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.
Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.
Housekeeping
Cherry waves hello to November 2019. Fledgling Flylady thread for all.[smile]
Ghoulette1740 · 30/10/2019 14:42
Hope things have calmed down a bit, Zoo and you are feeling less stressed 
.
SC, thank you, phone call was good and I have some really useful things we can do to help DS now, not when the system gets round to it.
WillowHound is a Norfolk Terrier. He looks a lot like a teddy bear, bounds along like a rabbit with his back legs together and is the world's most useless guard dog because he thinks all visitors to the house might be his friend. 20 seconds of yapping, followed by "here is my tummy".
I turned almost all of the To Dos into Ta Das except the Christmas wrapping. That will have to wait!
![Cherry waves hello to November 2019. Fledgling Flylady thread for all.[smile]](https://ugc-assets.mumsnet.com/images/201911/large-534135-puppy.jpg)
Have allowed myself to faff for a bit now am starting morning routine.
on the naughty / haughty corner.
Good morning.
Willow Oh I love Norfolks! My Aunt used to have them. They were so friendly and engaging but tough at the same time and could run about all day! Willowhound is absolutely gorgeous! He does look like a teddy bear bless him!
Sorry things are still so difficult Zoo. 
What does your dp say when you confront him with his "pattern" as it were? ( I assume you have done the team player discussion to death. ). I guess when someone doesn't change you can only change your reaction to their behaviour, at which point people suggest putting boundaries in place , but it's obviously difficult to do that in this instance as I imagine the DC are conflicted over receiving presents from him (esp if that is the only way he can show his affection). Could you tell your dp that if he insists on buying expensive presents the kids don't want then he has to own his behaviour and you won't be responding to any whinging or moaning on his part this year and he'll have to leave the house the moment that starts?
Hi Toostressy I was just thinking the same thing. I'm afraid I am not volunteering for December as need to disappear off the Internet for a bit and get stuff done. Didn't you do August though? (Not sure, I think Chic did Sept and I did Oct, and Ghoulette (evidently) is doing Nov. Used to be Hills who regularly (and nobly) volunteered for Dec but she is no longer with us on here. ). Aren't you hosting your family this year?
Had lovely evening last night but need to crack on today and out again tonight at another school event. Five million tasks to do in between. Have a good one everybody!
I did do August I think yes. Tbh if it makes anyone feel better I have slightly selfish motives in that I really don’t want to do the January thread 
but of course I would if I needed to.
I’ll draft something just in case later when kids are at dancing. We are actually having Christmas on our own this year...
My parents are not coming as they usually spend time with my brother who is single and wouldn’t really have anyone else. He could come here of course but I think they have arranged to see him at their house. I think after our “discussion” earlier in the year having my parents will be incredibly stressful and thankfully they have not suggested it. They are coming up in two weeks’ time . We are not seeing my in laws as we see them the weekend before anyway for the pantomime which will be lovely and they will be busy with another relative who is going through a marriage break up . It is so sad; I have been reading the relationship threads on here to try to understand. This person was so lovely, my kids loved them and now they have turned around and said they don’t want to be married anymore and so realistically will not be part of the family anymore. I know there are two sides to every story and can see there is fault on both sides but everyone is very sad about the whole thing. Especially for the girls not having this person in their lives anymore who they loved so much.
BTW I am loving adult tap 
. My feet are not but it is so much fun I am hoping I can get away with it.
Thank you so much for volunteering for December Toostressy 
And that's so kind of you about January Laputa [flowres].
(I am not volunteering yet for January either but I might be able to - not sure yet tbh - but I am sure everyone understands with everything you have on currently if it's not possible for you to do it. It was bloomin' good of you to do July too. xxxx)
Sorry Toostressy didn't read down far enough - rushing today.
So sorry to read about the difficult events in your family.. It is so very sad when families split; particularly when you have become close to both parties. It's happening to a colleague/good friend here at the moment and both the people involved are absolutely lovely which makes it harder and sadder - when you are on the outside - to comprehend.
Glad to hear you get the stressful bits of hosting out of the way before Christmas etc so hopefully yours can be more peaceful just with your immediate family x.
stressy that is sad.
Glad Xmas will hopefully be a nice family affair for you,without stress of parents on the "big day"
You're a star volunteering for dec.if I had any remotely useful tech skills I would but I cannot for the life of me get the hang of links
Tada
Made choc pancakes with banana slices,blueberries,vegan whip cream(squirty kind from tin) and flaked almonds for zoolets breakfast.for all of ten seconds I was a total hero
Decided can't put up anything decorative til given place a once over.its not absolutely filthy but I really need work on the declutter again and in January...
Put on an cd I've not played in forever and rolled up me sleeves!
Living room
Cleaned windows,sill and radiator
Clean behind sofa one
Clean TV unit,tidy dvds
Wipe TV
Wipe photos on wall behind
Clean around fireplace/mantle piece
Sweep middle of floor
Clean behind other sofa
Just have dining table/bookcase to do
Lunch- dd2 had Instagram worthy Buddha bowlof bed baby spinach,rice,roasted sweet potato,courgette and green beans with little smoked paprika,salt and pepper on.drizzled tahini sauce over and sprinkle nibbly mix from our local wholefoods co operative.its a mix seeds and cashews in soy and rosemary and bloody addictive!
Rest us had rice,veg and cans of tuna.. followed by Mr Kipling cake slices I got cheap at heron foods
To do
Finish living room
Kitchen
Check progress on zoolets rooms(they've been sent to tackle)
Wading thru wash mountain..
SC team players conversationshas indeed been done to death..I've decided I will only tell him a few bits,remind him he can't go OT on D's without buy girls things and he's too scared this year to mess up withering thing as barely knows them anymore
Meanwhile I will just go ahead and but what I think they'll all like.i don't normally get much of a say so be nice for me!
I've also decide adopt a yo ho ho attitude and will be shooting down a negativity towards Xmas from anyone!Xmas songs and decorations start tomorrow,along Xmas dvds.i always feel so happy and excited around dd1 and her Xmas planning chat,so I will keep touch base with herdd1 dad recently moved and discovered he's got some familyso dd1 not worrying he's on his own.think she might pop in boxing day as she's put foot down about attending fiance family get together on boxing Day at his nans.
Right must crack on.washers bleep loads ready for drier
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Cute dog willow. I’d love one but it wouldn’t be fair as we are out of the house a lot.
Productive day today:
Downstairs homeblessing
Living room window cleaned
Fire guard pulled out and log burner, hearth etc all given a thorough clean
Piles of random crap sorted and cleared
Booked fabric sofa and carpets in to be cleaned before Christmas, and got a price for out leather sofa to be restored as it was scratched to bits by the cats when they were younger. The quote is more than 4 times what we paid for it as it was bought as a nearly-new bargain at auction, but I’m tempted to go ahead as it’s a great sofa and he says it’ll look like new. (DH isn’t quite so enthusiastic.)
Dishes done, benches, hob and cupboard fronts wiped.
Brief meltdown as dishwasher seems to be leaking. Cleared out filter and hope that’ll sort it but I have my doubts.
3 loads of washing done. Basket is still full as DH as eventually sorted his wardrobe out. Unfortunately it’s on the sea-facing wall which gets the mould and he’s discovered a little-used and jam-packed drawer is all damp. Some things binned including several belts beyond saving, others just need a freshen up hence the full basket. He’s been ruthless decluttering though and has promised to get the unwanted things listed on eBay ASAP.
Top up food shop.
More Christmas gifts ordered (only got vouchers / chocs/ wine etc to get now)
I’ve also come up with a plan of what Christmas prep needs done and when, so I’m feeling in control. For now.
Budget for the month done.
We had a nice morning out for a walk and visiting a Christmas market. Relaxing afternoon after sausage and mash for lunch. Easy feast of beans on toast later I’m thinking!
Thanks for starting the new thread TooStressy. Can’t bring myself to post on it until December
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