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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Aw thanks Zoo I think you could do what I do standing on your head tbh! (One child is easy; four without much support from dp; not so much! ) You are right about technology though ; everything has changed since my day! There have been precisely four jobs here in last 15 yrs that I have been suitably qualified for, despite constant language learning! And employing someone here is very very expensive (insurance etc is X 2 their wage) so job market v sluggish. I just need to stop whining and be grateful for what I have but I like to think I have (God willing) 10 hrs of productivec working life yet and I am bored of household tasks. Always was a really crap femme de foyer tbh

I love the sound of wellbeing café activities and hope assessment appt comes through soon. Enjoy the new oven!

Cag congrats on your productive day! Please dont feel guilty wrt to ill health - you can only do what you physically can do - besides home ed is full time work! That's the thing actually, like you, I am busier than ever, but you've hit the nail on the head re: loss of identity!

And thanks both re: sewing room dilemma. You've given me lots to think about! There is space to put sewing room in a different place (we don't live in about a half of the house - long story) but that part is in even a worst state tbh! Think I will let dd have it and I'm determined to get her room sorted too!

Thanks again

Argh my positivity went out the window at dinner time!! I got cat food all over me, I spend ages making a chicken pie which didn't turn out as well as hoped, I argued with dh, ds had a poo refusal issue and then refused any dinner and I was meant to finish some work but didn't ...

Deep breaths!!

And I did have lots of very insightful things to say re all your posts above which I totally relate to but now my brain won't get them into words

I work part-time but had to leave my original job abroad when DH got his job here. Technically we have the same qualifications but I've ended up with a job and him the career - and now he travels more and we have no family in the country. I've built up all sorts of other skills though. And I've had a rubbish family of origin so I'm happy just to be happy. I do miss my home city though. It's hard balancing everything: work, family, house, making time for ourselves etc

Now realise we are out of food

I think we all do a lot for our families and do the best we can. X

Well said lisette . Thanks SC . Actually I don’t feel as if I am doing anything much with my career at all atm as I am very part time. So that makes me feel a fraud and guilty. It’s hard working 2 days a week as I could really do with upping my hours but that would have a hugely negative impact on family life. But then the money would make such a difference... and so the guilt goes on .

Interesting, but not surprising, to see lots of us have similar feelings. I know so many people in real life that feel the same. It does make me feel better to know that actually lots of people feel similar.

Had yet more physio today - new physio who seems promising. Did lots of laundry and have eaten tea and plated some up for DH. Dishwasher loaded. Neither child asleep yet though .

Well done on potty training progress foxes.

SC, I’m afraid I agree with others. It sounds best to give DD that room as a study unless there is a realistic chance of sorting her room out any time soon. Perhaps you can have a sewing corner.

To do :-
Try to get DD2 to sleep
Physio exercises

Well, shit. I was so careful at the trampoline park today, didn’t bounce loads (as last time I had an epic pain flare 24hrs later) just walked round following the toddler mostly and now I’m in huge pain 😡😡😡

Going to have to rethink our trip tomorrow which is really quite sad. Partly because it involved finally going to bravissimo and getting decent fitting bras and swimsuit.

Cag ,that is rubbish.

I did punish the pile a bit, but it fought back

I have been a SAHM for longer than anticipated, again due to moving and the lack of backup really. I have loved it, but as we approach retirement I think it's time to find something. The money would help of course. DH's company have changed the pension scheme recently so it is uppermost in our minds. He is on countdown! DD looks horrified whenever I mention going to work though as she has always had me at home!

Sorry about the pain Cag, how long will it take to settle? Will there be much walking about for the bravissimo trip?

Can you share the room SC??

Oh no Cag that sounds awful. Sorry about abandoned shopping trip. Do take care

Sorry you have had a challenging day too Foxes hope tomorrow is better!

Lisette that's impressive you have built up other skills. Aye, I think we all just do what we think is best for our families as a whole at the time.

Toostressy good news about the physio! It is interesting how so many of us feel the same way. I still wonder if as many blokes have the same angst and conflicting feelings but at the same time I know many of our dhs/dps don't have an easy time of it either.

And thanks, I am resigned to losing the sewing room now! Dd does have lots of space to study in her bedroom and its shape is lovely (in a faded elegant sort of way) but the decoration is very poor tbh so her needs trump mine in this instance I think!

Thanks again everyone for helping me through the tribulations of life as ever . Sorry to be such an Eeyore!

Link for tomorrow coming up!

🌼 launch pad is here containing flight plan link for Wednesday (once it updates itself). NB Best to refer to it but not download!

Hope everyone has a good anti- procrastination day tomorrow!

Well I am strongly thinking of packing my job in!
Had a shit morning Again! I am so sick of getting to work and finding I am doing something different to what I was expecting. Mainly means teaching a class. Today I went in at 8:30am and didn’t get a break for a drink and more importantly a wee until 12:00. I had a bit of a cry in the car today. I missed a few tablets last week due to the slowness of the pharmacy I used. Maybe this has had an affect.

Thankfully I am off tomorrow. I hope it is dry and I am going to plant all the bed. DD is coming back to help. We have been buying and planning on the weekend. The summerhouse is finished bar another coat of paint. Then we can put stuff in which will free up some space in here.

Ta das
I have been doing the sink and bed each day and cooking /washing up.
Washing done. Extra as I had my niece staying
This morning I cleaned the shower before work.
Lit the fire.
Made a roast dinner.

I haven’t tackled the ironing pile

Tomorrow I hope to tidy and vacuum the house then enjoy the garden.

SC could you buy a cheap worktop and run it along one side of the room to do DD desk and sewing space? Shelving resting on it for pencils, books, sewing accessorises.
My craft room was nearly there until DD and DH dumped stuff in it.you can hardly get in the door now.it is a small room

Right I am off to bed tomorrow is another day.

Cags caglitini growling with the socks is so cute.

cagsI hope this morning sees you feeling up to the bravissimo trip
ive lost my identity I don't think I ever had one tbh,but I am at point wondering who am I,what do I want but I've absolutely no idea.....

Bowersorry you are being overworked and underappreciated
Stressy hope physio can help.i am a sahm but still have guilt when things don't get done.kike you sat,nice to hear we aren't alone
Foxes a new day dawn's in potty front,he is doing well spilling cat food on yourself sucks as it stinks and my fussy feline friends only ear fishy flavoursbugger about the pie,adding pastry is ment to make everything taste good!
Chic I remember as a child finding it very comforting to know my mum was home doing X,y,z.my "d"p is approaching mid fifties and starting to wonder about retirement/what's next...

Lisette wise words

I have awoken to a dark room,howling wind and rain slamming into the windows.i do not want to get up!
Lil zoo has doctors for her wretched throat at 1015,so drop at school,go get her later,drop back again(SATS next week and they're breathing fire with attendance at mo)
Dd2 has orthodontist 130.bith sets are tightening.experience says we are in for a rough few days

Cags I hope some rest has helped your injury.

Work. DH out tonight. Need to look at flight plan. Ironing on my list.

Good morning all!

Cags hope pain is not too awful this morning

Chic don't know how it happened but your post was definitely not there last night when I posted. Sorry about that, was not ignoring it!

It is so great to have that option of returning to work in the future if you decide you want to! And yes, pensions are on our minds too; it's worrying when they are worth so little nowadays, and offspring education goes on for so long and is so expensive! DD was considering going to uni in the UK but now we have been out of the country so long we would have to pay foreign student rates. Thankfully, tertiary education here still free (apart from board etc) so she will probably go here and possibly do post grad study in UK. It all adds up though so one needs to plan.

Zoo I hope both doc and orthodontist appts go well today!

Bower sorry things still so demanding (and changeable) at work. Sounds v stressful indeed! Hope you have a lovely peaceful day off today in the garden! Sorry your craft room took a hit as well!

And thanks for suggestions about sharing sewing room. It's a good idea but I like to be a hermit when I sew and "go in to the zone", and a menopausal grump sharing space with a stressed untidy teen doing revision...would be I think a bit of a tin hat situation

Fortnightly ironing lady (God bless her very soul) is about to arrive so must go and whip ironing pile in to submission for her!

Have a good day fledglings, whether you are at home or work

Bower they really do treat you like crap don’t they! Not cool at all. It must be hard to make the decision, how much notice would you need to give? Could you do a pros and cons list to get it all out on paper?

Thanks all. Just woke up so bit early to tell how I am really. Felt quite down last night too which didn’t help . Anyway, the shop is in Brighton and I struggle with the hills there anyway. The plan was to all go there early and then go back partway to a manga workshop DD has, but we’ve agreed I’ll just take her to that directly. That way I get some baby free time too and some time just with DD1 which doesn’t happen often. Not really sure what we will talk about other than Harry Potter :o. DH is also in pain after a work thing yesterday so easier for him to keep baby at home. I don’t think we would also have time/energy to do the shopping too sadly. And I’ve just seen it’s torrential outside so I think we will just leave that bit!

I am loving the whiteboard. I just changed a few bits on there for today (some of the things are daily requirements) and wrote the extra curricular stuff on. The main thing is though it meant DH and I had to actually discuss it which doesn’t really happen much. The shelves are messed up already though so really need to keep on top of that. Sigh.

Right I must make the most of the quiet and get a head start on reading DSD’s dissertation (just a quick final scan for any grammar/spelling issues). Once someone is up to watch the baby (she’s asleep on the sofa as we didn’t make it upstairs!) I’ll shower. Need to do that Ikea order too if the website is back to normal.

Have a good day everyone!

Pouring with rain here too.

I was a SAHM (3 DS ) until I was 35 then went to college for two years to train as an NNEB Dip. I had DD during that time and worked part time on supply and mornings. I childminded before and after school and worked around the kids as I had no support myself. There were three of us in villlage with 11 kids between us so we all supported each other. I stepped up my hours as my children got older as did the two friends. I went up to five days a week then dropped a day two years ago. I loved being at home with them.

Anti - procrastination day today.
I have a bill to pay.
A direct debit to set up.
Ring man about summerhouse re painting.
Doctors and nurses app. To set up.
Ironing.
Planning for Thursday and Friday. Masks to cut out.

Repot tomatoes. At least I can go out into greenhouse.
Sort green house and put out over wintered snap dragons etc. Should have done this. Fill trays in A line greenhouse if dry enough or do in one and dash to other.

If it dries up- plant potatoes, plant out beans. Plant herbaceous border. Start moving stones for bed behind summer house and path.

Make pastry. Make a sweet potato vegan tart for DD.

Hope to pop in later.
I think I better get up.

Cags the trouble is we are being made into an Academy. Staff are leaving and not being replaced, they are covering like patchwork with staff they have. Due to teaching staff being off for long term( stress) we (HLTAs) are covering a lot of it. So if someone phones in sick -we cover. If someone has to go to a meeting - we cover. If the interim HT calls for a meeting - we cover. Covering for SAT next week. Some of the children are naturally reacting. Some of our children have severe EBD. This is partly due to catchment. When I teach these classes I don’t get any or very little TA support. I AM the TA normally supporting the children / teacher. I normally worked in KS2 but they have sent me to KS1 because of my training. Every day is different which is ok but then you get in to find you are pulled from that work to either teach that class or go to another. Then you have staff unhappy in KS1. Phonics is missed.
So then you feel upset, the teachers are upset, the children are sometimes upset. The only advantage is for the budget!
Plus you cover the teachers duty as well as your own and if they clash someone moans about you not being there.
There are very few HLTA jobs going. One at Secondary in the whole county just now. I would take a demotion but it will affect my pension. I know the person who is taking over and I think he will be very good. I was considering staying to see but not sure if I can handle the bumpy ride in the meantime. Lots of other stuff has happened which I can’t talk about. According to a friend that went through this it is fairly normal. I don’t think they had as many changes or that it took as long.
Some days I cope and some days I can’t ride the storm. And feel like I am drowning in the waves.

It sounds like a better plan considering the weather Cags.

Everyone will be at work now. I am still snug in bed. It is a naice feeling.

A months notice is all. The only plus is I used to love my job, I like the money. I would need to use up some of my savings.

Happy days everyone.😁

Bower i find all this very interesting. I work in early years but private sector. I have been considering looking at school positions when i have finished my degree. You make it sound less appealing. That being said a lot of the same issues are faced in the private sector. for you

I've lil zoo old primary school had whispers of an academy takeover.there was a staff exoduswhich saw 6teachers leaveschool said funds were short and culled all but ks1 TA.was nightmare for staff and the children as there wasn't enough staff to cope.we hung around another year then when we came up against bullying arrogant teacherwe left
School she moved to became an academy in sept.we lost 3teachers,few specialist staff members.both the office staff left within few months
It's coming together,new staff came to plug gaps straight away.we did 2months short of a school year as a state school,and we are half way thru a year in academy status and I can see changes,but good ones.
Pe is more than just standard dodgeball,football etc

Hi, sorry, haven't kept up with the thread much today , I don't really know where the time went! Had to do some work which made my morning disappear. Ds got through quite a few pairs of pants today as well so lots of washing - potty training set back but lots on the potty too so I'm not too bothered. No poo though...

Ta das
Daily routine and s&s
Work
Supermarket
Ordered dh some birthday presents - anti procrastination!
Emailed Specsavers - anti procrastination!
Decluttered baking cupboard
Checked and decluttered fridge
Dinner is minted lamb in the slow cooker and dh just making some swede mash to go with it.

I did want to do some baking today but didn't get round to it.

How's your new oven zoo?

I've I worked in a mixture of nurseries before going into schools. This has definitely been the worst time although I have worked with some horrible teachers in the past and left.Some schools I absolutely loved and had to leave because I was 1:1and the contract ran out. Being a TA isn't so bad but being a HLTA is something else. I did it for my own professional development not to be used as a cheap teacher. I wish I had done my teaching now but an accident and the report from the consultant put me off.

zoo that makes interesting reading and why I was considering staying especially as I know the new super Head. I don't mind if they pay me off.
we have had 15/16 staff left so far. 13 classes. Lots are looking for jobs.

I haven't achieved much but feel relaxed and calm. It is absolutely baltic here so I haven't even planted a tomato. I washed the bathroom floor means removing everything. Spoke to someone re bill. tried to speak to summerhouse man but can't get hold of him Forgot about GP. BF rang and asked me up for a cuppa and I knew there was ulterior motive. She wanted some sewing advice. DD and boyfriend arrived at lunch time so stopped to make them lunch and have a chat.
Haven't done ironing. Researched hazel fencing instead of school masks so need to do that. Making DD a tart which is a bit of a faff. easy but long. Hope it tastes good.
Plan to go to bed early.

MMM minted lamb yum. I had pork last night and have a slice left. Gave DD BF some for lunch. Can smell tart mmm.

Foxes I think someone pinched the time!

Hi sorry to have been absent since this morning. Been spending some quality time with d🐎 starting to smarten him up for the summer after a longer period then normal "au naturel".

Had to get bck earlier then planned because DD has horrible cold and is feeling rough and dh away. So need to spend some quality with her!

Bbl to catch up with interesting school talk. But in the meantime just wanted to say Zoo I absolutely lurve the sound of your Bollywood dancing teacher!

He sounds hilarious.😁