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 evening everyone

I have had a quick read through, but there's so much, forgive me if I forget something!

Swan - On the mixed schools, we didnt have that choice here really as only mixed schools here on the island. A few people I know have sent their girls to the mainland to go to single sex schools, but to be honest they ahve all come back stuck up and with.... ummm.. very loose morals, shall I say!!! No boys schools near enough on the mainland, so basically boys have no choice apart from going away to boarding school. Mixed has always been fine for mine and I have been pleased they have been mixed. Life is not segregated like that, so the sooner they learn about real life the better. Oh yes, and the worse girls are hte ones that go to a very prestigious Catholic girls school run by nuns!!! I suppose they have to have their sex education somehow, but maybe not so much practical learning may be preferred.

Bob - I hope DD gets better soon. look after yourself!!

MrsD - Another poorly!! Take care!! As for the Ben and Jerrys. ..... YUM!!!!! Their vanilla one is just gorgeous and I use that as a base for nearly everything else. I bought some coconut milk today and thought I would try a coconut one for the weekend.
Hope you feel better properly soon!

Darts - Are you watching or playing tonight? Go girl!!

Linzer - Credit to you with your "volunteering" Sounds like they are taking advantage, to me!!

Waves to MissB Ouch Toffee Nettie SC and everyone else.

I took advantage of my days off sick today and did.... errrrr..... ummm........ not a lot!!!!
I went into town determined to have a bit of shopping therapy. Stood in a bank queue for about 15 minutes to get some money out only to be told when I got to the cashier that I was in the wrong bank!! Derrrrrrr!!
Then couldnt find anything I liked anyway. Looks as if it could be a bad season for me!!

I have felt better today, but am flagging now, so another early night and a good nights sleep and I will hopefully be back to my old self tomorrow.
I plan to take DD3 for a lunch tomorrow and have a nother relaxing day.

Brain has now turned to mush and I cant remember a thing I was going to say on here, so signing off and will return tomorrow.

SC - thanks for that info. I'll cut and paste on Friday.

Bob - hope DD is feeling better soon. Ouch is right - flying is not a concern, but ill children are.

MrsD - my DS is only staying for lunchtime at the moment too and also goes full time next week.

DS2 loved his roast dinner today and especially his pudding. Childminder said he came out rubbing his tummy and beaming. Later, when I asked DS how his morning at school went, he said, "There was a bit more violence today" . (Turns out it was simply one child being a bit too rough with another).

Have not achieved very much today, although I did have a lovely time with my friend this morning. Feel like I am trying to do bits of everything - childcare, work, flying - and failing at all of it. There is just too much to do.

Will make sure I get to bed before midnight tonight and have a fresh start tomorrow.

Weary waves to SC, Ellie, PA, Bob, Linzer, MissB, Ouch, Darts, Pluto, Nettie, Swan, Feet, Still, MrsD and everyone else.

Just checking in really briefly. Marking madness here mid-week so not a lot of flying but the house is jut about together at the seams and I've got a load in the wm to hang in the spare room before I finally get to go to bed :)

Good morning Fledglings. Summer is officially over. First day of Autumn today.

Today's baby step is an important one if you are not already doing it (bathroom swish and swipe)

We are still in zone 4, working in the master bedroom, this week and

today's mission is here chucking out ancient pants and knickers

Today is errand day and the reminders are here

Got to go because dh is trying to feed dd a chocolate eclair for breakfast

Have a good day one and all

Good morning everyone

sc thanks for today's mission

List today

Morning routine
Dc nursery
Take party bags/balloons etc to clubhouse
Me work, bank recon and filing.
Shops at lunch for more tablecloth for Dd and ds party Saturday
More work
Write birthday cards
Pick dc up from nursery
Gym
Evening routine if any energy left

Hope you all have lovely day.

Thanks for that SC
Nettie i had the same thought re the mission. I think i need an entire wardrobe overhawl but want to lose weight first.

To do list:
morning routine and school run.
decluttering in zone.
Zone missions.
swish and swipe.
15 mins decluttering in hall.
School night routine

last night i chilled out and did some christmas present making. it was actually really nice and i fell asleep much earlier. So i am going to try to do the same tonight.

Plus re the business idea. i think i might goes for it and am going to do some more research and draw up a plan, and think of a name. Can only do it part time chicken who doesn't like risk so need to find a part time job. So must try to fit in 30mins work on cv/job hunt.

Morning all,

SC spot on about the autumn, yesterday was lovely warm, sunny, perfect weather, today is chucking it down with rain. So MrsD is going shopping. DS is complaing that his threadbare duvet is too cold, so off to g et a new one. Just waiting o the washing to finish so I can put it in the dryer before i go.

Feeling much better today, had a good night's sleep, sinuses have stopped aching, just a chesty cough and streaming nose to contend with!

Catch up later.

Morning all,

Played first match last night.........and sadly lost s'pose from here on the only way is up

As I am really up to the neck in work, I'll clock in later, but suffice to say morning routine done....

PS, ouch, I too need to overhaul the wardrobe, and have so far lost half a stone. Pity I need to lose 6 more to be at my best........ swimming tonight!

And I must update the nickname a little.

bugger forgot out of uniform day nned to take a change of clothes down to ds Little toad refused to get dressed this morning And i was thinking that i was doing so well with the fact that i had his uniform and everthing ready last night. :(

Good morning,

Definitely time for a coffee break here - I was up working far too late last night, but have almost finished now (just waiting for a query to be answered and then I can send the job off). I now have about 45 minutes before I need to pick up DD2 and her friend from school, although by the time I've finished my MN coffee break, it will probably be more like 15 minutes. I've emptied the DW and made the beds, but doubt I'll manage to get much more of my morning routine done - I think it's probably best abandoned.

Today's mission and all this talk of wardrobe overhauls is making me wonder whether it's too soon for another trip to M&S. DH has already mentioned going to Bratislava this weekend as he wants to check out a route that he needs to know for work next week, so I suspect we may well find ourselves there. Plus I've also found out that Tesco sells slow cookers for about a quarter of the price that it would cost me to buy one online, so if that's not a reason to go...

List for the rest of today:

Mission
15 min decluttering
Send birthday card (think I will probably have to enclose a letter now too to make up for it being belated)
Afternoon routine
Invoices x3
Pay deposit for holiday in October
Fill in bank form
Evening routine

MrsD I may have a control journal that makes me look very organised, but whether it actually gets used much is another matter. (I'll let you into a secret: I don't normally get beyond the "Morning routine" page.)

SC Thanks for the link; I've saved it to my favourites so will have a proper look at it later. Very tempted by your wine last night btw, but I had to work so just about managed to resist indulging.

PA Glad to hear you're feeling better; hope you have a lovely lunch with your DD today.

I hate it when that happens Ouch very annoying

Glad you're feeling better MrsDinky

Bathroom swish and swipe and the evening routine have made such a difference to things daily here. Lmao at the chocolate eclair SC that's my kind of breakfast.

That's hilarious Toffee I love what dc come out with, ds said year 2 was like a strange new world!

Linzer ds is 6 and is really enjoying his French lessons but I think that's largely due to the fact that his teacher taught him to say fart and bum.

Hope you're feeling ok PA coconut icecream sounds yum.

Wow busy day Nettie

Thank you for all the thoughts dd is much improved today, has infections in both ears; inner and middle ear and uper respiratory tract infection, they're just very cautious with her because of the shunt and her complexity.

Waves to Swan Pluto Darts and MissB

Oops meant to say I will be mostly cuddling dd today :) I've done my morning routine and I'm now ontop of the washing following a lot of puking from dd, just need to make stilton and broccoli soup and hoover through.

Done
stripped bed
laundry in/out
loaded dw
table wiped

ERRAND DAY!
bb when done some

ouch oh yes that happens to me - the non-uniform thingy, usually when I am being v. organised. What xmas presents are you making? Would love some pointers..usually I knit v.odd cobweb like scarfy things, not to a pattern or make cushion covers that I never quite get the zip properly into but recipients suitably kindgrateful.

quilted table clothes, quilted bag, space quilt (i think pics still on profile but not been updated ) wall hanging type thing. Hopefully going to get ds to make some bath bombs too.

must admit have been side tracked and currently making something. hope to get it started and finished in one sitting pre school run. so the pressure is on...

errandsdone
drycleaning picked up
new mop
new pillows
brisk walk

really not having a productive day
although bedroom clean enough - feeling hot all time and amzingly unmotivated

now must remember to give friend school form
and take some snacks!

pm - sort out dd's room with her again
remake ds's bed
make spinach quiche with cooked spinach and pastry
boil beetroots
PLANT BULBS!!!!!!with kids

Warning! Whinge alert! Complete pig of a day here. Owing to hideous deadline pressure, everyone in a foul mood in the office. Every bit of technology that could have gone wrong did! Then two really important documents disappeared. Courrier company saying they have "proof" of delivery. I only have docket saying they were out when they tried to deliver (not true). Signatures on both forms indecipherable. Everyone needs said docs to make deadline. Cue everyone (understandably) blaming me . In the middle of all this, school called again because dd had (supposedly) "tummy ache". Brought her back home from lunch - she more or less admitted she was trying it on bless her - took her back for start of afternoon classes and she has been foul to me all evening. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!

No flying done. Not one thing achieved other than cooking veggie pasta for supper. Someone pass the wine please!

[SC takes large swig]

Now what have you all been up to?

Swan Hope you are not going down with anything + well done re brisk walk!

Ouch Hope your day got better! I'm VERY impressed with your early present-making achievements. I am way behind with my list already ...and only 11 weeks to go before Christmas (if you leave out All Saints half-term). Argh!

Boblob your poor dd - ear infections not nice at all. Hope you both manage to get some rest. Oh and perrlease don't encourage dh with his completely inappropriate breakfast offerings here ...I have to watch him like a hawk ... he finds it very hard to say "no" to dd and she takes full advantage!

Well done Linzer on getting your work done - you are as impressively busy as ever. Enjoy your Bratislavan pant quest!

Waves to Dart better luck next match!

Good news that you are feeling better MrsDinky. Raining here too today!

Hello Nettie had similar frantic hunt through my pant drawer this morning because I am so behind with the laundry

Well done Pluto! House "just about together at seams" is EXCELLENT going with your work load. Doesn't sound as though you are getting any down time for yourself though. Hope you can rest a bit at the weekend.

Ditto to you also Toffee - no talk of failure allowed on here please!! It may feel like it at times, but you are really NOT failing, it's just that childcare and housework are not tick-off-able activities like paid work. You are achieving huge amounts every day - it's just that the same things need to be done again and again and if you wrote down every task you achieve in a day you wouldn't have time to do them!! Well done for pushing on through. Lol at your ds2 rubbing his tummy btw!

PA hope the antibiotics are kicking in and better luck next time at the shops!

Huge waves to Ellie (passing like ships in the night emoticon ) Hope your day wasn't too frantic.

I won't be back on here tonight (a) because I am in a grump and (b) because I need to do all of the tedious things on my list that I didn't get done today such as washing pants. Harrumph. Goodnight all!

SC you made me smile with your post. I hope you had reason to smile. Your round up was fab.

My day hasnt gotten much better but will have finished the topper part of the thing i have been working on. Got some hand sewing to do after that but will probably do that tomo. will see. tired today. So will be getting early night.

Friday's list:
wash bedding x2 (ds didnt tell me it was wet this morning and i forgot to check. assuming wet tomo)
Laundry
Ironing
Shop errands should have done thurs
Training.
try to get ds to speak to his father. (he has refused every night this week and the ex is beginning to think that i am trying to be awkward

It's Thursday evening so I'm back with a vengeance :o Red wine on the side, laptop on my knee and feet up on the sofa.

Homemade stilon and broccoli soup sounds complicated Boblob I saw someone making it on Come Dine With Me the other night - I bet your's is better! I also need to do a bit of a cook-up tomorrow as there are various things in the fridge that need using up.

SC What a day! Hope things improve this evening.

Tomorrow's list:

Get DS to print his hw (techno break-downs this evening)
Make something out of all the bits in the fridge and meal plan for next week.
Laundry sort and wm on a couple of times
catch up with some of the missions
pack overnight things - DH is away with the lads this weekend so I'm having Friday night with the DCs visiting my parents.
Shop for a birthday present and book theatre tickets
oh yes - and what a surprise - do some more marking!

Evening!
SC sounds grim - hope you get your pants washed. Clean pants is always reassuring
ouch I've done that before. And one day I took DD2 back to nursery the day before it opened
linzer hope you get your slow cooker at a bargain price!
PA hope you're feeling better!

Waves to mrsd toffee pluto boblob swan darts nettie and everyone else....

H still doing clearing out - some progress made I suppose I can now see the table!
Both DDs have been off school - nasty flu-y viral thing. Think DD2 now beginning to swing it but DD1 still looking rough. So DD2 will be back to school tomorrow!

I have done my swishing and swiping and tidied up the kitchen. And been swimming after work every night! Mind you, I've needed it - the boss appears to have grown horns and it's all a bit grim. And the crowning glory was when the cash point took my card It can only get better I suppose.......

Just eaten crumble which will count out the swimming and off to bed now - want to finish my book and DDs watching c* on TV

Have come back on here to apologise for earlier whinge. Now (through the rather pleasant filter of two large glasses of red) it all seems rather trivial but thanks for encouragement everyone. And yes MissBennett the world now seems like a much more cheery place with the prospect of clean pants in the morning !!

It all sounds (properly) stressful at home and work for you at the moment MissB. Boss sounds awful. Swimming every night is truly impressive with all of that going on. Well done on the swishing and swiping front too. Hope both the dds feel better soon and that you get a replacement card without too much hassle. Sometimes it never rains but it pours ....

Congratulations on making it through another week Pluto hope you have a very relaxing - and well deserved - weekend away.

Thanks, yes, have loads to smile about Ouch. Was just having a 'feeling sorry for myself' moment. Nothing that alcohol and a sharp self-administered kick up the rear can't fix! Well done with the sewing and sleep well!

Waves to everyone ...g'night.

Hi everyone

Arrived back from camping holiday yesterday evening (DS and me), and seem to have got very little done today.

DH had done one (yes, one) lot of washing up while we were away (since last Wednesday), so you can imagine the state of the sink and counters! Grocery shopping had not happened, so after I had put DS to bed, and DH had come home from work, I had to go out shopping. Plus, the washing machine broke down the day before we left, so there is a mountain of dirty clothes in the bathroom (and a washing machine which has been pulled out for a good coat of looking at, in the middle of the kitchen). DH decided it would be a good time to tile behind the Aga while we were away, so turned it off, but unfortunately did not have time to do the tiling, so I am without my main cooking and clothe airing source and will be until the tiling happens (hopefully this weekend.) And we had to strike the tent wet, and its been raining here today, so I still have a tent to dry out.

Today has seemed to be a mass of washing up, finding the surfaces in the kitchen, hand washing, and emptying bags etc. DS went to playgroup today, but wasn't too keen on the idea. Tomorrow we are going to MIL's memorial service, so I'm off now to sort out clothes for that.

Winge and whine over. Will hopefully be in a better mood next time I'm here. Oh, by the way, we had a lovely camping holiday in the Forest of Dean.

Oh lordy Ihatecobwebs - I'm feeling properly embarrassed now !! That sounds AWFUL..!!!! Poor you!! The washing up is bad enough. Heart sank when I read about shopping, then it sank further re washing machine and oh no, could it be any worse ... the tiling .....!!! Poor you! Can't even wish you a better day tomorrow. Very sorry to hear about you mil and hope the ceremony goes as well as these things can.

At least the holiday was good!! x

Right, really am going to stop Mnsnetting bed now ...

Still - what an awful day. Glad the wine helped. Loved your round-up. Good point made - and taken - about childcare and housework.
Ihatecobwebs - sorry about your horrendous return home, but glad your holiday went well. Your DH sounds like mine. Very good at starting a job, then leaving it all out half done for me to finish or put away again. Very sorry about the memorial service though - hope it goes OK.
MissB - hope DDs are feeling better soon.
Bob - hope your DD is much better.

No flying today - work and children took over:

Worked all day, then DS2 was suddenly violently ill this afternoon. He had been coughing non-stop for about an hour, had a temperature and then he was violently sick. The scary bit was that he had a really croupy cough and couldn't seem to breathe properly or speak. I guessed that his throat was swollen, which put me in a proper panic. DH arrived home to find me on the phone to the dr, with dr telling me to bring DS straight down to see him. We all piled into the car and drove straight to dr, who was lovely and said DS had swollen larynx and croup, but was going to be fine. Just needs an inhaler for his chest, plus lots of TLC, water and Calpol. And I have to try to suppress his cough .

Missed the bloody secondary school open evening thingy (though DH and DS went) and have spent the entire evening running up and down stairs to DS2, whilst trying to proofread the final 20 pages of work. Fell asleep over the computer half an hour ago, but DS woke me up.

Am going to do some more work, then sleep on sofa cushions on the floor in DS's room tonight. Haven't had to do that for a long time.

Tomorrow I have to finish my work and send it back. But DS2 will clearly not be at school. Not sure how I'm going to combine these two facts .

Swan, Ouch, Pluto - you all sound very serene in contrast. Long may it last!

Btw, I was very impressed that DS2 actually went out into the hall (wooden floor) to be sick, rather than be sick all over the sitting-room carpet and new(ish) sofas. Some of my Flylady 'houseproudness' must be rubbing off. Impressive self control for a four-year old!

Morning all, time to gird our loins for final day of week

Baby-step, no.24, is an important one, swishing and swiping the bathroom here!

Which leads me to realise (oh b%+66&8*!!!) that I posted the WRONG one yesterday. I am so sorry [total twonk emoticom]

Yesterday's baby-step, no. 23, should have been this! which is a really important one too involving setting your afternoon routine

Apologies everyone!! It would appear that I can't count ...
.. and what's more ... no-one noticed!!

Anyway, moving on ...

We are on the last day of being in Zone 4, the master bedroom, and today's mission is here! It's a fling boogie type of exercise.

We are going to be in the sitting room next week btw.

Tonight is go to bed early with a book date night and reminders are here

The weekend looms everyone - hope you have a good day - waves to all!

Sorry again about mix up yesterday!

Good morning Toffee
Sorry to see that you had a properly grim day yesterday too! [Must be some sort of wierd Fledgling telepathy going on] Your poor ds2, it must have been scary for the little lad. Poor you too! Bless him for avoiding the carpet ... Hope you all have a better day today!