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!

Good evening everyone. anyone?

Right im going to update my list and see whats what.

Get dressed-done
Sort out swim bags for lessons-done
Put chicken curry in slow cooker. -done tasty
Take grumpy dd to hairdressers and ds to barbers-done
Buy new cover for phone other one had sand in it-done
Come home tidy-not quite
Go to first swimming lesson-done
Debate merits of going home Inbetween lessons, invariably end up staying and hanging around playpark for hour and half-done came home for 15 minute sit down before turning round and coming back
Home sort laundry-done
Check dc rooms still tidy-nope

also done
s/s done
dw/wm/td done
bag dropped off to charity shop done
all suppliers invoices for work paid, cheques done
Slight panic at lack of uptodate figures on bank acct due to being too busy for bank recon.-sort tomorrow along with a billion other things
Weight watchers for weigh in-stayed the same woop woop!!

Manic day. Im going to really selfishly post tomorrow list. Please skip

up dressed/dc nurseried/me work
send out cheques to suppliers
do bank recons x 3
check all account data on new computer package
do cashing up and petty cash
do payroll
pidgeon hole some time with mil to learn how to do monthly payroll or will not get paid [ouch]
redo cheques for joint customers who suddenly need sole name cheques.
put through beer order/cash and carry
take mil to hair dressers.
sort out electric bill queries
oh and deal with any customer comings and goings throughout the day. Heres hoping for a sunny day and they all pop down to the beach and leave me in peace. please
Pick dc up from nursery/bathe and bed
Home to make dinner/tidy up/flake

I feel some more wine will be required.

pa loving the freaky friday phone swap
missjulie well done for unpacking some more. at still have boxes from 6 years ago when we moved in.
mc well done at gym, love BFG. Can you remind me what age dd is? Id love to show ds but afraid of introducing too soon.
chb I love your evolution theory and how it relates to your household.
linzer well done at morning run. Jealous of hot as pouring with rain here most of day
noeyedear keep with it. Im still not so good on routines but i do find babysteps help (the ones i do) a lot and the odd mission makes me feel proud like i am getting there.

MIL gets her results tomorrow so a bit on tenderhooks as to how its gonna go. Off to spend some quality time with dh.

Nite all. xx

Nettie DD is 5 (well 51/2 according to her ) she wasn't scared at all as I explained all the way through watching it. In fact she told DH it was brill. I hope it goes ok for MIL tomorrow

I have just spent 3 hours sorting out toys and storage in dining room-cum-toy room. Have thrown away loads and have put together and filled a lovely new set of much more practical storage drawers (I even found out my dynamo labeller and labeled the drawers (Nerd emoticon) )

So updated list

• Watch BFG before we have to take DVD back to video shop Done - DD loved it. Was afraid it would be too 'old' for her. She wants me to read her this and James and the Giant Peach now
• Take DVDs back Done
• Post office to post another book Done
• Photo ebay items to sell tomorrow
• Get down the carpet cleaner and see if I can get it to work to clean the living room carpet. Tomorrow
• List more things for sale Done
• Clear out e-mail inbox that is now overflowing and hard to keep track of Done I now have only 10 'current' e-mails in my inbox - Its usually way up in the 100s
• 2 x washing Whoops
• Update ipod with music from CD collection - Grrrrrrrrrr I've loaded the albums onto itunes on my laptop but my iphone won't sync!!
• work out finances for rest of month Done its not looking good
• take library books back to library Done
• May start attacking dds toys - we need a big sort out as they are taking over - Done

Of to watch tv for an hour with dh before he starts to sulk. Back tomorrow

Evening all. Not much flying done here today, but I have at least managed basic routines, which is something!

How has everyone else been?

MissJ has done loads of decluttering and dealing with boxes. Way to go!

CHB has been struggling with sleep, musing on chaos theory and battling technology.

Fuzzled?s guests were cancelled. Hope you?re feeling better now.

Silvery was going to London, weather permitting. Glad you made it!

PA has been feeding the 5000 200 and having a freaky Friday of her own. Glad you?re enjoying your children?s company ? gives me hope!!

MC has a new bike and her DH?s finger is only broken; she also has lovely practical storage drawers. Your DD?s knee injury sounds like my DS1. Such melodrama! I?m feeling very smug relieved that he can wear last year?s uniform too?

Linzer has once again had a house full of other people?s children...

noeyedear is keeping up with routines, which is the main thing!

Nettie had a productive day. Fingers crossed for MIL?s results. Our courgettes are green but there are yellow varieties, by the way. Loads of pictures if you put ?yellow courgette? into google!

Links:
Babystep: Swish & swipe.
Mission (when it updates): Flat surfaces? as we discovered last month (I think), dresser = chest of drawers.

Tomorrow we?re off out again, hoping DS1 can cope with all the excitement! Will try to do the mission though, as I should be doing our bedroom anyway.

Better get off to start the bathroom stampede. See you all tomorrow.

Who knew maggots were crunchy

Morning everyone.

I am sat at work, just finished for the day, so thought I would pop in before I head home.

Yes, the phone practical jokes was one of DSs better ones. A little glimpse into my 20 year old DD1's life was an eyeopener!! It was the "Hello gorgeous" on the first text that gave it away.... definitely not intended for me!! DS obviously has too much time on his hands these holidays for evil planning!!

Fuzzled DHs bike race was in the New Forest. Is that near you?

Linzer you probably wont agree, but I am of your "hot" weather. I love it. Maybe in another year or so, I will be somewhere hot again. Here I am feeling like I need to sort through my jumpers already!

Making changes My heart sunk when I read your post. The most dreaded day of the summer holidays has been booked in for today!! I am taking DD4 and DS shopping for school shoes. If we dont kill each other while in the shop it will be classed as a success. DS has ahd the same shoes for the last 5 years because he hates it so much he cant cope with thinking about new styles, just the size, then get out the shop ASAP. I bribe them with promises of treats etc., but still torture. (For anyone who does not know DS is 15!!! ) The rest of the uniform will be done online later today!
If we survive, then DD1 and I are going to watch the Inbetweeners this afternoon! Cant wait!! (everyone else is too embarrassed to come with their old, embarrassing mum!!)

Right, that is more than enough for me to cope with today, saying nothing about the bank balance taking a serious beating (£45 each for school blazers!! Why do teenagers grow so much!! And why does DS STILL use his blazer as a goal post!! )

Have a good day!!

Morning.
TO DO
Shower and dress
Swish and swipe
Make beds
Tidy away
Iron
Clothes away
Boys to get dressed
Chemist
Tesco
Mission
What's for dinner?
Clean kitchen
Hoover
Mop
Tomorrows Clothes
Dust

Nettie -- shudder shudder!! Hate maggots!!!! Yuck!!!

Morning all! Didn't get on yesterday as I was wiped out from ds' birthday shenanigans and subsequent clearing up which took forever . We had a lovely day. 30 people turned up. We had invited them all but normally someone doesn't come but they all came. It was like the feeding of the 5000! Bouncy castle was a huge hit and kept the dc's entertained all day and there was just a lovely atmosphere!

Today is a gentle day with a bit of pottering this morning and then I will do something with the dc's this afternoon. It is a beautiful day here. I am currently sat outside the back door basking in sunshine and enjoying a coffee in peace.

Ta da so far :-
2 loads on line
Kitchen cleaned
Washing up done
Living room tidied
Dining room tidied
Hall tidied
Bathroom s/s

To do :-
Clear washing away
Mop floor
Tidy bedrooms
More washing
Pick apples for crumble
Play
Panic about GCSE results tomorrow

Back later to catch up properly.

I will swap you our hot weather for an Inbetweeners ticket, PA (it's highly unlikely to make it over here). It was 44°C outside yesterday and I'm melting, even in the shade. The only advantage to this heat is that DH is coming home slightly earlier than usual as the air conditioning in his office isn't working properly.

Am still feeling a bit lacking in motivation FLYing-wise, but am hoping that the arrival of the new Lakeland catalogue will inspire me (to clean without buying any more of their products ).

Hi all,

Thanks for feel better wishes. I am feeling better, but grumpy due to lack of sleep (see here for reasons if you are interested!

Did do a nice list, but lost it when browser crashed and CBA retyping as have to get on! Basically, it's a general tidy up and lay away clothing day.

Lovely day, so will try to get DS out later on - maybe down to the little swing park.

Have a good day!

Oh, and pa, nope about 500 miles away I'm in NE Scotland.

waves to everyone!

Morning all

Feeling so tired this morning. After looking at my lack of finances yesterday afternoon, I decided that I needed to look at how I can get some income whilst I look for teaching jobs. I need jobs either around school or evenings and weekends if they aren't teaching jobs and there just isn't any. Anyway I decided I would have to apply for JSA (not happy about it but needs must) was up til 2am looking at jobs and then filling in application forms. By the time I did go to bed, I was so awake I couldn't sleep.

PA good luck on the shoe shopping and I hope you enjoy the film
Linzer I too love the Lakeland catalogue. DH tries to throw it in the bin if he gets to it first although I have to say, I don't usually make many purchases.
Nettie hope you sort the maggots out. I do wish I hadn't been eating my breakfast when I read that bit though

OK so todays jobs

• Tidy piles of paperwork in dining room. (As well as it being a dining room and a play room its also DHs office) - Now the toys are sorted, its time to move onto DHs mess.
• Post office to post another sale. Sold a book last night within an hour of putting it online. I wish the others would go as fast.
• Get carpet cleaner down and find instructions to clean carpet.
• Attack paperwork mountain understairs
• My swimming lesson (Dreading this - I really have not done too well last few weeks)
• DDs karate lesson - She needs to decide if she wants to continue with this as its the last of the taster sessions.
• Photo things for sale for ebay - didn't get round to this yesterday.
• List more things for sale
• 3 x washing

That will do for now. Best get on. Back later, hope you all have a good day. The suns out here, hope it is where you are too.

ellie Glad the party went well.
Fuzz Have posted on your other thread,
everyone else hi

Flying fail. 15hrs sleep and feel like death. just about to eat something and go back to sleep i think. Soooo tired it is stupid.

Fuzzled would love to offer words of wisedom re sleep but as my ds only sleeps with sleep meds the only thing that i can say is the fact that he has sucessfully managed it before, and is heading in the right direction there is hope. Hang in there and just be more stuborn then ds.

Ooooo PA i know of the forest bike ride you speak of. its supposed to be really good. I am missing the fabulous fudge shop of the forest.

Anyone else struggle with the master bedroom week?

All other rooms I can walk into and know what needs doing but this room, which has the most stuff in, I can't. We need it all. We have nowhere to hide it. Where do i go from here? Instead I have concentrated on other rooms which are all very good.

Nick Yep, I struggle with the master bedroom too. Not because I don't know what to do, but because I can't get in there! Every time it's the master bedroom week, dp's working nights so is in bed all day.
I struggle with the living room too, there are always people in the way!

Oh I share your pain with the dreaded shift worker too Silvery :)

I had a major declutter of the bedroom last year which helped a lot, but it is prone to clutter as we dump stuff there when we have guests or just tidying up elsewhere. Keeping on top of the washing makes a big difference though. The living room is my worst zone, it is small with very little storage or space for any but we all feel the need to keep stuff in it as that is where it gets used (CDs, toys etc). All our incoming mail goes in there too as it is just inside the front door, not to mention magazines, numerous remote controls, pens and paper for the DCs etc. TBH we could do with getying rid of all the furniture in there and starting from scratch.

My problem with the bedroom is that we don't use our loft (no ladder) and so all our 'keep' stuff such as Xmas decs, wedding dress, childrens memory boxes, a spare cotbed, old computer etc are all in there. Luckily it is a large room with two 'sections' so we don't have to look at most of it but it does mean the whole thing never looks tidy or relaxing.

Really should by a ladder shouldn't i?

buy!

Yes you should!

2 pairs of shoes bought - Tick
Online order done - Tick
All alive, Tick

SUCCESS

Oh and the Inbetweeners was good, too. I could see why watching it with your mum might be a little uncool for a teenager!

Evening all!

Blue Thank you so much for leading us through this month. I struggle to get on some day (usually more!) so i appreciate how much time it must take out of your day. Hope you enjoyed your day out.

PA Glad to hear you came out of the shoe shopping alive- if not a little lighter in the pocket. I am off on Saturday (of all days!) to do the same thing. I also need to do the online order which probably should have been done back in June considering the length of time it took to arrive last yr.

nettie maggots crunchy maggots double

MC Good luck wth the job hunting and jealous of your swimming lessons....

ellie sounds like the BBQ for DS was a success. We will be having a largish one for DD next weekend but sadly no bouncy castle.

linzer I do not envy your heatwave. I like the nice weather as uch as the next person but i get extremely irritable when over heated! Enjoy though! :)

fuzzled glad your feeling better- i didn't realise you were so far north! I'm quite south considering....

silvery I have taken note and looked into the price of ladders- they're quite expensive considering the amount of times a yr we will use it! Not sure if DH will go for it as it will give him more to do!

CHB Sorry you're still feeling shit- flying not failed just put on hold.

Whoknows Its funny because actually our sitting room is perfectly ok- its the last room downstairs so most things get dumped before anyone reaches it! :)

waving to everyone
Today I had a day off so went to town and got a few bits for the house. Now its starting to look a bit more presentable i'm beginning to feel a bit proud of it. However in true flying style i through out something - straight away- for everything i bought. :)

night all!

Good evening

I am so very sorry for maggot talk earlier. (still found some alive wriggling along conservatory floor this evening) [yuck]

Anyway as a result i have done some floor sweeping and mopping in lounge and kitchen and bathroom and snug.
also hoovered kids bedrooms and some of the hall
dh hovered living room rug.
s/s bathroom
cleaned bin and all area including bit of dejunk of corner where bin lives.
dc tidied their bedrooms before bath
wm on/dw on and tumbledrier on
dh has just make the bed and tidied away all his dirty clothes

On top of that todays list went like this.

up dressed/dc nurseried/me work-done
send out cheques to suppliers-done
do bank recons x 3-no stuck
check all account data on new computer package-no
do cashing up and petty cash-done
do payroll-done
pidgeon hole some time with mil to learn how to do monthly payroll or will not get paid [ouch]-spoke briefly.
redo cheques for joint customers who suddenly need sole name cheques.-nope
put through beer order/cash and carry-nope
take mil to hair dressers.-done
sort out electric bill queries-nope
oh and deal with any customer comings and goings throughout the day. Heres hoping for a sunny day and they all pop down to the beach and leave me in peace. please-done and they didnt go down the beach and let me get on.
Pick dc up from nursery/bathe and bed-done
Home to make dinner/tidy up/flake-done with chinese for dinner.

MIL got her results today and they were the best we could wish for. They have managed to remove all cancer, none present in lymph nodes. As lump cancer is stage three she will have chemotherapy and radiotherapy over next 6 months. Could be tough but she is a very strong woman and will fight hard. I expect she will be working at every turn when she feels good.

I'm so sorry but i am shattered and im going to not do personals.

[biscuits] for all.

Amazing news about your MIL nettie. I'm raising my to her and wishing lots more healthy news to follow!

Evening all. Feeling shattered tonight so will try to make it quick. Had a mostly good day, although lunch out with the boys was a little trying! We really enjoyed the castle museum though.
I even managed to sneak out for a Zumba!

So, what's been going on?

Nettie put us all off our breakfasts with talk of maggots... Sounds like a busy day and really glad to hear the good news about your MIL though.

PA was psyching herself up to buying school shoes and then going to the Inbetweeners with her DD1. Glad you survived the one and enjoyed the other!

Silvery had a long to do list and a sleeping DP blocking up the bedroom!

Ellie was pottering gently and recovering from bouncy BBQs. Fingers crossed for GCSE results.

Linzer was melting and hoping for FLYing inspiration from the Lakeland catalogue.

Fuzzled was feeling tired but hoping to get to the park later.

MC was also feeling tired. Good luck with the job hunting.

CHB - here, have some ! Hope you feel better soon.

NickNacks was struggling with the master bedroom. Ours used to be a dumping ground, but I managed to clear it and am determined to keep it that way!
Loft ladder definitely sounds the way to go if you can persuade DH! Well done on the one-in-one-out too. :)

WhoKnows was pondering getting rid of all the living room furniture...

The boys are at the CM tomorrow and my parents visiting a friend of my mum's so I can get back to some work and house bleugh.
It's also our 10th wedding anniversary ( ) so going out for dinner with DH. Will try and do links early, but may not get the round-up done...

Links:

Babystep: Learn how the routines developed.

Mission (when it updates): Light switch plates and door knobs.

I'm out of here! Night all.