Lost the plot with clutter? Want sparkle(r)s in your sink? Come Fly with flare on the November Fledgling thread!

[Sludgecolours]

If you are strugging with C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome) and S.T.U.F.F. (something that undermines family fun) then this is the thread where we (loosely) follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own, unique, relaxed style) with lots of chat, support and and along the way.

This is where, from the first of the month (seriously, HOW is it November already?!), we follow – loosely – the rules of FlyLady [see website here ]. (Pls ignore the barftastic language, and we suggest NOT signing up to the emails as there are rather a lot of them. All the info you need will be posted here on a daily basis.)

Helpful info on getting started here!.

We adopt a three-pronged approach:

-start or repeat baby steps

• repeat baby steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone or area (yes, just 15 mins focused work a day makes a difference!)

and/or

• reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.

[And if you are really enthusiastic and have finished decluttering - you can go on to detailed deep cleaning in each zone.]

NB
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 not only welcome to join in but positively encouraged to do so!

Another NB
Start where you are. There is no need to worry about being perfect – perfectionism = paralysis! There is no such thing as ‘falling behind’ with FlyLady, if you miss anything, just move on and continue as normal the next day.

Any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Good luck!

To do
Finish writing what I want to say at my grandad funeral. My mum brought some stuff over today that my grandad had kept, thought it might help me with what I'm writing. Well it turns out he kept every single thing I ever sent to him. Every letter, card, post card even tags from presents..the amount of love in this stuff he has kept has blown me away. So I'm now a sobbing mess and no idea what to actually write!! I feel so guilty for not realising how much he loved me...Does that sound crazy? You just don't get it when you're a kid do you? and he wasn't himself for the last ten years so it just feels so weird

Have had to put cbeebies on to distract dd !

afreshlol we have DUCK shouted constantly and now cucumber

Foxes I hope you are ok . There's nothing to be guilty about. It's very sweet he kept all those things.

Me and DH have decided to sell. We would need six months before we have enough money for attic, we need the next two to declutter so we have decided:

Declutter, clear, organise, create a home for the new year.
Put on market in Jan
If by the time we have enough if no sale then go ahead with conversion as we would need it if we stayed.

ta da
✅got DD2 registered and filled in form for DD1 (we still need to reregister her as we weren't married when she was born 😳)
✅lunch out and popped to supermarket (although I just sat with baby while the others got the food!)
✅maths and spellings
✅tried Literacy Planet website
✅supervised DD on Prodigy maths

Trying to slowly increase the amount of HE stuff we are doing...

Ta da

Cleaned cooker hood and back splash (is that what it's called?)
Cleaned hob
Picked up Mum's Christmas present in town
Cleared some paper clutter
1 load of washing washed and dried, but not put away...

I'm still not quite right health wise which is annoying.

Foxes. It must be a really tough time for you.

We found that Granny kept all the letters I sent her from university, all the letters her eldest son sent from university (one per week, and he did a masters. There were boxes of them ) and in a special folder the only thing my Dad sent her when he was studying at his professional college. He was asking for a loan! This makes us laugh now, but at the time Dad was a bit mortified...

Aah foxes no wonder you are emotional. That's lovely that he kept it all but yes must be very hard to reconcile with how different he was more recently. But he loved you and that would never have changed ❤️

Thanks everyone I have written what I want to say. I wish I could say it to him though still. Onwards and upwards as they say! Bound to be an emotional time I guess.

Got the rest of my to do list done too so just need to get kids to bed now.

And as is sods law ds has come home from school covered in exploded drink. His blazer, shirt and trousers are in the sink soaking as this is going to be old school hand washing and hoping to god that the blazer is dry for tomo morning.

Hello everyone, we had a really busy weekend with DD1’s birthday party and family visiting. Glad you’ve written something foxes, he obviously loved you such a lot. How is your DD doing with it all?

Also re. fleas, I have no idea if it’s true but I read on here that Frontline is not very effective anymore. Thought it was worth mentioning in case that’s what you got.

Best of luck with the washing Hills. Cag, 4 stone is really amazing, well done.

I think i’ve missed more new people so a big welcome to everyone.

Ta da:-
Looked into truly flexible permanent jobs in healthcare. Surprise, surprise, they don’t seem to exist except as temporary work. Oh well, at least I checked.

Both girls in bed nearly asleep
DH making tea
Went to meeting at school about the (thankfully very sensible and relaxed) homework policy.

To do:-
Evening routine

So I have tomorrow off while the girls are at school. There are any number of things I should be doing, the usual laundry, should really take the chance to declutter, should definitely do some study for one of the many agency jobs I have taken on. What I really want to do is go to the cinema and watch A Bad Mom’s Christmas . Can I justify it??????!

I am yet another half arsed flier. Will try harder .

Good evening all

Foxes that's so lovely about your grandfather keeping all your cards and notes. Well done for completing the speech which can't have been easy

And aw at your little 'un shouting "cucumber" and "duck" - just fabulous - and for impressing folk at supermarket!

Congrats on fab lists achieved today Foxes Hills Cag Afreshstart and CallmeCordelia

(Sorry you are still feeling under the weather Callme).

Can't believe how much you ploughing through with newborn in tow Cag - you are doing amazingly well

Oh bad luck re: extra washing Hills

Good luck with all the prep for your house sale FlyingJellyfish good to have a clear objective! And certainly focuses the mind for Christmas and the new year!

Mahoosive wing flaps to everyone else!

Speaking of the 'C' word ... just 50 sleeps to go apparently ... gulp!

Found today a bit of a struggle tbh - like swimming through treacle - but forced myself to do things! No idea why - must be the cold, dark nights closing in, and the thought of the boudoir ...

Speaking of which, did I come home and sort boudoir in my lunch hour as intended? Did I heck I don't know why I am dragging out the agony tbh ...

Did however, in additon to a full day's admin work manage:
empty dw
banking
brought down some old toys and clothes from upper floors for sorting
2 x laundry - hung up and td
long walk with furry
s & s
dining room table hot spot
quick dash to supermarket to buy kitchen roll and cabbage
and made an attempt to tidy up under sink (not too bad as was sorted in the summer although still far too cluttered)
cooked supper (very easy: cold pork, reheated veg bake, and steamed finely sliced cabbage)
tidied kitchen and filled dw again

G'night all!

Go for it Toostressy !!! You'll feel better for it

And that's interesting about Frontline ... will have to ask the vet about it ... .

Oops! Forgot to post links!!!

*

The summary for Tues 7th 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. 7 for Tues 7th is here. A highly recommended one about laying out clothes for the following day, the night before!

We are in Zone 2 this week: Kitchen, Back Porch,Laundry Room,Pantry (November 5-11) : here.

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.

Tuesday's mission is: here! Declutter one shelf in your pantry!

The daily focus for Tuesday is planning!. Plan menus, doc appts, hair appts, holidays, wardrobes etc - whatever makes next week/next month slightly easier!

The monthly habit for November is menu planning here!

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

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

Holiday missions here!

Small steps everyone!

***

foxes
sc advantage is our vets flea treatment if choice as they believe frontline isnt effective anymore

Thanks everyone for good wishgoolil zoo virtually BOUNCED out if school beaming from ear to ear....
Had a hardback homework diary.spellings(that werent so easy knew them all) did times table and science tests today with rest of clahasbought home boik class reading to catch up to speed where they are.girl asked befriend her was kind and they had great day.she loves her teacher and has drawn her as a my lil pony(her greatest bestowed honor)

I spent day in tizz fret over her.having most productive cbt app and spend time dd1

Very little flyer(quarter arsed flyer when suits me here)

On the kids learn words vividly remember dd2 being 3 and shouting ""mummy mummy come quick.ds is regongitating(mean regurgitating) concumber(cucumber) he was spitting out skin whilst i was getting drinks.still makes me smile to think of that!!
Dp off tom.chores and errands that need wheels getting done hopefully
Cheery wingflaps to all

Thanks yes we've ordered advantage - I have heard frontline and bob martin no good now. Advantage usually does the job in our house (last outbreak was about 4 years ago though so fingers crossed, I think we've caught it early this time.

toostressy dd is okay thanks, she has mostly forgotten tbh but when we were at my parents house at the weekend she did want to go into his room and we said no (because his stuff was everywhere and didn't want to upset her) and she "there's nobody there anymore anyway" I think she is okay though, we are keeping things really normal.
Definitely go to the cinema btw! I watched bad moms for the first time the other night and really enjoyed it, I'd quite like to see the Christmas one for a laugh.

Great news zoo :)
Had nice time with DS tonight as he asked to play a board game. DD1 kept DD2 entertained by Viennese waltzing round the living room with her 😍

SC thank you I think the truth will out when DH goes back to work though TBH (Sunday) - will have to see how much I can manage then! At least he is generally off in the mornings though so I get a lie in and he can help get Caglets sorted etc. But baby is much more high maintenance in the evening soooo who knows. Mum is coming up for a couple of nights once he's returned to work so that will be good.

Absolutely awesome news zoo . I agree with SC, Cag. You are doing amazingly with a newborn. Thanks for links SC. foxes, sounds like your DD is a sensible little thing .

Thanks foxes and SC, am sorely tempted by cinema. I absolutely loved Bad Moms and actually found it quite reassuring to watch as a mum. None of us really have a bloody clue what we are doing .

I think I spent most of today in the kitchen, not that you'd notice I tell myself the long-term benefits will show eventually

I'll catch up with the thread shortly, I'm behind on admin at the moment and coping with DD being rather tearful (I've posted a thread about an issue with the school) because it's the first time she's been aware of a disagreement between her school and her parents. I'll have to ask them not to discuss it with her again, but I doubt it will help in the short term. She gets so distressed when she thinks she is not doing the right thing, I've pointed out that it is my decision not hers but she is still worried because the teachers want her to do it This parenting lark is tough some days.

That is really tough cotswold :( absolutely hate SATS. My DD would be exactly the same stressing about not doing what the school says.

Baby still not asleep.

Thank you stressy I am definitely feeling more 'on it' than I was with the other two but just hope it lasts once DH's leave ends

Health visitor coming tomorrow, hope she doesn't mind the mess

Of course the school have spoken to her about it they are hoping to use her to pressurise you into seeing things their way. This is exactly why education in this country is SHIT. It is not about educating it is about ticking the right boxes and nothing about the kids' welfare.

Only just got ds to bed but he has had to go to bed with an ice pack on a self inflicted injury because he has the common sense of a flea Stooopid boy.

In other news, I did not find the receipt nor did I get my room cleared enough so that I have a bed to fall into. Although hopefully I will now get 5 minutes to finish eating the tea that I have found that I apparently abandoned earlier. OTOH my advent calendar has been constructed so that is something nice.

Foxes- thinking of you.

Ta da

Got up, showered, got dressed to shoes.
Made breakfast, ate it went to work.
Survived a very stressful day.
Came home made meal- re-heated it in microwave. Ate it.
Went to pub quiz, had three gin and tonics.
Came home, went to bed.

cotswold lil zoo is like you dd.this is partly why i changed schools as old one near gave dd2 breakdown n hounded ds in hols for bit attending non cimpulsory sodding top up classes.sending deepest sympathy and understanding.do whats best for dd and school can go whistle dixie as they dont care about her just themselves.xx
cagmy last HV was brill.near snapped neck on lego explosion first visit.after righting herself and me doing mortified apologies she just smiled and said its like being at home

I am up and cats fed.i am cold

Sounds like my kind of HV!

We all have colds/coughs here. Including baby, she was really snuffly all night

Morning fledglings!

Sorry to hear you are all cold-struck Cag - hope it is not long-lasting. Great that your ma is coming to help out once your dh returns to work.

That is fantastic news about your dd's first day at new school Zoo whoo hoo! So glad she enjoyed it!

Bowerbird5 particularly love the mention of three gin and tonics on your list!

Hope your ds is ok this morning Hills

That's awful that your dd is feeling so upset by school issues Cotswold. I really sympathise.

Glad to hear that your dd is coping ok Foxes take it steady xxx

Encouraging wing flaps to everyone else!

Feeling a bit sozzled (self inflicted) as I may have been up in the night listening to the results of the Melbourne cup - amazing win for a 24 yr old trainer - and so slept later than normal. Off out for the day now!

Have a good one everybody!

We are off to A&E to check injury checked. Normal kids wouldn't require this and wouldn't have injured themselves, not ds. He is special like that
Needles to say we are all in grumpy sulky moods.

And as my car had to stay in the garage over night I have no car and going to have to sort lifts because there is no bus service here and it is a 6 mile plus walk that I refuse to do