Swooping into September - Flylady fledglings assemble!

[MogTheSleepyCat]

First of all, a big thank you to SingToTheSky for leading us through the August thread, (you can park your mop and hang up your duster now)

If you are struggling with C.H.A.O.S. (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) and S.T.U.F.F. (Something That Undermines Family Fun) then this is the thread where we (loosely) follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own, unique, relaxed style) with lots of support and chatter along the way.

The FlyLady link is here . Don't be put off by the twee language of the site – we all agree that the underlying system is very effective.

This little-and-often system is designed so that you can follow a series of steps and routines each day (which gradually become second nature) in zones of the house which are designated weekly; defining and minimising housework - which in theory should leave you with loads more time to do something more interesting instead.

At the same time it is intended to reduce that panicky "rabbit in headlights" feeling when you are overwhelmed and everything needs doing all at once. No problem if you miss a day or two; just jump right back in and it will all come around again next month.

It's up to you, but we advise not signing up to receive the Flylady e-mails as you will be swamped with marketing nonsense. All the information you need will be linked here on a daily basis.

From the first of the month, we will be following Flylady's steps and routines using a three-pronged approach (dependent on the stage everyone is at):

• start or repeat baby steps
• repeat baby steps + do 15 minutes a day decluttering in the current zone
• reinforce baby steps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.
• And if you are really enthusiastic and have finished decluttering - you can go on to detailed deep cleaning in each zone.

There are three key points to keep in mind throughout:

• No perfectionism allowed - this is harder than you would imagine and many of us on this thread struggle with this one.
• You are never behind - just start where you are and anything you do is progress.
• It didn't get into a mess overnight, it won't get tidy over night - accept it will take time to get on top of things and you will be happier.

If you are new; then trying to spend 15mins decluttering daily and doing the baby steps is a good way to start. Some of us (mentioning no names) can have scary looking ‘ta-da’ lists but don't let that worry you. Do what you can, anything is better than nothing, and don't judge yourself against others.

If all else fails, a + the power of three technique + a bit of support on here can work wonders.

Here's the launch pad for more experienced fledglings.

Don’t let it put you off if we appear a bit cliquey, we really aren’t. Some of us have been on here for years – but all lurkers, intermittent returnees, oldies and newcomers very, very welcome.

SingToTheSky put together a glossary of the many weird and might-seem-a-bit-cliquey terms. We have been going a long time but we always love newbies - hopefully this list will help you settle in.

KCC - the Keep Calm Corner, invented by our lovely Fledgling SC back in March, where the OP posts nice diverting links, memes, questions etc to distract us from the pandemic.

Ta Da - instead of a to do list (which is of course welcome too) we often post our achievements, with accompanying jazz hands, in order to celebrate the positives, however small they seem! Sometimes if we want to share an embarrassed giggle/commiserations we also post a ta didn’t - the stuff we didn’t get done!

BRC - Bag/Box of Random Crap. These are usually formed when we are panic tidying and shove anything in “to sort later” which is also known as a stash and dash .

Power of Three or PO3 - the idea that if you’re feeling really unmotivated/overwhelmed by your to do list, you just choose three things to do, and then post when you’ve done them.

DLMS - didn’t lose my shit - in other words, somehow stayed relatively calm despite a stressful day!

SS/S&S - Swish and Swipe - this is one of the key parts of the morning routine, a quick once over of the bathroom.

And a few basics:
LOL - load of laundry
WM - washing machine
TD - tumble dryer
DW - dishwasher
HSL - hallway, stairs, landing

Marking place as a newbie

sing sympathise with the feeling of should be doing something so can't relax, I'm feeling very restless and can't just sit down and read my book, keep thinking oh I just need to...and constantly checking my to do list, it's annoying!

Welcome barking

Ta das
Been to the orthodontist got the wheels in motion for my teeth whitening (she did joke it's a strange time for teeth whitening as nobody will see my teeth 🤔😂🤦‍♀️which made me hesitate to part with the money but I've been dreaming of this for so long and saved up for ages!!)
Picked dh up from work because someone else needed his van
Put kids bags and lunch boxes away
Sorted out shoes and coat for dd tomorrow as got a text just now from school saying they need wellies tomorrow, well she doesn't have any because forest school was cancelled and she doesn't really like them as a general rule, so I've packed her old trainers instead, they are like walking boot style so should be fine. Wish the text had come in this morning as I've been to two shops today and could have grabbed a pair. She is moaning that she will have to ask the teacher to do her laces up for her!!
Put dd school dress and another dress straight in wash because of blood stains 😱 she tripped over skipping at school and split her lip, so much blood on her school dress and then she changed into another dress at home and it promptly started bleeding again on the new dress 🤦‍♀️

Must go and make dinner. I feel in a real grump!

Cherry waves!

I am doing lots of moving shit around this week. I like a change. It drives DP insane 🙄

Home school seems to be getting slightly less painful (maybe because the end is in sight?)

I am not happy with the new restrictions. Its just not enough and people will not follow them! Todays case numbers are shocking.

Bower ❤

Another email.year 10 are down.only they opting just take out those within two metre radius rather than whole year group
Considering they move around its daft as just means more cases will occur.they now suggesting masks in class as it's 3rd case this week.thats a lot of hours in a mask tbh.and if get damp should change them surely?
Kid sat next lil zoo wasn't in school today,no idea if awaiting a test.i feel like I'm on tenterhooks..I wouldn't be as concerned but I'm severely anaemic and get do out of breath do every day stuff,and my immune systems shot.theres no one else care for zoolets if I get really ill.THAT is what scares me
Crazy day and think I've got migraine too.funny vision this morning and pressure around right eye/throbbing when move.bloody marvellous...

Tada
❤️Drop lil zoo at school
❤️Sort bookcase(empty,polish and reload only what should be on there)
❤️Tidy pile up corner of front room,rehoming "stuff"
❤️Drop dd2 at school
❤️Pop Morrison's as lil zoo growth spurt equals tight /small knickers and as showers on return from school needs them asap
❤️Walk back
❤️Wash up
❤️Put away baking tins as no point out whilst oven kaput
❤️Clean surface one in kitchen
❤️Clean hob
❤️Clean surface 2
❤️Scrub sink and drainer
❤️Clean cupboard out under sink
❤️Tidy and refill
❤️Collect dd2
❤️Lunch(2pm)
❤️Start menu plan
❤️Collect lil zoo
❤️Walk home
❤️Snack
❤️Finish menu plan
❤️Write shop list for dd1
❤️Clear and clean dining table

wellies thank you for the recipe, I'll have to try it, seems really easy.
foxes that was a weird thing for the orthodontist to mention, just because you want to whiten your teeth, doesn't mean it's for anybody else but yourself! Hopefully DDs lip will stop bleeding soon, sounds painful too.
Welcome barking
zoo the school isn't making any sense, especially as there's multiple cases, I agree that they need to shut down the whole year (they all mingle at some point anyway). Or they should at least give online option, if that's even viable.
that my mum was always moving rooms around, shifting furniture. I never knew where anything was going to be when I got home from school. I want to move things around in my living room but really limited on ways to have the room. I do want to change some furniture out and build my own, DH isn't as enthused as it means he's doing most of the work 🤣 so I'm jealous that you can do that!
Sing I hate it when everyone comes home earlier than expected. I love Tuesdays now DC are in school as I have the house to myself all day.

Before work this morning I made DS his sandwich for lunch, cooked sausage meat up for DHs breakfasts, washed up 2 water bottles for DS.

Not sure if I'll do anything after work, but at least need to do the washing up. I was too tired last night to wash any of the handwash dishes.

🍒👋 to everyone

Hiya sorry I didn’t post yesterday, I was very busy. I’ve planned all our Xmas presents, we do Christmas a bit differently hear so family send me their budgets and I then tell them what present to get the DC. It just means everyone gets the DC what they want and there’s no 2 of the same presents. I also lesson planned and meal planned, so got a lot sorted. I’ve been over the park getting conkers and then went again not long ago with the kids again because they were driving me crazy, it’s got so cold, I can’t believe it. I’m stressed out and the DC haven’t helped, made spag and meatballs for tea and DD threw it on the floor when she was finished (pic attached. It’s not a huge deal but it just means there’s more I need to clean that I wasn’t planning on doing tonight. I will be back with ta da at some point.

Hugs to you tidy💐 I’m sorry you’re struggling, it is so difficult.

up scootering was difficult😂 I ended up carrying 2 scooters, a dog and 2 coats.

Love the hedgehog pic ed!

hazel I haven’t seen a hedgehog near me for ages, I used to see them all the time when I was little. We sometimes get them in the garden if they come from the woods.

wellies great pics, and picking!

Love the masks dancing!

bower I’m sorry about the panics, I hope you’ve managed to get some rest.

zoo I’m so sorry about CAMHS, that’s really frustrating of them. Sorry about the school too, the whole year should be off. That’s how ours is working, if a teacher or student has a case the whole class needs to be off, then siblings if their family get a case.

Sorry to hear you’ve had a flare up sing.

Welcome barking

Sorry I haven’t replied to everyone and haven’t replied in detail, I’m super busy but I’ll catch up from now!.

evening all

went to gym (appear to have put weight on, annoyingly)
lol towels
made tuna pasta bake
washed up
applied for a job! - if it's the one I think it is which comes round every year then I got quite a way last time before they said they couldn't wait any longer for a passport number (passport arrived a week later, of course)
had Conversation with S2 who finished things with his girlfriend Apparently they have had issues since term started about how she doesn't like how he pays attention to her when other people are around. This sounds weird because I'm not sure I understand it enough to explain properly. Anyway, he had thought he was making progress on this but discovered today that she still wasn't happy about it, so as he didn't think he could do much more different decided that they would be better calling it a day. She was upset.

Links for Thursday 24th September

We are in the master bedroom, aka The Boudoir

Spend 15 minutes decluttering here before moving onto detailed cleaning.

Our mission today is to change your bedsheets

Baby step 24 is adding the Swish and Swipe to your morning routine This is a swish with your loo brush round the toilet bowl and wipe down of the bathroom counter top.

Habit of the month is Before Bed Routine

Thursday focus is errand day Any task to be done outside of the home: grocery shopping, tip runs, dry cleaning, doctor appointments, that sort of thing.

Cherry waves all. I’ve been catching up gradually so I know I’m going to forget some personals.

Welcome Barking

Foxes I’d feel grumpy too

Hope you’re feeling a bit better today Bower

Zoo that’s daft of CAMHS. Surely, danger aside, a walk through a dark nature reserve with a torch in the cold months is a very different experience to a walk through on a summer’s evening to anyone, nothing to do with excuses or limiting yourselves.

I hate it when my alone time ends too early too Sing

Love the sunflowers Hazel, you’ve done a really good job of arranging them.

Hope s2 is ok Merry. Good luck with the job!

My mind has gone blank at the rest of my replies.

I’ve had a frustrating few days at work. I’d had lots of cancellations in my clinics and so thought I was in for a quiet week and would be able to crack on with a couple of projects. However instead I’ve been delegated lots of other people’s work so I’ve actually never stopped and have got nothing done that I wanted to. I’ve also had that horrible anxious butterfly feeling in my stomach for the last couple of days for no reason at all. I’m not stressed and there’s nothing out of the ordinary happening, but I’ve just felt on edge. Not sure if it’s just as this is the first week of my new work pattern but it’s not a massive change 🤷‍♀️

Ta Das:
✅ LOL
✅ DLMS at work
✅ kitchen cleared after tea (cooked by DH)
✅ emergency wash of pre-school uniform - we are still waiting on a couple of extra tops to arrive and DD was a mucky pup today
✅ prepped overnight oats for next two work days.

Off to bed now. Night fledglings!

Oh cross post Wellies! Poor DS3. Well done on achieving such a good list and actual work in amongst preventing pass outs

upholder I get that butterflies feeling sometimes and rack my brain trying to think what's bothering me and then that ends up worrying me even more, it's a vicious cycle! I find distraction helps, something good ok TV or a good book??

Dd lip stopped bleeding but her knee started bleeding again at bedtime, quite a nasty fall she had I think, she was trying to do "proper" skipping as a few of her friends were doing it and she's upset she couldn't do it, she wants dh to teach her at the weekend ! She didn't ask me I can't think why 😆

Ds packed lunch is made for tomorrow but I haven't put the washing on ready for morning, I'll think I'll skip that one tonight since it's due to rain tomorrow anyway so I won't be hanging it outside.

Night all!

Well, I haven't been doing much flying today or yesterday.. Got 1 week left until I finish for mat leave, so trying to finish up all the outstanding things before I go off.

Ta da:
🎉Morning routine
🎉 Evening routine
🎉Made dinner - spag bol. I came across a cooking book called Disaster Chef, and so far it has been the most fail safe out of all cooking books I own! I think I first heard of it on the radio when I used to commute to a different hospital for work few years ago, never looked back 😂 but it's mainly for cooking rookies like myself.

Apologies for the lack of personals. I will catch up on everything soon.
🍒👋

Thanks Upholder I am sort of. Thanks to everyone else sending me good wishes all will be revealed, possibly tomorrow. Then you will know what I am stressing about. Some older flyers will probably have guessed. SC, Zoo, ED, Willow, Sing and possibly That & Foxes.

I was stressed out this morning because someone hasn’t sent something promised but now I have decided not to ‘give a shit’ and no I haven’t been on the or the 🍷! I apologise as I still haven’t caught up on threads. Today’s plans went a bit pear shaped. Anyhow I have just given the kitchen a good clean. Need to wash the floor tomorrow.
Oh orange I feel for you.

Flying
Boudoir
Bed made. Didn’t change the sheets because I do it on Mondays( like mum) and we were away so they were changed just before I went.
Dusted tops of both chest of drawers and all the NickKnacks. It would be easier if they weren’t there. Need to pare it down somehow. I have one hovering near the kitchen door.

Kitchen
Washed up
Cleaned Everhot
Wiped worktops.
Change runner on table.
Washed/wiped place mats.
Sorted fruit in bowl.
Vacuumed floor.
Sorted veg.
Set a load of towels off.WM.
Polished four bits of silver that have been sitting on table end for about a month. Ran out of polish so shoved in the drawer for now.
Checked and wiped my lovely new kettle. DH splashed out so it should last us rest of our lives unless we live to 100. Quite a lot of people in this village live into their nineties.
Soaked cloths.
Dusted tops of corn icing yesterday.

I was listening to R 4 you might be interested zoo and 🍊 it was about PRU units and schools training people to get the right fit for pupils in mainstream. She was quite interesting.

I looked around to think it looks quite good. Oh and after sending an email to potter says I gathered she wasn’t interested in my order she was full of apologies and hopefully tiles will be finished in a fortnight.
Just have to get Dan the Man back. Not easy. Joiner needs to put door on and the coal bunker and wood store still haven’t arrived. I am sick of being patient. I want to scream and squeem until I am sick!

So a bit more productive than I thought as we went to DS2 who kept having to answer his phone. He was over an hour late home then came in and answered the phone three times for work before he could say hello. All to do with changing peoples shifts and the early closing. He is cros about it because he has stated

1. Everyone will spill out onto the streets want to catch train, bus, taxi and no social distancing mixing with other pub goers.
2. They will probably ignore the rules and go to someone’s house to carry on drinking.

Said he is ok because set waged but others will lose hours so he might lose some good staff. I was talking to him the other day about staff and I didn’t realise he has so many. His granddad would be proud of him. He oversees about 72 just now but had 80 before lockdown. He says DS3 will loose some hours because everyone will...seems like I won’t be putting his rent up.

Ooh tea was a salmon and rice dish. It was delicious and bloody easy. Does anyone want the recipe tomorrow?

Welcome Barkingmadmother
Sounds like she will fit in here with a name like that🤪👍

Will be thinking of you tomorrow Bower.

Up - I've had a for of the butterfly tummy thing this week too, I think it's the ramping up of Covid numbers that's done it to me.

Zoo - I would like to see that CAMHS person walk a day in your shoes . fingers crossed for no more covid cases at school.

Hazel - lovely flowers.

Barking - welcome on board. Anything you don't understand just ask, this thread has a few obscure acronyms in use but we aren't cliquey.

Welcome barking!

I hate that untraceable butterflies feeling. Quite a few people seem to be reporting that lately :(

Flare up seems to be mild and period related (usually does get worse, just not to this extent IYSWIM) so that’s a relief, but I am also trying to pay attention to the fact it is a bit of a warning, as I’m definitely feeling more overwhelmed. Again. All the responsibilities and tasks pile up so quickly, and that’s without any paid work or volunteering... not a nice thing to consider when I’m trying to get ready to do those things! But I’m hoping that some outside work will actually solve more issues than it causes... am I being totally naive here?!

ta da
🙈packaged up my picture with the address for DH to post
🙉zoom therapy session
🙊wrote rough notes from session
🙈bit more HE planning
🙉replied to maths teacher, and then emailed again to ask him to forward the request to the other maths teacher as her address didn’t work
🙊replied to LEA HE advisor
🙈HE through the day
🙉enjoyed dinner all sat round our new (to us) table and chairs that DH bought today in a charity shop.
🙊poked electric meter to get info needed (clever friend looking into tariff changes)
🙈properly wrote up therapy session

I feel absolutely wired and stressing about tomorrow despite lack of plans really. I do need to consider the homework from therapy though. And work on my course. A lot. Aaaaarggh

Morning all. I'm feeling about stressed too tbh, I think mine is related to a friend of dd coming over after school tomorrow, her mum has a lot going on and so I wanted to help her out but they are both quite intense and overwhelming characters, hard to explain but it won't exactly be relaxing!

One of those things that has been at the back of mind all week

And it's pouring hard this morning!

A very chilly walk from the car park this morning, and the leaves are starting to fall. It was quite a pleasant walk to blown away the cobwebs.

I’m very pleased to hear that I’m not the only weirdo who gets random butterflies, although not pleased to hear that a few of you are suffering with it too. I feel a bit better after a decent sleep. I do wonder whether it might be the rise in Covid numbers for me too ED. I didn’t think I was particularly stressed about it all but admissions are creeping up at work, and there’s a similar air of uncertainty about the place as there was back in March.

Hope the day isn’t too stressful Foxes

Hope today brings you some resolution Bower (salmon and rice is always welcome in my house if you can be bothered to post the recipe).

Sing I find I thrive on the routine of work and I’m more overwhelmed when I’m off for a bit. You can only give it a try. Hope the flare up is just period related as you suspect.

Ta da:
✅ bathed grotty DD as she was too tired last night
✅ beds made
✅ s&s
✅ got to work looking vaguely presentable with all the bits I need. Determined to make progress on my projects today!

Catch you later everyone!

Morning all! (SC here.)

Just diving in and out to respond to post and send all good wishes to Bowerbird. Sending prayers and positive thoughts to you today

Glad to hear you benefited from a burst of Lakeland sunshine and saw The Old Man of C. I remember how lovely the trees in the Coppermines/Furness area used to be when the leaves started to turn. Hopefully you will be able to keep those sights in your mind's eye during stressful times this week, but sorry to hear about the panic attacks which are the pits. (I used to have them so I know.)

In fact sorry to hear about butterfly thoughts and panicky feelings on the thread in general. I hope everyone is as ok as it is possible to be these days. Fwiw I think it's totally understandable to feel a little uneasy and unsettled in current circsso don't be too hard on yourselves everyone.

I feel the same way as it happens. DD received a text last night to say that the sister of one of her best friends at school has tested positive and so the entire family are quarantining. DD is of course obliged to go to school today knowing that there is probably Covid-19 in her class.

Tally-ho everyone! Tbh honest I am barely keeping my head above water cleaning/work/renovation wise and seem to be falling short each day.
And what looked eminently feasible in the summer about going back and forth weekly to see he of the long face is starting to look not so practicable for a number of Covid-19 related reasons. As he is in very expert and safe hands, that's hardly a huge sacrifice in the scheme of things, but it's what makes the other stuff more tolerable ifyswim. Heigh ho.

Love to all. Take care of yourselves and sorry for the rather maudln post This is certainly an interesting experience if nothing else [wibble ] Keep going everyone; small steps and all of that, one task and one at a time. (Trying to leave out the cake ATM that would normally accompany the brew before I bust my gilet zip again!) [Over and out for now! X ]

bower forgot to say I'd love the salmon recipe, always looking for new ones for salmon, dh always says it's boring whatever I do with it!

School run wasn't too rainy in the end and the kids were actually very cheerful so that was nice.

Hi sc sorry you are also feeling the stress right now, sounds like we all are at the moment, it's definitely uncertain times

I must get on with work joy of joys

bower good luck today,thinking of you

I've had morning from hell.dd2 did nothing but yell at me/snap,incl on her you must walk me I can't get there by myself walk to school,all morning.ive even had texts from school
Lil zoo has such bad IBS curled in ball can't move
DS off on one no doubt cos dd2 yelling anyone in range and he's fretting over risks covid to girls/us and his school should be sending work.uncertsinty isn't something he can manage
I've still got migraine
I drop whole pot butter that plop out onto dirty kitchen floor.
Wiping shopping I found mould on outside gammon ham tin,causing OCD have utter meltdown and throw whole shop in dustbin
And no loo rolls in Waitrose as some one wasn't challenged as no restrictions from buying a whole trolley full
I have two girls with IBS,we keep cheap loo roll family pack in on top of what we need a week,but still a worry in case it goes to no supply anywhere

I have reached my absolute limit.im sat here in floods tears,heads pounding,place a tip
If I had some where to run away to I'd go
I will highly likely go AWOL if not today,in next few
I can't cope anymore

Zoo - we're always here for you ❤️

Bower and zoo thinking of you 💐💐

Oh Zoo I'm so sorry; the stress levels sound intolerable . Try and do some self care if humanly possible as you are the one holding it all together and you deserve it X 1000. And wrt dd2 yelling and snapping, please remember It's often said that the teens most comfortable and loved and "embedded" at home need to direct the biggest of metaphorical kicks towards their parents in order to self-launch. While not pleasant, and often hurtful, I often think it helps to frame it like that anyway! .

[Really am off mow, humungous waves to Foxes and everyone else!]

Zoo Is there anyone you can talk to in real life? We are always here for a sympathetic ear and a hug. Sending lots of hugs your way.

Bower Keeping everything crossed for you today. I hope it goes well.

SC Glad to see you! hang in there, lots of strength your way!