Part 2 - If you're house is cluttered and you're Mad as a Hare, join March Fledgling Flyers and get it all square

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

This is the second March Fledgling Flyers thread, all newcomers are welcome.

This is the thread that follows the Flylady website (loosely) for getting your home decluttered and your housework into routines, whilst dispensing tea and chat freely.

We have a fairly relaxed attitude to Flying and take some of the babysteps - such as getting dressed to lace-up shoes - with a pinch of salt. We also strongly advise against signing up for the FlyLady emails.

We will be following Flylady's tips on restoring order to our homes, using one of the following methods:

1. Babysteps
2. Babysteps + 15 mins daily decluttering
3. Babysteps + daily missions

Following the babysteps helps to establish daily routines and build a weekly plan.

If you are overwhelmed by the mess in your home, start with just one thing: shine your sink. It's amazing what you can achieve by just doing a bit at a time!

Morning everyone

DD at her gran's again today so it's just me and the baby at home

She is wonderful at the moment, but such hard work whenever the baby is awake! It is like being trapped in a room with a small but powerful tornado , and if I hear 'but I NEED to (throw flour on the floor/tip my drink over/climb on the table)' one more time I think my brain will melt!

Trying to take it fairly easily here, but starting to get a bit depressed by the thin patina of grub on basically everything so may have a go at at least a bit of flying later. Also need to do a bit more paid work.

Anyhow my (hopefully manageable) list for today is:

Washing * 2
Dishwasher
Hoover stairs and landing (still on from Wednesday )
Polish coffee table
Sweep kitchen floor
Make tea

oh the climbing
sofas and piles of cushions to jump on may be only answer [there is no answer - except dreaded park]

pmpy aw lovely I remember ds being just like your dd. It's a big adjustment. Glad you can have nice time yourselfs. I know what you mean about grim, everyone told me to DIY down but the mess really impacted on my sanity so I had to do it.
swan I think your right. Must practice pretending I know! good luck with dump trip.

Ocadi lied to me sold me an offer for Irish stew with beef!! All recipes i can find are lamb! Will just chuck it all in and see what happens :-)

nettie I'm sure the stew will be lovely . I prefer beef in a stew myself anyway!

Can't do the park yet as not allowed to drive or even push a push chair yet! We live halfway up a very long steep hill as well, so even a gentle stroll is pretty much out for the next couple of weeks! I am desperate to get out of the house! Roll on the weekend

tip run done can't face trip to special tip far away that takes rubble, but managed to get rid of fair amount to local tip. And managed to pick up some shelving for ds2 models, which someone was just about to throw out

push I so agree that mess impacts on sanity at that stage, it's only later that one doesn't care Anyway it is the weekend [almost]
Does dd like to do a bit of dancing? Failsafe way of burning off tornado energy next week perhaps.

now I need to get some money from cashpoint (just to make sure I can pay at garden centre), another tip run, and pick up some garden stuff on way home.

Today's careful plan has gone awry - DS has been invited to a friend's to play this afternoon (and I will need to go with him) so I've been rearranging the day. Cancelled DM's visit as its not really fair to have her over for the afternoon, then for us to leave her for an hour or so,

I've been rapidly doing the playgroup accounts for the Committee meeting, updating, and doing the cash flow forecasts etc. All done now, and printing. Lunch is next on the list, then I may get a bit of flying in before we go out this afternoon, depends on DS. ATM he's watching CBeebies so I can this done [bad mummy emoticon]

Had long phone call from DH this morning, he's missing us and finding dogsitting very stressful, as the dogs are very good at escaping. He was out looking for them at 3am today, as one has worked out how to open the front door . He'll be wanting tea, sympathy (and all his washing done) when he gets home tomorrow night.

Morning routine done
Toddler group done
S/s done
Make beds done
Handwashing
Wash fabric
Zone cleaning
Zone mission
Lunch
Playgroup paperwork for Committee meeting done
DS to friend's to play
Pet care
Make tea
Tea
Bedtime routine
Evening routine
Tidy handbag
Our finance
Filing
Quilt piecing

swan she loves dancing - particularly to Madness or The Specials . Nothing cuter than a 2 yr old in pyjamas and fairly wings spinning and swaying to 'Baggy Trousers'!

Afternoon. Just sneaking a quick 30mins on the computer. I'd like to say 5mins but we all know that doesnt work with mn

Ellie - its going to be no better today either.

Today's list.
Write note for teacher done
School run done
Dishwasher reloaded done
Benches wiped down done
Washing 2nd load on
Drop car off at garage done
Try to get new screws so new door handles fit properally failed need to cut the existing ones down
Find red book done
Ds hospital appointment done and discharged again
Return reluctant child to school done
Fill in stupid census form done
Pack swimming kit done
Pack training stuff
Pack clothes for weekend - me and ds gathered ds' together already
Pack ds' books and toys for weekend
Eat lunch done
Strip ds' bed
wipe down plastic sheet
remake bed
Check email/fb/mn etc doing
Drive stupid amounts of miles

I think i need a nap.

Lost I'm trying to limit myself to 5 minutes on MN today - 15 minutes of Flying followed by a 5 minute break (the only way I can motivate myself), but it only works if I don't post anything and don't look at active convos, just threads I'm on.

I have almost two child-free hours this afternoon as DS's friend's mum has invited the girls to go and play too (and help release a recovered hedgehog back into the wild; DD1 has now decided she wants a pet hedgehog too). I'm very tempted to make the most of this lovely sunny weather (esp. as it's supposed to be much colder at the weekend) by sitting out in the garden and reading, but I've already spent an hour reading while DD1 was at her dyslexia lesson. Have just finished a book that I really didn't enjoy but I struggled through to the end, masochist that I am.

Right, about to set the timer for 15 minutes - just wondering whether I need a first. (Am I the only one itching to turn that cup round so that the handle is on the right?)

Welcome scatty.

lefties are in a minority. It just seems wrong now that you pointed it out. Always put cup down handle to right. Always use left hand to drink

Welcome scatty.

well, lost I think I need a nap too now

done
sorted out money probs by going to bank [grr]
but combined with buying new trousers [yay! I Love the way M & S 12 is a 14 really
groceries, meal planning
further long walk, exercise, spring sunshine

now reading how council is closing all the libraries, apparently it costs them £5 every time we borrow a book and £4 when we return it
and triple decking all the local schools intake

given up on buying turf etc

now to tackle laundry again
Yawn Yawn - need cup of tea

linzer lol at tea cup had not even noticed.
lost gosh you are going at it with gusto.
swan don't tell me that about m&s that means I'm too big! (trying to fool myself)
cobwebs bummer your mum can't come. Hope dh doesn't bring too much washing home.

Lots of wailing and mashing of teeth and coughing here! But quietened down with some fresh popped popcorn! Phew

What's that rule about not taking out more than you can put away. In a paper mountain but got one bag for shredding and one for recycling.

Better get on before I flake!

swan We have to pay to borrow books from the library and there are no second hand bookshops or even charity shops here either (we live in a decent sized town).

As a result, we have an ever-accumulating pile of stuff in the cellar that we no longer need but nowhere to take it. There is a charity shop in Vienna, but they were quite rude to DH last time he was there so he's now refusing to take anything else there.

Weekly food shop no (list fell out of bag as I was leaving the house)
e-mail shopping list to DH so that he can do the shopping on his way home done

Timer has just gone off - I should have done 15 minutes of Flying, so what am I doing back on the computer? (Ah yes, was e-mailing DH the shopping list.)

I have finished my work!

Am enjoying the huge sense of relief that I feel once I've emailed it back and don't have to think about it anymore.

Mum supervised DS1 at his home education (ie. stopped him playing computer games instead of working), did all the ironing, made us a lovely lunch, did all the washing up and then picked DS2 up from school. She even bought me some lovely daffodils for the house. She's flaked out in the bath now - I think it might have worn her out.

I'm going to cook dinner tonight - I think she deserves it!

Ellie - hope you found something to say to the nation's youth today .
Feet - I'm very impressed by your Mother's Day crafting at school - especially on top of everything else you have to do.
Scatty - hello again.
Ihatecobwebs - sorry you lost your free afternoon. Glad DH will be back with you soon.
Lost - the naughty corner is looking very empty without you
Swan - glad to hear you are off baby duties for a few days. I love the picture of your magnolia blooming - very spring-like.
Nettie - I know exactly what you mean about needing an adult to tell you what to do and today I have one: my mum! I agree with Swan - if no adults are present, you have to pretend to be one and make it up. Hope your DC are better soon.
Pushme - glad you are having a bit of toddler-free time and some time alone with your baby. Two is such a demanding age. Re: the climbing. I used to put all the dining-room chairs outside in the garden so that DS2 wouldn't keep climbing up on the table. It was the only way I could get on with dinner without constantly having to retrieve him.
Linzer - you are right about the handle! Maybe the designer of the icon is left-handed. Hope you enjoy your two hours' free time.

By the way, quick update on the worm issue. DS2 slept through the night last night - not a murmur about an itchy bottom. It's 48 hours since he had the tablets, so I expect they have worked. Thanks all for your advice.

Right, off to cook dinner.

I've finished my work for the publication too toffee, I will join you in a . Just need to print off 600 x 8 pages on Monday and get them in the post.

Feeling pants today still with the cold, so no flying completed. Although I am still determined to go out tonight with my 3 sisters and brother. We do it once every 2 months, so just have to be well enough for that!!

Off to produce tea for the locusts DCs, see you all sometime over the weekend.

I've been in the park since 3.30, as dcs insisted, so busy there...where did all those people come from? Dss playing football (but a bit painful to watch - ds1 is so slow and so argumentative when he plays) in a gang, dd sailing round the paths on her roller blades, and a great chat with another parent.

Ellie we were talking about comp education in late 70's early 80's and how bad it was, and how many people fell through the net if not in top streams. Parent who is now high ranking prof, said that in his (bad)school, chemistry A -level was taught by another pupil who had had a tutor and explained it to the rest of class, as there was no chemistry teacher for first two terms, only general science person. Anyway he was saying how wonderful it is that schools aren't like that anymore.

I really must tidy up, it feels dreadfully messy here - just need to get some rooms rescued before supper or it will be like this all weekend I fear...

toffee well done on finishing all that work, and a bunch of flowers for your mum too.

todo whilst they are watching CBBC
rescue hall
rescue master bedroom
hang up the wretched clean uniforms!!!

well done to you PA too, enjoy family meetup. Three sisters must be fun

OK, today's excuse for no roundup - I am going out in less than an hour and expecting to drink . I've been at work and out for a run today, plus back to school for class assembly and had one of DS's friends round, he has just gone home. So, sorry, I am going to cheat and say Thank you to Toffee for the mini roundup a couple of posts up from here and go straight to the links. Normal service will hopefully be resumed tomorrow!

Saturday

Babystep - Look at the bottom of any Flylady email and read the first bit. For those of you who haven't got any emails (v. sensible) I will paraphrase (don't want to infringe copyright) it says don't worry about being behind and catching up, just jump in and start where we are.

Wow busy days all round. Lots of sunshine .

My dishwasher has arrived and nearly finished its 1st load . My sink is shiny for the first time ever (despite years of flying ).

Laundry is put away.
DD has been bathed/hair washed and platted
Ds had shower
All is well .

Think I may join you all in a little .

Tomorrow I amd going to brave the local Clarks outlet (if i can find it) for school shoes for DD. Wish me luck.

PA I have 3 sisters too and 2 brothers - sounds a lovely idea all meeting up and going out together. You must all live fairly locally I see most of my brothers and sisters most weekends round one or other of our houses but it's never the full set unless we are celebrating a birthday!

WKWTTG have a fab night out but just drink what you feel like (maybe instead )

Toffee your mum sounds an angel, wow!! Congrats on finishing your workload too

Wow swan i never knew that about library book borrowing

This weather has been unbelievable this week, def going to make the most of it this weekend. DD has her elocution exam tomorrow slap bang in the middle of the day at 1.35pm so can't go too far in the morning and same for the afternoon. Have a party to go to in the evening and DH and DD are invited too so i'm looking forward to that. Swimming lesson Sun morn for DD too - this is a new development as she used to go on Wednesdays at 4.30pm but it would interfere with her homework that we decided to change to a wkend instead.

Enjoy your weekends everyone and catch up on Monday

Evening all! Another spectacularly unproductive day here although it would seem i am on my own in the naughty corner seeing as lost has turned into the class swot . I have however educated the youth in a wide variety of historical issues including the Peasant's Revolt, the Public Health Acts of 1875, the origins of Stonehenge and the nature of trench warfare! Diverse to say the least. I had my trickiest class period 5 today (period 5 on Friday is the graveyard shift because i normally end up killing them ) but they were absolutely engrossed in the intricacies of trench warfare and an absolute entertaining delight. I love my job!

Big congratulations to toffee and pa for finishing work!

nettie hope dc's are a little better tonight.

pa and whoknows enjoy your nights out.

scatty yay for dishwasher!

sr i was at school late eighties early nineties and teaching is so much better these days. Even bad teachers these days are way better than many when i was at school!

Dh has gone out to his bf's so i am going to open the and watch some trashy tv!

Yes, shame on you Lost for being so productive!!

Can I come in please Ellie? I have definitely earned my place in the naughty corner this week. Have dreadful case of CBA and what's worse I KNOW I am at the danger point of not captalising on boudoir success and letting things slide back again ...must not.. will not.. but all willpower seems to have eluded me this week .... no excuses. I had the time and I simply didn't do it.

I have done 6 hrs paid work today and nothing whatsover after that (apart from eat home made fish and chips courtesy of dh and swoon at Monty gloriously back on the screen [sigh and adore from afar emoticon]).

Am enjoying all the chat on here ranging from shepherd's pis to trench warfare to asparagus beds via hedgehogs, stressful dogsitting and bustiers for murder mystery parties!!

Congrats to Nettie for getting so much done while your los are poorly

and to PA and Toffee for putting the work to bed

and to everyone else for Flying high (unlike me)

Glad to hear your sil in feeling better for now Swan and that you have a bit of a reprieve for now

Enjoy your well-deserved night out Whoknows and have a lovely weekend LadyinPink

A warm welcome to the thread Scatty - I know what you mean about this sunshine illuminating all the dust and clutter ... MUST do something to tackle this tomorrow....my entire kitchen needs a thorough scrub.

G'night one and all ...

Morning girls .

Hope everyone ok after their . lady I envy your party tonight .

Gone cold here now .

Today:
ds homework
dd homework
dd to shoe shop
ds to swimming (with dh)
lunch for whoever is here
dd to ballet
wrap dd present (birthday on wed)
launndry, laundry, laundry
ironing
read papers .

I am going to bore you with my economy drive. Having realised that we are overspending every month (not by much but its adding up) I have drawn up a (hopefully short term) stringent budget. Proposed economy measures include:
School shoes from outlet rather than normal shop
DD (small) party at home
cook mothers day lunch instead of pub
avoid sainsburys (too much temptation)
no new clothes for me
no new clothes for dc (as have plenty of summer stuff still fitting) - unless I've missed something.
All toiletries from Avon (no new make up)
Cut my own hair (tried the mumanet haircut again last night )
no new books (have loads unread).
avoid town (too much temptation).

I'm feeling hopeful. I tend to be a bit of a spendthrift , so wish me well.

Morning all,

Have had an incredibly lazy morning here this morning which is a bit of a bummer as i actually have loads to do. The dc's have gradually trashed what was a relatively tidy house and i have a severe case of cba. Am going to list post in the hope of finding some motivation somewhere.

To do:-
tidy downstairs
washing up
wm on
clothes away
clean dining room
clean living room
clean bedrooms
clean bathroom
cheap food shop (roll on payday on thursday!)
ds homework
buy new beaver trousers for ds
schoolwork
prep veg for lunch tomorrow as have friends coming round and a church parade run to do.

scatty i too am on an enforced economy drive as DH has been out of work for nearly 6 weeks, so you are not boring me, i am picking up tips .

Better get moving I suppose!