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.

Morning all. quick post and dash am afraid.

list:
finish sorting the chaos pile in the lounge
finish last dregs of washing
hoover back through lounge
hoover kitchen and dinning room
training

Morning all!

Good luck with your list Linzer - you too PA! Glad DD2's piercing is causing you less pain! Hi deck - I'd love to see you doing your skating:it always sounds so glamorous!

Today:
Swish and swipe done
Clean up kitchen ! CBA last night done
write letter
errands in town
post letters
Take DD to school later for her Controlled Assessment (quick rant: bloody thing! Why can't they leave the exam system alone! She has to do 10 hours of prep and writing of history essay in certain lessons and she's been ill for at least 2 of them as have all her classmates. If they miss it's a big problem as it has to be rescheduled presumably during lunchtimes!Rant over!)

Got to go to Heathrow later to do a drop off so I'm keeping everything crossed for the promised mini thaw!

Have a good day all...

MOrning all,

Just hd a sneak peek while at work and wanted to say to om that I think COntrolled Assessment sucks and it is a logistical nightmare. Why they couldn't just punish those schoolswho were abusing the system instead of all of us I do not know.

Rant over!

Quick update to keep me on track:

e-mail invoice done
Morning routine done
Christmas cards/correspondence one card and letter written
Menu planning done
Write shopping list done
Pack DS and DD2's overnight bags done
15 mins tidying/decluttering in kitchen
DD2 to friend's
DD1 to dyslexia lesson
Food shopping - NB do NOT forget coffee filters, as we now have none left in the house (tempting as the Turkish style coffee sounds, swan...)
Buy sympathy card
Afternoon routine
Check whether DD2 has white tights for ballet show on Wednesday
Check whether we ever got round to taking out travel insurance (and if not, do so)
Help DD1 to revise for test on Old Stone Age/New Stone Age
Pick up DD2 and DS from gym club and return to friend's for overnight stay
DD1 to neighbours overnight
Evening routine
Out with DH for a meal (first time ever here!)

PA Well done on the present! I really don't enjoy Christmas present shopping here (so have done it all on Amazon and in Bratislava so far), but I am looking forward to writing my cards (when I eventually find time).

OM Grr at controlled assessment. I remember continuous assessment being introduced when I was at school - not quite the same as we could do it in our own time at home, but it was still a pain. I'd much rather have one exam at the end of the year and get it all out of the way then, although I know not everyone feels the same.

Must rush so that I can fit in my 15 minutes of decluttering before school pick-up.

OM it can be really tedious you spend hours perfecting this.

it looks really glamerous but it aint so. btw neither of them is me. There are certain phrases that all coaches had the biggest is "Do it again" "bend your knees" "arms straight" "dont look down" "check the pattern when you have finished the move" "finish the move properally" Do i hear these in my sleep

I like friday night training as it isnt a proper training session and i use it for speed and stamina and essentially mucking about. No field moves, no spins, no jumps. Tis really nice to break up the other technical stuff with belting around as fast as possible

oh guys i really need some support today... havent been doing well wth house lately and clutter is taking over... even when i try to fly it just makes me notice all the other mess?!!! what do i do ??? its havng a big effect on my mind now.... i wake up stressed feeling like the walls are closing in with all the cr*p

timer 15mins bursts in each room. every 45 mins sit down. 27 fling boogie: 27 things for the bin, 27 for recycling/charity, box of stuff to be rehomed out of the room.

Strong cup of coffee, and bouncy music (music that makes you smile)

By the way when you chuck out a bin liner of stuff crap then you automatically feel a little bit better. It helps. trust me. the other day when i chucked out 3 i feel amazing and yet the room was still a complete disaster space where you had to tiptoe across the floor and couldnt find a seat to sit on. it was psychological because i knew that 3 bags of junk removed was a lot.

Right, List
hoover whole house
change sheets (yes I know that was on yesterday's list)
go shopping
tidy drawers
tidy our bedroom (now seriously bad) will tackle that first, and clean upstairs loo

more invites for party (B list due a few people not being able to come from A list is that very wicked?

done
paid house insurance

Loosinas, the kitchen is looking terrible this minute. But, because I decluttered it a few days ago, I KNOW it will only take 15 minutes to tidy now.
setting the timer...go!

half done!

R&R day. burnt out yesterday and the day before and struggling.

Loonsina - keep posting up dates. it helps. its what i did endlessly yesterday.

got sidetracked by someone at door..

loo deepcleaned
christmas stuff rationalized again
dw unloaded

Loosina - great advice from Swan and DEM. Especially dance music. Just keep going even if you only do a bit - you'll feel better..

Deck - I still think the skating sounds fab and I don't want to spoil the image I have of you doing fab stuff on ice!!

Ellie - well needless to say DD hasn't gone in. As she said 'what's the point in writing for an hour if I'm delirious. It'll be rubbish' I'm afraid I agree with her but pity her poor history teacher. It's a lose/lose situation really isn't it? BTW if anyone dares to say GCSEs are getting easier I can't be responsible for my actions. The pressure these kids are under from 15 upwards is now ENORMOUS!!!!!

On the bright side:
have done my list
managed to get a couple of Christmas pressies.

Just have to do Heathrow run (not looking forward to) then I'm collapsing with a large glass and the telly....!

linzer I have now thrown away a playmobil ambulance and playmobil veg van (missing every component) Feel much better. Ds2 played with them yesterday and was throwing them down the stairs for fun with his playmate..I think that's what happens when there are too many toys...boo hoo...

I have put all the Mr Men books in the loft with a xylophone 10 stuffed toys and a tambourine, for grandchildren LOL.

Dh is still refusing to pass on the Playmobil hospital (or the empty Sylvanian Tree house - which he actually brought back from the bin men)They are now in his study if he wants them [grr]

My husband is German, thinks house is completely disorganised but somehow believes that organisation is compatible with every toy/book that the children have ever possessed and every novel/video/cd/piece of furniture we have ever possesssed. Hates decluttering, and doesn't even understand concept. Likes tidy clean houses though [grr]

kitchen tidy! sorry that took longer than 15 mins I know, but I did some other stuff too..

oh posted on wrong thread -
everything hoovered & tidied
bit of shopping done
sheets changed..

now our bedroom [determined]30 mins
invites [30 mins]

Swan. You still a fly thread tart then how on earth do you manage it?

that's it. Need some festive cheer.

one for chat, one for work

right must take stock of christmas present list. We are celebrating a week early this year and it has just dawned on me that it means i have to have all presents ready for next weekend

Time for a quick catch-up over a cup of coffee (to ensure that I stay awake this evening; DH and I are usually too tired to talk to each other after we've put the DC to bed).

Christmas cards/correspondence one card and letter written
15 mins tidying/decluttering in kitchen
DD2 to friend's done
DD1 to dyslexia lesson done
Food shopping done incl. coffee filters
Buy sympathy card forgotten
Afternoon routine
Check whether DD2 has white tights for ballet show on Wednesday
Check whether we ever got round to taking out travel insurance (and if not, do so)
Help DD1 to revise for test on Old Stone Age/New Stone Age done
Pick up DD2 and DS from gym club and return to friend's for overnight stay
DD1 to neighbours overnight done
Evening routine
Out with DH for a meal

Now have 1.5 child-free hours to get on with things - but not DH-free as he's just phoned to say he'll be at home at 4.30 (most Austrians don't work on Friday afternoons, but in DH's case "not working" means coming home a couple of hours early).

swan Well done on the Playmobil! Our DHs sound remarkably similar; it must be the Germanic streak.

loosinas Set your timer for 15 minutes (I find that even 5 minutes in each room makes a big difference); it will help you stay focused. I always forget to put music on, but would second Deck's advice - it always makes me feel much more energetic. Post a list as it will shame you into getting things done, and keep posting updates (ditto). Keep positive - you can do it!

i can't even find my last post!
so i will claim to have done everything on it!
list for today and weekend - as may not get a chance to post later:

dw
wm
work
pack bags, linens, christmas tree
laundry
ironing
2 presents left to buy
make up spare bed (once mattress acquired en route)
put up christmas decs

soothe dh's nerves (he has his resignation letter written and discussed it with his line manager yesterday. will probably get a summons to the boss today)

soothe my nerves.

attempt to explain to the children that we'll be moving again. (might postpone this until next year...)

i am in awe of anyone that is allowed can throw away playmobil. we've still got some of dh's from (damn near) 40 years ago that he insists we keep in with the new stuff so the kids can play with it... it's just wrong. most of it is falling apart. (confesses to occasionally 'disappearing' some)

Thought I might get 5 mins to catch up here, but now DS2 is shouting at me to help him with his 'Charlie and Lola' comic (which I bought for him because I enjoy doing it with him, so I can only blame myself).

Anyway, i need the smug emoticon today, because I have posted lots of Christmas cards and I think I have almost finished my Christmas shopping. I have even wrapped some presents. I have never been this organised before and it's thanks to the Flylady Christmas thread, which nudged me in the right direction. Also, next week is so busy with school stuff that I knew I needed to get it all done this week.

The house is another matter of course, because whilst I have been out Christmas shopping, the housework is not getting done .

Uh oh - he's shouting again and if I don't go now he's going to spill glitter all over the floor.

Written lots of invites not managed to give all them to guests though as few minutes late for pickup darnit
singing lesson dd trek etc done

now attempting bedroom [again] soo cold and dark up there

enjoy comic making Toffee

tea is boring pasta