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.

zoo recipe stash ...me too. Going to sort two BRC ( boxes/ bags of random crap) explanation for newbies.

I was in and out really quickly but they were running to appointment times so it was a bit tight. It would have been ok if I had bought ticket already but not enough time so I had to let it go. I have missed every one so far so I guess I am just not meant to go. I had little sleep and have a headache now so perhaps just as well. Damn my memory. I must write everything down.
laputa at least you now know she is human too! Annoying as it is remember that next time you are beating yourself up over something.

I did get a TaDa on the way home. As DH drove back a different way 🤔in case I changed my mind and dashed for train? However as we were going through large village I suggested we went and order turkey. So TaDa we now have a bird to pick up on the 23rd. The young lad in their used to be so nervous and now nine months on he is confident in taking orders for Xmas. They only had 5-6kg birds but they are so free range that they can tell you which farm they are from. Chipolatas etc are picked up on the day they always make loads so no problem.

Just lying down because of headache but thinking I might stay a bit longer as it is rather nice. I bet you would like a lie down I’ve. I can still remember being so so tired with babies. When I was at one school a young teacher used to have a small mattress in the reading corner and she used to have half an hour at lunchtime. I thought it was such a good idea. Staff knew so made sure that no one disturbed her. Bet they wouldn’t allow that now.

Going to put a load of washing in...ahh that’s why I came up here but the bed looked so inviting.🤭 two BRC, make a start on Christmas cards. Find diary and write everything in it.
Supper is easy as left over pheasant and veg and crumble for afters. App. At GP. I didn’t cancel that once I remembered other one . Hope my boobs are ok as there is family history on both sides. Granny’s. Happy flying.

That is weird I’ve we tag them onto the beginning of term and occasionally the end.

Aww thanks bower yes that’s a good point. I am very critical of myself when I mess up.

Just did my gym workout for the first time in far too long, managed most of it. Unexpected thing though... normally I keep losing track of reps on the machines. Would normally get to about five and think wait how many have I done?! Every single time (I use 6 machines twice each so you can imagine that’s pretty frustrating).

Today I got to the end and realised I did not lose track ONCE! 😱😱😱 I am amazed! Shows my meds really are making a difference.

I’m really glad I have discovered that before the psychiatrist phones as at least we can discuss dosage properly.

That's great progress Laputa - well done on getting back to the gym

Take a well deserved rest with that headache Bower.

Escaped from the dentist without further treatment and have nice pearly white knashers.

Lasagne prep in progress...

Husband was referred to counselling due to the work stress and his awful mother and sister. He's feeling much better - can come off amitriptyline.

amitriptyline for the shoulder nerve pain...

That's good your dh is feeling better Ghoulette and he has counselling to come.

God that is so frustrating about psych rdv Laputa when you have been stressing all this time about it.

And good luck with results Bower (I have mammogram coming up mid Dec and one always worries a bit, I have family history too (also Granny))

Great list I've

A bit grim here atm. DD and co school theatre group rehearsing in our sitting room tomorrow afternoon. And I am feeding them first (why oh why did I agree to this?) And at the same time I am in the middle of decluttering mahoosive bookshelves in there. Trouble is I keep being interrupted + feel rather sluggish & low on energy so I am less than a quarter of the way through. I need at least four or five hours to finish I reckon before 8.30 am tomorrow when cleaner is coming to clean all the clear/ exposed areas. Bugger. Serves me right for ignoring Flylady's wise words about "not pulling out more than you can put back in an hour" yeah right. But at least it will be done for Christmas if I survive the night.

Someone poke me with a bloomin sharp stick please. All motivation has disappeared.

SisterCharlie, I have just renewed my grip on the day with a hot bath and a chocolate orange. Any chance you could do the same?

It's my turn with the lurgy today and I'm giving into it (very rare) because DH is away tomorrow and Thursday so I need to be running at at least 80%. For that I need rest this evening.

This morning I forced myself to get properly washed and dressed to shoes at 7.30, and my morning routine came back like muscle memory! I was hugely surprised.

Ta-das
Dw emptied and started to reload, including mugs etc from upstairs
Wash on and dried
Kitchen surfaces wiped
S&s bathrooms
Emails reviewed and actioned
Bank checked
Notes made on library books and books returned.
Stinking email written to science teacher who runs his online classroom like a zoo and complains DS "won't engage".
Minor tesco shop achieved

Now I am coasting for the evening and DH can be Lead Parent until tomorrow morning.

-----------> SC

Baby-step 27th November:here
Launch pad link:here

Had a lie down Ghoulette and headache went.

Been to GP and he seemed to have a little time today so had a little bit of a chat as well as acupuncture. He always seems to know by instinct where to put them. Homed in on hip and made me flinch. Discussed a few symptoms and stress, stress and more stress related.
Had a gin when I came home then another. And another with left overs of pheasant and veg, crumble with DF ice cream, not bothered about not going to Edinburgh now. Going to Harrogate next week. Hopefully.
I really want to crack on and finish decluttering Craft room of doom. I want all random stuff out of our house but don’t want to take it back.

He thinks I need to get out more. He is probably right. DH wants to go walking but I am not as fit anymore so whereas he wants to go for long fell walking for four or five hours I just be happy with an hour or two flatter terrain.

Evening all,

Random INSET day here this week too, breaks up a long half term a little which is nice.

Tada! Work, mums taxi, more mums taxi, emails, admin, banking etc. Zero housework. Off to bed in a minute.

Laputa - that's great about remembering the reps, what a good feeling.

Bower - your GP sounds like a good one. Fell walking at this time of year is pretty hardcore!

SC - hope you make get enough clearing done for tomorrow, don't overdo it though. Sorry you are going to have such a hectic Christmas again.

Ghoulette - thank you for the links, that sounds positive for DH with the counselling referral.

Willow - hope you feel better tomorrow.

I would love to be a fell walking sort of person. But no. :o
Fresh air always good though.

Sorry to hear about the badly run online science willow - I’ve often wondered about trying that sort of thing but I’m not sure we are organised enough to keep up

Really pleased we have managed a tiny bit of work this week having had several weeks half term break [blush[ that’s about my limit at the moment.

Aaargh sc I recognise that scenario with the decluttering.

Excellent news on the referral ghoulette

Hello to everyone else, my eyes are finally drooping so I should sleep. Therapy in the morning (I’ve done all my usual prep except finding some screenshots of a tick list she sent me, I’d best do that!), then my friend is picking me up so we can collect something, and in the evening a few of us are seeing Tim Minchin. Friend had some spare tickets :) will be nice to be out in the evening, I normally avoid especially at this time of year.

Spent my childhood fell walking in Lakes, Scotland, Northumbria. My parents were very keen. Prefer horse transport nowadays

Thanks for the encouragement everyone! Still very much up against it here!

Willow thanks to your suggestion, I am renewing my grip on this particular day with a Clementine and a slice of pannetone for breakfast! (Diet not going well! ) Hope you are feeling much better today!

Had better get on...ggrrrr....

I love to walk,good job as I can't drive

Tada
Bleach loo
Fed cats
Try not break neck on laundry trickling down stairs
Wipe kitchen surfaces
Wipe cupboard fronts
Clean hob
Clean oven front
Wipe over washing machine
Breakfasts
Pack up for dd2
S+s
Plait dd2 hair after she threw wobbler that wash it last night,greaseball this morning and no time to rewash...
Sweep all lower floors

To do
Sort through Xmas gifts and note what still need buy
Move all lil zoo my lil pony stuff

I’ve had the best nights sleep for a fortnight. I went to bed around ten and fell asleep about 10:30pm and slept till 8am apart from wee stops. I woke up thinking it is Saturday. I keep having to remind myself it isn’t weird. There is a guy with a loud saw making a fence across the road. I need to get up. I have loads to do. DH is going walking with DS if he is off work. Ds isoff but if someone doesn’t turn in for work he has to go in.
Going to do sitting room today. Remove BRC that I was sorting then vacuum and dust. Everything else has been done in there at weekend. Might get Christmas candle out to light. Need to find Christmas spice. I bought a wreath for indoors with all the dried fruits etc on and they give you a little bottle of the spices so when it loses it’s smell you just top it up. Great idea because then it lasts ages. Mine is three years old now.

Then need to do the BRC lying in my bedroom. Sort and back in Room of Doom. Need to clear table in there and start cards. Stamping. Then think I might draw and do Lino cut for the rest. I saw one someone had done and then printed white paint onto a natural brown background. I bought one to remind myself that this would be a quick easy way to make cards.
The vacuum and dust bedroom later. Have two loads of washing sorted to go in and I did a load last night so caught up. Need to defrost something from freezer. DH is mucking up my scanty food planning by going out to eat. I normally have fish on Friday and Tuesday but we ate left overs last night because we had Roast on Monday because he took Niece out on Sunday. So maybe look for fish. I think there might be some cod in there.

ZooNot weird at all. I feel like that and that is how I lost/ mislaid my granny’s ring. DH left BT man in my bedroom. I had worn ring night before( rarely wear it because valuable) I couldn’t put it away because he was in there so put it somewhere “safe” and forgot about it then couldn’t remember where I put it. Still makes me mad thinking about it.
We only have electric to check and it involves moving table then bag of flowers that come out at Christmas and I mix fresh flowers with them. Greenery and white and silver edged peony shaped silk flowers.
Right better get off here and get cracking. Time waits for no man ( or woman on mumsnet!) so offski drop back later.

Leaves 🍊🥯🥐🥐🥐🥐🥐🥞🥞🥞🥞🥞🍌🍌🍌🍌🥑🥑🥑🥯🥯🥯for those back from school run.

Bin men here to empty green bin so that is the last until about Feb/ March because they don’t think people have garden waste during winter.

zoo if you are weird for that then i am too

bower i had a wreath like that, how do you store yours? Mine went mouldy

That's ok then I've we can be weird together!!

Wash machine fixed.plastic lunchbag caught in pump...cost £68 for call out and time.a very expensive plastic bag!!but it's fixed now,so laundry can resume.might throttle D's/lil zoo later,but for now just grateful damn things going again!

Just spent a nice chilled 15 mins catching up with you all. Two busy days at work and we really let things go to pot on Monday. We were running late in the morning so left a mess, and then DH was out til late and by the time I got DD to bed all I could manage was a takeaway. The house was a disaster zone by this morning but I’ve managed to get it back under control.

Tada:
Beds made
Dishwasher set off
Benches, job and cupboard fronts wiped.
Quick living room tidy
Upstairs homeblessing mostly done
Bins emptied
Bathroom window cleaned
DDs room tidied and bookshelf sorted
Load of washing in

Me and DD have been to the local nature reserve where there is a lovely park, had some lunch at the cafe, and got very damp. Cuddled on the sofa watching frozen now and hoping she will doze off.

To do:
Clean bath - rest of bathroom got done while DD was in it
Washing in drier
Shop
Make 2 x shepherds pie (1 for PILs who are both still out of action with injuries)
Parcel return
Clear hallway of mountain of bags, shoes and coats dumped by the door.

I also need to work out a plan of Christmas activities and tasks as I’m aware it’s coming round quickly!

Reading about you all with your walking, DH and I often used to head out for hours pre-DD. We are in Northumberland so lots of lovely hikes. We’ll have to start again now DD is getting bigger and can manage longer distances.

Glad your DH is feeling better Ghoulette.

Sounds like the meds are working well Laputa. Frustrating about the appointment though.

Bower it’s a shame you missed the trip, hopefully you make the next one, and it was for an important reason.

SC you sound like you have so much on at the moment! Remember not to put too much pressure on yourself though. Everything doesn’t have to be perfect. I had to have a sharp word with myself a couple of years ago as I was running myself ragged trying to do the perfect Christmas. Now we are much more chilled out, do the things that make us happy. Visitors are welcome but they have to take us as they find us. As long as there’s good food and food company I feel we’ve succeeded. I had a blip the other day, planning on painting the hallway etc in prep for Christmas visitors then realised it was silly. Too much pressure when we should just be enjoying the festive season.

Zoo hurrah for the WM being saved. An expensive issue but it could have been a new machine.

Sorry to those I’ve missed (brain was pickled catching up on 3 days worth!). Hope you’re all well and happy flying.

zoo - your poor machine. Glad it's better!

Hmmm well swings and roundabouts as they’ve not booked me an appointment until 2/1/20 which is a month later than when I was meant to have it. But she’s left a prescription behind the desk for the higher dose so that’s covered.

Therapy was really intense and hard work today but really good.

Sorted recipes
Moved stuff so gasman could check boiler
He's been and gone,my house is my own again!!
Haven't made cake,nor sorted thru Xmas stuff
Still need menu plan

Might tackle that ina mo

I haven't been on since the weekend , going to have a read through your posts whilst dd2 is watching tv. My mum isn't great again so I've found it hard to concentrate on anything including keeping up with the thread! I have been doing a bit of Santa's work whilst I've been lurking in the naughty corner so I've still been semi productive!

I basically like my house with my immediate family in it - I'm not good with strangers or people I know like Fr Jack from Fr Ted.