Building our bonfires with clutter, and cruising towards Christmas, it's the NOVEMBER fledgling Fly thread!

[Staringcoat]

Many of us have been here forever; it's the thread where we (loosely) follow the Flylady housekeeping system here to combat CHAOS (can't have anyone over syndrome) with a load of , chat and mutual support along the way. For that reason, we may seem cliquey, but we really aren't and all newcomers, lurkers, returnees, regulars, and intermittent regulars are hugely welcome!

We will be posting the baby-step and flight plan (which will point you towards the current zone and missions) on a daily basis, but don't hesitate to ask further questions about the system if you have any!

More information on getting started available here (containing baby-steps!).

And borrowing heavily (again!) from Hill's September introduction...

There are 4 levels for Flying:
-Baby steps - good for finding a routine in the tasks and getting over the perfection crippling effect
-Baby steps and missions - yep basic routine and more in depth tasks

• Baby steps, missions, and deep cleaning (if you are at that stage) - can't clean clutter so don't consider this one if you need the next level
• Flying combined with a decluttering system (kondo/unfuck etc etc) lets be honest fly lady is good for routine but not so quick with the decluttering results sometimes.

There is NO wrong or right way of doing this, it is about adapting the system to suit your life circumstances, which will be different from someone else's and don't be put off by the barftastically twee nature of the Flylady site, the underlying system is sound. Feel free to ignore any step or routine that doesn't sound you or your home! No perfectionism allowed!

And when it all gets too much: come and take a seat by the fire in our specially adapted "naughty" corner where you can enjoy virtual and and tangible support from fellow fledglings.

More info follows:

** launch pad (general info)

** daily babysteps pdf (ignore the ones that don't suit you or your home)

** week day missions (some fledglings find it easier to do them at weekends)

** [[http://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/flying-lessons/zones/
info about zones]] (explanation of how zones work)

** weekly zones (a rough weekly guide to which area of the house we are tackling currently, again adapt to suit yourself)

** daily focus (helpful guide to allocate a certain day for a certain task)

** deep cleaning lists pdf (only attempt when you have decluttered as you can't clean clutter!)

Good luck and happy Flying one and all!

X post sc I can totally see how Brexit must be very concerning for you - I didn't mean to be flippant about it!

Dc are being so incredibly noisy. They are noisier than the wet vax hoover which is LOUD

Xpost Foxes great list as ever! Sounds as though your DD is nice and relaxed and settling in at nursery .

Sorry that should be school not nursery I think!

Similar situation Toostressy and Foxes re: present shopping but choice isn't great here and very €€€€€ so I don't even attempt rl shop and do everything on-line!

Not at all Foxes you weren't .

And I'm sorry to bore on...! Promise to try and not mention the "B" word too often from now on!

not Cameron

sc and yes, school, but only reception tbf! It's glorified nursery isn't it?! They just play!

Just did not get started today. At all. Ate, that's it. Wrapped some C word presents.

Arrrggh.

As you were.

Not after christmas foxes they do more work than you think. Phonics, reading, maths, writing, spelling, english amongst other things.

It's after rememberance day/sunday, the americans might disagree as they still have thanks giving to come but imo Christmas discussion is ok.

The bosses are good on the whole, there are issues with the organisation but they look after their staff as much as they can so it makes the low point more bareable iyswim.

Yes she is definitely learning stuff hills but when you ask what she does at school all we ever get is "I played in the house"

Totally normal

YY I have these ideas of Christmas shopping being all wonderful and festive too . I think wrapping some presents counts as doing something Forestier .

Well on the plus side actually the little decoration that I bought just on the off chance for my parents which looked a bit rubbish in the bright lights of the shop actually looks sweet and twinkly at home and DD1 says she approved. DD2 chose a decoration in one of our lovely town shops while waiting for DD1 so progress has been made. Just need one extra little bit and my parents are pretty much done. Yes SC, going to get them some food and drink bits too as that is always a winner.

On the bad side bedtime turned into a bit of a mess and both DDs had to go to bed in disgrace. Hope again for better things tomorrow!

Oh and I still didn’t start the Christmas missions but did do a tiny smidgeon of decluttering.

I am now going to sit and relax for an hour before bed .

ta da
✅took first tablet... dizzy and spacey all day
✅had first play date and got the Caglets to do some independent work with friend (worked well!)
✅put wash on
✅copied master shopping list (of house stuff, furniture etc we still need) onto iPad as Cagletini is in a paper ripping phase
✅dealt with stroppy DD in the context of her ASD issues, started making a plan with friends that should counteract this (it’s all about what they have time to do together so we are planning work and play time)
✅second play date, this time despite feeling immensely fucking weird and having had another anxiety attack I actually did some English textbook work with them this time, we have gone several weeks without due to all my dental stuff so really felt we had to crack on. Need to look for homework for them tomorrow morning though. Friend has left her secondary twinkl account logged in as I’m the one with the printer so I’ll find something relevant on there.
✅friend took Caglets to tap for me as I felt so crap, and I asked them to come back after and we shared a takeaway which was really nice and I didn’t want to be on my own TBH
✅measured DD for a bra size 😱

Oh also realised I have double booked myself for dentist so need to sort that 🤦‍♀️

This is the 4:30 am post!

Ta da
Made myself Chinese chicken and noodles/ veg and ginger.

Bathroom sill cleared and washed.
Checked shower
De tangled cat
Fed cat and chicken

🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂

WED 14 NOV (40 days until Xmas Eve if my sums are right!!)
Today's baby-step: here
Today's flight plan: here
Holiday mission: here

🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂

Good morning!

Hills oh yes totally agree that the time for Christmas discussions has well and truly arrived I'm just doing my annual ridiculus head in sand is it really happening all over again this year act ?

FestiveForestiera I sped-read that as "ate presents"

"Sweet and twinkly" always good Toostressy!

Arf at untangling the cat Bower

Cag for ploughing on through yesterday despite feeling so rough!

Happy anti-procrastination wing flaps to everyone else!
Hope everyone has a good day! I'm determined to complete current holiday mission, if nothing else!

Now off to try and make sense of Robert Peston's analysis of the swimming pool supposed solution ie lets kick this in to the long grass yet again to the Irish back-stop issue aaaaarrrrrgghhhhhhh!

Thanks for links SC. Glad you got seen at doctors Cag. Hope you have a better day today Hills.

foxes, I meant to say, we get shopping delivered online with Tesco. I agree, delivery is a little expensive but I have a delivery saver plan. So while it doesn’t change the fact that delivery is that bit more, it means I get a refund if it would have been cheaper for me not to have it. Often in term time I shop in person and get it refunded loads but in school holidays and with DCs around I get most stuff online so it really helps me to have the option. Just thought it was worth saying in case you hadn’t seen the delivery saver option. I’m sure the other supermarkets have similar and I have no affiliation with Tesco so I don’t mind either way . The main reason I went with them is clubcard points but they are so much less useful than they used to be which really annoys me .

Best get on!

40 days..Shit!😳🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲
I did download a Christmas list. I wanted a colourful Christmassy list but no it was bloody grey when printed. So if any of you find a pretty grocery list can you post or. I don’t want an item one as after 40 years of writing them I know what we need.Might have to make my own. Shopping list usually stays on the fridge. DH has buried it under kitchen stuff he doesn’t remember where.
I wrote on grey one so he couldn’t deny agreed food. It s the same as usual but still wanted to ask. Might order today if they are ready for it. Haven’t seen a sign up and the other butchers doesn’t take them until Dec 1st. Local turkey 🦃 often wonder about taking a risk on Xmas eve but chicken 🐔 out he he and order. Usually some marked down but pot luck to what’s available.

DH checked to see when lads back. Not until 26 th November. I have no water in the kitchen and only two sockets. Did he ask for stand tap...NO! The sockets are for fridge and stove. He has also plugged in the induction hob so I can’t have microwave on. If only he had done as asked and put it in dining room. It is now covered in stuff and boxes of food. Think I will eat / give some away and make space. It needs two to carry it. It is about 35 years old and huge. It still works! Plaster is drying out quickly due to Everhot. Who was it on here that had one? I have forgotten. It was a newer poster or returner I think. I still can’t believe it is mine. 😁

Plan for today
Get up
Admire stove
Put porridge (if I can find oats) in oven while I drink tea.
Might have a bacon buttie too.
Vacuum cobwebs in kitchen
Sweep floor and possibly wash as filthy again. Washed three times last week. I didn’t know that DH understood what that red thing in the shed was for😬
Vacuum sitting room
Dust sittting room
Wash shower tray and do glass. Sort a pile of R C in a basket.
Lunch
Go to work 😝have to go in now or hours docked. Just an hour and a half.
Visit DDs boyfriends mum in hospital.
Call in at place I bought stove and show picture. They haven’t seen the sage one. Going to take final show kitchen pic before it becomes normal.
Ironing, that ironing elf hasn’t arrived.
Consider whose house I will take my washing to and when.
I don’t think I have any anti procrastination this week

Wish you good flying

Won’t be shining my sink for a while ...I haven’t got one😭 need to wash up last nights dishes. Involves running up and down stairs for water x2 kettles( one for tea), boiling kettle adding half of cold water, wash, place on tea towel as DH can’t remember where he put plastic drainer and hasn’t found it in two days of man-looking. Put away quickly before dust settles. Drink ☕️ tea.

40 days! Buggering hell. We did start chatting about presents etc and have a few bits sorted but oh god. We are hosting this year too as we have space now. And the house is a mess. Craaaaap!

Bower have you looked at Fly Lady's holiday control journal. Lots of blank list pages with colours. Also check the settings on your printer. If you have been printing with stuff you have told it to be blank and white, it might be in auto pilot.

Today is not looking good. Was hoping for a nice quiet in bed kinda day, but neighbours have workmen in and it is headache inducing noising. Going to have a hot epsom salt bath, write a to do list and just crack on. Needless to say rest and recovery is not something that happens much here. Too much crazy.

40days you say

I had to re-read zoo haha no don’t behead MY chicken!

Hills thanks I hadn’t looked there. Of course, I should have known she would be organised.

No the one from Pinterest was colourful with holly etc but when you put it to print it had chopped off the naice bits and just a grey border but I printed it because it was best of a bad bunch. It was divided up into meat, veg, etc so easy for shopping at independent shops. I’m just trying to get into Christmas spirit as we break up late 21st December and I am usually exhausted by then. I also have the kitchen to put back together once they are finished.
Thanks for saying about ICT because I feel like I am way behind now. I was discussing this with another older TA. I find people usually want to do it for you so you don’t learn, she said the same. I taught her girls 🤗
We have new computers and maybe I should ask the ICT person to run a session for the oldies! Any help is appreciated. It was set on auto as I was printing for school the night before which was colour.
Off to view fly lady holiday stuff then must crack on. I have only got as far as animals fed, me fed and watered.

Bower have you found the fit to page option on printing. The american page sizes are different to ours and they are not always compatible. But it is possible to play with some of the size settings to get it to fit.