December's Fledgling Flyers: Christmas time, swish and swipe and wine, flyers sing to the fat fairy rhyme.

[elliepac]

Welcome to the December Fledgling Flying thread.

From the 1st of the month we shall be decluttering and taming the chaos using baby steps, missions and zones. A great big thank you to DEM/DID who looked after us last month and did a fantabulous job

We are not strict followers of the fat fairy and take some of the babysteps wearing shoes indoors with a pinch of salt. Also advise against signing up for the fairy's emails.

All are welcome, jump on board for one of our three methods of chaos attack:

1. Baby steps
2. Baby steps and 15mins decluttering in current zone
3. Re-inforce the baby steps and daily mission

This month the fat fairy is gearing up for the feastive period. So I shall also post the christmas mission for those who wish are brave enough to look.

In here the motto is:

*"No perfection! Do what you can, but be realistic about what you can do."

Happy flying.

Name note to selves we need an emergency set of keys in broomcupboard [only to be used in severe emergency of course
I have also attached my keys to an enormous key ring/string of beads (no doubt they will break soon) not that it helps, my handbag is too capacious and has just too many compartments

or perhaps just elastic for everything, including children (no more escaping up to your bedroom at 8.35 ds2!)

*Namechange]

swan you have a broom cupboard?

Did you lose keys too? Sorry if I've missed this bit shared SHEness.

Must go and make a start I am I am I am, lets put some music on.

I've just sent the last batch of recipes off to the proofreader and thought I'd finished all my work, then remembered I had some text on the website still to translate. So I clicked on the link in the e-mail but it wasn't working - aargh! Everything needs to be finished (translated and proofread) by tomorrow, so I'm hoping there's not too much left to do, otherwise it will be another late night. I've e-mailed the agency but it's frustrating that I can't get on with anything until I've heard back - and I need to pick up DD2 in half an hour. Why on earth didn't I think to check the link when I received the e-mail last Monday?

SC Oh yes, it's Black Peter isn't it? I'd forgotten about him - he doesn't look quite as scary as Krampus though here. Well done on all your hard work too btw!

swan We've often been late because I haven't been able to find my keys (house and/or car); I need one of those key finder things that beeps to tell you where they are. My worst ever moment was being 30 minutes late to pick up DD1 from ballet; she was only 4 at the time and very upset. I still feel guilty thinking about it. That was when I decided I needed a spare set of car keys. Our spare house keys are buried in the garden; I once spent about half an hour digging through heavy snow to try and find them.

Have just heard back from the agency that the proofreader has a Trojan horse and can't go online at all at the moment; I'm wondering whether things can get any worse...

Also wondering whether I can get my morning routine done in 10 minutes. I suspect not.

LOL Linzer buried in the garden.... I was locked in the house this AM as DH lock doors after (he has thing that DS might get snatched) I was terrified at the thought of being stuck with DS/flying and not getting to clients!!!!

Pondering elastic though - how does that fit in.....

Hello SC - I used to have little glove clips like that, with fasteners on each end. I wonder what happened to them? .

After all that it didn't even feel too cold this morning (although it is minus 2) because no wind.

mitten clips. Found them.

Can you tell I'm not geting very far with my housework?

I have deep cleaned 2 loos/basins, and mopped two bathroom floors with bleach

removed a horrid pile of stuff in corner of landing
sink cleared but not shone
dw on
table cleared

off out now! hung spare key (located in a pocket of spare anorak [grr] in broom cupboard, car tax on car

got distracted by some xmas recipes - will add marron de glaces puree (sp) to my list and more instant pastry!

I have done

Kitchen
empty DW, refilled, wiped counters, swept and mopped floor

Dining room/study
Tidied/Hoovered

Bathroom
S&S

Lounge
Tidied, ready to hoover in a minute

Other
Made a phone call, unloaded and hid some Xmas pressies from car, posted letter

Stopped for an early lunch, this cold weather seem to make me hungry

didn't get out [grr]
moredones
sorted hall coats/shoes
cleared hall
cleared cat food
created big bag of rubbish from upstairs, brought down all cups, glasses, knives forks
laundry upstairs separated out dcs stuff

got distracted by bleaching something else

going going gone!

all sources of distraction exhausted just starting now

Have hoovered hall and lounge (nor furniture moved).

Am going to do 20 mins of WiiFit and head off to help at school for the afternoon.

I mean no furniture moved.

Linzer - I realise I shouldn't moan at lack of delivery man![blush}
Swan/SC -thank you! He has one at 4 today and another at 1 tomorrow, then he has to wait until 10pm to see if he is required to be interviewed by another college. Trying to get hold of him to check he is actually up!!!!!

Had a very productive day so far..
swished and swiped all loos
Hoovered everywhere
DW on twice
WM on twice
Dryer on once
2x bags of shopping done
WW - I lost 4 pounds (yippee!!)
Dug more snow so my little car doesn't keep beaching!

Got to go any carry on as I'm on a roll.....I think it's called displacement therapy

Fingers crossed for DS OM.

OM You're perfectly entitled to complain - don't mind me. I would be annoyed in your situation too. Good luck to your DS; let us know how he gets on!

Am trying to decide whether to do my morning routine now (I still haven't finished emptying the dishwasher ) or a crisis clean... think I may opt for the latter as it will make the most difference to the state of the house!

Thanks to all who have encouraged me, I've now made an earnest start and I have got my wings back

Living Room
Declutter Living Room done
Take Rubbish out done
Laundry in done
Dust and polish living room
Clean lving room windows
Hoover living room
Fix hoover done
Declutter bathroom done
Deep clean bathroom
Deep clean downstairs toilet

Kitchen
Put dishes away tidy cupboards as going
Put shopping away tidy food cupboard as going
Put Rubbish out
Do dishes
Dry dishes and clean sink
Sort paperwork piles
General declutter
Wipe surfaces
Hoover floor
Mop floor (a good dose of bleach too)
Lift meat out for tea
Hang washing on drier
Iron DH shirts and uniform

BONUS if I find somewhere to safely store fancy glasses that have been on bench for 4 months and never get used - they were decluttered from living room in the Summer and havn't been found a new home (no I wont part with them)

Sorry for long list but I need to break it all down and keep FLYING

Whooop Whooop

Mind you all, ive seen some shocking sights as i've been Flying garage! and under the stair cupboard and err volcano of washing on bed and err some other unmentionables

But we clean with clean clothes on and havnt had food poisening.

Morning.

lacking motivation and will to move this morning as predicted. had a very interesting meeting with school. lots to think about.

hmm started typing that about 12pm when i got in from school. and forgot to post

Have been working on the paper bombsite that has taken the place of the lounge. There is slightly less bombsite and more lounge there now.

Am hoping to make more progress this afternoon but have outstayed my time limited on mn so will have to come back and read through some more later.

skim read as been up since 5.45 writing minutes (the ones that were on my list last week )

ellie - no need to eat your pants - i came out of ikea with a doormat, 3 toilet brushes, about a million paper napkins (can't remember why) and a plan to go back on friday to pick up the mattress... dh vetoed the cushion and the new lighting for the kitchen. (apols for having confused you re moving etc. i've confused myself, if that helps... we moved to canada last year and left a load of stuff in storage in the uk as we moved into a furnished rental initially. that stuff has just been delivered, to the house we own (well, the bank does, really. but we're still living in the rental. mostly.). clear as mud!

dw done
wm
minutes done
work
call kitchen reno bloke to put fridge back
wrap secret santa present (dd1 guides)
buy secret santa present (dd2 brownies)
pathfinders
school council meeting (omg those minutes were late - hopefully they will sack me)
large glass of wine
convince dh to cook dinner
sleep

i am going to try and put out a few hot spots though, along the way!

tempted to namechange to Krampus though. right up my alley!

Progress update and just picked DS and he has told me his teacher has told him he has to be quick on a morning as he was marked late - I feel so bad, it wasn't his fault - I will be super mum tomorrow. Oh the guilt we have as parents had I rushed one of us may have fallen again. harumph sour grapes yes. But my house actually smelt of cleaning products when I got back.

Living Room
Declutter Living Room done
Take Rubbish out done
Laundry in done
Dust and polish living room
Clean lving room windows done
Hoover living room
Fix hoover done
Declutter bathroom done
Deep clean bathroom
Deep clean downstairs toilet done
Extra Damp dust stairs paintwork done

Kitchen
Put dishes away tidy cupboards as going
Put shopping away tidy food cupboard as going
Put Rubbish out
Do dishes
Dry dishes and clean sink
Sort paperwork piles
General declutter
Wipe surfaces
Hoover floor
Mop floor (a good dose of bleach too)
Lift meat out for tea
Hang washing on drier
Iron DH shirts and uniform

Why is it impossible to keep the house looking even halfway tidy when the DC are around? I seem to spend half the time running round after them in a pointless damage limitation exercise, feel guilty because I'm not spending "quality time" with them and the house is still a tip!

It doesn't help that I haven't had any time to clean or tidy in the mornings. Nor that DS has had a "friend" (they seem to spend most of the time squabbling) and his little sister over this afternoon, and the house is - as usual - in chaos afterwards. Time for a few room rescues I think, which is about all the flying I seem to be managing at the moment.

Living Room done done
Declutter Living Room done
Take Rubbish out done
Laundry in *done
Dust and polish living room done
Clean lving room windows done
Hoover living room done twas a pleasure
Fix hoover done
Declutter bathroom done
Deep clean bathroom
Deep clean downstairs toilet done
Extra Damp dust stairs paintwork done
Extra Hoover stairs and landing done

DS Tea done

Kitchen
Put dishes away tidy cupboards as going
Put shopping away tidy food cupboard as going done
Put Rubbish out done
Do dishes
Dry dishes and clean sink
Sort paperwork piles
General declutter
Wipe surfaces
Hoover floor
Mop floor (a good dose of bleach too)
Lift meat out for tea ??
Hang washing on drier done
2nd Laundry in done
Iron DH shirts and uniform

Still a lot to do in kitchen - best get cracking. Linzer you are a hardcore flyer now c'on you'll soon get your wings afluttering again. Least you have 'friends' round, thats a job in itself snacks and toy requests etc.....phew no playdates here til new year now.

My DS just noticed neighbour 'christmas things' (ie lights etc) and is now asking where our are....more mummy guilt...I dont know...

Evening all,

After the snow (or more alongside) came the ice. Currently -11 outside and I live in a town. Roads are worse than they are with snow and your face hurts with cold the minute you step outside. Enough whinging however. It is round-up time. Speed version tonight as I have lots to do.

namechange huuuuuuge list...kicked up rear by strangers..how exciting

madwoman visited ikea and thankfully saved me having to eat my pants (good job, have big granny pants on today!)

deck cleared a bombsite and had an interesting meeting with school. Hope you are ok .

om has a clever son..how did he get on...everything crossed

sc has been beating small children in sacks and feeling smug....about her brilliantly clean house that is, not about beating small children. Well done for getting back on track...no mean feat speaking as one who hasn't managed to do that!

sr and mrsd had much discussion about the relative nightmares of losing keys, hats, mittens and last minute toilet trips. I almost teared my hair out just reading it!

linzer had a bit of a work nightmare and shard with us the delightful Krampon....there I was thinking a sack of coal was a harsh punishment. .

elliepac slid to work after several near death experiences, taught over excited children, slid home from work after several near death experiences to find out DH's site has been shut down until after CHristmas due to the extreme weather and health and safety and therefore we are going to lose about £1400 in the run up to CHristmas . Crappiest of crapola days. Oh and she did aboslutely no flying to speak of.

Back in a mo with the steps!

The babystep for today is a very important one that I try to do even if I am having a crap day.

The mission for today is here.

Big waves to everyone I missed in the round-up, hope you are all safe and warm!