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

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Totally identify Cag, we waste huge amounts of time each week looking for missing worksheets, just can't seem to find a storage system that works. I am decluttering the dining room/study today with a view to reshuffling school stuff, but still think it will end up in random piles everywhere. Two large carrier bags of books/maps/notebooks/DVDs so far.

Haven't seen zoo for a bit, hope all ok x

Hi do you mind if I pop in, I’ve just recently brought a new house. It’s only small so is becoming quite cluttered, so would like to follow this and get it tidy

Welcome Barbara! Any Q's about the system, don't hesitate to ask!

I hear you Cag and Expletive paperwork is the bane of my life! (Proffers flame thrower!)

Think Zoo may be on other thread Foxes

Must dash and chop fruit before hordes descend!

Welcome barbara it’s amazing how quickly clutter builds up! We all understand all too well here!

It’s not just home ed paperwork either it’s the books and sometimes it’s hard to even find a damn pen! We had them all organised beautifully beneath the paper tray but then Cagletini started walking and was the right height to reach and destroy! And now she draws on everything if she gets her hands on one! Also DD often takes colouring stuff upstairs. I think DS might too, once he has a desk (DD needs one too, but has a makeshift one she put together with unpacked plastic boxes!). So my original plan of just having one set is clearly not practical. We recently moved the table again so it’s next to one of the Kallax units and we could have pens there but need to think about how to divide it all up.

you ok lovely?

.

🌼 Launch pad including flight plan for Sat here
Best to refer than download!

Leaves for Zoo

G'night all!

Welcome Barber. good to have you with us.

Some laundry, washing up and general tidying/vacuuming today. Nothing too impressive tbh! It's been a busy week and I'm glad to see the weekend in sight. Hope you are OK zoo we are here if you need to vent about anything.

Morning all

Leaves out to try and tempt zoo from under blankies

I am recovering from being ill again, it seems to be never ending atm

Back at work 3 days a week and already counting down to next half term when i am off for almost two weeks!

Keep wondering if i should just give up and go on mat leave at 29 weeks instead of 32

Welcome barber i think you are on the september antenatal thread with me!

Been awake on and off since 3, dc4 up at 530. Yawn.

I've wow,you're immune system is taking a serious battering with this pregnancy

Everything went tits up really and I crashed and burned...it's a struggle trying to manage 3kids which are all stressing at the mo(dd2 has mock galloping towards us,lil zoo has sats and as a perfectionist is becoming a major stressed,and D's is just D's-a bag of neurosis that even follows me to the loo if I'm gone more than 5minutes)I've also had dd2 parents evening which had take them all and was my idea of hell on earth try manage dd2 stropping,lil zoo bored and D's in freak out mode.was very grateful for the cavalrystepping in by finishing work early and commuting back the hour journey to sit in a hot noisy corridor with D's and lil zoo as it was slightly quieter/cooler and mum was still nearbyas running away isn't an option due to there being no one else able or willing to fill in for me I had couple unfunctioning days then had give self firm kick up arse and drop the pity party and starting soldier ontadas from yesterday include being vertical all day,eating more than tictacs and plastering smile on face whilst serving sandwiches again.tiday I will do better..

Tada
Pulled stuff of top kitchen cupboards
Wiped them
Sorted thru boxes,Ditch stuff don't use/needs cleaning rusty cake tins
Pull out useless oven and clean behind it
Tidy out two kitchen cupboards
Wipe all tiling
Clear and clean window sill,only returning necessary items
Feed zoolets
Wash up

Need more bread/sandwich items so off to the shops.will read thread later if get a mo

Morning all. This is the latest I’ve stayed in bed for a while I think! Still woke several times because toddler.

Feeling rather crappy because of period BUT I am pleased that (TMI sorry) I am getting to grips with using my mooncup (well, different brand), this is the second month and it’s getting really quite easy already which has amazed me! I put it off for so long.

I’m off out later, as I realised last night that our free cinema tickets (from a complaint a few months back) were about to run out. There’s just not been much we have wanted to see (we got six in total) and can’t really go as a family due to Cagletini (I took her a few times as a tiny one in the sling but she’s an active tornado toddler now). Anyway I liked the trailer for Tolkien (despite not being into LOTR books, hobbit was good though) so I’m taking a friend with the last two tickets.

Nice that I can still get out as I won’t be gym/swimming for a few days :o (I’d love to be one of those women from tampax adverts of old, who can go rollerblading on their heaviest days in white denim shorts, but errrr no :o some days I’m too scared to leave the house :o)

Anyway Flying... nope.

Good morning all!

Sorry things are still so difficult Zoo . Glad to hear your dd1 was able to step in when your dp couldn't/wouldn't . Bravo to her for stepping up despite long commute.

I've difficult to know from here because don't know how much you will need those extra weeks at other end of maternity leave (if that's how it works in UK) but fwiw ( and taking in to account I know nothing about the demands of being a mother of four, working, and being pregnant all at the same time which is all huuuge ) - you may be getting ill so much because you are run down - so may be best to listen to your body and go early. Good luck with your decision

Cag all those ads involving women's perfectly normal bodily functions are utterly ridiculous. You can't just feel crap, sit on a sofa and eat chocolate vehicle you are menstuating. No, you have to roller skate with a Dalmatian wearing skin tight sequinned shorts. And (more my age group) if you have any sort of urinary issues, you can't just do your kegels at traffic lights and wear a pant liner, like most normal women, you have to wear a full feathered carnival costume ffs and samba down the street .

Btw, I meant to say from earlier down thread, can really identify so much with your annoyance at yourself over Cagletini dress and procrastination over parcels etc. I do that sort of thing all the time! And get furious with myself! Wait to do something until everything else is perfect which it never is of course. Or build up anxieties about doing things which in reality weren't half as hard as anticipated. So thanks for posting about it because it really helps

Have a good day Chic!

I'm still a bit crumped from yesterday (stood for five hrs on concrete which doesn't sound a lot but hysterectomy site was protesting at end of day) . That aside, bit worried because recovery seems to be going backwards ATM, as still feel so unfit, despite going steady and not doing anything particularly strenuous over the past few weeks. On the other hand, maybe thats it and I should step up the activity, who knows?

Late morning as DD had friends sleeping over and they asked for "engleeesh" breakfast so it was eggs and bacon and baguette and jam and coffee all round. (Diet going well as ever ) Just now working out what to do for the rest of today having dropped DD at yet another maths tutoring session and dropped off her friends at home, a tram stop and an organ lesson respectively and cleared table and stacked DW. Need to hang up overnight washing and then sort out a plan. Boudoir will feature no doubt and soup-making. Dh is sorting furries thankfully. First must go and dodge lightening and showers to prop up my favourite twisted willow which was blown over in the garden overnight .

🎁🎂🍥💐 to Hills if you are lurking! My menopausal brain can't remember exact day, but sure it is your birthday around about now!

Cherry waves to all fledglings!

Cherry waves? I am not on psychodelic drugs I promise (well not today anyway ). Meant to be cheery!

Cag/SC agree on the ridiculous last ads.me?I wear black,black and more black.shuffle if in pain not skate and some days don't leave house,grateful haven't got carpets when I stand up and flood...joys of being female ehdays of jumping on trampolines are over,cough carefully.hate sudden sneezes!!

Tada
Nice walk in brisk wind over nature reserve with dd2(left D's and lil zoo with Xbox Minecraft and in mobile contact should he need is back before we were done) an hour's the time limit,which we did.was nice get out and laugh/chat before returning to anxiety house)

Tada
Shop done
Put away

To do
Scrub surfaces in kitchen
Clean cupboard fronts and floor
Front room
Bathroom
Bedrooms(wibble at boudoir,or storage dump as better known)

How much actually gets done depends on whether energy levels slump significantly.i have bought a nice baguette for lunch salad leaves with pea shoots in fancy pants rather than spinach or iceberg and as requested by Littlie's lean corned beef and some cute gingerbread biscuits that weren't on list but fuck it

Evening all

Wrote a proper post and then computer lost it!

Barabara welcome.
Hi SC Cag Zoo Chic

Have continued with paper work battle. I must get rid of some of Dd's DLA letters only keeping last 2/3, although it will stop in October when she's 16 and she will not get PIP. On same note I'm not going to horde all DH's PIP renewal letters!

Dc's have enjoyed chill out day today. Dd has had some GCSE revision papers and is having major melt downs.

Joys of teenagers and autism!

Agree with everyone on sanitary adverts - tracksuit trousers and biscuits on the sofa more appropriate. Glad I'm still having the Depo injections, no periods in about 4 years! Have just put Dd on the pill because she really suffers with period pains. Also can't cope with tampons and I think would be due on for holiday.
Probably last holiday 10 days in Majorca, don't know how quickly DH's mobility is going to deteriorate so have to make the most of now.

Swimming tomorrow so no baths tonight. Watching very exciting snooker.
Have a good evening.

Afternoon all!

Lots of washing up completed this morning, and got a huge pile of ironing for tonight rockstar lifestyle but still looking forward to having DD and DH home for an extra day on Monday!

Still having a bit of a paperwork binge. Long way to go!

DH has been fixing things in the bathroom today, I hit him with a list of household jobs as he is away for at least part of the week again for the next few weeks. He was watching a YouTube video before about cars, I was wishing he'd turn the sound down when his gentle snoring alerted me to the fact that he was finding it as boring as I was Envy our party lifestyle

Tada
Kitchen surfaces scrubbed
Cupboard fronts wiped
Swept floor
Washed floor

Mucked out the boy dungeon-,it's much much better with a rejig of belongings.moving stuff that is for chazza onto cramped landing.floor washed,windows cleaned.he has some space under his bed now to hide away if needs quiet time!

S+s bathroom

Ran out of steam to do front room

Have done 3loads washing,dry and put away
4th in wash now

I've slot in a long hot shower too,and now sit sofa in comfy joggers and t shirt watch dance moms with lil zoo

I hear you Chic DH had a two and a half hour "nap" this afternoon because he felt so tired. No long weekend here (had ours on Wed) and he's off to Scandanavia crack of sparrows Mon morning. I've given up asking him to fix anything in the house tbh! He does mow the lawn though.

Goodness Shannara hats off to you for facilitating and balancing so many different needs, spinning so many plates as ever . Good luck with ongoing paperwork battle!

Glad you got out for a blast of fresh air Zoo. Yep our boudoir should be more accurately named "storage dump" too.

Ta da:
S & S
cooked breakfast/cleared up/shined sink
chauffeuring teens
stopped off at butcher and pet shop
dining room table hot spot
folded towels & pants
wm loads X 4 (two hung up, two td)
folded piles of laundered bed linen
carried a load of things upstairs and a load of things downstairs
made butternut squash soup
made chilli
rescued tree (temporarily)
40 mins boudoir (still more to do)
ran DD across town to library to renew book only to be told we can do it on-line but at least we know now!
glass recycling on way back

Family film tonight!

Have a good evening everyone!

Meh no TMI here I am happy with frank discussions of these things. TBH that sort of chat with one of my friends is what gave me the confidence to try the cup!

Amazing thing happened here today... DD1 sat and read to herself for hours 😱😱😱 she never did that before. She’s nearly 12 and is being assessed for dyslexia among other things later this year. She has tried this book so many times (Harry Potter) but could never get past a few pages before getting disheartened.

Cags that's great news about your dd and Harry Potter.

Sleeping until I wake up tomorrow. Then major house spruce up before returning to zone cleaning on Monday.

Cherry waves 🍒

Another day,and I'm pleased with yesterday's progress.today it's living room,bathroom,start on my room.possibly hit girls room of doom with shovel and skip
"D"h alledges he will come take us shopping.im not holding my breath....plan to hit all of cleaning tasks by 9,then if he doesn't show bit shopping and a nice family day with zoolets(walk if nice,if not board games,individual time together etc)

Need to seriously up my game with D's schoolwork,so may go thru his work and see which tasks he can crack on with whilst I'm cleaning in the week,and which he will need help with and see if I can come up with a plan!!

Good morning!

🌼 launch pad link including today' s flight plan best to just look rather than download

Have a good Sunday everyone!