June know it's the fledgling flyers?

[Stillchuckingit]

A warm welcome to the June Fledgling Flyers' thread.

If the state of your house is getting you down, this is the thread where we follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own, unique, relaxed style ) with lots of chat and support along the way and where lace-up shoes are definitely optional.

A huge thank you to Linzer for keeping us all on track so splendidly during May and thank you to DroitwichMummy for the thread title.

As usual, we will be following the Flylady three-pronged approach:

1. Baby-steps (a daily step to establish routines)
2. Then baby-steps + 15 mins daily decluttering
3. (And once decluttered) babysteps + daily missions

If you are feeling overwhelmed by clutter and mess, you can make a difference, one step at a time.

For more information, have a look here. You don't need to sign up to Flylady e-mails (we advise you not to do so in fact - you will be overwhelmed - all the information you need can be gleaned from this thread).

All long-standing members, intermittent returnees, lurkers and newcomers welcome!!

Hello everyone

[Settles in to comfy chair and slanket in naughty corner courtesy of Mummy - shares and with Cinders]

Thank you for all your good wishes. Much appreciated!

[And thank you Swan I'm fine doing thread for the moment but if that changes I'll be sensible and let everyone know] I apologise in advance for lack of evening round-ups though (think I've only done one "official" one this month!! )

Had a very good night's sleep last night with no dramas (phew!) but still feeling incredibly tired this morning. (Perhaps effect of new med.?)

Am loving "Stottie", "Haranguing Meringue" and "Bedfordshire Clanger" btw!!!!

Swan I've always wanted a nubian goat (the one's with the long floppy ears) Hope you ran with your dh's suggestion and are getting some rest!!

CHB why is training so late btw (just asking out of utter nosiness). Is it because of congestion at rink? Sorry you didn't get time to catch up with a bit of shut-eye this morning. Good luck with your list! And hope training camp goes well.

Whoknows it is nice to have a bit of a leisurely start occasionally. Well done on your sparkling kitchen and bathroom. Frankly, if those two rooms are clean, then in my book you needn't worry too much about the rest! (But don't tell her Tan-Tight-Ness)

Mummy Sympathies!! Sorry to hear that your arm is still troubling you. And hope they come up with solution to hip pain once x-ray and blood test come back. I know how frustrating it is when one can only function at 30%, so sending positive thoughts and a . Hope everyone is chipping in to help.

Blue well done on your productive day yesterday (I would kill to go to a county show - it's one of the things I really miss in the UK) I think I should try and tidy my office desk too for exactly the same reasons (dare not turn around and look at rest of home office!!)

Feetheart Sympathies! I feel the same way as you. Summer holidays (in two weeks time!) is when all my family and friends pile over and I always have massive clear out before hand. Can't do it atm and now really regret not having done more when I could. You are battling against a lot of things outside of your own control though (dh childhood home + clutter issue) + very busy schedule of other things on top. I think the childhood home is a really difficult one actually. I hated it when I lived in dh's bachelor flat. Never felt like I was probably "at home". For the long term... would it be possible to move, or if not, would your dh agree to a radical makeover/new furniture to even things up a bit? Hope you can enjoy your sister's visit anyway ....

Cinders hope your day gets better (and your ds too of course)! Well done on cold shower & early baking/shopping front.

Scatty glad the park volunteering went well. Love the sound of the bat walk!!

See you later everyone ...

xposts Swan sounds like you are really making progress! Top marks!!

...which entitles you to some REST now [stern look]!

done
paperwork (well, immediate stuff on hall table) and paid some bills
decluttered handbag somewhat
ordered new hoover bags
decluttered too small uniform

feeling much better , coffee chicken and cabbage and lots of tabasco seem to work wonders

Raining in buckets, DCs yelling at each other, yet more activities cancelled due to rain, love INSET days!

Actually, it hasn't been too bad, I managed tennis this morning while they played on the other court, went to a friend's for coffee, then another friend's after lunch, then to the local softplay to meet yet more friends, the DCs are watching telly now, while I MN and think about what to have for tea.

Not much Flying, but there's still time. It's so cold and dark I feel like putting the heating on. Back later

Had a busy day:

DD choir assembly this morning - so impressed
Coffee which turned into lunch at a friends who is pg with her 5th
Hoovered throughout
Washed bathroom floor
Cleaned both bathrooms
Tidied kitchen worktops of crap paperwork and DD drawings etc
Got soaked twice (school pick up and drop off and Rainbows

DD has a rainbow friend coming over tonight for a play so it will be pizza for tea for them and risotto for DH and i.

DD tidied her bedroom with me directing her, this worked well as she didn't get distracted by the toys this time and it looks beautiful just in time to be messed up by them again after Rainbows

Sorry no personals but i'm literally flying in and out - pun intended

waves from

naughty corner

dd passed her oral exams

she is amazing ....

why do I have such a bright daughter ,,

keels over ...

well done to DD cinders

welcome to the naughty corner SC - I have homemade chocolate chip so help yourselves

Managed to tackle one of my scary hotspots today - I cleared out all of my bags! You know, the ones that accumulate so much rubbish that you abandon them and move onto another one Think there were about 6 of them. Found 5 lipsticks and about 20 assorted pens and pencils. The rest was mainly rubbish...

Also made cookies and DH & I went out for lunch as it is our anniversary

Managed a family meal that everyone ate. If DS1 hadn't been playing up it might have been almost civilised! No more flying today but did get a lot of work done. Also played Wii bowling with DS1 again. I still haven't actually managed to beat him, which DH is v smug about. I reckon DS will get a nasty shock the first time he goes real bowling though...

Well done to Cinders' dd :)
Really hope coffee, chicken, cabbage and tabasco weren't all together, swan .

Got the school fete tomorrow afternoon so hope the rain's stopped by then.

x-post - Happy Anniversary DWM. :)

Evening Fledglings. Been a bit of a damp and cold one hasn't it? Worried about my chillies on the terrace. Wonder if I should have brought them in?

Getting worried about the entire garden in fact. The early spring and intense sunshine seduced me in to planting many more vegetables, herbs and flowers than usual. Then they nearly died of thirst. Now they are in danger of drowning ....

Pink hope you have dried out by now. Well done to your dd for tidying her bedroom voluntarily and for the lovely singing assembly.

Sounds like you had a lovely, sociable day Whoknows

Glad to hear you are feeling better Swan

Raises a congratulatory glass of fizzy water to Cinders's dd

Oh yes, know all about those sorts of bags *Mummy !! Thanks for delicious and happy anniversary to you and your dh x

Good luck with the fete Blue and fingers crossed for the weather

Frantic waves to everyone else ...

Well done for completing zone 3.

Tomorrow's step, no.18 for Saturday 18th June, is here! Pretty sensible advice if you ignore 10 and frankly we?re already lost with regard to 4.

No zones or missions as it is the weekend. But as we are half way through the month, you might like to take stock and check out the Fat Fairy?s decluttering advice here!

This is what will be coming during the rest of June:

? Zone 4: The Master Bedroom (June 20 - 24)
? Zone 5: The Living Room (June 27 - 30)

Saturday is family fun squabble in the rain day

I am going to be wrecked for tomorrows training

I will be residing in the naughty corner this weekend. And probably the first part of the weekend to recover.

Have a good weekend all!!!!

Morning all!
Hope you are all having a well-deserved lie-in?

Been up for a while here - been for a run, had bath, had breakfast, got DS up and out to gymnastics with DH.

Need to:

• Sort out menu-plan and shopping list
• Chicken out of freezer for tomorrow
• Hoover everywhere
• Finish off DSis's Christmas present with DD - we didn't see her at Christmas and need to finish decorating the box to put her Mexican hamper stuff in (hence why we couldn't post it to her. Did think we would get together slightly earlier in the year than June tho!!)
• Find lemon meringue pie recipe to make for DH tomorrow
• Take DD to dance at a fete and try to avoid spending too much on tat
• Food shop and new school trousers for DD who is growing like a weed
• Watch some tennis hopefully
• Meet up with DSis

That's more than enough.
Have good w/e everyone :)

Whoknows my idea of a nice peaceful Friday afternoon snuggling up whilst rain poured down, was not the dcs'! There was a lot of squabbling here too, despite craft activities, scaletrix, ipods - the truth is the only solution is EXERCISE, and they hadn't had enough of it (except for ds2 who been swimming) DD was being foul, and again, I've had to step back and introduce a special 1-1 hour with her between 4.30 and 5.30 when I actually sit down at the table with her and do painting, craft, as just being in the same room and chatting doesn't seem to be enough to sustain her... Dss fought over scaletrix, Ds1 screamed non-stop over how annoying Ds2 was...AARGH.

Supper was nice though Fish pie, which I managed to make whilst dd was throwing things at me...

[Distributes hot water bottles, deep-heat muscle embrocation, and comfy blankets to CHB in naughty corner] Have a good one yourself!

Gosh, you are out of the starting blocks impressively early today Feetheart. [SC trembles at mention of 'C' word in June, even though there is a good reason for it!!] Your dh is a lucky man! My dh would do nearly anything for a home baked lemon meringue pie! Enjoy your busy day!

Oh dear Swan that all sounds a bit stressful. Hope you get some well deserved r & r this w/e [hands over ]

I am busy with my electrodes . Have to note down what I am doing, how I am feeling at various points. DD and dh are helping me with the laundry which is a new experience for them both! Have also decided that I am a totally contrary person. Whined about doing chores/cleaning/decluttering when I could do it, but now I can?t, I?m totally frustrated!!!

Also learnt that I am ridiculously reluctant to delegate and that?s just stupid! Had cleaner here for 3 hours yesterday afternoon. She had some time over and asked if she could tackle the ?rommel? (Flemish for trash, junk, mess ) in the basement because she couldn?t find anything . ( I have to admit that it has got very bad down there ? even for my low standards ? had loads of visitors/big events during Easter and May and things just got chucked back down any old how.) Normally would have declined until I had done basic organising because of some clod-headed conviction that I am the only one that can make sense of it all and organise it in to sensible categories ? not at all ? still loads to do of course but she?s done a wonderful job in the time available? much better than I could!! Lesson learnt.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Swan - you're right about the exercise, we went to the softplay at about 3.30 because the kids were going loopy and it certainly helped. Glad we did because the evening cricket session was cancelled.

Feet - funny I was just thinking the other day that any time now a particular friend is going to start posting on FB how she has finished doing her Christmas shopping, which irritates the hell out of me. Mind you we are going out for a Christmas do next month, but it is last years not this years!

SC - glad the cleaner got you a bit sorted, it is difficult to let other people tackle your stuff but there are times when it is better to accept help gracefully. I remember trying to be superwoman after the DS was born and stupidly thinking it was more important to have a clean bathroom than get a bit of sleep, durr.

Well, more rain here, it is sunny in between but very heavy showers. DS is off to a party in a minute, DD and I are going to go shopping for Fathers Day.

Hello!

I know i knowi'm rubbish! lolHowever I'm pleased to say that I'm only rubbish at getting back on here to let you know how ive been getting on. My focus has been on the house instead.

Do you remember the awful master bedroom?? Well I think just one more seesion in there and it will be done! Woo hoo!

I have bought more storage boxes for the top of wardrobes and placed each family members keepsakes in.

I have got the washing up to date and all clothes are away.

All paperwork is sorted and out of the bedroom. Lots to be shredded but thats a 'kitchen' job.

Doesn't sound a lot but around my full time work (CM) it has taken the best part of two weeks.

Will formulate my next plan (playroom) and let you know how i get on!

Hope you are all well. I'm off now to read the thread properly!

Just back from friends' leaving party - they're moving to Dublin for two years, and hired a local wine tavern for their leaving do. It was a lovely afternoon apart from the fact that DH kept bringing me coffee rather than wine, despite my hints.

NickNacks Well done on the master bedroom; it sounds like you've worked really hard on it. If you have any hints on how to keep a playroom in order, they would be much appreciated!

WhoKnows I didn't realise you haven't had Fatherl's Day yet; I'd assumed it was last Sunday, like it was here. (My mum always refused to let us celebrate it as she saw it as an American tradition. )

SC Lucky you, having a cleaner prepared to tackle the basement - ours told us she wasn't going anywhere near our cellar. Glad to hear you're managing to delegate, albeit reluctantly - even if it's frustrating, it's for your own good.

swan You are definitely right about black bin liners in the loft (or plastic bags in the cellar, in our case). I need to think about better storage in the DDs' room too; DH still hasn't mended their broken toy chest, as he promised. Must get them to declutter some dolls first, otherwise the lid won't shut and it will break again.
Thanks for the Eva Ibbotson recommendation btw. I read A Song for Summer years ago and see I only gave it two stars, but after reading the synopsis on Amazon think I should probably give it another go (I don't think I'd met DH in it so didn't have as much interest in Austria back then!).

NickNacks - well done, you sounded very down a couple of weeks ago about your bedroom, glad you've managed to conquer the clutter.

Linzer - we don't do a lot for Father's Day / Mother's Day in our families either, just cards and maybe some sweets or flowers. There was a thread about presents for it and it looks as though it is a really big thing for a lot of people though.

Well, DS had a great time at the party, he has now gone off to town with DH. DD and I had a nice time in town, we decided to take a different approach to the un-bunnable hair problem and get it cut short. She had got into the habit of chewing it the last couple of weeks and it was disgusting, all soggy round her face plus getting in her eyes, so she is now the proud owner of a very short, fringed bob, which will just be slicked back and maybe hairclipped for ballet.

Hi all. Been out in this awful rain but it didn't stop DD and i having fun at a outdoor adventure park. I'm attempting toad in the hole again as my DB is here for dinner tonight.

Linzer did your mum let you celebrate mothers day though?

We don't go crazy here on fathers day, DD makes a home made card for DH and we buy a little something (normally edible and something else silly) and i buy my dad something silly or useful and generally make him a home made card if i've time as that's a hobby of mine. I'm cooking a big roast dinner tomorrow and DH will spend time with DD taking her swimming or similar to have some daddy-time.

Well done nicknacks on your Master bedroom - lovely feeling isn't it!

we don't do Father's Day either, but we are bit rubbish at anniversaries of any kind

Boys got exercise today at football (indoor sports centre) but dd alas decided her arm hurt, couldn't go to violin, and was A Little Girl Who had A Little Curl...forehead, horrid...etc. I finally gave up tryng to deal with her, and invited someone over to play this afternoon, whose house she is at now

done
sewing machine to repair shop atlast [long cleansing bus ride away from my children]

SC it's a bit like Tom Sawyer's fence isn't it..the minute I see someone sorting out a drawer I want to do myself...
Well done for delegating. I admit I paid for some cleaning this month as I felt in a bit of black hole generally, and my sister had insisted (from Dublin , but the minute she came I just wanted her to GO! I'm also rubbish at delegating, and every minute she was cleaning, I was cleaning one step ahead of her (which I suppose can't be a bad thing - but not quite sustainable...

Welll done NickNacks, that is brilliant. Playroom is equally satisfying I find!

Hi all.

I don't remember Fathers Day at all growing up . At the school fair DD visited the 'Fathers not allowed' room where for £2 she chose a present from the table (a torch) and someone helped her wrap it and write the tag .

Had good time at school fair both dc wondered round with friends (and pockets full of change) while I sat and drank tea and ate cakes with my friends . Then added bonus, dd went home with her friend for tea .

SC I wouldn't trust anyone else to sort through my junk either . Hope you're ok.

Strangely enough Lady, she did. However, she constantly rejected the idea of a Children's Day because "every day is children's day". Luckily the DC always make Father's Day (and Mother's Day) cards and presents at school and kindergarten, so I don't need to worry about it - and they went out to the baker's to buy a Father's Day breakfast, which was their own idea.

It is pouring with rain here too; luckily we made it back from the neighbours (who had invited us over for punch) just in time. They are now having a barbecue (I last spotted our neighbour crouching over the barbecue wearing a raincoat and holding a small pink umbrella) and could hardly have picked a worse evening for it.

We don't do father's day at all. None of our families do, fortunately! We do Mothering Sunday though because of its church roots. I don't think Father's Day was seen as American so much as an invention by the card shops to sell more cards.

The school fete was wet but not a wash-out - we got soaked but then the sun came out and dried us off again. Managed to win a few prizes, but mainly tat. Boys v pleased with a giant bubble wand thing though.

No flying today, but have done food shopping, bought DS1 new shoes (nightmare!), made breadsticks and pizza bases. Also finally managed to win at Wii bowling.

Yay Nicknacks sounds good. I'm totally in awe of anyone who looks after other people's children!

SC - at having a cleaner though I'd probably be hopeless at delegating too.

WhoKnows- like the sound of your morning in town and DD's haircut.

Waves to all.

Evening all. Another Dr Foster day ...hope you managed to avoid the puddles ...

Hi there (definitely NOT rubbish) Nicknacks. That's brilliant news!! (Have to at you coming on here and apologising for focusing on housework!!! ) So glad the master plan went well and you've vanquished the boudoir! Not an easy task on top of a full on job. Good luck with the playroom! (What did you end up doing with all the donated/outgrown clothes in the end?)

Whoknows it's good of you to go shopping for Father's day. If the school didn't direct dd to make things for mother's and father's day - we wouldn't do anything at all about either I'm afraid... [I never object to receiving fresh flowers though ) at your Facebook friend.. Your dd's haircut sounds lovely!

Sorry your friend is leaving Linzer (although party sounds good!) Expat life tends to be an eternal round of friends leaving doesn't it? [sigh] Bad enough when you are an adult, but not nice at all for dc (they seem to go in one of two ways: either they get increasingly upset or hardened and blasé. Neither scenario good!)

Swan must admit I am very lucky having a cleaner (although she's primarily employed for office). Need one here permanently really as house too large for one person to manage (large in a big, old, scruffy, unwieldy, decades of dust, holes-in-wall, falling plaster, interminable stairs way - definitely not in a large, glamorous, posh, way!!!). But I'm just like you, I couldn't wait until she had finished and GONE and had to sit on my hands while she was here!! She's fantastically good at what she does though .. I should try and watch and learn. Everything just looks ... well... a lighter shade all round really

Scatty "Father's not allowed room" brilliant idea!

Blue well done for surviving dc shoe shopping on a Saturday!

Glad your respective fetes went well.

Pink sounds like you are having a lovely family w/e

Well, my electrodes are off. Monitor programmed to cease recording today exactly 48 hrs after cardio appt. It made a sort of final beep-click noise and dd looked up and said "well Mummy, I think you have detonated"

I can finally have a bath!! Yippeee!!!