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!

Morning all,

We had two of DS's friends here from 7am to go to school with my two, so lots of nice chat and play, they have been playing bingo. Just got back from dropping them all at school.

Scatty - that's a sad little tale about the costume, I like making costumes, but am sadly coming to the same conclusion which is that they really just want to be the same as their friends.

Linzer - well done on the running, I am the complete opposite, cannot run in the morning to save my life, when I started the C25K in Jan I went in the afternoons before school pick up, am now doing it in the evenings, but it is dependant on DH getting home at a reasonable time, he is very random in his hometimes (perils of self-emplyment). I had a really good run on Friday but haven't managed again and won't tonight because I'm going out.

MissJ - good luck with the move, sorry about DH's absence

PA - you are a very good mum! Sympathise about the getting back to sleep, if we get distrurbed int he night DH goes back to sleep in about 10s, starts snoring and I end up lying awake for 2 hours listening, grrr.

Nettie - thinking of your DNiece

Better go, a few jobs to do before getting off to work.

Nettie - sorry to hear about your niece. I hope she's getting better.
Scatty - I can't believe the roman costume didn't go well, after all that you'd done. If it helps mine can be like that about cakes - you spend hours making the perfect cake and they say "but xxx had a cake from Marks & Spencer in the shape of a caterpillar and it had thick chocolate on the ends..."
Missjulie - you are incredibly brave. I couldn't contemplate a move on my own.
Linzer well done with the running and keeping it up. I usually go early in the morning when it's cool, but I am doing the Race for Life next week and I am a bit worried because it is in the afternoon and will be much warmer. I've done it before, twice in fact, but I always managed to find an evening event before...

Yesterday I did the home bleurgh, which took quite a while, and then decided to try to get ahead and clean out under our bed. It was much more of a job than I'd intended, and certainly not something I could ever have hoped to achieve in 15 minutes! It took a couple of hours, what with hauling the bed out to get the vacuum cleaner behind it, and lifting the bedside cabinets out etc. It all looks much better now, although DH still has his Christmas presents on the floor on his side, and I found another liquorice hoard under his bedside cabinet...

Today I'm stripping the beds, so doing lots of washing and ironing, plus the usual swish & swipe and other routines. I have also booked to go to a spinning class in my lunch hour so if I don't make it back later you'll know that I didn't survive it .

Have a good day, everyone :)

Scatty I bet when the dust clears he'll be very proud of his costume after all and remember all the "fun" (?) he had making it with you and DH.
I think how they feel at the end of the (tiring/emotional) school day is not an indicator of how they remember things long term. I remember dd complaining bitterly about International Day when she went dressed as a tulip (Holland) and didn't get to go on the stage (not National Dress[grr]) when people with bought National Dress costumes did, but now she still talks about her tulip outfit.
It makes me mad that the teachers don't make it clear that they want people to come in homemade outfits or at least half homemade. Ds1's (yr 6)teacher for World Book Day made a point of saying - You Need To Make/Put Together your Own Costumes From Everyday Items and Be Inventive and No-one Should be Buying Fancy Dress.

Another complete muddle of a morning. Ds2 wet the bed, woke us at six, then went back to sleep in our bed till 8..forgot he had to do his spellings, lost his spelling list, had a hysterical fit. Dd is still at home with a stomach ache and is staying in bed (a sign of real illness, usually she follows me around) Ds1 was charming and is in a excellent mood. He wants to do MultiSports week again for half term - where has this sports obsession come from

Right, I need to do some PLANNING how fortuitous. Thank you Linzer for all these links.
I need to ring up the child therapist for dd, and the SAFE team for ds2, and the plumber for removing radiator in the hall. All things I haven't dared think about.
And take dd to the tip with some rubbish, if she is up to sitting in car for a short while.

Nettie - thinking of you and your neice. Hope you get some good news soon.

Scatty - I'm so sorry about your Roman costume. I'm sure it looked wonderful, too. A couple of years ago, I told my DS1 that I was going to make his birthday cake that year, rather than buying it. He looked aghast and wailed, "This is going to be the worst birthday EVER!" They just don't appreciate us, do they?

PA - hope the phone and washing machine live up to your expectations. Grrr to your DD waking you up. And sorry you are so busy - you need a holiday!

Linzer - I'm so impressed that, in spite of your hectic morning, you still managed to fit in a run. That's commitment for you! Hope your work doesn't take too long today.

Swan - sorry your DD is still ill. Re: Menus4Mums - I am still finding it very useful. Occasionally, I don't like a recipe - or know that no-one else will eat it - so I substitute something else, but, on the whole, the recipes are enjoyable for everyone and we have all tried new things that we would never have had before. The Chicken Jambalaya was delicious last night and incredibly filling. Today, we have having spag bol, but half of the amount is kept in the freezer to be used for a pasta bake on Friday. Menus4Mums does suggest useful labour-saving ideas like that. DS2 is still going through his fussy phase and I often end up giving him pasta alongside our own meal, so I know what you mean about different sittings. I get so fed up with cooking sometimes.

Hope your DH has a better day at work today. The booktrade is very unstable at the moment. My DH is watching the Waterstone's takeover avidly, as all the things he disagreed with the new management doing have resulted in the chain going under and he now feels vindicated in his opinions. (He sells antiquarian and secondhand books now).

MissJulie - DH away till July? You poor thing! Best of luck with moving - I hope you have lots of friends/family to help you, as DH is away. Sorry the sleep is still an issue. It will get better eventually, I promise.

BlueEyes - I am feeling at your decluttered downstairs . Well done!

Well, DS1 is at school for the first time in months this morning. He has gone in to hear a talk from a teacher from his secondary school. It helped that he got muddled up and thought today was the day he was actually visiting the new school, so it was a relief to him when I said no, he was just going to his usual school. He gets in such a muddle about things. Anyway, I said I would pick him up after first playtime because I thought it might do him good to stay and chat with people. His classmates are all really keen to see him, so it might boost his self esteem. I hope so anyway. He was playing it very cool this morning, although he did glug down several drops of Rescue Remedy before we left home.

This is my first time alone in the house for .....months. It's lovely to have the place to myself. I was going to rush around tidying up, but have ended up just having breakfast and a cup of tea and enjoying the peace and quiet. Might go and hoover DS1's bedroom whilst he's out and I can get in there, but then it will be time to collect him again.

Hope you all have a good day.

I do Toffee - only 70 days, or something similar!!!

Only flying in as now off to job number 3. Number 1 wasnt too bad this morning. I think my "Do not disturb me, unless you want to live to regret it!! I will become very cross and I have mountains to do!!" shouted at the top of my voice when I arrived has done the trick today!

Hello

Nettie sending positive thoughts and prayers for your neice and family

Scatty about costume

Poor you Julie at prospect of having to move house on your own

Sorry awol briefly again. Feeling ill. Iron tablets (am assuming it is them) given me horrible stomach upset.

Waves feebly to everyone

oh dear, getting nothing done, arguing on another thread...although as I don't know much about the subject think I might just back off...

done
decluttered handbag YAY!
rung therapist
rung SAFE
rung School

todo
email plumber and book service/radiator move
RUBBISH (very large plastic toy car in shed must go TODAY!)

Flippin heck flippin heck flippin heck!!!!

I'm at job number 3! I thought I would have a relatively quiet afternoon as boss is away on holiday. I have discovered a MASSIVE error that boss has made before he went away, which could leave us tens of thousands of pounds in the red before his return!!! Oh my goodness!!! What on earth can I do about it??? < hypothetical question, I know you can't answer, just panicking!!!> Cant give details as that would make me very vulnerable here, but I feel so responsible because I have discovered it. It is not my fault and there was nothing i could have done. He is a lovely guy, but when stretched to the limit can flip slightly. I can imagine a major flip when he returns on Tuesday next week!

PA eeek indeed. Sending positive vibes to you and hope you get some support while you try and sort it.

Thinking of you and your neice's family nettie at this trying time.

scatty to hear about the costume let down, i so know how much effort goes in to making home made costumes.

Not done much on the cleaning/tidying front today so far so def in naughty corner but have made some headway in the home office.

TTFN

Oh dear, PA, how awful to feel that responsibility. Is there anyone else at work you can go to about it or is it down to you now? Best of luck at sorting it out.

Still - you poor thing. Iron tablets do upset stomachs. Hope you can rest till you feel better.

I could have spent this morning in a whirlwind of activity - but I didn't . I think I need to go to bed earlier because I don't seem to have any energy. The good thing is I made dinner on Saturday night and froze it, so all I have to do is reheat it today. DS2 wants to watch 'Scooby Doo' sitting on my lap and I must say that's quite tempting as he is very, very cuddly. Must just try not to doze off. A cup of coffee is called for, I think.

DS1 had a good morning at school (his first for three months), although he won't talk about it, just rolls his eyes when I ask. But I know it went well because he came out in a cheery mood. He really liked the deputy head who came to talk to them about secondary school - apparently, he was funny, which went down well. Phew. Dare I allow myself a glimmer of hope that all will be well when he goes to his next school....?

Off to drink coffee and cuddle my lovely small boy, whose head smells of the outdoors .

Eeek indeed PA. I hope it can be sorted out.

Toffee - my decluttered downstairs would still look v cluttered to anyone who didn't know what it was like before! Glad DS1 had a good morning.

DS1 usually point-blank refuses to wear any costume scatty. Just as disheartening.

Anyway, today got off to a bad start, but we weren't very late to nursery in the end. Also made it to toddlers, got a new watch battery and have done an afternoon's work. My muscles are protesting about too much sitting and typing though. Now need to back up the PC and relieve my lovely babysitting friend. Should also try and have a go at the bedroom again.

Oh no! Good luck with it PA that's a tricky one!! Guess you can't risk going in to the red (that would do him no good either). Can you contact him at all?

Bravo to your ds1 today Toffee

Exactly Blue I find that people's definition of "uncluttered" vary greatly. (I'm definitely NOT in the minimalist camp)

Off to subdue my stomach while cooking dd's supper -but huge waves to everyone!!!

Not good PA. hope you can get something sorted out.

Crisis sort of averted as much as it can be at the moment. I spent quite some time sweet talking the lovely man at the bank who has agreed to waive some of the massive fees we will be incurring due to the cockup! I can do no more, so will just have to let it go until he comes back from holiday.

Anyway, due to expending humungous amounts of nervous energy this afternoon I think I could be joining CHB. I come clutching copious amounts of and nibbles, so budge up!

I have just looked at the veg drawer to make tea. Ewwwww. Yuck.

PA - I hope your boss appreciates you. It sounds like you've done a marvellous job this afternoon. Definitely no flying for you after your day. DH has just poured me a glass of . Here's some for you (red or white - which would you prefer?).

The coffee had a great effect. Suddenly felt like tackling under DS1's bed - ooh, that might even count as a mission (I know it was meant to be doing under our bed, but that would take hours. Who was it who found that out the hard way, but now has a sparkling clean floor under her bed?).

Anyway, I have pulled DS1's bed out from the wall, thrown away all the junk I discovered and hoovered thoroughly. I washed his sheets today too, so he will have a lovely clean bed area to sleep in tonight, not that he'll notice. And DS2 is happy because he discovered his French bear under the bed (bought on the ferry last year).

I don't like coffee much, but it is clearly (sometimes) the answer to that feeling of cba.

Have a lovely evening everyone. (And hope you feel better soon, Still).

I've dropped two children at football, had to take dd and friend too...
dd is playing with her friend in the garden on the climbing frame - for once they all three (including ds2)ran off into garden and didn't come back (WhoKnows)

toffee my dh is never back to pour me a glass when I need it, I've lost the will to drink by the time he appears..

now cooking pasta with fried chicken and red peppers

Thanks for your sympathy re Roman Day! Today he came home with a letter announcing the new topic is Anglo Saxons. If they have a costume day he'll have to be off sick!!

PA well done on diverting the crisis. Hope all will be well.
toffee great news re DS. Bet you're relieved.

To do
laundry beds

Evening all,

I have just lost a long post (I think I must have clicked on Previous without realising I had a message in the box at the bottom of the page ), but to summarise: a) I have done very little other than work today, and b) the DDs' have a new piano practice regime (I have been banned by their teacher from supervising/correcting them and telling them what to play; my "only" responsibility now is to make sure they practice for 20-30 minutes a day at least five days a week...).

Far too much chatting going on here today, so I think I shall need a large to see me through the round-up. And right on cue, DH has just poured me a glass of red.

PA had a manic day, was ridiculously (and understandably) excited about the arrival of her new phone and coped admirably with a crisis at work.

scatty is keeping her fingers crossed that her DS won?t need an Anglo-Saxon costume. I?m not sure which is the lesser of two evils - costumes or tests. DD1 had enough to learn for her test on the Romans, but now has even more to revise for her test on knights and castles (far less interesting than it sounds) next week.

WhoKnows had a good start to the day with a house full of children.

Janey found that the mission took rather longer than 15 minutes and has not been seen since her spinning class.

swan has been busy planning, had a mixed bag of a morning and got sucked into a thread.

Toffee enjoyed some rare peace and quiet while her DS had a good morning at school, and found that coffee is sometimes the answer.

SC popped in despite feeling poorly, iron tablets being the most likely suspect. (Which type are you taking? I?ve heard that ferrous sulphonate has fewer side effects than ferrous sulphate, although takes a little longer to have an effect.)

Lady has made progress in her home office.

Blue didn?t have a good start to the day but has been working hard.

CHB wondered whether to have a party in the naughty corner but ended up falling asleep.

CBH can we party in the naughty corner tomorrow? I MUST get to bed on time tonight (5am alarm call)

Right, English lesson now planned for tomorrow - just finishing off the and chocolate before bed.

WhoKnows It's good to hear you're keeping up the running and didn't collapse in exhaustion after you'd finished C25k; there's hope for me yet.

Janey Good luck with the Race for Life next week - how far will you be running? Two of my friends have just done a similar run in Vienna (also women-only, 5 or 10k) and are trying to persuade me to join them next year, so I definitely have something to aim for now!

My summer running gear arrived this morning so hopefully running in these temperatures will be a little more bearable now, although it's supposed to be getting cooler as the week goes on anyway.

DWM The naughty corner is starting to sound like a fun place to be.

Oh yes, I baked carrot cake tonight. it will be ready to ice and eat tomo DWMummy. Tis very good to have you back btw. Einstein is a great cake maker

Linzer thank you for the good wishes. It's only 5k but I am doing it with 3 friends from church and both of my DDs, so I think that's far enough. I am quite tempted to look for a 10k to do in the autumn with DD2 when it's cooler.

I survived spinning but only just, because the air conditioning was broken and I thought I might not make it. Apart from anything else the smell of the men was horrific

I am definitely up for a party in the naughty corner