Cherry waves hello to November 2019. Fledgling Flylady thread for all.[smile]

[Ghoulette1740]

Welcome to the November Flylady thread Fledglings! All are welcome here. A few of us have been around a while but everyone, newbie and lurking, is welcome to join in.

This is my first time running the thread so I hope other fledglings will alert me when I’ve got things confused or if I’ve left something out!! A busy month for us all with the holiday season looming next month…

Very simply Flylady is a zone-based cleaning system which we loosely follow. Everyone is different and has different rooms and life demands. There are five zones and at the beginning and the end of the month we usually straddle Zone 1 and zone 5.
(amend rooms to suit your house – I do the living and dining room together as it’s all one room in my house)
November
Zone 1 Hall, entrance/dining room (Fri 1 – Sat 2)
Zone 2 Kitchen (Sun 3- Sat 9)
Zone 3 Bathroom and another room (Sun 10- Sat 16)
Zone 4 Master bedroom/closet (Sun 17 – sat 23)
Zone 5 Living room (Sun 24 – Sat 30)

Pop onto the Flylady website to have a closer look but signing up for emails will probably lead to very many landing in your inbox. Also there has been some concern about securely downloading pdfs from the site. here

Flylady has an introductory scheme for newbies called Babysteps which is a light 31 day introduction to the system – dressing to shoes, shining your sink etc. What I like about Flylady is her emphasis on self care, her abhorrence of perfectionism and her adage that you’re never being behind in the system - just jump in. No need to completely clean your house before you start – phew! here

There is a morning routine and an evening routine to keep things ticking over and a weekly home cleaning hour to change bed sheets, mop, hoover, take out rubbish etc. The system isn’t brilliant for major decluttering so you might want to supplement with Kondo or another decluttering system. Flylady doesn’t want us cleaning all day so she is very keen on using a timer. Clean then stop!
In addition each day has a purpose: see the daily focus here

Monday: Weekly home cleaning hour (can be split into ten minute sections and spread over week) here
Tuesday: Plan and play (Menu planning, family event planning)
Wednesday: Anti-procrastination day
Thursday: Errand day
Friday: Clear out bags, fill car with petrol, date night
Saturday: Family fun
Sunday: Lift your spirit

Launch pad for guidance every day! launch pad

Habit of the month of November is meal planning. This is my Achilles heel! here

We have a lovely virtual naughty corner where we can all retreat – there are all manner of lovely things left there by thread members including fluffy pillows, warm blankets, tea, coffee, wine, delicious foods. This month there are plenty of candles to brighten the darker days.
There may be mention of Ned who started life as an autocorrection on the thread but who has now morphed into a virtual helper with a specialism in putting away laundry. Ned is borrowed by thread members from time to time when the going gets tough on Mount Washmore.
Most days we pop on to post our ta da list of what we’ve managed to do and have a bit of a natter.

Bower you're back ! Yay ! I wondered whether the room of doom had trapped you inside it well done for the decluttering!

Ta Da
Everyone washed dressed & fed
Dancing & football

I'm about to attack mount washmore, dd1 is going to have 30 mins emptying toy wardrobe to sort through , ds will spend 15 mins going through his pile and finding a better home for them , oh is back from work and going to put the cupboard & drawer set in the Kallax unit . Dd2 will possibly 'help' me with the washing hope everyone is having a productive day !

Hello from me!

Yay glad you have emerged Bower

Hope your dd is feeling better today Foxes?

Also have mountain pile the size of Everest I've if that's any consolation. And that's after clearing the last one recently. I have absolutely no excuses, but with your brood, you are entitled to a backlog I reckon!

[Belgian chocs for Zoo.] Zoo Sorry your dp is constantly letting you all down. You deserve better. I agree with everyone else. You and the DC deserve to live your lives without a brooding presence making you anxious and on tenterhooks. I know your dp has mh issues, but the unpredictability of not knowing when he is going to be around (even when expected), or what mood he is going to be in when he is around, must be very unsettling indeed and lead to more anxiety for DC. Maybe putting more boundaries in place (if possible and if he wants to come back and if you want him back) so that aspect is managed a bit more might make you feel more in control. So yes, you can come back but only under these conditions etc ... maybe? So sorry. You have enough to deal with . Hope wm going ok now because wm malfunction is last thing you need on top of everything else!

KTCluck glad things slightly improved at work or you have a strategy in place to deal with it. Enjoy your much deserved lazy day! You sound very organised flying-wise!

Ghoulette I keep meaning to switch back to soap, must do so!

Glad event went well Laputa well done!

Good luck TeamTidy with the family Flying today!

Waves to Toostressy Times10 Honu and everyone else!

Tea went well yesterday; downstairs looking very faded as usual but "visitor ready" for once! Made a load of tiny lemon butterfly cakes with lemon curd and butter cream , a batch of scones, cucumber sandwiches and a date and walnut cake (excess went to office - fell on them). Spent happy evening playing Scrabble with DD - goodammit she beat me first time ever! . And DH came home with flowers so all good again now and think message has got home for once as he and DD were trying to be more cooperative this morning!

Did usual routines plus supermarket and plumber visit this morning and then sat blubbing watching Lost in Translation win the Betfair Chase in memory of the owner's late son's in his favourite Minion colours in scintillating form!. The young horse rocked it for them! So brave!

Now at mahoosive uni fair with DD (I am resting my feet and grabbing a coffee for 5 mins) and we will be meeting up with DH later to hear beautiful sung mass in cathedral nearby.

Cherry waves to all! Have a lovely evening everyone!

sc so pleased your family are trying to make amends a bit at least!
Dd is much better today thanks , just all a bit tired as everyone was up in the night and ds then came into our bed and took up all the space as usual

Easy dinner again tonight, pizza for the kids and ready meals for us later. Feels very cosy indoors this evening.

Cherry waves etc. I’m bringing chocolate buttons and foam shrimps to the haughty corner.

Still feel like garbage today. Oh crap I need to try and renew my books online as I’ve left it too late to ring. Various other financial things I should be doing, also need to finish tesco order, and prepare for school meeting on Monday!

I think I’m going to ring the psychiatrist office on Monday, she won’t be in (only works tues-thurs) but I need to see if they’ve actually allocated me an appt yet as if they leave it too late I risk running out.

Sorry about the illnesses and crappy menfolk.

I'm back!
Bastarding WM still playing up

We went out 1130
Got back at 6pm
This involved town(and lunch from Gregg's)
Local wholefoods co operative (sunflower seed butter,molasses,malt extract and some dairy free bits for lil zoo,incl a selection pack anyone?)
Shoe shop at out of town retail park as only two options in town for lil zoo school shoes and barely anything her size,nothing fitted properly!
Drop zoolets home at 4,dd2 got ready pick up for friends sleepover,D's and lil zoo flopped on sofa,dd1 and I headed supermarkets-aldi then Morrison's as I won't have dd2 strong arms to help carry tomorrow
I got back and put fridge stuff away,fed zoolets sandwich tea
Just put food shop away
I have 3bags of Xmas stuff to sort and hide away.lots little bits bought(little cheap games,bits for dd1 and fiance,Xmas socks etc)
Nice to think I have presents now squirreled away for zoolets(even though it involved using money I was awarded backdated for D's disability allowance that's for doing up his room.his nibbs buys Xmas and it felt good choosing things myself for them all,even if not huge things he lavishes them withI went for things we can do together and things they're interested in(drawing etc))

Very tired,I had first food of the day 20 minutes ago(been up since 430) should go find a drink!!
Will need to force myself do self care from lunchtime tom I think!
We are watch back to future on TV and hanging out at mo,weird not having quiet time just me and dd2.shes heading cinema with friend then tomorrow they're clothes shop for a party next weekend.dd2 borrowing a dress from dd1 but needs a strapless bra to wear with it,friend needs a dress.theyre both biggest in friendship group and didn't fancy shop with stick insect mates grumbling how far they look in dresses she and friend never get toes into and end up feeling like lumpy potatoes!
Hopefully they'll have fun and not return disheartened
(Adds some shelter to trench as rain has returned and I don't want be sitting in middle puddle tomorrow night!!)

Hope everyone's enjoying a lovely evening!

Baby-step 24th November:here
Launch pad link:here

On to the living room - zone 5

I've just read your first post of the day zoo. 'D'H sounds very like my father. We had a lot of moodiness and 'my way or the high way'. I think he has a personality disorder. Won't take boundaries etc. I'm so sorry you have to deal with anything like that.

In awe of your WM skills. Hope it's behaving now.

Have baked two cakes for a football match (teas and coffees table) though likelihood is it will be called off due to incessant rain. Will hold off baking cookies until tomorrow morning when I will know for sure. Will freeze the Madeira cake if match off.

Glad you are having a good day Foxes after the illnesses.

Hope you feel better tomorrow Laputa. Glad to see you back Bower.

Choosing a Uni is so hard SC. I work in one and tis lovely but I do pine for my Alma Mater at times because it was a city centre campus.
Hope dd finds one she likes. - and hope Uni is a little easier than the school system which sounds really onerous!

Waves to other fellow fledglings: Toostressy, Tidy Bower Laputa Honu Chic and Idontdance, MercuryRising, BeanBag7 and Onthebrink67 Times10 CaptainCautious KTCluck and Hungryhazeleyes - and lurkers of course!

I am leaving my freshly baked gingerbread with stem ginger sticky topping in the naughty corner.

Tomorrow is lift your spirit day in Flylady land so please do something for yourself -even if it's just 5 mins breathing space.

I have just caught up with the thread - you all have been so busy, I have to say I feel shamefully lazy here!

zoo I'm sorry to hear your "d"p is acting like a spoiled toddler, I really hope things improve for you very soon, whatever that may mean for the two of you.

bower it's good to see you back on the thread, you must have been very busy!

I know I missed a lot more of you, willow, kt, laputa, and more - my memory is getting terrible, I apologise for missing people, I hope you are all well.

I have just been busy working, both my full time job and today worked my 2nd part-time job. I do have tomorrow off so hopefully get some flying done. At the very least grocery shopping, I made my list today but was too lazy to go this morning.

Ginger is my favourite cake ghoulette
At least I got some sleep
Today I needed get back on top of house.plan is manic sorting,plus pop Asda George this morning then pm is earmarked for family time and self-care

Good morning!

Can't stop staring at my car keys on the hook, whilst supping a cup of tea. I have d🐎 withdrawal symptoms and I am very tempted to sneak off and visit my dear lad, but really need to stay and crack on here! Only 31 days until Christmas! Yikes!

We bought frites on the way home yesterday evening because DD was hungry (they are twice fried in beef dripping here - bloomin' delicious!) and I succumbed to a quarter of a packet. Then after supper (healthy home made soup) ate four of the delicious chocolates our neighbour brought us the other day. Gah! The build up to Christmas in this country is so difficult for the waist line! . Decided I am going to do a session on the exercise bike plus some exercises (aimed at middle-aged wobbly people like me) for the next 30 days in addition to usual dog-walking. Might add in a special decluttering task and a Christmas prep task every day too if I can! Going to call it the "30-day dead, shed, and sled"!

Hello Hungryhazeleyes - good to see you - with two jobs you don't sound remotely lazy to me! And today, as Ghoulette says is "renew your spirit" day so I hope you have an opportunity to do just that!

Thanks for links Ghoulette! I envy you working in a university - I worked in a London university on secondment once (on a specific publishing job) and I loved the "village" feel of it - sorry you are missing your alma mater. We're sussing universities out early here (DD only in 5ieme secondaire) precisely because we are so unfamiliar with this country's tertiary education system. But so far, it seems to be similar to the school system, in that they let everyone in (who has survived and passed academic stream of school system - égalité etc) and then they weed them out quite brutally year on year; exams are effectively the way you fight to keep your place. In one course we were talking about, 3,000 students started and of those, only 400 passed the first year exams! Gulp! That was a very prestigious course though.

Right, I had better stop wittering on and boring the pants off you all and go and confront the washing pile

Have a lovely Sunday everyone!

Please may I join in?

I found Flylady 16 years ago when I had 2 tiny DSs (aged 2, and 6 months) and undiagnosed PND. It really helped and I've flown on and off since, but I really have to watch my OCD tendencies or I end up trying to schedule the entire day in 15 minute segments, in the belief that everything would be better if I could just be more organised, and then I burn out.

16 years on, 2 tiny DSs are now 4 DC between 18 and 9, all of whom have recently diagnosed health / SpLD needs of some kind (properly bitten on the bum by the Universe there for being so proud of my bright, quirky DC), DH, dog, small business and home educating the youngest 2. Also DM widowed and downsizing house so pushing a lot of clutter onto me / needing help with her space and FIL also widowed and being a generally difficult character (85 years of habit is hard to break).

I've been hugely supported by the 1Thing A Day decluttering thread, but the day to day house upkeep is suddenly impossibly difficult with so much going on, so I need to go back to basics. I'm not signing up for the Flylady emails again though, they drive me insane!

I have been sucked into the christmas / black friday threads. Save me.

Hiya hazel

Welcome iwill or would you prefer willow or..?
I hear you on the universe. 3 DC, oldest two diagnosed autistic with various other things and I will eat like a million hats if the 2yo isn’t the same :o we also home ed the big two, although the 12yo is now ready to try school again after 4.5yrs away, I’m meeting the senco on Monday!

I really empathise with the risk of over scheduling. I tend to plan a lot as it makes me feel safer... then I can’t keep up with it. I’m autistic with ADHD and the traits tend to clash somewhat :o

I love this thread though, it’s very warm and cosy.

Noooo ive don’t do it! 💸💸💸

I’m wondering how much Christmas stuff I can get fully sorted by the end of the month. Ordered at least. Cagletini’s is almost done - I’m on a wooden toy BST group and got some lovely bargains, and I’m getting second hand board books on eBay for an advent calendar (not wrapping them though)

Need to get my arse in gear for DD especially though as most of her things will be K-pop related and likely from overseas.

Thanks for the welcome, Living! Any abbreviation of my ridiculously long user name is fine. My DD (ASD, hypersensitive to noise and touch) is very into KPop too, so we've ordered her xmas presents last weekend. The postage came to more than the items! The DC have only been home educated since September, so we're still learning how it works (which is why the house has gone to shit).

Morning all,
I've still got a head full of cold, woken up coughing and spluttering but not actually feeling ill IYSWIM. Worried about whether to go to work tomorrow as I am in close physical proximity to a pregnant colleague but our other colleague is off so I feel I'm not doing her any favours either way.

Flying wise didn't do too much yesterday, just a couple of loads of washing and the main food shop but need to catch up a bit today.

Willow - welcome, both my DC have SPLDs too, one mild, one more severe (with EHCP and doing GCSEs this year).

Morning all

Doing rubbish at FLYing. Currently trying to fill in Dd's PIP form!
Willow Welcome back, Dd has autism, dyspraxia and SPD with smells and sound.

I'm having complete sensory overload at the moment, can't handle anything . As soon as I think of doing anything I get completely panicky and just want to sit in a quiet dark room!!

Am trying really hard to fight it and concentrate on little steps. Might manage a Done List later.

Oh Shannara - I have to do DS's PIP form too, dreading it. I got the letter agreeing to me being appointee on Friday. Do you need to send the form back before the 16th birthday or just have made the phonecall asking for the form?

Welcome willow D's on ASD pathway,nightmare with noises.also have 3 girls,2 still at home..3mad cats,I have depression and anxiety

Ooh what did you get? I put a thread on the Christmas board for Kpop ideas.
She has asked for a blackpink hoodie but other than that it’s surprises so lots of little things really

Are you on FB groups for home ed? Both locally and nationally I find them really helpful for ideas. Although we have somewhat lapsed this term as my mental health has been awful.

Hugs to all. Dryer is on, hoping we can finally tackle the clean laundry mountain today.

IWillWearTheGreenWillow welcome.

Quite unbelievably the soccer is on this afternoon despite the rain of today and every other day this week. I have been watching BFMTV which seems to be a French Sky news channel and the flooding in the south of France is just awful.

I have everything baked and ready to go. I have also done the self care stuff of a lovely long shower and I've moisturised so I looked like a plumped up raisin now.

I am going to venture out for a walk in the rain and go to ASDA to pick up some bits and pieces.

Laundry pile has multiplied but ironing is done.

ive there is hope - I pulled out of the Radley website with one item in the basket. Do not venture into the dark side.

zoo what brand is the washer? have you tried googling the problem as sometimes there is a fix online.

or sometimes if you ring the helpline they can suggest something to try.

or try PigletJohn who is on Mumsnet and is a whiz at household problems