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.

Well, that didn't last long, DS had another "bottom malfunction" in bed. SO, he is now up, clean and asking to play on the Wii, the washing machine is on and I need a list.

breakfast
Dressed
Get DCs doing something useful?
Turn off computer
Clean kitchen floor, hardly worth it as we have to go ouT to the shed to get to the tumble dryer so constantly getting bits of snow and mud on it
go out and make snow men or similar
Hoover? she says, optimistically?

Waves at all the other snowbound Flyers.

Morning I am back again with nothing to report from yesterday really. I did manage to clean the bathrooms and kitchen surfaces and cooked fresh vegetables for tea!

As I said DH is off today and someone said get him to help so far:

Shouts upstairs, 'shouldnt you two be up now
DS gets up and is given breakfast great
Shouts upstairs, 'where is all his stuff I need help to get him ready' utter disbelief I mean WT?*
Arriving downstairs its evident no nagging to eat breakfast has took place.
As I picked up laptop he said 'what you doing' to which I replied checking the school closures, low and behold we have a late start and early finish.

So no stay in bed or break from the school run ...

Feel very bad he has just come downstairs and offered without asking to help tidy up today and try an unblock hoover before I couyld finish post.

Another one snowed in here.

DH set off at 5am again for his mammoth walk into work. Arrived home last evening at about 7 (14 hours after leaving), grumpy, cold and very hungry. DCs had been out most of the day and were grumpy, cold, tired and hungry. We had a "wonderful" evening!!!!

Anyway, I lay in bed this morning trying to come up with a goal for today, as my planned goal of going out with a friend for more than 10 minutes without feeling as if I am going to collapse has had to be postponed due to the snow. As I was thinking I had a phone call from a very elderly neighbour who had fallen out of bed and needed help. So, I have just spent half an hour digging into her front door, helping her back to bed, on the phone to the dr and sorting her out ready for him to come and see her. I fear I could be going backwards and forwards a lot over then next few days, so that seems to be my goal now, by default!

I did have a near accident this morning when I went to feed the rabbits. One of them is white and was nearly trodden on when I could not distinguish him from the snow! Stupid creature! I think he needs a stripe of pink paint down his back to keep him safe!

Hope you all have a good snow day! Linzer, you must find all our snow issues very amusing considering the amount you have to contend with!

Morning, I am determined to do some housework above the bare minimum today, DS is at school but I can't get my car up the road so I'm stuck here with DD.

Todays list
-Morning routine
-Clean bathroom
-Load of washing
-Dust throughout
-Hoover throughout
-Room rescue in lounge
-Hotspots in hall
-Window sills, ceilings, cobwebs in dining room
-Finally make banana bread
-Make pizza dough

No more computer until I've ticked a few things off my list.

Hi everyone

Well done for turning things around yesterday Namechange I need to do the same today!

Have had a bad, shouty mummy morning. DD back in combative form and I lost my temper and now feel horrible about it.

Dh then rushed off to the office without even time for a 2-min talk or a coffee (having only return from his travels last night) and without doing anything about our plumbing crisis . So in the absence of a plumber or carpenter, I did a bit of "chipotage" on my hands and knees in the snow outside our house at pavement level (narrowly avoiding being sprayed with wet snow from passing cars and peed on by passing dogs!!)) with a few sheets of polystyrene and some duct tape which may allow the lavs to defrost. Here's hoping ...

On the good side, I'm working from home today because I need some peace and quiet to bash out some reports. So hopefully will get more washing/tidying done than usual. Need to finish putting master bedroom to rights(as ever). Then doc appt followed by errands and fish for supper.

Have a good day everyone.

PA I'm just relieved that schools don't close here when it snows, as I would be completely stuck work-wise! Actually, it seems like quite a few of you in the UK have had more snow than us so far this winter. I suppose because it's such a regular event here, people are more geared up for it and it's true that the country doesn't grind to a halt after a couple of inches of snow.

Only 20 minutes before the DDs are out of school, but DH has volunteered to take the sledge to go and pick them up so I get to work for a bit longer. Have also managed to do a load of washing for the first time in days (just have to find time to hang it up now), but otherwise flying is having to take a back seat at the moment. Roll on Tuesday, when I'll finally get my life back!

oh no PA hope you (and your neighbour) are ok and that you didn't overdo it ...get thee back to thy duvet immediately

You have my sympathies, SC - DD2 was a complete and utter nightmare this morning, and all because DD1 brushed her teeth first! I don't think she stopped crying until she went off to school; it was absolutely awful. You really shouldn't feel guilty about losing your temper - I defy anyone to remain sane when confronted with DD2 in one of her moods (DH threw a hairbrush in frustration once - I was furious as it was the only hairbrush that tames my hair and it broke in half!). Hope you're having a better morning now; I usually find that some peace and quiet puts things into perspective (although it's when I start feeling guilty for shouting etc. too...).

Thanks Linzer, I needed to hear that! She's reverted to toddlerdom and I don't know why . Her behaviour was much better when she was a toddler actually!!

I'm calming down now having done lots of Mnsetting admin

PS I like the idea of doing the school run by sledge. Must be great fun for the kinder!

Morning all. Slow start for me this morning. I woke up with a horrible sinus headache so after taking out the bins and clearing the steps (wearing nothing but a dressing gown and wellies ), I took some painkillers and went back to bed for an hour, then had a lovely hot bath and washed my hair. DP is still in bed. I was hoping the snow clearing and pub trip yesterday would have convinced him he wasn't really that ill but no, he's still off sick and wants waking with a lemsip at 11. DS is still in his PJs and is on the computer. The whole household seems to have sunk into slothfulness. Can't wait for the schools to reopen and DP to go back to work.

Anyway, I have no load of laundry to put on this morning - I have reached the end of the pile! I'm going to do a bit of hand washing later instead.

bins out done
clear front steps done
bath and wash hair done
breakfast
pin hair up properly - when dry
put away laundry (sheets and towels)
hang laundry (mixed cool wash)
washing up
shine sink
wipe and sweep kitchen
HAND CREAM!

Later on:

get more wood in
handwash 4 things
15 mins declutter junk dining room
5 mins rescue lounge

what's for dinner?
casserole and dumplings

Oh dear SC, I hope your day improves.

I have just had a shouty mum moment, too. Although I feel totally justified!! I peered out of the window to see DD2 (18 years old and should know better) going down the hill outside our house at 40 miles per hour with her bottom on my best silver serving platter! . Apparently it is the best thing and there was a queue for the privilege!! Queue soon squirmed away when I screamed out the window like a fisherman's wife!!

at your DD on your best silver platter, PA. Any shouting was entirely justified, I'm sure!

Hope you're feeling better now Parsnips, sinus headaches are just awful.

SC DD2 hasn't reverted to toddlerdom as I don't think she ever left it - she started the terrible twos at around 15 months and has been stuck in a toddler time warp ever since! Maybe we should introduce them?

Well, despite the 2ft of snow outside it is a beautiful day here. I waded to the cm's and delivered dd. It was up to my thighs on her drive . Was going to do all kinds of cleaning but am having a movie and snuggle morning with ds, something we don't get to do very often. So far have watched how to train your dragon which was brilliant and am just settling down to watch night at the museum. Will clean later ....... Maybe!

Hope everybodys day gets better!

Could throw my ds into the mix. He can be such a love

Hope u find something to ease the sinuses parsnips

PA at the queue of enthusiast. But am afraid dd2 is right they do make the best sledges - that and bin liners (but those are harder on the bum.

I have taken the car to the garage. that's it. I am resting in bed then about to ring the doc. I really want to go skating tonight but the weather conditions are a bit concerning and i am not really well enough to go skating.

SC omg! you have reminded me I need to get ingredients for School Fair Mulled Wine! Aargh! - don't think I can drive so will have to stagger slide back with wine boxes
list
mulled wine ingredients fair
crown making decorations fair
green cloth for tombola table
tombola tickets scrunch up!
buy more sellotape
collect plastic bags
tombola stuff in one place to add to stuff in school tomorrow
wrapping paper clear from kitchen
cupboard under stairs chaos still in livingroom
sink
worktops
laundry away upstairs
change our bed
find gloves - a big pile but where did I shove them all after they dried?????
make big dish of something warming for school fair
cancel singing lesson dd

have been very busy all morning rushing around PTA stuff/selling/wrapping
now I notice my jumper is inside out
also had to buy dd some new school shoes or she refused to go to school Namechange we were a hour late! Dss went early though...

Ds2 arrived in Santa's Gift Shop, and I have never seen a more ragged looking child Dirty shirt, five holes in his jumper, tie fraying from elastic, muddy shoes
Something had to give to wrap all those sparkly cellophane thingies!

Right I am going to have to appologise for being a complete psychopatic head up on arse lunatic for the next week or so. grin I am being given oral steroids to kill the problems with my asthma. No steroid inhalers, but will have steroid side effects in a shorter more intense burst. I will be glad when i can breathe properally!

Plus with all the manic energy i get the house will be sparking in no time.

morning all!

dw
wm - done
work
linens box
school play stuff
pack bags

very short list today - school play day and then 4/5 hour drive to the mountains ready for removals arriving tomorrow!

hopefully i'll get the chance to post later - but if not i will pop in over the weekend to share how the unpacking from long term storage is going.

happy friday, everyone!

lol sr you did make me laugh - we had a similar 'omg is that really the state of my child?' moment at our christmas fair last sunday.

crown making decs done
red cloth for tombola and some more prizes done
cleared kitchen table and wrapping paper in neat pile done
recycling done in pile
children picked up again done
fed snacks done and put on HP and Goblet done
cancelled singing dd done

now I have to sort out the sequins/glitter/pompons from pound shop
cupboard under stairs stuff
laundry
supper
MULLED WINE ingredients!!!! will go when dh comes back - I have sugar/oranges/cloves/cinnamon/brandy/2 large saucepans so far
change sheets!

oh scrunch up tombola tickets
find sellotape
collect plastic bags {sorry don't know how to cut and paste]

no energy for personal messages. cant take new meds until tomo when i get 6 little tablets first thing. Ill enough to be considering not going training tonight

Done today:
dig car out of snow
de 5yo the front
take car to garage
hang about whilst getting fixed
ring doctors
have shower
collect ds and prescription
put tea on.

moving is too much effort :( breathing is tricky and i feel crap tonight. I will either go to bed or go training so i shall < wave at everyone > and bid you goodnight and good weekends.

Of course i do reserve the right to pop back if i feel more human for having eaten something later.

Sorry PA but your platter story has cheered me up no end - can't stop cackling at the thought of your ds2 swishing past at 40mph on your best silver !!

Linzer that's a good idea - safety in numbers and all that. Hope you got your work done in peace.

Parsnips have you tried those (disgusting but reasonably effective) meds that you stick up your nose and spray? They are often marketed for colds but I find they sometimes work for a sinus headache because they counteract the effects of dry air. Hope you feel better soon and and 'respect' at you having no more laundry! I don't think I've been in that situation for at least a decade ... there's always a wierd and wonderful collection of items awaiting hand-washing, such as dh's mishapen 3 ton cable knit jumper crafted by Great Aunt Agatha or dd's long outgrown mouse costume ...sigh

Swan if it's any consolation dd came out of school today looking like she had dressed herself from the contents of the lost property box (navy blue coat, brown and cream wool hat that looks like a tea cosy, bright red and white spotted wellingtons which clashed wonderfully with her burgundy scarf and gloves). I've provided her with all the coordinated stuff but will she wear it? No! If I say I like something it is consigned to the wardrobe forever. Sigh again. Good luck with the sale!!

Go easy on the steroids Deck!! Don't over- fling boogie!!

Ellie dragon training sounds far superior to housework

Good luck unpacking Madwoman

Well I did what I set out to do today. I've finished my work, done a bit of tidying and a bit of laundry. Errands proved more difficult because the Christmas shopping is so terrible here but I got there in the end. I forget every year and think it will improve and it doesn't. Even wrapping paper can be difficult because everyone has their presents wrapped for them in the shops (with horrendous queues to match). No one seems to have any stock and if they do, it's ten times more expensive than in the UK! Fortunately have bought most things on-line from UK (cheaper even with postage). On the other hand, I quite like the lack of commercialism here at Christmas, so can't have it both ways!!

I am now going to feed and put dd to bed early so that dh and I can enjoy the rare treat of a DVD and a plate of sea food...so won't be back on here again tonight ...

Have a good evening/weekend everyone and thanks for the support throughout the past week and today! It really helped!

I've done very little but work all day. DH has been great; he has just given the DC (plus the neighbours' DD, who is staying overnight) their tea and put them to bed. I would give anything to be able to watch the Apprentice with him over a glass or two of wine now (I have banned him from watching it on his own!) but I just can't allow myself an evening off.

SC Christmas shopping isn't much fun here either; in fact, I've bought all my Christmas presents so far from either Amazon or M&S in Bratislava. But as you say, that's the price you pay for the lack of commercialisation - and that's something I do appreciate. I would appreciate it even more if I actually had time to go to a Christmas market and drink some Glühwein.

Deck Hope the meds kick in and that you feel better (and have a sparkling house!) soon.

swan Mmm, mulled wine. I wouldn't mind a glass of that either, but think it might send me to sleep.

madwoman Hope the drive and unpacking go OK.

ellie It sounds like you've had a lovely day. The cleaning can wait, I'm sure... snuggling with your DS is far more important.

Right, back to Icelandic macaroons...

Evening all. FInally it has stopped snowing and internet has graced me with it's presence. Fingers crossed it stays whilst I do round-up.

Had a lovely snuggly day with DS. We trained dragons and then had a night at the museum. Then DD came back and it all went wrong .

Round-up looks like this:-

linzer is still working super hard and craving gluhwein...am assuming that is not wine made from glue? and exactly what is an icelandic macaroon?

sc had laundry envy, dispensed medical advice and craved...have a guess..wine? no. Chocolate? no. No, she craved wrapping paper...weirdo .

did is suffering and is hoping the drugs do work. Busy day for ill person. We hope she feels better soon. Apparently however she is going to be a complete psychopathic head up on arse lunatic. Entertainment unbounded

madwoman had a short list but a long drive to check on removals. Good luck.

sr was driven mad by school fair activity, s mad she failed to notice a slightly scruffy dc...my problem is i get driven so mad of a morning that I fail to notice a slightly scruffy me

pa became shouty mum at the sight of her best silver serving platter having a day out courtesy of DD. To be fair, I bet silver serving platter doesn't get out much, he probably needed some excitement in his lonley life, sat in a cupboard, just waiting for CHristmas. I feel for him. Her DD probably gave him the time of his life. His sad little face will be sulking now having been returned to barracks .

plenty was feeling poorly yet looking very attractive with her hair up in her dressing gown and wellies and those silky soft hands from all that HAND CREAM. Nevertheless, she conquered Mount Washmore, a bete noir for many of us. Respect from the fat fairy ghetto.

boblob is another one who is snowbound and was determined to do more than the minimum. I bet she did .

namechange is attempting a task that has eluded me so far this week..she is getting DH to help, she rocks. Gold star of the day for that effort alone

mrsd started off with a bit of me time but that was swiftly interrupted by a poorly DS. She was valiantly attempting to get the DC's to do something useful. PLaying on the Wii definitely counts as something useful in my book as we have been housebound for 3 days..useful can also be interpreted as 'out of my way' .My version of that today was to remove DD to the CM .

Big waves to everyone else om systems teaonesugar pmpy feetheart ihate and everyone else I have inevitably forgotten!

Back in a mo with the links.

Your babystep for today is post-it notes. You are supposed to write all this stuff on post it notes and stick them around your home. Not sure on this one tbh but it works for some people.

The CHristmas mission is here.

The normal mission is here

Have a good day everyone!

Evening all,

Well, I had a bit of Flying enforced on me at breakfsat time, opened a cupboard over the kitchen counter and a glass bowl fell out and smashed to smithereens all over the kitchen. So I had to clean the floor, clean the worktop, hoover the adjacent carpeted area (and most of the ground floor while I was at it) and declutter the cupboard to stop it happening again.

I must say, now I have been trying to Fly for a year decluttering has become a habit and it certainly gets easier. It was very easy to declutter the cupboard today, I took out some surplus bowls and put them in the charity shop box and cleared out a whole load of craft stuff (the things that I keep out of reach like glitter, fabric and glass paints) and put them in an empty basket in the understairs cupboard that I had decluttered last week. this time last year I would have probably just shut the cupboard again and hoped for the best. Actually it was luckily no DCs were nearby, the bowl exploded on the counter which is face height for them both.

Anyway, managed to keep the Wii-ing down to shorter periods today. DS really cannot seem to amuse himself without an electronic gadget at the moment, the minute you turn off the Wii he grabs an Ipod and starts playing with it, or starts playing CDs, DD is very good at doing pretend play and crafts by herself. She went round to her best friends this afternoon, DS and I picked her up by sledge afterwards, which was very exciting, a first for both of them.

I have also made a big batch of crumpets this afternoon, have been trying lots of different recipes out, these ones have been th best to date.

Ellie - If I had a CM I would certainly have been using her these last couple of days!

DEM - hope the steroids produce the desired effect.

PA - your sledging incident made me laugh out loud. Well done for coming to the aid of your neighbour despite your own current weakness.

SC - hope you still have a functioning WC

Linzer - Icelandic macaroons? Are you cooking or is it one of your translations? How many languages do you speak BTW?

Swan - good luck with the Fair. Ours made £200 more than last year despite the weather, so we're pleased with that. Mulled wine sounds yum, saw a lovely one on a Rick Stein prog last night, you baked the oranges studded with cloves, put them in with all the other things, heated it through and then squidged the oranges with a potato masher to let all the juices mingle, might have to try it.

Plenty - well done on the washing pile, you deserve a bit of slothfullness for that!

Madwoman - good luck with the move, is it a permanent move? I've lost track a bit.

Waves at everyone else and goes in search of mince pies.....