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!

Evening all,

Usual scant amount of Flying here (I think I have given up any dreams of being a Fully Fledged Flyer, it's just not going to happen).

So, today,

School run - done
Gossip with friend for half an hour - done
Shopping - done
Gym - done
Clean bathroom and hoover under kitchen table - done
Help in school - done
Cook and clean up etc dinner - done
Go and see neighbour about something and spend 20 mins looking at all their guinea pigs and listening to tales of how wonderful they are (just like being on this thread really!) - done

Batbrains - glad you have made a bit of progress today and DS is asleep, sounds as though you are having a tough patch together. Have you gone in and spoken to his teacher? I haven't really got any suggestions for this one, other than those on your thread (I did pop over and have a look).

Ellie - enjoy your slumping!

Toffee - hop you are feeling better tonight, also PMPY

Bob - sounds like you got a lot done today, my mouth is watering reading your list.

SC - hope DD is feeling better tonight too

MissB - thinking of you with this huge change in your family.

Feetheart - well done on the Autumn Fayre, that is brilliant.

Ihate - what are you doing with your lavender? I need to go and cut mine all down, I usually bag it up in old tights and shove it in my drawers.

Swan - we had a smartie up the nose moment last winter, I went into town one afternoon, DH rang me and said DD had put a pink smartie up her nose (one of the tiny ones), we had a good look with a torch, couldn't see anything, she seemed fine so we left it, figured it would melt, I guess it did. Hopefully.

PMPY, PA, Swan also thinking of you and your families with your biopsies and tests.

Linzer - I need to add send photo to GPs to my list now, DD was in todays paper with her class. Awww.

Waves at Darts, MiniM, Nick, Nettie, Tigger, SEeker, SahrahS, Desiretochange, Pluto, Namechange100. Haven't seen some of you for a while, do pop back in and say hello, even if you haven't done any flying, would be nice to hear from you.

Night all.

Friday Links

Babystep. Make your bed .

Mission. Mop the bathroom floor and do some hotspots in the DCs bedrooms

Reminders for Friday.

MrsD - i think his teacher think i am a nusicense. we have ended up having to speak most evenings after school. Have been advised to ask for her advice about how do deal with it although the person giving the advice was very over the fact that she is just out of NQT and has a trainee teacher in with her. So suggested going over her head to speak to the head. I am going to speak to her tomo after school. Watch out for the this bloody pushy parent thread tomo

ooh, I'm up first, that makes a change. Got woken up bybthe radiator in our room which needs bleeding and is very noisy.

Today's list

Find bleed key and sort it out.
Mop bathroom floor
Play tennis
Coffee with tennis friends
etc

See you later.

Morning all. Dd going through a very unwelcome phase of waking up early so have been up since 5. Tfi Friday is all I can say. Am going to list post today in the hope of getting something done!

Be efficient at work
Present for ds friend
Bank
Ds to party
Washing
Swish and swipe
Online food order
Drying
Wine drinking

Have a good day everyone!

Good morning everyone, hope you all have lovely day.

My list
Get up everyone to work/nursery
Get to work find all the pieces of paper that eluded me yesterday and finish reconciliation. Speak to sage lady about setting up invoices by email.
Pick dc up and go to friends for coffee.
Take Victoria sponge cake I made yesterday! Why did I try a new cake when I know my old steady banana and raisin cake works. [hope cake isn't minging emotion] made it to take to coffee to try and make up for not having invited anyone over here forever due to huge rolls of carpet everywhere painting apparatus and broken furniture too
Home for house rescue again
Washing and drying
Chilling early hopefully and hopefully pop back later

Sleepover very noisy, which meant DS2 and the rest of us didn't get to sleep early after all. DS2 was up in the night - which meant I was too - and has woken up with a streaming cold. Poor boy is now so used to the school routine that he still dutifully put his school uniform on - I don't think he could believe it when I said he should stay at home today.

Today:

Morning routine inprogress
Errands in town (too many to list)
Library
Reading and playing with DS2
Phone MIL
PM routine
Evening routine
Wine and bed

Batbrains - cannot believe your son wants extra homework! My problem is getting my son to do ANY homework. He wouldn't do it at all if I didn't remind him. Hope you can get it sorted out at school though. It's horrible having to be a 'pushy mum', but necessary sometimes. Had to do it when DS1 was younger - loads of behaviour issues before - and after - his dyslexia was diagnosed. You have to try not to mind, but it is hard. Will check your other threads.

Ellie - sympathies about the early rising - and you have to go to work too. Thank goodness it's the weekend coming up.

MrsD - to your child in local paper. And thanks for reminding me (mine should be in the paper today too!).

Nettie - hope cake turned out ok.

Back to routines now....

I'm not feeling very productive this morning for some reason, but am plodding on with my morning routine, several loads of washing (two wet nappies and I still have to wash all the bedding...) and ongoing list.

DH arrived home last night with three big boxes of Lego/Playmobil and an even bigger one still in the car, so that's the DC's Christmas presents and DD1's birthday present from my ILs sorted. MIL refuses to go shopping - FIL does all the food shopping on his own - so we have to buy their presents to us ourselves (luckily DH is very good at buying presents both to and from his family).

The doctor phoned me yesterday with the results of my blood test and has confirmed that I'm allergic to dust (am amazed that I don't get symptoms more often, as I'm not the world's most diligent duster). Also that I should be taking my iron with Vit. C but not with tea, coffee or calcium - so taking it at breakfast (when I have milk or yogurt) doesn't seem to be such a great idea after all.

Toffee I like the way you add wine to your list. Hope your DS is feeling better soon.

Nettie Enjoy your coffee with friends - if there's a slice of Victoria sponge left, I'd be happy to take it off your hands.

ellie I remember that waking at 5 am phase only too well, so you have my sympathies. Another one with wine on her list.

MrsD I bet you get your photo sent before I do! I've got as far as fetching the newspaper from the cellar (where DH had put it for safekeeping), and am determined to get DD1 to write to my parents this afternoon (it would be much easier to get DD2 to write, but she'll be at a friend's until tomorrow morning).

BatBrains Hope your meeting with the head goes OK. We also have the opposite problem - it can be a huge struggle to get DD1 to do her homework - but with the same result: frustrated DC, which isn't good.

swan DS got a Playmobil carrot stuck up his nose once. I think that may be around the time that my love/hate relationship with Playmobil started.

Today's list:
Morning routine doing
15 min decluttering done
Bathroom mission done last week
Mission in DC's rooms done
Ironing
Finish application to translation agency
Send school photo to GPs
RSVP to party invitation done
Afternoon routine
Remind DD2 to fill in friendship book
Bank/pay bills
Birthday present for DS's friend
Buy new baby card and present
Internet order
Menu planning for next week
Food shopping
Pay holiday deposit (and poss. insurance)
Decide about travel insurance for flights at Christmas
Evening routine

Linzer - lol at the Playmobil carrot up DS's nose!

got everything on list done yest (I think) - except ERRANDS so off now. and to library to get some books for dcs' homework.

must dash - amazed how many things people have had up their noses

Did most of yesterday's list including long wine-fuelled post-mortem of Fayre - had to pick up car from friend's after school-run this AM as staggering walking home only option Lots of ideas of how to spend money and lots more ideas of how to raise more so v productive.

Lots to do today as Mum's visit is looming. Love her lots but don't live up to OCD stepfather's show-home ideal which has rubbed off on her over the years :

• Finish morning routine - finish washing up DH couldn't be bothered to do missed, hang washing out, S&S, sweep kitchen floor - maybe that should just say Do morning routine
• Bank
• Food shop
• Zap food shopping and put away
• Put everything back after DH went on mouse hunt last night - contents of our bedroom all over landing but mouse found and evicted thankfully (I was out but found house in chaos and DH in bed on returning home, he does have my lurgy from last week though so is sort of forgiven!)
• Mission or two
• Packed tea for DC
• DD to dancing
• Bath, hairwash and nit hunt for DD - has gorgeous thick blond hair but we have been in contact with bst*d nits recently and she was complaining this am. Couldn't see anything but will do extra conditioning tonight
• Collapse in heap, catch up on all of this week's Masterchef (feetheart wonders if more rather yummy Frenchmen will be involved) and fall into bed early

EEK, its nearly mid-day, how did that happen
Must shift myself.

Am sitting have tea and break - a few minutes of "me" time. DS is playing with lego in other room. We're back from Toddler Group, it was my turn to organise, and I need to recharge my batteries, before doing lunch and the afternoon.

Had nice tea and chat yesterday afternoon, while our children played, but couldn't get back on track afterwards, so today's list seems to have a lot of yesterday's jobs on it.

Done
Morning routine
Toddler Group - toys out, craft, refreshments, clearing up
S/s
Make beds
Find library books
Arrange for DS to play with friend next week
Explain to DS that hitting/running into people/knocking into people is not acceptable . He did something to one of the other children at Toddler Group, and other child cried. He said that my DS hit him (which to my knowledge DS has never done before), but my DS said that he hadn't, but did apologise to child without prompting. I have had chat with DS at home, and I think that mine ran into him while they were playing, had his hands out (not an elegant athlete!) and hit him when he ran into him. I've explained good behaviours, naughty behaviours and the need to be careful to him, but I was so embarrassed when child shouted out that mine had hit him!

To Do
Lunch
Wash up
Visit mobile library
Garden - 15 mins
Filing - 15 mins
Sort out one thing from large To Do paper file
Plan menu for next week
Clean out fridge
WI - get signature on cheque, complete return and post
Bottle fruit
Sort out cottage holiday options
10 mins on clearing out car
Clean out handbag
Pet care
Hot spot
Cook tea
Wash up
Shine sink
Clean Aga
Finish sorting the lavender

Finished zone cleaning and this week's missions on Wednesday, as I know that by this time in the week I just run out of energy and inclination.

MrsD - I strip the lavender from the stems, and make lavender bags. I use them in the linen box, drawers, and for packed away out of season clothes. They also become Christmas presents.

My new apple storage rack has just arrived, so will be buiding it with DS this afternoon, cue lots of hindrance and very little help I think, but happy child

Sticking head it to say hello. little flying done, just laundry type jobs. Been researching stuff. ds away this weekend and going do recharging type stuff later.

afternoon all,

unfortunately friends DS was taken into hospital think he has broncilitis again, poor fellow.

As i live out in sticks noone wanted to come to mine so been doing housework and watching movies with dc this afternoon.

sage lady came at work and i have notes which i hope to put into practise next week when im back at work to make invoicing easier and cheaper.
coffee cancelled but cake was lovely {shock}
Home for house rescue again-some
Washing and drying-doing

suffering from cba so dc not eating spaghetti numbers and im here

linzer of playmobile. DS got his first playmobile police station for his birthday and i love it. he is not that bothered. also of early start christmas shopping. i am quietly panicking, i have 6 bro and sis and 10 nieces and nephews and always kick myslef for not getting started before now!!!
swan well done...ahh yes library
feetheart love it having to walk home hee hee
ihate new apple cart, i love new organising tools. made a wish list at lakeland. now gonna go off see if i can find cheaper elsewhere.

better go innocent smoothie situation

MrsD - DS2 was in the local paper too! Lovely picture, with him right in the front row, beaming. Thanks for reminding me!

Have had a lovely relaxed day with DS2. I ignored the house and let him play. This afternoon, we made playdough and mixed food colouring into it. DS2 made 'food', but also had a lot of fun with the red food colouring, so that he is now stained red from his fingertips to his shoulders. Maybe it will come off in the bath tonight .

Morning routine stillinprogress
Errands in town (too many to list) done
Library done
Reading and playing with DS2 done
Phone MIL done
PM routine inprogress
Evening routine
Wine and bed

As a result of ignoring the housework and concentrating on DS2, the house looks like a bombsite again. Amazing what one day at home with a small child can do to your house. I was just getting it all under control again with them both at school all day. Am going to do a quick hoover and tidy up now.

Don't mind if I do, Bat .

done
library books
floors
new cartridge in printer
singing lesson dd, walk/exercise for all
researched dcs homework for them and printed out something - then dd said how do I turn this into a powerpoint presentation? I do not know dear, perhaps your teacher will tell you /[calm, above such matters]

telly and tea now for all
we have been singing Joseph's coat of many cols all the way home, who would have thought there were so many! [colours I mean]

nettie I am in much same Xmas pickle, avoiding the thoughts of hordes of relatives I think Cobweb may have the answer. One day of dedicated luxury condiment making should do it.

Nettie (and anyone else with Christmas in mind) - really useful (Flylady-based) thread on getting ready for Christmas here.

I'm way behind the suggested schedule, but am trying to put some of the ideas into practice, eg. have cleared out a cupboard for presents, bought one present already and planned some others and am buying a few Xmas things every week. Determined to avoid last minute panic this year - and spread the cost.

Toffee that sounds a lovely day, and you got loads done if you ask me.

supper prepared, fish potatoes and carrots

I suppose I should pack too...

Yes, it was lovely, Swan, and I really appreciated spending time with DS2 because I have had time to myself this week and had more energy and patience for him. The early years - pre-childcare - are just relentlessly exhausting, I find.

Are you going on holiday? I can't keep up with all the chat at the moment.

no - jst away for two days without any kids or husband, to organise something in Eire..or just swan around maybe

Hello Flyers. I'm in despair at the state of my home and my inability to keep on top of things. I seem to be constitutionally incapable of keeping order and thus my three kids and DH feel quite entitled to leave their stuff everywhere so the problem never gets sorted. I've done Fly before, found it helpful but stopped after a while. I'd like to try again. I've been having counselling to sort out other difficulties in my life and have made lots of progress so maybe this time round I can actually change my approach to the household and get a bit more order in my life.
First steps:

1. Dinner 2) Tidy living room

Hello Just13 welcome on board. Your story sounds similar to a lot of us here, we are all a bit less than perfect at Flying but we have lots of fun chatting while we try, and most of us have had some success with the system, even though we all seem to have periodic lapses. Sounds like the right time for you to try again if you are getting other difficulties sorted too.

One of us (me at the moment) posts the links every morning or evening, easier to find since MN started highlighting the OPs posts.

The OPs posts are highlighted, MrsD? I seem to be missing out on that new feature...

Have given up on flying for the day here, but have just opened a bottle of wine for anyone who'd like a glass.

Welcome to Just13; you're definitely in the right place here.

Which MN View are you using Linzer? Think it probably needs to be the Mumsnet New.

I've given up too, twanged my back loading the DW this morning need to take it easy for a couple of days.

Umm, wine, thank you....