October is here, leaves are swirly, Fly with the Fledglings if your sink is surly

[MrsDinky]

Welcome to the October 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 September thread leader StillCounting for guiding us through the traumatic back to work and school period with lots of support and guidance!

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!

pmpy I'm so sorry that's awful about bil. Why can't they just treat the individual such a worry. Thinking of you all.
swan hope you dh results come back soon.

I've been extra specially busy tonight.

Sorted out 4drawers
Cleaned kitchen
Dw/wm/td

Thats it! Hmmm why did it take so long???

Off to sort through one more drawer then bed.

Nite nite

pmpy that's awful about your bil. I hope he and your family get some answers soon and the same goes for sr and your dh. There are lots of us it would seem having a tough time at the moment for one reason or another. Hang on in there everyone and even if you do not give a stuff about flying at the mo please be sure you have our love to comfort and our ears to rant at . And pmpy has some generously proportioned curtains . if curtains were of the male species mine would now be sidling up to pmpy's to have a sneaky peek and then going to buy a sports car to compensate for a bruised ego and to look like a real curtain . night all x

Thanks ellie, nettie and swan. I hope you get some good news for your DH soon. When are the results due?

My curtains are standing smugly in the corner gently mocking ellie's. Not sure how they can justify suddenly coming over all manly - they're from Laura Ashley

forgive me fly lady, i have sinned. it has been a whole 24hrs since my last early night. I know the road to hell is paved with good intentions, but i did intend to have an early night before i started arguing on a mn thread. I promised to get my act together and offer a crisis clean style declutter as penance to be done tomo.

Waves to all the hopefully sleeping fledglings. night.

PA, PMPY and Swan - so sorry to hear you are all having such a rough time. I really hope you all get some good news soon.

Very little Flying happening here today, though I did manage two large loads of washing and a quick tidy up of DS2's bedroom. But spent most of today catching up with friends, so not a lot of time for Flying. Am still enjoying my nice neat kitchen cupboard though (btw, MrsD and Swan - the problem is that I don't have a shed! We only have a tiny garden. So instead I ended up putting all the car and DIY stuff in the cupboard under the stairs, which is already overflowing. Good idea about keeping screwdrivers under the sink though).

Up late because I want to watch the last miner come up. Have been watching it on and off all day. It is just so good to see all those men reunited with their families again .

It's been absolutely chaotic here, will be back to catch up in a bit.

I'm sorry PA that is awful, I hope your week away is ok and you get the results soon after.

Thinking of PMPY and Swan

I'm back home almost an hour later than usual - went for a coffee with DH after the school run as he left for work slightly later than usual (so that he could go shopping! 25% off Playmobil and Lego at Interspar today, so he's going to buy some Christmas presents - I am resigning myself to an ever-growing mountain of Lego and Playmobil) and then had to go and get a referral from the paediatrician. DS is having trouble pronouncing the 'sh' sound so we've made an appointment for him to go and see a speech therapist (with a six month waiting list...), but needed a referral from our paediatrician for the health insurance company to cover it. All very straightforward and should only have taken a couple of minutes - if only I hadn't had to wait 40 minutes for the doctor to turn up and sign the referral. Oh well, at least I had my book with me...

pmpy So sorry to hear about your BIL and everything that he's having to go through.

PA Oh no, how frustrating - I hope you get some answers soon. Well done for being assertive and getting seen before your holiday, though.

swan It must be hard waiting for your DH's biopsy results - keeping my fingers crossed for you for good news soon.

Today's list:

Collect referral from paediatrician done
Morning routine
15 min decluttering
Bathroom mission
Mission in DC's rooms
Finish application to translation agency
Send school photo to GPs (I hate to admit it MrsD, but the only bit I've done is find out from DH where he put the newspaper supplements - I'm trying to pin down DD1 and/or DD2 to write a note to my parents at the same time, but may have to give up and just send a note from me instead)
Afternoon routine
DDs to birthday parties
Remind DD2 to fill in friendship book one done, one to go
Pay holiday deposit (and poss. insurance) form filled in, now just need to go to bank
Decide about travel insurance for flights at Christmas
Evening routine

I'm taking heart from everyone else's chaos and am getting a weekend away from family on Sat, so looking forward to that. Well, will be with my parents (does that count as family

done
yesterday managed to unload tip rubbish in cunning fashion into bin liners to give to dustbin men, so avoided trip.
rest can be Bonfire night bonfire

Todo
get ds2 back to school after coin up his nose drama and dr's tweezers!
dw on
hoover playroom
rescue bedrooms
piano practice - get ahead this week!
rescue master bedroom
rescue bathrooms
put away laundry and do some ironing
buy new ink cartridge, buy new scanner [ERRAND DAY]
read book for 30 mins before kids come home with dd's friend
prepare mashed potatoes

give CRB ref to friend and school admin

Out for School meeting this evening - making teas and coffees, so also need to vaguely leave something appetising for dh

also continue with curtains, mustn't forget that well done on the curtain hooks PMPY
and Xmas planning Linzer
actually I want more playmobil, dcs couldn't care less about the stuff. I WANT them to like it but they don't really I want them to play intricate games with pyramids and circuses but um no...
perhaps Chickens might suit them better.

swan your fisrt to do thing made me snigger. 'coin up nose drama'

right in penance for crapness over the last few days here is my list:
morning routine done
Not kill ds for drawing on wall and chucking his breakfast about just
Speak to ex re behaviour and get him to speak to monster child in attempt to get him to get ready for school done
Get ds to school and sign him in late done
Eat chocolate done
Laundry
ironing
folding
clothes away
de clutter lounge again
de clutter lounge chaos corner
recycling to tip or at least into car ready to go
Pack ds' stuff for his dad's
washing up and dw
cut plants back for winter sleep.
rubbish sweep.
look at this week's missions
clean bathroom
pick devil child up from school and hope he is in a better mood.
entertain child who has a tv ban til teatime.
encourage mucky child into shower
shove in bed for 6:30pm ex emposed this punishment, i have no problem in enforcing it.
finish important letter
tidy paperwork collection on desk.
hand sewing of project to finish it off.
scribble down design ideas and put into idea file.
sort out and loose pattern pieces and put away.

and that is plenty to be getting done. So i shall crawl out of my comfy spot and attempt to find the will to achieve anything of that done. cba to do anything though. the lure of mn is great today.

You can do it Pumpkin and a big kiss to ds when you pick him up. The builder once said to me - what matters more to you your kids or your walls? I keep finding graffiti all over the house in the most unexpected places - think of them as cave paintings if you must.
Although if you are in rented house I can see it is a nightmare, sorry just remembered that.
I find sensory-overload-screechy-child likes baths better than showers, as he will sit for hours in there with a few toys muttering to himself - could you try that after school with some bubblebath? - very therapeutic for kids is water imo! Screechy child was sooo screechy lst night at Beavers, I was mortified...

Now dare you to keep away from computer. Back in 3 hours.

Part way through the morning, and part way through the list

Done
Morning routine
Walked DS to playgroup
Walked round village delivering supplier cheques for playgroup
Bought fruit for toddler group
Sort living room - stuff away, vacuum, dust and polish, set toys out (DS is having friend over this afternoon. I've put some toys out, and hidden some precious ones away, he's an only so has some share issues with his best toys.)
Tidy kitchen - clean down counters, washing up, dust and polish, vacuum, change flowers, spot wash bits of floor that need it, baking in tins and away, clean sink
Tidy bathroom - vacuum, s/s, tidy towels, pick up clothes from floor and put in washing basket, make sure enough loo roll out and clean handtowel etc
Sort hotspot
Clean washing away
Make beds
Cup of tea

To Do
Walk to mobile Post Office and do playgroup banking
Make biscuits as just realised that biscuit tin is empty

Will hold on remainder of list until baking is done. Must dash!

I take you challenge and aim to stay away from computer for 3 hours. Unfortunately bath is full of stuff. Its my parents' house. He has a rubber and will rub the stuff out himself. I am going to deal with everything else.

Something has triggered this, I have a couple of ideas and think there are at least two triggers behind this behaviour. One is the fact that i am really struggling in the morning and he is tired from being up in the night. I think last night's specifics came from the fact he wanted homework and was told by his teacher there wasnt any. he demanded homeschool last night and i suggested he went and played with some toys. Goodness how this is going to be sorted. But agreed bath is the best solution for stressed child. might ignore one thing to try to get it decluttered and such that he can have a bath in it. Why is it such a tangled mess of cause and effect with some kids?

Just taken AGES to catch up from the w/e - no let up on the chat then!

So sorry that people are going through such a rough time - PA, PMPY and SR thoughts are with you all. Definitely don't worry about Flying but do use us for support when you need us (always more chat than Flying on here anyway :))

Thanks for good wishes for Autumn Fayre - we had a brilliant day weather-wise and although it was a lot of work (and not enough bodies to do it) we raised just over £1000 which we are delighted with. Need to work out what to spend it on now - nice job :)

Will write short list as have already done fair bit today. Am sliding into CBA so need some motivation from somewhere

• Finish sink in bathroom - put 'Limelight' on about an hour ago!
• Lunch
• Several missions
• Do labels for chutney so can put it in garage
• Photocopy stuff at school to send out tomorrow
• Leftover books from Fayre to school and charity shop
• Sort invoices out from Fayre
• Swimming lesson for DS
• Dinner (pasta sauce already done :))
• Out to friend's for postmortem on Fayre - what worked, what didn't etc

Need to get a move on.

Right,

Trip to Post Office van done and shortbread made.
Arranged optician appt for DS
Phoned dr for my results - not in yet
Recycling out in box
Will now have cup of tea (10 mins available) before going to pickup.

Will not get much done this afternoon, as friend's mother & I will probably just drink tea and gossip while our children play.

Later this afternoon and evening:
To Do
Garden - 15 mins
Filing - 15 mins
Sort out one thing from large To Do paper file
Plan, and sort out stuff for toddler group craft tomorrow
Plan menu for next week
Clean out fridge
Arrange play session with another friend for DS for next week
Cook tea
Wash up
Shine sink
Clean Aga
Sort out WI forms, returns, payments, etc, and make up books
Finish sorting the lavender
Go to bed

Afraid I haven't caught up properly but hope all those waiting for results are doing OK and the results are positive.

Had a fairly traumatic few days - took the DDs to my mum in order for H to move out and it was all a bit of a rush job. :( But the housing issue remains complicated - although the council have housed him as homeless, I think they will decide he isn't as he still has rights to occupy.......and the DDs say if he comes back they will leave :( . Am sure it will all get sorted out in due course but life here is a bit fraught to say the least.

So I haven't done any flying, though I managed to clean the bathroom. (Needs doing again though - DD1 dyed her hair and it looks like there's been a mass slaughter in there So a little job for her I feel!)The house is in chaos and H coming back during the day when everyone is out to clear his stuff. I will try and hoover later but am going for a swim in a bit just to try and clear my head.Be back later :)

Hi everyone

Didn't get back on here yesterday (dd ill again - nowt serious, just bad cold with a bit of a temp - dh on overnight trip to Germany) so house a bit of a tip + behind with work - so not much time....

Just wanted to reiterate what Feetheart said:

PA PushmePullyou and Swan - so sorry you are all going through such a rough time and we are all with you and thinking of you. Hope you get some better news soon!!

You too MissB! Hang in there! x

Got to go but mahoosive waves to everyone!!

MissB - up for coffee and lots of cake if you need an escape.

Swimming sounds v sensible though, great for giving yourself a little time to think.

Oh MissB that sounds really tough :( swim sounds like a good idea.

Wow that's a mega list Cobwebs Well done.

Well done on the fayre feetheart

Oh no swan hope ds' nose is ok, my ds did it with tin foil

Oh Linzer how irritating, well done for doing it though and remembering a book!

I watched the first one Toffee and cried

Thanks for the links MrsD

Today
-Take dps work stuff to bank done
-Morning routine done
-Strip, wash and remake dc beds done
-Washing done 3 loads!
-Hoover done
-Dust lounge and dining room done
-Todays mission done
-Make flapjack and brownies done
-Cook spicy new potatoes and roast veg done
-Clean kitchen counters done
-Appt for dd done ordered her p pod too :)
-Evening routine
-Go to builders merchants

Bathroom is in chaos, dp is going to fit the shower tonight hopefully so I can sort it out tomorrow.

morning routine done
Not kill ds for drawing on wall and chucking his breakfast about just
Speak to ex re behaviour and get him to speak to monster child in attempt to get him to get ready for school done
Get ds to school and sign him in late done
Eat chocolate done
Laundry 3 loads done
ironing done as much as is dry
folding done as much as is dry
clothes away
de clutter lounge again
de clutter lounge chaos corner *almost completely clear of clutter
recycling to tip or at least into car ready to go
Pack ds' stuff for his dad's done
washing up and dw done
cut plants back for winter sleep. done
rubbish sweep.
look at this week's missions done and all missions done
clean bathroom done
pick devil child up from school and hope he is in a better mood. done
entertain child who has a tv ban til teatime. done
encourage mucky child into shower
shove in bed for 6:30pm grin ex emposed this punishment, i have no problem in enforcing it.
finish important letter
tidy paperwork collection on desk.
hand sewing of project to finish it off.
scribble down design ideas and put into idea file.
sort out and loose pattern pieces and put away.

will catch up later

MissB - sorry to hear about your troubles. Hope it all gets sorted soon.

No Flying today as I woke up with a streaming cold, probably not helped by the fact that I stayed up to watch the last miner come out and had only had four hours's sleep. This is about my third cold since the school term started . However, with no work to do and kids at school I did have the luxury of going back to bed after the school run .

Today, I have:

finished school run done
bought supplies from chemist done
phoned BT to get them to mend MIL's phone asap done
washed up done
slept done
cooked chilli con carne done
collected DSs and school friend from school done
walked friend's dog done
washed up again done
dealt with yet more washing done

Have three DC to get to bed shortly (sleepover tonight), then I think I will have an early night. Work contacted me today to say they don't have any work for me at the moment. Am quite looking forward to getting on with stuff in the house next week though. Am aiming to declutter as much as possible.

swan - I love Playmobil, especially the miniature worlds. Luckily DS2 loves it too, so I have an excuse to buy it.

feet - that's a fantastic amount raised at the fayre! Hope Limelight sink is looking good.

Ihate - glad you are fitting tea and chat in with your long lists

Waves to Linzer, Bob, BatBrains and all you other Fledgling Flyers.

Evening all!

Just about managing to keep on track, not much to list post but have done all the basics. Have spent a lot of time doing homework with ds and my patience is fried so that's it for tonight. Chinese ordered, ds off to bed shortly and me to slump in front of tv.

missb that sounds like a really difficult situation. Hope you are taking lots of time for yourself to adjust as well as helping dc's.

feetheart you are definitely the queen of the fair, that's a fantastic amount! Well done!

toffeefudge at least no work means you can crack on I am just holding out till half term when I hope to get back on track!

pumpkin I like to call the drawing on my Walls modern art.

Big waves to e eryone else hope everyone is ok, especially those of us with health concerns.

evening. been productive today so feel good for that. Getting to the bottom of the cause of ds' behaviour, but no real idea of how to deal with it. Apparantly he is frustrated as he is not getting enough homework he isnt even supposed to be getting homework. He asked for it on monday it has been encouraged but as he has asked for homework every night so far since i suspect his teacher must be getting a bit and fed up. I have told him if he doesnt think the work at school is hard enough or he should get more homework then the only person who he needs to talk to about it is his teacher. Thankfully, once he could explain what was going on he calmed down and feel asleep before 7pm. Goodness knows what time he will get up. SO am about to crash too. I have a thread on his homework obession and one in sn re his reactions and behaviour when frustrated feel free to impart any wisedom you wish to on these topics.

Must sleep will read back through again tomorrow morning when i am procrastinating.

Mmmmmmm wine....AND mini rolls. . Don't mind if I do. Thank you.