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!

Now halfway through the proofreading, which is taking up far too much of my day and turning out to be a nightmare. DH is adamant that he only wants the major mistakes corrected (I'm proofreading two 20-page papers written by his Spanish intern; quite how she managed to get a masters from an American university is beyond me, unless she had a ghostwriter), but it's quite difficult to focus on "major mistakes" when virtually every other sentence is incomprehensible.

On top of that, the DDs are refusing to do their piano practice or write to my parents - I am wondering whether to write off today altogether.

Bob of your lovely weather and coastal walk - cold, grey, depressing weather and no coast here!

Toffee Thank you for reminding me about Amazon; I only ever think of ordering books from there, although I know they sell far more. I've just checked to see whether they have the Lego medieval village - it costs the same as from the Lego website but postage is free, which will save me 7 euros.

NINE BIN BAGS?!!

Well I feel a bit better about my own kitchen now, thanks Imhere

[SC tiptoes in, reads everyone's Sunday lists and slinks out again feel guilty ...(blush)]

Just a quick wave to everyone as, all being well, I will be off in the morning for a week. I shan't make a final decision until the morning, though.

If I go, I will "see" you all next weekend, and I will have some massive catching up to do!!

Well sittinghippo, the thing is...Well...erm...You see...The reason there was so much crap in the kitchen is...
Darn it!

Waves to PA and slips SC some cake surreptitiously :)

Well the walk was lovely, but I'm now shattered, walked down a very steep valley to the beach and then had to walk back up the other side, I was

Oh Linzer that sounds hard going, I hope your dh is rewarding you with cake/chocolate etc.

Wow ellie you must have been like a whirlwind this morning, very impressive

FlyLady does take it one room at a time Imhere, little bits each day, I've found I've kept up with it much much better, otherwise I begin with gusto then burn out. Well done, bet it feels luverly going into the kitchen now.

Well done missbennet

Today

-Morning routine done
-Roast prep done all smelling yummy
-Stuff to tip done
-Trip to bottle bank done
-Clean fascia boards done
-DS homework done
-Get school things ready done
-Ironing Must do this soon, but I've sat down now with a cup of tea...

OOoh, runs back in again ...

sorry, very rudely forgot to say a very warm welcome to sittinghippo and Imhere (and hello again to Just13 further down the thread)

sittinghippo please, whatever you do - don't enter the Big Tent - don't do it!!! or we'll have to call on the Chilean president to send out a rescue party ...seriously, once you get immersed in Flylady e-mails you may never find your way out again ..

(Did you have another hippo-related name on a moonwalking thread a while back btw? If so, we may have "met" before???)

Congrats on your impressive nine-bag clear out I'mhere!! That's brilliant!

Linzer thanks for the sympathy 'tis one of the downsides of expat trailing-spouse life - one is left "at home but not at home" coping with the unfamiliar while dh travels!! I'm pretty much used to it now and quite enjoy my free evenings ... no fighting over the remote control!! The only thing that gets me down is that I wish I had more control over the timetable of it .. I think I would cope better if he was away permanently during the week and only back at weekends or he was away for the same fortnight a month or similar. With it being so erratic, it makes things very difficult to plan and I don't feel as in control of my own life as I would like, which in turn makes me feel a bit miffed (which in turn is deeply unfair to dh as it is not exactly a bundle of fun for him either!!!) Heigh ho!!

Sympathies in return re: the proof-reading. I couldn't never stand it when people used to say to me "just do a LIGHT edit". There is no such thing!! You either cross every "t" or dot every "i" and correct every spelling and grammatical error, or you don't ...!!! Hope you get through it in time to have Sunday evening off!!

You have both been very industrious too Elliepac and MissB - well done!

Hope you and your ds2 feel better Toffee

Breezy waves to Bob your walk sounds fab ...

Got to go and help dh pack for his flight tonight. I'm cross with myself because the only thing I have done today is go to church, go horse-riding (freezing!) and make some bolonaise sauce ...house has gone from shiny to slob-shack in under 48 hrs ...am also now playing "hunt the clean pair of pants" again ..how does this happen .???...must go and get the wm on and get cracking ...

Mahoosive waves to PA MrsDinky Swan Pushme Feetheart Darts Tigger Bat Mini Nettie Namechange and anyone I have missed ...

See you in the morning and enjoy the rest of your sunday everyone ...

Aw I'm sorry Imhere dont be ashamed, I expect I could gather a fair few bags of rubbish myself if I got going. It must feel great now though, well done you!

I love days when I feel I've actually accomplished something. Started on the painting of DDs new bedroom today. (the old spare room but as am pg DD is going to move into there to make room in the nursery).

Am tired but happy as at least the painting has been started, gives me a project to get on with while DD is at pre-school this week.

[Scoffs Bob's delicious cake and surreptiously slips I'mhere a slice]

Hello stillcounting, thanks for the welcome. Please don't panic I wont go into the Big Tent on the advice of you kind lot. I'm just going through the baby steps so have cleaned loo and got all my kit together for swish and swipe tomorrow

I wasn't anything else Hippo related before - must've been someone else I'm afraid.

Have a good evening all and see you tomorrow.

Well done Sittinghippo - sounds like you're really motivated. Linzertortured - I worked as a freelance translator for a while and was often sent English text to proofread that had been written by Germans. It was very very painful . I don't miss it at all!

Household stuff is going slowly due to demands of children including DD who has a nasty chest infection and is behaving abominably. I have done the jobs I set myself though so I'm not without hope. I just have to accept that progress will be slow.

Next jobs: - put clean laundry away, tidy hall, empty dishwasher.

Yes Bob kitchen is great. I may move in there and walk around the rest of the house with sunglasses on, lights off and curtains closed.

Howdy Stillcounting It must be hard planning anything not knowing when your DH is home. I'm in a similar situation so I sympathies.

Don't be sorry Sittinghippo! Still counting shared cake with me see Besides shame is what will keep me going.
I will continue to horrify update you all with bin bag counts with each room -it'll be thrilling stuff I tells ya'!

Err, that would be sympathize not sympathies...all the cillit bang chemicals have got to me.

Have now finished the proofreading thank goodness (DH rewarded me with a glass of sherry! I was half expecting him to present me with a mince pie as well until I remembered that I'd frozen the ones he bought), finally persuaded the DDs to do their piano practice (lesson tomorrow), the travel insurance is almost sorted out and - miracle of miracles - DD2 has written to my parents so I now just need to get the letter and newspaper ready to post tomorrow. I haven't made a start on the master bedroom, but that can wait until tomorrow.

Just13 That's interesting - what languages did you translate? I'm also a freelance translator (German to English) and often get sent texts to proofread as well - I quite enjoy proofreading if the English is good, but that's rarely the case unfortunately! DH also brings me home things to proofread fairly regularly; his own English is very good (he's Austrian), but he says he's often shocked at the standard of English of some of his colleagues and quite embarrassed by some of the e-mails that get sent out.

SC I think you've summed it up perfectly with "at home but not at home"; I don't have any family here to visit (or come and visit) when DH is away and most of my oldest and closest friends are in the UK as well. I also used to get very worried when DH was flying anywhere (the worst time was when we were in the USA; we moved over just before 9-11 and DH had three trips planned between then and DD1's due date; I didn't really feel like I could look forward to her being born until he was back home safe and sound), but thankfully don't have quite as much time to worry about that now and he doesn't travel quite as much or as far as he used to in any case. Yes, it's difficult when the travelling is so erratic, isn't it? DH has a tendency to spring trips on me the night before, claiming he told me about them weeks beforehand - he probably did, but I tend to push them to the back of my mind that far in advance!

Bob Hope you got your ironing done (I forced myself to do ours while the DC were having tea). Sitting down with a cup of tea or coffee "just for a minute" is where I tend to go wrong (especially if I happen to be on MN at the same time!).

Imhere Am also very impressed with your bin bag count.

PA Have a lovely time if you do go away - hope you're able to switch off from things for a bit.

sittinghippo Well done on the painting - when are you due?

Just a bit more tidying up to do, and then it's time to open the wine.

Linzer French and German to English but I found the demand for German was much higher, probably because fewer schools now teach German. I might go back to it at some stage but am on a different path at the moment! Am doing voluntary work and a counselling course as I felt I wanted to do something more people-oriented.

To do: supper, baths, meds.

Just13 I studied French as well but haven't used it for work for years, and it's far too rusty for me to be able to claim I can translate from it now! In fact, I'm not sure I'd even be able to speak it any more... quite depressing to think I used to be fluent. Have you worked in-house as well or just freelance? Your current path sounds very rewarding; I must admit I find working freelance quite isolating at times and I'm not sure I'd be able to do it full time.

Wine is open and DH getting impatient, so must go.

Busy thread tonight!

Had a lovely afternoon with our dearest friends, fab food ( all the tastier because I didn't have to cook it). House is tidy and clean (er) everything is relative . Evening routine done, dc's bathed and wine open!

pa if you do go away i hope you have a relaxing time and manage to ease some of the stress.

sittinghippo when are you due, we have pmpy and mm expecting, mm quite soon.

An on and off weekend over here in the cobweb house. DS has got a "bug" (and I found out this evening so do some other of his playgroup friends) and is alternating between tears, miseries, not eating and high temperature, to saying he feels better and wanting to run around the house like a maniac. Cue large "to do" list and slender "done" list.

I did manage to get the apple storage rack built and loaded, but its sitting in the porch, as I've found that a leak in my shed - now need to schedule trip to DIY and roofing day!

Done
Morning routine
S/s
Make beds
Hot spot
Plan menu for next week
Start clearing out shed
Start autumn veg bed clearance
Cook tea
Make choc oat crunchies for DS lunch club tomorrow (if he's well enough to go)

To do - must get done tonight somehow
Prep for playgroup committee meeting tomorrow
Make lunch for DH to take to work
Washing in machine and set to go tonight
Washing up
Shine sink
Clean Aga
Move squashes and garlic onto apple rack
Start fruit going for sloe and apple jelly

Remainder of list will have to wait until tomorrow as I think I will run out of time tonight I (and am likely to have to spend a chunk of tonight in with DS)

Nettie - apple storage rack has been on my want list for a long time, and as I've been offered free apples, plus need somewhere to store carrots, garlic, squash etc I felt justified in getting one. It'll be good when its out of the porch though.

MrsD - yes, lavender sorting takes ages. I usually put it aside to do if I'm watching TV. I put the stalks in a vase, sit with a large tray on my lap, strip the lavender off stem by stem, flower bit into box, stems into rubbish bin. When not in progress, the vases sit on one of my kitchen windowsills.

Still - oooh, I really sympathise re the 'light edit' problem! As another proofreader, I hate it when I'm asked to do that, because it just makes me look like a rubbish proofreader. Last time I was asked to do a 'light edit', I never received any more work from that client and I'm sure it was because I was only allowed to do a 'light edit'. So it ended up refecting on me. Grrr.....

Really slobbish day here today. Took the boys out to play football. Played with Lego. Did some washing. DH had another go at our bedroom and found two (not nine!) binbags of rubbish.

Putting DS2 to bed, then going to catch the end of X Factor with DS1. Then it's the bedtime routine and I will TRY to instigate the babystep of setting a bedtime and sticking to it. What time does everyone else go to bed? 11pm sounds about right.

Toffee That's exactly it - I have banned DH from telling anyone that I've proofread the papers as they still don't read well at all. I've attempted to improve the English as much as I can, but it would have taken hours (if not days) to get it to a level that I would have been happy with.

Off to bed now - my ideal bedtime is 9.30 pm (actually it would be half an hour earlier with 30 minutes to read in bed, but I rarely achieve that), but I do get up at 5.40 am. Night all!

Wow I'mhere that's very impressive!

And everyone seems to have had a busy and productive Sunday! I've done:

-general downstairs hoover
-found the dining table
-made soup for tomorrow
-made chocolate cake for tomorrow
-got DD2 to confirmation practice
-DD1 doing craft thing as we speak....
-DD2 has written her bit and emailed it off
-cooked tea

So what's left is:
-hoover upstairs ifI'vetheenergy
-encourage DD1 to write her piece
-encourage bully DD1 to finish some work for a badge she's supposed to be getting on Wednesday and this is the one thing left!
-wash up

House definitely feeling better - lots of sorting still to do but doesn't look quite so chaotic

Evening everyone,

We've had a nice day here, just mooched around this morning, I took DS to softplay party this afternoon and stayed to chat with a couple of otther mums as it was not worth coming home in between (too far). Tonight we've all been out stargazing, the local astronomy society brings all their telescopes to the green near our house twice a year for a free session, the views of the moon are stunning.

The house looks like a tip though . On the plus side my back feels better now, I am going to excuse myself from the gym tomorrow as a precaution, so I should have no excuse not to tackle the mess then.

I'm struggling to keep up with the thread a bit today, please excuse any inaccuracies .

Sittinghippo has made a good start and is poised ready to Swish and Swipe.

Just13 - hope DD feels better soon. Don't try to do too much too quickly, it is very easy to burn out as many of us can testify.

Ihate - hope DS feels better soon too. Thanks for the lavender advice, still haven't cut mine down, will go out and look at it tomorrow and see whether it is worth bothering with or just compost it.

Ellie has had a productive morning and lovely afternoon with friends.

Linzer and SC can sympathise with each other re erratic presence of DH. Mine goes through spelle of working evenings and weekends a lot, all at short notice, he doesn't actually go away, but it is disruptive even at that level, so I understand a bit.

Imhere made a cracking start with her kitchen, watch out for those bin bag tallies.

Bob has had a bracing walk along the coast, sounds good to me.

MissB - sounds like a good list, well done for starting to regain control, I find the housework is one of the first things that goes wrong in times of stress.

Toffee - hope you and DS2 are feeling better tonight. I agree that swish and swipe is one of the most important steps, I am far more self-conscious about what guests might think of my bathroom than my kitchen sink to be honest. And I have a DS who is a bad aim too.

Bat - hope you managed to get to training.

PA - fingers crossed for you, sounds like the break would be just the thing to take your mind off your health problems. We'll do a special summary for you when you get back!

Waves at Darts, Swan, MiniM, Nick, Bob, toffee, Ellie, Feetheart, Nettie, Tigger, Seeker, SaharaS, Desiretochange, PMPY, Pluto, Namechange anyone else out there.

Better go and tackle the tip. Links in a minute.

Links for Monday

Babystep. Read the Flylady's 11 Commandments.

www.flylady.net/pages/FlightPlan_Missions.asp. This week we are in the Master Bedroom.

Reminders for Monday

Evening. I have read through the thread and the only thing that i have remembered is that I need to quiz Ihate for full instructions on how to deal with lavendar flowers from on plant to striped and ready to use.

Today has been wholey unproductive here. Woke up late and just got to training (didnt manage very long though due to not eating breakfast), put the world to rights with a friend, picked ds up from his contact weekend (4 hour round trip)

Am really chuffed that we are in the master bedroom as although i made progress when i hit it a while back it didnt get finished and needs a lot more work.

So the plan tomo is:
Bring self to look at kitchen (not eaten at home this weekend but there are others in the house who make mess in there but should really know better)
Finish preping room for painting.
hit bedroom and discover desk and floor.
Important phone call!!!!!!!!
Important letter!!!!!!!!!!!!
Post important letter and find postcard for linzer's dd
Paint ceiling
put clothes away
laundry
Burn music to cd ready for training tuesday
Make and print worksheets for ds

And probably anything else that i fancy doing if i am motivated

But early bedtime tongiht and lights out by 10:30pm need to start going to bed by 10pm simply in an attempt to start sleeping off the sleep deficiet that has built up recently.

Night all.

Hope you all have productive days tomo **

Just13 - Well done completing your tasks regardless of demanding children ;)

Ellipac - wine...Good plan! Bin bag count updates soon.

Linzer - Great minds think alike

Ihate - Good lord your list is long. Well done.

Toffee - Playing with kids is far more fun than cleaning.

Missbennett - Thank you. Your list is huge too!

MrsD - Good luck on tackling tip...Still envious of Ipad.

Finally got around to fridge, someone had spilled milk down the side. I'm not sure how long ago but it had grown mold. Ewwww!

Work tomorrow morning and then off to a funeral (cheery I know) Probably won't have much time tomorrow but will attempt to shine sink and tackle a hotspot.
Children were put to bed at 8:00 wine opened and poured at 8:01.