August's 1st Anniversary Fledgling Flyers: It's our party and we'll fly if we want to.

[elliepac]

Welcome to the August edition of the Fledgling Flyers where we are going to attempt to restore order in our houses, chatting as we go.

This month is officially our first birthday so we are celebrating sink shining and swishing and swiping in style!

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 for our birthday party, old and new, from August 1st.

Grrr iPhone wouldn't let me get to the bottom of my message.

Hope everyone who is off on holibags finishes last minute rush and has a lovely holiday. And everyone has a lovely weekend.

at all the Xmas talk. Was fly lady being silly like deck all halls with ivy and redecorate whole house?

Christmas Control Journal.

Needless to say Christmas is not like this Chez Dinky.

Well, a nice day today. While Grandma and the DCs were out I managed to clean the bathroom, tidy up a bit and do Sainsburys shop. After lunch they came home and assembled the aforementioned Gingerbread House. It looked quite good for about 30 seconds, then one of the walls slowly fell in and one side of the roof slid off! Oh well.

Had our chicken cooked in the slow cooker, it was very nice, 6 hours on high I felt would be enough to prevent any food poisoning.

It poured with rain this afternoon, DS and I put on our wellies and went for a big splash in all the pudddles in our road which was lovely.

Better go, need to go and say goodnight to DCs.

UMmmmm Nettie, I wouldnt be too excited about the rhubarb crumble. I have picked what I thought was rhubarb, but now I'm not so sure ........
I have only ever had rhubarb from my mum efore and she has always appeared with it cut and ready for me to cook. They are huge leaves with redish green stalks, but it all feels a bit wrong for rhubarb.

I tell you what, I'll cook it and you can all try it and let me know if you are alive in the morning and whether you've had guts ache all night.... ANyone want to give it a go??

Mrs D I am totally up for the cruise. If I go on a cruise I promise to send back messages on how to get through to Christmas. All in the name of research you understand.....

All still a bit quiet here, I'm now off to inspect this suspicious plant. If I dont return in the morning you'll know life has all gone wrong!!!!!

Just had a quick look through the Christmas control journal - what on earth is a snow village? I don't think we'll be decorating our living room with one, at any rate.

I've more or less finished packing for our journey back home tomorrow, just a few last minute bits and pieces to do now. I've done quite a lot of decluttering over the last few days and have managed to get rid of quite a lot of "sentimental clutter" - I still have boxes and boxes of old letters, however. My parents can't quite believe that I've kept all their letters (they've thrown most of mine away, I think!) but I just can't bring myself to get rid of them and so am taking as many as I can back with me. I also have a huge box of letters from DH before he was DH and while we were still living in two different countries; there's v. little point having them here, but I think I'll need to take them over to Austria in stages. At least the fact that this clutter is costing me money (well, it does when I take it back to Austria with me as I need to pay for all my luggage) really makes me think about whether it's worth holding on to.

I'm looking forward to getting back into flying when I'm home again; I really need to get back on track as I've done v. little since the summer holidays started six weeks ago.

Waves to everyone; hope you're all having a good evening.

Just popping from my holiday home in to see how you all are.

Namechange - I have just started looking at the Martin Lewis website, as we are in dire straits with our finances. I used his online advice to get a refund on some bank charges recently. Any advice on coping with money problems gratefully received!

Well, it has been a rainy day here. We put on raincoats and walked to the local library to choose DVDs and books. The boys watched a children's film this afternoon, whilst I had a nap . Am in full holiday mode now. Could barely be bothered to swish and swipe this morning. However, I am doing a lot of the washing up and Mum likes the shiny sink I keep leaving her. She is interested in Flylady now and is going to look at the website. I warned her not to subscribe though.

Ooo - Christmas! I love Christmas, in sharp contrast to my DH, who hates it (Scrooge). Am very excited about a Christmas control journal. How sad am I?

Waves to you all.

Hi Linzer. Hope you have a good journey home .

Omg there is a Christmas control journal!! Thankfully I can't get into mrsd link keep getting chucked out. Probably just as well I'm gonna concentrate on getting through party season first!!

Hmmm I'll try anything as long as it's food like

Evening all

DEM ope your builders have made a good start what youhaving done anyway?

PA your description sounds right re Rhubarb, hope you enjoyed a lovely gooey.crunchy rhubarb crumble - again

Linzer safe journey - what a nightmare two house to delcutter in two different countries!

Netties you seem like you've made good progress - Ocado have money off if it first delivery, you should try setting up a seperate account to get the deal see moneysavingexpert.com to get codes

Toffe start with a spreadsheet simple income/outgoing, last year (during our seperation) I went through everything very carefully I:

Cancelled SKY (we just about to get it back though)
I cancelled BT landline (still don't have one) and got a SIM only contract that inclues free unlimited calls to landlines
I switched energy providers which saved me £20 per month, plus I got Cashback
I only bought food if it was a)reduced b)on special offer c) own brand - I saved loads by shopping at Asda four days a week as and when - passing anyway.
I got free shoes for DS from fatshoesday.co.uk but this was a tip from MSE forum

Basically decluttered finances and only ate out if I had a voucher. I checked MSE forum for quick grabbit deals daily and still do.

There is so much on MSE website that you really have to do work throught bit by bit, we are currently about to do a credit card shuffle to reduce interest. This is part of a 3 year consolidation plan. If you check boots thread on there you find loads of glitches to get toys/toiletries cheap, these are good for xmas presents.

You do have to be on top of it daily though.

too at Christmas control journal - I do have a M & S perfect Christmas recipe and craft book and a Christmas planner (unused!) but arrrrgggghhhhh - my thoughts wern't that far down road

Washed done albeit at 10am
Dressed no ^I'm Flying in jamas so I dont get clothes sweaty/dirty and it creates more washing
Breakfast done
Shine Sink done ^including dishes from a take away first one in over 6months (bloody lovely!)
Washing done

Take off all books from toy storage unit done
Set aside baby books done and some toys
Dampe wipe whole of unit done
Sort out toys in correct boxes done - took bloody ages
Clean window done
Damp dust paintwork done
Hoover done
Put books back done
Put books and board games on unit done
Iron DH Shirts plus clothes for weekend no
Quick Hoover of Lounge no
Get dressed properly only for wine run to tesco express
Goto gym no
Evening Meal no, DH cooked spag bol!

All in all I am very pleased, just a few odd bags to sort.

Everyone has gone to bed here, so I have s
neaked back onto MN.

Namechange - thank you for advice re finances. We have been through our finances, but I'm aware that we still aren't on top of our outgoings. We recently changed all our utilities to Utility Warehouse though, which is a best buy from Which? and gives you cashback on purchases from certain shops. This has cut our utilities bills already, especially broadband. The trouble is, we have a lot of credit-card debts accrued during DH's year of redundancy and his new job (which is worse pay than his previous job). We are going on holiday to France regardless (it was booked months ago and we are all really looking fwd to it - first time abroad for four years!), but when we come back home we are going to tackle it. Hopefully, I will be able to start earning more money from now on because from Oct, both DC will be at school.

I don't check the Martin Lewis website daily, but from what you say I really need to start doing that.

Am very excited at the fatshoe website - I will go and have a look at that shortly. I am really worried about how on earth to afford new school shoes for the boys - it will be about £70 from Clarks for the two of them.

There is a funfair here at the weekend and I have told the boys that we can't go because we need our money for France . I'm sorry to have to deny them, but at the same time I think it's a good lesson for them to realise that we have to make choices with money and we can't just have everything we want. Instead, I'm taking them to a bouncy castle fun day at a local school, which should be much cheaper.

Since I've had my children, I worry less about money, which is just as well as we have never been so badly off before. However, so long as my children are happy and healthy and my DH and I are still together, that is the main thing that matters to me. It would be nice to get on top of our finances, but I refuse to let it get me down when we're not.

Namechange - your list today is fantastic. If there is a Progress Prize awarded on this thread, you should get it. Or maybe the Form Prize.

OK, am going to have a nice quiet browse through MN now. HOpe I'm not getting a flaming anywhere. Goodnight all.

evening - not done much. but have relaxed and in a very mischievous mood

Any how. namechange erm your a bit optomistic about builders being in. The building work is being done my father (in whoes house I am living) He is ripping the front edge off the front bay windowsil and preping for me to tile next week. Having looked at the fact that room needs painting and we have tv out of the corner, I have been voluntered to paint that corner in the same go. TBH it would be lovely to have the builders in to do the work for me but it is a fair deal. My DIY skills and input for them providing roof over mine and ds' heads. Had hoped to move out for september but that all fell through when life was falling apart. Beginning to put things back together again but not got in a position where rent can be afforded. It is a division of labour here. I do cleaning, a lot of the cooking, gardening diy etc which dad either doesnt have time to do or mum physically cant do.

Good morning ladies

Just a reading babystep for today My first thought was "Oh how cutsie", but then thought again and realised that I know I SHOULD do this, but somehow I just never stick at it and just rely on my memory, which doesnt often let me down, I must say!!
I am going to look for a mid-year diary today.

Hope your journey back goes well Linzer and you arrive home too a sparkly house. Or am I dreaming in dreamland??

Tofee Good to hear you are in full holiday mode - enjoy it, it never lasts long enough! ANd being evangelistic about the fat fairy, too! You are too lovely to be flamed on here. Let us know and we will come and throw some arrows back in support.

namechange Thanks for all the financial advice stuff. We are in desperate need of that at the moment with DH being out of work. Yesterday I went to the council office to apply for a council tax reduction benefit. WHile I was there I got a parking ticket which is going to cost £25, so not a good start. Those forms, though, are ridiculous. I am a fairly intelligent person, used to admin and paperwork and it was a nightmare!! How on earth do people cope who struggle with understanding things like that? DH is convinced that it is all set up to put people off applying - it nearly worked for me!!

DEM I notice that it was yet another not-so-early night-time again for you!! When is the early bedtime babystep?????

Sounds like you had a lovely day MrsD, Hope you are still feeling all relaxed and ready to face today.

Internet connection is playing up, so I ma going to have to stop scrolling. Apologies to those who have not got a message. I will try to catch up again later. If I dont go now I think I could lose the whole thing and the will to live .

Have a good day everyone

PA - I seem to have caused quite a debate on a thread I started (Child neglect? What would you do?). Am not sure if it qualifies as a flaming, but there are a lot of MNs who seem to be getting very cross about my question. Have a look if you like (you may disagree with me too!). It is a relief to come back to this chatty, pleasant thread after venturing out for the first time into other MN areas.

And, PA, you are quite right about all the forms applying for benefits. I really do think it's a deliberate ploy to put people off. When my DH was out of work, he had to treat the endless form-filling as his job. It was incredibly complicated and, like you, we wondered how on earth anyone less literate could possibly cope. It's disgraceful really. Hope you get it sorted soon. at the parking fine. That is so unfair.

Have just read Kelly's essay on calendars. I have one already, but I still manage to miss birthdays off it sometimes. Have just had to send a belated card to my aunt a week late.

Ok, off to have a long soak in a hot bath.

Good morning everyone, im having a day of cba!

Maybe list will motivate me.

Put td on-done
Dw on-done
Take late library books back
Take new dress back defective
Canned food shopping
Tidy house
Finish decluttering dd bedroom
Put away ironed clothes
Make pasta for lunch for dc

I think that'll do! Sorry for lack of personal im finding it impossible to get on the computer somdoing it from iPhone and it's proving even more difficult since I upgraded it!'

toffee I rarely venture out into mn other threads as I was getting too caught up in aibu and just ended up feeling upset. I ask for advise and try and give advise based on my experience but what i think doesn't always help.

I'm sure there are lots of positive threads out there too and this is definately one of them!

I love it here

Morning,

Toffee - I try and stick to the non-contentious stuff such as offering information to people who have asked for it, unfortunately sometimes still get sucked in . I have deleted AIBU from my active threads page but still get sucked in by the Most Active thing. A few weeks ago I offered an opinion, which did not come across quite as I intended and got called a freak/weirdo by various people, including someone who used to be on this thread and will remain nameless, I was a bit . There seem to be some much more thick skinned people than me on MN is all I can say.

PA - sympathies re forms, have always found tax credits a nightmare because our income/and childcare costs were so variable, and consider myself numerate/literate etc.

DH has taken DCs out to get the papers, I'm supposed to be hoovering whili I have a clear run, back later.

MrsD - sorry to hear about your experience on the threads . I have only been called a twonk,so far.

Oh i have been called a lot of things on various threads and have had to get myself deleted because on what i have said about other people. I stay away from a lot of threads these days and tend to mostly stick to I'm on threads. SOmetimes I delve into the rest of mn but I find it a very good way of losing time. SO i dont tend to do that if i have any intend on doing anything.

Am enjoying the ability to escape in the evenings whilst ds is on holidays and thus dont need a baby sitter. Last night was training aka ice skating. Tonight I am going to catchup with a friend so will probably be late. but then again I can lie in so willprobably just do that. must get back to doing early starts but finding my nocternal ness is hard to resist atm. It will be easier when it is darker earlier. I am almost very busy in the summer and sluggish in the winters. Daylight makes me want to do stuff.

Today so far I have:
Dressed to shoes (well skates as have been training.
Caught up with a friend

I am about to grab a shower and get changed then start preping the paintwork for tomo when painting must be done. If I get chance I will paint the walls today. Have to finish a project off too. Then i am going out early evening to see a mn mate who lives closish.
As we can talk for england I know it is likely to be late when I get back.

Sunday will be more productive - promise. And as for Monday and tuesday - eek watch the lists. But today is my rest day. Friday and saturday are effectively my sat and sun. It just works better that way. right must go get on. Hope you all have lovely weekends. Can up soon.

sorry I seam to be repeating myself today.

DEM I didn't realise you'd been through a hard time - hope things are picking up for you now (?) and go go go re DIY, I'm pretty impressed with being able to tile, I just got a handyman to sort a quote out for me the other day, which I am then going to save up for (he busy for a while anyway!)

FINANCES aside from being seperated and paying for two residences (DH rented for a while) we have credit card debts, we have only ever paid minimum payments and were both can't believe how much money we used to waste on all sorts. We have reduced outgoings and we are set to double credit card payments which will be more than the sum total of our mortgage! I think as long as you know you keeping an eye on them (not oblivious like we were) and doing something about them then worries are lessend (sp?) - you can only do what you can do.

Here is my retrospective list

Washed done
Breakfast done by DH
Iron clothes for gym done by DH!
Dressed for gym done 'er I know but we all go every Sat.
DS to Tennis done
Cardio done
Laundry in done

Strip bed x 2 done
Launder bedding done
Rubbish from porch to tip done
Buy plant on the way back done

As DH and DS watched a DVD I went to Sainsburys and I managed to get a new pink file for my (Control Journal cept I am not calling it that) and a new pink notebook and ruler. I am going to file my bits that I've been writing down - I must say I do like the structure. Whilst at Sainsbury's I got jont of pork (half price from £8), turkey fillet, lamb steaks and sausages all for less that £10 - struck lucky there!

Other MN threads as you know I've only recently returned to MN and do find this thread friendly - however others seem to be a bit hardcore and full one, they all seem to know each other, I've posted a little bit this week but not really got into chat like on here

DH has said he will help move stuff to garage tomorrow (its detached from house to the side).

Sunday List

Washed
Dressed
Breakfast
Boxes to garage
Sort out 1/4 of garage
Take rubbish to tip from above task
Cook roast chicken for lunch
Bake banana bread

See you all tomorrow, not be on in AM

I meant that the meat I bought was reduced and I have put it all in the freezer - perfectly fine.

I am waiting to get some cheap fruit or veg reduced which I will then preserve for liquer fruits or antipasto and give these as xmas presents I have been saving jars! - Meant to do this last year but with all my bad stuff going on I never did it.

I have saved a lot in toiltries - toothpaste, deodrant and shower gel by buying from costco when their special offers are on, they work out cheaper than the asda, all branded too - It does cost to join but you can get good deals on booze too for xmas presents? HTH some-one

Evening all,

Namechange - sounds like you are doing really well turning round a difficult financial situation, I try and keep an eye on the MSE expert website too, those Boots threads are extraordinary, the lengths they go to to get some cheap bubble bath or whatever.

DEM - hope you have had a good night out.

Toffee - hope your thread calmed down.

Not much to report here, mostly stayed at home today, took a few things to the tip and went blackberrying with DD this afternoon, I foolishly went with sandals and cropped jeans on so my ankles are a bit stung and scratched, .

Good evening everyone

I got rid of my case of cba and have managed quite a lot.

Swept living room/ dining room/ conservatory floor
Put all ironing away
Attended birthday party
Visited pil
Put td on-done-done
Dw on-done-done
Take late library books back-nope
Take new dress back defective-done
Canned food shopping-kinda
Tidy house-not really
Finish decluttering dd bedroom-almost
Put away ironed clothes
Make pasta for lunch for dc-done
Trying tonipdate iPod
Done some invites to dd:ds joint birthday party

Grrr the moofie monsters stuffed my post

mrsd ah thanks for heads up sensible footwear a must as blackberry picking planned for tomorrow afternoon! (am inmad to take ds 3 and dd 22m?)
namechange wow on your finances overhaul! I try and pay attention to old Martin but mostly he just confuses mr
dem glad you making the most of your you time and gettingbout and having fun whilst ds is away. Enjoy you deserve it!

Good morning ladies

babystep for today - MAKE THE BED! Have to admit this is one that I do without even thinking about it and it really bugs me if DH gets out of bed after me and I have to come home and go straight upstairs to do it. (DH would NEVER do this, just doesnt even register on his radar )

Sorry I am late again this morning. Had a luxurious lay in and long shower .

Linzer hope you are home safely and the journey went smoothly. How is the house?

Nettie you are brave having a plasterer come in tomorrow. How exciting though!! They make such a mess!!!!!

Namechange - Loving all the financial stuff. DH had his own business for 10 years. It went really well for 9, then all went belly up really quickly, leaving us in a huge financial mess. We thought it would take us years and years to get out of it, but by cutting everything to the knuckle and literally counting every penny we managed to claw out of it over about 4 years. My friend is now in a worse mess than we were but just seems to not be able to knuckle down and sort it out. A bit head in the sand, but then moans relentlessly . Many evenings I sit and listen to her and try to point her in the right direction, but then she will drop in conversation "Do you like my necklace - bought it yesterday from Accessorize?" WHen I give a look she will add "Oh no, its a bargain, half price it was only £11!!!" To me no money means, no money. Not even a poundland necklace if I didnt need it!!!! Sorry, small rant there!!

MrsD Ohhhhh Blackberrying. Every year my mum would take us blackberrying and I absolutely hated it with avengence. This carried on up until a few years ago when mum became too ill to go and now I am surprised to find myself thinking that I might go myself and even, dare I say it...... looking forward to it!!

Hope you had a good evening out DEM.

Toffee - I ahd a quick look at your thread, but it had all gone a bit quiet. Dont people get heated up? I tend to read far more than I post on here and smile to myself when I see someone really going for it against a poor innocent question from a newbie

PA Thanks for looking at my thread. I think the last post sums it up really - how sad it is that what should have been a healthy debate was marred by "attacks on other posters" and "prickliness and aggression". I thought it was extraordinary when someone, knowing nothing about me, accused me of judging people on benefits and struggling - err, I have just come off benefits myself and am still struggling, thanks .

You are so right about the financial stuff. There seem to be several of us on this thread who are doing financial overhauls, as well as house ones. DH had to take a job on a lower salary after he lost his job the year before last, so it has been a constant struggle, and we have to count every penny. But it is not a bad lesson for the boys to learn that money is not necessarily easily come by and they must spend it wisely.

Have been helping Mum with her cleaning. Decluttered the boys' bedroom yesterday and cleaned her blinds.

DS2 is whining, so I'd better go. Hope you all have a nice relaxing Sunday.