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!

Feetheart your cats sound likekillingmachines a lively bunch, still having seen a close quarters what happened to my mum's cupboards when she had no cat for a year - it was a mousefest - horrible..

Ouch business plan sounds intriguing. I often have those in middle of night. One year I thought I would have a sculpture garden full of antiquarian junk, and sell stuff off from refined premises

Nettie I think I better think it out again is one of my favourite catchphrases, especially when speeding up. Painting as well, wow!

very slow today. Have finished shirts, thus managing to push lunch forward to 1.30, so might get through this afternoon without too many snacks

bedrooms done, well abandoned, because kids are meant to make their own beds, just a bit of tweaking.

linzer hope English lesson goes well, exciting to be fully in charge though and not just an assistant. Dh spoke german this morning to dd. One sentence. I wept tears of joy, but then had to get him to break it down into words of one syllable (difficult with german) as he just said it too fast. 365 days of year, 365 phrases..that would do for now..

Hello
Quick pause as have stack of document corrections to get through whilst looking after dd who is showing signs of renewed perkiness thank heavens.

Swan has done lovely afternoon round up thankfully. I feel as though I am wading through treacle today as well ...roll on the w/e ... hope you get through your tasks...lol at abandoned bedrooms

I hope you are getting on OK PA.

Ellie - [SC speaks very slloowwwlly and delibeeeerately] um, how do I put this - are you SURE there is such a thing as Flamingoland? Now look very closely - if they are all wearing tutus and holding microfibre cloths in their beaks then might it just be another dream ....???

Seriously, hope you have a lovely day and that the bus isn't too jolty what with your tooth and all. You sound heroically cheerful considering the number of pupils on the trip!

You sound like you are on a mission today Feetheart - baking too - well done!! Hope your ds survived his school lunch! Enjoy your day at the fire station tomorrow men in uniform ....sigh ....

Oooh Nettie your day looks a bit frantic - hope you survive it and have a lovely evening with friends tonight. Think of waking up tomorrow with a lovely clean house!

Ouch congrats on turning off the computer - hope your head clears and you can have a relaxing w/e

Well Linzer if your list today denotes "lagging" then pls may I "lag" with you? If its any consolation, I'm all at sea too with dd being off school again so soon...going to have to catch up over w/e. You've done very well though if this is the first morning you haven't managed to finish your routine before early lunch time school run so I think you are being incredibly hard on yourself as you've achieved a lot this week (This applies to you and your routine this morning Ellie as well!!) Enjoy your photovoltaic plant trip [SC trys to appear as if she understands what it is ]

Oh and I tried to find the part in the thread about your English lesson but can't seem to locate it. Hope it went well (if its today) good luck with it, if it is coming up!

Toffee good luck with the work/childcare balance this weekend - it sounds tough for you right now. Try and find an hour for yourself if at all possible.

Massive waves to everyone I have missed...

Right back to combining inter-modal transport models with Playmobil ponies ...

pa - woke up today thinking of you - hope it goes/ is going/ went ok and you got/ get some answers. i know usually there's a bit of a wait until the consultant reviews the scan. hope they let you know quickly. look after yourself x

no time for anything else at the mo, but will be doing mission today as well as babysteps. been so busy this week that some of the babysteps are missing again but not too bad...

right, work.

Not much done today, usual washing, school runs etc. Probably won't get much done tomorrow either as DH is working all day. Oh well.

PA - been thinking of you today

SC - I though Flamingo Land was on the Isle of Wight but cannot possibly impagine that Ellie would be taking her class on a day trip that far afield.

Linzer - enjoy the photovoltaic plant.

Feetheart enjoy the firefighters firestation.

Waves to MissB, Nick, Toffee, Nettie, Bob, Swan, Ouch, anyone I have forgotten.

PA - hope it went ok today. Thinking of you.

Tried to work today. Have finally finished first chapter. Am going to drink wine with DH tonight .

Work tomorrow.

Housework is bottom of the list.

Waves to all.

Good afternoon just having a wee break and sit down.

Hectic day indeedyum
pick up dc- done
tidy entire house-done kitchen so far. Dh said wow tidy so must be good
see tumble dryer man -he took it away to strip it down and see if worth rescuing
play with DC -done
feed dc-done
don painting gear and start painting new bedroom
Routines - tomorrow
Also hung out washing
Filled in forms for next terms swimming
Sorted out some paperwork
Swept floors
Menu planned for tomorrow

Thinking painting not gonna happen tired I'd rather get house sorted then do routines keep house nice whilst next lot of painting

another weekend of parties and no husband in sight day or night

Aw well tv remote is mine

Hope you all have a lovely weekend and some good chill-out time for all!

sc lovely round up

Waves like a looney hoping that will help people forgive me for posting and running oh and leaves wine and more cheese!

no, there is a Flamingoland further north, I know someone in Yorkshire who went to some sort of flamingo place?

Ds2 said today, I just want to go to...and then he hesitated..and howled I know you just will all think its boring..Birmingham - Drayton Manor - THOMAS LAND. If only he was interested in flamingos...

swept garden
swept kitchen
ordered takeaway
took dd to singing lesson with others in tow
lots of walking
posted paperwork
not in that order
now drinking Irish coffee, a very delicious treat

dh is just watching a programme where man sits on sofa absorbed in book, and wife says, so are you just going to let this house fall down around our ears? I think point is she is deeply irritating and he is hero..will continue to watch

Nick waiting for someone else to make up their mind is v. irksome, bad enough waiting to make up one's own mind. Hope she decides soon about the job. Sure you are doing her job brilliantly.

Quick post before bed - NEED to be asleep soon as am shattered, far too many early mornings.

DS is tucked up fast asleep having survived school dinner (he got to sit beside DD and eat her chips so both were happy :)), DD and DH have arrived, pitched tent and were sitting round a brazier with lots of old friends when we spoke 2 hours ago and I have done everything on my list for, probably, the first time ever.

Not a bad day :)
Tomorrow will involve decluttering and tidying (so much easier when the main culprit - DH - isn't here!), firemen, collecting rent from flat and takeaway.

Night all

Can't keep up with the chat right now but I really am thinking of you all as you run around doing your babysteps or missions or just general drinking of kaffe or eating of bulle!

Today...
3 loads in machine and drying done
1hr 30 mins ironing done
general emptying of bins and recycling done
Golden Wedding anniversary for in-laws sorted
shopping and other general bits done
downstairs and rest of house generally respectable yes

[proud of myself emoticon]

Good evening everyone

I've blatantly ignored today's baby-step because I wanted to stay up and watch Late Review

Well done Pluto -that's brilliant going!! You sound much more on top of things this week - good for you!

You too Feetheart for your completed list

Swan the programme you describe depicts rather too accurately my nightly conversations with dh Well done getting through your busy day.

Thanks for cheese and wine Nettie ooh and I do love it when a Fledling's dh or dp NOTICES!!! Well done you!

Toffee well done for getting through first chapter and hope you have a productive day tomorrow

MrsDinky "just" doing the washing and the school runs + looking after the littlest Dinkies IS quite a bit you know! Hope you get a bit of a break tomorrow.

Nick hope work sorts itself out and don't worry about missing the odd baby-step here and there - each one of them will come around again soon enough!

I'm off to bed... wishing everyone a lovely weekend and please see next post because I quite fancy a lie-in tomorrow (dd permitting!)

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BABY-STEP NO.18 for Saturday 18 Sept. 2010

Forgive me, but I fancy a bit more shut-eye this morning so posting today's baby-step here and now it's about reading the Flylady 11 commandments and sticking to them

They are here!

To be fair to the fat fairy, every one of them is sound with the exception of no.10 - which can be a bit of a stretch! Although they say happiness is a decision and all that ....ho hum ...

No missions or zones because it is the weekend but I'll be back on here tomorrow to link the 'sneak peak for the coming' week for those of you intent on getting ahead. (I'll be playing catch-up I'm ashamed to say )

Have a good w/e Fledglings! Don't forget to try and grab some time for yourselves!

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Thank you all once again for your thoughts. Please forgive me for lack of personal thanks. You are all lovely.

MRI was ok. Not a very nice experience, but had to be done. Hey-ho!! (as SC would say!!)

Really annoyed though that I have had my appointment for Wednesday postponed til a week Tuesday, this was organised before the MRI, so it isnt because its all ok. Apparently Consultant is not in the hospital on Wednesday, but it means I have another week to wait!! .

DH home last evening, I took DD4 out to where I work for a weekend away, so was able to do a couple of hours work while i was there to save me going out there this week.
Quiet, relaxed weekend planned and making the most of having DH around.
CAnt sleep, so have been watching stupid TV and am bored, sooooooo bored!!
I'm going to get my book now.

Have a good weekend everyone and thank you all once again.

Morning everyone!

Had a good day at Flamingoland ( no sc, it was not another random dream in my crazy head, it is indeed a place in yorkshire as sr correctly said no need for the men in white coats just yet!) but it was blardy cold. Didn't go on any rides because of dodgy back but looked at some lovely animals and ate some nice food instead! Dealt with puking teenagers on the bus who had eaten too much candy floss and the truned themselves upside down on rollercoasters and was so tired that when I sat down with DS for a snuggle and a film last night I fell asleep on him!

pa glad MRI is over with. How frustrating about the Consultant appointment. I would say not to worry too much but I know how I would feel in that situation. I hope you have a lovely relaxed weekend and enjoy spending some time with DH xxxxxxxxx

Have a super busy day ahead today so need to list post:-

Tesco
Shoes for DD for wedding next w/e
Outfit for DS for wedding (why does nowhere sell nice boys clothes it's all jeans and t-shirts, grrrrr)
Pick-up DH shoes for wedding
General tidy
Morning routine
Washing
New sofa arriving (I say new, we are having my mums old suite which she has only had for a few years and is really nice, far nicer than our one and no money spent!)
Putting away
To my siser's to borrow top for hen night
Hen night tonight (only going for first part as although she is my BF, the second half is my idea of hell so I have chickened out of strippers and vodka!)

Think that will do!

SOrry for lack of personal messages, need to get on! Have a good day everyone!

Oh no PA that's just not fair having to wait. That's incredibly stressful. Is there no-one else you can talk to? Well done for getting through the MRI anyway and glad to hear you are having a relaxing weekend. Hang tough! Thinking of you x

Wishing your dd2 a very happy 15th birthday MissBennett hope she has a lovely day.

Ouch how is your bedroom coming along?

Huge waves to everyone else.

Well it's rather a nice sunny day here (albeit a bit crisp - had to put the central heating on for an hour last night).

Dh is fondling his crepe pan (no this is not a euphemism ) and dd is happily constructing a boat out of a laundry basket in order to visit mermaid shops under the sea (as you do) and I am going to try and crack on with the following so that we can have family fun day tomorrow:

Morning routine inc. dw on, wm on
Bit more than just a s&s necessary in bathroom
Empty out deep fat fryer (home made fish and chips last night)
Tidy up master bedroom (bit of a disaster area again)
Quick tidy up of sitting and play rooms
Ballet run
Stationery shop
Change beds
Recycling
MORE LAUNDRY
More ironing including uniform/dh's shirts
Tidy office (I'm so messy - I'm promoting my home office desk to officially become third in hierachy of hot spots)
Put away yesterday's washing
Quick hoover and dust of upper floors
Polish shoes
Fruit and veg shopping (usually do this on Sundays at market but car free day tomorrow)
More home office admin (trying to construct a better household budget)
A bit of 'work' work
Meal planning
Routine charts for dd
Diet and fitness chart for myself
Watch a bit of the Pope's visit on the telly
Watch docu-fiction BBC film thingy about 'special relationship' between Blair and Clinton

Hope you all have a good one!

NEXT WEEK***
Oh and if you are not catching up like me and want to get ahead, next week we will be in Zone 4: The Master Bedroom (September 20 - 24)

(Proper sneak peak on Flylady site is not showing yet. Will post when it does.)

x posts Ellie - oh I was rather hoping it was some sort of Jungian fantasy related to Fledglings ... more like Kafkaesque nightmare (the puking teenagers I mean). Hats off to you! Glad you all had a good day of it though and good luck with your list.

Do you have time to shop for ds on-line?

John Lewis might be a good bet

Might find a couple of formal outfits here:
summer stuff on sale here NOn-sale stuff a bit pricey.

Next do occasion wear for boys here

And this shop Cyrillus has a large presence over here and although not cheap, clothes are fairly classic and can vouch for good quality. French sizes though so buy larger.

Enjoy the hen night tonight!

Right, am turning off the computer for now before I get entrenched ...

Goodness me you've been busy, going to go and catch up on what I missed yesterday. I had a semi-productive day yesterday with fish and chips for tea well I had a veggie burger but it was very yummy.

Morning everyone :)

I will read the commandments, I have been working through our bedroom recently so next week will be good to consolidate it all. Keeping up with my routines over the weekend but I don't hold up much hope for anything extra.

I failed miserably in my last attempt at lemon drizzle cake feetheart which recipe do you use?

I was thinking of you yesterday PA I went into an mri machine with dd when she was tiny, it wasn't the most pleasant of experiences.

How is your dd SC?

Hope you're recovered today ellie I've helped with a few of ds' trips and always been exhausted afterwards, I admire you teachers.

Bob waves to swan nick MrsDinky Pluto Nettie and Toffee ds is demanding my attention x

The master bedroom isn't too bad...DH is better at keeping his things under control than I am. I really need to ebay some IO maternity stuff to make a bit more space but as usual it's all about finding the time. I charity shop most of my other redundant clothes but it would be nice to make a bit of money.

I have lost all my make-up - I didn't have lots but it was all nice stuff :( To cut a long story short a thief ran off with it - he was mightily fed up when he realised all he had was my lipstick and touche-eclait and not my purse :o So today I have to go make-up shopping.

Thinking of you PA

to do this weekend

school work
finish sorting laundry and ironing
shopping for make-up (I wonder if on-line is good if I know what I want?)
wait for Ocado / unpack
tidy up garden - get ready to plant some new shrubs in the next couple of weeks
make a start in the master bedroom: put summer clothes away
put things away in the loft

Pluto - Sorry about your make up. You can get good-quality, cheap make up here. Have just started buying it after reading a tip in a thread on thrift on MN and I have been really pleased with it. The company keeps the cost down by not advertising.

PA - glad the MRI is over and done with, but I'm sorry you have to wait to find out the result. Too bad.

Actually managed the Flylady recommendation of a 'date night' with DH last night. We couldn't afford to go out, so packed the DC off to bed early (they were a bit surprised, but luckily they were so tired they didn't argue), opened a bottle of wine and actually spent some 'quality time' together without DC. Lovely .

Today, I have done my swish and swipe, unloaded the DW (and reloaded it), done a load of washing and cooked tonight's meal in the slow cooker. DH has had a good go at tidying up the bedroom (so next week's missions are well timed). He has now taken DC out for the afternoon so I can catch up on work.

I must not go on MN!

Waves to Pluto, Still, Ellie and all you other busy Flyladies.

Hope you're managing to catch up Toffee date night sounds lovely :) what are you having in your slow cooker? I've got mine out again and looking for ideas.

I'm sorry Pluto that's horrible, hope you had a nice time getting new stuff, I like buying make up.

We've had a nice relaxing day as dd is snuffly, visited dp's gran for her birthday and the boys went out on their bikes, got m&s dine in for tea too

Today

-S&S done
-Make dc beds done
-Strip our bed, wash and remake done
-Hoover everywhere done
-Online shop for Tuesday done
-Menu plan for next week done
-Cleared hotspots in hall, kitchen and bedroom done

Hope everyone is having a lovely Saturday :)

Had a good day -
food shopped (although I'm meant to do that on Tuesdays...er..)
introduced ds1 to Glee Music CDS which he plays extremely loudly
checked out another ss school busroute!
took 2 kids swimming
met friend there by accident, had chat

did absolutely no housework - crumbs surround me
dh made burgers for tea
that's all!

Well, lazy day Chez Dinky...

Took DCs to their swimming lessons, after lunch we just loafed around, played on the computer, read books, did some drawing, watched rather a lot of telly, got the woodburner going.

Did order new contact lenses and a new Organised Mum calendar though, but spent FAR too long on MN.

A quick fly by as we've been out most of the day, so haven't done much flying (other than four loads of washing - thanks to DD2 this time). The visit to the photovoltaic plant was as interesting as you would imagine. Over two hours' drive to listen to an hour of speeches (accompanied by a brass band) followed by a quick wander round outside (but the DC didn't want to go on the bouncy castle or have their faces painted). DH thought it was worth it, but I don't think the DC got much out of it - and I surreptitiously got my book out halfway through the speeches.

The DC were all out at birthday parties this afternoon, so I made the most of the free time by going to the hairdresser's. I had to wait over an hour but I was determined to get my hair cut today as I couldn't put up with the state of it any longer! I am now starting to wonder whether I look haggard, as the hairdresser asked me how I was coping with day-to-day life and whether the three DC were planned! At least I was cheered up by DH saying that my new haircut makes me look much younger.

Pluto Sorry to hear about your make-up. So is Touche Eclat worth the expense? I keep wondering whether to splash out on it.

SC Lol at your DH fondling his crepe pan! Is he Belgian? I don't know much about Belgians, but it sounds like the kind of thing I can imagine a Frenchman doing.

PA How frustrating that you've got a longer wait to find out the results - it must be a relief to have the MRI out of the way, though.

Bottle of Sekt open here if anyone would like a glass, but you'll have to be quick as it's a small one.

MrsD I got a bit carried away and ordered a weekly planner, family life book and pocket life book from Organised Mum this year. This means I have to enter every appointment three times - hardly very time-efficient!