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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Fledglings Flying into the Festive Season

729 replies

ExquisitelyDecorated · 30/11/2021 22:18

Well here we are, December is upon us and we are settling in for the winter. We aim to follow the fly lady system, it does work if you follow it, but many of us have found that it works better if you combine it with an additional decluttering system to speed up that process. Flylady is more of a maintenance system, some combine it with other systems such as TOMM. Links at the end of the post.

These threads have been running for years, many posters have been here for a long time but new Fledglings and returners are always welcome, just jump in and ask if you don't understand anything.

Experience has taught us that these threads are only loosely about housekeeping, they are more about keeping good company and looking out for one another. So we have the naughty corner fully stocked with cushions, blankets, hot water bottles, comforting drinks and snacks, with a few sausage rolls and mince pies in a nod to the season (gluten free, vegan etc all catered for).

A few of our abbreviations and sayings:

BRC = box of random crap
Mount Washmore = out of control laundry
CHAOS = can't have anyone over syndrome
LMS / DLMS = lose my shit / didn't lose my shit
It's all gone a bit Pontypridd - it's all gone pear-shaped (some sort of spellcheck error)
No Fledgling Left Behind - there is always someone here to lend a listening ear, whether you want to have a grumble, let off steam, or just feel a bit behind or out of sorts. We recognise that many people have a lot going on in their lives, caring responsibilities, work, health conditions, general family life

So, with that, I will pop a couple of links to Flylady pages here:

www.flylady.net/ - homepage

www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/flying-lessons/ - getting started

We suggest you do NOT subscribe to the emails, unless you want a very cluttered inbox. Ask here instead.

www.flylady.net/d/cruising-through-the-holidays/ - seasonal stuff

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
HillsBesideTheSea · 19/12/2021 19:16

ta da
Christmas baking biscuit batch 1 - milk
Christmas baking - recipe adaptation
Eat said test batch Blush
Christmas baking biscuit batch 2 - milk - dough resting
Lasagna batch cooking
Stew in slow cooker for tomo
Tame the kitchen
laundry
Lakeland - surprisingly quiet
wash ds' bedding
Set out schedules for this week (going to be hectic and busy)

Right need to rescue tea, get pizza rolls into the oven and prep for getting the biscuit dough rolled, cut and cooked.

SingToTheSleigh · 19/12/2021 20:30

po3.3
❗️Continue room rescue
❗️Put Cagletini to bed, late night here as we finished a movie
❗️Move last lot of laundry into dryer (need to do towels but I refuse to do any more washing today!)

ExquisitelyDecorated · 19/12/2021 22:52

Tada!

Fed cats
De-pooped litter trays
Put DW on
Sorted DD's papers for paper round
Back to bed for an hour
Took DS to work
Tidied bedroom floor and hoovered
Sorted out 3 x LOL from yesterday and put away my stuff and flannels, tea towels etc
Scrubbed kitchen sink
Hotspotted home office
Quick bit of shopping at Waitrose
Marzipanned cake
Took DS to football (3 hours out of the house)
Finished cards for posting and posted
Pasta dinner
Watched some of SPOTY
Now watching the darts.

Does anyone else watch the darts? We used to have another fan on here a few years ago but haven't found anyone else to bore the pants off everyone else with chat to in recent years.

Cough is much improved today, although I set myself off by going out to the postbox just now and breathing cold night air. It was foggy here earlier too, around when it got dark, but cleared now.

OP posts:
HillsBesideTheSea · 20/12/2021 01:14

I have just got bread into the oven, and need to wait for the washing machine to finish in an hour and half. Before my 7am alarm clock... Hmm

Stilllivinginazoo · 20/12/2021 03:54

I assumed after the 90 minute sleep last night I'd get a proper sleep tonight
Upgraded to 4 hours,but body is desperately tired and wishing brain would quit buzzing

TheHoneyBadger · 20/12/2021 07:11

Hope you got quality if not quantity sleep hills and zoo. I managed 5 hours which is better than last night.

Po3.1
Take dog out
Make coffee
Bring up another armful of clean washing and put away.

I cleaned about half of the kitchen yesterday so what really needs doing before hairdresser comes at lunchtime is:

-Finish tidying and cleaning kitchen surfaces
-get rubbish and recycling out
-get more clean clothes out of kitchen
-hoover and at least spot clean kitchen floor
-make some attempt to tidy lounge and entranceway and vacuum visible rugs and floor
-clean litter tray.

Nothing compared to some of your tada lists but seems a mountain to me.

Oh and better at least clean the sink and toilet in bathroom and get out the charity bag that’s ended up in there

IWasWillingToGoWassailing · 20/12/2021 07:55

That's a lot to do if you've been firefighting in other areas of your life, Honey. Good luck! One thing at a time.

Hills I'm sorry you got to bed so late and zoo I'm sorry you were up so early.

Today is Christmas With FIL. Tensions are already running high. Nothing apart from assembling stuff and getting out of the house is going to get done.

SingToTheSleigh · 20/12/2021 09:19

Good luck wassail 💐
Sorry about lack of sleep for various fledglings!

Just waved DD1 and DH off in a taxi (just to town then getting a bus) for her break’n’set procedure. I gave her one of her little Christmas presents - putting together an anime/Kpop themed mystery box for her and there was a little teddy, so she’s got that with her for comfort. First of my kids to have a GA

DS still asleep, keeping Cagletini busy making a get well soon card.

po3.1
❗️Meds and breakfast
❗️Read
❗️Wrap DD1’s presents

Stilllivinginazoo · 20/12/2021 11:22

Sending good vibes wassail
Sing hugs lovely.x

I've braved town
Dd2 and I left at 715 as 45 minute walk.we only went home bargains,Wilko,savers and we're heading out by 9!not many about but those who were mostly weren't masked....
Acquired more face masks(as zoolets seem lost loads),a new charger for dd2 phone and various cleaning bits that are hard to come by or silly expensive in local supermarkets
We slid into Aldi and dd2 chose gifts for D's and lil zoo from the what the fuck aisles🥰
Now home,had crumpets and trying to get warm as I'm chilled to the bone

SingToTheSleigh · 20/12/2021 11:37

Thanks 🥰

Plans have changed a bit as DS was looking for something in the cupboard and decided to start sorting through BRCs. So we are slowly doing that! :)

SingToTheSleigh · 20/12/2021 14:58

Managed a bit of BRC sorting. DS wandered off after a while so we now have lots of stuff all over the floor 🤣 but we will get that sorted gradually. So I’m ignoring the first power of three completely for now and just trying to get bits and pieces done when I can.

po3.2
❗️Put a few more bits in DW and switch on
❗️Towel wash
❗️Take more folded laundry upstairs to put away

Slowchimes · 20/12/2021 15:06

I'm fighting battles with myself today. Desperately need the pointy stick! Don't know why when Christmas is so close!

Stilllivinginazoo · 20/12/2021 15:16

You can't have visitors,let standards of entertaining drop as just close family,delegate some cooking clearing up.its your turn to enjoy Xmas not be a slave

Slowchimes · 20/12/2021 15:44

Not sure dd sees it quite that way Zoo; I have set the standard too high in the past and she now wants "everything the same" bless her, but I don't think I have it in me this year!

And we have a young relation coming who stays with us during uni hols for various reasons atm. Don't really consider her a "guest" or visitor though (she is "family" and has seen us at our worst) but I want to make a bit of an effort.

The cleaning is getting to me a bit because this house is tough going. I feel tired and my knees hurt!

Sorry for whinge. Blush

Stilllivinginazoo · 20/12/2021 15:54

I'd be asking DD to up her game a bit and help tbh sc
Mine are starting to learn i physically can't do everything (and shouldn't be expected to).there are still complaints which are met with we'll help me do X,y,z and I can find time/energy to do the thing or I am so tired you need to help if you want blah blah blah..dd2 pretty good,D's happy to help but needs single sentence simple instructions,lil zoo my bitcher but she's learning it's better/quicker to accept if o say you need to help it's more likely to happen.slightly diff circs mind as I am physically unable to do some stuff

Slowchimes · 20/12/2021 15:56

(Snaffles mince pie gratefully)

Btw when I say "set the bar high" that is only by our own low standards Grin

Have just looked back through thread and everyone's Sunday lists are incredible! Well done all! Really impressive stuff! Star

Slowchimes · 20/12/2021 15:59

Thanks Zoo aye she should step up a bit more but she is not officially living here and has a load of study for post Xmas exams so it is complicated!

Slowchimes · 20/12/2021 16:10

Zoo your 25-30 carrier bag jettison is epic Star

Hills hope you are not too tired

HoneyBadger you would feel much reassured if you looked at my place ATM. I don't think I have ever been so unprepared for Christmas as this year! I find it really difficult to focus with DH WFH again (my problem, not his) I crack on so much better on my own!

Hope you are ok ED and cough truly on way out

Brew for anyone still feeling below par

Stilllivinginazoo · 20/12/2021 16:14

Dd2 has a level mocks after Xmas and lots work she's behind on but she still accepts helping is still about being part of team zoo
(Not an attack in anyway just sharing different perspective)
I wish we all lived near each other and could pop in to help one another more but I fear more tea slurping and complaining than actual practical stuff may occur😁

Slowchimes · 20/12/2021 16:14

Zoo 'tis good that your teens are stepping up a bit, bless them! You need to take it steadier Flowers

Slowchimes · 20/12/2021 16:30

Aye Zoo would be good if we could all live in some sort of Fledgling compound and help out in rl when someone in need waved a purple flag Grin

Night owls could cover night shift, early birds the morning, and there could be a 10-6 day shift too! We could have livered golf carts and everything ...

...oh and please could we have a fireman's pole? Always wanted to try one of those Grin (Might need it reinforced to accommodate current weight her, hum)

Stilllivinginazoo · 20/12/2021 16:44

For sliding down or pole dancing???

Slowchimes · 20/12/2021 17:03

My pole dancing days are truly over Zoo (if they ever existed)! No, meant more in terms of emergency response unit! Grin

Stilllivinginazoo · 20/12/2021 17:12

scGrin

SingToTheSleigh · 20/12/2021 17:34

🤣

Absolutely fucking shattered. DD1 is FINALLY in surgery, no idea how long it’ll take.

po3.3
❗️Painkillers
❗️Sort BRC stuff that is all over the living room, hopefully without undoing the sorting we have managed
❗️Check diary and email OU re phone call

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