Spanking new Flybaby "nursery" thread - learn how to Fly for the month of September only

[Countingthegreyhairs]

Hello. Does anyone want to join/re-join us for a mutual "kick-up-the-bum" motivational thread starting tomorrow 1st September?

[Then we can join the main Flying threads thereafter if we want to.)

We did the same throughout August

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/good_housekeeping/799866-starting-tomorrow-accelerated-flying-for-month-of-Augu st-only

and it has really helped but being confirmed slatterns extreme cases we feel the need to repeat the exercise throughout September too. We need to declutter, organise, tidy and clean and generally get our lives under control.

All newcomers welcome!

dreamteamgirl now i'm scared

And pa the only reason my weekends are impressive is because my weeks are so shite busy

And thanks for kind offer of the tabards but i wouldn't want to part you from them as you look so pretty

I feel ready to join a fledgling FLYers group & agree that's a good name. While most of my rooms aren't ready for detailed cleaning yet, some are, and the Kelly's missions often seem pitched at about the right level (this week the Kelly's missions have been about decluttering the main bedroom & getting rid of old unworn or worn out clothes and junk in bedside cabinets, which is kind of the next level of decluttering after the visible bits are done). So a thread with both the Kelly's mission for the day and the baby step that we can pick and choose sounds excellent.

Thanks CTGH.

OK, replied to CTGH so to everyone else
It was absolutely my pleasure to share my daily/ weekly routines and I will happily email my whole control journal such as it is to anyone that wants it. I couldnt have got it done without alot of help from other people, and I would NOT have got my house back sorted in August without the help from this group. Please dont think that I am perfect and always do everything on them either- they are still something to aim for- I tend to achieve 80% most days, which is why I still lurk here

My control journal is still in progress, but when I had to make my AP manual I had done a lot of it, plus my cleaning lists and I just merged it all together and now... well it rocks :-)))))))) So glad I finally decided to do it. Its like everything, you put it off cos you think it isnt for or wont help, then it shocks you when you do it and it is great

POA I dont think you can say you arent achieving- maybe you shoudl go read August's thread again! You have done so amazingly, and along with CTGH totally helped me get back on track too. So yes do do feel proud

Elliepac you are doing so well for a Saturday!! if you wanted to you could maybe do lasts weeks missions next week -IYSWIM? If you click the link I put in above then you will see the jobs for the master bedroom and doing them each day can be fun- well when I say fun ...

snorkle in your case if you are decluttered and you feel you have done the babysteps then I would start to look at the zones. Download the Flyzones pdf and see what you can do each week- it is zone 5, the lounge, next week and I put the details ont he other thread. You could also start doing the daily missions

Anyway, I havent emptied my lost property boxes for 3 days and they are overlowing so I am gonna set my tmier and tackle them now. See ya!

elliepac you messgae came whilst I was writing my 2nd long one. Sorry to scare you LOL, but with the way you are going it will be a piece of cake!!

morning one and all and what beautiful morning it is (at least here anyway).

Well, am allowing myself a little smugness this morning.

I have already:-

got dressed (no mean feat on a sunday)
cleared away from breakfast and shined sink
2 loads of washing done
quick tidy round bottom of house(though hard work in living room is now being undone by DD)
washing sorted into piles ready to be taken upstairs
swished/swiped bathroom
stripped DC's beds

Check me out

Am itching to get started in our bedroom but lazy tired DH is still in bed. All that tidying on thursday must have worn the poor love out

AM going to crack on and then reward myself with a trip to the park this afternoon.

Have a fabulous day everyone.

Hello all,

I'm still about but flapping a little!

Ds was off school until Wednesday sick.

Then dh and I both have been bad with a cold that we still have not manage to shake.

Loft was insulated Friday - we managed to get it empty but it has had an impact on the general house.

It is my birthday tomorrow so we had a constant stream of visitors yesterday and have people coming today.

Overall the house is doing ok! I keep up swish and swipe, try and keep on top of washing and keep downstairs ok. Hotspots and Zones not really being dealt with just now.

Puppy (9 weeks now) has fitted into the family brilliantly.

Will try and catch up with you all next week. Have a good weekend.

Hi all [waves to tibni and pa and everyone else]

Thank you for all your replies, particularly to Dreamteam for taking the time to write out your routines and answering all our questions. It's very reassuring that you are there to hold our wings while we jump from the nest!

Ellipac you are on a roll!

OK then everyone, "Fledling Flyers/October" it is.

A baby-step and a daily task will be posted every day so you can choose to do one or both.

I will "run" the thread in October, with PA as number 1 back-up if I have to temporarily disappear for any reason, and Elliepac as back-up no. 2 in the unlikely event neither of us turn up of a morning! (Thanks guys )

Please be aware I'm not quite sure what I am doing particularly as we graduate a bit further in to the zones etc - as is probably evident!! - but hopefully we can all muddle along together .

Again thank you to Dreamteam for all her advice and thank you also for mentioning that you achieve 80% of your routines and it isn't perfect all the time [huge relief emoticon ]. Seriously, I think that is important to remember. Too many of us are saying "I've fallen off the wagon, or I am failing" and it's not true - it's all work in progress - that's the whole point of Flylady!!

OK, well now I've delivered my "first day of term" speech in advance I'll put down my leather whip and bottle of gin mortarboard and cane and go and study the Flylady site a bit more ...

Hope you are having a good Sunday everyone ...

Gorgeous day here. Way too nice a day for housework. I'm off to enjoy the sunshine before the winter sets in!

Enjoy your day.

Gorgeous here too PA - hope everyone is enjoying it ...

Homework Before We Start October Thread on Thursday 1st

(for those of us who are planning to "graduate" from baby-steps to zone cleaning)

OK, I've had a look at the site and from what I can gather (Dreamteam - please put me right if I'm mistaken because I'm still slightly confused about all of this and sorry if I am repeating what you have already said but I am trying to get the sequences right in my own addled brain first!!) I think the most important bit of the Flylady website for everyone who is going to start zone cleaning is this:

www.flylady.net/pages/FlightPlan.asp

Once you have read that, I think the things we have to have in place before Thursday 1st (if we haven't done so already) are:

A control journal (see how to set one up here - www.flylady.net/pages/FLYingLessons_Journal.asp) in which we have written down our morning routine and/or afternoon routine and/or evening routines plus a basic-weekly plan, see: www.flylady.net/pages/FLYingLessons_Routines.asp

We continue to do the baby-steps and our routines every day, including hotspots/laundry/meal-planning ie the regular daily stuff.

In addition, we then divide our houses, however big or small, into 5 cleaning zones.

To start with, every day, you will declutter in a particular zone (as prescribed by Flylady) for 15 mins.

Once the decluttering is complete in that zone you can then start cleaning it for 15 mins every day. According to Flylady, there's no point in cleaning before the place is decluttered. You can't clean clutter!

Added to all this come the daily missions as DreamTeam has explained such as clean under bed or something such as a 27-fling-boogie (chuck out exercise).

I think that pretty much covers the basics!

I have to confess that I find the Flylady website and book quite confusing and I'm still not certain of sequence but I think this is partially

(a) because I'm slow on the uptake
(b) deliberate on Flylady's part as she wants us to adapt the system to suit ourselves, which is why it is not totally prescriptive

but, hopefully, as DreamTeam has reassured us, it will all make sense and come together as we are doing it.

Please let me know if I have got any of this wrong and/or you have further questions ...

CTGH - Do I really have to relent and become organised with a journal then? Or can I muddle through as I have been doing. Just the thought of writing it all down makes it all so ordered and official. I really have a problem with being organised in this way. I know I am rebelious soul, but if I trot along without it am I going to be getting myself into a mess before I start?

Sorry, but after reading your last post, my initial reaction is that I am happy with the progress that babysteps have made, perhaps I will just keep on with them and sort other stuff out when I can. I don't mean to be negative, hey my name is POSITIVE!!! Just panicking it is all going to be a bit much, maybe. Is it possible to dip in and out of the other part and just take on what I want to?

Sorry, turning into a bad day here after all, perhaps I will feel better when I look into this all in a better frame of mind!

Absolutely PA - don't worry- just stick with the baby steps (they are a large part of the overall programme after all) if you want to. Or dip in and out of the other daily tasks as you wish. It's up to you.

I haven't quite decided whether I am going to venture in to zone cleaning or not yet.

I do recommend making a House Control Journal though, but again, it's up to everyone to adapt the Flylady system to suit themselves.

You've been doing brilliantly - why fix something that's not broken??!!

I'm off now to make ready for the morrow!

Hope everyone has a good week.

Step for Monday 28 September - I cannot emphasise enough the importance of this one - wish I could listen to my own advice though (blush)

Thanks CTGH - Just looked at the fat fairy website and heart sank when I read about putting rooms into zones. Wondering if I can separate it a bit further, or have twice the time to go through all the rooms. I'm not boasting here, but I have a bloomin big house. It used to be a 10 bedroom nursing home, although we have knocked lots of walls down to make it more family friendly - now huge rooms though! It would never work me doing the areas she suggested. I have 3 lounges, for heavens sake!!! 3 bathrooms, study, dining room, massive kitchen, 2 hallways, 5 bedrooms, stairs, landing and a large "area" with no name. Thats before I go to the 3 rooms in the cellar that we use. Quite a few storage areas too.

Maybe you are right about "if it aint broke, don't fix it!" I will try things out this month and see how it goes.

Thanks once again for all the encouragement, CTGH. I think you deserve a big bottle of gin pat on the back!

Crikey PAO sounds like you need some staff!!

Hi POA
The fat fairy's answer to your question is 'thats fine'

In the same way I only have one lounge, so I do that everytime living area comes round, you will do 1 living room each time, so every 3 cycles you will do one of the lounges. Does that make sense? DO you have the capacity to add an extra 15 mins a day decluttering or cleaning in?

Control journal isn't essential. I flew without one for well over 2 years. Course now I have it I would NEVER go back, but it isnt essential at all, as CTGH says. I only finally put mine together after re-flying the babysteps with you guys last month. On another note I lust after your house!! Can I have it? Please please please???

CTGH you have summed it up brilliantly I think
So will there be a 3 pronged thing? e.g.

• Some people repeating/ starting just baby steps

• Some people repeating baby steps and adding in 15 mins a day declutter on the zone we are in (eg living area next week)

• Some people reinforcing the babysteps, but are decluttered so doing the daily missions

Its a great thread- thanks for all your work- even if I do just pop in and out.

And yes I run at 80%- I do hope it didnt give anyone the impression I was perfect LMAO

I've so fallen off the ladder this weekend, house is a tip and sink most definitely not shiny, I'm about to put the DC's to bed and then tackle the kitchen and bathroom.

Weekends are always bad for me and I can't see that changing in the future.

I'm going to have to repeat the baby steps next month and I've decluttered this month so maybe I'll follow the daily missions. I haven't subscribed to fly lady website so hopefully somebody will keep me on the straight and narrow.

Hopefully when I get back here tomorrow sink will be shining, the hotspot that is my dining table will be cleared and I'll have all the ironing done and put away. Those are tonight's tasks - easy to do the ironing it's a double bill of House tonight!

Oh and dreamgirl I'd love a copy of your journal but I'm not sure how to contact you, I don't have CAT facility.

OM- You just can't get the staff these days!

Dreamteamgirl - You can have the mortgage, the heating bills and council tax, but no way the house!!!
Thanks for explaining how I can do it all. Thats reassuring that I am not going to be expected to do the same as others living in a one bedroom flat!
Your three pronged approach seems spot on to me!
Maybe I will venture into the journalling area during the coming month, I'll see how rebellious, disorganised, eager I feel!

Have spent the whole weekend decorating - Ds now in his new room in his new bed!

Got some serious work to do tomorrow in clear up terms and I ache all over.

Will feel better after a sleep right?

evening all, after all my efforts this weekend, I must admit it is nice to sit down on a sunday evening knowing my house is presentable (ie, you can see the floors and worksurfaces) before the week starts. It will go rapidly downhill come tomorrow but i will enjoy it while it lasts.

Like everyone else have spent the afternoon enjoying the beautiful sunshine before autumn mist and murk set in.

CTGH Thanks for agreeing to do next months thread ably assisted by PA I am honoured to be the understudy . I had a quick look at my homework miss....and promptly pooed my pants
I think I might fall into the second category of people who are doing babysteps plus some decluttering in zones as i haven't really got the hang of that.

PA if babysteps are working for you, let them continue to do so...

walkthedinosaur am sure you will climb back on that ladder just fine plus you've decluttered a task which i am too scared to even start for fear of what i might uncover

dreamteam a copy of your journal would be cheeky yet fabulous please because i can't do my own because i am crap. My aim is to be like you in a couple of months.....you're my idol

Am off to watch x-factor. Take Care y'all

Hi Everyone

CTGH Fledgling Flyers sounds great! I've decided not to sign up to the emails either as i think I would get bogged down with it all but if you are happy to lead us in the October thread that would be great. I sat down with DH last week and worked out a declutter plan that starts tomorrow so I guess I'm defining my own zones but I like the feeling of not being alone in my mission and the tips from you all and the FLY website are really helpful.

Sounds like everyone has done really well this weekend.

I have not! I knew it would only take 3 days for me to lose motivation! Having said that, the house is looking reasonable for a Sunday night.

Yesterday I was feeling a bit unwell and we were out all day so I only did the basics (a bit of swish and swashing, standard making meals and clearing up). Today was a bit better but our hallway has become one giant hotspot! Fortunately it is the first area on our declutter list!

Recording today's acheivements to make myself feel better:

• swish, swash!
• ordered monthly big online shop
• cooked lunch, clear away
• wool wash/out to dry
• white wash/out to dry
• cooked dinner/clear away
• sweep kitchen floor
• quick vacuum downstairs

still need to:

• iron work clothes
• fold washing away and make ironing pile for tomorrow
• prepare lunch
• put out breakfast things

Enjoy the last couple of hours of the weekend!

No swish and swash for me due to Swine Flu , Looks like DS2 is a day ahead and DD is 2 days behind
Wonderful DS1 has
cooked a shepherd's pie (flung Jamie Oliver in his direction!)
washed his kit
ironed his uniform

DH played golf
However he did go shopping and made tea yesterday and breakfast today so can't complain.

Have to get my mum to be my flu friend tomorrow to pick up tamilflu!!

Anyone had it? It seems a bit pointless as I have been ill since Thursday really...

Will try to join you later in the week...

Oh no! Get better soon Optimistic

Wow, just had a quick read, you are all doing so well. I have been rubbish and logged on to ask if you were starting again in October!

I wish I had a good excuse to have fallen by the wayside, but I haven't, I am sitting here with a tip of a house wishing I had stuck to the plan.

I think I will re-read this thread and start again - maybe I can catch-up.