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.

Thanks, I think I'll start again tomorrow, with the basic morning and evening routines, and then maybe 15 minutes a room a day and see how it goes, maybe DH will join in.

Plenty Good to hear your DH has notices how much work it takes just to keep a household running, never mind running and clean and tidy.

Update: Mum has been to Pizza Hut and is now off the theatre! She will buy boots tomorrow 'even though she has a perfectly good pair in the loft'

we are putting up christmas decorations where is it clean and tidy. so far we have done ds' room and the bathroom (one nice metal chain thing) later it will be the card hangers and the window sil in the lounge. It will, it will, it will!

Evening peeps. Just to let you know I will probably have to leave links and round-up until the morning. My Internet can clearly not cope with the sheer volume of snow (must be 2ft in places) and is playing up. Am posting this from my phone but cannot do links etc on said phone. Will give it another go later. I know what the step is anyway, 15 months of flying tells me that it is just to do what we are already doing ie shining our sinks and getting dressed to lace up shoes. For the missions you can just click on yesterday's links and it should take you tomorrows iykwim. Will give it another go later. I seriously have never seen this much snow. The mother tells me the last time it was this bad was winter of 78 when the doctor had to isit mum with newborn dsis on a tractor! I was 1 so can't remember!

Back later booefully

Congratulations on your new job MrsDingDong brilliant news!!

Mine's a half of Guinness please Parsnips

Hello to Nick/Madwoman - sorry - didn't realise who you were yesterday

A warm welcome to Teaonesugar - haven't any specific advice about flying while studying - but I work p/t and find the system helpful. Although I work much shorter hours than you and I'm not studying (except for language lessons). Suggest you ring-fence sufficient study time (imagine you have a second p/t job and stick to those hours) and then fit your routines around that. Then just follow the baby-steps and see how it goes. You'll soon get the hang of it. It's best if you adapt the system to suit yourself. I think it's best if you get a rough weekly plan worked out so you know what day you are doing errands, what day you are doing your main cleaning "hour", what day you are doing supermarket shop etc. Then add to those the daily routines (one load of washing per day, morning routine, afternoon/evening routine) and you are away. Have a look on the Flylady site for more info. The main thing to remember is that your study time is sacrosanct - and that your family and friends get to know when you are "out of bounds". One last tip (from my own bitter experience [blush ]) don't be tempted to say "oh I will do that chore on Saturday or Sunday" - because it never happens - much better just to do a bit of housework - even just 15 mins - every day to keep things ticking over. Good luck! Sounds like you have a lot on your plate though. Would it be poss to cut down on your work hrs temporarily just while you are sstudying?

Optimistic what a day you've had - [hands over good neighbour award] igloo sounds fantastic.

Linzer glad the first check-up with dd2 went well and hope the same for next one. DD is doing the slippers thing at school atm!
Dh just got back (I was worried his flight would be delayed by bad weather at this end but all on time.)

Hope you feel better tonight Toffee and hope your supper was accident free this evening Swan

DID I'm afraid I resist putting up decorations until at least half way through December ...delaying Xmas name change too [curmungeonly emoticon]

Sorry - no more time to post individual messages - I'm on a roll (for once) and don't want to lose momentum

Today I have:

• cleared out a load more toys in time for St Nick's arrival (yippeee!!!)
• done 4 loads of washing (on my fifth)
• couldn't be bothered to trudge through snow to bakery so made bread instead

-started making split pea and gammon knuckle soup (everything soaking atm)

• tidied up a load of books

-ran up and downstairs 120 times matching up right thing with right floor

• done all my routines
• got increasingly worried as first 2, now 3 out of our 4 loos have frozen ...

Could be an interesting night

x posts Ellie

I can do links tonight and round-up a bit more if you like - back later

Here you go Ellie:

Friday's reminders

do what we have done before

missions

christmas missions

Ah, you beat me to it Deck

[I really will have to go and fold towels now )

How many loos, SC? You must have a lot of swish and swiping to do. Yes, the DC have to wear slippers at school and kindergarten here too - it was the first time I'd seen it at the doctor's though.

Am also on a roll, but workwise rather than flying-wise unfortunately, so must get back to it while it lasts.

Thanks for the links Deck!

School is apparently closed again tomorrow, another day lettingtheDCsplayontheWiialldayengaged incosy homely educational stuff in prospect.

DS is much better now but still not fit for school (he has a bad cold as well as the tumy bug). He was hoping it would be open so DD would have to go and he could have a day at home without her. He is a jammy so and so, has never had a day off sick so far and has the certificates to prove 100% attendance, the first time he is too ill to go he gets a let off due to snow closures!

My DCs had to wear slippers at nursery, as did the staff, but don't at school.

Thank you to Ellie for starting us off so well this month and Deck for standing in tonight.

Welcome to Teaonesugar .

I'm shattered, very little sleep last night, .

I love your nn though MrsD it makes me smile. MrsDinky for the sweet and cheerful moments and MrsD for the dont you dare mess with me moments

Am going to bed as need a good nights sleep.
nigth

Thank you Deck, it's an ironic nickname as in RL I am a dedicated Ms Ownsurname and refuse point blank to call myself Mrs DHsurname (which is not Dinky BTW). Have to admit I do like SC's adaptation re the littlest Dinkies though! Right, really am off to bed now.....

My house is so trashed! It's ridiculously awful, there is rubbish all over the floor because I have been putting off emptying the bin and recycling because of the snow ... One urgent high-priority work thing last week and everything seems to have gone kaput this week - I think this is what the fat fairy terms 'crash and burn'. It's five to ten, I have ordered ASDA (hope it comes or dp will be feeding dd on 3 malted milk biscuits all day tomorrow) and my list now consists of crisis cleaning until 10.30 with hot chocolate and Radio 4 then bed.

December, how did that happen ....

bloody hell 15 minutes in and all the rubbish is in bags, dishwasher loaded and kitchen floor clean. now to find my sink ...

Congratulations on the job MrsD. I have to admit that I have noticed a distinct drop in the quality of my flying since going back to work, but on the plus side my house is still usually adequately clean and tidy (low standards ), which would be impossible without the flying. I am a dedicated Ms Ownname as well. I don't know anyone who has kept their own surname in RL, which is odd as most of my friends are fairly committed feminists and I am much more lackadaisical.

Not done too badly here today. Christmas cake is in the oven and stairs are (badly) hoovered. Very tired though for some reason, so off to bed now I think.

Night all

Sink is shiny 5 carrier bags next to full bin to go out tomorrow, clear floor and wiped counters. The rest of the house is still trashed but I will come down to a clean kitchen sorry guys have used the thread selfishly tonight but thanks for being here, I have been feeling very very low and without being able to post here would have just curled up in a small heap feeling sorry for myself.

namechange I am totally with you on the school stuff, it's such a mystery to me how the other parents know what to send in. We spent 2 weeks getting no information at all because my ds didn't have the right shape book bag so no-one realised he wasn't putting it in the book bag box. Which meant no personalised Christmas cards, no dressing up in spots like everyone else for children in need ... and you feel so guilty! (and we don't even have snowboots, not ones that fit anyway, 'cos I am so crap at getting practical things organised. We will have some by spring ...!)

congrats mrsd brill well doe you.

again huge waves. welcome to tea
linzer glad dd appt went ok

Im very tired but have has a quick read through.

snow on all day about 5/6 inches. build 2no snowmen soi now snow can P off nursery stillopen despite all schools in local are being closed.

i have had to go to work {boo hiss}
dw
wm
td
snowmen built
painting down
chinese eaten.
bed in

"what do you get if you cross Father Christmas with a duck?

a christmas quacker

have lovely night see you allsoon

Its late, but the fire is still going, so the living room is the one properly warm room in the house (bar DS bedroom, always cosy in there - and a good job as he never manages to keep his bedclothes on).

A fairly productive day but with some "frustrations" - DH has still not gone to work! We only have a smidge of snow, but he's been advised not to go in as there's more where he works - is it just me or do they all get under your feet after a couple of days?

Done
Morning routine
DS to playgroup (wrapped up to the nine's) without tears
Washing up
S/s
Make beds (eventually when DH deigned to get up)
Intensive cleaning in living room - cleared away some of camping gear , and got to the back window - which was in serious need of elbow grease. Outside of window will have to wait until its a bit warmer, and I feel up to fighting my way to the back of the garage to get out of the back door and into the field. Sorted papers, shredded, put charity shop books in shed, and made filing cabinets more accessible. I've made a executive decision to not move through the zones this month, but to concentrate on the areas which will be open to family/visitors etc during Christmas (and which will cause me most embarrassment if not sorted out).
Collect DS
Vacuum through house
Phoned British Gas about bill
Christmas activity with DS - worked on his Christmas presents for relatives
Cooked tea
Tea and bedtime routine
Wash up, shine sink, clean Aga, set breakfast table
Washing in machine
Finished first line of small bunting - one more length to go
Sat in warm room puttering on MN

Must really go to bed - toddler group in the morning!

Back again rather later than planned (surfing for snowboots for dd). I hesitated a day and they are all sold out!

OK sort of round-up (will try it in Ellie style but won't be as good!)

Nettie has been quacking jokes and building snowmen

Yay!! Systems has prevailed and has cleaned and decluttered her kitchen!! [No need to apologise btw - we ALL have down days - and this is the place to vent!!]

Pushme has made her Christmas cake

MsOwnSurname MrsDingdong (always reminds me of Lesley Philipps that: "Ding" pause "Dong" ) has a new quality job - congratulations! The littlest Dinkies have another day off school tomorrow.

Our esteemed leader Ellie is snow-bound

DecktheIce has been decking the halls

Optimistic has been a good friend and neighbour, her mum has gone awol in London and her dc have gone eskimo in the garden

Teaonesugar has joined us and is going to fit Flying in to her busy studying, working, parenting regime - welcome!

PlentyofParsnips has been to pub - oh yes and she did some housework too

Linzer is on a work roll!

Bob has had a lovely day with her dc and has wrapped presents

Toffee has been sledging and building a snowman

Madwoman lit fires under her dc
We've missed her too!!

Feetheart flew AND luxuriously scoffed cakes with her dh - now that's a good day. Shame about the WC bid wasn't it?

Highlighter has no heating or hotwater hope the plumber has done his stuff!

Swan has got the retailing bug ...

Namechange had a tough start to the day but turned things around (well done!)

Nettie has gone mad with tinsel

PA made toad in the hole and has had a well-deserved duvet day - long may it continue

SC has totally lost her thread bearings and can't scroll up and down anymore and it's taken her so long to write this that you will have all gone to bed by now [sorry!!] and ..oh yes ...she's still worried about her lavs ...

xposts Ihate

you've had a mahoosively productive day - well done!

No - sympathies - it's not just you !!!

• I was just saying today that I get SO much more productive and single-minded when dh is away ...he takes over the entire house!

[And he's no good at de-icing lavs either ...]

[hands over glass of calming mulled wine]

G'night all ...

i know you've all gone to bed, but i'm in so i'm posting

dw - done
wm - done
work - done
cubs planning - done
box of linens (ditto)
get cubs stuff ready - about to do
deliver scout popcorn
put dance shoes in all dc's school bags for school play - done
budget (didn't do yesterday, but can do at work today ) half
ignore lace up shoes done

teaonesugar - i'm just getting back onto the studying wagon - i deferred my masters and now have to get eveything written up. so no in-college time but loads to do. if i don't get back on the fly bus, everything will go downhill from here... am supposed to work week on/ week off, but have been ft since may. my schedule will be back to normal after christmas. apparently.

right, off to read the rest of it. my, i'd forgotten how much you ladies talk! i can keep up when i'm at home... right, next stop cubs.

Morning peeps. Still on the phone but it has finally stopped snowing and no more is forecast so hopefully Internet will decide that it wants to play later today! Massive thanks to sc for round-up and did for links yesterday. Sorry to be a pain but you can't mess with mother nature!

Congrats to mrsd on the job. That's marvellous news .

ihate we have been practically housebound for 2 days here. I am ready to maim small children and close to divorce . I really do feel your pain!

Off to do the breakfast and then wade through the w o to take dd to cm's . Back later!

Morning all,

It's snowing steadily here, with up to a foot of snow forecast for today. DH has decided to work from home today, which would normally force me to get on with some housework - unfortunately, however, I have a good excuse for being on the computer.

ellie Hope you get your DD to the childminder's today. I've been wondering if schools ever close here due to snow, but suspect not - thank goodness.

Morning.

I want to go back to bed and i havent crawled out of it yet

just about to go dig my car out of the snow so i can take it to the garage. They gritted our road last night so there will be no excuse for not going. I shall be back in around 2 hours needing to be turned back into a human from being an ice cube.

Morning all,

still in bed here, as are the DCs, DS probably needs a good rest and DD is always a reluctant riser. have shoved DH (another reluctant riser) out and am enjoying a bit of me time.

Am determined not to let the DCs play on the Wii / computer all day again like yesterday. It makes life easy for me, but is not very good use of their time. I can hear DD chattering to her teddies now.