Back to Fly school for September Fledglings

[substantiallycompromised]

Welcome to the September 2011 Fledgling Flying thread! Hang up your microfibre cloths and park your buckets here!!

[Sorry - I've namechanged again - but remain SC]

This is where from the 1st of the month, we attempt to declutter and follow the 30-step wisdom of Flylady (minus cutesy language and a surfeit of e-mails) with lots of chat and support and mutual motivation along the way. (More info available here )

Humungous thanks to our previous thread leader Blue for navigating us all through the August school holidays...and for doing it so consistently and well!!

As usual we will be following a three-pronged approach - and don't worry - we are all at different stages. Some of us (SC stares at feet) -are even embarrassingly stuck at decluttering stage after two years

• repeat or start baby steps (again!)

• repeat baby steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone

or

• reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.

All newcomers welcome!

Sorry brain too fooked to retain information. List update:

Get up done
Pack car with stuff for blackpool and training stuff and change of clothes done
early training done
morning training done
MacD's breafast - had to go home due to phone battery failure so grabbed something healtier but ulitmately not so appealing there.
Banking done
Blackpool - spoke to them going tomo
ring dentist done
speak to hospital done
return library books
glasses done
sort out kit for ds.
Sort out anything that has arisen from first day back at school nothing and he was first out
layout clothes for tuesday ds has done his clothes already
Do something nice with ds he has chocolate and tv atm will see if he wants to play a game later
some project work bought some nice new material and some new wool

Oh and I have to make a bunch of breakfast burritos to freeze. Sigh.

Chaotic To be honest, I would do the babysteps in the order they are set out. Feel free to ignore a few of them all together though, you wil know which ones I meean, they are the ones that say things like 'put post-it notes on your bathroom mirror' erm no! and read an essay from the site no thanks.
phone's ringing, I will finish catching up later x

Quick post to catch up with what everyone is doing while the pasta water boils...

Oh Toffee I'm so happy for you and your ds (s). That's such GOOD news!! What a brave lad! (With a brave ma!)

Ouch you are unstoppable atm! Don't burn out!

Happy Holiday CheerfulY (SC sighs at thought of the sheer Domestic Goddess-ness of home-made breakfast burritos)

Good luck with the unpacking Linzer. No wonder you needed to change wardrobes considering the amount of times you are "in" and "out" and "out again" during the school day with all your school runs!! It makes sense. I've decided I am going to try to gradually make my home wardrobe less casual (it's not so bad that I can't answer the door/or nip around the block in it) but I want the two 'merge' over time. I still hate the feeling of cleaning in nice clothes though - particularly as this house is covered in plaster dust at the best of times.

Hope your trip to the dentist wasn't too scary MrsWoodenTop

Hands substantial glass of over to Prudense

Waves at Coostoonettle - did you get the mermaid outfit??

Whoknows I'm with you on the not letting my bum hit the sofa strategy - no matter what clothes I am wearing - that's the important bit.

Got to go - late with supper ...

Feel better though this evening as have slightly tamed the CHAOS beast at home - need to keep on top of it now so it doesn't get out of hand again.

Pours and leaves out for everyone. I know it's only Monday night but I think we all need it today somehow ...

See you later!

apologies for the kiss at the end of that post, don't know who I thought i was talking too!

How did your day go Silvery?

[puckers lips back at *Silvery]

Ok - TaDa!

Morning routine, inc washing on, swish and swipe, empty DW, shine sink, put away clean dishes from drainer and wash up others that magically appeared after I went to bed last night.

Zone work
Mission - cobwebs from ceiling and clean top of fridge - done
Detailed Cleaning - cleaned lower kitchen cabinets and front of large appliances, kettle descaled, microwave cleaned

Home Bleeurgh
Dusting
Empty wastebaskets
Sweep and mop kitchen floor
Hoover under kitchen table and chairs (carpet unfortunately)
Stripped our bed

Also done - DD to a friends house, Dr appt for DS. Paed wanted to see him alone for some assessments, so she sent me home for a bit, which was very handy for getting some Flying done. Picked up DD and stayed at friend's house for 3 hours chatting, we haven't seen each other much lately.

Still to do

Unpack Ocado shopping when it arrives
Tupperware box sort out (although have found lunchboxes for tomorrow)
Go for a run
Put the washing in the dryer. Stuck it on the line, only to have to get it down, put it through the spin cycle again and give up on line drying for today.
Remake our bed
PAcked lunches for 3 of us for tomorrow
Clothes, shoes, bookbags etc out
DCs hairwash
Early night. Preceded by .

BAck for some chat later!

Okay
I have wine
tastes yuck

I have a clean kitchen

and baked cheesy scones

the dog is sleeping child is not,

and the storm is coming back

was going to sneak an hour's nap at half 4, crashed til 7pm just sorting ds' bedtime out and then going back to sleep. Need not to burn out so thank youfor the timely reminder about this SC

Ds rang me as he came out of school to say that he was stopping off for a milkshake with 'some guys' on the way home . The 'guys' turned out to be his new 11-year-old friends. He was full of stories about his new friends, but not very forthcoming about the business of school. But he did say that he likes the school and it's better than his old one.

He didn't eat any lunch or have a drink all day, but at least he got through it and is still in a positive frame of mind. DH and I can't believe it. We never thought he'd cope so well.

And DS2 told me he'd had 'the best day of his whole life' with his new teacher, although he was unable to explain why. I have decided he must just have a very boring life with me!

Trying to get them to bed at a decent hour again and to do the same myself.

Goodnight all.

RE: getting dressed to shoes, I think it's a fab idea to get dressed asap after getting up, it keeps you from slobbing out for half anhour with a cuppa and really gets me motivated.
Although, I do slob out for a while, but once I'm dressed I tend to feel better. Normally, staying in pj's means I am more likely to laze around than if I am dressed.
I also don't like to wear shoes indoors, but still felt a little too sluggish in slippers so found a happy medium with flip-flops.

Linzer Glad you had a nice break away

WhoKnows I started the shred a few months ago. Got to day 4 I think. I've now given the dvd and hand weights to a friend! Good luck with it.

SC Yes, I did start my new job today and I think it went well. The people are so nice. I'm working through a teaching agency and the last school I was at, nobody wanted to talk to the agency staff, no one had any faith that an agency worker could do anything, I didn't get a pass to get through doors, I wasn't asked to attend meetings or briefings or anything like that. Not until I was contracted by the school/LA directly, but this school was fab. Everyone spoke to me, I was at all the team briefings, the head introduced me in the main staff meeting along with other newbies, my HOD gave me a diary, an apron to keep my bits in (post-its/pen/disposable gloves etc), they have given me my own security pass, a tray in the staff room, the lot. Everyone was so helpful and just, nice.
The day was spent mostly preparing the classroom. Kids start on thursday.

Yesterday I wrote out a draft after work routine, and stuck to it. I even managed to do todays mission!
DONE
All up and dressed
All beds made
All out on time
Work
Swept
Cooked dinner
Cleaned kitchen
layed out tomorrow's clothes
Shined sink
Packed tomorrows lunch
Bathed ds's
ds's in bed
Cleaned top of 2 cupboards and fridge (15mins worth of work)

Not bad

Good evening everyone.

My list

Wm/td/dw-done
Sort out swim bags for tomorrow-pile made- in bags waiting at door.
Make sure uniform ready and school bags-yes and dd clothes out and my clothes out
Get dh to ring Nanny Jos-done all ok dd going up after her birthday so all my nocturnal worrying and arguments were totally unnecessary
Sweep and mop bathroom floor-done and s/s
Kitchen mission-done cobwebbed and cleared top of my fridge, major hotspot.
Take dc to smurfs and mcd's-went to frankie and bennys instead and ds declared the smurfs to be smurftastic.
Trip to toys r us for birthday presents? -no
Mermaids outfit for Nat -no

did also tidys dd and ds bedroom and put away a ton of clean clothes.

All ready for tomorrow. Just gonna find out what you all up to and hit the hay.

prudense dh away too, fancy a
mrswoodentop hope dentist goes ok and ds had lovely birthday.
linzer that faffing around in and out of school would drive me mad! Aw glad ds liked it. I do have another i found in my top of fridge hotspot, bit out of date but ill send it anyway. My ds is 5 16th September. Not long now!
toffee im so chuffed for your ds and for you. He is doing brill being able to go in so postive. I hope he has a fantastic week. [boo hoo] at the best day of his whole life. Friends can make school so much more worth it!
cheerful hope you all have a brilliant Labor day.
ouch glad ds had an uneventful day at school. Hope your trip to blackpool goes well.
sc no no mermaids outfit yet. Did find one in mothercare but it is far too big and she would trip over tail.
silvery muah xxx lol Hope you had a fab day at work.
whoknows fanatastic list, well done you!!
Humungous waves to anyone ive missed.

Right im taking my nervous energy off to facebook and then bed.

Goodnight all. Hope everyone has fabulous days.

Going to make this a quick one, I am really tired now, have been for my run, eaten dinner, put clothes out for tomorrow, made packed lunches. Just need to make the bed and collapse I think.

Silvery glad your first day went well
Toffee well done DS1, what a good start, good that DS2 is enjoying himself too. My DS has been saying for days that he doesn't want to go back to school, it's boring and too hard, I am a bit worried about how he's going to find KS2, he found it hard to settle into Year 2 last year.
Nettie - good luck with school tomorrow

Evening all! Have been away for a week or so being busy enjoying the last vestiges of freedom. We had a lovely week last week up at the caravan with the dc's and dsis, perfect end to what has been a lovely six weeks.

Back to reality with a bump today with INSET day at school and pupils back tomorrow and dc's going to school as well. I literally cannot believe that my baby girl is going to start at nursery 5 mornings a week. She has a uniform and everything and looks adorable (even if I am a little biased ). She's only 3, she's not old enough . She is however very very excited about going to big school and I hope this will translate tomorrow morning. She has a lovely teacher who taught DS when he was in reception so fingers crossed.

I do know I will never be as organised again all year but everything is laid out, children bathd, bags packed, house tidied and all ready to go. I am going to have some dinner and watch a bit of tv.

I haven't had time to catch up but big waves to old friends and equally big waves to those who have joined us this month. I am assuming ouch is who I think she is and I never realised that madwoman was nick...doh!

This is my 2 year anniversary on this thread so I am going to mark it by trying to fly properly this month. I know I can do it, I know it makes a difference when I do do it. So why do I always stuff up . Maybe this will be the month I will get it right .

See you later!

Hi all.

I'm hoping that as of tomorrow all will be back to normal and flying will resume.

Boys are back at school tomorrow and i have no mindees until 12 so just DD here. Will crack on with catching up.

15 mins Room rescues in each room. (my version as Flylady's doesn't quite work for me- anyone else?)
Call HA.
Mission
Hang up all DD's new clothes.
Order online bits.
Go to library.

That's it for now- might add to it in the morning!

Night x

Hello everyone.

Baby-step no 6 for Tuesday 6th September is here It?s an important one about hot-spots!!

Tomorrow we are still in Zone 2: The Kitchen (September 5 - 9) here

Tuesday?s mission will appear here once the website updates itself

But for a sneak-peak ahead at this week?s missions, look here Again, may need to update.

As you will have just seen, the Flylady habit we should all apparently be working on during the month of September is our 'before bedtime routine'.

Evening alll.....I'm not sure I have time for all this :(

I am motivated to do more than ever but I can't keep up with teh thread and don't FLY very well without reprting to someone...so if you'll have me I am just going to report what I have and haven't done and you can pretend you are listening buut otherwise feel free to ignore me..

Am shattered. Had about 5hrs sleep last night. DD3 (5yr) was up at 4am clinging to me like a limpet cos she was scared of the dolls in the boys room (the Arse - AKA - recentish XP) let her watch Dr Who...Then DTD2 (10yo) was awake and clinging to me like a limpet after a nightmare about getting lost and not being able to find me...so I feel proud of what I have acheived and won't dwell on what I haven't.

Done
Shower me and all DCs ready for Breakfast club - Just about on time...need practise before PGCE proper
Full day in school observing
Ran a good Brownie meeting..
All banking spreadhseets up to date
Sink shiney (haven't actually been near it to mess it up)
DD3's washing put away
2 loads of washing done, about to put another load in before bed

Still to do
third load of washing (see above)
15 min run around putting rubbish out, picking up odd bits of washing...
SLEEP

Tomorrows to do list
Start the control Journal
Look at babystep 6
FInal load of washing
Clean out gpigs
Pay credit card
MUST book travel lodge for christmas
sort out PGCE paperwork to find the forms I need.

Toffee just quick update to say HOORAY!

My ds1 had a very good day too. Class contains a nice fellow from primary, not a friend but at least not an enemy!
Teacher (Mrs Oh No O No) said to class, now don't you think I have the best name?

Ds1 did however fail to meet me as we had planned (his school, and in fact most of the schools round here do NOT allow mobiles for various reasons), because he disappeared on a whim with some old acquaintances to Sports Direct further down the bus route. Luckily he was so late getting home that he only waited 5 mins on doorstep locked out (I was in distant Park still wondering where he was . My neighbour rescued him when I rang her...Luckily Ds1 was not phased (I suppose he didn't notice he was lost), and had a great day, but I feel today has been TIRING.
Anyway Ds2 had a great time running around the big park whilst we were waiting in vain for Ds1.
Ever firmer in my resolve that Ds1 needs EVERYTHING WRITTEN DOWN or stapled to his coat, and a door key (although friends say this might be dangerous) possibly just a shed key then...shed could contain thermos, sandwiches and mobile for emergency use...

Tomorrow we need to get up for 7am to get him to bustop at 8am (used to waking him at 7.55 only), but I suppose there is the advantage that after that the house will be unusually peaceful. No more screeching from Ds2 when Ds1 teases him.

I am putting him down for Trombone lessons at SS, not sure if this a mistake...

Tomorrow the structural engineer is coming to draw up plans/ideas for extension. So I may have to tidy

Hi everyone sorry I went AWOL please forgive me SC.

After starting out really well it all went down hill over the weekend. I've been good today tho. Quick to do/ta da lists and then I'll catch up with what everyone has been getting up to.

Ok so

Ta da list:
morning routine
s&s
4 loads of laundry washed, dried and folded
100% de-cluttered the kitchen
wiped all surfaces
washed bedding
3 loads of washing up need to wash up more often
dust & vac all upstairs and hall
15mins de-clutter dining room
shined sink
babystep (decided to skip to 6)
booked tickets to go to gig with DP
before bed routine

Tomorrows to do:
morning routine
s&s
DS to childminder
drive to college to check traffic/timings for when i start next week
petrol
babystep
sort out house insurance
call college
tidy living room
wipe kitchen cupboard doors
mop floors
s&s
before bed routine
other things as and when they come to me.

Right I shall now go and catch up, hopefully go to bed for 11!

You've all been Flytastically busy as usual I see! Well done!!!!

Nicknacks is banking on and preparing for normality tomorrow
Yay! Ellie is back from a fab holiday and her dd is getting ready for nursery and is looking adorable. Hope it all goes well tomorrow! And don't worry- I have exactly same sentiments about stuffing up. Did so royally this morning and it also makes me wonder why when it causes so much unnecessary angst. If only I could be a bit more self-disciplined ...
Whoknows has earned top fleet-of-foot Flying marks today!
CNettleis all organised for school and has enjoyed a Smurftastic last day of freedom! (Glad your worries were unfounded.)
Silvery has started her new job! So glad it went well and everyone was welcoming and organised. Makes such a difference.

Toffee's has been enjoying her ds's fantastic start to the school year. Hark at your ds and his "guys"!! How brilliant. And great that ds2 enjoyed his day too!
Ouch will hopefully be sleeping by now ...

[SC pauses to pinch cheesy scone from Prudense]

CheerfulYank has celebrated Labour Day (excuse GB spelling) by, um, labouring and creating an autumnal wreath!
Linzer has been chaos-calming and working and doing school runs
MrsWoodenTop has been celebrating her ds1's 18th birthday (hope you all had a fab time) and has braved the dentist
Madwoman and her dh have been looking at their cupboard under the stairs to see whether they can bash holes in it. Many Congratulations on your promotion btw (if I have read that correctly!)
PerfectlyChaotic has been considering the the pros and cons of a cj
Haunted has earned top Flying marks despite being sleep deprived. (Again, please feel free to post without worrying about personals if that is what keeps you motivated. The reporting bit is good for morale (nowt worse than making an effort and no-one knowing about it or appreciating it) and that's what this thread is for!!
SC has done most of the things on her list (apart from sorting tupperware) and is generally feeling a bit better about the state of the house!

See you in the morning eveyrone! G'night ...

MrsW Dr Who is a strange beast isn't it. My children love it but certainly find it pretty incomprehensible. Ds2 9 certainly didn't watch it before 7 years old, nor did Ds1. Hope dds feel calmer soon x

Haunted sorry confused you with Mrs W (sorry also Mrs W)

SC x post, no need to catch up , I am too late delivering my news...

xposts

[SC hands special AWOL dispensation to Whyistherum] especially deserved as you have been positively soaring - never mind Flying - today and achieved loads and you are all organised for the morrow.

Oh dear Swan that does sound all a bit stressful, but glad ds1 turned up safe and sound eventually and no harm done. So glad his first day at school went well and he has an ally. And that ds2 had fun too. Love the sound of Mrs Oh-No!

Well, I suppose I had better try and reinforce our habit for September and hit the hay although as I'm an hour ahead of UK time I think I may have already failed on that score!

See you in the morning everyone!

I agree about posting being a morale booster, I don't really talk to anyone else in RL about Flying, although did explain a bit to a friend today (not the fact that I MN about it though), I feel safe here that no one's going to think I am a bit weirdly obsessive about clutter or boring.

Also, although I'm in chatty mode right now, there are times when I really don't feel like it and just post the odd list or two, or lurk for a few days, a lot of people come and go, it's all fine.