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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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HazelNuttyElf · 03/12/2021 06:01

Oh! I just realised that was my first post on the thread 🤦‍♀️
Thank you hills for leading the thread the last couple months, you had a lot going on and did an amazing job.
Thank you ED for leading the December thread. I'm not sure how much I'll be able to post this much as I've got so much going on; lots of orders for my goodies, work, 2nd job, Christmas party we're hosting, as well as all the other festivities. I'll make time to read along for sure though, I'll try to keep up.

HazelNuttyElf · 03/12/2021 06:02

Post this month apparently I'm too tired to type 😴

HalfHolly · 03/12/2021 06:40

Morning Hazelnutty or goodnight as it is for you. Sound like a busy month ahead. I had a disruptive November so I know what it's like to read along and that's absolutely fine. I do hope you find the thing about the fridge 😁

Hot coffee in the naughty corner ☕

ExquisitelyDecorated · 03/12/2021 07:33

Thanks for the coffee Half, I like all these seasonal names. DH says he woke up at 2am and it was snowing heavily and starting to settle but it is 6° and raining now, probably just as well, I've got a bit of driving about to do today (take DD to school, Covid booster 10 miles away, pick up click and collect shopping and pick up DS from school 10 miles in the opposite direction, then out tonight 10 miles in a third different direction). Filled up with petrol yesterday, not going to last long at this rate.

Hazel - don't worry about being too busy to post but if you do pop in we'd love to see pics of your goodies.

Hills I hope you stayed watching the snow instead of DW and WM at that time of night ❄️

OP posts:
HalfHolly · 03/12/2021 07:37

That's a busy day ed. We have icy slush here and some people still don't have power after storm Arwen.

ExquisitelyDecorated · 03/12/2021 07:39

I've also got to phone the orthodontist as soon as they open because DS has damaged his braces, so I might be trying to pick him up earlier if they can slot him in for a quick fix.

OP posts:
ExquisitelyDecorated · 03/12/2021 07:40

That's awful that people are still without power Half, I have been hearing reports on the news. We had no boiler for a month at this time of year once which was bad enough.

OP posts:
IWasWillingToGoWassailing · 03/12/2021 08:21

So sorry to hear people are still without power HalfHolly (love the name!). It makes one realise how much we rely on electricity now. Hope it is not too slippy this morning for you.

Ditto you, ED, that's a lot of driving about. Hope DS's braces can be fixed easily (at least they're not in a carpark in the next county this time!).

. No puppy here, just WillowHound who will be known as Puppy until he is ancient and venerable. It's his size, I'm sure he's too small to be an actual dog 😁. How lovely for you to have DD home for the night, and how thoughtful of her to help you empty the fridge! 🤣

Hazel you sound very busy! Hope you get to decorate your tree today.

Red what a lovely day that sounds, hope you properly enjoyed it. Did your cards get finished?

StillFestive (love that name too) well done on getting wrapping done! I haven't even started, I am avoiding it. Must lay gifts out on the bed today and see where I stand (once DH gets out of it).

Zoo you've achieved masses! Glad the HoY is helping with Lilzoo.

Merry glad you found your advent candle. I have always loved the idea, but been concerned I would lose track of time and burn a week's worth at once.

Hills hope you got to watch the snow for a long time, you need time to rest and reset.

🍒👋 to everyone else and apologies to anyone I've missed.

Yesterday was v complicated in the evening, due to DS2's car still being metaphorically on bricks. After my physio (she is very pleased with my foot and my balance has improved significantly) I came home. DH had gone to fetch DS2 and take him to client 1. Then, he took DS3 for his drive through flu spray while I was supposed to make pie, but was too tired. I then went to take DS2 from client 1 to client 2, sat in a car park with a hot chocolate for 50 minutes, collected DS2 again and took him home, came home myself. It took me three hours to do that last bit, and I finally got in at 7.45, by which point DH had very sensibly ordered Chinese. I basically fell asleep in it and was in bed by 9!

SingToTheSleigh · 03/12/2021 08:40

Morning all. Didn’t get much sleep and feeling really low this morning. Today feels insurmountable. Blah.

Anyway still need to actually get on with stuff as best I can, so more power of three it is. Just not ambitious ones!

po3.1
❗️Meds
❗️Eat something
❗️Set alarms to remind me of an appt and a lesson later

IWasWillingToGoWassailing · 03/12/2021 09:12

Sorry you are feeling low, Sing. Take today 5 minutes at a time. Sending 🫂 and 🎄cheer.

SingToTheSleigh · 03/12/2021 10:12

Thanks willow 💐
Attempting to level out by eating breakfast in bed (I had some brioche left in my bag anyway from the space trip, so didn’t even need to go downstairs as I keep my meds in my room too!) and listening to Kpop.

po3.2
❗️Book dance for tonight as DD1’s hand is finally ok
❗️Shower/wash hair/defrost
❗️LOL

IWasWillingToGoWassailing · 03/12/2021 13:31

Ok, I have Achieved Things.
❤️ All presents laid out on the bed
🧡 List written of Missing Things and gaps
💛 DD's birthday presents all sorted out and wrapped, for the first time ever all in fabric so no waste!
💚 Other presents sorted by people into boxes and bags so I can wrap a bit a time for Christmas
💙 Christmas letter printed for overseas cards
💜 Sort Your Life Out watched this week's was so lovely.
❤️ Slippers ordered for DH for Christmas
🧡 Bath stuff that doesn't set off DS1's allergies identified
💛 Received first Christmas card of the year

Just about to open work post and do an hour's research, then will retreat and look at what else needs doing.

SingToTheSleigh · 03/12/2021 14:27

po3.3
❗️Make a work phone call
❗️Maths at 3
❗️Help DS check through everything for camp and pack it properly etc

Feeling pretty blah still after a vague attempt at shopping in town* - very crowded and ugggh. Managed to find some socks and a t-shirt for DH and other than that it was just some non-Christmas essentials I bought. (And chocolate!)

*After my smear test, so at least that’s one thing off the long term to do list!

ExquisitelyDecorated · 03/12/2021 15:31

Well, got my booster done and got DS from school and to the dentist. As he was in the chair he got pinged. So that's another 20 mile round trip to the town where his school is for a pcr (he doesn't have any classes this afternoon so we had been planning to stay at home.

OP posts:
HalfHolly · 03/12/2021 17:03

The shower room has been cleaned! I used zoflora on the floor and it smells lovely.

Busy day working from home and looking after ds who has a cold. I think we might watch Chicken Run tonight! Steak for tea (well we couldn't eat chicken pie tonight could we?)

HalfHolly · 03/12/2021 17:04

IWasWillingToGoWassailing I have not stepped outside the house today! Hibernation time.

Slowchimes · 03/12/2021 22:50

An OK day.

Ta da:
Slept through alarm so got up late.

Worked 9-1pm (very mundane stuff).
Made leek, potato & parsley soup for lunch.
Walked dogs.
Spent afternoon sorting & attacking laundry pile which is more out of control than it has ever been. We have far too many clothes! And bedding! Can hardly see floor of laundry room currently.

Quick foray which turned in to rather long trip to IKEA with dd to help choose pull out sofa and curtains as she only has beanbag and net curtains ATM. Bought an indoor plant too and some things for dd's kitchen.
Made steak sandwich with seared veg for dinner as CNBA to make fish cakes.
Dd feeling hot and dizzy so staying here tonight. She's meant to be training dhorse tomorrow while I stay here and clean but we'll see. She's not going anywhere tonight anyway and we'll get her tested in the morning.

Hope everyone else had good day!

Halfholly I hope your ds feels better soon. Well done re: shower! Yak Trax are ace!

ED hope your ds OK. What a pain all of this testing is! Glad you've had booster though.

Sing I hear you re: crowds and shopping! I get panicky in IKEA if I can't see exit!

Thanks for shovel Wassailing Grin. And of course Willowhound is number oneone dog! Grin You sound very organised on present front! And well done re: overseas letters! We have given up ordering anything from uk now because we are charged so much for post. I am worried (and a bit Sad if I am honest) about overseas cards (esp. to UK) post-Brexit. Everyone is saying that we'll be subject to handling charges which should not be the case. It is with parcels above a certain value but not with cards. But situation very arbitrary and confused currently. I know cards are going out of fashion but they mean a lot to me living abroad.

Last but very much not least, great to hear that your foot & balance are improving!

Lovely to "see" you HazelNuttyElf! [waves] You sound massively busy as ever! Hope you can steal some lovely moments decorating your tree! And thanks for reminder about fridge! I need to give ours a thorough sort out and scrub before Christmas! Dh tends to leave things festering!

Glad you had a nice walk Hills! Strudel is my all time favourite! Your house must smell amazing with all of your bread baking!

Merry glad test was negative! All of this uncertainty gets quite wearing after a while doesn't it? Advent candle sounds lovely. We only have them at church and I have never thought of having one at home. I'd like to though!

I am going to crash now as I have a headache. Waves to RedSquirrel and Zoo and anyone I have missed!

Have a good weekend everybody!

HalfHolly · 03/12/2021 23:20

Ah SC I sent a gift to a friend in Ireland and when I tracked it, An Post ( Irish Royal Mail) said there'd be customs' charges for my friend. I'd marked it as a gift and it was below the value threshold but I needed additional codes on the parcel which I didn't know about. Next year I'm ordering online at Irish stores and sending to her from there.

Love the sound of your soup! Hope dd feeling okay.

Slowchimes · 03/12/2021 23:35

Halfholly yes , thats exactly the problem! I am trying to do similar this year, sending UK hampers to family within UK but the trouble is, many stores require you to have a UK address for a UK registered credit cardf! Aaargh! I have ordered successfully from Rep. of Ireland this year for new riding stuff instead of my usual supplier in England and I know quite a few of my EU based UK friends have done the same.

Redsquirrel5 · 04/12/2021 00:53

Lovely to hear all your news SC

Wassailing was in my crossword I was doing this morning. DH was most impressed especially as I even knew how to spell it. What a busy time you have had. It made me tired reading it!

Hazel how long do your truffles keep for? I am thinking of making some for the crackers.Busy month for you😳

I would be 🤬🤯at the cheese eating husband SC was it yours ( on the previous page) as my memory is awful.

Advent candle when DD was little we made some and still have some I forgot about it. Not quite accurate but white decorated with holly.

Well I cleaned the sink...toothpaste does work.
Swished the shower.
Put away some card magazines. Vacuumed sitting room floor and through to kitchen plumped cushions.
Had shower, washed hair, dressed and went out( again) for a lunch of soup with two old college friends. We had a couple of hours chat it was lovely and are going to meet next month. Went to Mass tonight.
No plans tomorrow but there might be a farmer’s market on. Otherwise home bleugh and finish cards.
They weren’t dry but I addressed quite a few envelopes. Tonight I cut out some papers and pieces to make up cards and two birthday cards for nephew as some paper was quite masculine and will make into a nice card. Birthdays are 27th and beginning of January.

Really must make a dent in bedroom chaos.

The programme was great what a difference to that mum’s life. I have seen about three now.Brave to have it laid out like that.

🍒👋🍒👋🍒👋🍒👋🍒👋🍒🍒🍒👋👋🍒🍒👋 to everyone.

IWasWillingToGoWassailing · 04/12/2021 07:58

Pleased to have been some crossword help Red - I always have to look up how many "L's" there are in wassailing. It feels like there ought to be two (but Merriam-Webster says not. The OED is behind a paywall and I am too comfy on the sofa to go into the study and get it off the actual shelf).

ED heck, that's mightily tedious about DS getting pinged just as you though the errands were all finished. Hope the braces are fixed and the test comes back negative, and you have not run yourself into the ground running about.

SC I feel your pain re: laundry! Although there is less of it now DSs 1 and 2 have moved out, I can't quite get the frequency right yet and sometimes we have 4 loads in a day and sometimes none. At least I have no clean washing stacked up waiting to go away (there were six loads sitting about one day last week, and everyone complaining about lack of socks... Although I notice none of them sorted it and put it away either!!).

Sing glad the smear test is out of the way - well done. I always found the dread was worse than the actuality. These days, I dine out on the story of the locum GP who told me off for not booking a smear and said she'd do it there and then, when I went in for something else. I told her she was welcome to try to find my cervix ... But it was removed in 2013!!

Hills I hope you didn't knock yourself into a cocked hat yesterday, it sounded like you had a very long list and well-intentioned but perhaps misguided People.

Bramble how are you doing? You've gone a bit quiet, hope all is well.

Dancing if you're able to get on and read (I know you were having tech issues), I hope everyone is well and work is going ok.

Mc hope another week has flown by without anyone LTS. How is the house-possibility coming along?

🍒👋 and 🎄 to everyone. DH is taking DD and DS3 to Westfield today, to See Christmas (🤷🏼‍♀️) and finish their shopping. I am staying at home in the glorious quiet!

SingToTheSleigh · 04/12/2021 10:18

:o that’s funny about the “do try and find my cervix” wassail :o

Morning all. DS seems to have got through his first night of winter camp just fine, he’s back on Sunday.

I have the house to myself for a bit so I should be making the most of having the tv to myself, or tidying up as a friend might pop in for a bit, but I appear to be listening to music and playing on my phone. Ah well.

po3.1 for when I can be arsed to move
❗️Get dressed and brush hair
❗️Tidy living room a bit and air house
❗️Bathroom room rescue

HalfHolly · 04/12/2021 12:24

Enjoy the quiet wassail. I've heard of the land of Westfield and its many treasures but have not ventured from the North Lands on a quest for bargains. But we hear of many Tales of Shopping Heroism close to the Grim Metropolis. Would like to visit the Grim Metropolis with ds because he's due a teenage quest and would like to visit Big Ben and see Parliament where good and evil (or at the very least gross incompetence) gather to lead the United Lands.

HalfHolly · 04/12/2021 12:48

My bins have been zofloraed. Christmas bed linen on beds. Doing a catch-up at work this weekend. Then watching 'All creatures great and small'.

IWasWillingToGoWassailing · 04/12/2021 13:35

As might be anticipated, DH has Got His Shop On and is WhatsApping me at 3 minute intervals with "what about one of these?" and "does DS2 have one of these?" and "how about this for your brother?" etc.

On the plus side I have wrapped my first Christmas present! I've broken the seal, now I've just got to get on with it.

Also Ta Da:
💖 DW run
🧡 LOL on
💛 Decoration boxes out of the barn
💚 Soup defrosting
💙 Hummus made, to use up the chickpeas
💜 4 Christmas cards written
💖 Another missing gift ordered
🧡 Christmas teatowels and hand towels retrived from drawer

Probably going to get my act together and walk up to town now.