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!

Hi Everyone,

I'm back again, had a couple of weeks off, one with DH and one visiting my parents with DS so was on minimum flying!

Hope you are all well.

Now back and only 16 child-free days until my due date so I need to get a move on! I have taken to getting dressed to shoes in the morning on the basis that it saves me trying to put them on/take them off several times a day!

Today I have/to:

• Tidy house and restore order after builders have been in, put things back in the correct rooms - done
• washing in/on/out x 3 - done
• ironing - done
• make dinner - to do
• empty freezer ready for defrosting - done
• sort items to go into storage - done
• start declutter bedroom - progress made
• online shopping for groceries - done

Quite pleased with that .

Now to catch up on what you have all been up to!

hey minimarmite -blimey that has flown by. you sound like you have been uber busy. dont forget to rest.

Mini - lovely to see you. Looks like nesting has kicked in :)

Hello everyone. Hope you've had a good day. Back late from work and dh is already happily ensconced in the kitchen cooking supper (yippee!) so I have time to chill and catch up with what you have been doing.

Swan, Toffee and Ouch ABSOLUTELY love ALL those thread titles!!! Cringe every time I open current one (what was I thinking of???) so it'll be good to have something decent next month!!

Yey Mini only 16 days or so???!! I can't believe it! So happy for you! And you've done loads today - don't overdo it now [concerned and stern looks over top of pince nez] Take it steady. Minimal flying is good x

Waves to Nettie! Hark at you in your new outfit!! You sound very cheery (as ever!) (I always take a list to the doctor too - absolutely loathe going and forget what I was going to talk about!) Hope all OK with youse too!!

Swan a Playmobil stable with ensuite bathroom is inexorably spreading across our sitting floor and master bedroom floors. I never have the heart to completely dismantle it ...which is why we have to keep buying new hoovers ....
Btw thank you kindly but I think my Dryad days are long gone ! More 'old crone' now but flattering draperies VERY good idea

Hope you are not going down with something Ouch and take it slow.

Feetheart Had to laugh at your post. I regularly play "hunt down the bad smell". For a while it was dying mice (shudder at memory) but now we have eradicated that particular problem it is ALWAYS dh's cheese!!!! He protests when I ask him to store it in ancient spare fridge in the basement (this ruins the delicate maturation process apparently [hmmm]) so if it's a particularly pongy specimen, I resort to tying it up in several plastic bags and hanging it off the balastrade on the terrace. I swear it drives the neighbourhood cats wild

Toffee sorry to hear ds2 still unwell and hope you manage to avoid the creepy crawlies - HUGE webs here this season. Ever thought of handing your dh a microfibre cloth and broom next time he complains???

MrsDinky yes, sorry I was in full office memo mode this morning!! Thank you so much to you and Elliepac for offering
to run threads when you both have such a lot on your plates - as you say, now that's settled, we can work out finer points later on. You are doing brilliantly with the toy decluttering btw - don't give up!
Ellie you certainly deserve an easier day today - hope it turned out to be the case!

Darts hope you survive the the school quest and find the 'right' one

Right, dd is back from her friend's house so I'm going to put her to bed and dh and I are going to eat by ourselves and have an adult conversation for once. Probably won't be back on here tonight because have Flying routines to do + emergency ballet kit wash and I want to watch Masterchef too if it's on. Here's hoping tonight's contenders can manage to truss a chicken ...

Waves to anyone I've missed ...

Hope you are OK PA??

mm how lovely to 'see' you! I cant believe baby mm is so close, where did that go! I think feetheart is spot on when she says you are nesting, I think I could do with being pregnant, something might actually get done round here. Just in case dh reads this, for clarification purposes, no darling I do not want another baby. Had a good day today with some good news. Last year my dsis had cancer of the womb and had to have a hysterectomy. Along with the whole cancer business she had to deal with no children at the age of 30 (dn is her stepdaughter). Anyway, she has got first year all clear and heard today she has an appointment with a surrogacy agency . A small step but a step in the right direction.

Have no flying to report really. Just about managing to keep on top of things but am back to washing uniform the night before .
ouch thank you for being my friend. Your ds's room looks amazing! Oh to be artistic!

Anyway, off to cook dinneri go!

xposts Ellie totally fab news about your sister!

ooh no, don't panic - still 8 weeks - DS goes to the CM two days per week so those are the only days I have to get through things unhindered! Sorry for the confusion!

Actually I think it is me that is panicking, we are still in a 2 bed house and I can't remember how to give birth!

Such good news about your sister Ellie x

MM - i think you will remember when it is important

mm if we all remembered how to give birth no-one would ever have a second child . I am sure that mother nature will give you a massive push gentle nudge in the right direction so to speak when the time comes.

Evening all!
Elliepac thjat's great news about your dsis. you and she must be very relieved.
feetheart YES to coffee and cake - I will check my diary tomorrow (am in bed now ) and suggest some dates, if that's OK?

I have been to work, done aqua and been to a Guide leaders meeting. So no flying. And tomorrow is Sunday School leaders meeting so I will be glad when the week is over and I can stop going to leader meetings

I did, however, sort out my heapofclothes bedroom on Sunday night and assembled five outfits to see me through the week . So I felt very efficient for at least a few minutes

Well, I was supposed to be having an early night, so time to go.......

Morning all,

Very little flying went on here yesterday as I've got a cold and was feeling sorry for myself. Am feeling better today, but am planning on taking it easy this morning and returning to bed with a book (I get so little opportunity for reading otherwise!). Luckily DH is working from home today so has been able to do the school run, and will be taking DS to his optician's appointment this afternoon as he has to go as well.

MiniM Lovely to see you - and good luck for the last eight weeks!

ellie Wonderful news about your sister.

Waves to everyone else; I hope to be back on track by tomorrow at the latest!

Bonjour! Dag!

Sorry to be a bit late this morning - seeing dh off to foreign climes.

Today's baby-step, no. 29, is important here! It's about pampering ourselves and on that note, pamper mission is here - a walk in the park - literally!

Today we are still in zone 4, the sitting room here!

And the mission involves decluttering your shelves of cds, books, magazines and dvds here

Joy of joys, it's Wednesday so it's anti-procrastination day!

Have a good one everyone!

Good morning everyone, just popping my head around the door to say "hi" .

Loads to catch up on with the thread, so I will try to have a skim through later and see what you are all up to.

Not so good here.... went to see the consultant again yesterday, expecting him to pat me on the head and send me away. After telling me all the reasons why removal of my lump would cause more problems that it will solve due to the tumour being benign and would not cause me any trouble..... he then felt it and did a spectacular back-track as the lump is not acting like the sort of tumour that has been diagnosed on MRI. Its grown, painful and "feels wrong". (How can a lump "feel right" I wonder??) SO I had an enormous needle stuck into the side of my neck and a biopsy taken so that we can see what is going on. So waiting game again! Plus I now have a far bigger pain in the neck from the needle attack!! Still feeling rotten, but apparently, according to blood results, I have had mumps at some point in the last year without even knowing it!!

Surprise, surprise, there has not been a lot of flying going on here. I am back at work this week, but cant do a lot more than that, so place is skidding headlong into CHAOS again. DH finishes working away from home on Friday, so it will good to have him home again. He did a 70 mile bike road race on last Sunday and has a 100 mile one this Sunday, then no more races for a while, so maybe the bike stroking will slow down a bit and not become such an obsession. He came up with a suggestion for the removal of his bike from the hallway this week. Apparently if the rest of the family remove their coats from the ...... wait for it..... the COAT cupboard He thinks the bike could go in there!! So, a job before Friday is for me to go through the coat cupboard and see if I can fit them all in the DCs wardrobes. Not sure what to think as I have been nagging asking for over a year for my hallway back (as well as my back lounge, but thats another argument story! Apparently if the coat cupboard doesnt work it will just have to be the bedroom again!!! Over my dead body !!

So only thing on list today is:
Survive work without losing my temper with hitler my boss!
Sort out COAT cupboard

Tomorrow I am on the mainland really early with DD4 to go to the hospital for her yearly check up on her hips. Great shopping day!! So I need loads of energy tomorrow, early to bed tonight and hopefully I will sleep well.

Manic waves to all you lovely ladies. I will be back properly as soon as my head (neck) is not zapping all my energy.

[SC brews coffee, dons pince nez, distributes memo pads and pencils and glasses of water around boardroom table]

OK, for anyone who missed yesterday's "strategy meeting" MrsDinky has very kindly agreed to lead the thread during October with Elliepac kindly following on.

Either MrsD or Elliepac will do first week of November.

I will lead thread in weeks 2, 3, 4 November and week 1 of December (if that makes sense)

And Ellie, if not too busy, will be leading the way weeks 2, 3 and 4 of December with MrsDinky as back-up. Ellie are you sure that is OK, as I reckon life as a teacher at Christmas time will be pretty frantic?? (Well, more frantic than normal.) It's very good of you to volunteer again.

So far, suggested thread titles (which MrsDinky will be choosing from) have been:

from Swan,
Sparkling Cobwebs, Dancing Brooms, Fledglings are Flying to Clean Their Rooms!

and

Dusters are Whirly, Leaves are Swirly, Join the Fledglings if your Sink is Surly

And from Toffee
Autumn is here, the leaves are falling, grab those brooms, the Fat Fairy is calling!

(or Flylady is calling...)

Above proposed titles inspired by the lyrical suggestions of Ouch!

[SC searches out pink feather duster for official hand-over ceremony on Thursday night]

Good morning everyone. Today DS2 is going to do a full day at school for the first time . Am planning tea and chat with a friend, a bit of work and lots of tidying up (sitting-room missions will come in useful). And an uninterrupted lunch at long last.

Ellie - fantastic news about your sister.

Linzer - enjoy your convalescence.

MiniM - good to see you again. Very excited about a baby being on the way [broody emoticon].

DC are both up and need their breakfast. DS2 has just asked me why there isn't a Childrensnet .

Have a good day everyone.

Missed and crossed posts from last night and this morning:

LeaderBennett top marks for your five outfits and all your volunteering!!

Linzer glad you are feeling better. Top marks for pampering mission this morning - enjoy!

Yay PA I was getting worried ...had a sense you might be suffering. So sorry to hear about the biopsy and that you have to have to wait for yet more results....that's really tough on you. When do you get to hear?

any good?? although of course your dh would have to get up in the night and go outside to stroke

Hope dd's appt. goes well too!

Right, unusally, no office work this morning so time for me to go and "anti-procrastinate". Must get cracking as dd only has half day at school. Ground-hog day here and list is oh so tediously familiar:

AM
morning routine with dw on, wm on half way
round up dhs dirty socks and shirts that he has thrown on the floor , herd in to corner and pounce!
sort more laundry
pick up detritus from master bedroom floor
master swipe
tackle bathroom
more laundry
quick tidy of sitting room (I won't be doing mission today - a bit overwhelming) but I will be clearing hotspots
school run
prepare and eat lunch

PM
AFTER LUNCH
ballet run
on-line order
tidy sitting room
clear home office desk
general tidy up of landing and hall
more laundry
phone calls/appointments
newspaper recycling
clean out guinea pigs
afternoon routine
supper
Master chef
early night

Have a productive day everyone!

xposts Toffee good luck to your ds2 today and lol at childrensnet - he could make a fortune with that idea!

PA thinking of you, Dh is having a biopsy this week too But glad drs are keeping a proper eye on you. Hope dd4 and you have a calm day tomorrow (today I mean)

SC I feel like I've been doing a boring routine for days now - to little avail Children have gone to school with right uniform and homework so I suppose I must be getting somewhere. However dh keeps refusing to eat my meal planned meals!!! The kale is backing up!

MsB very impressed by all the things you help with, as well as work.
MiniM nice to see you

PA super impressed by biker dh too!

Morning.

PA -sending postive wishes you way. thinking of you.

Poorly sick here. There seems to be a virus that is affecting breathing and high temps. feel rotten but supposed to have a friend around for coffee. Going to crisis clean the lounge. And downstairs. Upstairs is out of sight out of mind.

hope you all have a lovely day.

Morning all,

pa to hear that things aren't getting any better for you. FIngers crossed for a swift diagnosis and test results. Thinking of you. Make sure you take it easy. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

sc it is absolutely fine. Secondary school is nothing like a primary school at Christmas and everything is pretty much normal. Seeing as I am going to be super organised this year , i should have plenty of time! January,however, is busy so I will step down at the end of December if that is ok.

ouch hope you are feeling better soon, have a nice time with your friend .

toffeefudge hope your DS has a good day .

Waves to everyone I have missed. Better go and do some teaching .

Got it. October is here, leaves are swirly, Fly with the Fledglings if your sink is surly. I really wanted to add the sparkling cobwebs bit but couldn't fit it in.

A combined effort, thank you.

Big unMN hugs to PA. Back later.

Coffee has been canceled :( but i have made progress on decluttering lounge. So that is something. going to run a few out of the house jobs so i take a break.

List
Kitchen taming in progress
DW loaded
WM 1 load done
Clothes away
Declutter lounge 1 hour done
Dining space 15mins decluttering done
return t-shirts
school night rountine
pick up more drinks for ds' lunch box