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Housekeeping

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This New Year, The Fledglings are Flying a new approach

824 replies

HillsBesideTheSea · 31/12/2021 16:54

Hello and welcome to new and old.

If you are new around here. Hi, introduce yourself around the fire pit in the naughty corner where we are all sitting comfortably. The naughty corner is decked out with comfy, and snacks, and a place just to have a chat when things haven't gone to plan. We are a very long running thread but do love new blood stopping by to join us.

Welcome to those who are returning.

We had a chat on the previous thread about possibly trying a new twist on the fly lady system. We all know that the fly lady system is good for establishing routines when we follow it. But we also know that sometimes we need a quick hit of a big declutter. And that life has a habit of throwing curve balls making it very difficult to stay on track.

So this is the plan. Each evening I will post the babystep, a thought point and the flylady daily focuses. We are not giving up on the fly lady system but just bringing it into line with the individuality of our lives, and trying to resolve some of the issues that comes from being the family brain, trying to do all the things and generally having modern busy lives. The thought point is to try to get you to think differently. And may require a click on a link (video), a discussion on the thread, or just you considering things. I do not promise it will make you feel better, or magically change your house straight away. But hopefully it will help with the overall flow and approach. And may just tweak the twee out of the fly lady system to the point where it is now your system.

But before you entirely regret your choices in letting my try this craziness we are going to start with some key basics that I really do think has been incorporated well into the Flylady system.

  1. the mess, disorder and chaos did not happen over night. Give yourself the grace and time to fix it. (also known as roman weren't built in a day so don't kill yourself trying to get your house immaculate in a day)
  1. Goals vs system.
We will go into this a little more shortly but to start, the fly lady system has an end goal - a house which is tidy and clean that comes second nature. It achieves it by building habits and routines that make the steps needed to achieve that goal second nature. There is a lot of research that says goals don't work, systems do. And systems are built on the formation of habits.
  1. You are never behind.
You might not be making the progress you would like, you may have taken a break. But you are not behind. So again, give yourself a break and drop the guilt. There is probably a reason why you have taken a break - illness, other demands on time, mental health etc etc. And yes some days it is an effort to make sure that everyone is fed and ok. But that is ok, so give yourself grace that on that day that was exactly what was needed and thus you succeeded in the essential goal of the day. guilt is just going to make things harder than it needs to be. It is ok not to feel guilty if you did not do all the things.

I will be back later with links for tomo. I am posting them in the evening the night before because some of us are morning people, and some of us are night people. And this way everyone will be able to see prior to when they need to consider it.

Come park your broom in the new thread for a little while and have a natter whilst we wait to bring in the New year.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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StillUp · 30/01/2022 20:20

Impressive list this weekend Hazel

Sorry about the peopley people Hills.

I’ve achieved the sum total of fuck all this afternoon but it’s been lovely just chilling playing games etc. We have tidied up downstairs before bathing DC and I think we are organised for the new week.

Off to place mark on the new thread before I lose it, thanks Tae

HillsBesideTheSea · 30/01/2022 21:22

I have spent over 5hrs working on taming the kitchen. I have not finished. FFS

OP posts:
MrsTidyHouse · 30/01/2022 21:25

fly "Oddly I've had periods of owning and riding scooters and mopeds which I don't find so hectic and don't have this weird feeling of not being able to see or process everything at once that I get in a car."

Is it possible that the scooters and mopeds are an extension of your body in a way that a car can never be? And a helmet filters out unnecessary noises and voices? Just a thought.

SingToTheSky · 30/01/2022 23:20

ta da
🔆LOL x2
🔆got Caglets to find and recycle drinks bottles
🔆reading
🔆found rest of scout badges and contacted sewing person
🔆reminded friend about book order and sent payment
🔆gathered a bit more recycling (how do we generate so much?!)
🔆tidied and improved files on PC including putting headers on my own homework sheets etc
🔆washing in dryer/hung up to dry
🔆put some stuff to sell in the cupboard
🔆cleaned bath and got rid of some empty toiletries etc
🔆bath, hair wash, leg defrost, trimmed nails, bit of moisturiser
🔆renewed railcard using Clubcard points
🔆booked cinema for Wednesday using Clubcard points
🔆painted nails with strengthening stuff

ta didn’t
❌find the diary and write on the weekly planner. Bugger.

Redsquirrel5 · 31/01/2022 00:17

Fell off too.
Good to hear from you That

Felt fairly grotty yesterday, aching and kept falling asleep so stayed in bed until midday which seemed to help.
I suddenly remembered I had been asked to make a cake for someone at church. So made it and iced it this. The cake didn’t rise very much annoyingly so I did a reasonable job on the decor with daisies and clematis, carnations and a few butterflies.
Had an awful night because the window rattled and I had awful dreams.
Nearly lost post whew!
Up by 10am and put finishing touches to cake. Made about thirty fresh piklets/ pancakes.
Mass
Coffee and cake.
Bake home for a toasted tomato and ‘cheese’ sandwich.
Choir- started learning some new ones as the music had arrived.
Night meal 1 gin. Tv
Snuggled in bed with the wind howling outside and the raindrops splattering on the window makes it all the more cosy.

Sleep, I hope.

Ladyrattles · 31/01/2022 00:26

I don't drive either. Tried at various points over the years but my dyspraxia made it difficult. I think I'd be better with a sen friendly instructor & an automatic car, but it's just too stressful. My family are all good drivers so I'm a bit of a disappointment.

Ta Da

Biscuitre-sorted meal board for the week, as I had to change it round to better fit.
Biscuithad 2nd shower as I accidentally spilt stuff all over myself.

Not done anything else (apart from gaming with friends) as I've been feeling rough today from coughing. Negative test for C so I'm guessing something is triggering my asthma. Can't figure out what so maybe it's the winds bringing dust or something.

HazelNuttyElf · 31/01/2022 03:49

More ta das:
🍬 Showered, dressed, makeup on, hair done
🍬 got a snack & water bottle ready for work
🍬 worked almost 6 hours
🍬 finished up dinner (was in the slow cooker)
🍬 ate dinner, DS, DD & DH rinsed dishes
🍬 rotated DW
🍬 handwashed dishes
🍬 wiped countertops down
🍬 wiped microwave
🍬 sitting for a little bit, thinking I'll take a relaxing bath tonight before bed, along with yoga

Back to work tomorrow so there won't be much to report from me.
🍒👋 to everyone

MrsTidyHouse · 31/01/2022 05:55

Yesterday the essentials done in utility and kitchen. Sink had been draining slowly for a couple of weeks. Stopped entirely yesterday afternoon. Managed to plunge and found a teaspoon jammed in the bend. Working fine now, and smelling fresher.

Got muddled with delivery order. I'd forgotten some items on the last delivery, so ordered for yesterday. But what arrived was a repeat of previous delivery, minus all the things I was short of. No idea how I managed to cancel items instead of adding them. We'll survive.

Writing out my today's to-do list. It includes emailing school, which is not my favourite task.

ExtremelyDetermined · 31/01/2022 07:04

Had a productive day yesterday, swept/mopped/hoovered all the downstairs floors, completely cleaned litter trays, 3xLOL (partly line dried), did some admin, took DS to football, pub quiz in the evening.

Tada today!
Fed cats
De-pooped trays
Tabletted cat
Applied ointment to cat
Wrestled cat into bodysuit to protect sore skin
Filthy looks from cat

SingToTheSky · 31/01/2022 08:01

Morning everyone. It is definitely Monday. DH took the duvet off Cagletini who was refusing to get up.

She climbed under the fitted sheet instead 🤣

SingToTheSky · 31/01/2022 08:07

DD1 not up either. Hoped this morning may have been different as she was asleep earlier than usual. She actually lay on the sofa READING last night 😱 she’s dyslexic - this is a very rare thing indeed! I think going to a bookshop with friends yesterday may have inspired her to try again.

Hazel I’ve been catching up with the thread and wanted to say congratulations to DD for graduating early! Amazing! I don’t really understand how the system works there, is it like getting a certain number of credits by passing classes/tests? Anyway it’s a massive achievement to be the first, wow 🤩

Ugh rain. Glad I don’t need to go anywhere 😳 I have volunteering (phone call) at 10.

BeanAnTae · 31/01/2022 08:27

Gosh Cagletini is so funny sing. Hazel congrats on dd graduating early 🌷⭐.

Urgh Monday. Home bleurgh as well. Must change sheets on beds. Got cracking in laundry.

IWasWillingToGoWassailing · 31/01/2022 08:41

under the fitted sheet 😂 that child will go far, Sing! Sorry DD1 is off school again, but hurrah for reading by choice!

Hazel I meant to ask, what is DD's plan now she has graduated early 🎖️🏆🥳? I don't how how it works in the States - is she 17?

ED things I did not expect to read today... "wrestled cat into bodysuit". You have all the fun!

Glad you were cosy and safe Red, lying in bed listening to Weather is something I love too.

Right, last day of January. This is your emergency Tax Return reminder for y/e 5 April 2021, if you're in the UK.

Ta da
❤️ Breakfast and meds
🧡 DW rotated
💛 LOL on

To do:
Heaps and loads, starting with getting dressed. See you all later!

ExtremelyDetermined · 31/01/2022 09:12

Wassail - it got worse. Soon after I posted it was "clear up cat sick from bedroom carpet". Followed by DH going into the living room and finding cat sick in there too. This has been going on for a few days. Poor kitties.

swallowedAfly · 31/01/2022 10:44

@MrsTidyHouse

fly "Oddly I've had periods of owning and riding scooters and mopeds which I don't find so hectic and don't have this weird feeling of not being able to see or process everything at once that I get in a car."

Is it possible that the scooters and mopeds are an extension of your body in a way that a car can never be? And a helmet filters out unnecessary noises and voices? Just a thought.

It's a good thought and I can relate to it. I'm also, hard to explain, out there and everything else is out there too so it's coherent whereas in a car there's in here and out there and it's too much to focus on which fits with what you're saying also. Thanks.

Cagletini sounds like a girl after my own heart Grin

It's all kicking off at work due to staff shortages - heading into rota land so busy unexpectedly setting remote learning for some of my classes and setting up google meet rooms for Wednesday.

Normal teaching day today except tons of kids missing from my classes which is the norm lately so more remote learning to set there too. All good fun.

Managed to get more of my course done yesterday and get most of my daily chores done and towels washed and dried. This morning has mostly been battling to get a teenager to school and planning and work from bed. Heading to work now. Will place mark on new thread in case I don't make it back today.

StillUp · 31/01/2022 11:50

Lady something is definitely setting my asthma off too -there’s lots of dust in the air. Cars around us are filthy. (Negative LFTs and I know it’s definitely my asthma. It’s how I normally feel as the weather changes in oct/nov time but interestingly I escaped it then. Wonder if it was related to pregnancy? Although you’d think the reduced lung capacity would have made it worse not better!)

Fly it sounds like you have a lot on work wise, but also that you’re ploughing through it all. Hope the coming week goes to plan.

Unlucky on the cat sick front ED

Grin at Cagletini. I think I’d get on well with her.

DH did the scoop drop off this morning for me as it is still pretty windy here. I’ve sorted clean, dirty and wet laundry and set off an LOL. I’ve also done some boudoir tidying and come up with some ideas for sorting upstairs storage (every room and the landing require some solutions at present but think I might have it cracked). Need to tackle the kitchen and some ironing but otherwise I’m going easy on myself today ready to start flying properly in February. Might even do some cleaning and follow the zones Shock

SingToTheSky · 31/01/2022 12:58

Pointy stick needed here please - I appear to have achieved pretty much nothing so far?! There was nothing in my inbox first thing, then my volunteer call was postponed. So I’ve watched two episodes of a crime drama and done some of my nerdy puzzle magazine. A scout mum has collected the badges and shirt (this is the only reason I got dressed!) - will pay (it’s a fundraising thing) when she brings them back 💕 money very well spent, she did say the badges already attached were very nicely sewn but it takes me so long and I end up with really achy hands so it’s totally worth the bargain of £1 per badge!

DD1 did go to school later to see HOY before joining classes. Watched the next Christmas lecture with DS although I need to catch up with the last bit. I just can’t seem to get moving.

BeanAnTae · 31/01/2022 13:53

Grin let's just put it down to slow start Monday sing. You checked your inbox and were ready for your volunteer call - that's doing something!

Still I'm gearing up for February too. I think I need daffodils to get me through!

Redsquirrel5 · 31/01/2022 18:33

Thanks for thread leading Hills are for all the thoughts and stirring of our brains with the thought provoking questions.

Wassailing not so bad now the very tall pine was cut down last year. I used to lie there listening to the wind wondering if I would wake up next morning. The next tree would crush the car, damage the wall but should miss the house...just.

It was a beautiful day here today but bitterly cold. We still haven’t had the expected snowfall.

TA DA

Decluttered two baskets into one. Threw out quite a few things.
Bed made. Moved the changing sheets to later in the week.
DH washed the kitchen floor. Yeah!
Washed basin and cleaned toilet.
Cleaned shower drain and left some soda crystals in to clear it. Not blocked but feel it gives a good clean in the pipes every now and then.
Cleaned the shelves and everything on them.

Tomorrow.
Plan to clean window sill, shower tray and glass doors tomorrow.
Mirror.
Wash floor.
Decant shower gel as glass bottles x2 which if fell would shatter in porcelain tray.

Take books toHospice bookshop on way to meet ex colleagues for a drink. I have finished the series I was reading. I found some homemade bookmarks ( made for pupils) so thought why not put them inside the books.

It doesn’t seem long since we did the living room🤨

My bedroom is still heading in the right direction. I am getting through the BRC still left and I am not allowing any more. Need to find homes for some stuff so I am thinking about getting all tops, all skirts, all trousers etc. Only planning one section a day. Might try more folding.

T shirts, tights, socks and knickers still getting Kondo folded. Think I shall watch another YouTube example.

IWasWillingToGoWassailing · 31/01/2022 19:52

Oof today has been a day. I seem to have spent ALL DAY doing all the household stuff and life admin that certain sections of Mumsnet insist only take an hour a year and anyway, everyone has to wash their clothes and clean the kitchen so stop whingeing.

It is all WAY too tedious to go into, but today I have been:
🧺 Laundry guru
🧑‍🦰 All round Mum and
🗃️ Tax adviser to DS2

📠 Chief investment officer
🛒 Shopper / errand runner
👩‍🍳 Cook for DH

🧞 Panic avoidance genie, council tax fixer and chief telephone line tester for DM

🚕 Taxi and
👩‍🍳 Different cook for DD

🗃️ Paperwork sorter
🛒 Online order placer
📠 Bill payer
🧑‍🔧 Locator of menders for the waste disposal
🧺 Folder and hander-out of washing
🧹 Kitchen cleaner
General tearer out of hair.

I have Had Enough and retired to the bath before I LMS over something silly that isn't actually a problem or anyone else's fault.

BeanAnTae · 31/01/2022 21:01

Thank you again for leading January and wishing you a blessed Imbolc tomorrow, if you celebrate Hills and many restful walks. I got a really lovely St Brigid's Cross from a wheat weaver in Kent so that's hanging up in my hall.

Ta da Tesco shop put away but I need to dash into work tomorrow so bed change will have to wait.

BeanAnTae · 31/01/2022 21:05

New thread for tomorrow: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/4467820-Fledglings-bolt-into-Spring-Fresh-air-fresh-flowers-fresh-sheets-No-fledgling-left-behind

I will be putting links up the night before and will try to pop in and out during the day.

SingToTheSky · 01/02/2022 01:31

Just posting last ta da list of the month here.

ta da
🎟moisturiser
🎟attempted volunteer call and informed supervisor of postponement
🎟electricity experiments with Cagletini and DS
🎟made a very procrastinatey DS do home ed and put his washing on

Bit of a rubbish day, didn’t get anything else done. Definitely Monday.

HazelNuttyElf · 01/02/2022 03:33

Sing I think it is a credit system, she has also completed a college class and passed with all A's & B's. She worked really hard as she really didn't enjoy high school.

wassailing DD is working right now, about to become a manager. She's trying to save up and I'm not sure what she's going to do. If she's planned anything, she hasn't told us. She does want to go to college, but might start out online.
It sounds like you've had a rough day, good idea to go relax in the bath before anybody dies!

Thank you for the congrats for DD Sing & Bean I'm very proud of her.
I'll also post this on the new thread, because last day of the month 😱

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