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!

Morning all

zoo bless you going to so much trouble for halloween packed lunch! Hope lilzoo feeling better

The dc are arguing. Lots. All of them. 😑

I still havent made it to the cemetery.

The dc have used all the milk

I have about 4 weeks of uni work to do in less than one week

Dentist.

😬

Gooood morning all. I have a croissant in one hand , a large cappuccino in the other and both legs in the pants of positivity with added pointy sticks of motivation! Let's do this!

Today I will tidy and get a grip on the laundry. As I need to power through, I will use the timer as that really does keep me on track

I will also attempt to stay away from the Halloween leftovers - not too many as it was a busy night, but large boxes of mixed chocs are down to bargain rates in Tesco today must resist

I have sorted through the Halloween candy already. Made sure the Caglets’ (very modest, as ToT doesn’t seem to be a Thing here) hauls to remove empty wrappers etc, put a few remaining opened packets in a Tupperware box, and all our unused stuff (bought too much for ToTers and some bits we were going to use in baking etc) is now all in a tub on top of the high cupboards in the kitchen. So the Caglets can use up their own when they want and I’m determined to be sensible and keep the rest for cinema trips, movie nights etc.

Had another awful night with the baby, I just don’t get it she’s been rooting on me like a newborn every time she (frequently) stirs 😖 I am so tired. Sent her away with the others to trampolining grateful for the buggy’s rain cover. And obviously I’m just sitting about. Really need a shower and should put a wash on. But first I need to do my saltwater rinse thing which I’m procrastinating over because it tastes and feels disgusting 🤢

Morning everyone! Just drying out after a very soggy school run , had to go to another meeting on the way back so we've only just got in but pretty much sorted all paperwork now just a bit more to do at home. Just been doing puzzles with ds think I'll get him some more for Christmas he loves them!

Ta da
Meeting
Dishwasher on
Quick tidy downstairs
Swish and swipe bathroom

Decided to give shopping a miss as too wet and cold we are going to get stuff done indoors instead (that's the plan anyway!).

Dentist said eat Halloween candy after meals so going to follow that!

Off to clean house having escaped dentist intact.

I’ve still not had a shower. Dad called (while I was halfway through doing the salt thing, that was awkward) and gave me some good news so I’m a bit out of sorts and in shock! (He is giving me some money for Xmas/birthday which is very generous and requires planning re what to do with it. Enough for a holiday next year I think :))

So I have totally squandered my time alone but I am happy so don’t care so much

Wow that's exciting cag!

Ta da
Dishwasher on again as for some reason it didn't wash stuff properly earlier (maybe I forgot to put the tablet in!?
Made lunch me and ds- we had leftover mash potatoes with cheesy beans it was so tasty and ds loved it!!
Quick tidy now ds gone to bed
Sorted out work invoice
Sorted out last bit of committee paperwork
Took rubbish out
Put huge box in recycling it's been downstairs for weeks because the dc have been playing with it but it was time for it to go!

Another break while ds settles then back to it. It's absolutely chucking it down here! Meant to be school fireworks display later not sure if it will be cancelled.

Miserable here too. Won’t be doing sports club tomorrow that’s for sure! But we have a Day of the Dead home ed party anyway.

Have had my lunch and just going to sort some tuna for the girls. Really dreading this evening but at least I have cash ready for taxi home.

I feel a bit out of sorts really

I mean the weather is miserable not me 😳 I do feel a bit odd which sounds ridiculous as it is great news but my head is all full of ideas and not knowing what to do with it.

Also the Caglets are being insanely hyper and annoying and we really should be doing work as we’ve done so little between dentist stuff and Halloween things going on

Checking in
Hours drive to pick up the cake lil zoo desperately wanted and was out of stock our local supermarkets
She struggle walk car to shop
I can't hear properly(like underwater)arms aching and so bloody tired..praying dd2 don't get it as throat/ears are her weak spot

Grey and raining here too Cag! That's great news about your windfall! . What a lovely surprise from your dad! this website is good..

The thirds principle is good:

🍀1st third paying off any debt, doing essential repairs & purchases (home ed equip?) and future proofing (uni- fund for DC?, saving for property/car?, accessible (but capped!) rainy day fund?) and any investment needed for work/income generation?
🍀 2nd third savings with (hopefully!) interest (never much nowadays but worth shopping around),
🍀3rd third (if any spare) treats such as holiday/experiences/events/presents/tech/clothes etc.

~Have fun with it and take your time deciding! Hope day of the dead party is fun!

Foxes nursery food is always the yummiest . Bless your ds tucking in! Great list btw!

Sass thanks for the pointy sticks and positivity! Hope they are helping you win the chore battle at yours! Certainly helped me get going this morning!

Glad you have survived dentist reasonably unscathed HauntedForestier!

Sorry you are feeling rough Zoo . All the logistical difficulties sound really tricky especially when you are ill yourself. Hope you are coping ok.

Argh I've that study schedule sounds v tough indeed. Very best of luck with it and more power to your elbow!

Encouraging wing flaps to everyone else!

Having a bit of a tense day for various reasons although dhorse a lovely boy as ever . DD now keen to go back to town because of urgent hwk project that's not easy to transport. DH really NOT keen. I can see both pov but wd appreciate staying in one place for a bit! Don't get me wrong, know it's a nice problem to have! It's just that dh finds planning difficult because of his work and is travelling loads, and seems surprised when we have other stuff going on in his absence. Equally, DD has had reasonable time to do project earlier! Aaarghh!

Gawd, sorry CAG reading that back, that sounds really patronising which was not my intention at all. Was responding to bit of your post where you said where you felt a bit odd/discombobulated because of potential options!! Apologies!

Oh no Zoo hope the lurgy doesn't spread! for dedicated birthday cake hunt!

sc hope you reach a decision that everyone is happy with!

Ta da
Cleaned out freezer and scrubbed it
Scrubbed one wall in kitchen
Cleaned one shelf in kitchen
Hung washing out
Folded laundry
Collected dd and her teacher mentioned she hadn't been hearing very well today so we rung the gp who said go to chemist first but they said they couldn't do anything tbf the pharmacist was absolutely lovely and said as long as she isn't in pain then to give it a week and see if it clears on its own as could be congestion.
Bought milk and bread

To do
Put washing on
Make dinner - fish pakoras, spicy potato wedges and salad
Decide whether to go to fireworks,still quite rainy outside and dd is in a bad mood, probably because of all the excitement / late night yesterday.

Yes did get a bit of time away i the end. Only because the words fuck it were shouted rather loudly. Taking the days off have not helped the tackling of the huge to do list, but it has helped with calming the stress enough to tackle the to do list.

hills if the world won't stop spinning taking time out then sometimes you just have to say sod it and do what's best for you!bravo for doing that and hope batteries are sufficiently charged to tackle the ongoing tasks

Lil zo and D's watching series of unfortunate events dvd and eating tuna sandwiches with cucumber(well lil zoo doing a lot of gulping with it but is trying!her apetite is still sort of there which is good).the skittles cake to follow

Roasting cauliflower,sweet potato and broccoli for dd2 to have on bed cous cous with morrocan spices,currants and mix of sunflower seeds,flaked almonds and chopped pistachios
I've no idea what I want except to lay still and do nothing which is never going to happens my visions a bit blurry and my eyes feel gritty.no idea wtf is going on there but heyho,not much NEEDS doing this time of night,so not much getting done.sn all fed no one dead kinda day!!

hills glad you got away all be it briefly

Well my pakoras didn't work! But my spicy potato wedges were delicious so they saved the dinner! We have put the dc to bed early and decided to give fireworks a miss. Dd so tired and grumpy it just wasn't worth it. It's raining anyway although they haven't actually cancelled the display

zoo did you say skittles cake?!

Do you shallow or deep fry pakoras Foxes? I've never made them before. And are spicy potato wedges the one's from Nigella's "Table" by any chance? (Nosey emoticon). Made them twice now and they are yum!

Sounds v sensible decision regarding:: fireworks! Hope your dd's earache doesn't get worse.

And thanks, we've compromised!. Back in town tonight (sigh) and back to country (hopefully) tomorrow night. Not quite the restful half term we imagined but it was stuffed from the beginning for various reasons - c'est la vie - and thank heavens this is a very small country!

Great you had a holiday in the end Hills. Sometimes just saying "f* it" is necessary!

Zoo roasted cauliflower sounds delish! Hope you can REST and say "f*it" too for once tonight!

We've had uneasy truce tonight. Went to evening Mass. Picked up frites on way home to eat with cold chicken and salad. Diet not going well as I am having much needed as well.

sc ooh chicken and chips, delicious! Glad you've reached some sort of compromise! The pakoras were deep fried but the fish just fell apart so only a few held their shape unfortunately. They tasted nice enough but not crispy enough either I think because they fell apart. The spicy wedges were from a random recipe I found online I think on a newspaper website but can't remember which one! It was really easy though just baby potatoes quartered and mixed with oil, paprika and chilli flakes and then in the oven for fifteen minutes, shake them up, then another fifteen minutes. I'm going to Google the nigella recipe now though!

Ta da
function on not enough sleep
2 loads of washing
good hour decluttering in my room
review some craft projects and their fate - partial frogging will happen at a later date.

Am tired so going to head off for sleep because tomorrow's to do list is back to crazy levels. And it is friday... fun fun fun.

Thanks Foxes, if you can't find it on-line, I have the book somewhere. I find deep frying really difficult. Never have the patience to wait for the oil to get hot enough, then when it is, I burn everything! Usually leave it to dh who destroys kitchen in process but we don't do it that often tbh.

My late Irish mammy on the other hand used to have permanent deep frying facilities in our scullery next to the kitchen. She used to wear an old macintosh of my father's over her clothes and tie her hair up in a scarf 1940s style, and disappear for a while and return carrying endless platefuls of the most beautiful chips ( twice fried in beef dripping) you could imagine. Delicious! She got cross when the local priest (with whom she was in permanent dispute) got wind of it and started turning up deliberately on "frying nights" as she didn't like being seen dressed like that "in front of himself so"

Cheers everyone! (And yes, I'm on my second! ). And no I have done zero flying today!

Partial frogging Hills?
Skittles cake Zoo?
Intrigued ... !