May our houses be uncluttered ...the Fledgling Fly thread.

[Shadycorner]

Welcome to the thread where we (loosely) follow the Flylady housekeeping system here to combat CHAOS (can't have anyone over syndrome) with a load of wine, chat and mutual support along the way. Quite a few of us have been on here for a while, so for that reason, we may seem cliquey, but we really aren't, and all newcomers, lurkers, returnees, regulars, and intermittent regulars are very welcome!

Every day I will post a link to the activities for "Today" which summarises everything you need on a daily basis if you want to follow the system strictly, but we tend to adapt it to suit our individual circumstances, homes and energy-levels!

Please note that, athough Flylady is keen for us to check in to the website, we've recently had a few concerns wrt security, so although there is lots of useful info on the site, it's best not download it or put any of your personal details into the website for now.

More information on getting started available:
here (containing baby-steps!) but please don't hesitate to ask if you have any further qs.

There are 4 levels for Flying:
-Baby steps - good for starting a routine and overcoming the perfection crippling effect
-Baby steps and missions - basic routine + more in depth tasks
-Baby steps, missions, and deep cleaning (if you are at that stage).
You 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) let's 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 suit 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 lots of support from fellow fledglings.

More info follows ( but again, please note we advise only looking at the pdfs and not downloading them ):

** launch pad (general info) here

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

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

** info about zones (explanation of how zones work) here

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

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

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

Good luck and happy Flying one and all!

***

Also, a huge thank you to Toostressy for running such a lovely April thread

***

Yep, that's the one! The first time I took a dose of amitriptyline I was staggering around the following morning, the dentist laughed at me and said it was the meds. I was on it for nerve pain.

Just done a bit of shopping and treated myself to lunch so hopefully we have most of the stuff we need for DD's trip. I've just realised she's forgotten to put something in her bag today (or did I take it out trying to squeeze her lunch in ) so I'm hoping she hasn't been penalised for that again as she finds it upsetting. Ho hum.

Have spent all morning wandering around in a panic grouping things together ready to put them in the case tonight. I hate packing, it's the worst bit of the trip for me (and we are all away next weekend so will have to do it again )

Well done to your DD SC, I'd have struggled with that even at my marathon-running fitness best back when dinosaurs roamed the earth

Might go and vote early so I can spend the evening with DD before she goes. I usually take her with me to vote, as my mum did with me, but now she tends to disagree loudly with my choice of candidate.

Emailed the advisor person (got a reply with lots of info attached) and now on hold to DLA.

Plans have also changed for tomorrow which means DD won’t be able to complete her art award on time and we will have to pay for it. I have totally dropped the ball on that one and now it’s the worst possible timing to deal with it. Yet another reason to feel like a total failure ATM.

Got the entire evening ahead of me just with an errant toddler for company and I’m not exactly looking forward to being alone with my thoughts!

cag dropping a ball DOES NOT EQUAL FAILURE!!!!!amount balls I keep dropping at mo I should be living with my head hung so low I could lick the pavement if I wasn't kinder to myself

SC wow,well done DD!!
Chic glad DD feeling well enough for trip
Lisette I do not have laser focus,but then I like to wear clutter blinkers so I don't drive myself bonkers with it all!!
Hills hope your day goes ok
Foxes any muffins made,please deposit some in naughty corner!

Took scoutcat vet.i have concerns over his spraying and like get his winkie out around me and it dropshe always has,but it's getting worse.spraying was occasional,now increasing,esp as lots fighting local dominant horrible cat...anyhoo I asked vet check he had been spayed
Bombshell he feels lumps inside scoutcats tummy..hoping it's undescended testicles,which would explain his behaviours.if it's not that he has "masses" going to get a phone call tomorrow with treatment options.we don't have it insurance,nor a nest egg to plunder.im terrified of cost implications,and for my poor neurotic black ball of fluff.keeping everything crossed he's going to be ok

Also had CAMHS for D's.yet another pointless review with psychiatrist
He wants medicate him to the eyeball,.I want drugs a last option.he all but called me a bad parent for not try help my son get better.i accused him of being professionally inclined to wear blinkers towards medicating as it's faster and cheaper option to offload cases!he asked why we came.i explained I had been called to a review.i was happy with the care he was recieving from o.t and felt need to rehash drugging him was pointless as we had firm ideas what was best for him.he couldn't even find D's notes he took on computer last visit,so I don't see him as particularly competent.he is a big fish in his pond.i don't see him as a god,and as an advocate for my son I don't need stroke his ego or simper and agree with him.he don't appreciate that and quickly decided these meetings are not worthwhile and doubtful we shall cross paths again until point comes i want meds for my son

Glad coffee thing went well Cag and please don't give a second thought to spillage! Everyone drops things, breaks things, spills things, from time to time. I regularly forget a step at my hairdresser's, so usually enter through main door, greet hairdresser, forget step, trip up it, fall in to central reception area towards which all the clients are staring! Totally embarrassing! Do it every six to eight weeks without fail!

Just came back from medical appt and picked up a rather foot sore dd on way home.I'm ashamed to say we had to smile because we saw the very nice stylish grey haired lady who lives locally , who is always dressed in a beautiful twin set and pearls, who drives a pristine plum coloured Merc ....then you let her pull out in front of you and the number plate is "BUM" . I know it's immature but... .

Picked up two small chickens on way home which are going in oven now with veg to follow onc peeled. Two lots of laundry on. Two lots hung up to try earlier on terrace. Dining room table hot spot done. Need to empty DW again. Oh Lord and boudoir utter pit again.

Zoo that sounds like a difficult meeting . If it's ads they are talking about, I'm no HCP, but I thought they weren't recommended for DC as they weren't effective? I know sometimes adults need pills to slow the physical symptoms of anxiety so that they can then take the talking therapy on board, but I'm shocked that meds are the only thing he can offer a child of your ds's age tbh. Surely he has something else to offer in his bag of tricks?

Oh no re: Scoutcat . I hope your neurotic black ball of fluff is ok. . All fingers and toes and paws crossed here.

Ha ha @ clutter blinkers. I think we all need a pair of those !

Cag I agree with Zoo! Give yourself a break woman! You are far too hard on yourself! You wouldn't judge a friend so harshly I am sure

Chic I quite like packing when I'm up to date with laundry and everything is put away neatly in drawers. I hate it though when (as currently) drawers are empty--ish and our clothes are piled on spare bed/hanging on hangers from door hooks/ hanging on hangers from exercise bike and it's a hassle to find and organise! Good luck with it anyway! Hope the voting queues aren't too bad!

Zoo & Chic Thanks for congrats re: DD. She occasionally mangles some English words and told me just now that they were allowed to help one another over obstacles (which was good!). She said at one point, as there was no time for niceties, her two friends grabbed her "bow-tocks" and threw her over a wall! . She in turn was then able to go first through the "peeps" (pipes) and hold them open for those following. I said it all sounded very Private Benjamin and she of course just looked at me blankly ... .

She's exhausted tonight but has mahoosive biology exam tomorrow and is struggling with revision. Had better go and offer assistance... and the ubiquitous hummous and carrot sticks ... .

Have a good evening everyone! 🍒🍒🍒

I’m quite pleased with myself this evening so here’s my first ta da list in ages

Emailed advisor (and again in reply)
Phoned DLA, listened to their stupid list of reasons
Signed up to carers support (already got an email back asking for more info)
Went to autism support meeting
Phoned doctors, have to call again tomorrow to book an appt in four weeks 😱 but also asked about access request to get more evidence for the appeal thing
Cried buckets at last ever Big Bang Theory episode 😭😭😭😭😭

I'm sufficiently ancient to get the Private Benjamin reference. 😜

I can't imagine that the Marines have biology exams after assault courses. That's one tough school system.

Am pondering an early night. We've planned a lazy weekend after last week. Ds is in the local community school version of the football world cup. Lots of matches and he is ravenous.

We've all been too busy for the naughty corner so I'm restocking it. I'm adding gin , hot chocolate , cake🍰 and warm blankets and a creme caramel 🍮 for all dealing with DLA bureaucracy and work (of all kinds)

Sorry Foxes cross post re naughty corner.!

Morning all!

🌼 launch pad link containing Friday's flight plan best not to download!

Yay to fab ta da list last night Cag!

Hope everyone has a good day!

I also old enough for the private Benjamin reference🤣

Off docs with D's today.flat feet the kinda roll inwardshe has no pain,but doesn't even when feet crammed into shoes two sizes too small.after polling day off yesterday for lil zooand prospect of having to wear pink and run at school for last day of term as part of a charity thing I'm expecting resistance...especially as was up til 11in pain with reflux
For anyone else on last day before half-term.good luck straightening affairs before madness DC underfoot for a week begins🍀🍀🍀🍀

Morning.
I was in bed by 9:30pm.
Had pizza for tea. DD discovered that you can buy a roll of DF pizza base so needed to use last one up. Pepperoni, olives, anchovies and DF cheese. Yum.
Got to school to find I was teaching all day but not the two classes I was expecting to teach🙄 support went to meeting and I had two classes at one stage but all feed ( snack ) no one dead and most completed all their work. I only managed to hear two readers.
No flying as I need to declutter school bags as I have to empty my room again not sure why they can’t wait until end of term but it is getting easier as I think I am going to hand my notice in therefore I am chucking paperwork into recycling or shredding.

I need to do hot spot dining table but don’t have the energy.

Cags sorry to hear about having to appeal. I wrote a letter for a mum and she even got some back payments she was so thrilled she bought me a box of chocolates. I must go and see them.
Great about the swim. I am also on amitriptyline. I was on them for back pain and stress and came off them for about a year but back on now for stress. I was on 5 mg as I couldn’t function in the mornings with 10 mg but this time I have upped it to 10mg. Still find I don’t want to get up in the mornings.
SC glad you saw Horse and DD did brilliantly after what she has been through. Also got Private Benjamin reference.

Right better get up as I have a lot to do today and going away tonight. A change is as good as a rest they say.

Brief waves! Must get done by 4pm as have a host of teens descending then.

Quiet on here today! Hope that means you're all out enjoying the sunshine...

Ta da
Toddler group
Daily routine and s&s bathroom
15 minutes deep cleaning bedroom - pulled out other bedside table and hoovered and wiped underneath. Even more disgusting than the last one
Decluttered bag and purse and car
Wiped dashboard in car
Put Bolognese in slow cooker for dinner
Work

To do
Go to recycling centre
Shop
Opticians

Morning routine done, load of laundry. Gone to work.

Swimming class after school
15 mins boudoir zone clean then
Dinner planned
Watch property programme with Ds.

Nice work foxes and Lisette

Tada
Woke girls
Wash on
Lesson plan for ds
Breakfasts and pack ups
S+s bathroom
School run
Wash in drier
Doctors with D's
Trip pets at home in car to get a doe Syed over bunnies,rats,hamsters to get some pet wipes and cat litter as I have vouchers
Ran few errands
Lunch
DS school work supervised
Now sitting eating sweet chilli rice cakes before head for lil zoo

Got really bad period painand flooding and feeling quite sorry for myself and very wiped out.must grab some multi vitamins with iron tomorrow!

Dd2 very down as growing bigger by the week.she never feels full.ever.and a big fan comfort eating,which is absolutely in full swing with mocks pressure and life with D's at home.not huge amount junk food but huge amounts what does eat...
Planning a health week for hols with slightly smaller meals,more veg and more exercise.only hope I've got with that is to agree to join her,but she's so miserable I think it's time to step ina lot her group are sporty/skinny and she's very self conscious of that.i think she probably needs lose around a stone,maybe a little more to be "average" in her circle.doable,but hard when she's always hungry.will have to see how far we get

Right must dash or be late grab lil zoo

Good work everyone!

[Proffers microwaveable wheat pillow for Zoo]. It's so difficult with teen girls and grub isn't it? I find myself walking in eggshells for fear of saying the wrong thing!

Well done the: dinner planning Lisette & Foxes

Ta da:
Emptied DW
Tidied bathroom ready for cleaning
Quick supermarket dash
Two loads washing on
Gussied myself up to look reasonably respectable
Seven hrs of tedious admin work in office
[while cleaner did Friday morning bleugh]
Back home in time to quickly place supermarket packs of tropical cutted up fruit on a platter, with biscuits and chocolate for large group shrieking teen girls.

Calm furries.

Retreat upstairs
Look at boudoir and think "I really must tackle this"
Collapse on bed watching Sky news

Good lists everyone! Sc can totally relate to your collapse on the bed and survey what needs doing, how many times have I done that?!

Three small grumbles from me 1) am sat in opticians and they are running late and also the staff are milling about and being v unprofessional which is winding me up, they are discussing an awkward patient they've just had in front of everyone! .
2) the plastic bag recycling bin in Sainsbury's is over flowing with clearly not plastic bags but just any old rubbish
3) I am volunteering at a local event tomorrow and nobody will give me a straight answer as to what time and for how long I'm needed!!

Moan over, as you were

I'm very much looking forward to getting home and having my spaghetti Bolognese and ...

Foxes and for later!

Thanks sc unfortunately I'm not supposed to have gin as the tonic is fizzy and am not supposed to have fizz with braces! I have however ignored this advice a couple of times desperate times! I've got wine chilling at home but nothing beats a g&t in my opinion - cheers

Dh has just text me from the park saying he has adopted about 10 kids and they won't leave him alone rule number 1 of taking kids to the park - don't engage with them too much or you end up with everyone's kids following you! It's definitely cheered me up picturing him trying to convince our two to come home now...

Aw bless him Foxes your dh always sounds so lovely!

Lol at pied piper of the playground DH :o

More life admin stuff done today:
Went to GP for SAR (CAMHS referral letters)
Spoke to carers support and now have a grant form to fill in eeeek
Phoned hearing test people
Ordered DD’s main birthday pressie - was worth hanging on for a sale (echo dot)