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!

Update:
washing
put away laundry -about to do
hoover
mop
filing
tidy desk
Go to vote!
Go to Aldi for cycling things for DH
Work
15 mins in dining room - see if I can face the "doodle drawers" this time...
empty upstairs bins
patch DS2's trousers (again!)
buy eggs on the way home from CM.

I actually got as far as putting the timer on for 15 mins, but couldn't face the art stuff. So I dusted the piano, and then played it for the rest of the time as a reward.

Ooh, I loved the Secret Island too.

wanders in blearily

I have read ds five chapters of the

fecking faraway tree

Five

rubs eyes......

Have decobwebed sitting room ceiling tis a tad tricky
being stupid sized room
with silly high ceiling

ps
ds eats
nothing
nothing

well pizzas
sigh

Hi all. Quick post before school run.

Done (since last post):
swept porch
laundry
bought food.

To do:
bd card to dad
put away clean clothes
DC to dentist.

My kids also love Enid Blyton (I agree it is the fact that there are very few adults in the stories ). They listen to famous five/secret seven on the ipod.

BBL

Cinders - my DS2 has only started eating what I cook him since I have allowed him to be my assistant cook. It's a pain, but I have been astonished at what he'll eat if he feels he made it.

Actually put first load of dry washing away. Just two more to do [bored emoticon].

Have just finished helping friend with CV. Just off to do a bit of home ed with DS1 - if I can persuade him, that is .

Yey, have finally put all my plants in; marigolds in the front garden bed and a Forsythia bush to replace a bush that died in our harsh winter, and strawberries in a big planter pot plus geraniums in 2 pots either side of my wall that leads to the grassy part of the garden in the back garden. Looks so bright and colourful (put marigolds and snapdragons in the back beds yesterday too - does mean i have to religiously water them daily. When i can be bothered i will buy more and put them in long planters outside my back patio doors. Am just going to jump back in the shower as bit muddy now then it will be school run.

Blue i would love to be able to play piano - DH can and he is teaching DD.

Have returned from day of fun with dcs, now feel absolutely shattered. It is a bit like running a small army.

We met up with SIL for a while - amused baby, chatted, dealt with bickering
played in adventure playground obviously designed for teens - cue heartstopping descents from ropes
went to cafe
went to see Thor because rain was forecast (a very silly film, but dcs thought it excellent, thank goodness) Rio was not on till too late in afternoon

oh dear, I think I need to go and supervise them again and turn off any screens. I wouldn't mind, except a sort of green mist rises up when I think of all their toys and possessions and I feel VERY cross when they are not playing, having spent all week tidying up all their wretched toys, feltips, and games, dressing up clothes, and trying to find a place for assorted children's clutter which Dh says I'm not allowed to throw away...[grrr]

Sounds gorgeous, Lady - you are going to have a very pretty garden this summer.

Persuaded DS2 to have a go at a SATs writing paper. He tried really hard - his best effort so far. I just wish he would remember to use the stuff he writes in his 'planning' notes in the actual writing !

My friend brought over some children's DVDs (as well as some really beautiful yellow tulips), so I'm hoping that the DC will want to watch a film whilst I catch up on jobs (washing monster is looming its ugly head) and start making dinner.

Ds2 is lying curled up next to me now, and wants me to write that Ds1 "tricked us into going to cinema, as it was sunny, and we only go on rainy days" He also says the film was "very loud" - be warned!

Nice to know your DS2 appreciated you paying for the outing and sitting through a film you didn't want to see, Swan! Typical!

Really can't be arsed to worry about these SATs tests anymore. What will be, will be.

I've just managed a short half nap, and feel a bit revived.
Children seem to be managing to entertain themselves and do some homework. Dd is trying some patchwork.
Everyone seems to be getting on well now The tonic effects of fresh air perhaps.
oh dear, maybe not, ds2 melting down over subtraction.

todonow
weeding of old bluebells
move hydrangea pot to corner of terrace
go to shops, and drop off drycleaning and buy some fruit
scales
dw
washing
washing off line

communion me

have even baked cheesy biscuits now...

keels over in a quiet corner

Sheets changed and old ones washed and dried (very organised).
Other chores accomplished:
Collected doctor's letter for DH
Grocery shopping
Thank you letters written and posted

To do:
Sweep up soil from porch after I knocked a plant over earlier whilst getting DS's pram ready. Broke the pot :(
Finish washing up after DS's dinner.

Have a lovely evening everyone :)

Homemade fishfingers done

(let DS2 help me, but it didn't work this time - he still wouldn't eat them ).

DS1 wouldn't eat with DS2, complaining of DS2's bad table manners (er, haven't noticed DS1's table manners being perfect either ). DH wouldn't eat with either child. So ended up sending DS1 and DH off to eat on their laps in the sitting room, whilst I ate with DS2. So much for family meals. Anyone else have these problems?

Last wash is in the tumbledrier. Dry clothes are folded and put away into the laundry basket. DS2 is hiding in a box. I am just having a glass of . Think I'm winding down for the day now. Just the bedtime routine to get through now....

Quick post as going to a meeting tonight, but I didnt want anyone to think I had disappeared again.

Today:-
Meeting at college - frustrating meeting which ended up with principal and vice principal coming into it and they are relooking at a decision they made that we totally oppose for DD3. Why do we have to argue all the time with them to get anything done for a 16 year old who has missed 2 last years of school because of sever ME and has a very restricted life still, 3 years on?
Managed to avoid Mr Postman!
Took DD3 out for a drink and bun to lick our wounds from this morning's meeting.
Cooked tea for hoards of teenagers (14 of the buggers darlings! ) - blimey cant teenagers eat masses!!!

So, that was my naff day off!

Off to meeting now, see you all tomorrow.

Wow Toffee at home made fish fingers! The reason DS2 didn't eat them was because you told us he eats what he helps you prepare - you jinxed it Very frustrating isn't it when they don't eat what you lovingly prepared.

Hope your metting goes well PA

livelong i ought to wash bedding before this spell of sunny weather is a thing of the past. So annoying you broke a pot, and more annoying the mess it caused, i do empathise - been potting plants all day and my patio was more soil than slabs!

Cinders at your cooking skills - cheesy biscuits, mmm yum!

Garden all watered and homework with DD done - phew. She has just moved up a reading level and the books are getting longer and longer now so it takes all the longer to do.
Roast dinner all washed up and kitchen tidy. So much washing up involved in a roast dinner, i always forget.

Until tomorrow

14
PA you are superwoman

Just getting dinner, will try and post later but might have to do ironing as it is threatening to take over the house

Evening all! Am sat here at mil's doing my washing. Washing machine is kaput and she has swanned off to tenerife for a month so i have nipped round the corner to get my washing done. To be fair it is not as much of a pita as i imagined as i have left the whole family at home and i am sat here in blissful peace and quiet. Everything in my house is going to be washed 4 times a week for the next month .

Little flying to report tbh. Naughty corner it is for me .

No space for personals as i am on my phone but everyone seems to be doing rather well!

See you tomorrow.

Ellie - sitting alone in someone else's house sounds like heaven! No chores to do! Enjoy the peace and quiet.

PA - sorry you had such a stressful meeting. I second Feet - 14 teens???? You are, indeed, superwoman.

Lady - you are right. I jinxed it. Should have kept the secret of DS2's new eating habits to myself. Grrr.

Putting d/w on for final go. Running bath for DS2 (a bit late, but decided I had to order some trousers online for DS1, who has no trousers left without holes in them). On second glass of wine. Running out of steam now....

DH is back but exhausted as he's been up since 4 am; at least he was home in time to help me put the DC to bed, so no more tears from DS this evening. He has just asked me whether I'll be finished on the computer soon, as obviously he is unable to go to bed unless I do too.

Anyway, round-up time:

CheerfulYank is still attempting to tame her laundry monster and has been rained on by paperwork.

Cinders was complaining about the length of the Austrian school day (call it a day? ha!) and the height of her ceilings, and made a yummy quiche and cheesy biscuits.

Apuski was putting baby clothes away. I have bitten the bullet and got rid of all mine, which means that I cannot have another baby as the thought of not being able to put him/her into all the tiny cardigans my mum knitted would be just too upsetting. (My mum has been less excited with each pregnancy, so I can?t see her knitting any more cardigans.)

Toffee is still feeling under the weather, has been admiring her bedroom, made her own fishfingers (I made chicken nuggets once; it took ages, was very fiddly and the DC refused to eat them ? never again) and kindly helped a friend.

DWM was working from home again, can?t see her skirting boards and was wondering about her cat?s sense of taste.

Blue admirably patched her DS?s trousers (trousers with holes go for recycling here ) and got distracted by the piano (I find I take refuge on either MN or the piano when the chaos gets too much).

Lady has been busy in the garden and cooked a roast dinner. Mmmm.

scatty revealed that her DC listen to Enid Blyton on the iPod ? a perfect juxtaposition of old and new.

swan has had her Family Fun Day a few days early and has a DH who doesn?t allow her to throw away the DC?s clutter toys (and thus sounds remarkably similar to my DH; in fact, the whole situation sounds depressingly familiar).

LiveLong has written thank you letters and broken a pot (but at least it was in this week?s zone ).

PA has had a day off, which involved a frustrating meeting, avoiding the postman and cooking for the masses. She is indeed superwoman.

feetheart popped in and may be back later if she?s not ironing.

ellie wanted Camus (and is quite welcome to him - no more essays about French literature for me, thanks ) and has been enjoying some peace and quiet thanks to her washing machine breaking down.

Hello everyone :)

Everyone seems to have had productive days, and I am in awe of the cooking skills - both vast numbers and complicated things. We had veggie sausages, baked potatoes, beans and salad for tea. I don't think I could have chosen anything less impressive

My day was one of those rushing around ones. It began with a 2 hour conference call to go over the disaster of the previous conference call, but the only way was up after that and I survived Zumba and a trip to a new hairdresser, so it was all in all not too bad.

Changed beds - done
3 loads washing - done
Swish 'n' swipe - done
Ironing - done
Put sheets back on (we only have one set - this is a good way of ensuring I always get them done!) - nearly, just duvet to go because it's easier with 2!
Dinner - done
Kitchen clean - done

Although the house looks OK and I am keeping up with the washing, kitchen and swish & swipe, I seem to have lost the missions somewhere along the way. I do read them but I never actually do them! It might be partly because everyone uses my back door into the kitchen so the hall doesn't get cluttered or dirty, really. Must try harder!

Ha! I have decluttered the landing and the art stuff all in one fell swoop! Moved an empty storage thingy off the landing, put it downstairs and transferred all the overflowing clutter collage materials into it.

Tomorrow:
wash delicates
laundry away
get boys' shoes checked
shopping for Sunday lunch
dining room hotspots
planning for holiday
start on trifle making

Linzer - trousers only get patched if they're favourites and otherwise still have plenty of wear left in them! A lot of things are about 3rd or 4th hand by the time DS2 gets them so they tend to go at the knees fairly regularly!

PA - 14 teenagers?!

ellie - hope you were able to make the most of the quiet. :)

Glad you survived, Janey. Sounds like time for feet up!

Whoknows has had way too much for a weeknight and is retiring to bed

Today?s babystep is to practise putting out a hotspot for 2 minutes.

Once you?ve perfected the art of putting out a hotspot, you can move on to today?s mission: dealing with your hotspots in the dining room.

Today is Friday, which means dealing with your paperwork, cleaning out your handbag and car, and being romantic (not necessarily in that order).

Im all

dh has today

off

and is working some of the weekend
well till later

Morning all!
Just dashing through with coffee. No time to post today - see you tomorrow.