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!

Good morning

Today is DAY 11, and the baby-step is:

about consolidation/indoctrination

possibly one to read and ignore - personally strong coffee with toast and jam are my inspirations this morning!

No zones or missions because it is the weekend, more specifically, in Fat Fairy language it is Family Fun Day today.

More indoctrination reminders: here

Have a great weekend everyone!

Hello MissBennett - hats off to you for making progress - and I'm glad your boss has seen the light. And bravo to your musical offspring too for making supper.

No probs OuchPassVodka - glad your migraine is better and thanks for letting me know about the name change this time - I was half asleep when I first posted this am and about to issue standard "warm welcome" to newcomer!

[SC brews coffee and tea and lays out a selection of croissants and fruit for everyone to share]

OOh SC croissants and fruit! How lovely! Just the thing. :)

You know those times when you go to bed feeling fine, then wake up feeling really crappy? For no apparent reason? Well today is starting like that. For no apparent reason :( So I'm pulling myself round with a coffee and then I'll go off to fat club. Not doing very well with it at the mo but keeping on stops me piling it all back on. At least that's the plan!

Have taken DD1 to work in my pjs and taking DD2 shopping later. So will have chill out day and see if I feel more like it.

Right, enough wittering from me. Better get dressed. Have a lovely weekend everyone. Be back later.........:)

Good morning,

Having a feeling sorry for me morning hoping it will wear off by this afternoon. Nothing important just tiredness and loneliness!! [kick up bum emotion]

As a result I have
S/s
Dw/wm
S/s
Moved significant proportion of ds toys up to new room.
Cleaned kitchen
Got dc and me dressed.
Hoovered ds bedroom floor
Put gammon joint in slow cooker
Wrapped some birthday presents
Searched high and low for ben
10 wrapping paper!!

No list for this afternoon but ds wants mr too bake muffins with him.

Hope you all have lovely day

It's very quiet here today. I hope youare all heeding the FF's advice and have family days.

Nettie and MissB hope you are feeling a bit better now.

Unfortunately housey stuff can't stop at the weekend here - it's my main chance to get things done so I shall post a list:

done
stripped beds
bedding in wash
kitchen tidy

to do
schoolwork
make beds with fresh stuff
hang wet laundry, sort dry stuff

Someone please tell me to do my ironing. It's not going away and DH needs 5 shirts for next week at the minimum.

Oh...and then there's the spare room.

Like you both MissB and Nettie - if it's any consolation - I felt a bit in the doldrums too this morning although better now.

Absolutely glorious day outside - 23°c - but am stuck indoors because of dd's streaming cold and cough. She can't even be persuaded to play on terrace . Dh away and baby-sitter otherwise engaged, nearest friend in UK for w/e, so cannot even get out for a 5 min walk on my own which would make all the difference.... . One of the worst aspects of expat life is having no one to fall back on when dd is ill (although I'm sure that applies to many parents in UK too now families so scattered) Anyway, this is my 2nd day of being stuck indoors (and on Fri only went to office and back) so I'm going slightly bonkers (well, more bonkers than usual ) so .... as Nettie says ....kick up bum required!!

Decided to make crab apple jelly (finally). Doing fruit prep, simmering, jam-jar washing, straining bit today and sterilising, jellying and jarring bit tomorrow.

At least w/e won't be entirely wasted .

Very quiet on here - I hope that means everyone is out profiting from a lovely Indian summer day!!

x posts Pluto

How about YOUR family day???

Good luck with your list - IRON FIVE SHIRTS ONLY - and then ring-fence some time for yourself. You need it. Spare room can wait!

MissB and Nettie - sorry you both feel lousy. Can I join the feeling lousy gang? Went to bed too late. Woke up with cold sore this morning(second in two weeks) and pains in face (from the cold sore virus). I get cold sores regularly and I am so fed up with them. Think I need to improve my diet and get more sleep. Family party tomorrow - just hope I can keep cold sore at bay with Aciclovir tablets, otherwise I'll look a right mess. No energy today, so have done bare minimum in house this morning and an awful lot of surfing online. DH has gone out to meet old chums for the day; DC and I are still in our PJs .I am practising benign neglect towards DC this morning - they seem happy enough so far.

Aims today are very small:

morning routine mostly done
s/s
apply for new credit card with 0% balance transfer done
washing on done
tumbledry as it's raining done
put washing away
make lunch
make soup with DS2 (he likes helping)
spend 15 mins (or more?) tidying our bedroom
iron clothes for family do tomorrow
PM and eve routines
Dinner
Open bottle of wine

SC thanks for the links. The Fat Fairy designates today Family Fun Day, eh? We have no money in the bank and it's raining outside, so our Fun Day will have to be home-based and free. Luckily small children don't care and maybe I can persude DS1 to read a book for a change or even do his homework . DS2 will be more than happy if I make soup with him. Might even make playdough (he asked me to do that with him yesterday).

Hope everyone's day improves.

toffee hope family party goes well tomorrow and your cold sore is a bit better for it too
missb sorry your not feeling too perky this morning. Hope you got on ok at fat club. I haven't been to mine for ages well done for keeping going.
sc another one feeling it! Nothing worse than being stuck in doors. Hope dd feeling better soon. Although not an expat I don't have any family here apart from pil and dh and pil are on holiday! Which means dh is working almost back to back till they come back hence my moroseness!!
Pluto agree with sc iron 5 shirts and have some family time.

Have made fairy cakes as had no plain flour for muffins [rubbish mum emotion]
supposed to be going to a family gig in the park and feeling really guilty cos I don't want to go anywhere weather pants but i know my dcs would love it! As it is family day a la fat lady I really ought to!!

Feeling bit better than earlier just need to sort out mess made by dcs who were neglected this morning

hope you all have a better afternoon.

Am I too late for coffee and croissants? I'm having a weekend off flying as we're at my ILs, but at least it's well deserved for once - I think last week was the first time ever that I managed to get the decluttering and missions done every day .

My evening didn't go entirely to plan yesterday, as DS had a very nasty cough when I picked him up from his friend's - it got worse and worse, and was making him sick. DH took him to the paediatric department at the hospital, where laryngitis was diagnosed. Fortunately he's much better today so we were able to come to my ILs as planned (though DH's niece is not too happy about it, as apparently laryngitis is "highly infectious" - DH did check with the doctor, who said that the DDs might catch a mild form but that it mainly affected children of DS's age; niece wandered off muttering something about even a mild form not being much fun).

Sorry to hear a few of you are not having the best of days. I do empathise with you SC - I really wish my family were a bit closer, particularly when the DC or (especially) I are ill. For some reason, I always seem to get ill whenever DH is away on business at the weekend (not v. often, fortunately). I do have ILs here, but they are several hours away, elderly and not in the best of health so can't really be of any practical help.

Hope everyone is starting to have a better day; plenty of apple cake and coffee here for anyone who would like some.

Afternoon all

toffee hope your cold sore improves, my sister uses those clear patch things, which she says help.
SC oh no poor dd and you :( hope she feels better tomorrow and you can get out briefly.
missb hope you feel better too.
Nettie fairy cakes sound lovely :)

I'm feeling much better today, have done my morning routine and been out to buy a new toilet seat, about to attempt to fix it, well after the f1. I have bought a folder etc to start my control journal . Not a lot else planned for today.

I am not having a good day. first my main laptop died. truely truely fatal :( and then my car is broken. It broke in such a way as to be scarey, and i was very grateful to the copper who happened to be behind me and stopped the traffic. Thankfully no-one was hurt and my lovely mechanic can squeeze a check in early this week so i can hopefully have my car back for the weekend. still am very :( about losing my car. means no training this week :(

Today's list
Ring ds' cousin
go to Jodrell bank done
finish bday present to be made
and i seem to have arranged a date that was not intended so going to have to figure out whether i want to keep it or cancel it no idea how that happened either.

Toffee poor you - you sound a bit run down - 'tis good you are taking it steady and am certain dc will benefit from a spot of benign neglect today ...home made soup and play dough doesn't exactly sound like neglect though to me!... Hope your day got better!

Glad you are feeling a bit better Nettie - I think we are all operating on "good enough" parenting today - absolutely no guilt allowed! Sometimes, you just need to do what you need to do to get through the day (if that makes sense). Fairy cakes are good - NOT rubbish at ALL partic. considering how you are feeling.

Whey-hey ..."I think last week was the first time ever that I managed to get the decluttering and missions done every day " WELL DONE Linzer Brilliantly done!!
Actually, I do agree it's almost worse when I am ill - and ditto - if it happens, it is when dh is travelling.
Apple cake just the ticket today thank you - hope your ds continues to improve and that you continue to have a well-deserved rest!

Thanks Boblob - it's been such a glorious day weather-wise here that I couldn't remain miserable ...and dd has fortunately played very well for a good hour or so with her Playmobil stable .. so am feeling altogether less tied down. Good to hear YOU are on the mend!! More power to your spanner ...

Oh no OuchpassVodka - that sounds awful [passes the vodka in "reality"] Actually I think hot, sweet tea would be more appropriate as a car breaking down on you suddenly like that can give you a bit of a shock. It's good to know you weren't hurt though. Sorry to hear about your laptop too .

Your unintentional dates sounds very intriguing indeed .... let us know what you decide.....

I have done precisely NO flying today other than basic routines and a spot of washing. Crab apple jelly on its way though.

See you later ...

Thanks for all your good wishes. Think I must be a bit run down, yes. But cold sore still being kept at bay by pills and have taken Paracetamol to stop the pain, so not doing too badly and might actually look presentable tomorrow.

DS2 was not interested in making soup (and, thankfully, forgot about the playdough), but very enthusiastic about making honey and banana muffins. We added chocolate drops too, then ate the cakes accompanied by hot chocolate (made from a packet I'd bought in France). Lovely.

I sat with DS1 whilst he struggled through his Kumon maths, but now both DC are watching 'Thunderbirds' whilst I have a break upstairs. Oh, the joys of DVDs.

.

Ah - no, they have just had an argument and DS2 stormed upstairs. Hopefully, he's going to play in his room for a bit and not disturb me .

List looks like this:

morning routine - done
s/s - done
apply for new credit card with 0% balance transfer - done
washing on - done
tumbledry as it's raining - done
second wash on - done
put washing away
make lunch - done
make soup muffins with DS2 (he likes helping)- done
spend 15 mins (or more?) tidying our bedroom
iron clothes for family do tomorrow
PM and eve routines
Dinner
Open bottle of wine

Back later...

PS: Ouchpass - I think you win the award for the worst day so far. So sorry to hear about your computer and your car .

Oh no ouchpass that's really really rubbish

I'm really glad your dd has perked up stillcounting it's hard when dc are ill.

Oooh toffee those cakes sound delicious, have you got a recipe? I have some very spotty bananas and ds wants packed lunch next week. My ds loves Thunderbirds too,

I fixed the new toilet seat hurrah and cleaned and washed my car, oh and took some more glass to the bottlebank, have a pile of stuff to take to the tip tomorrow.

Toffee and Bob well done for soldiering on through the day

DD seems to have perked up a bit (well, she ate her supper which is a good sign) and is (hopefully) asleep now so I'm off to monopolise the remote control in solitary splendour

Hope to see you all in the morning but in case I don't ....
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The baby-step for Sunday (day 12) is: here and basically a free pass as it's about deleting Fat Fairy e-mails

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Have a good Sunday every one!

5 work shirts for DH ironed DONE :o :o

Def time to chillax now. :)

evening.
Feeling much better now. Got over shock of incident. Netbook working, internet connection fixed and yipee. can mn from the comfort of bed again
as for the list done everything for except the bday present and just cut the pieces so waiting for the ironing to heat up. then it is a case of ironing, sewing, ironing, pinning, cutting, sewing, etc I hope to get at least that far tonight as it has to be finished by lunchtime tomo and really dont want to be up all night to do that.

Pluto - defintely time to relax.
SC - glad dd seems a bit better.
Bob and Toffee you both seem to have had productive days, well done.
Very of nettie and toffee's baking.
Hope all that are illing feel better soon. And that everyone has a good day tomorrow.

Right must iron and sew good job i enjoy it. just dont like rush jobs.

The date that wasnt planned. Was texting a mate about training sessions and training etc. seems that sometimes blokey mates have alterior motives and it didnt click until arrangements had been made I can be pretty oblivous but even for me this takes the . Still in too minds about it but being car-less and stuck in the back and beyond with no evening public transport it does mean that i can buy some time.

Morning, dd had other ideas about my lie-in ...a good sign that she is on the mend I suppose [yawn]

Today's baby-step, no 12, is not really worthy of repetition and can be ignored - it's about deleting Flylady e-mails

No zones or missions today because it is the weekend, next week we will be in the bathroom plus one other room. Tomorrow is the day for the "home blessing hour"- I forget the alternative name someone on here gave it which is much preferable.

Today is "renew your spirit day" in Fat Fairy lingo and here are the reminders We are meant to do a 5-min room rescue and find lost library books.

Off for intravenous caffeine ...hope everyone has a relaxing Sunday

Morning stillcounting have a lovely Sunday too, gkad dd is more perky

I'm going to

-Morning routines
-Take umpteen bags to the tip
-Get all school stuff ready for ds and dd
-5 minute room rescue (does it matter which room?)
-Dinner
-Evening routines

Thanks Bob - you too. Hope you get everything on your list done today and feel free to wibble freely on here tomorrow!

Well done Pluto - more chilling today pls!

OuchPassVodka - glad you are back on-line and feeling better. Hope you weren't sewing all night (I used to do that fairly frequently but am too old now ) Training as in 'keep fit, six-pack' sort of training do you mean? This bloke might be worth investigating ???

Right, it's tipping down this morning (no riding) so may as well concentrate on getting as many chores out of the way as poss now, prior to dh's return tonight:

Today:
Morning routine including s&s, dw on, wm on, done
Tidy up sitting room, office and master bedroom which have suddenly got messy again [sigh]
Polish shoes
Make sure school uniform ironed and ready
Change beds
Continue with laundry
Finish crap apple preserves
Put very last remaining bits of party stuff away
Recycling
Make mini quiches and tarts

Have a relaxing Sunday everyone ...

Good morning,

Hope everyone is feeling better today. We're still at my ILs; the DDs have just done their homework so are now being allowed to watch some TV (quite a treat for them as my ILs have about 20 times more channels than we do, including a couple of children's channels). We had a lovely meal out last night, which was free to boot (at the restaurant whose website I translated).

I did wonder briefly about doing a swish & swipe this morning (DH's old bathroom only gets used when we're here) but decided I need a microfibre cloth here so have postponed it until our next visit.

Glad to hear that your DD is on the mend SC, even if it did put paid to your lie-in. DS seems to be back to his normal boisterous self, so I should be able to send him to kindergarten tomorrow .

Ouch Glad your Internet connection has been sorted out (I'd be lost without it); hope you get your car back soon (ditto).

It's lovely and sunny here this morning, so we're going to turn the TV off now and take the DC out for a walk (which will naturally also include a caffeine stop).

Morning all!

My alternative to the soppy, slightly vomit-inducing 'blessing' was the 'weekly overhaul' as it sounds much more industrial and describes what is needed much more accurately

Yesterday did not go to plan as friend who is having an awful time with her H turned up in tears with her 3 DC at 8am and were here until he had been removed from the house about 12 hours later! All the DC had a lovely time playing together whilst I made a vat of chutney and did a lot of listening.
Sadly removal is only temporary at moment so I anticipate a horrendously difficult few weeks (or months) ahead for her :(

Today is Car Boot Sale at school, weather is glorious and I have already taken 2 more bookings this morning. Here's hoping for a good turn-out and bacon butties for lunch :)
Need to get cracking so quick list:

• DC fed and dressed
• As much of morning routine as I can
• Make Potato Dauphanoise for dinner and remember to take gammon out of freezer!
• Car Boot sale with assorted posters, fliers, walkie-talkies, etc
• Home for collapse then easy dinner (with left-over blackberry and apple crumble for pudding :))
• Evening routine (school stuff ready x 2 - eek!)
• Ironing
• Early night

Hope everyone has a good day and those that are feeling poorly/have poorly DC are feeling better

Checking in while chicken roasts and DH hangs the washing out for me. We have been to church and the park and DH took the boys swimming. Hopefully the lo will have a sleep in a minute before lunch.

Today's list:

Continue to sort laundry and do ironing.
More school work
Aim to do a bit of baking
Sunday evening routines

Good luck with the car boot Feetheart I am a bit but we really don't have enough to sell - too much decluttering earlier this year!