starting tomorrow ...accelerated flying for month of August only ....

[Countingthegreyhairs]

Bit of a long-shot but does anyone want to join me for a mutual kick-up-the-bum motivational thread starting tomorrow 1st August?

[then we could join (or re-join for about third time in my case ) main Flying or slatterns thread thereafter ....]

My house is a tip and I want to get it straight again before schools starts on 1st September ...

added to that I have visitors coming to stay at the end of the month too ...

both of these factors are making me feel stressed and the whole house is getting on top of me. Need to declutter, organise, tidy and clean.

Heeellllp, pleaasssee, someone .....

tbni nemo snowwoman Where are you all??

Here is today's. Another organising tip!
www.flylady.net/pages/bbd23.asp

Waffling to myself, so I will congratulate myself on the fact that I hoovered the landing and bedrooms yesterday and the hoover behaved itself! - worse than a 2 year old at times!!

Wash bins are yet again my goal for today. I won't even attempt to empty, but just perhaps make them visible by doing all the washing around them! Must look into this naturism again.

Only a quicky on here as the site is going down and I won't be able to get back on for most of today.
Have a good day in the sunshine. Off to a family party for me!

Hello

Back yesterday from a fab weeks holiday. Managed to get all the holiday washing done, ironed and put away last night

Today I had a house full - mums 70th birthday. I made and froze most the food before we went away so it wasn't too much work. Even didn't feel too stressed about having my houseproud sister around.

I have not had chance to read the thread yet but I hope you are all ok.

Taking mum and dd away for a hotel break to York for a couple of nights later this week as a birthday treat (Dh is staying home with ds) so I will not be about too much.

Targets before I go away - general clean round, try and sort a bit of office as I really need to get it painted, it is so full right now I can hardly get to the walls (that ds wrote on years ago )

Hi tbni, So pleased that you had a good time away. And mightily impressed that you have sorted out all your clothes already!!! superwoman!!
You may notice that I have been waffling to myself a lot this week. SO glad someone is now back from holiday and I can slowly regain some sanity!
Sounds like a wonderful plan to have few days away leaving DC with DH. Hope you enjoy.

Here's todays helpfuk hint. This one seems really do-able and a far more sensible one than a few of the others. (sorry to not be totally 100% convinced about some of these)
www.flylady.net/pages/bbd24.asp

Right, today's tasks are ironing - only a small pile! Do the swish and swipe! washing, washing and if I am around the house I must tackle some kitchen draws, but I think I may be out with a friend for some of today and i am taxi for DS tennis lessons, and also taxi for DD2's work today. Also have an appointment with DD3 today which could take most of the afternoon. Need to get the
shopping in. Kids do insist on eating!! DS opened the fridge last night and started singing "old mother Hubbard", so I will take the hint and do a big shop! UMMMM!! Not too hopeful on getting too much else done.

Hello everyone! I'm back too! Had great time - real bucket and spade number! Glad to hear you had a good time too tibni (v. impressed with your holiday unpacking and washing too - I've hardly opened my cases yet)Hope your mum is having a lovely b'day and well done for managing it so efficiently.

Thanks PA for posting all the steps so efficiently. And well done on your landings! (Hope you've got your clothes on )!!! I wonder where everyone else has gone???

Don't worry btw - I'm not convinced about some of the steps either - oh no - but no time to elaborate right now. Have hellish week ahead (visitors) Arrrggghhhh!!!!

Do you want me to start posting the steps again from tomorrow? No prob either way as it gets me motivated in the mornings (or more motivated than I would be ordinarily)

Agree, most inconsiderate of dc to want to eat (hurrumph)

Hope everyone has had a good day swishing and swiping x

Hello Dream team and MathAnxiety

(sorry - didn't read down thread)

What time is everyone going to bed then and are you sticking to it??? [nosy emoticon]

WELCOME BACK CTGH !!!

Glad you had a good time away. If you don't manage to post I could still do the honours while you ahve visitors. I really don't want to take over, but will help if you want me to!

hoovering with no clothes is slightly dangerous, especially when the door bell goes and kids let postman in, but you haven't heard cos of hoover!!!!! So back to clothes!! Kids weren't that impressed with being starved so that I didn't have to go shopping either. They collectively said they would go!! NO WAY!! They would spend twice as much and end up with junk, junk and more junk!!!
As an aside, my darlings have been lovingly calling me "mother theresa" for a while now. I have been so lovingly touched by the fact that they must have thought that I was such a caring, giving paragon of virtue!!! . DS (or not so D) let slip today that mother theresa was the oldest person they could think of, and that is the reason!!!! Don't you just love teenagers!!

Anyway, I am off now. Oh, just a quicky. I had an empty washbin for 5 minutes, then mistakenly told DS to go and clear his bedroom floor. Obviously the words "clear Floor" to a 13 year old boy (or girl come to that) means throw it all in the washbin, so abck to square one, yet again!!!

Have fun with visitors.

A double thank you PA (or should I call you Theresa from now on)?? ! [And I'm sure you would make the postman's day btw!!]

Thanks for your offer of help - much appreciated - shall we leave it that I will post and if I haven't done it by say 9.30 am (will try earlier) perhaps you would kindly step in? Or does that tie you down too much? [Always good to have a back up, particularly this week when I am stretched, next week also busy but less stressful if that makes sense.]

Seeing the bottom of your wash basket even for 5 mins is quite an achievement with 5 dc!!

Evening all -sorry I wasn't around last week PA - and congratulations on seeing the bottom of the laundry bin, as that is still uncharted territory here.

Kids are back at school and I am back at work, the morning list still works, everything else is not going quite so well.... I think the next thing is to get an after school sort of routine worked out so I can get the laundry done, the dinner cooked and the homework supervised without screaming at anyone (much).

House is still a mess, waiting for builders quotes to do an extension, and I still don't have the motiviation to get on with it

Today's baby step no 25:

www.flylady.net/pages/bbd25.asp

a bit more indoctrination reading!!

Will I be awarding myself gold stickers: I don't think so!

However, the bit about forgetting about what you have neglected to do in the past and focusing on what you can achieve today is sound I think. (I also spend a lot of time stressing unnecessarily/getting in a tizz about what is coming up which means I get less done in the here and now. Totally unproductive and ridiculous!!)

Hi Snowwoman. It's back to school/work here next week too and that will be the real test of my routines. Don't be too down on yourself about lack of motivation and all the routines. You ARE doing the morning one and that's good. YOu have alot on your plate and the witching hour after school when dc are demanding your attention and you are trying to cook and do homework at the same time is the pits!

I don't know how everyone feels but we could re-start the baby-steps again from 1 September if enough people want to. I know I could do with a bit more brain-washing habit reinforcement!!

Hope everyone has a good day.

Thanks for posting it CTGH.

It is easy for me to check and post it you have not had time in the morning. Good luck with all your holiday unpacking. I would be up for keeping in touch here. It is encouraging to know that others are struggling trying their best too. It does spur me on to know that I have to explain if I haven't been able to manage anything. It doesn't make me do it, I can just come up with fantastic excuses!!!!! We can all have a giggle together and not take it all too seriously, I hope.

Believe me, my postman would give mr Bolt a race if he saw me, he would be running so fast!!

Hi snowwoman, Kids back at school already, we still have a few weeks here. I have slipped into the pattern of thinking that it will be eassier when they are abck at sschool, but realistically I think I probably get more done when we are all around the house than when they are at school and I am working more hours! Still, I will stick to my reasoning for a couple of weeks, then see if I can get my butt in gear when they return.

I am supposed to be working now, so best sign off and get something done! (not being paid for being on mumsnet )

Hugs to all. Have a good, productive day.

Thanks PA. I fall in to the same "oh it will be easier when dd is back at school trap" and ditto with more working hours... having said that with only one child it is obviously far, far easier ...

Great about you wanting to continue. I don't want to create a "rival" Flying thread to the other one - and I know I said this would be 'for August only' - but perhaps we could create a 'for September only' new thread and see how it goes ...

The other thread has got quite large so it is more difficult to keep up with what everyone is doing but perhaps we could re-do baby steps in September and then see if we want to join the main thread?

Excuse hasty post - must keep clearing pathways through my home office!!!

Anyone else up for that? (The Sept thread I mean, not the pathways )

Day 26:

www.flylady.net/pages/bbd26.asp

I'm not sure it applies to us as it refers to looking at the foot of every flylady e-mail and I can be bothered with all of those in my in-box frankly!

Got so much to do here am feeling slightly overwhelmed and unmotivated ... procrastinated Mumsnetted far too much yesterday

How is everyone else getting on?

Hi CTGH, totally agree about all the emails! When I read that you get 10 a day I decided it was definitely not for me! What if you missed a day, or even worse went away for a week! I think my rebellious side would most definitely kick in and I would be more of a slob, just so that I could feel as if I was not doing what I was told! (still a teenager inside really, me!)

I wouldn't worry about procratinating, I am sure you wind down so much on holiday it normally takes me a while to get myself back into gear afterwards. Plus you have visitors, don't you, so just chill with them. I do hope you managed to get a pathway through your office though.

I just had a brief dip into the other thread and thought that they all seemed to take it very seriously and I think I would be too embarrassed to join them. Would love this one to continue, thank you. Don't want to upset anyone though - they seem the ultra organised scary type! Perhaps we could all start to add a little tip from ourselves too from time to time. Perhaps a light hearted one, just to keep everyone going. Can't think of anything now I have typed that, so I will go away and try and come up with something. or not!!

TBNI have a fab weekend, feet up, being cooked for, looked after and no housework!!!

mathanxiety You still out there?

Dreanteamgirl Is your laptop still broken . You had done so well, hope it is still good with you.

Have a good day all. I am off to do the school uniform shopping with teenage son who hates shopping! I know when I drag myself home I will be very cross, poor and in need of chocolate!

Quick post to share my sheer joy and glee. I tidied 2 kitchen cupboards today!!
Only another 8 to go and 6 drawers, but hey, let me revel in this moment of self satisfaction.
Little things please little minds!

Well done on your cupboards and drawers Positively!! I think you are the one keeping us all going on this thread.

Sorry didn't respond to your post earlier - tied up with visitors today - hence this very brief reply.

Agree it would be good to keep this thread going - don't think they are that scary over there btw - I think I have joined and re-joined about three times and they never seem to mind!! And maybe they are all doing advanced flying now since I last posted there which shows it is possible!!
So, if you are in agreement, suggest we continue for September on here and then see how it goes ....

Very, very early start tomorrow so posting Thursday 27th here:

www.flylady.net/pages/bbd27.asp
it's about planning dinner in advance of 6pm

Where's everyone else I wonder?

Ok Toad-in-the-hole for dinner tonight!
Have a good time today with your visitors CTGH.

I have got one load of washing in already and am planning a morning of baking and sorting out just one draw from the kitchen today.

Biting my nails a bit today. DD2 gets GCSE results! Either going to be a good day, or a bad one!!!

I AM KNACKERED!!! The nerves of waiting for the GCSE results made me all restless and I ended up doing all 6 drawers and 2 more cupboards. I had more pasta and rice than our local shop I am sure! Also ashamed at the fact that some of the food was so many years long time out of date. I even had to stop and check what year we are in now as I was gettin so confused! (old age) As for the teatowels, does anyone need to have over 30 in one house? (especially as I hardly ever use them as everything comes out of the dishwasher dry!!) Then went out for a nice walk this afternoon. I have sat down for the first time since 7.30 this morning.

Anyway, GCSE results were good. 8 A & A*, 3 Bs, 2 Cs. DD2's comments on these were "not bad seen as I didn't try". Very proud mummy!!

Gosh! Those are fantastic results PA. No wonder you are proud! Well done dd2. Hope you get a chance to carry out step 29 (below) sounds like you need it!!

Sorry - again very brief post - delivering some of the visitors back to France tomorrow so posting next steps here in case I don't have a chance over the weekend.

Sorry to be temporarily bsent again!

For Friday 28th
www.flylady.net/pages/bbd28.asp
Very obvious but sound advice and easy to neglect!

For Saturday 29th
www.flylady.net/pages/bbd29.asp
in which Flylady mentions it took her 9 months to fully establish her routines which gives me hope frankly!!

Good morning CTGH

Hope you are back home and relaxed now. So, just to be really nosey, which country do you live in?

Here I have only managed to do 1 more cupboard, but I will keep chipping away. I am still keeping on top of everything I have done so far, so generally really pleased. DH and I had our first arguement discussion about the fact that he had left something lying around. After 21 years of it always being me who was the untiy one this would have been quite an amusing conversation, if I had not been so obsessive and cross with him!

Must hoover downsatairs today. We will probably be going out for the afternoon, so not going to put that I will do anything else, cos I wont get it done, so better to set a very low goal today.

Getting into a bit of painc here as Ihave not been able to get any school trousers for DS (13) 's return to school next week. He is not too keen on the idea of having to go back in his underwear! I am sort of trying to rebel against the fact that the school (not private) tell us to buy absolutely everything from them. Down to the trousers, skirts, socks, tights ect. Their prices are at least twice as much as BHS and M&S. (package of basic wear costs £240 each!!- when you have 3 there it is ridiculous!!!) So I decided to get mine from high street stores. DS is having a growing spurt so I didn't want to get them too early. Now I can't get them and I really object to giving up and going to the school for their inflated prices! Grrrr!!!

Anyway, there's my rant for today!
Hope you have a good day.
Hi to everyone else out there, you must all be so busy tidying that you have no time to come on and say Hi.

Hi Positively,

Sorry to be posting today's step only now:

Very good tip I think

www.flylady.net/pages/bbd30.asp

and the very last one for tomorrow:

www.flylady.net/pages/bbd31.asp

Yay - we've made it and have flown for a month! There's a long way to go but my house certainly looks better for it and by the sound of it PA - yours has been blitzed from top to toe.

Starting with step 1 again and a new thread on Tuesday morning.

Pssssst!! [Lowers voice] Do you think we are the only ones left watching this thread??? We could start posting about nudist beaches in Mauritius or hydroponically grown carrots and no-one will notice!!

Yes it's a big swizz re: the uniform. We are sitting ducks. I've just bought our first set and it near enough cost £300. Horribly steep for a 6-yr-old.

"Low" goals are good I think. Shows we are being more realistic.

The land of beer and chocolate.

See you!

Hi CTGH.

Thanks for posting those and a huge thank you for giving me the encouragement to sort things out this month. Our home is most certainly really different from how it was a month ago. I am really chuffed. Also this has spurred me on to making some other changes too in the not too distant future. If I can do the house, after being a crap less than very good housewife for 21 years then I can change other things too!!
I am going to join one of those weight loss threads after my birthday and when the kids are back at school. a new home and a new me!!! Same stupid sense of humour and ready for a laugh, but a bit different too!!

{lowers voice} I was a little suspicious when you were away and I was waffling away to myself for a few days that it was just you and me! Maybe others think we are a little crazy and we have frightened them off. Was it the gravy dinner on paper plates for nudist comment? Not too sure I would be up for a conversation about hydroponically grown carrots - I hate any sort of carrots!! - apart form a lucious carrot cake!! Mmmm!!!

Low goals were obviously not near enough to the ground today as I did not get the hoovering done. Went for a knackering invigorating walk and I am still recovering!! Always tomorrow!!
Mmmm Chocolates and beer!! I would prefer Chocolates and wine myself, but I am sure that is not in short supply either!
Good luck for DD starting school. Hope all goes well and you don't miss her too much.

Being thrown off the laptop by na impatient 15 year old now, so bye and thank you once again.
I'll keep posting!!!

I'm still about

Thanks for all the support, it has really helped. My place is better but has a long way to go.

So what happens next? Are you going onto fly now August is ending? I'm not sure i'm ready for that!

Helloooooo tibni!!! Great you are still about. No, I'm definitely not ready to graduate to grown-up fly thread either.

We were planning to start a new thread (again for Sept only - and then we will see how it goes) to repeat baby-steps so that they become entrenched habits. Again, for convenience, we will synchronise baby-steps with date.

I'll start the new thread today/tomorrow if that's OK with you and PA and any others who want to join.

PA - snap (again) - I have 10 kilos to lose and I want to start exercising again from tomorrow. Going to try and meal plan as well which will hopefully tie in with Flying and weight loss. Good luck with your endeavours - when is yr birthday?

Aww you are lovely both, thank you, Tibni and PA - MUCH appreciated but don't thank me please - you've helped me to be much more consistent in how I approach my chores and it's been a very good and much needed discipline for me to post the steps every day (albeit a bit late from time to time).

We'll all get there in the end. It's been a very positive start ....

Onwards and upwards ...

New thread here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/good_housekeeping/816748-Spanking-new-Flybaby-quot-nursery-quot-thread-learn-ho w-to?rnd=1251722533680