Fledglings assemble for the nurturing November thread!

[foxessocks]

Thank you to EerilyDeleted for being an excellent leader on the October thread! Time to put your feet up for a well earned rest now!

This is my first time running the thread so sorry if the links below don't work I'm learning as I go!! If they don't I'll come back and try again

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

Here's the launchpad 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

Omg i so want snow. Up to your knees. Shut all the schools style snow! ❄⛄

Not much done at all. I’m back trying to wade through treacle.

Wondering about adding a “flylady mission” to my habit tracker next time, might get me inspired a bit. I really need to think about the housework side of potential bullet journal. I strive for routine but actually the random nature of the missions even if they don’t seem like the most important thing to do would be better than nothing, which is what is getting done lately.

At least I don’t need to clear under my bed though, what with it being a divan 😂 I wish we had spent extra for the drawers as they could have held bedding. DH and I decluttered that the other day and we should now be able to fit it in our wardrobe drawers instead.

Part of our IKEA order arrived today so we have some drawer divider things, they are a bit smaller than I thought (despite measuring, I clearly have little concept of space) so I’m not sure how useful they’ll be for DS really. But hopefully it’ll help him organise his clothes into the bigger drawers under his bed, clearing space in the trofast for Lego, and then we can build his bookcase for actual models when it arrives.

Saturday's to-do list didn't get anywhere near completed, because one thing led to another after I got the bit Between my teeth in the kitchen. Blitzed every surface, non-kitchen stuff out to where they belong, mail removed to office-cupboard, freezers tidied, fridge kind of tidied, utility straightened out enough for tumble-drying and putting away.

Attic bedrooms attacked. One box of spare coathangers removed to utility. . One box of forgotten shoes collapsed. Contents put away, box in recycling bin. Hoovered and dusted tops of wardrobes. Got stung by wasp hiding in duster. Squashed it and five others - probably coming through from kitchen roof space. Small garden birds were catching them for their chicks in the summer. Must be a nest in there.

Lugged DS's boxes of DVDs and other types of discs downsttairs. He plays online now, so the nintendo and xbox discs are not his priotity. I sorted, stacked, stored neatly on top of his/my bookcase. Thry now take up half the space.

LOL at regular intervals. Thins starting to catch my eye when they haven't been put away. Decided that a pp's idea of the Room of Doom would be better than mounds of indecision everywhere. Walked miles all day, up and down stairs, listening to podcasts, getting stuff in there and off floors and flat surfaces.

Sunday was putting awaay laundry, and makng a list of school clothes. Somehow, I fall behind too often, and this catch-up will help. Also tidied back door while piling LOLs. Didn't cook beyond microwaving and sandwiches. Spent a couple of hours on netflix and shopping-list.

Today has been good so far. Delivery checked and put away. More LOL, and now school run.

Today i have evicted the teen's crap from a shared space whilst muttering rude things about him/the way he left the room. He is not going to be happy when he gets home from school. But he has also lost the right to keep on top of his bedroom and thus privacy that is so greatly appreciated by teens.

ta da
With exception of the bookcases that room has been decluttered and cleaned.
Sorted more stuff in the out of action bathroom.
1 LOL
DW is running.

to do
discussion with teen
repair work to desk in room
clean up after this building/repair work
return furniture/rug to normal locations
Food shop

Urgh it feels like i have as much to do as I have done. And I have no idea what to do for tea... do they have to eat?

Afternoon.

Woolly my old next door neighbour was called Heckels - it's a vaguely dutch-sounding name so might have had an h/j confusion at some point? Sounds like you might have Fleming connections too. (H's is either that or a character from the mystery plays and mine probably used to end in -claes... our main problem is when people think an s is a y)

Spent most of Saturday afternoon in the kitchen - as well as a lot of washing up I made soup and a chocolate orange cake, decluttering the last of the liqueur to make syrup. For Sunday lunch I made baked southern chicken - followed the recipe almost exactly (just left out the garlic because I missed that when I was checking the ingredients list, and used crushed cornflakes instead of panko because we have nearly a boxful left over from when S1 was last eating them last summer).

Kept on top of the washing and the washing up. Did exercise class on Friday (still feeling it) but had to miss today's because of governor training. Going through the Schools Financial Value Standard document, which would have felt rather more useful if we hadn't spent a large part of the last Finance committee looking at our school's document .

Emptied kitchen bin and put rubbish out for collection!
Week's meal plan
Walked to Tesco for interim shop

Unfortunately we have missed the opportunity to order special Christmas food (all delivery and Click and Collect slots are gone gone gone gone). There does seem to be a Bronze turkey in the freezer section though, so I will try to pick one up on Thursday.

MiL has confirmed that SiL and her family will be inviting her for Christmas Day having carefully isolated beforehand, so we will stay up here (and hope S1 can get a train back on Christmas Eve, otherwise I might be driving for 9-10 hours during the sudden rush). So not only do we definitely need a turkey, but I will also need to make a pudding and a cake. Better put all that stuff on Thursday's list too. As well as spices to make mulled wine for the neighbourhood zoom on Friday.

At some point I must do some Flying or MN will accuse me of thread drift...

Hi it’s Isabelle with a name change, do you mind if I jump back in again?. I got snowed under work and family life and forgot about this account.

Welcome back pineapple feel free to jump back in!

I have just finished work for the day, just read through all the posts to catch up but I can't remember who said what , I know there was a wasp sting involved hope you are ok!!! And sing is wading through treacle which I can relate to, I never feel as though I'm getting anywhere 🤷‍♀️

Dinner time so I must dash! Will try and do a better post later...

No problem. Our motto is no fledgling is left behind so fly back in. We’re in the boudoir again except I am not.
I have a 7’ + bookcase just inside the doorway. A laundry basket of stuff for the shut charity shops and two guitars. That is before you even get to the bed. I was going to strip it today but felt it was impossible so will try tomorrow. I am hoping builder will be back tomorrow. Let’s hope it rains as he won’t want to be outside building the house for someone and be back at mine.

Wow MrsTidy you have been busy.

Merry might be more expensive but I get mine from a local butcher. Order now and pick up on 23/24th Dec.

Hills DH was a fan of black bin bag and if not put away after 24 hours bin it. I could never be so ruthless and we paid for the stuff. Lovely photo.

Sing sounds like a good plan.

I have been in the kitchen all day. Made mincemeat, made the Creole Christmas Cake and supper is beef and mushroom casserole and baked potatoes. The cake is due out and smells amazing.

1 LOL
Washed up several times.
Wiped worktops several times.
Making meatloaf for tomorrow.

🍒👋🍒👋🍒👋🍒👋to everyone.

Foxes I found them lighter. I usually make mine like mum did though sometimes she had those orange ones in the cupboard.

I don’t usually like under the bed but when I go under and there isn’t any dust bunnies I feel I am getting somewhere. I can’t get them out at present because of all the stuff in my room which won’t be shifted until DD the builder is finished and the painter comes and goes. Hopefully before Christmas.

I am getting all Christmas related stuff done now so I have time and to try and keep my mind off not being in the madness at school that I used to enjoy though not so much the last few years as no pants, visits to the Cathedral and everyone even Nursery over to church on the last day. We used to hold up the traffic on one of the main roads into the city centre. But no one ever minded and the drivers often waved at the children. Yr6 matched with Reception and took their responsibility seriously then Yr5 & Yr1 etc. Ah those were the days. Kids over excited, staff knackered and Headmaster beaming.

Think my treacle is mixed with quicksand. :o

Nothing achieved here except ordering takeaway. Main part of ikea delivery not shown up.

DH had a GP appt and has been put on yet more meds that will likely knock him sideways for a few days. Hopefully they’ll help of course but selfishly I’m dreading yet another few days of zombie husband while it settles in, and yet more put on me. Rather feel like a good cry but I’m too tired. 😴😴😴

Love the masks Woolly, and glad you’re getting the chance to relax in your lovely clean house.

Hills it sounds like that was a justified grump. Love the snow but hoping we don’t actually get any until my week off work

Welcome back Pienapple.

You sound like you’re doing great Mc!

Bet your in laws love it when you go round Hazel.

That casserole sounds lovely Bower. I also had a kitchen day and finally made the Christmas cake! I’m really pleased with how it looks but the taste test will have to wait.

Tidy ouch at wasp sting and at nest. You’ve got loads done today!

Merry you’ve reminded me I haven’t ordered our turkey. We also get ours from the local butcher Bower, and the sausages and steamy bacon.

Ah Zoo, that’s frustrating about the meds. Of course if there are any folk injured with spoons round your way we know it was just coincidence. You’ve been online the whole time.

Today was one of those rare occasions where I completed the to do list:
✅ upstairs dusted and hoovered and generally tidied (including moving stuff and hoovering more thoroughly in boudoir)
✅ bathroom cleaned
✅ did 15 minutes decluttering in boudoir
✅ cleaned windows and mirrors in boudoir, dressing room and DD’s room
✅ cleaned some mouldy spots around window in boudoir
✅ ironing/laundry away
✅ made Christmas cake (thanks for the advice fledglings), big pan of soup for lunches, chicken curry for dinner, and prepped work breakfasts
✅ bit the bullet and ordered a dehumidifier for the utility room. It’ll be at least a year and a bit before it gets knocked down and it’s so bad in there. Can think of far better things to spend the money on but I did find a good one half price.
✅ SORTED THE RETURNS
✅ delegated DH to post said returns and order the turkey.

Me and DD also had a rather chilly walk round the harbour, and watched the grinch under a blanket to warm up. DH did bedtime, I’ve had a relaxing bath, and I’m about to do my weekly planner with a hot chocolate. Night all 👋

Oh and hope you got the uni work tackled That.

Obviously I get streaky bacon from the butcher. Steamy bacon doesn’t sound appropriate for a festive family lunch

Cross post Sing

up steamy bacon did make me chuckle

Ok so I'm losing the plot. I have made ds a packed lunch for tomorrow - he doesn't go to nursery on a Tuesday 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

Links for tomorrow
flight plan
Tuesday is plan and play day and the mission is to attack your clothes pile! (I actually did this at the weekend but I guess that means I should really do under the bed which I didn't do today 🤔)

oh goody. I don't have a clothes pile.

Well, I have some ironing but it's not come off the line yet (will need to do another wash tomorrow). And I have some sweatshirts with cuffs that need stitching.

I think I've just talked myself into an Adapted Mission...

My clothes pile is actually next load in wash,so can get that done!
So many posts,apologies those I forget in advance..
Singhope meds help dh
Tidy massive clearing up list,well done!
Woollywhat's the book you are reading?
Hills hope no blood was shed talking to the teen
Foxes better to make lunch not needed than forget one that was required!
Bower aw,that story of trailing kids stopping traffic made me smile.big hugs lovely.casserole and cake must've made house smell fab!
I

Random notes I can't remember who said whathope wasp sting isn't too much bother,cuddles and Grinch sound lovely,I want deep snow,welcome back to returning fledgling,hope 9-10 he Xmas drive isn't necessary

Snuggling up in a blanket watching the Grinch sounds like a perfect evening up
Sing sorry to hear about tough days ahead while DH adjusts to medications. Just plan to do the bare minimum with the caglets help in bite-sized pieces.
Good morning zoo
Waves to all other fledglings too 👋

Today (Monday) was more like errand day on my break and lunch. Between going to the bank, filling up my jeep before it hits empty, buying the dogs medicated food from the vet and trying to find a decent ham, I ended up with about 15-20 minutes to eat and fill my water bottle back up again, before heading back to work.
Other than cooking leftovers for dinner and cleaning up the kitchen afterwards, there wasn't much flying done today.
I did make a list of everything that I need to buy and make for Thanksgiving on Thursday. Some will get made tomorrow to help spread it out a bit.

I'm tired so getting ready to go to bed. Have a good day everyone.

Have a fabulous Thanksgiving Hazel. Do you do green bean casserole?

At last - freaky turns up as Tinselette!

It's the ruddy app that's keeping me trapped in old usernames