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!

Hi all,

just want to put on a bit of a done list so I can check in tomorrow

Done today
morning routine including floor sweeping
no washing - fell asleep too early to set the timer
vacuumed hall and sitting room
lunch
made fish soup and garlic bread for dinner - ds said was 'disgusting' (why don't you tell me what you really think)
brushed the jute hall rug with a suede brush - which worked pretty well
used my new carpet shampooer to do four areas on, filthy, sitting room carpet - not bad took about 1 hour in total.
plus an hour to read the instructions for above shampooer
plus half an hour to actually set up above shampooer
plus 20 minutes washing out the hoses and dirty water bit and assorted filters
oh well, be quicker next time (I hope)

Hope you are all feeling healthier, staying healthy or at least having a rest if not healthy. {{{{{{Healthy vibes}}}}}}}

Good morning

Had a lovely long awaited lie in. About to get up. Want to post my list this morning.

Up dressed/dc dressed/ s&s
Dh off the sofa (asleep since 7.30 no doubt) and get ready for work
Wm on
Dw empty
Cottage pie cooking
Plant bulbs in garden
Party this afternoon
See in laws if they not too tired after returning from holiday today.
Lay out clothes, find school lunch money, find money for cdt for school, find mad science week money (it's all money isn't it!!??)
Chill and bed.

Hope you all have fab day

Good Morning!

rowing I'm sat here drinking my morning cup of tea and catching up on the thread and I laughed so hard and your shampooing fiasco that I snorted tea out of my nose! nice!

Todays list!

Morning routine apart from DS1 still in bed, done
Lunch- yummy pate and crusty bread
Dinner- possibly lasagne
Deep clean of bathroom as I didn't do any missions this week although it is decluttered
Get boys to rotate the books in the playroom
Tidy the small toy boxes in playroom
Hoover hall and stairs
Chuck old TV
Bath DC's
Pack Swim bags
Pack PE bags
Lay out uniforms/clothes for tomorrow

And I think that's enough for a Sunday! Be back soon. Have a good morning everyone.

Sorry X posted - Good morning coostoonettle :)

Morning all

We've all had a lazy morning and a bit of Nesbit. DD bought me breakfast in bed made all by herself (jelly sweet sandwiches anyone??) "Brown bread is good for you Mummy"

And now dh is fiddling around with bike chains and spanners while dd gathers together visibility waistcoats and favourite bears to put in bike baskets etc ...and then the plan is to make the most of car-free day and cycle about for a bit (pogo-stick/stilt suggestion was overruled)

Just before we go:
Linzer you've done well to get those flights for under Euros 400! Glad to see you have time to fit in a bit of fun this w/e
CNettle party sounds fab - great that your ds had such a lovely day! Respect to you for having the energy to declutter post-dc party. I only have enough energy left to reach for gin bottle ...
Have you started reading 'Sink Reflections' yet? Cannot wait for 'bum full of myself' declaration
MC so glad you had a good birthday - and v. impressed that you still job-hunting in the middle of the celebrations. Hope you and your dsis and all your family have a lovely day today!
Pushme - That's the awful thing about grieving ... it carries on, well past the sympathy cards

• I couldn't bear to throw away dd's moses basket although I did lend it out - now it's back she is using it for her dolls to sleep in.
• Much relief in this household that you clarified the bottle bag count btw !!

Rowingboat snort at carpet shampooing scenario! Well done for getting through your list. And good luck with yours Nicknacks

OK the clanking of spanners and swearing seemed to have abated somewhat...must be time to go ...

Hope everyone who is ailing is feeling a bit better today.

Enjoy your Sunday everyone!

Well finally DD is feeling a bit better and is leaving me alone

Hope everyone else who was poorly is feeling ok too, sorry haven't read back further than this page. Rowing I used a carpet shampooer - ONCE. Never again! Cleaning the thing afterwards was a bugger of a job, the actual shampooing was a doddle.

Right, posting my list now so I don't forget anything-

Breakfast + clear up mess from breakfast (DH is cooking) done
Make all beds done
Laundry one load on line, next in washer now
Shower and dress
Tidy kitchen
Prep veg for dinner (mum & dad back from weekend break today, dinner at ours)
Tesco's for sherry (see above )
Tidy living room
Nag DH till he hoovers living room
Take pile of crap on the stairs up and hide it in the spare room till mum has gone

Today i am nesbitting and then training. not feeling great. suffering from burnout from friday. Its finally caught up with me. :(

Enjoy the bike riding SC.

Right been thinking about tomorrow:

List for monday is as follows:
up
ds up, breakfasted
school run
laundry
handwashing
Ring hospital and chase appointment that is 3mths overdue.
tackling my room or sleeping to shift the migraine that is starting to settle as I type.
School run remembering the later collection time and location.
ds' homework

As for the rest of the week... well i have a paper list for that. Its long. Must sort this fecking sleeping out.

Dss are sitting entranced by Fantasia (for Beethoven project you understand
I have battled my way through ICT story board (on paper) and Romulus and Remus comic strip with ds1. House an absolute and utter tip,
burnt the leek soup, but just enough to give ds1 a generous bowl
Ds2 was discovered to be hiding watching some sport almost two hours after I thought dh had taken him and dd out...

Rowing now I was wondering whether to get a carpet shampooer all of my own, as quite regularily get the man in, but beginning to find his mixtures a bit toxic (takes the soles of my bare feet) and polish off the wooden floor if split . Still I may brave it, if I had that elusive utility room to put it in...

SC arf at spanners and swearing. We have the swearing but not the spanners when it comes to bike maintenance.
Although I am being mean, Dh has put the turntable together beautifully with his microspanner set.

Ouch lovely iceskating sequence in the Gershwin bit of Fantasia 2000.

aah I hear Sorcerer's Apprentice in background, cue for me to actually tackle the kitchen.

Toffee wonderful news that ds1 enjoying his school. I'm still waiting for that moment when Ds says he won't go to school. I know there is going to days when it gets all too much for him, and he reacts to new life. He's already getting v v overwrought by homework, but school itself remains a exciting, safe place. Long may it last...

The weird thing is that yesterday he had a complete collapse about going into new section of Music School Choir, so much less frightening than secondary school, which he had taken in his stride. He was crying that he didn't know anyone, [except the girls] and it was too frightening. But I bribed him, and then he loved it. They sang STING, would you believe it..Sting is now considered a classic. I feel a bit old...

Afternoon all

Swan Its a good job you hadn't planned to go out too otherwise DS2 could have found himself home alone.

Ouch hope you sort the sleep out.

SC hope you enjoyed the bike ride.

Well I have booked a table for meal out tonight. Must get ready in a minute although only family pub so nothing too fancy. I have taken my bike for its service and had the gearing system fixed. Also bought a pannier rack whilst there and cheekily asked them to fit it (As DH didn't fancy messing with disc brakes). Panniers were my birthday pressie from DH and DD and are on their way . I also bought a very cheap sewing machine. I'm not expecting it to be brilliant but fancy being able to do my own repairs and I loved sewing at school. If I get into it, I may invest in a more expensive one.

Ok Lounge has been hoovered, kitchen tidied and 2 x washing on and done. I have a week of nothing planned except school pick ups and extra-curricular activities this week so I plan on reading the flylady book, getting down to some serious flying and getting some use out of my gym membership. I'm not sure how realistic this is but we'll see.

Off to get ready - Back later

Swan - homework begins tomorrow for DS1. I'm a bit apprehensive as everything has been going so well and I hope this doesn't throw a spanner in the works. Glad to hear that your son enjoyed the choir in the end.

Linzer - nice to see you too! I'm impressed that you're starting to do some private English lessons. I bet you'll be really good too - you were so conscientious about preparing for the school lessons.

Waves to everyone else and apologies, as always, for the lack of anymore personal messages.

Am exhausted. Spent the whole day out with friends and children. Came home to a slow-cooked chicken casserole (so nice to open the front door and be greeted by the smell of cooking ). Am now doing my before-bed routine a bit early so that I might get a bit of time to myself after the children are in bed .

Hi all!
We had a good time at MIL's party (she's lovely and we get on v well Messy ) and got home about lunchtime today. Since then, have done lots of gardening and lazy pizza and salad for dinner.

I need to go and check all the paperwork for DS2 starting playgroup tomorrow. Pre-school sounds way too grown-up when he's only just 2! Will have to play the rest of the day by ear...

Hope you have a lovely meal out, MC, and so glad that DS is still enjoying school, Toffee.

Hellloooooo all! Hope you all had lovely Sundays!

Feeling v. chipper after a fab weekend and a lovely day without traffic (opened the bedroom windows wide this morning to let in the sound of the church bells).

In the end did dd hwk supervision, school uniform ironing and Sunday dinner prep in the morning (plus a bit of other washing) and then had lovely afternoon out on bike - lots of people on horses, roller skates, tandems etc. Listened to live jazz band, had cup of tea on a nice terrace, bumped in to some friends, invited them back home for a bit (wasn't too embarrassed by house) then had lovely dinner (even though I say it myself) of roasted veg: butternut squash, red onions, new potatoes, red peppers, garlic and rosemary from the garden with roasted chicken followed by apple and blackberry crumble ... Have probably put back on all the weight I lost cycling by troughing through that lot!

I'm heading for an early night and as it's after 9pm here I think I am going to post links for tomorrow and do round-up now if that's OK with everyone ...

Baby-step number 19 for Monday 19th September is here Totally ignorable imho.

Tomorrow and all this week we will be Flying in Zone 4 (the master bedroom) here

The mission for Monday will appear here once the website updates itself.

But you can look here for a sneak peak at the missions for the week ahead (again, website will need to update itself)

Monday is home bleuurrgghh blessing day! See here and here if you scroll down.

Have a good start to the week everyone!

Aloha everyone, (got bored with good evening)

I am avoiding typing up my ladies circle minutes because i cant find the last lots. So thought id check in with you all.

pmpy i really must ask, did you buy your car at the tip?

How did i get on?

Up dressed/dc dressed/ s&s-done
Dh off the sofa (asleep since 7.30 no doubt) and get ready for work-done and yes he had been asleep since then
Wm on-done
Dw empty-done x 3 today???? been out all afternoon too
Cottage pie cooking-its on the stove cooling so should be ready for dh to pop in the oven tomorrow afternoon
Plant bulbs in garden-done, yay! Been putting off and now its all done with dc help
Party this afternoon-done, all partied out now!!
See in laws if they not too tired after returning from holiday today.-not home yet, see them tomorrow
Lay out clothes, find school lunch money, find money for cdt for school, find mad science week money (it's all money isn't it!!??)-done including packed lunch and dh ironed uniform
Chill and bed. -not yet.

I must do minutes. I missed the last meeting and noone actually got the minutes the chair did so i must get this lot done.

Nesbiting
Tidying lounge
Tidying bedroom
typing minutes
emptying dishwasher again

Tomorrows list

up dressed, s/s
ds school on way visit inlaws
Me stay at work and dh whose first day off in over two weeks is going to take dd to softplay and im going to stay at work and try and get mil to help me sort out the myriad of mistakes i have made with the cashing up before she starts her chemotherapy on Wednesday at chemo and at cocking up and having to pester her two minutes after getting back from her break and prior to her whats going to happen to me appointment tomorrow.
Try and exe (ece) ? squeeze some family time out of tomorrow after picking ds up from school. maybe play park with dc and dh.
see what mission is
bedtime routine especially school uniform, homework and packed lunch.

Ds said "i have to go to school again!!" I said yes for the rest of his life. He said yes and university too with an exasperated look on his face.

Right im going to do another wave and get to it, 8.30 now and if i dont get moving i will be here too late.

oops meant to add have a lovely day, off to read sc round up

sc i think i missed something. Why no traffic?!

So, what have you all been up to today I wonder?

Blue has been celebrating her mil's b'day, gardening and preparing for an important step in her ds2's life tomorrow
Toffee had a day out with friends and dc and came home to delicious home cooking (hope hwk goes ok tomorrow night)
MC has been Flying, giving her bike a bit of a makeover and is out celebrating tonight! (Watch out for price of replacement parts of sewing machines if you decide to buy eventually -can thoroughly recommend Janome)
Swan and family have been listening to Beethoven and Gershwin (with a bit of a cartoon thrown in) and has battled her way through an ICT story board and Romulus and Remus.

[Glad your ds enjoyed choir in the end - it wasn't "Fields of Gold" was it? If so, the lovely Gareth Malone (BBC choir series) is to blame!)
Oops has been Flying, having her parents to dinner and nagging encouraging her dh to wield a hoover!! (Good to hear your dd is feeling better!)
Ouch has been sensibly taking it steady today!
Nicknacks has been Flying and generally getting organised for the wk ahead
Cnettle had a lovely lie-in (pleased to hear it) made a cottage pie, did some gardening, and went to a party!
Rowingboat did some intense carpet shampooing and then some er, intense cleaning of carpet shampooing equipment. She also cooked a Mediterranean-inspired lunch (sounds delicious to me!)
Pushmepullyou hasn't had much time to Fly, but she has been to the tip and bought a new car!

(Er, disclaimer, the last two might have been on Sat, not today!)

Swan/Rowingboat/Oops/Ouch am spared all the carpet cleaning by the very fact we don't have any (all wooden boards and parquet here - which tends to be the case on the continent - or floor tiles if not wood. DD (after staying with my sister for the first time in the UK came back saying "Mummy, mummy, Aunty X has fur growing on her floors!")

Huge waves to anyone I've missed!

See you in the morning! I'm off for half an hour of TV/reading the papers then bed. Hoping to retrieve my Flying mojo on the morrow ...

x posts

Sorry - all that scrolling took rather a long time CNettle!

So sorry to hear about your m-i-l I hope her first treatment goes as well as can be expected. Tis good you are there for her! And it may not be a bad thing that she has the cashing-up to focus on ...
It's good your dh has a bit of time now to be around and help you out too.

MC here

Yes Pushme spill the beans please!

Hi all,
bit of a late one, been at work today so not had much time to fly

Nicknacks sorry about the tea thing (with the nose)

SC what is a Nesbit? I think jelly sweet sandwiches sound delicious, but more for lunch than breakfast - kitkat sandwiches are better for breakfast - well that's me anyway.

Oops I can see why you only used a shampooer once, it is a bit of a slog. But my swampy, food encrusted carpets have made me desperate.

Swan that sole-removing shampoo sounds a bit alarming, I hope that doesn't happen to my feet, and definitely no sitting on the carpet!
Which Sting number did your DS's choir sing? I love Sting, he is a classic!

MC sounds like a lovely birthday are you feeling much wiser now you are a year older? I know I don't! I do a bit of sewing, trying to finish a hoodie for DS, which started when he was 4 - he's almost 7. What are you planning to sew?

Toffee that sounds lovely, the smell of cooking when you came home. I came home to the smell of my bin, which needed to be emptied.

BlueES have you been cutting things back, or planting things?

All round SC's for Sunday dinner next week then - that sounds very yummy!

My Done list
washing on line (what a hoot, it's wetter then when it came out of the washing machine)
brekkie and 1 vitamin
DS up fed dressed and off to Nanny's (not the posh, Mary Poppins kind - my mum)
Work
Dinner
tidied sitting room
Hoovered bedroom
S&S kitchen
washing up - half done
DS bed - takes ages

To do
finish washing up
tumble dry a few batches of clothes
put new load in
Re-read the babysteps I have done so far
(think I will leave adding a babystep until I get used to these ones, finding it a bit overwhelming to do a new one everyday, especially with work)

The carpet bits which I washed look much better today and they are dry, very pleased so plan to do a bit more on Tuesday when DS back at school
Holiday tomorrow - yippee

Morning routine done
Lunch- yummy pate and crusty bread done
Dinner- possibly lasagne done
Deep clean of bathroom as I didn't do any missions this week although it is decluttered not done
Get boys to rotate the books in the playroom done
Tidy the small toy boxes in playroom done
Hoover hall and stairs done
Chuck old TV not done
Bath DC's done
Pack Swim bags done
Pack PE bags done
Lay out uniforms/clothes for tomorrow done

Productive day, am quite pleased with myself!

I read it that you'd bought your car at the tip too PMPY!

Thanks for the round up SC. I'm off to bed shortly, sticking to my new found FLYlady inspired bedtime of 10pm.

Tomorrow's list!

Morning routine
Pay swimming fees
Music group with mindees
Check online banking
Hone Bleugh (can't do it by the clock but will try and squeeze some in while little ones are napping)
15 mins de-cluttering in master bedroom
Evening routine

Night night!

rowing - a bit of both. Hacking overgrown herbs and planting bulbs. :)

BlueES I'm going to have to exactly what you are doing. Annoyingly the pesky squirrels dig up my bulbs so I need to put in millions to get 1 daff.

See that's what comes of posting when sleep deprived and slightly tipsy

My new car was not from the tip! My old car should probably be going there though!

Very sorry to hear about your mil c-nettle Hope the chemo isn't too hard on her. My BIL finished a course of chemo a few months ago and the treatments for the side effects seem to have come on a lot in the last few years.

I was thinking of hiring a carpet shampoo-er myself as we had a fishtank leak earlier in the week resulting in about 20 litres of fishy water soaking the living room carpet (thankfully a very forgiving oatmeal colour). I think I may give it up as a bad job and hire a carpet cleaning man instead, although the sole-desolving properties do worry me a little!

Very little cleaning here, but did manage to completely clear the understairs area in the kitchen, which has been the repository for almost everything over the last few years so am feeling pretty pleased with myself.

rowing I've been wondering about the meaning of nesbit as well, but have been too lazy to scroll back through the last couple of threads and find the reference Hopefully someone will enlighten us

Big hello to SC (bike ride sounds fab), nicknacks, ouch, toffee, blue and everyone I've missed