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.

It all went a bit wrong late last night/early this morning despite my best efforts (late to be/very early start) and feel as though I have really let DD down . Wierdly, old rickety book case (only one we have ; for cookery books) collapsed when I tried to put books back in it, not when I took books out last night! So all books are on big table in TV room and had to clean/reorganise around them and close the double doors on the mess. If I as a middle aged woman am ashamed of my house, how will a sensitive teen feel? . Don't get me wrong it was all very clean and tidy (thanks to cleaner) downstairs (apart from TV room) but it's all so shabby and faded looking. As an only, I think it's important dd can have her friends here whenever she wants. Didn't even cook for them because of all the chaos (tried to mend bookcase without success and puppy playing up) so bought a load of sandwiches and fruit salad and cake etc instead.

Have always managed to "pull it off" on previous occasions with judicious use of scrummy food, table cloths, flowers etc to divert attention and make room look decent but couldn't manage it this time. . Feel a bit deflated now, especially with Christmas hosting approaching! Heigh ho! Can't do anything else but carry on really!

Are you me KTCluck? . I was eyeing up the TV room earlier thinking "I wonder if I could paint this before Christmas" and then thinking "don't be ridiculous!". You are quite right. I can't be perfectionist about things. Not enough energy for one thing! We'll do our best, cook good food, and what will be, will be!

I am very envious of you being in Northumberland! Such glorious, unspoilt countryside! One of my favourite parts of the UK!
Spent many a happy summer in and around Beadnell,Wooler, Alnwick, Kielder, Seahouses, Hexham, Chillingham et al. And of course walking in the Cheviots and segments of Hadrian's wall. How lovely to be able to introduce your DD to all of that!

Well done for turning your house around! That's a great ta da list!

Glad washing machine could be saved Zoo!

Hope Flying went well today Bower!

Mahoosive waves to everyone else! Had better stir. Looks like teens may be staying for supper. Had better go and buy some chicken legs and salad or something.

X posts

So sorry Tidy it's understandable you can't think of anything else but your lovely mum . I am sure everyone will understand that too. Take care X

Same here Ghoulette that is why I am dreading Xmas! One of the party I haven't seen in 36 years, and I didn't know him that well then! Plus they are terribly grand. Plus slightly difficult relations who think they are incredibly flexible and relaxed but aren't really [although I know I am being a right cow saying that]. Oh the joys!

Don't believe it! In the time I have taken to write that, lights have gone off on second floor and table I put books on (garden furniture) has started to collapse under their weight! Arrrgh!

Just saw your Father Jack comment Ghoulette - howling now! 😆😆😆😂😂😂

It must be a day for it. I said to DH hmm this room (sitting room) could do with a paint. I asked about maybe getting it done before Christmas and he looked at me and said no way! Today he has TA DA'd the following: Brought logs in, brought bucket of coal in, went to chemist for my prescription and to co op for a pizza for himself and biscuits and milk though he did unasked get my WW mag, so brownie points for that. Changed three light bulbs in wall lights.He is now asleep on the sofa. He slept 12 hrs last night and is into 3/4 hr of nap so far. And he must have remote and I wanted to watch Kirsty. I have watched a couple of short Christmas films but also:
Vacuumed sitting room twice.
moved and did under the sofa again.
Also did stairs and landing.
Cleaned out cupboard next to fire which houses all sorts.
So have found and dusted all the Christmas candles.
Found bulbs for wall lights.
Sorted a few packs of cards and put into a basket for upstairs.
Dusted table top in corner and re_ arranged stuff so it looks festive.
Dusted all ornaments on window and bigger table in front of window.Put away some stuff and cleaned a bowl and changed dried roses for pine cones and oranges slices and spices. Put Christmas oil on them.
Put stuff not wanted in there into hall to take up to Room of Doom(sorted)
Three loads of washing. dried one load.
Spilt my cup of much needed tea on sofa so had to remove covers off my side and cushion. Now propped up against Everhot drying the cushion bit and the covers waiting to go into WM. Will wait till DH wakes up and do his side too. Funny because I did think about doing this when he went out but decide to wait until nearer Christmas. He has had an hour now.
Washed and made lunch (put sausage roll and pie in oven ).
DS 3 has just rang to see if he wants to go to watch footie. Yeah! I haven't done the cards so I can get started in kitchen instead of Room of Doom as I haven't done the table here yet.Yeah he is going .

for you and for your mum Tidy. There are definitely times when the house has to go to the back of the queue.

SC if the house was clean and tidy, and their bellies were filled I really don’t think teenagers would pay much attention to things being a bit faded. If DD was embarrassed she wouldn’t have invited them. I totally relate to that feeling though. Our house was fully renovated 4 years ago, as in ripped to a shell and redone. We’ve done nothing since so everywhere is starting to need a freshen up. Plus we ran out of time and money towards the end so there a few bits that have never felt fully ‘finished’.

Hoping the table holds out for you!

That’s an impressive list bower! I’ve got the two shepherd’s pies in the oven and partially sorted the return (DH was supposed to print the returns label at work and forgot ). Also rang energy company as our smart meter doesnt seem to be being very smart. That was a frustrating 20mins of my life I won’t get back.

Totally agree about I like my house with me plus immediate family!!!

Well if it helps anyone dh has ripped up pretty much all the upstairs flooring now and I'm not sure what state that will be in for Christmas I'm just going with the flow tbh (but I'm not hosting the big day itself this year, we are hosting pre Christmas parties though...)

The dc have been very tricky at bedtimes recently,mostly dd who is usually a very happy easy going child seems to be having tantrums and tears every night, think she's very tired unfortunately ds then starts causing trouble (because that's what he does! 😂) I decided to bribe them and say they can have a penny for each good bedtime and then they can spend it at the shop (I'm only planning to get to about 10p each but I'll let them get a freddo or something - how much are they now anyway?!)

Dh has surprised me with a beauty advent calendar (given to me early I think because he sensed my bad mood today!) so I'm very excited about that. Also started a bit of Xmas shopping online today, have got a few bits for the kids but started looking for other people as well today.

Cleaned out under dd bed as well but gave up before I got a chance to get rid of all the dust, it was making me sneeze too much. Is it just my house that gets this dusty?!

Sorry for the brain dump!

SC I think you're too hard on yourself by the way , I think your home sounds lovely, it's who is in it as well as the decor / tidiness. It's the whole atmosphere.

Tidy Sorry your mum is so unwell. It is so hard when the tables are turned on the worry front.
Ghoulette also chuckling at Father Jack. I saw the Bishop episode the other night and as my friend and I were doing a buffet that the Bishop attended found it suddenly funnier. I bet he laughed at that last time it was on because he wasn't a Bishop then.

SC I was always just glad of the welcome and our house was a bit frayed and faded but my mum was always welcoming and often made cakes. Some houses including one we were not allowed over the threshold. In fact I never went in her house until I was about 52 when I went to visit to see if they would give me her address. I could believe it when her mum had asked me in and they were lovely and wanted to hear all about Britain because they were British. It turned out she was living over here but never managed up to us. She did when we lived in Scotland and she came to stay once.

KTCluck Another living up North. We live where we can access Scotland,Northumbria, Yorkshire, Lakes and North Lancs within an hour or less drive. so have the best of walking. I love the wildness of Northumbria especially around Housesteads.

Ta Da
Sofa covers are on 20 degree wash. Fingers crossed as usually do cold but my new machine has 20 degree option.They are really mucky so washed the seat ones first and will stretch back on and leave on Everhot if I need to.
Sorted two BRC in R of D. one is wool I bought to make a crocheted throw about 10 years ago. Need to find pattern and have ago at getting it done. It is big rectangles of three natural colours. Off white, brown and grey. I bought it on holiday when I often to succumb to such purchases.

Foxes Meant to say can remember being in similar circumstances donkeys years ago and had no carpets three days before Christmas. When carpet fitters of a family firm came to measure they felt sorry for us and fitted it downstairs on Christmas Eve. We still buy carpets from them

Baby-step 28th November:here
Launch pad link:here

Tidy I'm very sorry to hear about your Mum and I can understand the worry and anxiety. It's very energy-sapping. Helping Santa is very noble work of course so that's a big ta da!

SC I don't think teens really notice if somewhere isn't recently decorated. Sounds like you did a fine job, given shelfgate and associated chaos of books with no home. The kids got somewhere to practise and had a merry old time by the sound of it. As dh says whenever I ask him 'how did that go?' - 'well it went!'

What KT said absolutely SC

Enjoy the beauty calendar Foxes - how lovely!

Ah yes - Bishop Len Brennan from Limerick! And the rabbits

What a ta da list Bower!

Struggling to keep up with the thread this month!

Tidy, sorry to hear about your mum .

Today I put some stuff in the calendar, sent an invoice in for some work I did,bought a a Christmas t shirt and did an Amazon order. Was at work so I don’t think that’s too bad for flying.

Big wing flaps to all.

Meant to say Laputa, that’s great they approved so much of your teaching of DD .

Oof, such a long day, nearly fell off here it moves so fast! Thank you for good wishes, I don't feel better, exactly, but at least differently rubbish!

Today's TaDas

• up washed, dressed, shoes, hair, makeup at 7.30 and everything else just flowed again.
• s&s both bathrooms
• first wash on
• dishwasher emptied
• breakfast and meds
• braved the banking app
• walked the dog
• brainstomed today's ToDos

ToDos that are now TaDas

• digital decluttering - email inboxes thoroughly cleared out.
• drivers updated on the laptop
• paperbacks cleared off bookshelf
• book back to library
• parcel posted to DS1 at Uni
• finances at least understood, if not healthy!
• client work printed and posted with invoice (I hate invoicing)
• sat in on DD's physics lesson, same teacher as DS yesterday. He is definitely the problem. Difficult email being composed to school, I'm paying £400 a year for this!
• mended DD's beloved patchwork bedspread, prior to turning it into a weighted blanket.
• DS3's maths homework mostly complete

Now absolutely pooped! Hope I don't pay for this with a totally useless tomorrow.

Thanks for all of the supportive words everyone! As ever, this thread is a life-saver! Feeling chirpier this evening. Aye, don't think the teens did care that much in the end!

Funnily enough Bower I was laughing with my sister this evening that one thing for sure is that there was never a home that looked less like Kristie's bloomin' hand-made (home-made?) Christmas than mine currently . Oh yes, left Housesteads off my list, really beautiful around there too! Well done re: BRCs.

Really terrific list Willow

Foxes tricky bedtimes and upended floorboards sounds like a tough combo! Think you deserve that calendar!

Waves to Ghoulette Zoo I've Laputa Toostressy Tidy Times10 Expletive KTCluck and everyone else I've missed!

Tomorrow is another day and all of that .
G'night all 💤

Waves to toostressy and willow

Willow Ds has complained that probationer teacher is picking on him over last 5 weeks so careful convo will need to be had with school. Feel your pain.

😇 thank you. I have washed all the covers now. Over the rail of the Everhot for the night. Two more in the machine can go on it tomorrow. They have come out a lovely colour shows how dirty they are.

I made DH laugh tonight. I asked him if he had left a window open he said “No, why?” I answered well a whole lot of bears have got in and have been jumping all over my bed...there’s Paddington, Winchester, Holly (without her dress I might add) and Fraser and a troll and a big spider. Paddington was naked as well no coat or hat!

While I was waiting for DH to come home I switched to an Emergency programme. One was a horrific crash on the motorway because of fog. The guy who phoned was remarkable but the next story was even more amazing. A little boy of 5 had phoned to say his mum was lying on the floor and he wondered if she was dead and he was in the house with his little sister (3)was with him. He asked for an ambulance and then went off to on a tale like Snow White but also was able to give his address ( though I did think to ask a child of that age for their address is a problem better to ask what street they live on and what number. Then she suggested he ask a neighbour though I wasn’t to sure about that if they don’t know the area. Anyway he got someone and told them then the ambulance arrived. His mum had passed out and he. And the most amazing thing was that his sister was prompting him and they are both Autistic. He was amazing. So was the little girl and they won an award. Just thought you would like to know.

SC it was the one where F. Ted him up the bum. I cried😂🤣🤣😂😂
When they ended up in the department store.

Morning everyone

Thanks for your comments regarding my Mum, it is a rollercoaster ride, I am lucky to have an amazing oh and a couple of close friends to support me to support my Mum. Although some friends who I thought I was close to haven't even been in touch, it just goes to show that tough times show who's by your side and who isn't . I'm ok with that though, I'm lucky that I know which people to spend my time and effort with and which ones to say hello to in passing

Up since 4 , going to start doing a few bits now hoping by the end of today to be on top of washing , kitchen, bathroom and packed to go to mums. Also need to write the elf on the shelf antics down for the month and sort any activities out that we'll be doing . I still haven't caught up on the thread so it's a very me me me post but I do hope that you are all happy and well

Tidy, it's hard when people you think you can rely in don't step up at at difficult times. to you and your Mum.

Laputa, this online science course is part of an online school, so I just need to make sure DD and DS3 are on the computer and logged in for two 40 minute sessions a week each (and then spend an hour each with me, picking up the pieces and teaching them what they are supposed to know... DD "covered" all of electronics within the GCSE physics syllabus in 40 mins yesterday, apparently. Did she heck!).

Bother, am in phone and have now forgotten everyone else I wanted to name check. instead for all!

Today's TaDas so far:

• up, dressed, washed, shoes, hair, make up (dammit. Perfume. Will do that now).
• breakfast and meds
• vitamins for children
• no wash on as no baskets full! Victory!
• banking
• milk off doorstep!

Still to do

• S&S bathrooms
• rotate DW
• Emails
• to dos for the day.

I'm getting there! Need to write down my evening routine and make sure "review milk order" is on there!

Crisis really does tell you who to trust doesn’t it?

Eek willow that doesn’t sound like a great class. It’s one of those things that’s becoming more popular and I guess many tutors are jumping on the bandwagon. It probably takes a whole different set of skills to teach online, I know I couldn’t do it even with individual kids (I tutored other HE kids quite successfully in my house before the toddler was born).

Tim Minchin‘s show was SO AMAZING. I cried with laughter a lot and also actually cried at one song!

Should really get ready for playgroup now. Tired. I took some quiet time for drawing this morning though as everyone was asleep.

I've I'm envious of your empty wash baskets !!

Laputa enjoy playgroup , I miss playgroups , our local ones did all sorts and really made an effort to listen to what the parents wanted out of the sessions.

Tada
Sorted paperwork pile that was building up on the kitchen side
Uniforms ironed
Washed & dressed
Breakfasts
Older kids at school (kept dd2 at home today because she's started coughing yet again I really don't want it to get as bad as last time so she can stay home until it's gone)