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!

Very little flying here again today, but I have a morning free of running, teaching, work and DC tomorrow so must get back on track then. It's supposed to be even sunnier here tomorrow, so must not allow myself to venture outside. The DC are desperate to go to the outdoor swimming pool tomorrow afternoon, but I'm hoping to distract them with our new paddling pool instead.

Round-up time:

scatty had some words of comfort for ellie and is continuing to work on what must be a very elaborate Roman costume.

Lady is enjoying the walk to school and now has lovely eyebrows (am wondering whether I can do anything with mine, but I think they are beyond all hope).

CHB is crazy busy, was attempting to find her floor underneath all the Lego, had a dress to whizz up and left us wondering what exactly she was going to do with her clothes.

swan is feeling worn out by her DD?s tantrums (I know the feeling), has come up with a plan for mealtimes and decluttered her recipe books, and temporarily mislaid her DS.

Toffee has a very painful knee so has been excused from flying duties and had to hobble to school as her DH is still ill.

Cinders is considering installing a zip wire and her mum is on the mend.

Have finished my so off to bed now (famous last words).

Swan - so glad you found DS after mislaying him! Sounds as if he is a sensible boy - in this situation anyway. And congratulations to him on gaining a singing part in the school play. You must be a proud mum.

Linzer - good luck at getting back on track with flying tomorrow. Me too. Re: swimming - we have an outdoor swimming pool here, but it is unheated and freezing, even on the warmest day. I avoid it whenever possible!

Lady - at the lovely eyebrows!

CHB - am very impressed by your dress-making skills (my needlework teacher at school - who was an old witch anyway - despaired of me).

I made dinner and sorted the washing up (well, most of it), but that's about it. The washing is still on the sofa, but I've grown used to it now.

Am having a friend of DS2's round tomorrow afternoon, which means his mum will pop in to collect him, so - unless I want to be embarrassed - I shall have to have a crisis clean tomorrow.

My knee is turning a lovely shade of blue and purple. It gives me a good excuse not to fetch and carry for the DC (or DH!) anymore! Am going to do my before-bed routine, then watch a bit of telly before having a (hopefully) early night.

hello, i'm so sorry for being awol.

excuses are ten fold. However i have kept up with washing, ironing done, floors cleaned, birthday cards etc written and posted, clothes laid out, washing on timer in machine etc etc. Ive no idea where we are in missions but hey ho. Im going to try again tomorrow.

My list

get up everyone dressed and dispatched to work and nursery.
work and lots of it have two weeks to catch up with.
pick dc up from nursery, bathe, and bed.
not eat rubbish all day
go to gym.
check on you girls and get lotsa motivation for next step of decluttering.

Hope you are all ok. I'm sorry ive not caught up with where you all are.

Good night for now, be back tomorrow.

Sorry for being AWOL, have been lurking a bit but just haven't had much to report. I seem to be spending all my time either at work or at school helping at the moment, so the house is ticking along but not brilliant. Was very pleased to have got rid of 5 bin liners of clothes/linens the other day though.

CHB - your typo made me snort my tea, it conjured up a very funny image.

Linzer - thank you for your lovely roundups. Have sent that PM.

Toffee - ouch, poor you.

Janey - well done for going for the mammogram. I had to have one two years ago for a lump, got the results within an hour for that one (all clear thank goodness), it wasn't the most comfortable experience but well worth doing.

Off to make the finishing touches to my Ocado order, took the plunge and set up the delivery pass plus the app on my Iphone (was it you that told us about that Nettie?, no more trudging round Sainsburys for me). It's on cheap offer at the moment (the delivery pass that is). However I have learnt to double check the order on the computer before it is finalised after ordering a few random extra items by mistake off the phone last week.

well my early night went poof. but i have been saved from design brain freeze. managed to get all but 1 load of washing done and all of the folding done and ds' clothes put away apart from the ironed tops which are awaiting hangers.

List for tomo goes:
pre school run routine
prep stuff for shopping trip
go into town and meet friend
get the bits needed for finishing the dress.
finish the dress basic
apply trimmings if time
hockey basics
prep stuff for early training

And that is the planned list. hopefully there isnt to much of that list that doesnt get done. otherwise you will be scrapping me out of the panicing with no hope corner tomo.

Morning all,

Today?s babystep is to read this testimonial and possibly take it with a pinch of salt.

The mission today is to spend 10 minutes decluttering cosmetics and do yet another 27 fling boogie (of things to put away) in the extra room.

Today is Errand Day.

Back later!

Morning all!

Another hectic day yesterday with nothing much to report apart from just about managing to keep on top of things. Tonight is the first night this week where no-one has to be anywhere or do anything so am looking forward to hopefully relaxing a little but I won't get my hopes up!

The sticker plan with DD did not work. She still screamed. She is fine when she gets in there but I do feel for my poor CM who has to take her, I would hate leaving her like that . So back to the drawing board. She is only at this pre-school until July as in September she starts in nursery at the local infant school. I put her in the pre-school when shet got 3 yr funding to get her ready for nursery and to socialise her but am beginning to wish I hadn't.

I have a relatively easy day at school today, 2 free period (although one taken up with meeting with line manager and the other with a meeting with a parent), Year 10 and Year 8 (who are watching a DVD). I am then leaving early to attend meeting at nursery re DD starting in September.

I am not list posting as am not sure what will get done but am hoping to have an hour or so to myself afterthe nursery meeting so might get something done then.

Have a good day everyone!

says it all

Well after an earlier then intended start, i have had a nice surprise. ds was told if he wanted porrigde for breakfast then he needed to get dressed. 20mins later all was quiet. it turns out not only is he dressed but he has been pairing and folding socks from the odd sock basket.

Oh dear Cinders, are you ok?

Day off here today, but masses of work to do from home. Work is really getting in the way of my social life at the moment!

Not a comprehensive list from me today as it wont look like much, but will take ages. I have about 5 hours of shuffling paperwork around.
Oh and a governors meeting this afternoon.
Chilli for carne for the hoards tonight - Thursday is my evening for feeding loads of extra teenagers, but at least chilli is easy.
I have a request from the teens for a coffee cake for today, so will do that, too.
I'll also make some bread rolls to go with tea.
Oh dear!! No flying. I just seem to gravitate to the baking/cooking that I love when I get the time! Oh well, that's just me!

maybe i shall bake some bread ..

maybe

ohhhhhhh and
ds is now ill

My Mum is still in bed
Im not sure who much to help her
she May go home tomorrow

or not

and dh

is a

NUMPTY

Oh dear Cinders. bread sounds like something you can beat some frustration out on and is always something that is lovely to eat fresh.

errand day today, so

I'm off to the tip after School Assembly (4 bags of garden rubbish)
then garden centre for a nice shiny pot or two
then piano practice
then piano lesson

then take ds to his Choir performance a long way away at 6pm (dreading the arrangements if not the performance, which will be lovely

ds is not well

he has fallen asleep

yes going to take it all out on some bread dough .

and stick in the fridge and bake pizzas tomorrow

Maybe ...

Morning! Lovely sunny day here so I have a line of washing out and another load (including the mats from the bathroom) in the machine. Have managed the bathroom missions so far this week but can't get up enough courage to even LOOK in the spare room. Might brace myself to do some this weekend while DH is at work.

As he is working this weekend DH was home yesterday and will be today and tomorrow as well and I find it difficult to do things when he is here reminding me I should be working He also tends to hog the PC so a lack of posting here till Saturday.

Hope your mum & DS are on the mend soon cinders

Cinders - oh no, not your DS as well! Poor you. You are having a rough time .

PA - I'm sure the teenage 'hoards' will appreciate your cooking more than a tidy house!

CHB - at your sock-sorting son.

Ellie - could you take your daughter out of the pre-school and keep her on for extra time at the CMs? My DS2 was unhappy at a nursery for a whole year but didn't make a big fuss about it so I kept him on. I wish now that I hadn't because he still talks about how much he hated it.

Linzer - thank you for reminding me it's errand day today. I should go into town and do some jobs.

Swan - enjoy DS's singing.

DS1 has just woken up! He's going to find it a big shock when he goes to secondary school and has to leave the house by 8.

My knee is loads better, so I can walk properly again. DH is still off work!

Crisis clean today.

Toffee I think the more sleep they have the better
Ds2 woke us up at 5am this morning, then he woke his sister...we all went back to sleep but honestly!!! I'm very impressed how calm and polite DH is first thing in the morning, it is only by 8.15am he starts to deterioate

Dd was a tree in the school assembly (a talking one)

Kitchen is tidy after last night's efforts. Bathrooms are quite tidy and decluttered. It's just the piano piece that needs work...help.

okay

dough proving

going to bake bread,

ds quiet
mum quiet

tis too quiet,

must hide puter now

hope everyone survives the day ..

Tis sunny here too

Today is a full home office day so not much FLYing will take place i'm afraid.
Need to take back some shoes of DH that don't fit and exchange them for some for me that do fit (his suggestion )
Basic cleaning, tidying and cooking
That's it....

BBL

Sorry to be AWOL but all a bit mad here - lots of work, wet bedding every day (night training of DS NOT going well but he wants to persist), trip to ToysRus every day for free Lego and trying to get ready to go camping this w/e as well as all the usual stuff - arrrrrrrrgh

Did manage pudding night with the girls last night - vino, chat and more calories than necessary. Wonderful :)

Sounds like a rough time Cinders, keep kneading that dough.

PA - fully understand the lure of cooking over cleaning

Need to go and get today's Lego toy, finish off Bank Rec, print something for Reception teacher then off to school by 1pm for Family Learning(with DD) - Fun with Food. Then dinner, swimming lesson and meeting re HUGE street party next year to celebrate 150 years of being a Parish and 100 years of the Baptist church.
Packing? God knows!

Have just got back from attempting to meet DD1 on her way home from school. I cycled to kindergarten (our halfway meeting point) and had been waiting for about a minute when she phoned me to say she was already home (she was on her scooter today). We've now agreed that when she's on her scooter, she can scoot all the way home and I'll only go to meet her halfway if she's walking. Still, at least I was able to take a few bottles to be recycled; I boldly threw them into the bottle bank at 1.01 pm (it's not just mowing the lawn that's banned between 1 and 3 pm).

I lost a long post before with lots of personals earlier, but can't be bothered to type it all out again. I also have to make sure that the DDs finish their lunch and, ideally, their homework before we pick up DS in half an hour, who will be home an hour earlier than usual as he has a friend coming.

But in brief:

Cinders Hope the bread-making helped relieve your stress.

Toffee Glad your knee is on the mend. I bashed mine falling downstairs in the middle of the night a few years ago and couldn't walk the next day, but it got back to normal very quickly after that.

DWM DH will also be home tomorrow, theoretically working but how much work he actually does remains to be seen. I think he's just checking that I don't spend the entire morning on MN.

Back to the ironing and homework supervision.

Hello to all who have been awol. Nice to see you back. Cinders - hope the bread making is therapeutic. You have a lot to deal with at the moment.

DS wanted to write a short story for his deep-sea project this morning. I left him to type it and set about crisis cleaning the house. When I returned to check on him, he said he'd run out of inspiration and so he was watching 'Dr Who' on i-Player . I think he might be getting a bit too relaxed at home....

To make me feel better, I'm going to list what I did this morning. I broke it down into bits so that I would feel I was achieving something - and to make it seem less challenging. So far, since coming home from the school run, I have:

Put bins out and put the recycling out
Emptied all the wastepaper bins in the house
Stripped our bed
Insisted DH have a bath [yuck face]
Put our sheets in the machine
Listened to interesting programme on R4 about the Luddites
Washed up and put away
Unloaded the d/w
Shined the sink
Wiped and cleaned all the kitchen surfaces
Been shopping for lunch (nothing in the fridge, except stuff for dinner tonight)

That still doesn't look very much, but it took ages . Why does it take so long? I suppose there are interruptions along the way - DHs, DC, knocks at the door, phone calls, texts....

Still to do:

Make omelette for lunch
Load d/w
Dry sheets outside
Deal with clutter corner in kitchen (big box required )
Hoover kitchen
Mop kitchen floor
Tidy sitting room
Wipe mirrors
Hoover sitting room, dining room, hall and stairs
Tidy DS2's bedroom
Home ed - DS: write more story; Maths-Whizz; letter
Hoover upstairs
S&S
Mop kitchen floor
Make our bed
Get DS1 to tidy and hoover his own room
School run - collect DS2's friend too
Early dinner for DS2 and his friend
Make our dinner
DC's bedtime routine
Before-bed routine
Bed at decent hour

Makes me weary just to look at it!

I'm struggling with the left hand of the Waltz, and getting increasingly jittery about not mastering it before lesson. Trying to break it down into smaller and smaller sections

Toffee I'm afraid that my ds's default setting if he goes near a computer. I suppose mine is MN when supposed be practising.
Ds1 is being thoroughly loud and bolshy at the moment. I think he needs to get away from niggling things and do BIG tasks at the moment. This morning I forced him to do his violin, he muttered - I'll only do it if you GO AWAY, then played Somewhere..Rainbow brilliantly. Yet the next minute he is following me around wanting to chat to me about something. Yesterday when he got mislaid, he spontaneously came up and sat on my lap whilst eating his flapjack and he is a tall child, I felt like a St Bernard Dog had jumped on me...

Oh, Swan, that's sweet about your (large!) DS sitting on your lap. He was obviously a bit shaken about getting 'mislaid'. I love the way older children act all grown up one minute, then revert to needy toddlerhood the next.

In fact, when I realised I'd damaged my knee yesterday, the first thing I did was phone my mum. I'm 46.

.

Crap day!!!!

Day off should = relaxing, chillling.

NO!!!

Washing machine broke,
Flooded everywhere
DD2 had row with Boyfriend, so moped around like a wet weekend, then I had to take her to work.
Men came and dug up my drive-way and it should have been my neighbours drive-way so I have had drilling and machinery going on and on for ages. thread here if you want to see what happened! I was called a silly moo!!! How dare she
Phone went while I was making a caramel sauce and it has now stuck to the pan like glue!!
I have not shuffled one piece of paper!! So much for getting it all done - it looks as if it is going to be a late night for me!

Off to governors meeting now. Today HAS to get better......