Fledglings step their way through June; yikes we'll be Flying in to summer soon!

[Singingcricket]

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 , 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, although 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) [[http://www.flylady.net/d/br/2017/06/11/please-explain-the-zones-6/
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

Oh and not forgetting "habit of the month" which for June is : drinking water!

Good luck and happy Flying one and all!

*

I guess I did have a late rally after all :o Cagletini napped late so I sorted out her clothes while watching the last few episodes of outnumbered. Sorted into a bag for one friend and a box for someone else plus a separate bag of not-great-condition stuff (which I wouldn’t necessarily send but waiting to see if she still wants them for nursery spares) and a few awful bits thrown out. Next size up stuff folded into box (plus a few in previous size she hasn’t outgrown, why is there such a huge variation?) and she’s officially no longer in vests and sleepsuits 😭

That’s all I managed though really except I’ve booked our home ed “inspection” for mid July. Gah. I have no reason to worry really - to be brutally honest, my kids do far more formal work than their friends, some do zero, and said friends have been fine on their visits as it’s a very laid back LEA. But I’m still nervous! I’m going to keep a record of everything we do over the next three weeks just so they can see what an average day looks like, and I also need to properly gather together some examples of their more creative stuff and written work. Also will write a list of what kind of things they do so she has plenty to look at.

Seems like sooo much is happening over the next few weeks. We have the “early help team” on Tuesday and then the housing association are sending surveyors round on Thursday. Neither are checking the state of the house but still! Aaaargh

Anyone coming in the house makes me feel "aaaarghhh" cag I do hope no MW or HV is going to try and do a home visit before baby is born because last time they turned up unannounced and i was rude Happy for visits after birth but i honestly dont need anyone to advise me on safe sleeping or any of that!

Ooh. Apparently I’m a butterfly! 🦋

I don’t really mind visits so much since we moved. Absolutely hated it in the old house because it was such a state but generally this one is ok and I’ve relaxed a bit even though it’s messy. My friends are messy too 😂

So I wouldn’t say we have CHAOS really anymore but we do have the odd panic tidy so upstairs is a mess! And I am embarrassed by the state of our kallaxes.

I also struggle with new people sometimes and made DH change his dentist appt so he’s here for the surveyors.

The cabbage seems to have done the trick!

Turning up unannounced is rude! The old home ed “inspector” used to turn up early, it was a trick to catch you out - I was knee deep in laundry scoffing a crumpet the first time. Some LEAs doorstep you even though it’s not strictly legal or something.

Of course we don’t really want the house to be immaculate (haha as if it ever would be) when the early help team come as the whole point is that they do need to know we really aren’t managing all that well!

But I do really want the home ed stuff organised properly.

I lost the post this morning. Waves to every one.

Ta da

Cleaned most of bathroom,
Vacuumed downstair
Iced cakes
Fed pets

Hi all, we have visitors but I can't talk about the house ever being "visitor ready" really as the fabric of it is so old and crumbly. I am beginning to doubt it ever will be. It's so hard to find good tradesmen and materials/insurance seems to cost about five times the price of the same things in the uk. I find the whole thing mortifyingly embarrassing and I've sort of lost hope tbh.

Having said all of that, not many people turn up without advance warning tbh (except parish priest occasionally) and a few friends. And those who do tend to be v close friends so are used to the crumbliness!

Well done for banishing CHAOS Cag! That is a huge achievement! Especially when home edding!

Late rally consisted of:
swept worst of plaster dust off stairs after roofers
making lemon curd
tidying up bathroom
hanging up washing
more dog walking (dodging the rain clouds)
made supper veggie/bean casserole thing and cleared up

Waves to all fledglings!

🌼 Well done for making it half way through the Flying month everyone! Last day in the bathroom tomorrow.

🌼 Launch pad link containing flight plan for Friday. Best not to download!

X post! Waves to Bower and 🐔 and everyone else!

Aye I've I imagine you could advise the MWs & HVs now, rather than the other way around

Cordelia
I've as list is bigger than your bump are you eating per chance?
SC I hate workmen leaving doors open
Cag well done on the late surge
Lisetteany trifle left

I'm here! Just a bit of a full on week. Dh had his exam yesterday and he said it went okay so that's good news. And following all my work drama they've now offered to employ me which after some discussions I've agreed to so I'm no longer freelance!

Good luck to your dd sc

By the way take note everyone - one of today's missions is to take 15 minutes to sit down and have a cup of tea!! Make this a mission you all do

One last portion of trifle in naughty corner for you zoo. Added extra 100s and 1000s because Birds are a bit stingy on that front.

Morning all. That’s great foxes . Mission also sounds good today .

Today yet again I have resolved to get more done . Not sure how likely this is though as I have to go in for a school thing so that is the morning gone really. I know I am lucky to be able to go to these things but with this rain everyone will be soaking wet and then have to sit in wet clothes in a room full of people so it will be fusty and damp. Lovely.

Excellent news about the employment foxes!

Ugh I’m a bit overwhelmed this morning. At least everyone is awake so we should be able to get a decent amount of home ed done. Also hopefully swimming with a friend and have some errands in town.

Morning all! Piccadilly circus here. Builders and cleaner have arrived and the water softening guy and a chap who is looking at drains. DH is back, striding about importantly, scattering papers about and barking down the phone. DD is off doing two exams and managed to be spectacularly rude and "superior" before she left. She will be back again at lunchtime. I'm hiding upstairs with the furries. Just sat down to tea and toast and noticed that toast looks suspiciously "clean". Then noticed Marmite all over the "puppy's" chops . Oh well, I am trying to diet!

Will someone come and rescue me pleeease? Preferably with cake.

Foxes congratulations on your job! Excellent news. Well done you! . Glad your dh's exam went ok too!

Toostressy poor you, steaming gently in a school hall!

Buena suerte to your DD Zoo!

foxes tis fabulous job news indeed!

SC

Mmm cake. But yeah, no custard. I always switch it out for whipped cream :o

Slow and stressful morning here. :(

How can you not like custard?

One of my cravings has been hot puddings and custard

Zoo i have been eating bloody LOADS atm. Like everything. Downside is everything gives me heartburn!

Great news on the job front foxes

Feel your pain on the sitting through school stuff stressy! We have lots of things coming up with it being dc1s last year of primary! His stuff is always most awkward for me as i have a noisy toddler and most of his classmates parents are older than my own parents so way past toddler years!

Funny you should say that about the MWs and HVs SC, the MW i saw at the hospital told me i was not expected to sign up to parenting classes as i could probably run them!

I think what pissed me off the most with the unannounced home visit in my last pregnancy was that there was nothing of the sort when i had dc1. When i was 19, clueless and could have done with the help! After his birth i was pretty much ignored in the hospital as i wasnt breastfeeding. Yet when i had kept him alive for 8 years (plus two other dc) they want to come and tell me how to prepare bottles and talk safe sleeping

I am a bit dead. Just walked pretty far while pushing dc4 (asleep) and adding shopping to the pram as i went!

Waves to bower, cag, lisette, cordelia and anyone else

Ta da

Made bed (never do this )
Quick tidy round bedroom moving washing etc
School run and all that shit
Picked up parcels
Picked up fathers day gifts and cards
Picked up couple bits for baby and dc4
Hidden DPs father day stuff in the house

Making custard in the microwave has been a revelation.

I'm really enjoying Clutterbug and I'm thinking out how we store things in the house.

I just buy it in a tin

I confess to buying in tins I've even cheapo brands hit the custard spot here!!I agree on left in deep end- when I had dd1(24yrs ago) and no mum to help I literally had to rely on booklets given by hospital how to top and tail etc.when had lil zoo they breeze in like I NEED advice
Lisetteslurp
SC arf at clean toast.cossima cat loves marmite rice cakes,even though swallowing them makes her look like a duck try eat while slice of bread!!
Foxes great news.hope DH gets the results wants🍀
Stressy we have leavers assemble approaching...

Lil zoo flatly refused engage motion wearing a pretty dress and having hair and make up from a leavers prom so has rsvp with capital letters NO THANKS on the form

Cag how about a pepsi instead of tea?

Tada
Cats fed
Wash on
Littertray and bins
Pack ups and breakfasts
Hang up washing,more on
Help lil zoo dress/brush hair
Wash up
Ring gp as her wrists not improving and twas hospital advice after x-ray last week- rang 8,app paediatric nurse at 915!
Pack dd2 off with extra hug and promise nice tea after stress of Spanish vocab today
School run replaced doctor trip
Been referred for physio
Drop at school
Come back and pick up bag for chazza
Drop off
Acquire batteries
English with ds
Locate recipe for chocolate cake(no eggs so vegan) winging it using oil stead Marg as cheapo d.f one separates when heatedand loaf not cake as can't find right size.it may fail but smells good at mo!!

Now time for lunch(found stray cinnamon and raisin bagel that date day before yesterday lurking in cupboard.bit dry so going to toast it!)

To do
Clean microwave
Wash floors
Possibly deep clean bathroom