If your house is calling May Day, do not fear: May's Fledgling Flyers are here

[LinzerTorte]

Welcome to the May edition of the Fledgling Flyers' thread. Thank you to Nettie for her splendid leadership of last month's thread.

If you're living in CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome), this is the thread for you! We follow the tips on the FlyLady website in an attempt to restore order to our homes, but advise against signing up for the e-mails; all the information you need is on this thread.

Each day, I'll be posting the links that will enable you to do any of the following:

• start or repeat baby steps
  

• repeat babysteps and do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone
  

or

• reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.
  

More information about the babysteps is here.

So please join us - there's always plenty of chat, tea, cake, encouragement and the occasional to help us on our way!

[feetheart]

Quick good-night as I should have been in bed a while ago but had to do the shopping after DC were in bed which I HATE but there would have been nothing for breakfast
At least its done now but I came home at 10.45pm to the washing up so was NOT happy. Crashed things around and DH finally appeared and helped but I now need to wind down a bit if I am to sleep - I was SO chilled this morning :(

Linzer - thank you SO much for inspiring leadership this month, I also am not sure how you manage to fit it all in.

Night all, new month tomorrow

[Stillchuckingit]

Thanks Linzer [takes hold of fat fairy wand] Enjoy your well deserved rest this evening.

Thanks for your kind words re: dd too. It's really worrying us atm. She fortunately has quite a few friends outside school and a reasonable number of play-dates/parties etc but IN school it is hopeless. Only one other girl in her class + 9 boys. And next year, the boys and girls split in to separate schools leaving the 2 girls to join the class above (which only has 5 girls in it currently and one of those is rumoured to be leaving). We are meeting with the headmistress of the primaire next week to find out more details about their plans for September... We thought we were doing the right thing by "going native" but it's tough sometimes ...

Heigh ho - time for bed

Sleep well one and all and see you on the June thread in the morning ...

[LinzerTorte]

Thank you SC - now that I've finished work for the day and my headache seems to have gone, I wouldn't say no to another . Cheers!

[LinzerTorte]

I've decided that trying to proofread after a glass of wine (yes, I am a lightweight) is probably not very wise so have given up on work for the day. I'm hoping to get it finished tomorrow morning, though ? and at least the English lesson is more or less prepared.

The headache is much better now thanks, SC and Blue - I made sure I drank as much water as possible, and that seems to have helped. Sorry to hear you're still suffering with the anaemia SC; I know how exhausting it can be.

MissJ Well done on your productive day and good luck with the move!

Cinders Well, it has been very hot here today so I think you have an excuse for eating ice cream. The DC got through seven between them this afternoon.

feetheart Your DS's friend sounds like an ideal visitor! Even the ones who play well (most of them, I must admit) rarely eat my food.

swan DC in a good mood must beat having a tidy house. I keep telling myself the two are not imcompatible, although it feels like it sometimes.

Blue Our patio doors stay handprint-free for all of about an hour after they've been cleaned; it's a losing battle. (Very quick hijack: do you have Trados? I'm thinking about taking the plunge ? I used to use it when I worked in-house, but that was over 10 years ago and it's probably changed since then.)

SC So sorry to hear about your DD's problems at school; I must have missed that earlier. DD2 is very sociable and often has friends over to play, whereas DD1 has very few friends who she sees outside school, is rarely invited to parties (DD2 is off to another one tomorrow afternoon) and gets quite upset when she compares the number of friends who have slept over/parties they've been invited to, etc. At least it sounds like you can do something about the school issue ? it must be very difficult if there are only a couple of girls in her class to start with.

Really must get a slightly earlier night tonight ? I've got a sore throat, which is often a sign that I'm not getting enough sleep ? so will hand over the fat fairy's wand to SC and see you all on next month's thread tomorrow.

[Stillchuckingit]

[Hands Cinders a small snifter/disgestif]

Good luck with it all MissJ!

Swan top marks for keeping the kinder happy

Blue Feetheart(glad the day went well after all) and everyone else

Just going over to "officially" start June thread now ...

Thank you Linzer for being such a great thread leader during May (you did well to fit it in what with your hectic school run schedule + working from home). Here's a few for your efforts (if your headache will allow)!!

[missjulie]

So, have actually managed a really productive day!! Phew! :)
Tired! SO much left to do!
Internet being cut off tomorrow, re-connected new house Sat, so, shall be awol for a while, again! Take care! x

[CindersIgnoto]

sits in corner


now I have eaten too much ice cream

Im beyond hope.

[feetheart]

swan - campsite def NOT well equipped by most people's standards but has enough for us (and 136 other people). As for improvised things - I have added a picture of the outside of the sauna on my profile, you would NEVER believe that inside is a fully-functioning, pine-lined Swedish sauna :o

Day with DS's friend has gone really well and I feel bad about being nervous now. He played beautifully with DS, ate well and tidied up when asked. I have asked him back :)
As a result I have done 2 big loads of washing and cleaned all the pots, pans, cutlery, etc ready to put away. Rather pleased with myself.
No idea what we will be eating tonight though - must investigate freezer.

[swanriver]

We've had a lovely morning OUT (at swmming pool, ds1 at Multisports till 4)
dd has played tennis as well as swum.

Twins seem in good mood, the house is unfortunately as I left it...
I am baffled - why does it seem UNTIDIER than this morning?

Quick tidyup now before friend arrives with three kids (she is very very tidy) Dd is practising her tennis, ds2 is building an enormous marble run (fingers crossed she does not knock it down with a tennis ball

SC oh bless her, what meanies

[BlueEyeshadow]

Ugh! One giant hotspot sounds like our spare room/office too! Still, I keep my back to it while I'm working so if I can keep my desk tidy it's bearable... I suppose I could wipe the smeary French windows in the sitting room, but it seems so pointless with the boys constantly blowing raspberries on them etc...

We've been to Messy Church this morning, where the kids made rain sticks. We then got caught in a torrential rain/hail shower on the way home. Hmm. [sceptical]

I hoep your headache improves Linzer and that SC and Cinders also feel better soon.

Oh dear, DS2 has woken up after only 30 mins. Sigh.

[Stillchuckingit]

Have to admit to feeling no better Linzer although weekend was hectic

Taking iron tablet substitute while finding more permanent alternative ....

Just hope it starts to work soon

[sorry for eternal moaning!]

Hope your headache eases soon

[LinzerTorte]

Sympathies, SC - are you still waiting for the iron tablets to kick in? I now have a headache (too much sun/too little water, probably; must take note of the New Habit for June) so don't feel like doing much either, but will laminate some flashcards while DD2 and DS are being entertained by CBeebies.

[Stillchuckingit]

oh dear, think I am going to join you in the 'enfeebled' corner Cinders - still feeling anemic and wobbly, partic whenever I try and do housework

[LinzerTorte]

I fear I may have been a corrupting influence, Cinders. I couldn't face any more wine on Sunday night, but it doesn't take much to get me tipsy any more.

[CindersIgnoto]

I whispers


no hope is there

[CindersIgnoto]

sits in naughty corner

I whispers

fear i may still be hangover

[LinzerTorte]

At least you're sticking to FlyLady's principle SC - did your timer go off after 15 minutes?
Hope your DD's exams go well; the Belgian school system sounds even harsher than the Austrian one (it's very rare for children to have to repeat a year of primary school). I don't think children should have tests unless they're capable of revising for them at least partly on their own, but there seems to be far greater parental involvement in helping with homework/revision here, even at secondary school level.

MissJ I'd second SC's advice of just doing something (preferably not MNing!) for 15 minutes. My timer can be a great motivator.

Hope you enjoy the film, Lady - what are you going to see?

Welcome back feetheart (I heard your mention on Chris Evans btw - fame at last!).

It's amazing how productive I can be when I stay off MN. Unfortunately this productivity hasn't extended to FLYing; I've spent all morning working. The deadline isn't until Monday but we're going to be away from Thursday until Saturday (long weekend here) and I was really hoping to see the back of the cattle before we leave. Still have lots to prepare for tomorrow's English lesson too, but I'm going to rope DD2 into helping me this afternoon - she loves to help laminate flashcards etc. and I wouldn't be able to get much work done with the DC around, in any case.

[Stillchuckingit]

oh dear.

I've just Mmsnetted for another 15 mins.

Stepping away from the screen ...

[Stillchuckingit]

I feel the same way Miss Julie Let's try doing something/anything for 15 mins!!

[Stillchuckingit]

Morning all

Lovely evening last night (dh, still jet-lagged, stopped work early for once) so we spent a sweltering evening (28°c over here) eating supper on the terrace and playing with dd on the lawn (dh's proficiency at hula-hoop has improved dramatically of late ). Drank some wine (never usually do on a Monday night). Completely neglected evening routine.

Cue totally self-induced horrible stressful morning- 12°C and raining - overslept - no time even for a shower - couldn't find dd's school hair clips/scrunchie/ - hadn't ironed dd's shirt - hadn't filled in school forms - hadn't half-prepared packed lunch as usual - dh complaining because he'd cut himself shaving and needed another new shirt - courier man came and I couldn't find my bra or the door keys - in the midst of which, dd's lack of school friends issue raised its head, and she started sobbing and saying "I asked some girls would they play with me if I gave them a biscuit, and they said yes, but they then broke their promise and ate the biscuits and left" Oh dear .... . We have appointments with different schools next week where hopefully they'll be more than just 1 or 2 girls per class!

Just back from school run/supermarket and surveying the "tornado path" that ravaged the house this morning. Need a bit of a Mnsnet before I get cracking!

Linzer one giant hotspot is a perfect description of my basement too. Home office rapidly returning to same state. (Started clearing it out and now new clutter has arrived on top of cleared areas ifyswim.) Hope your dd doesn't find the tests too stressful (although sounds as if she is well prepared!) It's a young age to be worrying about exams. Dd has her end-of-term exams coming up in 3 weeks. If you don't pass - you don't move up to next year. Harsh at the age of 7/8 methinks but that's the system here.

Your holiday sounds fab Feetheart (partic. ukeleles). Welcome back and good luck today!

Have a great day Pink

Waves to Swan and everyone else...

Right - off to shower and put the house to rights...

Empty dishwasher
Clean kitchen
Tidy sitting room
Tidy play room
White washes X 3
Boudoir swipe (needs a bit more than a swipe actually)
1 hour home office
Clean out disgusting handbag
15 mins (x 1 or X 2 or X3 depending on how strong I am feeling) in the basement!!
Send thank you e-mail
Decide date of dd's birthday party and write out guest list
Spot of ironing
Make ratatouille
Afternoon/evening routine

[missjulie]

Anyone fancy giving me an enormous jolt of motivation?! SHOULD be packing up the last of the house, but, find myself here!!!

[swanriver]

glad someone is in their dressinggown hello pink
I think I may have to save the cinema for my lowest ebb as they are watching far too much telly already

[swanriver]

oh, so we are still here then...
glad the campsite was so well equipped Feet (although I can imagine saunas can be improvised)

[Toffeefudgecake]

Sounds like you have a very full day ahead of you, Feet. Good luck with that. The zoo trip and fayre sound lovely.

[LadyInPink]

Morning all

Washing is on but i am still in dressing gown so nothing else done as yet including my breakfast so must have some in a min.

Off to the cinema with DD in a bit with some friends of hers (and mine) so not much FLYing will be done today. Will have a pizza hut after the cinema so that takes care of lunch - cooking and washing up, hooray - so see you all later.

Nice to see you back feet glad you had a fab time