April Fledgling Flyers: April Fools we are not, babysteps and decluttering makes our thread hot, step right in and mark your spot.

[NettieSpaghetti]

Welcome, come away in you?ll have had your . This is the April Fledgling Flyers Thread.

Thanks to WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes who was champion at leading us through March.

We are trying to stick to the Flylady © Website and her baby steps and routines to help keep our houses out of C.H.A.O.S and ready for everyday, maybe the odd visitor or two.

Check her website out but don?t sign up for emails as they are likely to inspire but fill your inbox so full we might not see you till August.

The principles are:

Babysteps (one at a time)
Babysteps and 15 minutes daily decluttering
Babysteps and daily missions.

This month I will be posting the links and leading you down the road to building a routine and keeping your house under control.

It is amazing what you can achieve in a simple babystep,15 minutes a day and a little chat.

Nettie You'd pronounce it Nic-oo Nac-oo the 'oo' is said with your lips a bit pursed IYKWIM!!!

Will be back later, have to rescue flaming sausages from under the grill

Hi everyone

1. start washing machine and get it dried/hung up - done
2. Ironing my earlier washing load and a bit of backlog for 1hr - hahahaha
3. wipe down kitchen and table in room - done
4. shine sink - done
5. weekly grocery shop - done
6. Take DD to a park to meet some other mums in my area, slightly nervous, but excited too. Its from a group on facebook Ive recently joined. - done
7. Make sure my work uniform is ready for sat morning. - done

Phew what a day, have only just sat down properly.

Had a really good afternoon, but had to leave earlyish as I forgot to bring the suncream with me and I was afraid DD was going to get too much sun. Anyway we had fun and we are looking forward to our next event. Its been 23 degrees here, but it has felt much much warmer to me.

scatty I dont think the inspectors are going to fine you on the first visit, I think thats more if you refuse. They are just there to make sure you dont have any problems at this stage.

Does everyone else start to flag a bit with the flying towards the end of the week? I just cant be bothered right now. Think its partly the sun, partly the fact that its the weekend and school hols and the fact that Im at work tomorrow and so feeling sorry for myself. There's nothing wrong with work, Id just rather be at home (as would a lot of people). Anyway come Monday with the start of a new week I will be back to being more motivated.

Anyway I have no list tomorrow as Im at work, however DH does hahaha

Well I just want him to wipe down kitchen and table in room and give the bathroom a clean.

Have a good weekend everyone, I shall speak to you all later.

Know what you mean about the end of the week - perhaps it's partly the sun and also the holiday feeling. Just been into town to collect DDs from ballet and everyone's wearing, well, almost nothing! You won't know it was Yorkshire

I have just about kept up, but tomorrow and next week will be a big challenge for me as my parents are coming for a week. My Mum doesn't believe in housework and thinks it's a complete waste of time. I will be running around surreptitiously with a cloth, hoping not to be spotted

Have a good weekend, everyone.

toffee - grr indeed to editors!
scatty - at least you found it. I hope you made the post!
Nettie - intrigued about scalectrix...

Today's list: nappies out
wash delicates
put away clean clothes - half done
recycling
recycle batteries - no
deal with hamper - no
mend books wrecked by DS2- no, and he ripped another one
15 mins in kitchen

I now have nice clean kitchen appliances, DS1 has new canvas shoes and it's the Easter holidays!

DH is because DS1 got onto the laptop and wrecked his (DH's) farm game. DS1 also wouldn't eat his tea, is hugely overtired and generally stroppy. And DS2 wouldn't go to bed for some reason. So I'm zonked. Had with the meal which makes dealing with DSs more stressful. Hmm.

Tomorrow:
Washing and putting away
batteries to recycle
freecycle stuff
mend books and trousers
general tidying
plant bulbs
somehow persuade DS1 to rest a bit!!
shine sink
s&s

Toffee well done on getting it done though
SC I found an April 2007 Gardener's World when decluttering my bedroom, and Monty was wearing braces and corduroys, he looked so saintly compared to Alan Titchmarsh...
ds1 used to watch Gardener's World with me when he was eight, he used to think it was very grownup to be allowed to stay up.

Scatty my piano teacher's son (who is heading for Newcastle Uni) is an Inspector!

A busy afternoon, lots of walking, to and from party, visit to pet shop to look at adorable puppies and guinea pigs (no chance there visit to pound shop to buy shampoo and discount marmalade/cereal amongst other useful things, anything to keep dcs away from the telly really in post school slump!!!!

done
worktops
dw
supper (fishfingers, and dh had a sandwich as he had been to a restaurant for lunch lucky man
short altercation about dogs
dry washing in from garden
shopping put away

very tired, and looking forward to weekend with no school on Monday, and NOOO ACTIVITIES ON SAT thank heavens...

Oh yes, and nice chat at party with other mums about extensions...it is such a middleaged thing isn't it to discss extensions (not hair extensions) and turf laying

Good evening, checking in to check out.

Been hectic afternoon, have managed to move stuff from conservatory to hall and covered with throw. As a consequence there is stuff everywhere?.aaarrraagggghhh. Whats that don?t take out more than you can put away mantra. Oh well I?m going to get moving once ive finished here.

Tomorrow is family fun day. No missions. decluttering a few minutes not hours at a time

chb has been frolicking in the hills, dealing with ds allergy reaction and building herself up for training
scatty is one of those rebel types and has not done census. Tut Tut Tut
nicwnacw has flaming sausages and taught us some welsh
myhouse had a lovely play date but almost ended up like nicwnacw sausages and is running outta steam. Go girl you can do it, just make it smaller and more manageable. One thing off a list with one on it works well too
janeyjampot painted a scary scene of Yorkshire and will be sneaking around cleaning all week. Let hope you can sneak in here too.
blue has lovely clean appliances and a dh whose farming has gone astray. Dfil bought dh scalextric when dh was 1, they set it up and burnt it out before he was 1.5 but it has followed us everywhere for the past 15 years in an unusable falling apart box, which is just as precious as the non working scaletrix inside it
swan was lusting after a dog and a guinea pig but bought discounted marmalade instead. Lol at discussing actual extentions.

Right well this evenings list is to finish moving stuff in conservatory, put load of laundry on, try and get computer to work, tidy living room.

Tomorrow will be more of the same and something for the dc?s. Oh and probably some more trapsing round shops trying to find a corset for a heffalump!!

Good night all

Tomo is going to be a fail day in terms of flying. To do list

try not to grump too much about getting up
give child lots of fun stuff to do
dont eat too much chocolate
try not to kill ds
try not to kill everyone else because i am tired
enjoy tomo
go to bed early.

but a realistic list of aims i think

night.

It's always good not to kill people CHB ....sometimes it's all I accomplish really :)

Today I've
Made beds
Swish n swipe
15 minute room rescue
Dishes
Shined Sink
Wiped down big appliances

Tomorrow:
Lie in :o
Find time to listen to Paul McKenna cd
Change/wash bedding
Clean rabbit's cage
Scrub kitchen floor (didn't have time today)
Follow routines
More decluttering in my bedroom
Laundry, laundry, laundry

Good luck, self! :)

Oooh janey, would you like to trade parents for a bit? Mine thinks that my lack of housework is a disgrace and if I'd just "stay on top of it" everything would stay tidy. Which is true. But annoying nonetheless!

stillchuckingit I feel your pain on the clothes things...I have one pair of jeans I can stand and about ten pairs that are lovely but don't fit. :( I will get there, though!

"Reinvent your life, and the universe is yours."

My quote for today :)

CheerfulYank - no thanks, I have a MIL in that role already

Good morning

janey & cheerful my mum wouldnt say it to me but to all my other bros and sis. My mil doesn't mind untidiness but freaked out at the state of my clothes not being hung in the cupboard unironed that she got me someone to do it
chb like your list

My turn for lie in. Ds woke me up this morning as he has been shaving. Cue badly cut top lip, blood everywhere. He is ok I can't understand how he got hold of it!

Dw/wm
Find somewhere to put all the stuff that i have left in the kitchen and on top of conservatory couch!
Look at old pictures unearthed
Sort out memory boxes for dc as currently clogging mine.
Shopping for corset!'
Visit in laws
Do something fun that doesn't involve getting caught in beach panic traffic.
Dc fed/bathed/bedded
Out at murder mystery party first ever one.

Have a lovely day everyone

Morning all!
Didn't manage to get back yesterday - DH on night duty so took advantage to watch all the TV shows I love and he hates!! (Not so good for flying though...)
Yesterdays list was:
Phone up about job details Done
Sort wills Done
Clean downstairs loo and bathroom Nope
Hoover/tidy downstairs Nope
Cook dinner Done
Do exam coaching with friends DD Done
More washing - the end is in sight Done

So still improvements to be made...

Today I will:
Clean downstairs loo and bathroom
Hoover/tidy downstairs
Empty DW and fill with breakfast stuff
Get DS's (and me) up before DH comes home at 9.30
Get new watch batteries for me and DS 1
Get to the bottom of the washing basket
Walk the dog and DS's
Look properly at the Flylady site

Have a lovely Saturday everyone

Good morning all!

Today is a day I mean business flying wise and have been rather productive so far this morning! I must say the only reason i have been productive is because we were expecting a visit between 8 and 1 from the sky man to fix the sky box. I obviously didn't tidy up last night because a. it was friday b. it was school holidays c. I couldn't be arsed. This was mainly because I thought there was no chance of him actually arriving until 12.59. Bit of a shock to the system then when he rang at ten to 8 after I had just crawled out of bed and said he would be here in 15 mins! Cue muchos running around and tidying which has then put me in the flying zone so to speak!

List looks like this:-

Tidy/sweep floor/clean front room done
Tidy/sweep hall done
TIdy/clean/sweep dining room done
WM on done
Tidy/clean kitchen done
Shine sink done
Wash up/dry up done

Still to do:-

IRoning
Put clothes away
Tidy/clean bathroom
Tidy/clean dd's bedroom
Tidy/clean ds's bedroom
Tidy/clean our bedroom
Strip/wash/remake all beds
Food shop

I am determined to start off the holidays on a tidy and clean note so I can just jump into routines and attempt some decluttering/zone cleaning/missions. Am quite busy over the holidays so this must happen. I am taking the dc's up to the caravan on Monday for a few days until Thursday. Friday night I depart for a school trip to the BAttlefields of France and Belgium (I shall wave to sc from Ypres!) until Monday and then on the following Thursday my uncle is coming up to Mum's to visit. This is a bit of an achievement as he is wheelchair bound due to Motor Neurone Disease but he is determined to do it all by himself and he does have a very swanky wheelchair. This means lots of days out and general family time including a trip to the Railway Museum in York which I am looking forward to.

ANyway better stop wittering on and get on with it, Have a lovely day everyone!

Morning.
Lovely day here and am posting from bed whilst DH hogs the bathroom and DC play in DD's bed :)

Only the cats are complaining as they want breakfast - tough!

Swan - no idea why but 'short altercation about dogs' made me :)

Hope DS2 has recovered - is he likely to have forgiven her?

Managed most of my list yesterday - especially the sitting in garden chatting - managed that twice with two separate friends (and in the two gardens that I envy the most)
DS's room looks half-decent and has been hoovered, DD's needs a bit more work but the end is in sight. Now need to implement sticker-chart plan to keep them that way over holidays - DC very excited about this, not sure for how long though!

Will post a w/e list and see how I go:

• Recover kitchen from the state it was left in last night - no washing up done, takeaway remnants all over worktops, no shiny sink, etc.
• Plan Olympic events we want to go to and book tickets
• Bit of work (whilst DD is at cinema with friend and DS is at gymnastics with DH)
• Finish DD's room
• Hoover downstairs
• Hoover rest of upstairs
• Menu-plan, shopping list and shopping
• Put things in loft and find summer clothes
• Visit new craft shop (DD and I have discovered scrap-booking and need to buy things :o)
• Plant things in garden - new herbs, seeds
• Out somewhere tomorrow - DS angling for zoo which actually sounds like a good idea
• ENJOY SUNSHINE :o

Hope everyone has a lovely w/e

you lot make me
Feet I hate to say it, but dh has bought tickets for Olympics already! (or is it just entered ballot?...not sure)

I have done nothing so far this morning. Have avoided putting my specs on till now.
Did some detailed colouring with new felttips to inspire dd (one of those very elaborate colouring books with fairies on mushrooms etc) however spoilt the face at last moment with too much blue on the eyebrows

They've all gone out to football practice. Will be back shortly [help]
nettie I hate scaletrix, it is under our bed at the moment, is broken, but for some reason we still have it in quantity [grrr] Hornby I don't mind, if it means that dh will build a train shed..

Slept for 10 hours last night! And have awoken to glorious weather, so we're leaving the house in a mess and going out for a picnic in the woods instead. If we can get DS1 out of the house, that is (he doesn't like surprises and is hiding under a blanket in protest at the moment whilst the rest of us wait...and wait... and wait...).

Hope you all have a lovely day.

Toffee a picnic in the woods sounds lovely!
Feet hope you enjoyed the lie-in
Elliepac typical about sky man but if you had tidied he would have been here at 12.55 - Am at your motivation today though
Nettie hope you enjoy your murder mystery party*
Hello to anyone else I missed

Education show yesterday was good and DD loved a day at the zoo with DH - had a picnic, a ride on train and face painted. Didn't so much enjoy the journey home as two of the three routes back to Sheffield had accidents and were therefore closed o didn't arrive home until almost 8pm - takeaway and bed was all I managed.

So far today

• DD dance class Done
• Bet on grand national Done don't usually but decided to this year for some reason

To do

• Post office to sent back parcel and notes to friend
• Shop for face masks and a hat for role play lesson next week
• Plan next weeks lessons and e-mail to mentor
• washing x3
• Wait in for man to come and fix cooker (Fingers crossed he can, been too long without one now)
• Cut grass
• Jetwash patio
• Visit GPs
• Hoover downstairs
• Cook tea
• DH out tonight so catch up on soaps this evening with bottle of wine

Sounds like done gorgeous sunny day Activities today, yesterday and to come.

Naf all flying done here, shopping for corset followed by visit to tesco, visit to in laws, all afternoon in the park, off back to shop went to yesterday for corset, then quicky muckymcd for tea. Home to get ready.

Prob won't get chance for round up unless it's a drunken one much later, hope you will forgive me.

Be back tomorrow!

Hope everyone had a lovely day.

Afternoon all! Another gorgeous day today and have spent most of it cleaning!

However have:-

Still to do:-

IRoning tonight
Put clothes away done
Tidy/clean bathroom done
Tidy/clean dd's bedroom done
Tidy/clean ds's bedroom
Tidy/clean our bedroom
Strip/wash/remake all beds
Food shop done
Mopped floors downstairs done
Taken dd for haircut done
Tidied in garden done

I have made an executive decision that is too nice to do anything else so have downed tools for now! DS had a friend call for him for the first time and i had to decided whether to let him go to the park with his friends for the first time. Bearing in mind this park is not even 100m away with no roads to cross whatsoever. Ummed and aahed for a while and then dh told me i was being overprotective as he is nearly 8 and i can see him if i stand in front of our house. I decided to let him go in the end on the proviso he came back every 15 mins so i knew he was alright. Needless to say he was fine. He did not break his neck or get kidnapped and was over the moon at being allowed to go!

ANyway, DH has just taken DC's to his mum's for half an hour so I am going to have a cup of tea in the sunshine! Back later.

hmm list wise:

try not to grump too much about getting up grumped at 5am but happy at 10am -lie in
give child lots of fun stuff to do would have loved to but
dont eat too much chocolate jelly beans and dolly mix instead
try not to kill ds we have fallend out a lot today
try not to kill everyone else because i am tired mostly managed
enjoy tomo - hmm should have give ds instructions as to this one.
go to bed early. cant wait

Have been very glad to have had some a brilliant night last night. It has kept me smiling through a day that would otherwise have reduced me to tears. And when ds breaks from the shouting and screaming i can still smile.

We've been enjoying the sunshine so much today. The garden's coming on nicely and been playing "rugby" with DS1 - this is his name for a cross between catch and football. :)

Washing and putting away - half done
batteries to recycle - no. Forgot again.
freecycle stuff - no
mend books and trousers
general tidying - a bit better
plant bulbs
somehow persuade DS1 to rest a bit!! - got him to bed early, so I guess that counts
shine sink
s&s

Tomorrow:
Get to church early cos DH on coffee
Bread
Laundry
Get dinner on
sort out hamper
freecycle
shine sink
s&s
tidy hotspots
shopping list

janey - what's Zumba like? Is it fun, expensive? There's a class near here and I was wondering about signing up...

Just a quick check-in before everyone else surfaces...

Zumba is great. I pay £3 for a session of 45 minutes (or there's a class at the gym which is part of my membership). It's quite fast-paced but no one minds if you're doing it right, or even moving in the same direction as others. My instructor calls it a 'fitness party' - I'm not totally convinced but it is fun! The moves seem difficult at first but you soon get the hang of enough of them to feel that you're taking part, if you see what I mean. I've been going since November and there are still things I can't do, but I have terrible co-ordination. DD2 does it with me once a week and she can do it all (she's 12), but she is a good dancer and is much more confident than I am.

One thing I would say is that I am a terrible dancer - the sort of person who needs a lot to drink in order to be sufficiently uninhibited to dance at a party, for example. I am still able to enjoy Zumba, which is quite a recommendation

Go along and try it - you only have to do it once, after all!

Bit of a breakthrough with my mum - she looked at my house and said "This looks tidy - I wish mine could look like this! How do you do it?"

Perhaps I will be able to do a bit of flying this week after all.

Morning everyone,

Really enjoying the weather at the moment, hope it stays like this.

Not much flying yesterday or today.

Yesterday our fridge broke, because DH cant drive and I have all the money we are going this morning to get a new one. I am using the fresh fridge as a start to regular cleaning of it, is once a week enough?

Have already rang my parents to have the kids for a little bit. Plus later on we are going to the seaside for tea :) So thats it today for me.

I have got a load in the washer going round and will get it dried before we go to the seaside so I have done something and I will do an hour ironing this aft before the seaside too, but thats it today.

Back to it tomorrow.

Janey which part of Yorkshire are you in? We're in York.

I fancy Zumba, I know loads of people who rave about it. ATM Im missing exercising a bit even though its been a few years while since I was fit. Last summer I starting running and sometimes now when its sunny and Im driving down one of the streets I reminise, I never got further than 3 mins at a time so next year Im hoping to get further. Oooh next year my exercise and losing weight mission begins again. Im looking forward to it. I need to get down from a size 16 to a 12.

Anyway have a good sunday everyone, hope you all have lots of fun in the sun. I'll be back to it properly tomorrow :)