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!

oops meant 75 cupcakes

also had lie-in, which probably wasn't a good idea as dh then in bad/overworked mood when I got up.

busy day, not much housework, but some satisfactory tinkering at the edges
and delicious moroccan casserole

now preparing pasta bake, kids playing Monopoly

SC that is a treasure indeed!
Took ds2 to buy football boots. We passed an elaborate cake shop. Ds2 " I want you to make my wedding cake". Me What kind? Ds2. Oh, a ship, a romantic cruise ship*. "Who will you marry?" Ds2 "Oh, just someone I've met..." At least he didn't ask for 75 cupcakes

Update on list before I collapse in a heap (afternoon and evening routines not done yet again):

Morning routine started
15 min decluttering in kitchen done
Invoices x2 done - one given to DH to hand in at work, one still to send
Get DH to sort out Internet connection (I tried and failed yesterday) done
Food shopping done
Make shopping list for London (just DH going, unfortunately) in progress
Fill in medical history form done
Buy DD2's arts and crafts supplies for school done
Phone friend re birthday party
Birthday presents for DS's and DD2's friends done
Write and send birthday cards x2
Prepare English lesson for next Wednesday done
Afternoon and evening routines
Discuss summer plans with DH (one evening we will be awake enough to do so)

swan My DH has been grumpy for a day or two - he is complaining of a "witches' shot", literally translated, but I think it just means he has done his back in (while gardening). Have just looked it up and it means lumbago; am now wondering exactly what lumbago is...

Nettie DS was very excited to receive your card a few days ago, but wants to know why he couldn't come to your DS's party! I had to explain there was a slight problem with distance.

seeker 75 cupcakes! I think you deserve to have the rest of the day off now.

Ouch Hope you managed to get some sleep and the migraine goes asap - I'm impressed that you're able to get anything done at all.

SC Well done on booking the table. It's always hard getting rid of baby things - I still feel sad thinking of all the things we no longer have, but at least I know they went to a good home (charity or passed on to friends). I don't want to sound too Flylady-esque, but hopefully it will enable you to get some kind of closure too - I find decluttering is often very therapeutic. Lol at your DD's letter - it sounds like something DD1 would write, only with German rather than Dutch influences!

PA I'm sure if you've been best friends for 35 years, the state of your house is the last thing your friend will worry about - but I know how you feel; I like to have the place in some kind of order when friends visit (although if they bring DC with them the same age as ours, the place rarely stays tidy for more than about 5 minutes!).

Toffee Thanks for the link - the website looks really useful. I'll definitely have a closer look at it when I'm doing my menu planning at the end of the week.

linzer, i done precisely 2 things off my list today: sleep late and rest. the only other thing i have managed is to walk to pharmacy to collect medicine.

Well, not much flying for me today, but have shifted out several boxes of children's stuff at the local NCT sale, which should bring in £50 or so profit when it's all added up. I spent the day helping at the sale too, which I always enjoy.

An early roundup from me tonight, I spend far too much time on this computer and want to switch it off early tonight.

MissB I too have a confession re kitchen floor mess, we unfortunately have carpet under our table, rice sweeps so much more easily when it has had 24 hours to dry out...

Feetheart popped in late last night having had a very busy day yesterday and hopefully you found some bargains in the charity shops today.

Linzer has had a busy day and has got a grumpy DH, I don't know much about lumbago either but hope it improves soon.

Ouch has had a much needed day of rest, despite being startled by the window cleaner, well done Ouch.

Toffee - well done on the menu planning, mine has slipped a bit of late, need to get that going again.

PA - brilliant idea re coat decluttering, hope you had a lovely time with your friend.

SC had a happy moment with a letter from her DD, awwww.

Seeker - 75 cupcakes, wow, that is quite an achievement.

Swanriver's DS has had a romantic moment, another awwww.

Nettie has been enjoying softplay parties

Waves to everyone else.

Back to post links after I have put DCs to bed.

Evening all

Just got back from lovely day out at Harewood House, but sooo shockingly expensive .

DH hung over from spending the night with PIL and BIL last night. I am slightly in both senses of the emoticon as still have 'morning' sickness at 17 weeks without all the fun of getting drunk first. Plus DD, who usually sleeps through like a dream wole up screaming in terror in the middle of the night and it took me two hours to get her to go back to sleep.

Am in awe at 75 cupcakes and at PA's 18 year old hostage situation!

SC I will be clearing out baby stuff in a couple of weeks if I turn out to be having a boy. Which is inevitable as everything I own is bright bright pink!

PMPY - you kept that quiet! Or was I just not reading the posts thoroughly? Congratulations, hope the sickness passes soon.

Sunday 3rd October
Babystep not too tricky, keep shining the sink, whilst wearing lace ups shoes and reading the Flylady website

Sunday Reminders.

I think I might have forgotten to mention it yesterday . Getting lots of lovely little kicks this evening - very reassuring .

Posting tomorrows list now as I probably won't get on in the morning

Dishwasher
Washing
Resurrect S&S, which has fallen by the wayside recently!
Meal plan for the week
Buy curtain hooks!!!!
General tidy
Hoover stairs

Yay, congratulations PMPY. I think you were asking about me too, yes! 32 weeks (and nervously counting)!

Just got home from an evening out so haven't managed to catch up with everyone, hope you are all having a great weekend.

You know all these thread babies is doing nothing to help my broodiness although morning sickness i am glad to be without.

just popping in before bed with a list update

replacement stickers for DS room to be put up-done and major toy organisation undertaken somestill tobe found a home
tidy up downstairs looking pretty bad-nope
wm/td-done
hotspotting-nope
prepare swimming bag for tomorrow-done
prepare day bag for tomorrow birthday party-done
sort out party clothes-nope
paint room, get colours all finished ready for wallpapering next week. then i think we are ready for carpet too. Woohoo!!!- done woohooo till tomorrow night as probably need another coat.

Tomorrow very hectic so slight list.
up morning routine,
swimming lessons
straight to another softplay party.
home for tidy up then homemade curry then more painting.

pmpy congrats two thread babies. (wonders how chairmum getting on)
linzer ahh how sweet, tellhimhe is more than welcome
ouch totally agree morning sickness nah. oh and sleepless nights dont entice me at all
mrsd well done on your nct sale. I always mean to doit but i just too lazy and give stuff away to friends instead.

waves frantically to everyone else tomake upfornot stopping

Morning everyone!

Didn't get on here yesterday as I had an unexpectedly busy day. Shopping both in town and supermarket in the morning with dh and dc's (why is it so much less stressful when dh isn't with us ?). Then, as it was such a lovely day, tool the dc's to a local farm park for the afternoon. It was one we hadn't been to before and we loved it. Some of these places can feel very commercialised but this one genuinely felt like a farm. Dh didn't come so it was just me and dc's and we had a fabulous afternoon. Got back and nephew was at our house and ended up sleeping over and then dsil turned up and we had an impromptu evening of wine and chat!

Today ds is going to the mation railway museum with beavers so just dd to amuse on this foul morning. Will be back later to read all your news.

Those links are useful, MrsD. Silly me, I hadn't realised the home 'blessing' was meant to be just 10mins per task, keeping the whole thing down to one hour. I have a lot of tidying up to do this morning before visitors arrive (DS's friends are coming round for a birthday outing, which DH is taking him on, whilst I stay at home with DS2 and enjoy tea and chat with a friend and her DS. Friend has a pristine house, so I always feel embarrassed by mine). Wonder if I can do the whole thing in one hour . Or will it qualify as a 'crisis clean'? Either way, I'll need the timer.

Will have to shut the door on DS2's bedroom, I think - it looks like the aftermath of a burglary .

Congrats to the two Flyladies with Fledglings on the way (lovely to feel those kicks, PMPM ).

DC have quietened down after some tiger-cub wrestling this morning and are now watching 'Penguins of Madagascar', so I think I can safely creep off to the bathroom to start my morning routine and swish and swipe.

Hope you all have a good Sunday.

Afternoon everyone.

Incredibly lazy day here. Catching up on last nights x-factor has been my afternoon!! I was up early to wave Dh off on his 100mile bike road race. I wasnt sure he was going to get there as the weather was so foul I didnt think he would get off the island as boats were cancelled, but he hasnt returned, so I assume he is stroking with vengeance and ernest!!! I cant think of worse weather to do it, but hey, thats life .

A baby doolittle on the way!! How exciting!!
(Adoption was the way to go for No. 6!! No sickness with her!!

I hope you have all had fun with family and friends today and MrsD has had fun at the fair!

Happy Sunday everyone!

Hello! Very exciting news from the MissB household - we have a new arrival :)

'Tis a puppy! He's 6 months old and black - a scottie cross - though looks pretty mixed if you ask me - and he has the most enormous ears! Only thing is his name - he's been called Pikey. Which I'm not convinced about but also our other dog is called Spikey - don't know if we can change it so we'll have to see. So far both my boys getting on quite well - and both my girls are besotted

So there will be even more chaos in the house now

I did post, honest, but it's gone.
Oh, MsB puppy....how lovely, and a baby pushmepullyou sounds adorable too..
PA you must have loved babies then...
Ellie don't think I have ever managed to go shopping with dh - it is quite impossible. We sometimes bump into each other in Morrisons and look aghast at contents of each other's baskets.

not much today, church, piano and roast dinner, and a lot of walking.

Evening all,

Lazy ish day here too, lazed all morning, then took DCs swimming followed by tea at Pizza Hut.

Has anyone sent me a FB friend request? An unfamiliar name/face has popped up. I do get random mistake ones quite often though as there are a lot of people with my name on there.

Back later

I can add shocking heartburn and swollen ankles to the list if that helps at all Ouch (but remember well the overwhelming feeling of broodiness too - in fact the other day I had very bizarre third child broodiness despite No.2 not being here yet)!

Evening all! Haven't done too bad today. House rescue downstairs, washing, drying ( environmentalists I am sorry but my drier has been on all afternoon ), roast dinner, children bathed and bedded and sink shined. Now for bath, wine and x-factor. Am considering making an ark tonight as it has not stopped raining all day and not just drizzle, the proper stuff.

pmpy congratulations! I have to admit to being a little third child broody as, unlike mm I have had my second child . At the moment however head is ruling heart ( bigger house, bigger car, stupid childcare costs....).

swan he was beyond irritating, no patience and cardifaffing around

missb another new arrival! Congratulations! Not jealous of that one though don't like dogs!

Big waves to everyone else, lots of lovely relaxing Sundays to be had by the sounds of it!

And did anyone else notice how that Lola sloped off as soon as the going got tough. She was alright shining a sink but ask her to put some lace-up shoes on and she vanishes. Part timer, not a proper hard core flyer like me . good riddance to bad rubbish.

Evening all

Absolutely boiling, gloriously sunny day here which took us by surprise after being soaked to the skin yesterday.

And dd is happy because an enormous squirrel has decided to make the tree at the bottom of our garden his home. Only trouble is, he is rather fat and old (like me) and the tree is very tall, so he keeps having to stand back and take running jumps to propel himself up the trunk. He usually makes it on the third attempt .

It's been a busy day. Late night last night with friends then up early this morning to go riding. That took up the entire morning. We then saw dh off to US for the wk and since then I have:

polished shoes
washed X 3 loads of clothes
dyed my barnet fair
uprooted some failing courgette and squash plants
given dd and myself a bubble bath, manicure and a pedicure
changed all the beds
cooked a chicken with all the trimmings and made stock for soup later in the week
sorted out yet more school stationery

which doesn't sound v. much but has taken up the rest of the day

still to do:
evening routine
hang up one load of washing
clean up kitchen and prepare for morrow
iron school uniform
double bill of "House"!!!! (pure heaven)

Thanks for step MrsDinky good on you for having a lazy day

Ellie was just musing over that very subject as it happens. I complain about dh being away so often, but in reality get x5 as many things done when he is not here. The house is so much more peaceful too.

Hope you get a chance to put your feet up Mini

Swan sounds like the perfect Sunday to me

MissB your new arrival sounds utterly gorgeous

PA delighted to see that you have actually taken it easy today for once!

Toffee my home blessing "hour" tends to take 2.5 hrs!

Hope the painting is going well Nettie

• I was wondering about Chairmum too ...

Gosh! PMPY that is fabulous news!! A baby Doolittle!!! Many, many,congratulations! I loved the kicking stage! Take it steady though won't you? Only light Flying allowed!

Thank you Linzer for v. kind words. Again without employing too much psycho-babble, I totally agree that there is a direct correlation between having a cluttered house and not being able to move forward in your life.

75 cupcakes Seeker??? !! I'd have to lie down in a darkened room after that ...

Waves to Ouch, Pluto, Bob, Dart Feetheart and everyone I've inevitably missed.

Have a lovely evening everyone!

[tuts and shakes head in disappointed fashion re: Lola]

Hello :) I've missed you all, we've been internetless and I could only use my slightly rubbish phone which freaked out trying to load the last thread! How is everyone?

I've been doing my routines and attempting to declutter but will be back in earnest tomorrow

Hello,

Trying to get the hang of this. Sink shined, shoes laced and er that's about it. Though did manage a roast for everyone today, and a trip to the museum in London with the little ones yesterday.

Tomorrow off to Bristol for work for two days - does this release me from sink shining duty as will be 100 miles away and arms aren't that long?

Happy Sunday evening...

Do you not have any Inspector Gadget style extendable arms sahara? shame on you, the fat fairy will be disappointed . seriously though I use work as an excuse and I work about 5 mins drive from home so I think you are definitely excused!