Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

May's Fledgling Flyers: shed that clout May Flyers are out

627 replies

elliepac · 28/04/2010 21:23

Welcome to the May edition of the fledgling flyers where we are going to merrily fly around the maypole, dusting as we go.

Here you can do any of the following:

  • repeat or start baby steps (again!)
  • repeat baby steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone

or

  • reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering

For those who are curious, these are the Babysteps, which we all hope will restore order in our homes and make our lives a little bit easier with lots of support (and chat, and wine, and a little more chat )

So please come and join us, old and new, from May 1st.

OP posts:
PositiveAttitude · 24/05/2010 08:04

Good morning Ladies,

Welcome to Nickoftime. I am an original from August last year. My home is now far more manageable due to sticking with a few simple steps and just making them so routine you dont even realise you are doing them. other steps I do when I feel like it I am a million miles away from having a showhome, but it is not too bad. People can now generally pop in and my heart does not sink to my boots. Washing is my nemesis. occasionally I am washing/ironing pile free, but never for more than a few hours!

I've been awol for a few days due to my mums 80th birhtday and DD1 and boyfriend arriving for the weekend. Lovely weekend, but all busy, busy, busy and now I need a weekend to recover.

Stupidly busy week this week too. All my jobs have had their hours messed up because I have meetings each day, so my flexible hours is stretched to the max and there are not enough hours left in the week for me to be flexible with.

Meeeting today for me to discuss DD3s future with someone who I feel wants to write her off totally, so I always end up really stressed out with him. Have been giving myself the "listen, smile and ignore" talk. He wants DD3 to be in this meeting today, she is far more stubborn and outspoken than me, so she may need gagging to get through this without her losing her temper with him.

Cant even begin to think about flying today yet. Taxi-ing along runway might be my limit. Washing bins were empty for about 30 mins last evening though, before DCs went to bed. Lots of sorting and flattening smoothing ironing to be done now.

not ahd a chance to catch up with the thread properly, so will try and pop back to catch up later. New laptop is being stroked with loving nails at the moment. being returned tomorrow and I will get a replacement later in the week. hopefully I can then stroke in ernest. (stroking ernest sounds dead wrong!!! )

Manic waves to you all. Not posting a list because it could be embarrassingly short.
Enjoy the sunshine and see you all later.

elliepac · 24/05/2010 09:04

Morning all,

Am so sorry going awol over the weekend, if you wish to sack me as leader I understand. I am rubbish.

Had a fantastic day at the seaside but by the time we got back it was very late and was too pooped to post. Yesterday, I have no excuses, I forgot . Was stupidly busy, running around doing all the things I would normally do on a Saturday.

Will be back later for a proper round-up but did want to say a mahoosive welcome to nickoftime. We are working on babysteps, I post the link to each day's step the evening before. Just jump in and give it a go . Any questions please ask.

OP posts:
elliepac · 24/05/2010 09:14

Today's babystep is about afternoon routines. This is about figuring out exactly what you need to do of an afternoon and writing it down. This I suspect is different for every one of us so figure out what you do and write that down.

nickoftime here is a special link, just for you . This will take you to the first babystep page so you can get a feel for what we are doing. Babysteps.

This week we are in the Master Bedroom (I always love saying that, it makes my pit of a bedroom sound far grander than it really is). In my house this is commonly called the dumping ground so plenty of work for me this week then!

The mission for today is here.

Have a lovely, flying sunny day!

OP posts:
swanriver · 24/05/2010 09:29

Nickhello

Afternoon routine, never done that before! Think it will consist of
check phone messages (v.important)
snacks for children if not given in park (at table)
prep part of supper like veg or salad and lay table for latter
homework at 5.00pm
music practice kids if not done in morning
water plants in garden
eat supper at 6.00 or earlier if scout night
clear supper
put uniform wash on, hang up for next day
bath/shower kids
read to kids
kids to bed
kids to bed again
quick tidy of their bedrooms whilst conversing with them soothingly
put out clothes for next day if can find any clean

Today doing a bit of homebless before I run out of steam

ellie beach sounds blissful

ChairmumMiaowGoingItAlone · 24/05/2010 09:33

Morning all,

I'm too rubbish to catch up, but hello!

I haven't been flying - either been out enjoying myself or too tired to be bothered. My energy has flown away and I'm not even getting all my routines done, so this morning while DS is at nursery I am going to list the important bits so I can feel some sense of achievement! And in deference to my hugeness and achiness I am going to take a break in between each job!

  • DS to nursery done
  • washing on line
  • unload dishwasher and load brekkie dishes
  • 15 mins in bedroom including changing sheets
  • swish and swipe bathroom

I'll see how I get on with that lot first!

ChairmumMiaowGoingItAlone · 24/05/2010 11:20

Done all that, so now I'm going to relax till its time to get DS from nursery, then spend the afternoon playing in the garden with him, and maybe water the plants.

DS is off to his dad's tonight so I shall have another list for tonight:

  • clear dining table properly
  • hoover downstairs properly
  • stack up washing baskets etc
  • 15 minutes in DS's room
  • veg out with book
NickOfTime · 24/05/2010 16:39

thanks for welcome all!
my sink is clean (not sure shiny is possible) and i've successfully managed to clear up in the kitchen as i've gone along for three days now (woo hoo - normally it gets left until after dinner and it's too depressing to contemplate. so some of it gets left until morning and then i'm depressed from the minute i get up. but no more! ) i can't believe what a difference having no washing up makes to my mood! (tragic)

thanks for link to babysteps - i assume 'babysteps' lasts a month, but you can go back over them?

my lists will probably be quite short i think.

but today -

breakfast - done
dw - done
wm - (need about three loads so the dcs have clothes to wear tomorrow)
hoover - dogs are moulting insanely and we have no grass in our garden (long story) so dog hair and mud has become a way of life...

fridge! (eek)
grocery shopping

clothes shopping - i need a skirt and a pair of summer trousers (too fat for last years and sweating miserably in too tight jeans)

and then i'm going to have a go at the master bedroom (oo, there's grand) as suggested. i may strip the bed as suggested (wincing at the thought of adding to the washing pile), but i might just try and clear some of the junk instead... (for some reason i appear to have a pile of ironing in practically every room of the house... that can't be good)

we are expats btw, so i haven't really just pulled myself out of bed at nearly five it's only half past nine! dd1 (10) told me yesterday that i could have a lie in and she would make me a nice cup of tea and bring it up. i love dd1!

ladies, i've got 5 weeks until my mil arrives for a 2 week visit. she's lovely, but has spent our entire married life gazing at the disaster that is our house, and biting her tongue. i'd love for it to be not-quite-so-disastrous by the time she gets here... is 5 weeks long enough?!

elliepac · 24/05/2010 16:56

Afternoon all, just peeking in before I pick DC's up from CM.

nick babysteps do last a month and yes you can go back over them, and over, and over ad infinitum. Some of us have been here since August/September last year and still haven't quite mastered everything! . I think 5 weeks is long enough to make a real difference with the babysteps and 15 mins decluttering a day we shall get you sorted!

Back later everyone!

OP posts:
LinzerTorte · 24/05/2010 17:38

Hi all,

Just a quick fly by as we're at my ILs until tomorrow; I've had to bring my laptop with me as I had some work to finish off (well, that's my excuse anyway).

I've just had another go at trying to put a photo of the first communion on my profile but I don't think the uploader likes me. I have managed to put a few on Facebook though.

gormers I'm in Austria, although with the amount of rain we've been having recently it feels like I'm back in Wales.

NickOfTime Welcome! This is my third month of flying and it really has made a difference - even though I still struggle with some of the babysteps (the bedtime one in particular, not to mention no. 4 of Flylady's commandments - not getting sidetracked by the computer). I'd tried flying on my own a few times before, but feel much more motivated since joining the thread.
Whereabouts are you btw? [nosey emoticon] I have been known to make people or possibly by writing about having an early night at 8 pm UK time (even for lightweight me, 8 would be slightly too early...)

droitwichmummy · 24/05/2010 19:24

Hello everyone & welcome Nickoftime - you can do loads in 5 weeks! Please try to pace yourself though or you will run out of steam.
We were at a family wedding yesterday so long day in the heath and 250 mile round trip but well worth it although it meant a late night for DS on a school night.
Daisy cat has been to the vet (again) today. 4 stitches have been taken out but she still has some in which should be taken out on Thursday.

I need to do a short list tonight:
ironing
DW
cook mince - pasta sauce and cottage pie?
DS to bed on time
watch Over the Rainbow which I recorded on Saturday (even though the result was in the Metro this morning )
WM on
bed on time
might do a 10 min room rescue to rediscover the dining table

Anyone seen SC? Should we send out a search party?

missbennett · 24/05/2010 19:56

Hello and especially to nick - your house sounds a bit like ours, which is definitely too small for 4 people, especially as the DDs are now the size of adults I do quite well with my routines - and they do make a massive difference - but I struggle big time with the decluttering, especially as DH never wants to throw anything away EVER

Anyway, today I have achieved:
-grocery shopping (after work )
-got DD2 to Guides
-routines
-been to work

So all that's left is:
-washing up and sink etc
-check in with DD1 re Maths AS exam today when she gets back from Brownies (and this is a full time job - exam counselling!)
-mission? Highly unlikely.
-try and find accomodation for our Isle of Man trip and leave lists for DH to attend to tomorrow.

At the moment we are trying to find small, basic runaround car for DD1 and so DH has turned this into his life's work and seems incapable of paying attention to anything else. I'm glad he's doing it but there is more to life than that and the DDs still need to be fed!!

elliepac · 24/05/2010 20:35

Evening everyone,

To be frank , I am beginning to think DH is the laziest man in the history of mankind, EVER. I was beginning to wonder why, despite flying (albeit in a slightly random fashion ), why sometimes I feel like I am getting nowhere. I have now realised that it is because no-one in this house does a damn thing, no-one picks anything up after themselves, drops stuff and leaves it and then just expects me to come along and pick it up. . Grrrrrrrrrr. . Grrrrrrrrrrr.

Right, feel better now. Back to the business of round-up. .

missb I did grocery shopping after work too . Good luck with the car hunt, clearly the old adage that men can't multi-task is true at times(although to be honest I would be grateful for doing one thing over here not several!).

dwm wedding sounds lovely though tiring. Sounds as if Daisy is getting there gradually which is very good news. I have no idea where sc is, I miss her . Shall we phone the police and report her missing?

linzer your communion photos are gorgeous . Hope all is well with the IL's.

nickoftime a marvellous first day although I would second what DWM says. Try not to do loads in the first few days as it would be easy to lose enthusiasm and burn out. I would suggest starting with the babysteps and nothing else (unless you fancy some decluttering). You will be amazed at the difference sticking to these babysteps will make. Promise .

chairmum impressive lists as usual although I do hope you are taking it easy and making sure you get plenty of rest .

sr jeez, that's a huge afternoon routine. Mine consists of get home from work, shout at children, panic because I forgot to get things for DS's roleplay wedding tomorrow, iron Beaver's uniform, shout at children some more, take DS to Beavers, DD to bed, shout at DH, come on MN . Beach was blissful thank you. Having just spent many words describing the shouting tonight we had a fabulous family day on Saturday, lots of sandcastles, paddling, playing and donkey rides. It was a perfect day and you don't get those very often!

pa how lovely for you to have DD1 around. How did the meeting go? Hope you have not been stroking ernest too much .

nettie hope you managed some family time, the most important thing of all .

mrsd did you have a nice day out? Lovely day for it .

gormers how's the revision going? Revising in the sun is the besy way to do it. My mum and dad took us away for a week in half term the year I was doing A Levels and DSis was doing GCSE's and the relaxed atmosphere and sunshine really helped! I like the idea of flying by-proxy though sod all chance of that here (see my rant earlier!) .

biddy how was the Tower of London. As a history teacher it's one those places i've always wanted to go but never have!

om how's it all going chez revision (and missb). Not tooooo long to go now?!

mm even DH likes Peppa Pig!

Big waves to everyone else, sc pmpy and anyone else I have omitted!

Tis getting close to the end of the month now and it is time to start thinking about next month's thread (assuming we all want one). I am quite happy to carry on although if you all fancy a change that is fine by me too.

Back with steps in a sec!

OP posts:
elliepac · 24/05/2010 20:43

Hello everyone,

Today's babystep is swishing and swiping. This is one of the most invaluable babysteps of all and really makes a difference.

The mission today is here.

OP posts:
Nettiespagetti · 24/05/2010 20:53

Evening everyone I'm sorry I'm sorry I know some of you are fanatics but I hate it!

Nettiespagetti · 24/05/2010 21:02

X-posted with ellie aw poor you it's so annoying when ur DH is not being supportive! I appreciate ur rant and will happily stand on ur line and shout the odds for you. Grr useless bl**dy articles sometimes!!

Oh yEs please another thread I do feel like I'm making real headway and am happy for you to continue

droitwichmummy · 24/05/2010 21:31

ellie please carry on next month! I'll put my thinking cap on for a thread title as my contribution (unless someone else has any ideas)

swanriver · 24/05/2010 22:58

Ellie give your husband ONE job and make sure he sticks to it (dustbins? clearing table? read children story?) I think otherwise poor fellows get a bit confused at what's expected of them [sarcasm doesn't suit me]

Excellent day! Hurrah for once
Several rooms rescued,
minimum tidiness maintained throughout
felt in holiday mood, only a bit of shouting at dcs (when they ran in the road and tried to gobble up as many Tuc biscuits as they could before I spotted them)

Swimming after school (what a great solution to sweaty kids) and gave them tea there too
Ds1 (in his uniform, cleverly brought to pool to change into) taken straight to Cubs from pool
filled up car, bought groceries on way home with dts (just Spar stuff though)
cooked delicious pasta for dh, for which he was v. grateful (fr once) and ate listening to various wide awake dcs tell us their thoughts

routine? well dh watered garden, ds1 did his homework at 8.30pm, and I prepared no dcs' tea but it all went well

uniform washed
sink shiny, dishes washed up
washing hung out x 3

swanriver · 24/05/2010 23:07

Nettie I want that book - everyone keeps recommending it, esp people my age
PA hope your meeting was bearable, the one with dd3.
Nick it is definitelythe decluttering which does it, and the five minute - "I might as well do something, even if it's just a bit"- principle. Sometimes if you really can't bear to declutter it helps to just put the "stuff" in loft and see whether you notice it's gone...

NickOfTime · 25/05/2010 00:23

lol, not allowed to use our loft - there is a big sticker on it that says 'may contain asbestos' we're renting btw, wouldn't actually buy a house that i couldn't use the loft...

we live in canada out in the sticks in alberta - we just got our resident visas, so may or may not come back to the uk, we'll wait and see! so we're seven hours behind (i should be cooking dinner now )

i do know what you mean about burning out, thanks for warnings! i tend to be a bit all or nothing so am hoping to build up slowly.

not done too badly though -

dw - loaded awaiting dinner things
wm - 2nd load in
hoovering - noooooooo

fridge - done (thank gawd. the courgettes await the bin man tomorrow morning)

grocery shopping done (and in my nice shiny fridge)

clothes shopping done (2 pairs summer capri/ trs)

so, dinner now.

at what point am i supposed to have some sort of evening routine going? (the afternoon one is going to be beyond me i fear)

tonight i need to iron clothes for the dcs for the week, and get packed lunches ready. i'm back at work tomorrow so it will be crazy in the morning - i hate it when dh is away and i have to get them all ready and on time! i'm going to get up half an hour earlier and hope that helps me stay sane

you lot are very organised! (oh, and i loathe football ) i'd love someone to supernanny us - it's blooming ds1 that causes the ruckus round here (well, our reaction to him anyway, i suspect. the poor child is only 8, but has such a temper. doesn't show it, just fumes silently and refuses to do x,y, or z, which drives me up the wall. ah, the joys of parenting. anyone got a nice easy girl i can swop him with? )

NickOfTime · 25/05/2010 00:34

and can i just say, i am loving that everyone else on the thread has the same 'right, what day is it, cubs, beavers, sparks, guides - where is the uniform/ is it ironed/ is it even clean/ where/ when am i going to fit in feeding them' dilemmas.

oh, and thanks missb - you reminded me that i need to book a hotel room for wednesday night! have found homes for 2x children and 2xdogs, and need a room for dd2 and i, as she has a hospital appointment early on thursday morning in the city. typical that i've sorted out everyone else, but forgotten to book our room thanks again!

Nettiespagetti · 25/05/2010 06:34

Morning all I'm getting in early to give me direction and motivation

this morning list (gonna try afternoon one today)
dw
wm
morning routine
swish and swipe (now I know what to do)
dc breakfasts
kitchen hotspot
dc swim
dc music movement homework for today's class
positive comments day with dS
taking step back day (no nagging every lil thing)

so that's this morning

nick oo canada looks gorgeous it's on my hope to go one day. Lmho at Nice easy girl I have a very chilled out 19m old!!
swan it was a good book (I don't care that it's for school children I'm still a child really (34) and I've just ordered the remaining books )

swanriver · 25/05/2010 09:34

Nettie in the changing room at swimming pool I saw a mum nagging her four/five year old. She is a nice lady, and he's a nice little boy (I know him from school), but it is quite easy to get into nag mode - I could see how she was getting more and more wound up and having absolutely no impact, in fact he was getting naughtier the more she told him off.
It is so easy to see what people do wrong when it's not YOU doing it It really made me think about my nagging mine, and how they probably just switch off completely...

anyway, off to work now! and see same little boy, must remember to stay positive.

ChairmumMiaowGoingItAlone · 25/05/2010 11:20

missb - just noticed the birthday comment. My 30th is on the 10th so I might have the best present ever! Teenagers and exams sounds stressful too!

ellie - H had DS last night, and I didn't do any of my jobs, so DS and I are doing them (very slowly!) this morning. He's such a good sweeper!

nettie - I hate the football too. Thankfully even when H was here he never watched it, but now I just have to hear the neighbours

nick Welcome!

I slept pretty well (for me) last night so have a bit of energy and am sitting down with a cup of tea right now, but will get on with a bit of stuff again in a bit:

  • hoover / sweep downstairs properly done
  • dishwasher loaded (really lazy last night ) done
  • washing on done
  • pack DS nappy bag for nursery / this afternoon
  • clear off dining table
  • 15 minutes in DS's room
  • lunch
  • DS to nursery
  • off to doctor and midwife
  • peaceful cup of tea in town
  • DS from nursery
  • DS nap if he hasn't had one!
  • out to dinner in the pub for niece's 13th!
  • sleep!
Stillcounting · 25/05/2010 11:51

Bonjour! Dag!

I see you are all busy. Congratulations on your lists and for keeping going.

Just flying in and out - sorry to be awol again but am avoiding screens at the moment (migraine issue)

A warm welcome to NickofTime

Similar situation here Ellie - you have my sympathies - no-one but me does any tidying or putting away (ie the boring stuff!!)

This morning in addition to usual chores I have:

  • carried 5 pairs of dh's shoes up from ground floor to first floor
  • removed 9 empty shampoo and conditioner bottles from bathroom (everyone leaves this to recycling fairy)
  • removed 6 empty loo rolls from around house (ditto above)
  • picked up the contents of dh's suitcase that he upturned and dumped on bedroom floor (laundry panier 3 steps away) [grrrrr]

-collected up 2 wicker paniers-full of dh's various (work) papers, books,conference materials, travel receipts he has left scattered all over house

  • spent nearly 2 hours "retrieving" fridge, cooker and kitchen surfaces and floor following dh's w/e cooking marathon (yesterday was public holiday here)
  • tidied away a variety of diy tools, cables, batteries and gardening equipment, again not carried downstairs but just left around house for some other mug me to put away

So I will join you in a collective moment

Rant over!!

On the positive side: tis another lovely sunny day here!!

swanriver · 25/05/2010 13:14

done
work

now trying to tackle a bit more garden tidying
dcs bedrooms

Swipe left for the next trending thread