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.

I'm still not getting much time on MN as I hoped, but things are beginning to come together.

Hello to SC, Linzer, Deck, Ellie, Toffee, PA, and others I posted with before, including any name changers I really must find a Christmassy name that has something to do with Darts! I promise to catch up with those who are new (new to me, at least).

Best wishes to those who are ill, and good luck to those who still have Christmas shopping to do. I managed to get most of it online this year, and stress levels are considerably lower than last year.

House is slowing coming together for Christmas, doing a bit every day, although routine stuff keeps piling up and never seems to go away!

Today:
Morning routine
Bins out
Off to work, including fuel for car.
Home and Bins away
Collect DCs from school
Take DCs and shop
Check parents house while they are away (dd loves to sort the post)
tea for DCs
Bed for DCs at 6pm (early bed for bad behaviour yesterday, although will read with them to keep it up)
Evening routine

DP off work tomorrow, so must make sure he stays in to receive parcel (last present).

And thanks to Linzer, you've reminded me I still have cards to write..........

Actually I'm finishing at work on Friday for 2 and a half weeks (long story, but really no work at this time so taking leave and enjoying it!) So plenty of time to wrap prezzies, etc as kids at school next Mon and Tues.

And now off to feed the Christmas Cake with brandy, there's plenty to share it's a big one! I surprised myself with being organised enough to make it in October!

well things have gone surprisingly well so far, dd has done her homework (once I vanished) made some paperplanes from long lost Guardian cutouts
ds1 has been dressed as a pixie rather a stout one
and potatoes are on...

just need to gve ds2 a good scrub - he's going to be a shepherd in the Beavers Nat,
put on nice jumper
serve supper
jump in car and....

I seem to have got stuck on the Panic and the tidy bedroom bits of my list

I seem to have forgotten all flylady principles in favour of the pure panic approach. furniture is back room is clean and i am beginning to return the stuff from the landing and bathrooms such that tidy there can be restored. Its not a pretty sight.

Can someone shake some common sense back into me please. I seem to have lost all sense and reason!

Sorry, have been AWOL, too busy in RL, will have to catch up, but I am missing you all.

Took the DCs iceskating on one of these crappy little artificial rinks on Saturday. DD loved it, DS hated it. I was absolutely useless, in mitigation the whole thing sloped badly (it really was crappy). Thought of you Deck and how you would have laughed at me!

Got Christmas cake made yesterday.

Spent most of today assembling Playmobil.

DS is not too well, probably shouldn't have made him go to school but I wanted to do the Playmobil in peace .

Decorations are all up, my cards are posted, DCs cards are half written, we're getting there.

Oh, and I have been doing lots of deculttering and hotspots.

Evening all.

Well, day 1 of Operation Christmas and some success I am pleased to report. om will be pleased to note i took her advice and started with DD's bedroom. Also it is the smallest room in the house so least amount of time . Well, it should have been but decided to rake everything out and rearrange which although a nightmare proved to be successful and give her a bit more space to play in. AS it is the boxroom, space is at a premium and simply by moving the bed i have doubled her play space! Have also managed to order DH's present (concert tickets). All of this has been interspersed wit a quick tidy, some washing/drying and Beavers pick-up/drop off. And that's me done!

Am now going to do a super quick round-up as shave some work to do!

mrsd has been playing with playmobil at the expense of a poorly DS who was shunted off to school . I like her style!

deck requested a shake and needs a stern reminder that the fat fairy tells us 15 mins at a time not15 hours...consider yourself told (elliepac hopes that deck doesn't realise that she too is in sheer panic mode and not following her own advice).

sr has had pixies and shepherds and guardian aeroplanes. SHe is also wearing a nice jumper .

darts has Christmas cards to write and a cake to get drunk....lucky cake

linzer's DS had a bit of an identity crisis but definitely wins the award fo cutest flybaby of the day .

toffee is having a proper CHristmas panic...she needs to take some deep breaths and write some lists so she knows where to start. SHe also needs to remember that she is only human and can only do one thing at a time....

om is feeling grotty and plodding on and for that she gets flier of the day because it is hard to get stuff done when youa re not feeling well

sc posted a list that scared the wits out of most of us, particularly feetheart. Next time give us warning of such a list please .

ihate wrote a list about writing list....clever

Big waves to everyone else whom I have not mentioned but I must go and get on with boring stuff.

Back in a mo with the steps!

Today's babystep is read one of Kelly's essays. Can't say I have ever done this one, might give it a whirl this month!

The mission for today is here.

Have a good day everyone!

Evening all

Just found out today I have to write a report stating the reasons(SNOW) that I was not at work three days out of the past fortnight.
So annoying as I phoned each day and spoke to my line manager. But the big wig chief knows that a lot of staff( we are very big organisation covering all of Scotland)got stuck because of the snow. They have come to some sort of compromise that seems fair but I think the fact that schools were closed should be considered into it. Argh

Today
Everyone up and school/work/carer got toDONE
DD1 wrote her cardsDONE
Load of laundry DONE
Dinner eaten, eventuallyDONE
DishesDONE
Living room tidied/polished furniture DONE

Phoned estate agents and have a viewing on Wednesday. Nice place not that far from us now. Only 2 bedrooms though so kids will have to share. DD2 still in our room the now.

Car decided to almost die today. Engine management light on and car chug chug chugging. Not really wanting to drive it especially with the kids. So have left it with my dad and it should be looked at tomorrow. Wonder how much this is gonna cost me?

More of DD1 gifts arrived today. Not waiting on anything now so will have to hit the town on SaturdayI hate shopping.

Christmas list

Dad - done
Mum - half
Sis - done
Bil - half
Niece1 - half
Niece2 - half
cousin - done
Cousin -
Friend -

Kids - mostly sorted, still to wrap and get stuff for stockings(DH usually does this).

MrsD you are so right to assemble that playmobil NOW! [remembers last Xmas with a shudder] - makes sign of warding off evil at icerinks soo frightened at thought of any more breakages in this family.
MumBlair I suppose it is just a formality but would make me feel very grr. Hope car not too expensive.
Ellie yes, amazing what hidden spatial combinations a boxroom has I am now thinking vertical in ds2's boxroom as the only solution. Dh has started hanging his toys off the walls on wires

I think that was the last SCHOOL/INSTITUTIONAL EVENT I had to attend [touching wood feverishly] tonight. Over. Very relieved.

Evening all

[swigs Dart's brandy]

Ahhh ... tired but happy tonight ... travelled back in time to pre-child days and went from work to shopping and other various errands, to voluntary meeting without coming home in between. Don't know why this should feel like such a treat (didn't even eat out and wasn't exactly socialising). When I worked in London I rarely got home before 8 or 9pm at night and this was one of the first times in 7 years or so that I haven't been tied to school run or afternoon nap. Wierd that such a small thing should feel so liberating. Must get out more!!! [Saddo emoticon]

Picked up dd's main present today + pillow-cases and sent last parcel - so can knock those off list. Need to get cracking with cards again tomorrow.

Ellie congrats on passing day 1 of OC - with flying colours no less.

Optimistle yes I know I should give up on the idea of making things at this late stage. Aspirations always ludicrously high - should have realised by now that reality of achievements usually depressingly low!!! Hope you are much feeling better tonight.

Waves to everyone else! G'night!

Anyone done a control journal? I was on flylady and it looks pretty useful. I have one at work that I built up so that anyone would be able to come in and do the work without them coming and asking what to do next?

I know I would have so much fun making it....but would I use it?

Just wrote personal messages to you all - and then lost them . It's too late to start all over again now (I'm up late because I fell asleep earlier with DS2).

Briefly, then:

Mumtoblair - yes, I have a control journal. I recommend it. I love using mine and have put all sorts of other useful stuff in it, like recipes.

Hope everyone can 'keep calm and carry on' (thanks, Swan) with their Christmas preparations.

SC - forget the scary list - what about the ghost? Tell us more!

TOFFEE Thanks. Quite excited now. Love building guides.

When to start? I did look at Flyladys advice with regards to moving...brilliant. Colour coding rooms/boxes/furniture seems so easy and wonder why I never thought of it before.

I love Flylady

Morning all,

Just a quick post for now as I have DS at home; we're off to see the ENT specialist in a bit, so he's going in to kindergarten slightly later this morning. He's got to go back to the lung specialist tomorrow for the results of his allergy tests, so hopefully we'll find out before too long what's causing all the coughing and wheezing.

Finally wrote my Christmas list last night - not as scary as I thought, esp. as it will just be the five of us here for Christmas so I don't need to worry if the house isn't looking pristine! Had to place a quick Amazon order as I discovered I didn't have quite enough for my brother and it looks like we'll be having ice cream with our Christmas pudding as I wasn't organised enough to buy brandy sauce/custard in time (yes, I know I could make them but...), but otherwise I'm more or less on track. Although still have one parcel to send - must get that ready today.

Waves to all; will be back later.

Hello folks,
May I join?
My list for today includes playgroup, midwife appt and get all those Christmas cards and presents in the post. I also need to chase M&S for a nominated day of delivery hamper which is now 14 days overdue with no contact from them...
New to the flying and newish to Mumsnet so do feel free to point me in the right direction if it appears I'm not doing something right.
:D

Morning Architien.

Morning everyone.

Its not a good start today. i am already horid shouting mummy. I want to go back to bed.

today's list:
shine sink
box stuff on floor in lounge that i am just not going to get around to dealing with.
tidy up landing which is full of stuff that i evicted from my room yesterday
swish and swipe bathroom
hoover through
wash lounge, hall, stairs and landing carpets
swimming lesson
hair dressers
pre school routine
post school routine
christmas cards
ss gift
parcels for post office.

Dont want to move. Its cold out there.
Shower...

must...

move...

now.

Just back from doctor (and not really much nearer to finding out what's wrong with DS), so now have just two hours of child-free time left.

List:
Morning routine
Get parcel ready to send
Finish letter
Write more Christmas cards
Finish book
Find Christmas recipes
Sort out travel insurance

Hello and welcome to architien.

Morning everyone and a massive welcome to architien. Quick post from work.

deck I am horrid shouty mummy every single morning at spot on 7.50am. So much so that I now see it as practical need to shout mummy...it soothes the guilt .

Today is second step of Operation Christmas. Although it may be a bit trickier today as it is BF's DD's birthday so we are straight there after work for a couple of hours. Still, in lunch hour, I am going to get present for aforementioned young lady and in the process am going to buy some stocking fillers. Tonight I plan to tackle the bathroom as it is small and doable in the little time I have. As our bedroom is so horrific and impossible to do in one go I have also decided that the power of 15 is the way to go and am going to do 15 mins everynight and a 27 fling boogie everyday to get it started. Big plans huh? Wonder if they will come to fruition.

Have a good day everyone!

Morning all,

Welcome to Architien, feel free to ask if you don't understand what we're all talking about. We start with Babysteps and decluttering, once those are firmly in place you progress to daily missions. We're all a bit random in our adherence to the system on this thread, especially at busy times of the year. Some of the babysteps are very useful, some less so, just pick and choose what suits you. Oh, and the golden rule is only do anything for 15 minutes at a time, so you don't burn out.

Not a good start here either, DS woke me at 5 and I didn't get back to sleep. That's 4 days in a row of waking between 4 and 5 and not getting back to sleep. DS is staying off school today, he has got a rotten cold. DH has kindly taken DD to school on his way to work so I didn't have to drag DS round there.

Today's list

Morning routine
Get DS to finish writing his Christmas cards
Go and buy some more for DD (she has used all hers up sending them to her dolls)
Wrap up gifts for teachers
Write a few more Christmas cards that are to be hand delivered.
Make a last minute Amazon order
Clean kitchen and bathroom floors
More Playmobil after DCs in bed (novelty is wearing off now, the box said 2 hours, so far I'm on about 5, reckon there's about another 1/2 hour to go).

Mumtoblaire I've never bothered with a control journal, but I probably ought to. I do have a bit more leeway than most as I am a SAHM with both DCs at school, but going back to work in Jan so will probably need one then. I do have daily and weekly routines in my head, plus a file with recipes in, a master shopping list just not in one place.

Can hardly keep eyes open, am going up to the loft in a mo to find our old DVD player so DS and I can watch DVDs in bed.

I made that post an hour ago, Mumsnet said No, I cursed and went off to the loft and got the DVD player out, when I came back my post was back on the screen in preview mode, much to my surprise. Haven't done much else in the meantime, stuck a few baubles on the Christmas tree (have far more baubles than we can ever use, really ought to declutter the box).

W/D done
Breakfast & Dishes done
School Run done

Faffing about for an hour online done

Laundry no1 in done
Laundry no2 in
Laundry no3 in
Deep clean main bathroon
Tidy hideous piles of jumble in master bedroom
Make up DS bed
Make up Master bed
Tidy toys in DS room
Dust and Hoover DS Room
Dust and Hoover Master Room
Pay gas
Ring Water
Check Bank accounts

Work job1
Work job2
Work job3
Trip tp Asda
Big work job 4.....

Moan moan moan, this WAHM business isnt all it cracked up to be and there is more snow on way moan moan moan - all right best ove Jeremy nearly finished!!!

Welcome Architien - its definitely a bit random on here at the moment, depending on level of Christmas panic (quite high in this house ATM ) but follow the Babysteps to start with and it will become clearer.......maybe! We are good at chatting though

List for today:

• Finish Morning routine
• WORK - bank recs today
• Make Christmas list a la SC
• Possibly faint at size of list
• Adapt Christmas card list
• Write Christmas letter
• Send MN Secret Santa parcel (ignore fact that this was on list last week )
• Put money in bank for School Assoc
• 5 mins Room Rescue in a few rooms
• Hoover
• Usual after-school stuff with DC and a friend
• Shopping for School Christmas parties after DC in bed

Happy Flying everyone

Right so far this morning I sunk into very low levels of panic. Near enough panic hysteria so had a fry up and took time to make a plan. Top of the new list is

DO NOT PANIC

next is nap.

Once that has been done today's list has been revised to be more achievable:
Hairdresser's
Hide christmas secret stuff presents and in progress projects
tidy up stuff evicted from my room onto the landing
Swimming lesson
SS gift

I have been sensible and thought about what i can and cant achieve finally And have jigged about christmas present plans. Ds has his birthday in feb but because i can never find something he will like i always pick it up this time of the year when there is tons of choice. So he will get what i had picked up for his birthday for christmas and the quilt i was making he will get for his brithday. It removes tons of stress and pressure as there was no way it was going to get done.

Mum has her birthday just before christmas but as we are doing christmas with the folks this weekend (yes a week early) she is going to have her birthday and christmas presents swapped over which buys a few more days for getting that done. Which leaves me with 1 project for dsis to get finished for the weekend which is doable.

As for everything else:
Wednesday and thursday carpet cleaning.
Furniture back where lives Thursday
Christmas decorations / tree up friday
which just leaves christmas cards and parcels to be sorted and basic everyday routine stuff.

I can and will. But really must. but for now a nap will help. Still not up to being crazy busy yet, just dont want to admit it

Deck - that sounds like a sensible plan. Enjoy your nap.

Right, SAGE has crashed, is sulking and refusing to come back so work is suspended, just hope it hasn't lost all I've done so far this morning. DH (guru of all things computer related) is out so can't fix it. I am therefore free to DO OTHER THINGS

Will start by finishing my Morning routine and blitzing a few rooms for 5 mins - need to do something to warm up!

when builder has gone I will think about lists...bbl