June's arrived too soon! Catch up with the Fledgling Fly thread ... .

[Scoopofchaff]

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 wine and cake along the way.

This is where, from the first of the month (seriously, HOW is it June already?!), we follow – loosely – the rules of FlyLady [see website here ]. (Pls ignore Flylady's barftastic language, and we suggest NOT signing up to her 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.]

The launch pad is the place from which you can reach most other useful areas of the site: here.

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 at!. 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!

Happy Flying one and all!

Very well done to your ds Hills"! If you dont mind me saying so, it's successes like this that make the more difficult times easier to endure! I've just had a similar moment with DD who informed me that collectively she and her friends have decided to cancel their celebratory trip to the beach next week because they feel it would be insensitive to their friend who failed. I must admit to being rather impressed by their thoughtfulness over this.

Poor DD has been up-chucking or near to up-chucking/ fainting all day. She's really been ill although pain seems to be easing now thankfully. As a result, I have spent most of the time with her on the sofa Mnsnetting not Flying!

I hope everyone else has had a more productive day than me though!

Sorry you had to cancel BBQ Foxes sounds like a nasty bug you have circulating there.

What terribly terribly circumstances for your friend and her DD. Life can be incredibly unfair and cruel sometimes.

Zoo I'm sure your dp is a lovely bloke but I would have very little sympathy with an adult declaring boredom! I hope you haven't overdone things today!

Will start a new thread tomorrow I think as we are getting so close to the magic 1000 posts!

Great your mum loved the house Cag!

Waves to Toostressy and everyone else!

Right, approaching 10pm here and we are all having an early night. Links following for tomorrow! G'night all!

**

Baby step no. 24 for Sun 24th June is here. The highly recommended bathroom "swish and swipe"!

We are starting in Zone 5 on Sunday (if you do zone work at weekends that is). Zone 5: The Living Room, Den, Family Room (June 24-30) here. Spend 15 mins a day decluttering this area (and/or do a mission!).

If you are at the stage where you have finished decluttering Zone 5, here is the detailed cleaning list for the sitting room etc.

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

Sunday's daily focus is: renewing your spirit. A bit of a sick bucket term for doing something for yourself that makes you feel refreshed!

The habit for June is: keeping hydrated by drinking lots of water.

A summary of the above (which should update itself daily) can be found in the flight plan here.

Hope all fledglings can grab a bit of repose for themselves this Sunday; even if just 10 mins!

*

ta da
✅cleaned out changing bag, buggy tidy and basket
✅repacked the above ready for tomorrow
✅got cash out for DD’s birthday money
✅decided last birthday pressie (little narwhal teddy from the baby)
✅bought wrapping paper and a sun hat for the baby
✅properly booked in carpet cleaning
✅washed baby clothes
✅folded previously washed baby clothes... not sure I’ll get the rest done though
✅bought easy picnic food and birthday cake
✅found train times for tomorrow... early start, really not looking forward to that as it’s not like I can just get a good night’s sleep even if I didn’t have loads to do tonight. TBH I’m not best pleased about the timing of this family event, DD is happy to partake which is the main thing as it’s her birthday anyway, and any other time I’d be happy it’s just that we have so much else to do as it is and I. Am. Knackered.

People forget not everyone drives and that some people have little babies and multiple disabilities between their family members. No none of those things make things impossible, far from it - it just adds a lot more admin and energy sapping organisation and much longer travel times that are tiring. It’s very different to jumping in the car half an hour before the event.

Or maybe I’m just crap and can’t cope with stuff normal people can.

Argh. Sorry. Ranty. I know I will enjoy the day in the end. But at what cost to my energy levels is the worry. At least DH is off on Monday so if I need to hide in bed I pretty much can.

Ugh this week has been stupidly busy.

I know we can't fall behind but I feel I've been running to stand still.

Only 2 more school days before summer holidays start and I've already read the riot act TWICE to DH & DD that I won't be stuck in the middle of them bickering all summer.

Summer holidays already! 😱

ta da continued
✅folded more clothes, last small lot is in dryer now so should be able to just add those to existing bags in the morning quickly as I’ve labelled them all
✅set up DD’s phone and sent her first text saying happy birthday
✅DH wrapped the two presents she doesn’t know about (cuddly narwhal and Sabrina the teenage witch box set 😍) using string as we couldn’t find the sellotape 😳😳😳
✅DH got car seat out
✅got baby’s outfit ready for tomorrow

Now feeding the baby again as she woke from her snooze on the couch while we got the rest done

Don't panic cag it is not for the school in England unless they are private school. goth lives in exotic climes

so much for my early night. My not sleeping is getting stupid!

Toostressy 😬 she is made of strong stuff!

Cags great news. Removal van would be less exhausting for you. We have always moved stuff ourselves. It is exhausting.

Foxes how awful poor mite. We had a charity do some counselling for one child as she needed more than I could give time wise and they had more expertise. She still came to me as well. I'll try and remember who it was. They came and made special things with her. It was an expected death but they went to visit mum one weekend and were expecting her to come home again that week but she took a turn for the worse on the Sunday and died on the Monday. At least dad had taken them it was a long way from here.

Hills hot shower followed by slow rotation of arm. First across body then slowly up and across and back several times. Osteo advice and I have managed to get mine back in occasionally.mine is never fully in and just mentioned to DH how I still can't scratch my back because I can't put my hand up back much above waist. Was asking for a scratch😬
zoo waves back. You sound busy.

I've what did you join? I can't find your post I read.

Unfortunately rumour has it that the job is going to involve more whole class teaching.
I spent yesterday in the garden. We managed to get all of veggie patch weeded, beans tied, new matting and bark down. Went to pub. Also two loads of washing and salad for tea.
Today.Plan to move Henny's fence after prune dead wood off roses. Then tackle bottom bed. Full of weeds. Hard work but relaxing no longer stressed.
Waves to everyone else

An hour and a half from me Cags but we don't break up for another four weeks.

Been awake for an hour bloody birds are making way too much noise😆

Bloody hell. I have just spent the last 40 mins getting dh (and the furry) ready to launch off to the countryside to meet fencing contractor. How many pairs of trousers, phones and keys can one grown man lose in half an hour? Answer = many!

I am stuck here looking after dd. (That sounds awful sorry - I obviously want to be with her to make sure she is ok and wouldn't dream of leaving her alone when she's ill - but I also desperately want to be in the country.) Here's hoping dd a bit better today but no doubt I won't find out until a lot later when she rolls out of bed in a strop probably not remotely grateful that she is stuck with me either.

We have already broken up here for summer - more or less - dd (and dh and I) have to go in to school (looking v smart in formal version of uniform) on Thurs to pick up end-of-term report, speak to teachers about what she needs to focus on over summer and next year, and buy text books at second hand sale and that is it for the year! Whey hey! Usually have end of year Mass too but we had that on Friday.

Crikey though the academic year went quickly!

Good to have you back among us Goth ! (Proffers for sustenance!) Good luck negotiating last two days of term!) I had to smile when I read your post because totally coincidentally I have also read riot act (twice) to dd about holidays on things such as phone use, doing her fair share of mucking out/cooking/washing/chores, her maths tutoring, number of friends she can have staying over weekly (I think many - she thinks not enough).

Bower sorry new job looks like it is going to be even more demanding than previously. Any chance of negotiation? Very respectable gardening list there! Wing flaps to Henny!

Strong for Hills!

AMAZING list there Cag and good luck with all the travelling and logistics today! Hope you have a good trip and happy birthday to your dd!

Morning all,

Been awol this week as life has been hectic!
However, although not achieved much else I have gone to bed with a clear and clean kitchen every night. So hopefully that is now starting to be a habit.

My next habit I want to introduce is the dreaded hot spot. Most nights can't even attempt to eat at the table as it's covered in stuff. Going to make this my hot spot to spend a couple of minutes clearing daily til it's all clear and then use the same strategy to keep it clear.

My list for today looks like this

Baking with childling
2 x wash loads
Ironing and putting away
Hot spot
More tidying of kids toys
And finally getting everything ready for mon am

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Hi there Beepbeep sounds like you are doing exactly the right thing by building up small steps slowly until then are ingrained; sounds like a great strategy and congrats on consistently shiny sink! Have fun with childling!

I am just pondering whether I should tackle boudoir drawers and wardrobes today. I really don't want to but they really need re-organising (totally off zone of course!).

*

Extension to thread is here
for when we need it!

Thinking of you today cag
I don't drive,but do have do that does when he's around.travelling with dd2 is always difficult as she needs a fullnitineryvof everything from snack times to what we are going to do.mentally exhausting!!glad she's off tomorrow and you can get bit down time if you need it

Bower hope Jenny appreciates her new boundary fence!

SC hope DD is feeling bit better today.i suspect riot acts will be coming once we are near breaking up(phone use,chores,doing nothing but watch favourite show)nice to know others are in the same boat...

I just wanted to sleep,but alas another busy day ahead...lil zoo has her time travelling relaxation class(Viking era today apparently) and other two have church whilst I stuck shopping(dp will be sitting in a carpark waiting for lil zoo to finish) then it's off strawberry picking (and poss gooseberry/raspberry too) followed by a park we've not been to before which is bit stressful for me and dd2 but heyho.ive not got energy arguing with dp or put up his sulking about be stuck here when weathers nice

To do before we go anywhere
Cats
Littertray
Wash up
Dining table
2loads washing
Write shop list
Pay bills on line
Feed n water zoolets
Iron D's church clothes
Decide on what's for pack lunch and dinner

Try not to have a meltdown

I want to stay in bed all day

Everyone has busy days today and already up and about! I'm still in bed, dh feeling better and he was up and about with the dc at 7, made me coffee, did some laundry, says he's going to the tip later! I've got work to do so I'm going to get up soon and get on with that. And I want to make some raspberry pine nut bars today. Dh off work for a few weeks hooray! Flying will probably go out the window but some family time will be lovely.

Cag rant away and I hope your day is not too tiring for you.

Sc hope your dd feeling better and you can enjoy some time together today

Zoo I've never been strawberry picking it's something I'd love to do! Enjoy, hope it isn't too stressful though.

Morning all, I'm still around, just partly forgetting to log in mn and losing the motivation to clean during this nice weather. Am i the only one who loses all motivation during the sunny weather? I've been winging it on making sure the kitchen surfaces and bathroom surfaces are kept on top of but no deep cleans as such, keeping on top of the laundry basket and tidying the living room (desparately need to run a hoover through though)

dh will be heading to the pub to watch the football whilst me, my sister and mum are heading to the beach with the kids. I'm gonna try and crack on with an hour (or two depending on motivation levels) and get some housework done.

Enjoy fruit picking zoo perfect day for it.

Bower I love hearing the birds first thing in the morning (unless its the seagulls ripping next doors bins on bin collection day).

Just catching up from Friday, was out all day at a Celebration of Life funeral a friend of Ds's, we had to wear bright clothes so I wore a long, sleeveless flowered dress and a bright pink shirt. He was such a character and the day suited him so much and ended up at a Golf Club in what can only be described as a party.
Looking after Dd's two dogs as they've gone camping, gorgeous weather for it, so I've got two big labs and a Cavalier in and out of the garden.
I'm tootling around today as pointless anything else.

Ta da
Feed 3 dogs and cat
Tidy and swipe kitchen counter
Sweep floor (can't mop as they'd be skidding all over)
Swish and swipe.

To do
Sit and drink tea and read Sunday papers

Waves and wing flaps to Fellow Fledglings
P.s. That Boot Camp thing sounds awful, I'm more of the Swish and swipe Camp 😂😂😂😂😂

Enjoy your tootling day with the lovely furries Honkywonkwoman! Very sorry to hear about your ds's friend although the send off he was given sounds beautifully unique to him.

Firehousedog Hope you have a lovely day at the beach!

I love listening to the morning chorus too; although there is one bird that - wierdly - sounds rather too much like an alarm clock!

And yes, I definitely struggle in hot weather - not so much with motivation which is always an issue for me whatever the temperature - but with physically coping with heat. That's why I am cracking on flat out today, Mon & Tues, while it is still relatively cool here, as it is going to get v hot indeed on Wed apparently! Sounds as though you are pretty much on top of things cleaning wise though!

I suppose there is always this conflict between "I should be decluttering/deep cleaning in the summer months, while it is light and the evenings are long etc" V "oh I can leave that boring stuff until the winter months when the weather is awful and there is less to do outside"

....all of which = haven't properly tackled decluttering/deep cleaning for yet another year!

...all of which = I am better off doing Flylady little and often decluttering instead of wrapping myself in angst about all this!

And my house (esp home office and boudoir) although still cluttery by most people's standards, definitely looks a lot better than this time last year, but still loads and loads to do! I guess the difference is that now the top layer of clutter has been removed, it is easier to see what needs doing next and to get at it! The overall process is not as stressful and confusing as when I started and it was all "rabbit in headlights bloody hell everything needs doing all at once sort of thing".

Also of course, spending time at the beach with your DC and family always more important than choring in my book!

Zoo enjoy the fruit-picking but hope your day is not too exhausting for you!

Foxes good luck with work and enjoy your family time!

Cag/Zoo would you consider learning to drive at some point? (Apologies if you already have or this is silly suggestion or you live in a place where not necessary.). I only mention it because my late ma learnt to drive when she was 48 and she found it really liberating! Also, I am the crappiest of crappy drivers (terrified and over-cautious - esp over here where people drive like loons - (I'm not too bad in UK ) - and it took me three goes to pass test - and I still find it a challenge every time I get in the car - but it is oh so useful now DD is a teen and wants me to chauffeur her and her friends about.

Right, on with the sorting/decluttering!

Encouraging wing flaps to all!

Bower it goes back in quite easily, it just messes up the muscles and often traps the nerve in the process. When everything thing is this bad I need to see a physio. It is on my list of things to book/do for Tomo. Monday is going to need to be a massive anti-procrastination day.

I slept 8 hrs last night. I am feeling the requisite rubbish from sleeping after not sleeping and body demanding more

To do
Laundry
decorating prep
Wall plaster priming
sit outside with a coffee!

Ds appears to be making a lot of noise downstairs in the kitchen I am not sure if I am supposed to stay in bed or go investigate. I have been told off before for ruining surprises for investigating noises from the kitchen.

sc the cost of petrol, tax insurance etc is getting so horrific I am looking for ways to avoid using the car. It is not economical to own and run one. That said for me to not have one is impractical, but I am sure I would adjust. get super healthy and never go anywhere

I was disappointed to learn that the noise from the kitchen was not ds making me breakfast in bed, but himself breakfast. Pepper rings with spring onion and egg in the middle on toast with 2 slices of bacon.

Ds is in danger of doing his own washing later

Yes Hills - my nephew in UK has just sold his car because it was too expensive to run and insure. Aren't train/public transport costs high in UK though (sorry - am out of touch about this) or is that just for commuter type transport?

Oh well, at least your ds made his own breakfast which is plus point I suppose and with veg content too (she said desperately seeking positives)

DD is exactly the same I'm afraid. I remind myself that (having read a Noddy level book about it!) that the brain process that makes teenagers selfish and self-centred is the same part which boosts their ability to learn apparently! Something to do with the "reward signal" that is stimulated by pleasure and guessing answers (or something) is linked to part of brain that governs memory. Don't quote me on that but that was the gist of it.

I have just had a very pleasurable/very non pleasurable experience working my way through a BRC!

Pleasurable because at last I am actually decluttering properly and because I have found some photos/cards which provoked happy memories! Also found some missing handles that have dropped off bits of furniture which I thought I had lost!

Non-pleasureable because it's very boring and tedious and all of those things like little bags of out of date currency, keys for things I no longer know what for, ancient make up, obselete newspaper articles and magazines, etc etc all represent procrastination and delayed decisions in the past

Yes SC public transport costs are high, and services are being cut at a rate of knots. We no longer have a regular stopping service on the train (used to be one an hour), It is a 3 mile walk or drive to the nearest regular bus service. And we are not the only area like that. There are scandals about rail line closures, the timetables don't work, the lines are broken so the train companies are fined for being late because the infrastructure is broken and stops the trains working well. It is a right royal fuck up. The whole situation is depressing. I made the mistake of reading the report in the north south divide on the infrastruction. I wouldn't recommend it if you have blood pressure issues, stress issues etc.

Crikey that sounds awful Hill's, I did see the news about the chaos re: timetable changes. Presumably those who are most dependent on it all working properly ie the elderly, the disabled, those living in poverty etc are disproportionately affected too.

Just worked my way through another BRC! A humongously large one this time!