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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:
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HalfHolly · 30/12/2021 13:34

I have downloaded the FlyLady Plus app for android and customised it. I'm actually doing bathrooms during the Home Bleurgh because it works better for me that way.

I'm starting in January with the big Christmas decoration clean up. Can't be bothered at this time of the year as I'm so far off track it's unreal.

We are having a New Year's Eve dinner for just the three of us with leftovers for New Year's Day - It's a Hogmanay dinner up here for us. The left over beef will do nicely for Stovies which Red may well be aware of given her sister lives relatively close.

And breathe....

HillsBesideTheSea · 30/12/2021 14:12

Are they like sliders half?

Shinychestnuts · 30/12/2021 14:15

Hello everyone, hope you are enjoying this 'twixt and 'tween week!

That I really admire the way you have linked chores to reward.

Sorry to be negative about dc and chores but dd had regular set chores and was v helpful and conscientious about doing them, up to the age when puberty struck (14th birthday). From then on in it has been a constant battle, not helped by dh who (apart from food related things) undermines all efforts to keep a nice home. I am also very much to blame because, owing to my relatively poor education, I have always prioritised hwk and academics over everything else.

I never thought I would be one of those "weak" parents who gives up but I am and I have! Blush
I have to be honest about it. It just causes profound upset - I am outnumbered - and I don't want to be the one person constantly nagging in the corner so I stopped. I also only work approx 18 -20 hrs a week so it is by default mainly my responsibility.

The trouble is, me, my sisters, and my friends the same age have found, that whereas we once did it with (a reasonable amount of【grin] !) good will and enthusiasm, after 25 years+ of it being our main responsibility, we have started to hate and resent it. Not the basic hygiene aspects so much, as that is always necessary however you lìve, but the unnecessary picking up after everyone else.

I did go on strike for 8 weeks - the mess just built up - and apart from having a slightly better appreciation of what goes in to running a home - nothing changed. So I capitulated and tidied up.

Dd is very capable and does help intermittently when it suits her to do so, and sometimes when it is a spontaneous "all hands to the deck moment" and she has all the skills to live independently; can cook, do washing, knows how to clean. So she can now go and practice those skills in her own flat ...and we'll see how that works out ...Wink Smile

I probably would have tried harder had we been a larger family though.

So no, Zoo that was all a very long-winded way of saying you are definitely NOT being stingy! Grin
And those are amazing ta da lists that you have posted!

Arf at Cagletini protest Sing Grin

Hope you are feeling better Hills!

Great notebook ED!

Sorry about relationship troubles That and Mc3209 Gin Wine

I hope everything goes OK re: social care arrangements for your fil Wassail and your dh isn't too exhausted when he gets back.

Waves to Redsquirrel SwallowedaFly, HalfHolly, Merry, Hazel, Zireael, Stillfestive and everyone else I have missed!

And a shout out to Foxes, Chic and Toostressy if you ever happen to be passing by! Flowers

Shinychestnuts · 30/12/2021 14:17

X post

Thanks for App info Holly!

And that is funny about your ds only signing his first name GrinGrin

ExquisitelyDecorated · 30/12/2021 14:20

My DS had to have the interview with the bank manager too but DD got away without it because of lockdown, we had to scan her photo in and passport etc. I have an account with the same bank and it took me ages to get the online banking set up, I did get it set up for DD but we have now lost the password and will have to start again. We never did get online sorted out for DS. To be honest, GoHenry has been so easy we've carried on with it for far longer than we set out to originally, but it does have a monthly charge on it.

OP posts:
HalfHolly · 30/12/2021 14:53

Hi Hills "Stovies (also stovy tatties, stoved potatoes, stovers or stovocks) is a Scottish dish based on potatoes. Recipes and ingredients vary widely but the dish contains potatoes, fat, usually onions and often pieces of meat. In some versions, other vegetables may also be added."

Basically you can use mince or leftover beef and it is all mashed together like mashed up cottage pie 😁 What is sliders?

HalfHolly · 30/12/2021 14:57

We're right with you zoo! Just had a discussion with DH about what more we could ask ds to do. He's best in dust free areas so that suggests kitchen and bathroom cleaning. Perhaps ironing 😁

SingToTheSky · 30/12/2021 15:13

SC don’t blame yourself for prioritising education!!! That’s important too. It’s impossible to get the balance right on everything!

Still tired and groggy. I have finished another book though.

po3.1
❗️Send an email and a couple of texts
❗️Finish sorting DH’s birthday presents (late January)
❗️Put books away

HillsBesideTheSea · 30/12/2021 15:48

sliders is a bread based thing.

Make bread dough, split in half.
Use first half to make small flat rounds and place on bottom of dish, throw in a filling (cheese and ham/mince in sauce/all sorts of options.
Use second half to make top half of bread rolls (ie same number of tops to bottoms
Cook. Pull apart and eats.

Ah stovies is not something that i could ever eat then, cos tatties. Hmm

HalfHolly · 30/12/2021 17:28

Well of course - nightshade family 😬

Sliders sounds fab - never heard of it but really like the concept.

THATlittleCRACKER · 30/12/2021 17:46

Your all making me hungry

Our dc have Hyperjar which is a bit like GoHenry but free, downside with it is you cant get cash out

ExquisitelyDecorated · 30/12/2021 18:17

I have just deleted 950 photos from my phone. That's just the rubbish ones from the last 4 months. It's taken a good 2 or 3 hours over the day. No wonder I never keep up with them all.

OP posts:
HillsBesideTheSea · 30/12/2021 18:43

Do we have a volunteer for thread leading for January? Just asking as January is get to the point of knocking on the door.

ExquisitelyDecorated · 30/12/2021 18:45

I don't mind carrying on, it's not as if I have over-exerted myself with links this month Blush. But if anyone else would like to do it then that is also fine.

OP posts:
HillsBesideTheSea · 30/12/2021 18:48

I am considering Volunteering, I have a theory and I think i have a new way of looking at fly lady system to bring out the better side of it. So if people are game, and happy to take them along for the ride. It is a bit more practical expansion, and a little less twee and fluffy in the approach and kinda pulls from a few psychological approaches.

SingToTheSky · 30/12/2021 19:03

Very grateful for anyone willing to lead the thread!

Inadvertent movie night here, as we saw Abominable on iPlayer, then it autoplayed some Wallace and Gromit. DD1 may be at a friend’s tonight, so DH is going to get Cagletini in the bath soon and do stories, then the boys are watching a transformers movie will I lie down in peace and listen to more of my audiobook!

CBA with a power of three, my only aim is to gather some non-tumble-dry clothes and put a wash on

Stilllivinginazoo · 30/12/2021 20:26

Thanks for everyone's thoughts on DC chores
That I'm very impressed with your boys...they will be most useful partners one day

HalfHolly · 30/12/2021 21:05

I'm happy to go in Feb after Hills

HalfHolly · 30/12/2021 21:06

Or whoever is in January 😁 . New year resolution: do not read thread backwards!

HalfHolly · 30/12/2021 21:08

Or if ED is in Jan and Hills in Feb then I offer March

IWasWillingToGoWassailing · 30/12/2021 21:15

Brain fried here with cold and exhaustion / recovery, so by all means try a new system Hills if you like.

Fly good to see you! Pretty sure I know who you were 😁.

THATlittleCRACKER · 30/12/2021 21:44

Interested in your system hills! I might even try and follow it (unlike fly lady Blush)

Stilllivinginazoo · 31/12/2021 01:37
SingToTheSky · 31/12/2021 01:54

Also not asleep here. Must get my sleep less back to front!

I have been listening to the audiobook though and finally tried adjusting the narration speed setting… oh my word. Game. Changer. I put it on 1.3x and it’s SO MUCH EASIER to concentrate!!! Woohoo!

Sadly Cagletini then woke up - leg pain again I think - so not a fun night ahead for me (DH is downstairs for boys night with DS - movies etc)

Tomorrow (today) will involve very little.

I didn’t even put that wash on either 😳

Stilllivinginazoo · 31/12/2021 04:45

I've had maybe another hour in couple short naps
I give up
Go potter and get stuff done
hopefully a nap later

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