February Flying for Fledglings, No More CHAOS here

[ExpletiveDelighted]

Welcome to February! This is a friendly ongoing thread where we follow (n some cases, very loosely) the Flylady method for sorting out our homes and lives!

Newbies are always welcome here! It’s a long running thread so please don’t worry if we appear cliquey. There’s a lot of chatter and support for all sorts of things, alongside the housework stuff.

Every day I will post a link to the Flylady launch pad, which is where you can access the information for that day - babysteps, missions, daily focus etc. But if you’re confused about anything, please ask!

Check out the website too - but we suggest not signing up for the millions of emails.

The great thing about Flylady is that you jump in where you are. Everything you do is progress. Don’t worry about not “keeping up”. Any achievement, however small, means progress.

More info to follow.

Made it back from the park without getting blown away or attacked by geese.

Me and DH have speed tidied downstairs and now just waiting for dinner to cook then we're going to watch a film.

I'm going to try and get up early in the morning to try and do a few jobs before I go to work as Sunday is usually my most productive day cleaning wise and not quite sure how I'll get through everything otherwise.

Been in and out today. I stayed in bed for quite a while after DS had gone on his paper round but couldn't get back to sleep. DH has gutted the understairs cupboard to put lino down, it was originally carpetted but the llitter trays are there and sometimes the cats miss the trays so we ripped the carpet out a few years ago and put a plastic sheet down, then rubber backed door mats under the litter trays, but we have washed the rubber door mats till they are falling to pieces so he went and fetched an offcut of lino this morning to do a proper job of protecting the floorboards. Not quite finished yet so there is stuff EVERYWHERE. Bloody cats (love them really).

I went into town with DD to get her hair cut, didn't stay too long as it was very windy and didn't need much else. THen went to do the weekly food shop which I have just unpacked and have spent the last half an hour faffing about with my dashcam which won't record. Sometimes I hate tech.

WE3 - I need to do the same in the morning, DH is away for a few days from Mon and I have full days at work plus lots of eveningstuff going on.

sc hope you're okay you sound really fed up and rightly so!

I'm worn out, dd birthday today so we've had a full on day with her party and then a meal out as well. Family coming over tomorrow at about 12 so have got the morning only to try and make the house not look like a hurricane blew through and make and ice the cupcakes...

So. Many. Toys. All with tiny bits. Everywhere. Argh!

Also having that same old mixed feelings of children's birthdays, how is she 6?!

Hello all. Sorry I was too late with the pointy stick yesterday Bower but well done for motivating yourself anyway! Must be the weekend for birthdays on this thread! Hope birthday hosting went well Hazel and KT. Also happy birthday to your DD foxesand well done for getting through the party. Sympathies with you on the toys everywhere. My DD2’s birthday and party is tomorrow so we will be in the same situation as you. In-laws here now so have left them to it upstairs, supposedly to put a wash in but really ro catch up with the thread . I must have a heart of stone as I don’t tend to get sentimental about kids’ birthdays or about them growing up. I bet I will when they become stroppy teenagers though.

Big wing flaps to everyone, had better go and be sociable.

SC you sound tired and I’m not surprised 😯 could you put out a group email saying as much as you have enjoyed seeing people that you are going to have a 3/6 months break from hosting in order to pursue the house renovations -haveabreakfromvisitors- and give yourself time to pick up before the next lot.
We3 sounds like a good plan.

Lane It has been. I popped in earlier but had a surprise visitor.

ED yes I love DD cat but not when she misses and pees on the kitchen floor or when she wakes up and wants to eat my dinner.

Not much done today as I got up late because I couldn’t sleep and was worried about the trees. Two crashed further along the road last week. We have several large, old trees opposite.

Went out with friend and quite a lot of flood water about. Blocked roads, fields like lakes, becks like rivers and people standing worried about there houses. This is in about a seven mile radius. Had a lovely bacon buttie and lemon meringue pie for lunch. The girls there said they had to abandon there cars and walk. Not sure how they got there.

Boudoir- bed made, room vacuumed. Few things put away.
Kitchen dishes washed.
Quick tidy.
S&S
Sitting room and hall vacuumed.

SC, don’t be too hard on yourself. Increasing your hours that much will be a massive change, let alone having guests as well at this point. Can you make this the last time for guests for a while?

Evening all . Aw, this thread is so lovely! I've just climbed in to bed, thinking that I would Mnsnet for a few moments to relax before sleeping, and have come across all your really lovely messages! Thank you so much! They are really appreciated and hugely morale-boosting!

Foxes happy birthday to your cub; I can't believe she is six either! Gosh, the time goes so fast! 🎂🎉🍥. Hope you get a good sleep tonight!

Toostressy many happy returns to your dd2 for tomorrow too! 🎁🎂🎉. I hope your in-laws visit goes well!

Good luck with all the celebrations and I hope you have recovered from hosting too Hazel and KTCluck

Well I got through today somehow by the skin of my teeth! I did go for that haircut in the end, which was good because I felt more relaxed. (Don't know why but I get quite stressed about hosting nowadays.) And I did what Willow suggested and lowered my standards which was hard for me because I usually try to compensate for the crumbly state of our house by going full out on the food, bed-linen, flowers everywhere, etc. I did do the guest beds nicely but I made a very simple soup for lunch and had that with bread, cheese and salad and we had a takeaway tonight.

We3kings guests were originally coming for long weekend, but got talked in to a longer stay!

And I will be taking up your suggestion Bower and Toostressy , thank you, it's such a good idea, not only to limit or stop visitors coming for a bit , but to also put out the word way in advance. It's really necessary because, we tend to get family visits every holiday, and its tiring because we don't get any proper holidays ourselves. And DH is really exhausted ATM. And I can't take all the organisation on board now I have started working f/t hours again. It really starts to affect your relationship when you are flat out in the office during term time and then flat out at home during the holidays. Living abroad, it is really important to maintain family relationships, but I think we need to press pause for a bit with so many othervthings going on currently.

Bower hope the trees near you remain upright!

Good luck with your early Flying starts Expletive and We3kings!

Lane Hope your dd1 is ok and it turns out to be "just" teen dramas! To be fair to dh, cleaner thing was tied up with office (she cleans there too) and she outmanoeuvred him a bit because she wanted Friday mornings free for another client, but he knows he screwed up! And I have noticed that when I clean, it lasts a lot longer than when she does it! Also, I am noting all the bits she hasn't done! Btw, I meant to say this morning that I hope all the medical investigations/ treatments go well for you and your dh, although it doesn't sound straightforward.

Great list KTCluck and well done for keeping on top of things!

Willow Sorry about car ££££££

Sorry can't scroll further , and must go to sleep, but mahoosive waves to everyone including Zoo Cineraia Honu Lisette and anyone I've missed! Also, hello to Sharn! Hope you are ok Rachael*

ta da

Absolutely fuck all until gone 10pm when DSD said she was coming home instead of staying at a friend’s and could she bring another friend with her as she couldn’t get home due to cancelled trains

✅quick rejig of mattresses, bedding etc
✅swish and swipe of bathroom
✅rubbish out including bathroom bin (that’s one of the first tasks going on the control wall - I forget about it because I use a cup for periods instead now)
✅brief sort out of stuff in kitchen but DH washed up instead

Really unsettled as I hate sudden changes of plan 😳😳😳

Well done sc hope you can step away from as much hosting as possible. It really sounds like people take advantage of your generosity and good nature.

Happy birthday foxcub

And we are up.ds settled great,but 6 hours is his lot it seems
SC I'm glad to hear you made it to hairdressers.is f/t permanent?if so,I really think you need to have words DD and dp and they need start helping.and don't be defending an exhausted husband.YOURE exhausted.who has your back??
I believe running away with dhorse best solutionsending huge hugs lovely

Lane hope you getting some rest

Birthday wishes to foxcub and to littlestressy

Funny lack sleep makes me so hungry....

Tada
3rd load wash just gone in
Quarter my room blitzed
Cats fed-very unhappy with not getting fed sec I up but I'm not setting president for 430 feeding!!
Harpic loo

Need get dd2 up soon.shes off to London with dd1 today to see musical sixthand they going to visit covent garden ,huge Primark etc so I need to see how much spending money I can afford give her!!
Also before they leave dd1 has a selection of navy dresses for girls to try on for the wedding!

Morning all

I always know my dds birthday is on its way when foxes and stressy mention theirs! Our dd will be SEVEN in a few weeks. However, i listen to her talk and wonder how she can be turning seven when she sounds atleast 15?

Aww happy birthday ministressy

That’s reminded me I need to actually order that present for DSS, will add on a couple of other bits we need too. I barely shop online anymore which is good financially of course but I then delay getting things we actually need like replacement toothbrush heads (I need to check I’m getting the right ones)

Still a bit stressed this morning after yesterday’s change of plans

Keep dozing off sitting up 🤣 need to take my meds but might try and nap while they kick in.

Morning all!

Zoo I see the wedding plans are taking shape! How exciting! Hope the girls enjoy the trying-on session! And how lovely of your dd1 to treat your dd2 like that! Hope they have a fab day in the Smoke!

I doubt f/t will be permanent but really don't know yet. DH setting up an additional office elsewhere (because of Brexit) and there is a lot of admin involved. It was only going to be an on-line presence initially, but now it looks like he's teaming up with others to have physical presence which means he'll probably be recruiting a real life admin person over there. Either way it's the legal bit of forming of a company in another country that is mind-blowingly bureaucratic. Work may settle down a bit after that but it depends on success of venture! (Hope it does because I have plans to run my own mini-business in 2021 (realistically 2022) once I/we move permanently to country once DD finishes school!) Also doing long hours right now because DH writing technical handbook thing that I am editing. Deadlines v tight.

And thanks for support; dh does work himself in to the ground to be fair. What annoys me when he does "help" at home (when not travelling) is that he is only interested in food (shopping/cooking) and driving errands which is better than nothing but he has no interest in house at all, doesn't do any chores at all, and he creates a lot of mess in the kitchen, all over everywhere really, but particularly in kitchen. And he allows dogs to create a lot of mess too by allowing them in places I wouldn't! And he isn't interested in doing DIY himself or seemingly in getting other people in to do it which is infuriating because things are left until they are really bad which is a false economy in my view. He's happy just to live in beautiful but old really faded, crumbly, wreck and let it crumble around him because that was what he did as a child! Grrrrrrrrr.

Hope you can catch up with sleep v soon!

Lane hope you were able to sleep after late night Flying! Hosting can be hard when you have so little notice!

Had better get on but mahoosive 🍒👋 and thanks to one and all!

Haha That! I do think DC are so much more with-it and mature/sophisticated than we were at every stage. I wonder if it's because they learn so much from one another, and the world at large, on-line?

I think this sums it up ...

I'm inclined agree SC modern age speeds up maturity,but not emotionally then all kinds of crazy kicks in

I'm absolutely crapping myself about the wedding tbh.ds and dd2 hate crowds/noise/change plans.none of us are comfortable eating anywhere but home.i lack social skills and capacity look groomed,where's groom's mum is IMMACULATE AT ALL TIMES...

Tada
5brc sorted from corner
Everyone fed and watered
More washing
About do bins and littertray...

That my life exactly,in triplicate🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

You never know zoo she might get a coldsore on the big day

Pre work ta-da's
✔️ sorted toys in living room. Some taken back upstairs, some binned, some bagged for charity. Also realised that the toy box is placed just in the right place to catch a lot of DS4 food which he's thrown from his highchair 🤢
✔️ dusted living room including on top of a unit which I must usually miss because it was grim. Had a massive sneezing fit after because I'm allergic to dust 🤧
✔️ breakfast for DS4
✔️ cleaned highchair
✔️ cleaned dining table
✔️ cleaned marks off walls in living room
✔️ cleaned all windows glass in living room
✔️ hoovered under sofa cushions
✔️ cleaned all ornaments and pictures
✔️ sorted bookcase and unit, some things removed to go upstairs and some for charity

And that's about it but that means living room is nearly done so just need to finish that and try get as much of the quick weeks cleaning done as I can when I get home.

Forgot that it wouldn't take as long to get to work on a Sunday so I'm now sat outside waiting for boss to open up, thinking of the extra things I could have gotten done at home

Serious washing back log here second load is in. 60million to go!

Thanks for birthday wishes for DD2! She is 7 today. Party later, she is at her activity now so am enjoying the last 15 minutes of peace before I try to get her to have a snack then get her to party where we are meeting DH, DD1 and in-laws. Just going to aim to get there early as there are road closures due to flooding so need to go an awkward route.

SC, I actually like Bower’s idea of an email to people. The way she phrased it as a break from visiting to allow you to concentrate on house sounds sensible as they can frame it in their head that they you are getting it ready for when they visit next in the distant future.

Happy birthday to our junior fledglings Stresslette and foxecub

I am awake! I slept for about 12 hours the other night and felt terrible yesterday. Have started on some estrogen (v tiny dose, not oral, apologies for TMI ...) and it seemed to knock me out! I hope that means it is working. Having mucho caffeine to get me through the day.

Out for a meal tonight with friends so that will be nice. No flying this week to speak of, still have a bill to pay but it's been a lovely half-term. We have way too much stuff in the main room so I'm going through the paperwork again (why is this an endless task, I don't get any mail apart from medical stuff at the moment?!) and gathering my diaries/agendas/bullet journal in a rush of enthusiasm to get organised. I should admit that when I dug out my 'in-tray' basket to pile the stuff - including my pretty, new Aldi bullet journal - I found a plainer bullet journal book that I'd bought myself for Christmas and forgotten about, entirely untouched So my goal this week is to actually MAKE A MARK in one of them

I will try and catch up with the thread but I'm not hopeful! I will reboot the same load of laundry and get the school stuff ready for tomorrow. Also need to book my car in for MOT.

Today, I will achieve better get on with something while the coffee is still doing it's job!

Chic no worries about TMI here I’d say. I have a few friends I can be completely honest with and it’s pretty nice to have that. Hope the estrogen works - one of aforementioned friends is very nervous about starting that (plus progesterone) so if you wouldn’t mind updating at some point that would be cool :o

Unexpected house guest has just left, so I’m a bit more relaxed (she’s actually lovely, it’s just the change of plans, house being a mess... etc). DH has taken Cagletini out while he gets our meds from Boots so I can chill a bit. Time for toast as I can’t be arsed to have proper lunch.

Afternoon! Happy birthday weekend to Stresslette and Foxcub 🎂🥳.

Back on our heads today. DS3's EHCP papers are basically done, although it was so hard to write about all the things he can't do. We're on a bit of a roll, so might do DS2's before they actually turn up, so to speak.

Winding up to having everyone ready for back to school by 5pm, when DH and DD head to London to see Babymetal (Japanese schoolgirl-fronted metal band). Each to their own, I suppose!

Hopefully back later with a long Ta Da list. Not going to do a To Do in case I jinx it.