Fledglings Flying Frightfully into October

[EerilyDeleted]

A huge thanks to Mogthesleepycat for steering us successfully through September

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 Flylady. 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 brew + the power of three technique + a bit of support on here can work wonders.

Here's the launch pad for more experienced fledglings Launchpad.

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.

Home Bleugh - Flylady's Home Blessing routine

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

And finally "The Naughty Corner" - this is for Fledglings who perhaps didn't get done what they had planned for the day but are in need of a comfy seat, pile of cushions, tasty snacks, stiff drink and friends to chat to.

Well done sing

Well done sing Hopefully your anxiety will settle now.
Thank you for the compliments on my truffles, they really are easy and it would be fun to do with the DC zoo and sing especially if you don't mind how they turn out. There's lots of ideas on Pinterest for Halloween as well - like making them look like eye balls for example 🤣
I work today, but I plan to finish what I started with Halloween decorations, and then there will be lots of sorting out to do. That is a little overwhelming, considering there are papers that need sorting from the 70's! I can't throw anything out without the okay from the city council, so it really is a matter of organising, which the office desperately needs.

Ooh I definitely will look that up thanks hazel - we usually do a bit of Halloween treat making although the less actual baking the better because I’m crap 😅 eyeball truffles would be very well received!

I’m currently scribbling answers to the remaining questions (some could only be done based on the practical session) so hopefully I’ll have my entire course done within a week or so. Although technically I think my deadline is 22/10 eeeek.

Sing massive well done! Proud of you 😘
Hazel those pralines are goals.
I've made an apple pie thing today and the top is burnt. Gah! I just can't get the temp right! Apparently my oven is like a furnace, so whatever the recipe says is usually too hot, so I need to go lower and longer. I will get there one day.

Women on pregnancy thread I am on have started having their babies already. Eek!! It's getting real! I am going to re-pack my hospital bag today. Just because.

Ta da:
🎉LOL X2
🎉DW rotated
🎉Morning routine
🎉Made apple pie - slightly incinerated, but once you cut off the burnt bits, it looks ok.

To do:

• shampoo carpets with RugDoctor. DH will help me out with that.

Well done sing!

Eek to imminent baby arrival MC!

Just got back from a little shopping outing with the kids, stopped at the café, it was fun until they both had the little mini trolleys in M&S and I couldn't find the sausages so turned my back for a minute, turned round to find them playing dodgems with the trollies and a man looking very disapproving 🤦‍♀️whoops. Needless to say we left pretty quickly after that. They are so beautifully behaved one minute and then the next it's like they just lose the plot! Boredom I suppose 🙄

Good news is a very large box of wine has just arrived

Ta das
School run X 2
Sent dd off to school in her dress up clothes with the £1 for PTA
Played puzzles and board games with ds as promised ❤️
Dishwasher
Washing X 2
Tidied up
Made lunch for me and ds
Cleaned out car and hoovered it
Cleaned out hand bag and purse
Hoovered downstairs
Dh has hoovered the stairs
Picked up my parcel from Next
Ordered new shoes for both dc
Bought myself a new t shirt that covers my bum when I'm wearing my sports leggings 😂
Picked up butter, potatoes, stuff for dinner this weekend from M&S (and some treats!)
Put shopping away

Hi all, I’m back earlier than expected. I feel better being on here actually and being able to rant and share my feelings with you all. I’ve been feeling okay about grandads passing, he wasn’t a well man and I think he was happy not to be in pain. We can’t attend his funeral but we’re going to have our own celebration of his life at home. I’m now at home for 2 weeks (from Monday) as my class bubble has burst and so has the DC’s whole nursery. We’re awaiting tests, but none of us are feeling ill so fingers crossed we are okay. I’m really glad I planned my lessons so I could do them online as I do not need to worry about that for this week now. I’m taking every day as it comes as I am feeling a bit vulnerable but I’m trying to be kind to myself. I hope you don’t mind having me back and having a slight rant, I have read through and I will try and catch up later on today. I’ll leave you with a picture of the DC doing some Halloween crafts we did the other day.

Rant away pumpkin sorry about bubble bursting and testing etc. It is no fun.

Ta da survived hospital procedure.

to do cook tea.
Early night.

That seems like a good to do list to me.

Hope your ok pumpkin and hills

Sorry, I’ve tried to catch up but you’re all so chatty!.

Well done sing!🥳

So exciting mc!! It won’t be long now.

Thank you for my kind words as well.

Spent the whole day trying to reminding myself that it's Friday. It felt so much like a Sunday, but I've no idea why.

Sorted my knitting pins into sizes. About half have no partners, or are bent. Will declutter those into greenhouse for pot stakes.

I got sooo tired this afternoon - could’ve lay down halfway through DS’ therapy zoom session and fallen asleep 😳 so glad the assessment is over, even though it was only a short thing I had it really built up in my head! If I do the next level up, I have to do one of those every week 😱 but I guess that would be a good thing really as I’d have to get used to it and fast.

Talked to my mum too. They’re in Greater London now which I gather means tighter restrictions. I am of course regretting not managing to get up to see them again before this happened 😣

I want to make photo books this year - I know people here have mentioned them, can anyone recommend a good brand? I’d especially like it if you can add captions to individual photos or pages.

So glad it’s the weekend.

Oh also proud mum moment if I may :o DS entered a STEM competition and got shortlisted for his category :) woohoo!!!

tidy it doesn’t feel like a friday here either, I’m quite glad it is though.

I’m glad tour DD had a great time wellies, we are very lucky to celebrate his life.

Well done to your DS sing!!!🥳

Not much flying today, did a korma for tea but that’s about it

Sing with assessments, if it will become a weekly thing you will get desensitized to them very quickly and they won't feel like such a big deal anymore. A while ago, I made a pact with myself to always do things that scare me and it worked out well so far. Usually big scary things are really not that scary at all once you get stuck in.
Well done to your DS, you proud mama.

I have used CEWE for my wedding album. They were great when I had that drama with getting the date of my own wedding wrong and fixed everything for free and on time, although none of it was their fault. They are a bit pricey, but the quality is pretty good.
For more day to day type of albums, I am going to try one of those free to print apps. I shall let you know how I get on.

Hills I hope you are recovering well.
Wellies I take it you are not an experimental jazz fan then! What sort of stuff are you into?

Gosh, house is upside down now. We shampooed all of the downstairs carpets, so had to free up floor space and a lot of things got moved around into rooms without carpet on the floor. Hoping all will dry soon.
Doing stairs and upstairs bedrooms today. Fun times.

hills hope you are recuperating
Sing well done on your appointment today and whoo hoo for dsgood luck wardrobe building this weekend
Wellies there is nothing I love more than hearing zoolets laughing,been in shorter supply lately...
MC hope carpets dry fast and order restored.eeek at impending arrival

Foxes hope you got some yummy treats at m+s.gives me the rage when others pointedly glower at children who aren't like autonomous robots whilst shopping.i hated it when mine were little,and feel for those being judged now whilst I shop who are trying to contain and bored/tired/hunger/had enough tantrumming child.in the scheme of things it really doesn't matter
Hazel might look see if I can find a dairy free truffle recipe for making in hols...
Mrs tidy what did/do you like to knit?
Pumpkin lovely to have you back.we celebrate lives on birthdays of those who are no longer with us.sharing my fair lady with zoolets on my dad's birthday has been a highlight this year.watching them love something he did too was priceless

Was bit crazy here hence no tada during the day
Still awaiting lil zoo blood results
DS had wibble that online classes aren't running to expected timetable,teachers changing,and students joining making teams a jumble of noise and disruption.his two least favourite things.plus 4noghts in a row bloody fireworks being let off causing meltdowns.ffs
On a positive note dd2 got one point off an A in first English a level assignment,and a B in history despite being so our of it at school using all energy to stay in class she's had to review notes of others/online versions of lessons at home and then tackle homework on top.shes behind with loads of stuff but so proud of her plodding on.shes got medic app with camhs on 30th so hoping some ADs might bring her anxiety down to more manageable levels

On cleaning front,tackled few more areas that have hotspots that are more like forest fires and continuous attempts at laundry control
Been awake since 230.might get up soon.toying idea early trip into town today....

zoo mostly jerseys in the past. Some heavy-duty socks for under motorcycle boots. The occasional Aran sweater. Was never great with mixing colours, enjoyed cabling and twisting patterns more. True love was an Aran for rugby-playing DH with a 56" chest. :-)

Sometimes the patterns were quite daunting, but in the end it's a bit like FlyLady - follow the instructions and it gradually comes together!

Yesterday was a bit painful on my hands and neck, so it's a very simple garter stitch scarf atm, in a rather garish pink with a glitter effect.

Do you knit?

tidy yep.in my youthI knitted Jean greenhouse toys.then character jumpers.when had my own DC I made a shawl for dd1(same as my deceased mum made my sister's) but sadly it got lost when I moved.knit baby jumpers/hats for prem babies for church.two years back I did Xmas baubles for mums n tot entry to church Xmas tree.each regular attendee had knitted bauble with name on embroidered on.planning making lil zoo a jumper as she's very into woolly things.dd2 prefers hoodies!I get stiff fingers now if I knit too long though

Goodness Friday was busy. Haven’t caught up yet except noticed Singsshort one. Go DS fantastic news.

Zoo quickly read yours. Wow to your knitting. I am just a simple and basic knitter.

Well I went yesterday and I was 😤 unbloodybelieveable!
Can’t stop because DH has woken me with tea and I was supposed to be leaving at 8:30am to go to Coniston. Banana bread is made, Beef in Ale made. Need to take potatoes and cabbage and apples. Oh hell I haven’t made crumble and oven isn’t working. Rethink maybe. Top oven works might be enough for crumble.

Will report back tonight. Anyway so glad now I resigned. Two teachers going too. Head hasn’t told the TAs I resigned. I told two. Will drop off sweets and a card on Monday. Oh and I picked up a chair for a bargain!
Must swallow tea.

I'm amazed by anyone who can knit! I've never tried it but it looks difficult

Today has got off to a bad start. An argument over sticky buns of all things 🙄 everyone is sulking . I need to go and get kids breakfast ready. The only way is up!

Enjoy your day bower hope it goes well!

I can't knit or sew or bake only thing i can make is babies and brews 🤣

Both are very important That.

MrsT - I don't knit but I do crochet, I've never really made clothes as I can't wear wool against the skin and overheat easily so I tend to think of wool clothes as itchy and hot and have never made them for others either (I realise this is not true, just my own attitude, also the fitting seems daunting). I mostly make blankets for the Woolly Hugs charity.

Bower - oven not working? Eek. You definitely did the right thing by resigning.

Hills - hope you are on the mend.

Hazel - I like hearing about Hallowe'en decs. We don't normally do ours till the day but might get them out a bit earlier this year. As I've mentioned we have been having the house painted this week and I am looking forward to taking photos of the decorated front window without having to angle my phone carefully to avoid the peeling patches next to the window.

Apumpkin lovely photo of your Hallowe'en activities. Sorry to hear about bubbles bursting but it sounds as though the timings work well at least.

Witchytoes - welcome to the thread, feel free to jump into the random chat as well as the Flying stuff.

Foxes - oh, it's horrible when people tut at children in supermarkets, howe are they supposed to learn to shop if they feel unwelcome.

Wellies - what is church watching?

Mc - exciting that LittleMc is soon to be with us, it's exciting having new babies on the thread.

Zoo - well done to DD2 on her A level work. My DS is doing history too and it's his best subject. He is also doing 2x BTEC so all the coursework counts, I had to spend most of yesterday afternoon helping him proof read and edit a big assignment, he knows the content but struggles a bit with getting it into coherent sentences.

Sing - well done to DS. I use Photobox for albums, I don't use captions etc but I think you can. Never pay full price, save your album and wait till there are discounts, they have offers all the time you just need to wait for the email for the right one (they are 40% off sort of thing).