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!

Too late Swan !! Am v. happy to hear your news ...I was wondering if all OK ...

Dh and dd huge Dr Who fans here too. DD likes it scary.

I promise, the breakfast burritos are not Domestic Goddess-y! The hardest part is the folding. My best friend growing up was Mexican (well, Mexican American:) ) and I really should have paid more attention all the times I was over at her house and her aunties were cooking up a storm. They could fold a burrito air-tight in half a second!

Ta-Da!
**Made burritos
**Made chicken stock
**Done 2 loads of laundry
**Most of the dishes
**Snogged DH on the sofa :o
**Made wreath (it looks terrible, I think we will put it on the backdoor and I'll try again for the front)
**Mulched the beds all around the house

We're going to run to my SILs for dinner, hopefully I'll do a bit more when I get back :)

Hi all,
good day's work by all (except me )
Was at work then picked up DS and went to the park so it was a bit tricky to do much.
Haunted my ds loves Dr Who, but I'm very cautious about the episodes he watches. He is desperate to see the scary bedroom cupboard ep. but he already gets scared at bedtime so not very keen. Not very clever of your XP to let your little DD watch I agree.

Done today
washing up
dinner
vitamins
dressed
work
bit of shopping
Supervised DS's homework
bedtime routine
that's it
am about to jump on my exercise bike for 30 mins before bed (I always do it at night, so just ignore my strange routines)
Back tomorrow
Night all!

Ditto what Whoknows said.

I think the monotonous and frankly, lonely, aspects of housework are the worst things about it and can be so demoralising.

The Flylady system helps to ameliorate the first by cleverly combining an on-going routine (to eliminate the panic that comes with feeling overwhelmed) that somehow, at the same time, has a defined, finite aspect to it (by cutting the tasks up in to separate chunks). And the support you can get through threads like this one makes it all much more fun and stops you feeling as if you are battling on alone. And the fact that many of us struggle with the same things is comforting!

I can see my dh's eyes roll back up in to his head when I mention housework, so it is so nice to be able to glean support and vent chat on here.

Not to mention the prolific supply of

Really going to bed now ...

Posting too late again. Got sidetracked by twitter...

Ta da!
Been to park, fortunately DS2 didn't actually go down the slide before I noticed all the pooper scoop bags some dumped at the bottom of it.
Cleaned out fridge
Swept floor x lots - all the park sand!
Grocery shopping & café - outrageous bribery rewarding reasonable behaviour
Sorted out more website text
Laundry done and yesterday's away
Picked tons of beans - was too wet yesterday so they all grew like topsy!
Cooked pasta bake which fooled boys into eating leftover roast pork...
Shiny sink, cooker and worktops.

Nesbit
Call dentist
Name labels

To do (not necessarily in this order!)
Preparations for DS2's birthday party
Buy DS2 a card without him noticing - that haven't done this already!
Wrap presents
Blow up balloons
Make birthday cake
Buy eggs
Butter out of fridge
Laundry
Library
Bank
Friend coming over for a chat/play with boys

Eyes are glazing over so better try to get to bed at a not too unreasonable time.

Glad school went so well Toffee and Swan and hope it all goes swimmingly for those starting tomorrow. Waves to all. Yawn. Good night.

x posts again!!

CheerfulY well they look and smell marvellous from here
I like the fact that you include snogging in your list!
Enjoy your family dinner!

Hi RowingBoat does exercising at night make it harder or easier for you to get to sleep? Interested because I am starting a power walk regime (yet again) and I like walking in the dark!!
You've done loads today btw - don't be so hard on yourself!!

Blue another one who has been busy today!!
How inconsiderate of pooper-scooper culprit. Really off.

Good luck with party prep.

Yawns in return. G'night!

[SC looks around again, wonders if it is safe to go to bed... scarpers ...]

Hello!
Sorry not been able to keep up!
Am trying, again, this week!
Have had a productive day! Phew!
Anyway, can anyone help me with a product to cover the gap between the cooker and the counter? www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/1294365-Where-can-i-get-a-product-for-the-gap-between-cooker-worktop?msgid=27254121

:aunted I struggle to keep up with the thread too (bunch of chatter boxes) but I read what I can and comment what I can, I don't think anyone minds.
I like somewhere to report to too, it makes it seem like my housework is a team effort rather than me slogging away on my own iyswim.

Have ds1 in bed with me, the little monkey, but I don't mind, quite like the company when dp is at work. He'd not be happy if he knew though.....I just tell him to get a grip! [Blush]
Anyway, best tey to get back to sleep.
Probably won't get on in am so have a good tuesday

Welcome back Ellie missjulie ( I'm sure I've forgotten someone- posting on my phone and my memory is appalling!)

haunted post away! I need to post to keep me going so don't always do personals either.

Is it just me or have other people never looked at a detailed cleaning list must have been here almost 18m and haven't progressed to details cleans! Oops

Maybe I'll have a look then run away!

My list

Get up/dressed/breakfast
Get dc up dressed breakfast
Walk ds to school and drop him off
Take dd to town to buy birthday presents I never did yesterday, might need to go to next town!
Kitchen mission
Strip and remake beds
Take dd to swimming lesson
Home to chill
Pick ds up from school take to swim lesson
Think dinner will be spag hoops
Home for bath and bed
Lay out clothes for tomorrow! (we have to do school again)
Try not to get into a tizz about having to drop dd off at nursery in neighbouring village and then come get back in time to drop ds off in time for school
Make my lunch for work wednesday!
Go to bed early.

Hope you all have great days and school goes well for everyone

Morning - just that, its not good, its chucking it down (Messy - 'lashing' took me right back and made me :))

Back to school today and everything ready apart from DD's plimsols ('gutties' anyone? Daren't use that term here as everyone laughs hysterically) which have gone awol

Need a 'back to school reclaim the house' list:

• All up, dressed and out
• Morning routine properly for first time in 7 weeks
• Room rescues in every room - need to relocate everything that is in the wrong room/place
• 15mins declutter in kitchen
• Mission
• Hoover throughout
• More ironing (its taking over)

Then need a 'sort out lots of other things' list:

• Insurance for event next year - ongoing saga
• Contact various people re school Autumn Fayre (have to have that yucky spelling as that is what is on the banners!)
• Letter for new parents re Tea and Tissues event
• Email for cakes/help with above
• Newsletter for School Assoc
• Train ticket for Sat - school reunion - eek!
• Cook dinner

Also need to catch up with thread as have been lurking intermittently.
However did see that all went well yesterday Toffee - well done to all of you, what a huge relief that the first day was such a success and what a brave boy :)

Nearly time to wake the hordes, best get going. Will be back later to keep the motivation going.

Must...go...to...bed!

Got outfits laid out, showered, coffee made (will heat it up on the stove in the morning with caramel syrup and milk :) ), dishes done, living room tidy enough that I won't scream in the morning.

Ready for work in the morning after three months off....sort of.

Oh and dog fed and walked. :) And my things for oatmeal set out.

ds has sacked me !!!!!!! . He does not start school till Thursday!!!

He is in a split class and the rest of his class starts today but he doesnt start till Thursday

dohball turkey dohball turkey.

If i had read it properly i would have left him in nursery until tomorrow!

soooo stoooooppiiidddd

Oh no, coostoo (although I must admit it did make me laugh when I saw your post on FB just now - sorry!). Thanks for the birthday info; DS has already chosen a card.

Back to 8 am starts here (at school - so a 5.30 am start to the day for me), but we're not back to a full school morning yet so the DDs will be out in less than two hours. In all the confusion this morning (hundreds of parents milling round dropping off their DC plus dozens of exercise books, folders, PE kits, arts & crafts cases, etc.), I forgot to tell the girls to wait for each other after school and walk home together - but as they did so yesterday, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they'll assume they need to do so today as well. As of next week, DD1 will be finishing an hour later than DD2 (who doesn't like walking home on her own), so I'm making the most of not having to do the after-school run this week.

The FLYing start that I'd hoped to get off to this week has had to be postponed thanks to work. I'd thought about taking 15 minute FLY breaks every hour, but when the DDs are only at school for three hours and I'm snowed under with work, I'm not sure I can justify the time. Talking of which, I cannot justify spending any more time on MN either so must get back to work!

Hi all
Very bad messymammy here, did no flying yesterday (not even shining my sink :( )
Will come up with a list in a while, but am feeling a bit crap about yesterdays failures.... Anyway will read back over the thread and start thinking

I already feel shattered but I suppose the day can only improve

Getting Ds1 out of the house is not actually that difficult, it is just all those last minute snags. Needed unexpected biro for non-smudge writing on something shiny, biro didn't work. Argument with Dh about what music lessons Ds1 wanted to do... Argument about taking water bottle, insisted that Ds drink something before getting on bus Argument about key for padlock to locker, Dh ticking me off for not providing combination lock (NO, they said it had to be one with key
Felt v.anxious about crush on the bus as it is pouring with rain but didn't want to go to busstop for fear of cramping his style.
Sneaked down ten minutes later to check he had definitely got onto the bus and was not waiting - having either lost his bus pass, fallen into a puddle, or marooned in the vast wave of children going back to school (yesterday was quiet as it was 10.30 start and just Yr 7's)
No sign of him, I hope he's at school safely!

Twins watching telly again (last day of hols), and the coffee has run out.

Nettie oh poor you, but still it is very difficult to keep track of the paperwork that school send. At least it is one more day to practise the legistics of dropoff and preparing a special desk for school paperwork [rolls eyes in despair at ever keeping on top of it here]

SC glad house more cheering. Well done to dd for getting herself ready yesterday.

list
dd friend over?
wash up again
buy dw powder, coffee, supper
fold clothes and put away
prepare for engineer, existing drawings, plans etc

Morning all,

School run accomplished successfully here, although I forgot Dd's dinner money and their PE kits, which are still in the hall. DS has been saying for several days that he doesn't want to go back because its hard and bornig, but he went quite cheerfully in the end. I feel a bit wobbly about him going into KS2.

Anyway short list today as it's a work day

AM routine - done, apart from put washing in dryer
A few phone calls
Hotspots
Hoover front room
30 Day shred

Nettie I was vaguely aware of the existence of detailed cleaning but have only just worked out hpw it fits in with the whole system. The whole thing has become much clearer for me since I bought the book, I just hadn't been able to piece the whole thing together from the website.

Feetheart do people not say "lashing"
People in Ireland only say "lashing" or "pissing" in relation to rain...

Ok so my to do list (and Nesbit list from yesterday) is:
get dressed...
dishwasher (empty, reload and put back on and empty again)
empty tumble dryer
sort out, fold and put away clean washing
do 3 loads of laundry
tidy dd1s room (yes again!!!)
get dp up so he can get to phone shop for replacement (dropped his in tea)
Don't forget dd1s dog to bring after school for vaccinations
Go to dr appt (bring form)(book repeat smear test while there)
tidy kitchen table and hotspots (mantlepiece, shelves, above washing machine and microwave)
think of something to give friend for lunch on Thursday

arggghhhhhhhhhh so much to do!!

I thought I posted something

oh well
no more
wine
coffee
tea

crosses fingers that ds walks home safely,,

Argh!

Just flying by to say hello!

Life is hectic. DS decided to drop his pm nap and thus kill my cleaning time.

He is also reducing his am nap and making my RL job difficult.

CRAP!!!!

back this pm to update.

Messy - not that I've come across in England. I'm from NI though been in England for far too many years, various expressions get met with . And then there was the whole white lemonade saga when I first moved over :o

Quick Ta Da, in no particular order:

• All up and out successfully, DD with 2 plaits so we must have had time :)
• Morning routine nearly done
• Various school things sorted out with various people at school
• Reduced price shop in Co-op on way home - if timed right can fill the freezer but just a few bits today
• Shopping list emailed to DH as he will be closer to supermarket than me today
• Texts to various people re rental flat and rental house
• Making list of little things that need to be done as I go as will never remember otherwise.

Better get on before momentum deserts me..................

Hi all,
finally made it on here.
SC thank you for your kind words. Made me feel better!
I know exercising at night is supposed to wake you up, but I don't find it too bad and don't have trouble falling asleep. I'm usually pooped at the end of it and need a sit-down anyway.
Where are you thinking about power-walking in the dark? Do you think you might have to incorporate a few runs, to escape the muggers?

List
Done
Washing up
S&S Kitchen
S&S bathroom
washing on line
lunch
vits
DS school/lunch etc...
Set up a new savings account for DS
Cleaned cooker

Still to do
new load in machine
pharmacy - think I have ringworm
wash floor bathroom
wash floor kitchen
water house plants
water tomotoes
read babysteps 4-6 (focussing on hotspots - top tip SC)
buy new washing line (old one keeps snapping)
get paint colour thingy from B&Q
get new school tie for DS
Dinner????????

I have a Dyson question. I have just bought a Dyson and it is good on carpets, and lovely and light to use, but the tools suction is not that great. I used to have a Morphy Richards bagless and the Dyson seems a lot less powerful suction-wise.
Has anyone else found Dyson's a bit of a let-down.

Sorry to be only posting now for the first time today. Had a long morning at the printers and now it is school run time. Only time for a few personals I'm afraid but will try and catch up later.

Dh and I are going out tonight too - so I'm afraid my thread leadership today/tonight may be a little lacking!!

Just wanted to say to RowingBoat thanks - that's good to know! I don't solely exercise in the dark (that would be a bit wierd) but I like to vary the times/places I walk else I get rather bored with it and if I exercise a couple of evenigns a week (usually on work days) - it stops me wasting my time sitting on the sofa watching crap TV and allows me to get more done in the day. The only trouble is - when I've done it before - it takes me a while to settle down enough to sleep afterwards - but that's the same for me when I don't exercise if I'm honest, so just wanted to know if it was the exercise that was causing it ifyswim. (Gosh - that sentence was badly constructed - sorry -rushing). With regards to muggers - famous last words - but I live in a rather boringly safe part of Brussels so no problems there. Do stumble across the odd fox though!

[SC leaves out tea and cake for all those of you who are worrying about their dc's first day at school and whether they got there safely/will get back safely. It's obviously a nerve-wracking time for a lot of you ....]

Fuzzled it is a hard adjustment when they first drop their nap

Good to see you back MissJ!

Sorry - got to go

BBL!