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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
THATlittleCRACKER · 01/12/2021 11:25

sc!

I would like to share my new love, specifically to those of you who have or are expecting babies....... sleepsuits with zips! Game changer people!

Stilllivinginazoo · 01/12/2021 11:32

that zips?!is this some new level of sorcery(ponders tumble drying tho.bastard Jean zips burn my fingers in haste fold before cool and creased!!
SCCCCCsqweee
Lovely to "see" you.hows dhorse and DD?(and is dh still working like a mad man?)
We make no promises about fixing everything,but we can offer a pointy stick,a well stacked naughty corner and some company as we plough thru the crazy batshit month of Dec
adding Xmas to our normal crazy just seems so much harder this year.i think everyone's start struggle with the mehs more if not actually low mood as the monotony,worry and things like this new varient adding to endless will there be restrictions/lockdowns etc.it is very draining
Maybe I'm getting old but my gumption and excitement for Xmas has completely rub away after last year's horrors of lil zoo entire friend group dropping between 18-27thdec.she was only one still standing out of 11 by the endand her self isolating over Xmas was wretched so we never really did any of it.oarcels opened on teams etc.i never want do that again☹️

Stilllivinginazoo · 01/12/2021 11:32

*run away

THATlittleCRACKER · 01/12/2021 11:35

Zips. Epic. I keep buying every one i see. H&M / next / tesco / asda

THATlittleCRACKER · 01/12/2021 11:35

My dryer has a tantrum if you dont do the cool down cycle 🙄

ExquisitelyDecorated · 01/12/2021 12:04

SC! welcome back, good to hear from you!

OP posts:
Stilllivinginazoo · 01/12/2021 12:19

that a cool down cycle.you live in a while other world!!(wanders off wondering what more I've missed than zipped baby suits and cool.down cycles on tumble driers)Confused

Mc3209 · 01/12/2021 13:10

Placemarking. Will be back

HillsBesideTheSea · 01/12/2021 13:41

ta da
make headache balm
set flavoured vodkas to steep
strain some infused oils
book pcr test for ds
try multiple times to contact college but can't get through
speak to school
start stacking stuff for tip run friday
Clean window sil
apply mould killer in spare room
check chest of drawers from that corner for mould
play hunt the new container of thyme
make up various dry mixes
collate ingrediants for making loose incense later
be very glad that ran most of the out of house errands yesterday

About to through a jumper on and take ds for the dreaded test.

Also to do - find my to do list which i have put down somewhere safe Hmm

Stilllivinginazoo · 01/12/2021 15:45

Tada

once all zoolets were out of the house...
Knit some D's scarf
Chase scoutcat round kitchen and take away sardine time he took out recycling
Put out cross cat that ran to door yowling what sounded like cat swear words(and who now sulking on window sill for be told off and refusing to come back in)
Burn and eat some toast
Multiple texts/SM messages to various stressed zoolets throughout the day
Field less than helpful call from ED team(yes,discharging lil zoo as of now,oh the difficult camhs worker you have been reassigned.yes we dealt with that by deciding rather speak to his manager and find you another caseworker you need talk directly to him at appointment booked for Thursday on teams why you won't work with him)
LMS as can't get hold of family first officer,who appears disappeared into the ether
Email head of year at lil zoo school as I need a paper trail record what's going on as I fear he will say she's not engaging(she will shutdown when spoken to in overbearing bullying tone) and discharge her,like he did before

merryhouse · 01/12/2021 16:12

TaDa ToDo

make more coffee
hoover downstairs
make lunch
make pot of tea
hang washing
make tuna pasta bake (use up broccoli stalk)
set oven
iron Monday karate outfits - couldn't do this becaue they are actually not dry yet (heating hasn't been on quite so much)
managed not to weep about not being able to do the ironing
put away basketful of towels ironed at the weekend
hoover upstairs
make S2's bed
drag out and put back various things in S2's room, getting rid of dust
prepare water bottles
put key and coins in coat pocket
get changed
karate class
eat dinner, watch Hawkeye
move old toys off my bed

drinking coffee right now then will get on with the next three things!

merryhouse · 01/12/2021 16:13

(that's a different cup of coffee, obvs)

HalfHope · 01/12/2021 16:46

The shower room is still not cleaned!! But I did sort out a few other things.

THATlittleCRACKER · 01/12/2021 17:29

Uni essay has been marked, result ok, clear pass. Tutor has managed to annoy me by saying i didnt do something when i did. Ho hum.

Slowchimes · 01/12/2021 19:23

[Snaffles a hasty lebkuchen; yum!]

Thank you all the lovely "welcome backs", kind words, and encouragement everyone!

Please forgive me if I have missed some vital news on here as I haven't kept up with thread for a while ... but hope you are all ok ... I think I have worked out who everyone is, despite name changes but may ask for qualification later! And I wholeheartedly agree that this pandemic is absolutely s* now!

My major solace, he of the long face, is doing great thanks! He lives out 24/7 (by choice) and so has a lovely thick woolly coat at he moment and lovely fluffy tail feathers and mane! You can see the steam rising off him in the early cold mornings! Grin He is doing great with his training now too although it is still early days as, you guessed it, everything has been delayed because of the pandemic, including renovation works, but a few things are getting done.

Thank you ED Flowers very organised of you to lead the thread at this busy time of year! And ta for detailed links which are very timely indeed! Had better get cracking on them at this late hour as have been driving about all day achieving precisely zero!

Hills Hope your ds's PCR comes back negative! Like many people I am quite sad [for once!] about not seeing family [again] this year but, as you say, the flip side is that I can have more of a run at sorting the house I suppose! [Oh joy Grin] It is a bit easier now that dd has moved out in to student accommodation which took us by surprise [very bitter sweet - happy for her as she is very chuffed at her new found independence Smile but sorry that that period of childhood and adolescence has gone forever Sad. Having said that, she is only a 20 min walk away so is back frequently for laundry facility and feeds! Grin

The main problem is that more restrictions have just been introduced here so dh has basically moved his office back home again, having only returned to office end Aug/beginning Sept! Jeeez! And, owing to various events this summer, I didn't have time to sort out the mess after he moved out before he moved back in again [waaaahhh!] Sorting that particular hell hole [as there are many here believe me] is my task for this weekend in fact! [Zoo please sharpen pointy stick in to pointiest point possible!]

That you are still a multi-tasking wonder woman I see! How is the littlest of your brood doing and how old is he now? Bear

Yo Zoo [waves to Scoutcat and drapes a sardine invitingly on stone tiles next to fire] That is so true re: "adding Xmas to our normal crazy just seems so much harder this year"! That is exactly where I am at! And that is so awful about Lil' Zoo's Christmas last year, dear God, poor thing self-isolating over the Christmas holiday, this wretched pandemic has been very hard on so many sections of society but particularly on teens and young adults I think. I am sure we will be reaping the consequences of this for years to come. I feel so much for them. Sad

What ho to Merry! [Proffers virtual mulled wine for later.] Great list btw!

Mahoosive waves to Halfhope [read that incorrectly as "half halt" as am still in equestrian mode Grin] RedSquirrel [sorry about car damage and how are the cluckers?], hello to Mc3209, StillFestive [thank you for twinkly lights] , yo to TheHoneyBadger IWillWearThatGlitteryWoolly [love the nn!] , Sing [eek indeed] and everyone else I have missed Grin

[Repeats to self under breath: stop faffing about and bloody do some house work woman!]

HillsBesideTheSea · 01/12/2021 19:56

Tis the season to LMS. Have i said recently how much I FUCKING HATE CHRISTMAS?!

People are being peopley.

Slowchimes · 01/12/2021 20:51

LMS Hills??? [Or shouldn't I ask Grin]

merryhouse · 01/12/2021 20:53

Lose My Shit.

I think it originally started as DLMS, an achievement Grin

HalfHope · 01/12/2021 22:11

I'm Lisette SC, Lisette of the Northern Scottish climes. Chuckling at HalfHalt. Whinnies merrily.

HalfHope · 01/12/2021 22:12

DNLMS Merry 😁. We're not meant to lose it although I do daily.

HalfHope · 01/12/2021 22:14

That well done on your essay. Onwards and upwards.

Sorry people are being peopley Hills. Hope you escape for a good walk.

Redsquirrel5 · 01/12/2021 22:34

It did Merry.

A big 🤗 SC just mentioned you at end of November hoping you would see it.
So I am Bower and now have three bantams as a lockdown barter as in chicken—> cake!
Thathas a new baby that number 6, still studying and passing and still doing flylady the woman is amazing.

The Not a Girlfriend is now a girlfriend.

We have had several thread babies and Cagletini is at nursery.

My DD is in NZ and stuck there because of Covid. They are managing.

Oh and I have retired! I have a greenhouse.

Can’t think what else you have missed but glad to hear you still have d horse. I was thinking about you and him yesterday.

Haven’t done the dining room ( hides in naughty corner) as Ds invited us out for lunch. Then DH took me to Hobbycraft I bought a new Lino cutter. I have cut all I need to and ready for printing tomorrow.
Had steak , mushrooms and tomatoes heated through as we had a Sunday Dinner at a pub.

Tomorrow we have a three course lunch about 15 miles away gardening club.

Neck and shoulder is painful. Don’t know what I have done.

HillsBesideTheSea · 01/12/2021 22:55

There is about to be a crap ton of thread babies for all the snuggles before giving back Wink

Slowchimes · 01/12/2021 23:42

Ta da day one:

Christmas prep x 3:

  • found Advent calendars
  • ordered spices, candles and and things for Christmas table etc
  • stationery order of gold pens, red crepe paper, blue tack, pritt stick, ink cartridges, sellotape dispenser, ink etc

House x 3

  • emptied dw
-cleaned kitchen surfaces -wms x2 on

Social x 3

  • e-mailed friend to arrange meet-up (for professional project funnily enough )
-Whatsapped friend re: arrangements for visit next week -socially distanced lunch

Decluttering:
ZILCH/ZERO/NADA Blush

Personal x 3:

  • brisk walk 10 mins plus dog walk x 1
  • ordered weighing scale
  • re-joined this thread temporarily! Smile
Slowchimes · 01/12/2021 23:43

@merryhouse

Lose My Shit.

I think it originally started as DLMS, an achievement Grin

Sorry Hills , I should have guessed Grin Grin Grin