Weekly Flylady Thread 16 December 2024

Valli

Welcome to the weekly Flylady Thread.

What is FLYLADY? Well, it's our version of the US flylady idea - but we work on the principle that housework is not fun, it's boring, can be time-consuming, is often thankless but, unfortunately, necessary. It's here on Old Style to provide the support we all need and to make the whole task easier and quicker. We also accept that, sometimes, life just gets on top of us and we can't keep up, maybe because we're time-poor, not in the best of health and/or we have littlies who need us. We are definitely NOT control freaks aiming for perfection and utterly spotless show-homes.

You're more than welcome to join us in the everlasting battle against dust, grime and gibble. The aim of our thread is to make those onerous tasks less daunting, and to support each other - and to make time for the finer things in life!
Please do remember we have to abide by MSE rules; each post should, ideally, include some mention of flying.
Thank you Natty for last week's thread.
Please follow the forum rules on this thread as Flylady has been here a LONG time and is a fabulous support and resource for lots of us. All posts should have some Flylady-related content! (i.e. it should be on-topic)
The idea is that even if you are really busy you don't need to fall off the wagon!
Every room comes back around next week so please don’t stress about catching up
These lists are only suggestions and not a must do list; you are more than welcome to post and follow your own lists.
Also adding a declutter mission each day will help to gradually clear the clutter and make flying easier.
A few of the basics before we start the week -

Hotspots are areas where if one thing gets put there, loads of other things follow!
Daily routines are anything you need to do on a daily basis like washing, swish and swipe kitchen and bathroom, ironing, making beds, vacuuming high traffic areas, making meals etc.
Night-time routines are all things which make getting ready in the morning easier, preparing clothes for the next day, making lunches, swish & swipes of the kitchen and tidying the living room before you go to bed plus personals like shower/brush teeth etc.
Fling Boogie - stick on some loud music, grab a bin bag and whiz around the house finding items that can go out with the rubbish, recycling, for charity shop, basically anything that will stop it cluttering your home.
Swish and swipe/S&S means have a quick wipe over an area such as a sink or toilet to prevent the build up of dirt. This is usually done on a daily basis

HHE/HHC/HHI Half Hour exercise/challenge/ironing ... run around for 30 minutes to the Benny Hill music frantically cleaning exercising or ironing.. .other music may be used if you prefer!
WM ~ Washing machine
TD ~ Tumble dryer
SC ~ Slowcooker
BM ~ Breadmaker
DW ~ Dishwasher
SOAADFA ~ Sit on 'bottom' and do 'nothing'
KH/XH/FW ~ Ex-husband and other not so polite versions
DH/DD/DS/DW/DP ~ Dear husband/daughter/son/wife/partner/whatever
OH/SO ~ Other half/significant other
NN ~ nice neighbour
Toxic (friend/mother/sister/whoever) ~ person in your life that seems to exist to make your life miserable
AF ~ Aunt Flo 'time of the month'.. nothing to do with flying but it comes up often.
ETA ~ Edited to add
OOD - out of date
Gibble ~ miscellaneous crap that appears forever homeless
Dot-to-dot ~ pick a small area (not a whole room) like a chair/coffee/table/shelf/worktop or wherever- that’s your first 'dot' - totally clear it - clean it - and only put back what should be there - deal with what you have removed (not just move it somewhere else) then if you have time move on and do the same to another 'dot' -the idea is just like a dot to dot puzzle, you aim to join up all the dots and have a tidy room. The trick is to keep each dot tidy until you get them all joined up! All credit to former Flylady AnW's Mum for this one
RoD ~ Room of Doom, the one room that feels like it is a permanent pit and cannot be used to its potential!
MAD half hour
- Mad is the abbreviation for Make A Difference.
The idea is that you have a Forth bridge (ie never-ending - or just huge) task but that you work on it in half-hour bursts. This way you know you ARE stopping, and that you won't get it finished but you will make a difference - so it might be clearing out - the garage or shed, or clothes sorting, or weeding - you get the picture - but rather than keep going until you've lost the will to live you do half an hour...but, eventually those half hours will get the job done!
Frog (or other amphibian) ~ google 'eat that frog'
Spoons ~ google 'but you don't look sick' and/or 'The Spoon Theory'.

Mr S/A/T/M/L/Al - supermarkets Sainsburys, Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, Lidl, Aldi. You get the picture!!

Click here to read Toots wonderful welcome guide

Manic Monday - Kitchen and Dining Room

Level 1

Open some windows for some fresh air - especially the bedrooms
Wash up, dry up and put away (or remove all pots to DW) 
Clear sides and wipe down - wipe small appliances and caddies etc.  Don't forget the splashbacks or tiles!
Replace what lives there, wiping as you go
Empty bin and clean it out too 
Clear and clean sink and accessories - don't forget those out-of-sight places - under plugs and under draining racks - and shine those taps - or clean them!
Glug some bleach down the plugholes.
Clean/polish table - wipe mats/change cloth - don't forget the legs and places where sticky fingers can reach.
Clean chairs/stools - and don't forget legs and rails!
Check fruit and wash bowl
Throw away your manky dish cloth or sponge and replace with a new one!  Put out a new hand towel and a new tea towel too
Clean cruet, salt and pepper, wipe any sauce bottles that are used on the table

Level 2

Wipe down all cupboard and drawer fronts inside and out, not forgetting handles and tops and bottom as well as fronts!
Clean hob
Clean microwave
Sort fridge and wipe seals; weave stuff that needs using up into your meal plan; update shopping list as appropriate, wash shelves etc and check running temperature - we don't want upset tummies and we need plenty of available space!
Dust dining area/room
Descale kettle if needed
Clean WM, TD and DW filters; remove WM detergent drawer and wash it out.
Wipe inside of washer drawer and DW door paying particular attention to manky crevices.  Wipe WM seal all the way round
Check Christmas tableware is clean and accessible 

Level 3

Sweep/mop/vacuum floor
Clean windows and sills in both rooms.

EXTRAS

HHI
S&S bathroom
Wipe all the handles/sockets switches 
Check all hand delivered cards are ready if they've not yet gone; check last posting dates and post!
Check when your GP and local pharmacy are open - get those meds ordered!
Vacuum up pine needles if you've a real tree - and water it!  
Check school calendars for events.
Remind Flykids to bring PE/Sports kits home then it can be checked for fit and washed and stashed safely ready for the new term!

Terrific Tuesday kids room/spare room/guest room (hollow laughter)
level 1

Strip bed (unless is guest room and is made up in which case just shake bedcover to remove dust)
open window
leave bed to air
remove rubbish

Level 2

Clear and clean floor
Clean windows
Check lights work

Level 3

Dust all round
I have heard that it’s a good idea to road test guest rooms… ie sleep in there!

Extras

S&S kitchen
S&S bathroom
top up flower water (assuming you have cut flowers) and check 🌲 
HHI
Make sure anything needed for xmas table is clean and ready - cloths, napkins, runners.  Get the silver polished and the epergne washed!

Wonderful Wednesday 

 The Boudoir do level 1 at least - everyone deserves a comfy bed

level 1

open windows
strip bed
clear floordrobe and chairdrobe
empty bin

level 2
make bed with fresh bedding
clean bedside tables
vacuum/sweep/mop floor

level 3
clean windows
dust all round
Use a damp cloth to wipe lotions and potions - and fling anyting OOD/past it's best

extras
S&S bathroom
S&S kitchen
Bin bag dance...fling that gibble

Thursday 

Living room, hall, stairs and landing

Level 1

Open lots of windows and let that fresh air in while beds are airing
Deal with cut flowers, real trees and pot plants - top up water/wipe leaves/remove drooping or dead blooms
Wash out vases if flowers are flung into compost bin
Empty bins/ashtrays
Clear gibble
Plump and straighten cushions
Wipe sofas with leather wipes or vacuum - look for all those dust-catching crevices.  Lift seat cushions if you can and vacuum underneath
Wipe/dust coffee tables and leave tidy
Sort newspapers/magazines 

Level 2

Clean windows and mirrors 
Vacuum floors - and use an edging tool to get into all the nooks and crannies - and stairs!
Move furniture to vacuum under it if you can.
Clean doormats

Level 3

Dust all round - don't forget sills, skirting boards, tops of curtain rails and/or battens and top and frame of door.
Wipe door handles, banisters, light switches and sockets - and the bits of the door where people hold to open/close it.
Check for cobwebs and eliminate!
Clean lightshades and lampshades; check all lighting is functioning as it should - vacuum fabric shades; wash glass shades 
Wipe lightbulbs (if cold)
Dust pictures/paintings on walls - and dust behind them too!
Stand in the doorway and look back into the room - is it clean and ready for the big guy?

Extras

S&s kitchen
s&s bathroom
HHI
and some self care...crafting, reading, a bubbly bath or even a nanny nap! 

Friday Flourish Bathrooms, cloakrooms en suites

Level 1

The washbasin
open window
remove all gubbins around it
scrub out
ckean and polish taps
clean plug, chain etc
wipe mirrors
clean pedestal/cupboard

level 2 
The loo
scrub inside and out
wipe cistern
wipe loo roll holder
dust sill and clean window

level 3
Friday Flourish Bathrooms, cloakrooms en suites

Level 1

The washbasin
open window
remove all gubbins around it
scrub out
ckean and polish taps
clean plug, chain etc
wipe mirrors
clean pedestal/cupboard

level 2 
The loo
scrub inside and out
wipe cistern
wipe loo roll holder
dust sill and clean window

level 3
clean Bath/shower
wash curtain or wipe and shine screen
clean taps or showerhead
clean and clear drain
wipe towel rail
replace towels
clean floor

extras HHI
wash curtain or wipe and shine screen
clean taps or showerhead
clean and clear drain
wipe towel rail
replace towels
clean floor

Narc0lepsy

Still running to catch up, but thanks for the lists even if I'm wildly off piste.
We had a nice overnight stay with friends yesterday for their Xmas party; less than 24hrs away and it felt like a real break.
Tree is decorated but a few more decs will be put up tomorrow.
My usual floral/foliage star for the front door has been assembled/arranged and put up outside.
Tomorrow after Zumba (only 1 tomorrow) and copious list-writing, Mr N and I are going food shopping for a) food for this week b) food to ensure I have enough ingredients to make the Christmas pudding and the nut loaf when we are in Dorset next week as that's my contribution to the dinner with BIL c) food for 2 charity boxes which our friend the Waterways Chaplain delivers - general Christmas treats they can share.
Then I need to write another diary/list to make sure I know what is going on this week.

Valli

today i’ve cleaned my bedroom, s&s kitchen, ironed.
took mums tablets up…she gets 4 trays every 4 weeks and we take 1 up on Sunday.  She’s totally confused by xmas cards and is writing her greeting to the sender in cards she received.  Her handwriting is deteriorating too.  It was very upsetting, she thinks she needs to send these cards.  It’s an awful illness.  She’s not my mum any more now, just a frail and frightened person who cannot cope with anything.

roundtuit

Morning all xx 

Hugs to Valli xx

Thank you to Valli and Natty for keeping the thread running 😘

Yesterday was 'present wrapping day' - all done except for DS's  and DDil's. Thank you to Fayolle for being my present-wrapping buddy 😊

The Young Farmers Tractor Run went by at 4.15 pm ish. Around 100 tractors all decked out in their Christmas finery; some with extremely loud horns; some with extremely loud musical horns - I recognised Baby Shark and Barbie Girl. Great fun. My cheeks hurt from smiling. And I've never waved so much in my life. Then a catch up with my NN from across the road who had joined me at my gate to watch. She's just back from a trip to New York. And I have a new target for 2025 (ooops accidentally put 2035! Freudian slip? 🤣🤣): alongside my weight loss journey I intend to work on the house aka fly!!! so that next Christmas I can invite said NN in for a coffee after the tractor spectacle. She is very nice but a bit headmistressy and no way was I letting her in yesterday 😱😳 

Despite all my years on the flylady journey I still have CHAOS. Time to move on...

Today? I'm up, made my bed, taken my meds, turned over the calendars, completed Strands with an absurd amount of hints, unlike yesterday when I didn't need any, got weighed (half a pound on - hibernation mode that half a pound is getting a complex: on, off, on, off 🤣) and supped a brew.

Brunch with L at the posh farm shop cafe at 9.45. Her Christmas and birthday presents are wrapped and ready to go. Call to see P & S afterwards. A couple of Christmas cards to drop off on the way home.

Todailies 
Shower 
Get dressed 
Feed the birds 
Put out the recycling 
WUDUPA 
Change towels in bathroom 
Wash towels and tea towels 

Wrap presents 

Just shortbread to buy and wrap for DB as he mentioned he eats it again now. And that's me ready. I'm too organised. I must have forgotten something. 🤔. 

I've even got my Christmas visits / drops arranged. H on 22nd pm. Pops on 23rd. DB and family after work on 24th....Christmas starts here 🥳. Lunch with DS and DDil on 25th. Just need to ask P & S if I'm OK to pop in on the morning of 25th. Will try to squeeze in a quick visit to Pops that morning too. Babs is there so he won't be on his own but I do like to Ho Ho Ho on Christmas morning 🤶.

Don't need Christmas food as there's only me and I'd eat it if it was here. I'll take DS and DDil out for a meal for DS's birthday (30th). 

Work on 24th and 27th. Mustn't forget that 🤣. Skeleton crew manning the phones. 

Sorry. It turned into an essay. 🤭

Have a good week.
Rxx

Fayolle

Thank you for the lists - wildly off piste doesn’t even start to summarise my flying at the moment, Narc0! 

Good inroads made into the wrapping pile yesterday - thank you Round 😊. I have a tin of shortbread you can have, if it’s any use.  My throwing aim might be a bit rubbish to get it up to you though…
Thank you, HB. That summarises my hopes perfectly. This site has been a major factor in my believing that this can work. And if it doesn’t, then I will deal with it then.
It’s a busy day today, as we have to get DD to 2 hospital appointments at 2 hospitals. Thankfully both in the same city. Small mercies.
Right, I had better get a wiggle on. Wm is loaded for when we get back. Positive vibes for today most welcome if there are any to spare.
Have a good day all x

Valli

morning all

completely defeated by connections and strands but wordled in 3

WM and TD x 1

work today, see you later

MinnieMousesMummy

Morning all. I overslept this morning so not a good start to the day but it can only get better. 

My list for today
Go into uni and do exam (2 left to go for now)
Wash up dishes, dry and put away
Clear the dining table as currently covered in a load of papers etc. 
Take the dog for a long walk. 
Wipe down the kitchen worktops
Clean out a cupboard and put the festive goodies in it. 
Sort through the festive presents and update the list to see what is still needed whilst also checking the batteries required.
Check Christmas tableware is clean and accessible.
Sweep/mop/vacuum kitchen floor (needed to order a new mop, so the floor is swept but can't mop it at the moment, would appear mice have liked it since I last used it)
Clean windows and sills in the kitchen
HHI
Make a start on organising the diary for January. 

I think that's everything I need to do today. I hope everyone has a lovely Monday. 

Honey_Bear

Completely defeated by Strands and Connections, Wordle in 5. 

First load pegged out, second load twirling.  Cards finished and Belovéd will drop them into the postbox on his way to the bank.  Progress.

sexymouse

Recyclable plastics taken to the Co-op, went for a walk around a local park to get some exercise, and then filled the car with petrol ready for work tomorrow.

Strands was really hard today - completed wordle in 6 and only one line in connections. I do find sometimes connections is more tricky when they are terms or shows or brands that are specifically American, so I'm unfamiliar with them (I realise it's an American paper).

Washing is fairly up-to-date after the weekend, so not enough for a full load of anything unless I strip DS1's bed and wash that - I may do that actually.

Kicked the morning off with an argument with my Mum, who rang me to find out where to go for DS2's Christmas performance, and then started to try and guilt-trip me about how infrequently she sees us, and saying that of course DSs will be happy to come over in a week or so to collect their money (what she's giving them for Christmas). She has a habit of making everyone feel bad whenever we do visit, and DS1 can't stand her hypocrisy, so doesn't really want anything to do with her. I'm dreading Christmas day when we have to go and see her and pretend that we're all happy and give each other presents for the sake of it. I'd rather cancel Christmas - it's a rough time of year for me anyway as DD's funeral was a week before Christmas and I associate it with that now. I only keep up the pretense for the sake of DSs. Need to channel some of my feelings into flying I guess - angry cleaning often helps me.

ionafan

roundtuit said:

I have a new target for 2025 : alongside my weight loss journey.....
... Skeleton crew manning the phones. 

 [rotfl]

Morning all.

Enormous (((hugs))) to you Valli - yes, dementia is a very cruel disease, and your mum is one of the unlucky ones, which means that your dad and the extended family are all affected by it too.  I hope you all have the very best possible Christmas this year xx

(((Hugs))) for sexymouse too xx

Love and posivibes to you and your DD, Fayolle xx

The morning started off sunny and bright. If I could have hung the washing out, I would have, but physically that's beyond me now.  TD and airers it is, then.
 
So far this morning I have
- completed Wordle in 3 but am stumped by the other two - after one hint, I know what I'm looking for in Strands but don't know any suitable words!
- done the finance check
- rung the GP surgery, hung on for 15 minutes, told them I wanted somebody to join up the dots, and was offered a phone consultation with the doctor on call
- wiggled the water inlet contraption in the upstairs toilet cistern so that it switches itself off when full (but this is only a temporary solution and I will still have to ask DS1 to fit a replacement)
- eaten breakfast, showered and dressed
- S&S'd the kitchen
- PUPA in the LR
- titivated the Christmas Round Robin that I composed yesterday so that the words and photos all fit on one side of A4
- done a freezer meat inventory
- TD'd WMx1 and hung on airer in bathroom
- taken the phonecall from the Dr and discussed the outcome with DH - I have a new prescription for a low dose of a stronger painkiller, a referral to the physio for all joints except my bad right shoulder, a blood test to be arranged, and the prospect of a referral to Rheumatology.  At last, this Dr actually listened and joined up lots of the dots..

Rosie has just gone out for her walk with L and her pack, so I must get on with the rest of my list:
- check that I've printed out all the Christmas card labels for posting
- write the cards and add Round Robins where appropriate
- send DH to collect meds for both of us from the pharmacy and my blood test form from the surgery, and post whichever cards are ready to go
- look up dates and opening times for local NT properties with lovely Christmas decorations, for days out with K and the girls during the school holidays
- check my meal plan for the rest of this month, taking days out into account
- update my shopping list
- sort out which wheels and other bits of 3D-printed wargames vehicles belong to which body (I ordered 5 different items for DH on behalf of my DC as well as myself, to save on postage costs, but they've all been put in one bag)
- wrap some more presents
- remember to take meds at appropriate times
- ditto feed us

And it's already nearly midday - but first I need more coffee!
See you later xxx

sexymouse

So sorry for not reading the posts fully before.

Valli Dementia is horrible - my Nana lived with the disease for about 10 years I think in the end. It's really hard seeing the person you love like this, and exhausting caring for them too (no matter how much you love them).

Fayolle sending positive vibes your way for DD.

Narc0 I'm pleased you and DH had a lovely break away - good luck with the food shopping.

Round we also had a charity tractor run for the air ambulance here yesterday - I'd completely forgotten it was on until I heard the horns beeping - we live near to one of the main roads, so watched the last few through our window.

Happy flying MMM.

Thank you for my hug iona - I hope the dr manages to help and the medication eases some of your pain.

DS1s bedding in the WM.