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!

Oooo procrastinating on antiprocrastination day. You rebel you purple [hwink]

Evening all,

Purplewednesday - I do apologise, you popped back on yesterday didn't you and I forgot to say hello, welcome back! Today I made biscuits (and ate a lot of them), they were yum. I bought one of those syringe things that you put cookie dough in and just squeeze them out onto the tray, easy peasy and very pretty biscuits.

Feetheart - while we are on the subject of sweet things, I would have voted vanilla as I cannot even bear mint choc chip within about 10 feet of me but hope you enjoyed it.

Bob - from previous discussions on here, several of us have ice cream machines, but Feetheart seems to be Top Ice Cream Maker. I have one of those basic ones where you keep the bowl in the freezer so only the top part is cluttering up the cupboards, but I only sever seemt to make chocoalte, vanilla and strawberry.

Linzer - have a nice night out

Bat - don't overdo it tomorrow

Imhere - well done on the understairs cupboard

Just13 I joined this thread last nov and am still nowhere near mastering Flying either, if it's any consolation. And I'm a SAHM with both DCs now at school so no escuse really [hblush]

Sitting - yes, the ever clean loo is probably my favourite part of Flying, no more panic wipe downs when the doorbell rings.

Scout I agree that you need to put everything on your list, not just flying activities.

Waves at everyone else, hello!

Well, I managed to get DDs room sparkly today AT LAST. Has been a bit of a tough day, stuff still not brilliant at school (although this is about DS he is actually fairly oblivious, it is me that is upset). Going to head off to bed now to try and stop worrying, night night.

Wednesday's Links

Babystep. Nothing says I love you more than clean underwear (apparently).

Mission. Clear your nightstands.

WWednesday Reminders.

Forgot to say, coming on this thread and "chatting" with you all cheers me up quite a bit if I am having a bad day like today. Thank you everyone!

Sittinghippo - we made raisin slices, otherwise known as 'squashed fly bars'! They were good too! My kitchen is a bombsite. Facebook is far more interesting. Will have to get up early tomorrow as I have a very busy day...Good luck to all tomorrow x

Evening all,

Thanks for all your good wishes re OFSTED.

Have done all I think I can do for now. What will be will be. Am going to bed in a minute and then going to get up at 5 to go through everything again and make sure am out of the house on time.

swan school got satisfactory last time but has improved loads in last 3 years and we are hoping for at least good. Head's going for outstanding but I don't think we'll get it.

AM going now to try and get some sleep. Will check back in tomorrow if I get the chance..

Wishing you the very best of luck, elliepac.

hello hellohello everywhere. Should be asleepbut knew i needed to have a read and update my list or illnever be able to comeback.

Today i have
up ds to montessori
library handed back tons of books and renewed one which has been mia since july. it went on a trip to scotland and next time iam up there is november some time.
dd thank you cards for birthday presents-done
find and order huge outfit for fat cowgirl- found a hat
make dinner chicken something or beef something- pasta bolognase and a batch frozen for lasagna
post review of party entertainer- done
made strawberry meringue ice cream with dc. never made any before so intersting to see how it turns out.
find out if dd wants to go to jo jingles or stay and play on tuesdays, feel our day together is adrfit and lacking focus- done asked her and she got really excited about jo jinglessohave booked back in there.
wrapped dd keyworkers present. she starts a new room tomorrow. [nervous emotion]
ironing out away
wm.td/dw done
started on christmas cards
bought two christmas presentsand a christmas case to out them all in.

swan welcome back, glad eire was lovely
ellie go girl you can do it
purple hope you settle in at work soon. its a rench isnt it1 But i do now enjoy my time at work as much as being off. gives me some me time, if you know what i mean. nice to see you [hgrin]
linzer have a lovely night out
imhere love the cave under the stairs i am dreadfully jealous as mine is open to the world and currently houses christmas stuff
just hope dd is better tomorrow and course goes well
sitting sounds like a genius meal. are you going totake it up professionally. if i send you a lst of my leftovers can you tell me what to do with it?
mm hee hee potato growing and baby growing. hope you ok.
bat im taking a bin bag fullof shredding to work tomorrow i feel the pain [hgrin]
mrsd sorry school are creating difficulties,hopeit settles down soon.
sc love the completed lists strategically placed, i might write my lists just to see if dh notices [hwink]
humungous waves to everyone i have missed, my broomstick ill have you know its a nimbus 2000[stickey out tongue emotion] is waiting

nite nite

Minimal flying here in the cobweb house. DS is still poorly and very upset if left alone (tears when I go to the loo, or answer the door, go to the kitchen etc etc). This morning I decided to get him to the dr, as he'd been ill since Friday, and I can't keep his temp down. Got an emergency appt for 4pm. Dr wanted a urine sample, DS wouldn't/couldn't supply. As he still hadn't by the time the surgery was shut for the night, the dr had told me to contact the out of hours dr and get him to test it. So we had a 1/2 hour trip to the out of hours surgery this evening. Urine is fine. So he just has a bug, there's a lot of this one about round here. Been advised to keep him off playgroup until his temp stays down, and if not down by Friday to go back to dr.

Got DS down to sleep at 10pm, and been dashing round frantically since then, trying to get stuff done. Just sat down, read posts, writing this and he's awake again. Must dash....

Woken up and head buzzing so got up and have done:

• price list for 2nd hand uniform sale for tomorrow
• emailed people about sale
• ordered from BookPeople (via easyfundraising website)

Am now slightly worried that it is poncy to give children a book instead of a party bag [hhmm]

As for today's (yesterday's) list:

• Snacks for DC done and demolished
• Library to return books - no, decided to rain hard just before school pick-up time so lurked in the house till last possible minute
• Bank - no, see above!
• Pick up DC - done
• Bathroom floor - done
• Dinner for DC - done
• Homework - done
• 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) - done
• Early night for DC - sort of. DD wanted to read her school reading book for DS's bedtime story but it was longer than I thought. She read it beautifully though, brought a tear to my eye :)
• Sew on DD's Brownie badge before BIG Vision thing tomorrow night - no. MUST do this tomorrow

Rather like Top Ice-Cream Maker title [hsmile]. I only have cheapie one too (they seem to be approx £40 or approx £300 [hshock]) I keep bowl in freezer and top bit ready-assembled (so as not to lose tiny vital component!) in back of a cupboard. Go through phases of using it but it is the 3rd one we have had in 10yrs as have burnt the motors out of previous ones due to over-use [hblush] Makes you very snobby about shop-bought ice-cream though.

Strength to those with poorly DC, look after yourselves too as its HARD WORK. My usual method is to curl up on sofa with said child and fall asleep whilst watching a video of their choice - child happy(ish) and comforted, Mummy rested [hgrin]

Ellie - best Ofsted wishes.

Back to bed now for a few hours.

Bring it on!

Morning all,

Have just seen the DC off - DD1 is going on a class trip to the zoo in Vienna today, so was quite excited. This means today's English lesson is cancelled, so I was looking forward to having a full five child-free hours this morning (this is the only day when DD2 is at school for five hours as well). However, we had a note yesterday to say that the RE teacher is ill so DD1 will be home an hour early, which means only four child-free hours after all. I know I can hardly complain as I remember the time when even one DC-free hour would have been bliss, but am still ever so slightly annoyed at missing out on the extra hour!

Had a lovely evening out last night, although we didn't exactly paint the town red as we were thrown out of the cafe at 9 pm, by which time the town was virtually dead so we decided to call it a night! DH was surprised to see me back so early and so sober. It was so nice to be able to chat without being interrupted by the DC every 10 seconds; I'd almost forgotten what it was like!

Glad to hear I'm not the only one whose DH has some wardrobe horrors. Miracle of miracles, I managed to persuade DH to get rid of quite a few things - including the Hawaiian swimming shorts (hallelujah), which he had no sentimental reason for keeping after all.

feetheart Interesting to hear that you can order from the Book People via the easyfundraising site, as I occasionally order from them (but more often from Red House, which I noticed is part of the scheme too). I've registered on the site and must remember to use it when I place my Christmas orders.

Ihate Sorry your DS is ill; hope he's feeling better soon.

Nettie Sounds like you're being very organised with your Christmas cards and presents; I must start making my list soon.

ellie Good luck for today; I'm sure you'll do brilliantly! [hgrin]

Just13 Facebook is great, isn't it? I recently wanted to get in touch with an old school friend after a bereavement in her family, didn't have her e-mail address but managed to find her on FB and we're back in touch. Btw there are a few of us on this thread who are on FB if you're interested.

MrsD This thread really cheers me up sometimes too; I've lost count of the number of times I've come on here feeling fed up/annoyed/depressed and everyone's kind words have made such a difference.

Right, on with today's list:

Morning routine
Put washing away
15 min decluttering in master bedroom
Mission
Finish letter
Afternoon routine
DS to birthday party
DD2 to ballet
Dermatologist's appointment
Bank/pay bills x3
Sort out travel insurance
Finish filling in form for translation agency

Linzer 4 DC-free hours! [henvy]
Glad you enjoyed your evening out, even if it was 9pm home time! It is sometimes lovely to just be your old original self again for a few hours.

Good luck for today ellie cant wait to hear how it went.

Poor cobwebs did you get any sleep? It is so draining, I second feetheart's advice!

Sooo have packed DD off to pre-school so on with todays list.

Morning routine done
Empty DW done
Put on WM
Crack on with glossing in bedroom
Mission
Vacuum upstairs
Vacuum Stairs
Empty WM
Ironing
Mini shop for veg
Create something wonderful for dinner (esp after last nights efforts)
Straighten lounge for guests this afternoon

I feel much more cheerful today. DS's problems are with another child ( and their parent). School are being extremely supportive, have been to see the head this morning.

However morning and evening routines are shot to pieces, need to get on. Might make some more biscuits!

Hi all

Work schedule all over the place with dh's endless travels...but am resolutely taking the morning "off" to get through some urgent tasks (or "crp to zap" as Swan* so aptly describes it ):

morning routine inc wm and dw on + s+s, plus master swipe x3
General tidy up of sitting room and hall and landings
LAUNDRY (thanks for the reminder MrsD!)
clear dining room table hot spot (again)
spray dd's new school shoes
laundry order (dh shirts) again
wrap presents
contact garage about controle technique
contact baby-sitter
order Christmas cards on-line

afternoon: school run, ballet run, doctor run

Good luck Ellie!! More power to your elbow and all that!!

Thought of you last night Linzer when I was reading the Saturday Guardian (never get to it at the w/e!) and there was a very good article about Austria winning the Best European Country Award - containing lots of recommendations of things to do and places to visit. Partic. like the sound of the Mur region (vineyards, mountains, cycle-friendly inns and the Kunsthaus museum at Graz). Will definitely be bearing it in mind for next summer ...

Gosh Feetheart well done on your middle-of-the-night cleaning spree. I occasionally do that and it's a very good feeling when you wake up next morning with everything done ... like you've had a visit from an anonymous house-cleaning gnome ...

Hope your ds starts to feel better soon Ihate you must both be exhausted

Oh we love squashed fly biscuits in this household Just13 but sadly they are the shop variety ...if you have a recipe lurking ....

Nettie you did amazingly well with yyour long list yesterday
[my broomstick is the Nimbus extra-strength weight-bearing 1800 model] so there

Waves to BatBrains and everyone else ...must go and drink strong coffee finish cleaning the kitchen ...half the morning is already gone ....

Have a good day one and all!!

x posts MrsD - that's great news!! I'll have orange, cranberry and walnut please if you are taking orders ....

Have finished my morning routine, done today's and tomorrow's decluttering in the master bedroom (discovered all of DH's old cycle gear and am wondering whether he can be persuaded to part with any of it, as it's unlikely he'll be doing another tour of the Alps) and the mission, so time for a coffee break.

sittinghippo I know, I really can't complain (but the short school days were one thing I was complaining about last night!). If the RE teacher hasn't recovered by tomorrow, DD2 will only be at school for three hours (not sure why their class teacher can't teach the class for the hour when they would normally have had RE) so I am keeping my fingers crossed for a speedy recovery!

SC (love the Halloween name btw) I can definitely recommend Austria as a holiday destination - it has everything but the sea! (But that lack is made up for by the lakes and mountains IMO.) And (cheap, good-quality) wine in abundance, which is always a plus point. [hgrin] Sitting outside in a Heuriger (wine tavern) on a warm summer's evening is an experience not to be missed out on. Graz is well worth a visit (DH went to university there); in fact, the entire region is beautiful (and great for cycling). I also like the Salzkammergut (area around Salzburg) and Kärtnen (Carinthia), but there's no end of destinations really.

MrsD It's great that the school is being so supportive about your DS's problems. Very often they seem to take the "six of one, half a dozen of the other" approach (or used to), and there's only so much you can do as a parent - you really need to have the school on your side.
Mmm, biscuits... Btw why don't we have a Halloween biscuit emoticon? Am going to try it just in case. [hbiscuit]

No, it didn't work. [hsad]

Didn't post yesterday because very little Flying was done and I had DS1 at home all day. He was utterly miserable about school the night before and begged me to home educate him . It turns out he is being left out at football games at playtime. He has a brand new football, which the other kids want to use, so they all make a big fuss of him until he lets them use it, but then they exclude him from the game. Even one of his best friends joined in. He didn't seem well yesterday and insisted he was ill again today (he is asleep at the moment, so may be right), but I'm sure there's a bit of 'schoolitis' going on here. Am worried it will get out of hand because a couple of years' ago he became school phobic and it took a lot of work and support from teachers and an ed psych to get him back to school full time again. Anyway, am going to talk to the TA who was so supportive last time and hope we can nip this in the bud.

Ihate - hope your DS is feeling better today.

feet - hope you managed to get some more sleep. Thanks for mentioning the Book People - you reminded me that I want to order some Xmas presents from them.

linzer - I know exactly what you mean about resenting the loss of one child-free hour. Four hours goes so quickly. I am now in the luxurious position of having both DC in school full time and I still feel 3pm comes round too quickly!

ellie - thinking of you and sending you lots of luck for today!

sitting - good luck with the 'creating something wonderful for dinner' bit of your list! I have to say that my DC seem to prefer it when I'm lazy and fling a bit of pasta on a plate with cheese on top! They never seem to appreciate my more exotic culinary efforts .

Still- looks like a busy day and a hectic afternoon for you.

MrsD - glad the school are being supportive about your DS. I know how you feel (see above!).

Haven't made a list for today, but have a vague idea in my head about getting some online shopping done for Xmas, keeping up with the routines and decluttering for at least 15mins. Oh, and have to make a decision about DS2's birthday party. How do I persuade him that a 'make your own pizza party' (my idea) will be more fun than an 'army party' (his idea) ?

Bit of a problem with the laundry because - arrgh! - tumbledryer has broken! I rely on it and don't know how I'll get through the same amount of laundry without it. I suppose I should put the rotary dryer up again and use the radiators, but it really adds to the work load. Grrr.

DS awake and feeling hungry, so have to go now. Waves to all - oldies (ahem, in the sense of following Flylady, not age, of course) and newbies.

Just a flying visit as am desperately trying to zap the crap

15mins attack List update:
kitchen done
lounge x2 done x1
bathroom done
bedroom x 2 done Started in the bedroom this morning.
lounge x2
bedroom x2 done
lounge x2
bedroom x2
Kitchen
lounge x2
bedroom x2

Promised ds i would name his hat and gloves. Might attach bloody gloves to his coat sleeves though. On second pair already this year and he has only worn them one day [hhmm]

Other things list:
Rice pudding preped and waiting cooking
Muesli bars for lunch box instead of sandwiches *found recipie but short a few ingrediants
Shopping
Naming of gloves, hat and bag

Right must fly. can I borrow your nimbus 2000 nettie?

TFC that is so hard, had this in varyng degrees with two of my kids to the extent that I was actually relieved that ds1 had to stay at home with his broken leg. I don't know the answer really, just that it seemed to be a phase that ds himself had to go through, and come out other side and decide he could deal with the "bullies". I think it helped that I made him feel good about himself in other ways and then he felt he deserved to be happy. It is just so HARD. I think sometimes one charismatic personality in the playground can change the whole balance of power, for the worst; sometimes things right themselves when that personality is checked. I think that is the role of the school. In ds case one boy (who he now gets on well with) became a sort of rival in the playground pecking order.

Have stopped for a "mummy break". DS is watching CBeebies on his own, hopefully sipping a drink occasionally (with my shouting a reminder every few minutes), so I'm having a cup of tea and something to eat (choc chip cookie, but shh.. don't tell anyone - I got them yesterday when we were out, and they are my "mummy treat" to keep me going whilst DS is poorly. Thankfully, he seems to be a bit brighter today (sitting on his own), but I doubt I'm going to get much of anything else done. I'm not even going to post a "wish list", as I will only get stressed when I come here later and can't cross anything off. Off to do the washing up maybe clean the kitchen floor before I'm needed again.

Thanks, Swan. It's good to know your son came out the other side. I had a chat with a friend this morning whose son is a good friend of mine and who may be able to provide an 'ally' to my son in the playground. I'm hoping they'll come round later and we can talk about it. It should give my DS more confidence if he knows there is at least one person on his side at playtime. In the meantime, DS and I are having a very nice time together at home .

Ihate - I have "mummy treats" (usually chocolate) hidden away too .

Batbrains - hope your crisis clean is successful.

Good afternoon all.
Had a pants morning at work, the kids seemed to sense that I was grumpy and decided to be as loud and destructive as possible. On the plus side, we made green Halloween gloop and it was a hit!

Mini- I laughed lots at your budding potato farm. [hgrin]

Batbrains - That is one monster list! I'm plagued by letters and the like too, I don't have a shredder though, and the last time I ripped them up by hand and ended up with the mother of all blisters on my finger. 'Buy a shredder' will be on my list for next week I think.

purple - Enjoy your day of eating biscuits.

MrsD and Toffee - I hope that the problems with you DC are resolved quickly. Kids can be so bloody mean to each other.

Just13 - STEP AWAY FROM THE FACEBOOK! Facebook is hopelessly addictive. It took a few months to wean myself out of the habit. It is great for keeping in touch with old friends though.

Elliepac - I hope today goes/went really well for you.

Nettie - Christmas shopping!?!

Ihate - I'm sorry that your DS is still poorly. Well deserved mummy break I think.

Feet - Bloody hell you get up early, and motivated too! MarioKart is a cool game. DS is the champion (by a mile) at our house.

Linzer - Glad you had a good night last night.

Still - Christmas cards!?!

Swan - You're so right about the playground politics. My Ds went through the same rivalry with another child in his year. I don't think the teachers helped as both of them were at about the same level of work and they compared them a lot. It caused all sorts of strife. DS was very happy last term as the other child was moving away. Not really and answer to the problem but I'm glad. DS is much happier to go to school now.

I think I'm going to sit and do nothing for a few hours I just can't seem to find the energy today. But later I will follow babysteps, do the mission and a 15min declutter. I've already done a general tidy of downstairs and swished and swiped so the house isn't too bad

Well, have managed to hoover DSs bedroom and the landing/playroom. Three lots of washing done. Hair henna'd. Biscuits made (chocolate) and eaten (well a few) >.

Need to go and put away three lots of washing before school am helping at an after school club today.

toffee - sorry your DS is having problems too. Swan and Imhere thank you for your kind words on the subject, it's horrible isn't it.

feet heart know exactly what you mean about the small part of the ice cream machine. Ours slots nicely over the arm of my Ikea wall rail and woe betide anyone who doesn't put it back there after washing up.

Just13 re FB, my advice is avoid the games like the plague, they will suck all your time up. Just stick to chat!

Back later.

Oh and check your privacy settings very carefully.....