It's August - can the Fledglings keep FLYing with children underfoot?!

[BlueEyeshadow]

Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome to August's edition of the Fledgling Flyers,
Meine Damen, Mesdames, Ladies! (although any Herren, Messieurs and Gentlemen would be very welcome too, I'm sure, and apologies for the show tunes now lodged in everyone's heads ...)

If you're trying to keep out of CHAOS over the summer holidays, with the dear children creating havoc all around, then pull up a chair, roll up your sleeves and join in the fun.

Fly Lady's website is here, but we don't recommend signing up for the emails unless you want an ironically cluttered inbox. I'll post the links to the information for every day this month and try to keep up with all the chat.

There are babysteps to get you started on forming a routine, and missions to do once each room is decluttered and, as the Fat Fairy says, it's amazing what you can do in fifteen minutes. We'll be starting August in the entrance, front porch and dining room, and sifting the sense from the cutesy language. :)

I notice from the archive that it's the thread's second birthday so I'm sure there'll be cake as well as plenty of , and - virtual, so no calories - along the way. Finally, a big thank you to CHB and Swan for leading us heroically through a hectic July!

Morning all!

Dropping by to say hello before starting to FLY!

Ta Da!
Up/Shower/Dress - done for all the family
Breakfast & Washup - done
Dishwasher stacked (barring the 1 teaspoon that magically appears afterwards! ) and on - done
Washing on (1st of 3 loads) - done
Supermarket "big" shop - done
Shopping mostly away (barring odds and sods that need to go in a different room/garage) - done
DS down for nap - done
Washing machine load into tumble - done
Job work - done
Coffee break & MNet - doing

To Do
Washing
Finish shopping laying away
Empty dishwasher
Tackle dining room
Make dinner (homestyle spaghetti sauce)
Play with DS
Go for walk? - depends if weather improves

Can see this being a reasonable day if DS isn't too grumpy after his morning nap. May even look at our bedroom and move the suitcases upstairs to go under the eaves - DH needs to do this as there may be spiders and I just don't do spiders. Whoknows - you're more than welcome to pop up for a coffee if I find one!

Sunrise - I have no clue who you are, but then I struggle with most guessing games Think you might be CHB, but don't want to say it out loud in case someone takes offence!

Silvery & Blue - get rid of grouting and get wet wall boards in the bathroom. We had grout in old house, and it was crap. New house has the wet wall stuff and it's fabulous - just wipe and go - okay, you might need to redo your bathroom, but... Having said that, I'm contemplating putting mosaic tiles at the sink in our ensuite (only shower is wet walled) as I keep having to wipe the painted wall and I'm a bit about the durability.

CanIstaysane - nope, no emails here. Just use this thread and Blue's helpful links.

And on the subject of helpful links, I found this when I was Googling to see if there was a listing on the FLY site - dunno if it helps anyone at all.

Right, off to wash coffee cup and FLY until DS wakes up (usually two seconds after walking downstairs! )

Enjoy!

X-posts Fuzzled sorry.

Fuzzled That is a great link. It might help those who are newer to the FLY concept.

Thanks all for the advice have just got showered and dressed so that's one baby step done( late in the morning I know). I suppose that is meant to be one of the things you do when you first get up in the morning. I'll be o.k. when we are into September again cause I will have to get ds up and to school by 9.00am. Right I better get on and do something else.

Drat, not as good as she wanted. Now need to do some mum to daughter pampering. Probably go into hiding for today to lick her wounds.

Nettie "Mr Popper" quite enjoyable romp, not at all complex, bland etc, but I think suitably slapstick for younger children, and a bit of adult schmaltz. Nothing like as good as Iceage Madagascar Rio etc, but possibly less demanding which is no bad thing! Although cinema tickets expensive - so it was not really worth the cost (depending on how you rate a bit of p & q)

Blue I meant that ds2 had run out of emotional fuel by late afternoon due to the ASD, but you have actually hit the nail on the head, he was hungry too (despite popcorn) Supper isn't usually till 6.30-6.45 in our house and I keep forgetting (despite lecturing you on the matter) that we are on borrowed time for about half an hour before.

Must must go back to preparing supper in the mornings

Long list as I'm struggling a bit this morning with AF and paracetamol. Dh did not clear up a iota yesterday whilst I was out to supper but he was helpful in many other ways so I can't complain.
Luckily friend has just sent her dd round to play with mine which means dd will be in a good mood (bad mood thunderclouds were threatening) They are playng nicely already.

todo
dropped ds2 at drama with lunchbox done
breakfast dishes
buy catfood done
clear up dinner
put milk away
recycling boxes in back garden again
garden rubbish to dump with kids (do not think they will agree to this but may find this more fun with dd's friend in car)
worktops
rubbish out
find camera /buy camera to take photos of backyard for extension planning (work this into walk to high street with kids/healthy exercise)
clear out car (bin bag necessary)
sort out handbag (disaster as scattered over three separate knapsacks etc)
MAKE LUNCH NOW!! (beef casserole for supper too ) prep veg, potatoes in oven, grated cheese, ham etc.
hang out washing done
more washing in
dw on
phostrogen on plants
mentally prepare to watch ds2 mini-performance at drama session at 3.45 and what is happening after? CALM AFTERNOON needs planning.

Done so far:

Up and dressed first thing
Swished and swiped
B/fasts for all
Unloaded d/w
Started tackling sink (full of dirty crockery )
Had DS2's hair cut
Early lunches/possibly extra late breakfasts

To do:
Put washing on
Sort out kitchen sink
Empty bin in kitchen
Pack returns parcel for M&S
Write and post card to Gt Aunt
Take DS2 to dentist to get filling replaced again
Home to collect parcel and hang washing out
Take DS1 to have hair cut (more expensive hairdresser - want him to look smart for new school)
Buy school shoes
Order new pair of spare glasses for DS1
Visit MIL if time
Bus home
Put dry washing away
Dinner
Evening routine

So today is all about getting the boys' hair, teeth, feet and eyes sorted. Coincidentally, today is Flylady's errand day, I believe, so I'm still co-operating with the Flylady system!

WhoKnows - thanks for the tip about the magazine - I might look out for it in WHS when I'm in town. DS1 would enjoy it and I promised to buy him a magazine later.

Dragons/Sunrise - you don't fool me, but it's taken practise to spot you! Hope you get some rest today.

Fuzzled - it's useful to see the babysteps all written down - thanks for that link.

MissJulie - welcome back! Hope we see more of you this month.

PA - crossing fingers for your DD today.

Waves to Silvery, Feet, Swan, Blue, CanIstay, MC, Ellie, Feet, Nettie and any lurkers.

Oh PA I'm sorry. Could she retake any, if she feels she was capable of better grade? Or does it not fit in with arrangements? I retook both A-levels after doing badly in 2 out of three, and did much worse in one and much much better in the other second time around - at least I knew what I was capable of after retake. I was also able to see much more clearly what was wrong in the way I had approached/worked for first batch of exams. Still, it is NOT a good feeling to get those first set of results

Oh, PA, sorry - just read your update . Lots of comforting at home today, then.

Swan - enjoy your DS2's performance.

PA sorry your dd didn't get the results she was hoping for.
I'm not having a very productive day.
Someone give me a cyber kick up the arse

Hope that helps Silvery

PA if it is any help to dd2 I failed my A levels twice and went down the foundation year route. Tbh as long as she can do what she wants it won't affect her. No one gives a shit about my failed A level grades they are more interested in my 2:1 degree. HTH. Although there is nothing wrong with a bit of pampering if it was a shock. Nice for a bit of one on one time too I guess.

if she is old enough pass her this

Right made mucho progress on loads of stuff that isn't remotely flying or list crossable off unless you count it as emotional decluttering (but can not divulge further).

More laundry to be done folllowed by seeing a friend. 5 mins walk down the road to test the old ankle. "coffee" and natter then walk back. by which point I shall inhale more pain killers, freeze gel and head into ds' room to attempt to finish the clearing out and the undercoat of the decorating that needs to be done.

Bum and double bum.

Just written out long post and it has disappeared.

Trying again ....

Very impressed by all your making of pasta sauces in advance and ingenious ways of using marrow btw ...

PA so sorry your dd was disappointed but hope you have a lovely mother-daughter day together

Blue thank you for mega round-up

Great link Fuzzled thank you. Have copied out for my CJ as its much more concise.

Ellie Have a lovely day in York. I love the Shambles! But was scared by story of Margaret Clitheroe (our school visited her shrine) who, if I remember correctly, was a Catholic martyr killed by suffocation under a lead door for hiding priests in the reign of Eliz 1. Not a happy end ...

Toffee I'm in Brussels, Belgium but meant more specifically that we have whopper-sized spiders here in this house! Partic. in cellars. One half the size of dh's hand who lives in the laundry room. Nearly touched it inadvertently the other night when I turned off the light. Belatedly saw it was on the wall about 2 mm away from the switch-plate. Yeeeeeeewwwww!!!!

Did I see that MissJulie is back? Yay!

Nettie love your dd's "alternative" technique for doing missions! [SC wonders if it would work on dh's hideous golf trophies]

Silvery great advice about Big Tent

[SC feels chuffed that for once she hasn't been befuddled by Sunrise/DancingDragon namechange!!]

Oh dear, I can't remember the rest of my previous post and I'm going to have to go ... I'm in the middle of cleaning out the pantry [pumpkins seeds from Jan 2009 anyone?]

Dh has officially finished work but we still don't know where we are going on holiday ...or when. Grrrrrrr. He is utterly exhausted, all the air fares seem extortionate and eveywhere we want to go is booked up. So I'm decluttering/cleaning as a stress reliever.

DD and I went through her wardrobe this morning and got rid of everything that is too small for charity/recycling.

Oh and I'm still doing laundry.

Waves to Swan MC OM CanIstay Whoknows Feetheart Ihate and everyone I've surely missed ....

Back to pantry of doom ....

fuzzled That is a good link, very helpful. Hope you all don't mind me popping on to the thread now and again. I'm mainly on the babysteps thread as am just starting out with the FlyLady thing. There seems to be more activity going on on this thread.

Of course no one minds sane
We're all here to support each other, no matter what stage we are at.

Dragons Thanks for the boot, but no, I still haven't moved.
It's pouring with rain, the kids are whingey and I've got the ump. Roll on o'clock.
Although
TO DO
Shower and dress done
Swish and swipe done
Make beds done done
Boys to dress done
Washing? (is anything dry? is there enough to go in machine?) done
Word game sod it
Tidy away done
Write shopping list for bathroom done
Organise boys chest of drawers
What's for dinner? done just got to cook it later
Menu plan for next week
Clean kitchen
Clean clothes away done
iron and put away done

Hmm unsustainable flurry of activity this afternoon.

Laundry 2nd load currently on
Folding up to date
Ironing turn the correct way around
Finish tidying ds' room improved by ankle now fucked and I am suffering lack of sleep
Strip room of as much furniture as possible. done
Prime the skirting boards.
"Coffee" with friend done
ring ds' pead for new sleep med prescription - must do. can not run of sleep meds. it will get very ugly.
Gather washing up downstairs it collected in my room over the last few days when i was feeling so much like death/in pain. done
Smile because ankle stood up to the walk into and back from the village with no pain noticable over some basic paracetamol doing
rest up because have been over doing things with the decorating and now in serious pain - yet to come
prep projects for doing tonight/ tomo morning when resting and cba 2 lots hand stitching of edging brought upstairs to room, knitting upstairs already
Have about several complicated txt convos when a few phone calls would have been quicker and easier done
keep up several convos on fb doing
Organise big project doing - awaiting responses to emails
Sort through training equipment for extended no usuage done
Have a cull of ds' stone collection done with delight, how many stones can one little boy need in their room?

Right I have had enough and going to crash for a couple of hours. might get up again in a bit and do some more stuff. alternatively it will wait until tomo.

Night.

It was a boiling hot (if humid) day with scorching sunshine

Now the skies have turned black and we have the biggest thunderstorm/downpour you can imagine. You wouldn't believe the amount of water falling out of the sky

Bad news: cellar is flooding (not our problem for once - main drain in road cannot cope) and there is a nasty 'drain' smell pervading house [dismay emoticon] The worst bit though is we have had our first ever leak through the roof . HAve to get this sorted before winter sets in. Dreading the cost ...

Good news: Pantry is clean. Every shelf cleared and wiped down.

I've relocated guinea pig cage, swept floor, tidied supplies and put all their grooming/equipment/spare water bottles etc in new panier.

Despite above, am really still enjoying the holidays

Post any time Sane
Glad your ankle is on the mend Dancing

OMG!!!!

Just had to nip on and post (will be back later as always!) as, for the first time in 8 months!, I can now walk round and sit at my dining room table!

I can play my piano! I can see the floor! It's dust free! (Not hoovered as didn't want to wake DS )

There is still washing hanging in there, but it's current, and it's been a showery day so no chance of hanging things out.

I am SO proud of myself. I now have two rooms that I would be happy to show people (with the obligatory "excuse the washing but it's raining" - or a quick shift into my bedroom)

Well done Fuzzled Good for you! Is a great feeling isn't it?

SC being a convert so to speak (although baptised RC) and not brought up with any stories of saints and martyrs (my mum was v puritan) I have avoided all these horrid thoughts please don't remind me, although Wolf Hall has been enough to be getting on with

Meanwhile,
it is pouring with rain.
Dd's friend is still here. We tried making eclairs. And ended up with four?? Summat wrong with quantities. Or maybe saucepan too large
Ds1's play was good - An Adventure in Space. Great method acting from all, especially the aliens.

House still a mess, but no tantrums as yet.

Very productive Dancing and Fuzzled and hope you get away SC.

Ds2's play I mean.

Done
phostrogen
dw
lunch
bins
play

Today has consisted of:
Copious amounts of chocolate, now DD2 has gone out for copious amounts of
Me nearly passing out at having to pay £250 for a pair of "old persons" glasses. (collect them in 2 weeks)

I came home and laid down on the sofa and woke up 90 minutes later. Now, I am trying to convince myself that it has more to do with my lack of sleep last night than to do with me really turning into an old person!!

Absolutely zilcho flying done!!

It is absolutely freezing here and I want to put the heating on! My toes are cold! I already have a jumper on! Perhaps when I went to sleep I woke up in November!!

Apologies for lack of personals, not feeling too sociable today, sorry.
Sore throat lurking, head fuzzy and in danger of exploding. Bed meethinks! - or a first, then bed!

PA if you are old because you have had a nap then so am i. i have just been woken up, i fell asleep 3hrs ago. And i know for a fact that i am not old yet. tis last night catching up with you.

Good evening everyone.

Another manic day at work, some of my mess ups rresolved and a huge mountain of work piling up. I am starting to freak out that it is impossible to fit 1 full time job and a part time job into 2.5 days a week!! Think i might have to bring some home, before i get to the point of no return backlog city!!

My tada list
w/m on
bed made
dc up and dh dressed them
breakfast stuff cleared away
floor swept by dh
dc nurseried
Work attended and done
party after work attended
Ocado shopping being delivered as i type
dishwasher full
washing moved on
clothes that i laid out yesterday for dc still there as dh didnt see them

phew not bad!

missjulie hiya nice to see you again
mc im sure youll get back into swing of swimming in no time. Have fab time at caravan
swan i love railway museum too, desperate to take dc one day. i have nostalgic view as day used to take us to the glasgow one often. hmm might wait till it comes out on dvd then take dc to the tweenies viewing for £1. went to see cars2 and it cost 35 for tickets so dont think dh will do again in a hurry.
pa sorry dd did not do as well as she hoped. hope she is ok
sc aw i hope you get a little break away somewhere.
canistaysane stick around, insanity is on the next babystep
fuzzeld well done on clear dining room. to celebrate

humngouse waves to everyone. Ally beckons (robert downey junior just left, he is flying to be by my side as we speak)

Very productive day of errands, but, OMG, I am exhausted. So, progress report...

Put washing on done
Sort out kitchen sink done
Empty bin in kitchen oops - not yet
Pack returns parcel for M&S do tomorrow
Write and post card to Gt Aunt done
Take DS2 to dentist to get filling replaced again done
Home to collect parcel and hang washing out done
Take DS1 to have hair cut (more expensive hairdresser - want him to look smart for new school) done - great haircut
Buy school shoes done
Order new pair of spare glasses for DS1 done, plus booked appointments for me and DS
Visit MIL if time done - she was delighted
Bus home DH picked us up - whoopee
Put dry washing away
Dinner done
Evening routine doing

Also let DS1 choose a school bag (he chose a bright red Gola bag, which he assured me is the right sort of bag to get) plus a padlock for his school locker. We also stocked up on stationary. This is costing a small fortune!

Tomorrow is a much quieter day, thank goodness.

Just off to get DS2 into his bath (running a bit late again).

PA - hope you aren't sickening. Get an early night if you can.

Fuzzled - congrats on your dining room .

Swan - glad your DS2's play went well.

Still - I read, on another thread, that spider families live for years in the same houses. Maybe that's why they get so big. I grew up in a large Tudor farmhouse which was inhabited by huge house spiders (I'm not exaggerating). I think they and their ancestors had been around in that house since Tudor times. Maybe that's why your house has such huge ones. I find this fascinating, even though I hate the eight-legged monsters. Sorry to hear about the leaks, but well done on the pantry!

Dancing - emotional decluttering counts too . Glad to hear you had a nice, long nap. Good for you.

Silvery - that's an excellent list you've done today.

Sane - you can come and see us whenever you want. We aren't fussy!

Right, bedtime routines loom.

Night all. Apologies if I've missed anyone - I'm on our little computer, which it is impossible to scroll up and down on.

Hi all, I managed to disappear for a few days! DH been at home, and I was quite close to the riots, so spent a week watching telly. I'm really behind on my babysteps. I need a kick up the bum to get me going again! I do still make the bed very day, and do the quick cleans of the toilets and sink and do the kitchen, so I'm (almost) where I was when I left off, but I haven't progressed! I also have 2 loads of washing outside that are now soaked through with the rain. I hate laundry!