a total luxury, especially for the Caglets who have never known anything but grey walls.

PurpleDaisies · 03/09/2017 09:36

I had orange carpet tiles in my first house bathroom when I moved in. I reckon it must have lasted about ten minutes before I ripped them up!