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!

Hi I'm here. Not much flying done. None yesterday as had meetings after school as timetable changed slightly. My 20 minutes that i was looking forward to has been extinguished. With a bit of negotiating I might get 20 minutes every three weeks during assembly.If everyone willing to play ball. I need it for planning on top of my own time as there is a lot involved in the interventions i run. The rest is teaching.

So no flying yesterday. I went out for my supper. straight from school as didn't leave till 5.30pm.

Today sleep in till 8am. Fed animals. Litter tray (didn't think about that being a TADa) so claiming it!
Made bed
sorted clothes for washing, need to find a WM that I can use as no water in kitchen.
Cleaned loo and basin.

Need to clean kitchen floor.
Vacuum downstairs.
Attempt washing up again. Just mugs and very messy cast iron pot.
Go to school.
Go Christmas shopping with bf.
Possibly hosp. visit to someone, if still in.
Carry out for tea.
Prep work for tomorrow if not completed.

zoo have you considered soya? DD and i are intolerant to Soya. DD is more so, so maybe more like allergy. Hope you find out soon it is really a minefield.Took two years for me.
She is currently with sister in Aus.

You all seem so busy.I haven't started my cards. I usually make them and I bought new exciting stamps so ought to do them.Would love to do it today as feeling below par. May set it up for Saturday pm.

Hope the poorlies are better soon.

Can just imagine the sausage dog walk. It must look so cute. My dad's friend used to breed them and once came to dinner with mum, dad and eight pups. Gorgeous pups about 8weeks old.Hilarious.

Better shift my arse.

Where has everyone gone?
So quiet last few days

Had my nap.struggled D's all pm
Took for walk in the end before i lost my temper(bad mum alert)

Faff around after sort snack dd2 and lil zoo

Lil zoo stropping as she's try org a list for Xmas.shes super specific and if didn't ask for it won't touch itit's not going well as she's no idea what wants so how the fuck am I meant to know?

Fish finger and tomato rolls for little ones tea with carrot and cucumber sticks
Raspberry jelly and tinned peaches

Whatever veg that can be roasted with loads bread n cheese will be head my way later!

Seriously though, hope everyone is ok

Thank the lord you have not run off SC

Ta da:
walked furry
emptied dw
worked from 9.30 to 2.30 non-stop
delivered Advent calendar to a friend's child and popped in for cuppa and a chinwag
hung up washing to dry and fed wms again
more bits Christmas shopping on-line
set up "accounting" table for Christmas to follow more easily what I am spending
found fountain pen, ink, sellotape, scissors etc which had all gone missing on every floor!

About to go out to school meeting now. Dd is making herself some pasta.

BBL to catch up with personals! Wing flaps to all!

X post Zoo

I'm here!

Dani dd is much better thanks. They are both still a bit snotty at night though.

Had a bit of a bad start to the day, the boiler stopped working, ds had a huge tantrum all the way to the school and back and then dd cried when we got to school (she never really cries full stop so this was way out of character!) . Anyway things improved a bit, the boiler is working again ,ds calmed down eventually, dd had an ok day although she did say she cried at playtime too . Just got the dc to bed but ds is shouting still.

Ta das for the day
Washing on
Washing folded and put away
Washing hung up
Dishwasher emotied and on again
Cleaned skirting boards living room
Dusted behind radiators in living room
Cleaned / dusted TV
Took some toys upstairs
Dusted a photo frame
Went to shop
Cooked dinner - fishcakes, new potatoes and salad, apple crumble for pudding , tinned peaches for dd as she doesn't like crumble (madness!)
Paid for dd upcoming school trip
Sorted out upcoming orthodontist appointments as need my mum to babysit so wanted to check timings
Enquired about Christmas meat from butchers
Made shopping list for tomorrow / got stuff out of freezer for tomorrow's dinner

Phew. Well ds is still shouting even after all that typing!

doesnt like crumble there would be laws against that in my house

zoo that sounds delicious! I have never thought of using tinned peaches with crumble on top. But dd would still refuse the crumble part she's mad! Who doesn't like crumble?! Ds on the hand polished off the lot. He would never refuse any kind of pudding! In fact I'm pretty sure he was so enthusiastic about his fishcakes for dinner purely because of the word "cake" in there!

*on the other hand

at your DS and fishcakes foxes and at DD not liking crumble. Glad she is feeling a bit better.

Thanks all, I am feeling a lot better today. Still a bit rough but am in bed now and planning to sleep shortly. DH did home bleugh today which was fab. Think I am going to phone physio tomorrow about acupuncture as have more sessions planned and will not be able to go to work if I feel like I did yesterday after another one.

I did manage half of Christmas mission 3 though . It’s the one to get the Christmas wrapping stuff out. So I have got a load out but need to clear away some crap and find a space for it put it away. Too late now though to do that. Luckily it turns out I have a bit of wrapping paper, some gift bags, a few cards and ribbons so have enough to get started. Might not need to buy much gift wrap type stuff at all which would be good.

I'm impressed by your organisation stressy I am moving into rabbit caught in headlights mode.ffs I KNOW that December follows November which follows September but I get to end November and boom I'm like eek how did Xmas sneak up on me?!

🌂☔🌂☔🌂☔🌂☔🌂☔🌂☔🌂☔🌂☔🌂☔🌂☔🌂☔🌂☔🌂☔🌂

THURS 22 NOV
Baby-step: here
Flight plan: here
Holiday mission: [[http://www.flylady.net/c/holidaycruise.php

here]]

🌂☔🌂☔🌂☔🌂☔🌂☔🌂☔🌂☔🌂☔🌂☔🌂☔🌂☔🌂☔🌂☔🌂

Dani Big for finishing your Christmas cards already! Bloomin' well done!

Bower sorry you are feeling below par. And that extremely packed school schedule of yours musn't help. Do take care of yourself! (Ooooh what a lovely childhood memory re: daschund pups!!)

Glad to hear DD feeling better Zoo but sorry yesterday morning was so stressful. It didn't stop you from ploughing through an extremely impressive list of tasks though!

Glad to hear you are feeling better also Toostressy! Hope the acupuncturist can shed light on your symptoms. Btw, by some stroke of fortune, you have already done today's mission too!

Zoo I could have written your last para word for word! I'm a very mature woman, I supposedly KNOW at what point Christmas arrives in December (indeed I have to be organised for St Nicolas on the 6th) and I also KNOW that it helps a lot if one preps in Nov and here I am in denial again! (I have bought a few presents on-line 'cos that's the relatively easy bit, but there is so much more I should be doing!)

Weary waves to everyone else!

It is 3am here and I am on night watch! Sitting up with DH in the sitting room because he doesn't feel comfortable lying flat in bed. He was here when I came back from school meeting tonight having returned a day early from business trip because he felt very tired and a bit strange (not like himself).

Anyway, he went to bed earlier than me but came downstairs at midnight having had one of his "attacks" ie feeling suddenly very hot in bed, light-headed and with an uncomfortable feeling in chest. This is the fifth episode he has had the same. He's already had a load of blood/cardiac tests so we know it's not that. In the end he looked so ill though that I called the doctor at 1am who arrived about 30 mins later. Doc did thorough examination and all vital signs fine. Says it could be vaso-vagal attack? Obviously we are going to get that checked out but I also think it might be some sort of allergen because his nose streams and he pees a lot when these attacks happen (sorry for tmi) so wondering if his body is trying to flush something out ifysim? He said he had one glass of red wine on plane so maybe it's that? Who knows! But it is extremely stressful while it is happening as he is normally tough as an ox and you can see he's not "right". Anyway, I don't expect to sleep much more tonight. Ho hum.

So sorry Foxes that's fatigue speaking. Obviously that third para below was addressed to you, not Zoo! It's been a tiring evening!

Oh no SC just what you needed at the end of a the day hope he's settled down a bit now and you managed at least a little doze
Allergy definate seems possible given symptoms,but stress can too and perhaps it's his body telling him to sloooow down

Well my evening was a DISASTER

One row after another with dd2
Lil zoo came down hour after went bed in agony(that'll be the increase of laxtives I suspect)
DS was a nightmare fullstop and I blew a fuse with him and told him not come down,so he kept text his dad who rang me from work at 11pm ask why he wasn't allowed downstairs.by that point the stress of the day had totally fucked me over and I was in full throws panic attack myself.ffs

Please somebody make today easier

No school for dd2 Thur and fri-her school are trialling "winter break" as this term is long,giving the girls a long weekend to power them thru til xmas.im expecting D's play up as he don't want go in fullstop and his schools open

Anyone want run away to Bermuda triangle with me?!

Arghsc and zoo your evenings / nights sound so stressful I hope you both find some time to rest a tiny bit today...

I haven't had much sleep either so I'm joining the tired club. Ds was awake from 1.30 until 4.30 what's that all about?! He eventually slept in our bed. We wonder if he's cold in his room . Going to get the little heater out later.

He's still snoozing next to me but we've got to all get up fairly soon. Argh!

Nice to hear from you Bower I hope you get the break time you need at school. I love how you said no flying then reeled off a big list Very impressed with your card making.

Zoo I don't know how you do it, you are absolutely amazing lady, and don't let yourself feel otherwise!! I hope today is much easier for you ♥️ It sounds like Christmas is much more tricky with older DCs?! What are parents supposed to do if they declare something they really want just the week before Christmas or something??? That crumble combo sounds awesome! And don't panic with Christmas, there's still 9 whole days before December even starts, you can get loads done in little 15/7/2 minutes' in that time. You've totally got this!! You too SC

Sounds like you had a good day yesterday SC, up until the early hours - poor DH that sounds very scary! I hope you manage to get to the bottom of it quickly! Will he go to work today?

Foxes I hope today is kinder to you than yesterday! Well done for still being incredibly productive regardless. I also still have a sleeping baby wrapped around me that I need to but don't want to wake up!

Stressy glad you are feeling better. Well done with the holiday missions [santa] I wonder if acupuncture gets easier as you go??

To do:

• laundry
• s&s
• breakfasts
• kitchen
• carpet sweepa and dust downstairs
• toddler sensory class
• visit from cousin and DCs
• get a couple hours work done minimum
• lunches
• go to "the other in mother" art exhibition with my sis and DCs
• wrapping, even if only 1 thing
• 15 minutes detail clean
• work on gift list (boxed off a few tricky ones last night, hoping to finish all present buying tomorrow)
• dinner
• leave kitchen and sink shining

Wish me luck lol

Dani🍀

Morning all!

Oh no Foxes sorry your night was so disturbed. If it is the cold, is your day too old for a gigoteuse (not sure what they are called in English; sleep sac?). Like this?

Thank you for your kind words everyone. We all got to sleep at about 4.30 am in the end. DD miraculously managed to sleep through doctor arriving and ringing bell, dog barking, and DH and I trooping up and downstairs! I got up for her at 6 ISH to see her off to school/make packed lunch. Then went back to bed. Then was awoken again by supermarket grocery delivery guy ringing the doorbell who looked askance at at my 9.30 pj-wearing and near vertical bed-hair! DH seems ok again now but seems to have the flu symptoms back a bit.

Dani I am going to lie horizontally across the path to the front door to prevent dh from going in to office later on this morning! Good luck with your humongously busy day! You always seem to have a very good balance of chores plus nice sociable things in your list which is good to see!

Oh no Zoo your night sounds horrendous! No wonder you were frustrated with ds. Hope he was cooperative during school run this morning and that Lil' Zoo's tum no worse at the very least. And that you manage to get some rest during the day (although probably v difficult with dd2 at home). This term is indeed a long one! Yes, I think you are right and dh's "episodes" could be down to stress - that's what one of the doc's said previously anyway, but the symptoms seem so "physical" iykwim and he is normally so resilient. However, we are both not getting any younger (sigh)!

Must get on and try and make myself look respectable (not an easy task nowadays!!)

Hope the day improves for everyone!

my husband has attacks like that SC - he describes them as almost like panic attacks. He gets them if he has a slight allergic reaction to something.

Gloomy day here today. Have not yet started the zone for this week. Am hugely behind in work so off to shore up that particular dam. I have my Christmas card list but none written yet alas. It doesn't feel very Christmassy just yet here. Usually Christmas starts up right after Halloween which really annoys me.

wing flaps to all. don't work oo hard.

too hard I mean!

try and makeyself look presentable think I've abandoned that as there aren't enough hours in the day

I've trailed lil zoo to school,collect and drop D's then 45 mins walk into town with dd2 Xmas shopping picking up D's on walk back.ive been walking 802-1230 and my back is not happy having carried too many bags!!I now have a few bits for zoolets,a board game dd1 was after and the obligatory chocolate coins/sweets incl lil zoos df ones!plus some random shopping I needed whilst in town.dd2 and I are exhausted and other than slight rushing agree it was lovely to go in just the two of us

Ps this was my walk in with lil zoo today.crisp and sunny, unfortunately it's now overcast and downright murky,so thought this view might perk spirits like it did mine crunching across it this morning!