Fledglings flying though July into the summer.

[ColdHeartedBitch]

Roll up, roll up. tis the month of school fetes, sports days and annual reports. In all this flurry of extra activities and with the summer holidays hurtling towards us at rapid speed, now is the time to tame the chaos before our very special chaos creators are able to help us. Fully intending to beat the Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome so that my personal chaos creator can be occupied by others this holiday. Good luck to all to are also striving to achieve this.

Starting from the 1st of the month we shall be fluttering our way to tamed houses. If you are new to the system it is recommend that you focus on making the babysteps your main focus. The babysteps will build up to form routines to help you to stay on top of the house once you have discovered it. First step is to shine your sink. But not just half heartidly, deep clean til it shines Instructions here

For the more established flyer we then progress onto decluttering. 15mins each day in alloted zone of the week. New zones each week. and current zones and decluttering instructions can be found here Zones will automatically update for July.

As for the advanced flyer, there are missions to do each day in the current zone

We have one rule we are NOT perfectionists anything is better then nothing, real life gets in the way and we have to do other stuff other then cleaning (put it on your list, tick it off and :) ), besides the fat fairy's moto is "You are never behind"

As such take the vomit inducing cuteness of the website with a pinch of salt, and join us for wish lists formally to do lists , ta da lists and home bleurghs.

See you bright and early tomo although hopefully not too bright and early.

cobwebs I use Organised Mum too - we have the Family Weekly Planner hanging in the kitchen, and I also have the Pocket Life Book in my handbag and the Family Life Book. However, it takes me so long to write every appointment etc. into all three that I've decided I can do without the Family Life Book next year (I've virtually stopped using it anyway, apart from the address book). I do find the other two very useful, though.

I also use the combined shopping list/menu planner; it's stuck to the fridge so I write any items on it as soon as we run out of them. You've reminded me that I need to order another one soon as there are only a few sheets left.

Good morning.

I am an Organised Mum fan as well. I use the Family Weekly Calendar for menu planning (I plan for all three meals) and the Life Book. We all use the Life Book - if it's not in the book, it's not happening!

To do (not huge because I've ended up with ANOTHER cold - boo!)
Unpack Ocado order
Bedrooms
Bathroom
Laundry
Dinner
Shine sink
15 min shredding
15 min filing

had a not very satisfactory day yesterday,
and tried in vain to log on at 10.15 but my computer was just not working, so after 20 mins, and dh looking increasingly that I was saying I was so exhausted and yet not going to bed, I gave up. Sorry.

Will read back over posts and do a belated roundup (if computer doesn't crash again - taken me 30 mins so far to get back into VR

Lost post yesterday.

Toffee - my parents moved to a new county when they retired and have met loads of people through church, civic society, RSPB, U3A etc. Are there groups like that your MIL could join? Oh yes, and the Twinning, the ramblers etc etc!

Lots to do today, but boys at home so prob won't get done. Hey ho.

Doing a crisis clean this morning, then off to watch the end-of-year children's primary school parade through town (am hoping the rain stops by then, otherwise it will be a rather soggy affair). DH has driven off to say goodbye to his childhood home and bring his mum back to her new flat. She is coming for dinner this evening.

May not have time to come back here today, but hope you all have a good day.

Morning.

I don't use organised mum, but i actually find using an annual diary/calander really difficult. I use an academic diary, and a wipe clean monthly calander. The monthly calander is on a door in a major through fare and contains information such as who is in the house (contact visits (away)/visitors (here)/worker away home (here)), after school appointments, babysitting, appointments and anything that inpacks ds. It is the essential map to ds' life and means that say should anything happen that mum or my sis have to look after ds at short notice then the world will be less wrong for him. The diary is the all knowing red book this year. Lovely new one waiting to be filled with stupid amounts of stuff.

Today is an admin day. boxes and boxes of paper to go through, the information pack on ds to update ready for sept (allergies/thearpy work etc) and to get new copies of the paper work that has gone missing but school needs. always good to get done. But time consumingly boring

Morning all

I didn't get on here last night either as had friends visiting followed by grim financial discussion with dh about pil situation followed by the The Apprentice profile prog (I'm rooting for Tom the barking inventor!)

Hope things are settling down in teh PA household today ...

Glad you are OK Swan and it's computer probs you are having rather than stomach lurgy probs!! But let us know if you need us to take over (I can do this weekend for example). In the meantime, I'll attempt a bit of a round-up as it looks as if you are having difficulties.

[Hands lemon and honey drink over to Bartlett]

Enjoy your last day of freedom Linzer (even though you will be spending it packing)

Wow Whoknows I'm impressed with your notice board/coat hook/school letter system. Well done to your ds re: his assessment yesterday!!

Hope you enjoyed your evening in solitary splendour Ellie and thank you for your kind words earlier down the thread. (Although it's really dh that should take the credit for strength and holding things together. I just witter around the edges!!)

Ihate how exciting about your new job opportunity! I've only got one dc and a fairly hands-on dh so I have it easy, but when I regularly work 3 days a week I find it the perfect balance. The job (although I don't enjoy it much) gives me the structure around which to slot the other stuff in the house and vice versa. It's only recently when I've been off work through illness/and now holidays (I only work school term times) that it's all become one jumbled stretch of time without clear boundaries and I realise how much more I get done overall when I am working (if that makes sense). However, judging from your amazing lists, you probably don't need that sort of motivation!!

I just use an ordinary (big) office wall calendar and a diary in my handbag (and I'm contemplating losing the diary now a lot of stuff has been transferred to my mobile phone) Things go on the calendar in different colours (red for birthdays and social events/green for school/black for everything else like dental appts.) As others have said, if it's not on the calendar, it doesn't happen (even though dh refuses to write his stuff on it - grrr).

Again, as others have said, meal planning is key (use control journal for that) and sometimes do one element of supper (such as peeling potatoes) before leaving for work in the morning. Also vital s: on-line grocery shopping and my own personal favourite rule: don't sit down in front of the telly in the evening until kitchen cleaned up after supper and spick and span, new load of washing in (on timer) to wash first thing and hang out before leaving in the morning, clothes laid out, letters/money for school written and in back-pack, buttons sewn on, packed lunches (other than fresh bits) at the ready ...but there again.. I get more energetic as the day goes on. You may prefer to do that all in the morning! Good luck!! And don't forget the wealth of experience you have had in the past 9 years that you can put on your cv!! (child-rearing = multi-tasking accountant/psychologist/chef/ chauffeur/cleaner/referree/entertainer/teacher/chef/valet to name but a few!!!) Don't be apologetic and don't under-sell yourself!! They are lucky to have someone as motivated as yourself!

Toffee enjoy the parade! Rather momentous day for your dh and his ma - hope it goes well. Hope you get to the bottom of ed psych report and arf at kinder egg incident!!

Reastie¨I definitely intend to keep dd's school reports for later years!!

Waves to CHB (I'll be shredding papers in sync with you today) MC Blue and everyone else I've missed ...feel I should be scrolling further down as I'm sure I've left out something/someone vital but daren't in case I lose this post!

Old ticker decided to go racing again in the middle of the night last night. Very odd. So back to doctor next week. Enforced calm ensues today which is driving me nuts

Argh - sorry - missed out Silken who has been chucking out her laptops/old phones ....[waves]

Also left out Pink who has been preparing for a murder mystery party in her own home which must involve a lot of knife polishing and soaping the cellar stairs ...

and OM* who is being strong and has wisely decided that, with the best will in the world, she cannot please DH, 6 kids, sister, work colleagues, parents, in-laws all the time!

Actually Ihate you should be taking career/home strategy advice from OM and PA!! They are the experts!!

Oh dear, that was all a bit disjointed..[apologies to Swan]

Unexpectedly have yet a few more child-free hours as the DC have all gone over to a friend's house - we'd arranged for her to pick the girls up, but she just phoned to ask whether she could pick up DS from kindergarten too and whether she could take them all home with her. I didn't like to say no. This means that I now have a virtually child-free day so no excuses not to get the packing finished.

SC Thanks for the splendid round-up. Ah, is Tom still in The Apprentice? He went to my old university and I had to hide the alumni society's status updates on FB as they kept mentioning him and I'm several weeks behind! I don't mind knowing that he's in the final five, but please don't tell me who wins. (I'm hoping not to find out before we've actually seen the final, but don't know whether that's realistic - I didn't manage it last year.)

enjoy your new-found liberation Linzer and no Apprentice spoilers, I promise ...

No Apprentice spoilers here either, although I am starting to change my opinion as to who might win. I watched part of the profile of the final 5 show last night and have the rest saved for later (DH hates it but he's away for the w/e now).

Done:
Morning routine - got up 15 mins earlier than usual plus more free time obtained by finding that I couldn't empty the DW as DH forgot to switch it on last night, so made some fairy cakes for the school cake sale
School run
Home to ice the cakes
Tennis
Empty DW, refill with cake/breakfast stuff and put on again
Clean out sandpit - yeuchh! The sandpit lid split and it filled with rain and turned green and smelly. I have got rid of most of the water, and liberated all the small toys, seashells, marbles etc into a bowl of Milton, need DH to tip away the old sand (too heavy for me) then we can refill (have got a new lid)

Still to do
Change spare bed and wash sheets
Room rescue lounge
Ironing
Clean kitchen counters and floor
Go to school early to harvest produce from the garden for the cake sale, set up cake sale and watch DD's class assembly
Run cake sale
Come home
Take DCs to cricket
Collapse

From yesterdays list.

Still to do:

Buy food
Paint walls with red 'blood' splotches and lay down a masking tape body shape on floor (we take it seriously and will redecorate after)
Clean both bathrooms
Delimescale loos, sinks, taps etc
Clean oven top (inside can wait as not seen)
Washing
Ironing

Have Done it all except ironing which I'll probably shove away and do on Sunday.

SCI Our lounge has fluorescent writing and swirls on the walls it's a 60s murder mystery and my outline in masking tape on the floor. DH has written in red paint 'the killer is' and paint drips for blood dripping down the wall where my outline is - looks rather effective. Have booked the decorater to come in and strip wallpaper on Tuesday (we aren't mad really, the walls needed decorating anyway so it's a good excuse to mess the walls at a party)

Enjoy your childfree day linzer

Doing a little sundance for Toffee to ensure good weather for the parade

I just looked out the window with view to running an errand in the library. It is hoofing it down. Errand can wait!

Paperwork reduced, ds' stuff updated and needing printing/photocopying only. Next job filing. But lunch first.

Pink FANTASTIC!! (esp. masking tape outline)!! Love the wholehearted approach!!! ...I'm sure it will catch on as decor too [call Elle magazine before you re-decorate]

Waves to CHB!

forgot to say Whoknows - so impressed that you can harvest produce from your school garden for the sale. Hope it goes well and well done re: sandpit.

Right, am turning off the computer and forcing myself to shred papers ...

Thank you everyone for your advice. Will investigate Organised Mum website.

ellie I thought my list would get longer, not shorter!

I've been asking people this lunchtime to be references, as mine are years out of date. Two have agreed, the third I'm still waiting to hear from. Once those are done, I'll send the CV and wait (will try to forget about it over the weekend).

Done
Morning routine
Made pancakes for breakfast as all the bread had disappeared (DH had the munchies last night)
Washing on airer - no point in putting it out today
Phone garage to see if widget has come in yet - should be in today [hmmm]
Make beds
Toddler group
Buy more bread and milk
Lunch
Contact potential referees

To Do
s/s
food from freezer
washing up
zone cleaning
zone mission
place stationery order
phonics with DS
CV to potential employer if get references agreed
Playgroup accounts - PAYE/NI
Cook tea
Tea
Evening routine
Watering
Work on quilt block

Thanks SC, we're really pleased too. Unfortunately we will probably have a glut of tomatoes right in the middles of the school holidays!

ihate technically speaking my lists should stretch through the whole thread but as I said before there are only so many hours in the day and there is only so much you can manage without killing yourself...you have to learn to prioritise as a working mum. Figure out what really needs doing everyday, what can be done weekly, monthly or not even done at all! If you try and do everything you may well struggle. IYSWIM.

I also promise no Apprentice spoilers but I know who I want to win and I know who I think will win and they are two different people. .

afternoon all...am trying to catch up on thread - thought I had pursuaded ds2 to watch cbeebies for 10 mins but now he is wanting to go out and play football so I may have to dash at any point

toffee I am currently engaged in a battle(one of many it seems LOL) with the Ed Psych and learning support teacher to commit as to whether dd3 is dyslexic or not....for some reason they just wont say yes or no, but keep using phrases such as "dyslexic tendancies" and "difficulties consistent with dyslexia" It is driving me mad....grrrr hope you get some answeres for ds1. Hope he copes OK with leavers party too. Also did laugh at "why the fuck dont you get it are you stupid or something" It can be so frustrating trying to stay positive when it feels you are explaining the same thing over and over....(can you see why I didnt go into teaching LOL)

cobwebs My job happened a bit like that. I emailed old job to arrange to meetto talk about getting back into my career (having been a SAHM for 4 1/2 years) and she emailed me back to say she had the perfect job for me, they were looking for someone urgently and when could I start! I was planning on going back 1 1/2 to 2 days a week and seem to have eneded up agreeing to 4 days a week ....how did that happen! tbh I am still adapting routines and finding solutions that work. Also I am still on the quest for the perfect diary. I need to have everything in one place, work appointments, home/family appointmenets,lists,reminders etc.. I cant seem to get on with the orgainses Mum ones for some reason...my latest favourite is actually a paperchase A5 size diary which has days of week on one page then facing page for notes so I can add appointments on one side and lists on the other. Also have lots of whiteboards in various places for lists/reminders etc but not always very good at using them.....good luck anyway and hope it works out well.

whoknows you sound very organised! Think I need to revamp my whiteboards!

elliepac a house to yourelf sounds wonderful...it is actually almost my favourite treat ever....never happens here though LOL

not much achieved here today. Had to go shopping for last bits for DH bday (tomorrow) then for some food shopping.
Did also attempt (again ...sigh) to purchase a bra that is actually the right size for me. Dear heavens I honestly think I will NEVER again own a properly fitting bra. I have measured, re-measured, calculated every which way and purchased bras of every imaginable size and style. and still dont feel I have found one that is "just right" and why is it that a 34c in one style is a TOTALLY different size to a 34C in another (similar) style?????I give up!
Anyway...all of the above made worse by being accompanied by V grumpy 3 year old.....
Am going to try not to give in to alcohol tonight...have bought some fizzy apple juice....as we are going out tomorrow night and will be drinking....however my Friday wine is calling louder and louder to me....we shall see.
Right off to play with ds2
BBL

you are right, computer now slowed to snail, and a snail which won't come out of its shell [grr] keep crashing, crashed again when I had done another roundup.
have agreed to buy new one, but can't get to shops because of dd (still at home)

however, was able to smuggle her into the Boden sale to buy some cheapie trousers, and into Tesco to do weekend stockup, however I think being discovered browsing laptops with her might have been miscontrued by any beady teachers in their lunchbreak..

OFM I hang onto my bras until they are old and grey (in fact red is the perfect colour for a bra, it never gets grey) as they are always wrong size otherwise.
Toffee I have an amazing longterm memory, but find it difficult to have "recall" - people's names, modern languages, tunes on a day to day basis. For example things leap out at me but systematically remembering what people have said for the Roundup, unless I have pegs to hang things on ifysim is quite impossible for me. I think your ds may remember things differently or using different techniques.

Love the motivational talk!

better post before the deluge

Right that message took 10 seconds to register before it "posted" so I think I'm not going to able to do the Roundup this evening.
Perhaps we should just skip it for the next few days, especially as so many people are so good at personal responses.
Thank you SC, for your lovely roundup today - I posted a long message to you about the parent factor (it went , and very sorry folks, but I just know worse is yet to come VR-wise.

Lady that is very brave of you to host a murder!
Cobweb think of all the toddler group related stuff that will drop off your list if you are at work Bet you will be brilliant at the job btw

Whoknows I have a thumbelina cucumber and 4 miniature green beans so far to show for my efforts, very impressed by your garden. I bet pupils won't forget either, and you will be pointed out as the "Garden lady" for many years to come.

P.s. Toffee your ds saying Is it Summer yet, seemed to me rather a thoughtful way of expressing the connundrum of when Spring becomes Summer, and whether it is Summer when it is pouring with rain and we are huddling indoors not odd at all.