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!

linzer dh has a special "drinking jacket" made of tartan which dates back to the time he was 21 - he is now 47 He is constantly telling me how well it has worn and how it still fits him (truly a shapeless and unattractive garment He also has the Hawaiian swimming shorts, but I think they are a more recent purchase

My dad kept all his old clothes, I must say I used to love seeing what he wore in the 1950's.

anyway, back from Eire, lovely refreshing break, parents a bit deaf, but otherwise Did lots of preps for halfterm in my mum's freezer. And felt very relieved not to to be responsible for her apple and pear glut, not to say the rows of red cabbages. And my dad says there are walnuts this year too. Didn't have the heart to mention pickled walnuts, I think my mum would have lost it completely, if my dad had started making horrid concoctions.

Talking of tartan jackets, PMSL at this thread earlier.tartan.

Hello MiniM.

I banned myself from the laptop this morning as I needed to be productive!

Today
-Morning routine done
-4 loads of washing incl towels/bath mats done
-Deep clean bathroom done
-Make butternut squash soup done
-Make pasta sauce done
-Make roasted veg done
-Make tomato and mozzarella tart done
-Dust and hoover all bedrooms done
-Clean windows done
-Sort out feeding pump...still not done despite my best efforts
-Sort dds school things done
-15 minutes decluttering in bedroom done

I'm just going to look up Kelly's mission for today.

DP has some shockers too Linzer my favourite being a lime green and orange Peter Schmeichel goalie kit!

I know I must have missed it somewhere but what training are you doing Batbrains

Definitely mint choc chip feetheart yum

Hope your DS is ok MrsDinky

I love your new name Nettie

I've banned biscuits from the house as I just eat them all but I miss them, I think I may have a problem

Had a mad morning but I'm quite cross that I can't get dd's feeding pump sorted, very frustrating. Now sitting on my bum for a bit, dd was up from 12.45 to 4.30 and I'm shattered.

Hope everyone is having a nice day :)

Crikey! This thread moves fast! Not even going to attempt to catch up. Trust everyone is doing well [hsmile]
I got bugger all done yesterday [hsad] I didn't get back from the funeral until fairly late. I was absolutely knackered. However, I made the effort and shined the sink!

Just got home from work. So...

Laundry x lots (in now working washing machine)
Dining table towering mountain of junk hot spot
Attempt to find floor in master bedroom
Fetch DC
Feed DC
Walk the smelly dog

Going to have a coffe and a smoke fresh air first.

I'm impressed with the amount of jobs/tasks people get done in a day. I'm a huge fan of lists but always kept a running list of chores/jobs, instead of a daily list like I used to keep for work (I'm now a SAHM). Today I started a daily list and feel so much better about things! Have decided to include things like baby groups so I can see where my time was actually spent at the end of the day. Things like AquaBabies take a surprising amount of time -- the process is more than just the 30 minutes in the pool. (Though we both love AquaBabies and I don't ever regret the 90 minute process known as swimming.)

Oh, and BabyScout will be one next week.

Bob - right Mint Choc Chip it is. Good choice as its everyone's favourite at the moment though will need to get Bournville on way home - after much experimentation its def the best for ice-cream [hsmile]

• Finish morning routine - done
• Check what's for dinner - easy pasta for DC (cream cheese and ham) and leftover pasta sauce for us
• Work - done
• Remove box of soft toys from DD's room that she managed to part with before she decides she needs them all again - done
• Make ice-cream - partly done
• 15 mins x lots in bedrooms - done 1x15 in DD's, 2x15 in DS's

Plan for this afternoon:

• Snacks for DC (DS will demolish 2 filled pitta breads in the 10 mins before we pick up DD [hshock])
• Library to return books
• Bank
• Pick up DC
• Bathroom floor
• Dinner for DC
• Homework
• MarioKart on Wii (first new game since we got it, DH far too competitive so rest of us need practice whilst he is at work [hsmile])
• Early night for DC
• Sew on DD's Brownie badge before BIG Vision thing tomorrow night

That should do!

Looked up the mission, I have no clothes piles hurrah but dd's nappies have just arrived and now I need somewhere to put 13 packets of them boo

Do you have an icecream maker feetheart ? I'd love to make icecream but I have no space in my kitchen for anything else and I'm trying very hard not to fill it up again now it's more manageable.

I love having a list scout I faff around and seemingly get nothing done otherwise and I like ticking things off

Well done for shining the sink Imhere the little things really do make a difference, sorry about the funeral.

Off to collect ds in a sec and take him round to the inlaws so he can drive his remote control car around their decking!

I too am impressed by the lists. I think I may have a go at a list myself as I feel it will seem like I've achieved more if it is written down;

Morning routine done
DW done
Swish and Swipe done
Buy Hallowe'en outfit for DD done
Buy glass cleaner done
And loo limescale remover done
27 fling boogie done
Mission did it last week
Garden centre to collect free daffodil bulbs currently offered done

Still to do

Sort out something (anything?!) for dinner
Take all the folded washing upstairs and put away
Empty WM
Hoover downstairs it's actually vile

Hmmm list does make me feel better, I'm not much of a 'lister' usually. Might see if I can make a habit of it if it helps.
Am actually shattered as walked to town today (brisk half hour each way and then all around) so I am going to have a well deserved sit down now.
Check in again later.

Time for me to repost my list, as I'm running out of steam and would like to have the house looking halfway presentable before I hand over to DH.

Morning routine done
Washing done
Finish hanging up washing
Ironing done
15 min decluttering in master bedroom done
Mission done
Make muffins for friend's visit done - actually made brownies first, but they were completely inedible so ended up making muffins after all
Post class photo to GPs done yay!
Afternoon routine
Bank/pay bills x3
Sort out travel insurance
Finish filling in form for translation agency
Write letter (or rather, get DH to write letter) in support of Albanian friends - have e-mailed details to DH
Evening routine

Am meeting a friend for a drink tonight - a very rare event (neither of us were sure which cafes would still be open as we're not used to going out in the evenings!) so I'm really looking forward to it. It will certainly make a change to be able to chat without being interrupted every 20 seconds; we've both had fairly stressful days, so I feel a large glass or two of wine will be in order. [hgrin]

Imhere - Dont beat yourself up because the funeral took longer then you thought. That is perfectionism speaking and is not the Fly lady way. Accept the fact that you have less time and adjust your expectations accordingly. Its hard to do but this it part of the ethos behind fly lady. Slow and steady. A bit here a bit there, more when more time less when less time.

I am feeling very beaten up today. Didnt train hard but have stretched and strained muscles and only just made it back in time for the school run.

Today's list looks like this:
White wash just gone into tumble dryer
Folding and clothes away folded what ready to be folded
wash ds' bedding. just going into wahsing machin
make ds' bed (spare sets so independant to the washing)
Do something with ds who has been a saint this morning
Ds' reading
Find gymnastics paperwork and return to school hunted for once but cant find
fill in parents evening slip done
change emergency contact details on Student Record half done
Cook sausage casserol for tea cooking
Make music CD for training done
Training done
speak to the police as follow up done although i was still in training clothes so goodness knows what they thought. [hhmm]
Speak to ds' teacher done

Extra to do:
Long hot shower
Physio exercises (really rubbish at this and have tweaked knee so need to start doing again)
early night.

Will pop back later to read through, forget everything i have just read. [hblush]

can't keep up either

your cooking sounds fab feetheart and Bob
and I thnk there was a dog in there somewhere hello to the person with dog to walk

have done nothing all day except do final checking of application forms, and delivery of two on various benighted drizzling buses across country. Noticed how very very polite all the receptionists are in schools to us Admissions Parents when we drop off the forms (worried they will drop off down pecking order if the slightest bark is detected...ditto kids in playground are all playing very very politely everywhere I go - no swearing detected on parental radar Did see a bit of wrestling though, perhaps that is a good thing for boys to do!

just made a casserole
children have had exercise
it is pouring
total mess everywhere, need to clear up
Ellie hope it's going alright. Did school get good ofsted last time?

Bob hope youg et dd's feeding pump sorted too. Is there anyone to call to help you with it?

I'm going to post a list of cr**p to zap otherwise not quite sure where to start.

sandwich for lazy exhausted son
unload dw
book aeroplane tickets
boil cabbage
recycling in recycling bin
reload dw
lay table - get kids to do it or not as case may be
put washing on
run bath for kids
get ds to do the homework he claims not to have
get dd to do her homework
turn off telly (not in that order)
sweep crunching underfoot floor
sort out school bags/shoes in hall
more washing on
put away dry washing
milk in fridge
veg in fridge

oh dear!

Hi all. Manic day. Had hoped DD would return to school after over a week off but she's still coughing so will keep her home till after half-term. Had to arrange childcare for her for tomorrow so I don't have to miss my counselling course which I'm really enjoying. Luckily she's sociable and doesn't mind being farmed out!! Feel quite proud of myself as I did baking with her, which I always intend to do and never get round to. It was fun, if messy!

I joined Facebook last night and am excited about being in touch with old friends again.

Thanks Mrs D for manning this thread so well. I'm nowhere near being able to keep up with the missions yet but am already feeling better about the household.

To do: laundry, tidy kitchen, prepare dinner, find paperwork for course tomorrow.

done
veg
milk
table laid
dw nearly unloaded
hall
sandwich for son
cabbage
about to switch off telly
recycling
veg boxes folded

also not in original list - found ingredients for peperonata, leek and potato soup, and put a rice pudding to bake!

Ooh quite a successful afternoon as got everything on the list done.
Made the most obscure meal out of all the bitty bits in the freezer: one turkey drummer, one individual chicken pie, one 1/4lb burger, chips, mashed swede, broccoli, cauliflower, and some leftover cheesy potato bake from last night. Was surprisingly tasty and I now have a lot more space in the freezer!

Just13 poor DD, (poor you nearly 3 weeks at home!) hope she gets better soon. What did you bake?

Well done swan sounds like you've been busy!

Batbrains what sort of training do you do? Gym? Long hot shower sounds like the ideal tonic. Hope you're not in too much pain.

I know I'm only 4 days into to Flying, but I'm loving it, and OMG its a good feeling when guests use the loo and I dont have to pre-warn them and apologise in advance for the state of it. Happy days.

Evening all. I've been reading your lists and you all seem so organised]envy] Its been months since I was here - just trying to keep my head above water (and the pile of laundry). I have managed to join facebook though which was on my todo list for yonks.

First day back at work today after mat leave. Wish I could be a SAHM. I'm sure it will get better.

This eve's list:

Pour glass of wine.
Put baby purple to bed - done.
Put mini purple to bed - steeling myself to do this.
Put another load of washing on
Couple of bits of ironing
Dig out notes/papers about a drug i use at work and put a plan together for a paper to write.
Fax childcare voucher form back to kiddivouchers
Email friend
Tidy the kitchen before bed, even if the sink dosen't get a proper shine!

Good to see some familiar faces on here - linzer, feetheart,mrsD, PA, nettie and ellie

See you all soon!

Arrgh!!!
Sorted dining room table only took 2 minutes so wasn't much of a hotspot. I did however find the source of said hotspot
The cupboard under the stairs!!! Seems that no one could find anything in there so were just pilling the crap on the table. Anyway, 'tis sorted now and it's cavernous in there! Who knew [hgrin]

DBIL and partner decided to pop over for a visit. Arrgh!!! Crisis cleaning! DH kindly invited them to stay for dinner which he was going to make. Instead he bugered off to the pub with them so "I could tidy up a bit"...Needless to say I also ended up doing dinner too [hangry]
A story for another thread I think [hgrin]

Bob - Home made Ice-cream! Impressive! Good luck on kicking Dh's butt on Mario karts.

Sittinghippo - Look at you all ahead of the game

Linzer - Damned impressive list! Enjoy your night out.

Batbrains - I'm not sure that I have a perfectionist in me [hwink] You sound as if you've had a hectic day. Take care of that knee.

Swan - Smelly dog didn't get walked to day due to crisis cleaning. He's following me around using his very best sad face[hsad]. Lists are grand aren't they? Initially seem so daunting but they keep you focused. Nothing like the sight of a completed list

Just13 - Sorry to hear that your DD is no better

Beware Facebook it is addictive!

I second the thanks to MrsD. Superb job!

Hehe Imhere - I too cleaned out the cupboard under the stairs. I actually found a potato trying to grow in mine [hblush]

Hippo I am an ice skater. Tuesday is main training day with a 3hr session but it can get very tight wrt collecting ds from school. Had to ask mum to be on standby to collect him. Thankfully got back in time just. Pull onto drive, dump car, run down to school (5mins walk).

As for the knee, it has been bad so long that i know just when to stop and whether i need heat or cold for it. Tonight its tight in the muscles so will be apply a hot water bottle when i have enjoyed the shower and then stretch it out with the physio exercises.

This house is so bad that i am struggling to do the baby steps. So tomorrow is a clear out/crisis declutter. cleaning doesnt even come into it.

PLan of attack for 15mins bursts:
kitchen
lounge x2
bathroom
bedroom x 2
lounge x2
bedroom x2
lounge x2
bedroom x2
Kitchen
lounge x2
bedroom x2

or something like that anyway.

I suspect it will be next month before i can focus on the babysteps but I have tried and failed as there is just so much clutter

I need to allocated a whole day to shredding, at least, at some point too. i hate that job.

Hello everyone. Gosh you have all been busy!!
Away for an entire day and there are 30++ posts to catch up on!

Computer being touchy (despite being suposedly mended at vast expense by technician ) so daren't risk being on here long in case it combusts.

Also, have a load to get done before bed as office was mad today.

Just waving my microfibre cloth at everyone.

MrsD sorry your back is playing up again. Hope things work out better for your ds tomorrow too.

Ofsted sympathies to Ellie

A warm welcome to Scout. I make sure I leave my Fly lists ((particularly crossed-off ones) "casually" strewn about so dh knows what I have done during the day. He wouldn't notice otherwise! And sometimes, a miracle occurs and he does one of the chores himself!!

Great to see you Mini. Glad you are ok and taking it steady. (Apologies for being one of those irritating people who keep asking "is there any news yet?" way before time!!! )

Great to see you too PurpleWednesday Welcome back on board!!

Just13 sorry to hear your dd is still poorly.

Sympathies with the damage limitation Linzer I know the feeling!!

Mahoosive waves to all fledglings and fellow owl fanciers ....

[oohhh, think I just saw Nettie's broomstick speeding past ...]

Oh blither, those were meant to be seasonal emoticons ...[hhmm]

Oohhh! Stillcounting What a fabulous idea!

Apart from the ironing have just done my list. Tomorrow (for I am not at work) the only thing on my list is to make some biscuits. And then eat them