September Flying, Fledglings are trying; holiday steps were slow, back to work we go ...

[Stillcounting]

Welcome to the September 2010 Fledgling Flying thread!

This is where from the 1st of the month, we attempt to declutter and follow the 30-step wisdom of the Fat Fairy, with lots of chat and support and mutual motivation along the way. (More info available here! )

Many thanks to our previous splendiforous thread leader Ellie for guiding us through July and August and to her dynamic deputy, the one and only PA. You've both made it a lot of fun!

As usual we will be following a three-pronged approach (and don't worry - we are all at different stages):

• 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.

Together we can do it! All newcomers welcome!

OK, so it was MY holiday steps that were slow, not yours - but welcome to our new thread!!

Also, just realised that 'trying' could be misinterpreted ! Not my finest bit of poetry ever but will have to do ...!!

Ohhhhhh me first, me first!!!

Need to get my butt in gear and back to a bit of normality!!

Marking my place for tomorrow while I wait for Ocado to deliver...they are now 1 hour and 16 mins late.

I was very slow over the holiday but we cleared masses out of the garage yesterday and I'm going to attempt to work my way through the hall cupboards over the next few weeks. It looks ok from first appearances but the cupboards are a nightmare.

I've done my baby steps today and ticked a few things off my list :)

Normality.....yuck . Place duly marked.

Just marking my spot, although I am actually not here at all as I'm having a break from the Internet while we are on holiday.

We'll be back home on the 2nd, although I suspect I won't get much done until school starts on the 5th.

Must go as DH will be wondering where I've got to (although he probably suspects).

Oooohhh; lov-er-ly to see you all forming an orderly queue with mop, bucket and microfibre cloths in hand

PA first to arrive and living up to her nickname I see...

Now, now Ellie dear, chin up, shoulders back; please spit out that gum and try not to scowl or you may have to go back on shoe-lace distribution duty ...or should that be [grimace] ...?

Waves to Linzer who isn't really here ...hope you are having a good break

Bobloblaw congratulations on a v. positive start

Hello to Pluto hope there is some wine coming in that order for all of us to share ...

Woo hoo I do like a nice shiny clean thread

Like the title

Hello, hello.

Welcome back Pluto good to see you. Have noticed on another thread that Ocado are having all sorts of problems today, hope your stuff has arrived now.

afternoon.

September. Glorious september when the children go back to school

This month is more decluterring and more returning to baby steps. No trips away (with the exception of 2 days) so hopefully i will manage to stick and integrate them better.

I am going to clear the clutter. I am going to get on top of the chaos.

Nipping in to mark place for tomorrow. Have 7 children in the house (don't ask!!) so am hiding in the kitchen where I can MN dispense juice and snacks if required :)

Do have mixed feelings about return to school as I love having the time for all of us to just potter and do what we want. Will also need hand-holding when my baby DS starts 'big school' next week.
However I am looking forward to having the time to really sort this house out.

Thanks to ellie for keeping us so entertained whilst we chat Fly and to PA for excellent back-up.

See you tomorrow.

Well, I'm back from Ireland. Woohoo!!!!
I think I will need help from above to help me deal with the house, which seems to have been living life on the razzle in my absence... stand up two cats and lone husband you are responsible.

Actually I think my eyes have been opened by complete lack of THINGS in holiday cottage. Very restful, possibly a bit cold. Maybe used to keep previous occupants warm - we have had wood stove on ALL summer. Dunno what it would be like in autumn - still aim to recreate atmostphere of spartan simplicity here.

Sept to tackle AT HOME:
v. messy garden
piles of books, paper, recycling everywhere
far too many clothes but nothing to wear -- dd now wearing pair of miniscule yellow shorts and not much else, I seem to only have a nun's outfit
kitchen feels like miserable run-down kebab outlet

Also kids' voices way too loud for small London house, as they have been bellowing at each other over green fields for last few weeks..

On the upside, I've finally bought a set of Twilight trilogy to read, and am doing some belated chicklit holiday reading before term starts - these things are only possible when you aren't on holiday running around after the kids

Nice of you to say so Nettie - tried to incorporate a bit of everyone's suggestions -not sure my doggerel is quite up to it though ...

Thanks Dinky - Sept w/e dates not entirely set in stone as yet - will get back to you as soon as I know

MuckyD - never fear - you WILL declutter and triumph over chaos (if I can do it - believe me, my home was a pit - anyone can). 15 mins bursts of focused activity six days out of seven is the way to go. We're all behind you and judging from your very long list on Aug thread today, you're already on your way! Well done.

Feetheart - I know what you mean about mixed feelings - in one way I can't wait to get back to some more intellectually challenging activities (well, in my case, filing and kicking the photocopier ) on the other hand I will really, really miss the lazy, pottering, spontaneous days of summer, just me and dd together ... sniff ....

Welcome back Swan! LOL at your nun's outfit and kebab outlet!!

Having exactly the same thoughts about absence of stuff in our sitting room (having cleared it all out for dd's party last w/e) ... it just looks so much better empty but I know that bit by bit the boxes of toys + DVDS and the tv will find their way back and start cluttering up the place again. [Notes to self to do judicious bits of 'editing' of stuff while still in basement] Am with you all the way on the quest for spartan...

Can I say a tentative hello? Been babystepping since Aug 4th, and I think I'm doing pretty well so far, getting the washing up, a load a day, swish & swipe, making the bed done, but still not quite managing the decluttering every day!
However I'm quite positive about the new school year - kids have got almost everything (the name labels haven't arrived yet though!) despite the fact that they've spent most of the holiday at their dad's and with my mum!!
DH decorated the kitchen and laid new floor, which has really helped, and we now have carpet up all four and a half flights of stairs!! Even my minimal decluttering the mantelpiece has helped loads - it really is amazing how much better you feel when you see decluttered 'hot spots' and patches!
I bit the bullet and got a calendar as well, and DH, DD and even DS are looking at it!! (I do find it a bit odd that the week starts on Sunday though - anyone else?)
I'm hoping that once term starts I'll get a chance to start decluttering the bedroom as this is, by far, the worst place in our house - old chairs, tools & decorating stuff, bags of outgrown baby clothes... sigh...I live in hope!

Hello to all. I purposely did not fire up laptop today as I needed to fly....

I got up early and did the weekly blessing thingy err took me more than an hour, but it was nice to clean without clutter (bar spare room)

I was out of the house to a hair appointment but forgot it was moved to tomorrow. Continued on to the bank and tescos I didnt return until 4pm .

I am so pleased with what I achieved in August and DH keeps making nice noises - I even bought a new glade plug-in and some fresh flowers.

Wednesdays List

Washed
Dressed
Breakfast
Laundry X 1
Laundry X 2
Hair Appointment
Park play area with DS
Phone calls re direct debits
Book Dentist appt
Book Doctors appt
Ring tax credits
File post away
Be ready for friend arriving at 1pm
Gym - swimming/kids club with DS

School List
Keyring for bag done
Main Uniform done
PE T Shirt
Collect shoes from Clarks (grr)
Shoe name stickers done
Shoe smiley faces
Wash uniform
Sew in labels
Mark stuff with permenant pen
Lunch box etc done
Practice putting uniform on/off
Walk to school - dummy run

I have made no progress in getting DS into his new room, despite having his 'big boy' bed for a year - please kick me!

Be back tomorrow night so have a good day all

Good morning!

It's the 1st of the month and time to go back to basics today with ...

STEP ONE: Go shine your sink!

If you are not sure how, here is how to do it and
here is an overview of the baby-step system!

TODAY'S ZONE: entrance , front porch and dining room,
see here for all of this month's zones

And if you have already decluttered in the above zone, here is

TODAY'S MISSION:
chucking out junk mail and old catalogues

Finally, finally, September is the month for focusing on on your before bed routine and today is Wednesday so it's anti-procrastination day and don't forget your 5-min room rescue!

Hope all of the above makes sense. If you are a newcomer and need some help, don't hesitate to ask!

Have a good day everyone ...

One more thing, here's a bit of info on helping everyone get back in to the school routine; pupils and teachers alike. I haven't read it (!) so don't know how relevant it is to all of you but including just in case:

here!

A very warm welcome to Hobbitmama - sounds like you are off to a cracking start - good luck with the bedroom decluttering - am very of your stair carpets btw ...we have none ...

Well done NameChange - it is great when one's nearest and dearest actually notice all our efforts ....huge pats on the back for all the progress you made in August and good luck with your mega-list today.

See you later everyone ...and it will be quite a bit later as have reasonably busy day ahead:

AM
Morning routine including s&s, master swipe, dw + wm on
Shine my sink!
Sort more laundry
DD off to school (sniff) but no packed lunch 'cos half day
Supermarket shop
Fetch brand new car!!!!
Finish sewing project
Deliver sewing project
Tidy sitting room

PM
School run
More laundry
Sort out issue re: being billed for something I haven't received
Sewing project with dd (for dh's birthday later in week)
Tidy up office & pack away unused party ephemera
Call my godson's ma
Send card to goddaugher's ma
Cook dinner
More name tapes etc
Evening routine
Early bed!

Have a good one ....

Morning everyone.

Had a lovely afternoon yesterday. Despatched DD to Dsis's mid-afternoon and DH, DS and I headed off to a country pub for a lounge in the sun and some play for a couple of hours and then came back for food shop, pizza and DVD night with popcorn. DS and I then had a sleepover in the living room!

Today i am going to get uniform. DS and I are going into town to purchase uniform and for him to spend some of his birthday money.

List looks like this:-

Town for uniform
Washing
Morning routine
Washing away
DS to swimming (forgot last week )
Evening routine
Dinner with work buddies for a catch-up before return to work.

May I just take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support over the last 4 months while I have been leading and in particular to pa for stepping in this month whilst I was on my holibobs!

I will also say welcome to hobbitmama. Welcome to the thread! Hope you enjoy it and the clean house that ensues .

Anyway off to pay some bills .

Back later!

Forgot to say welcome back pluto, how very lovely to have you back and also welcome back to sr from her lovely holiday to Ireland!

Arggghhhh!!

NOT a good start. Wanted to do monthly invoices before DC get up and bl**dy SAGE won't let me on, grrrrrrrrrr!
DH out at meeting so I'm stuck for the moment.

Will have to find other useful things to do instead that don't make too much noise

List for today:

• Morning routine
• Water garden (forgot to do it last night as out of practice!)
• Mission though it won't take long - hall is tiny and dining room is part of kitchen and if stuff gets left on table we have no-where to eat
• Hoover hall, stairs, landing and as many bedrooms as I can
• Shops to get bits if DD can get dressed in time (HUGE strop yesterday when I called time on going out after she still wasn't ready after 75mins!!)
• Friend's house for lunch and play in her lovely big garden
• Early dinner
• Evening routine including shiny sink
• DC early to bed
• Work
• Me early to bed

Going to get going before I run out of enthusiasm :)

Have a good day everyone

Morning(ish) been up with dd since 4.30 but she's had a few seizures so I'm currently pinned to the sofa!

It's so much nicer getting up after having done the evening routine, clothes ready, surfaces in lounge and kitchen are clear, must keep it up.

I'm taking dc to Dinosaur World today which I fear is not as impressive as the name suggests!

But before that I will do

-Morning routine
-Quick hoover/dust in lounge and kitchen
-Packed lunches
-Drop stuff to friend who just had a tiny baby
-Two parcels to Post Officr
-One bag to charity shop

Once we get home

-15 minutes declutter on dining room which is a tip it's all I can face.
-Make dinner, need to decide what too
-Evening routines

That's the plan anyway. Hope everyone has a nice day x

Morning. A new day, a new month, a fresh start.

so far this morning:
lounge tidied ds unasked
sort out recycling done
dressed to shoes done
check emails, mn, facebook etc done
1st load laundry on done

List for today;
more washing
shine sink
recycling and junk to tip
sort junk patch in corridor lounge.
box dvd's up and put into storage
declutter zone 15mins hall, 15 mins porch
shine sink
sort out the chaos resulting from yesterday.

just loaded a load of pictures to fb, and put the picture of the bastard tiled windowsil onmn profile if you are curious as to what invoked such strong feelings of hatred

more washing 3rd load just going on
shine sink
recycling and junk to tip loaded into car
sort junk patch in corridor lounge.
box dvd's up and put into storage
declutter zone 15mins hall, 15 mins porch
shine sink whooops only need to do this once
sort out the chaos resulting from yesterday. plan of action now in place

I'm new to this sort of thing, but willing to read up and have a go! (when not at work, that is.....)

And would be useful even at work, as I'm in the middle of an office move, and happily clearing lots of old stuff out (with the boss away and not in the way..)