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!

If I post exercise, tidy up master bedroom and declutter home office on my list often enough I will hopefully embarrass myself in to actually doing one of them at some point...

Thanks for and chocs MC [cue snaffling noises]. I definitely qualify for a free pass for the naughty corner tonight.

OK - so what have you all you lovely Fledglings been up to today?

MC completed a full list including a 27 fling-boogie and got her first piece of supply work for Friday morning! Brilliant news!
Everything seems very much under control chez Toffee with the smooth completion of her list and a ds who came 2nd in the election for class rep!!! Great stuff!
Linzer taught an English lesson (so successful the students didn't want to leave) with the help of a fragile bee
Cnettle worked her way through a long list including the cooking of chilli, a chilly meeting with a teacher and a tiny bit of (much deserved) chilli-ing out time
Ihate had a bit of a scare with her ds and school pick up time involving a mad dash from work but all ended well in the end. Needless to say she worked her way through a humungously long list but has she found that spark arrestor supplier???? We demand to know!!!!
Ouch accomplished over 22 things despite being sleep deprived! Massively well done!
Madwoman scared us all with the thought of staging companies for house sales
Rowingboat washed 1,000,000 socks and is still shampooing her carpets!
Swan felt bleugh after a nasty encounter with a beetroot, but on the positive sides
Haunted surpassed herself and Flew like the wind; rescuing 7 rooms in under 2.5 hrs! How did the EA's visit go in the end? I hope they were impressed!
SC er, mismanaged her time and didn't cover herself in Flying glory

I think that's everyone! How did the fling boogies go today Oops?

Waves to Feetheart Ellie PA Fuzzled (hope you are recovering) Mummy Pushme Hattie Brokenwingedflier Dizzy Blue Nicknacks Messy AlicevanW et al ....

I haven't done much but:

TA-DA
*morning routine, out of house almost on time
*worked
*picked DS up from preschool
*lunch
*sorted DS' closet...still have to bag up donations
*hung wet clothes from the dryer

TO DO
*A light tidy everywhere; FIL watching DS at our house again tomorrow :)
*Sweep
*Wipe surfaces
*Clean off The Almighty Hot Spot (dinner table)
*Make dinner (half done; pasta salad is chilling in the fridge and will just quickly broil some fish)
*Set out clothes
*Go the the movies with a friend :o
*Finish library book! It's way overdue and I can't bring it back til I'm done!
*Hang wreath on back door
*Pack DS backpack for tomorrow
*Trim DS's hair
*Set out clothes for the morning and ready coffee maker
*Shine sink

error - meant to add to swan's post 'that on the positive side her dh cleared the garden rubbish'

xposts -
Swan glad you have recovered and your day of strategic planning went well. Great news about the choir!
Thanks Nicknacks it's got alot easier now I've got to 'know' everyone! Well done with your list (in fact everyone's lists on here are putting me to shame today) I'm in Brussels, trailing spouse, dh runs his own business. I help out but less and less as I find it really boring it's not really my area and now it's established we have more staff. Plan is to seek new work/training once have overcome various health issues.

x post

How could I forget you CheerfulYank sorry!
You've done plenty. Don't be so hard on yourself.

Are you celebrating something soon? (the wreath?)

Right going to post a list update before I go read the thread.

List update.
done
Up
Ds up
Find ds' uniform
Training
Sort stuff out for saturday's comp
School run (got back in time to turn around straight out the door)
Book hair dresser's appointment
Get showered and changed
Have breakfast
Get hair cut.
Drink lots of coffee - more is still needed
Sort out repairs to kit.
speak to elderly neighbour who rang.
Speak to father who rang.
Plan what to do about my room which just doesn't work.
Sort out what the frig we are supposed to be putting in the new bin we have had delievered.
Sort out christmas present plans for the parents with dsis.
Figure out what to do for tea.
Sort out problem with med side effects
Some project hand stitching - got three projects finished, half done the project handstitched intended, working on another project atm.
Speak to ds' teacher
sort out school letters
Ds' homework but suspect he will be too tired for it tonight - OMG its not going to get better it is. Unfocused and reluctant. He really will do anything other then write.
Sort out the master plan for life.
Pin read for sewing machine stitching
washing - school uniform on to wash.
Dsis has tamed the kitchen and loaded the washing up.
Found directions for tomo.
15mins on a knitting project.
15mins decluttering in my room.
Label some uniform that not got around to doing yet.
Put uniform into dryer.
Sort out where to take training kit to get fixed.
Put the bins out.
Bedtime routine minus sleep meds.
Deal with the first batch of night terrors.

Will have to get done tomo:
Sewing machine stitching
More project hand stitching
Put clothes away.
Early night. Knackered -hahahahaha

Evening all. I must be late as I've missed the round-up again. Oh well.

Ta da!
Laundry
School run/ Toddlers with DS2
Various errands in town
Major de-clutter in utility room
Blanched and frozen beans from garden
Supervised boys making b'day cards for DH - paint!
Cooked and eaten successful meal en famille
Wii work out

To do tomorrow
Strip beds, wash sheets, remake beds
Music with DS2
Boys to CM
Bedroom mission catch-up
Filing
Dust
Mirrors
Bag up charity shop stuff
Clean bins
Blogging/emails/drum up work stuff
See if space on other Zumba class
Zumba??

Hmm...

Linzer - glad the English lesson went well.
MC - good news about supply work.

Waves to all. Night night.

Some of the lists on here are huge! To balance things up (and to stop me from burning out) mine is staying small! Being out of the house for up to 10 hours a day doesn't help either...

got everyone up and out on time this morning
raced out of work lunchtime to get to school for informal chat with new teacher (had to tell them DH's dad is terminally ill in case DS starts saying odd things iyswim)
walked home in the rain
tea for DS (DH was late)
mission
tea for DH
2 loads of washing
DW on (will need to go again)

left to do
iron DH and DS uniform for tomorrow
make DH lunch
s&s

Off to the naughty corner for

Hmm...short story is that EA still wants to reduce excesses...too many coats in hall, too many toys...apparently all you see as a viewer is 'not enough storage' which is probably a fair point but pretty demoralising when I worked so hard this morning.

On paper they are the preferrable agent but not sure I liked his attitude...and comments like 'your towels match your decor, that's nice' make me wonder if that's the best he can say IYSWIM.

Anyway EA 2 tomorrow. This one has been recommended for a true to value valuation but don't market with them. Need to do all floors downstairs and try to get to halfords for a new bulb and b and q for some fence paint/sprayer before they come at 2pm. But hard work done, just a couple of hotspots could be dealt with if I have time.

I MUST also crack on with essay. Tried to do it tonight but took computer an hour to do not a lot and it kept freezing hence late update from me. Then when it got going I got distracted when I found all the course handbooks and templates and stuff online....

Morning should I concede defeat and accept that 6am is the time for dc to get up?

mum sorry about dh dad

This mumsnet app is fine but no scrolling means can't remember anything I read

So eawifie sorry the ea sound harsh hope the next one is more complimentary. Where are you in this green and pleasant land?
swan I don't mind strictness. Happy for ds to know what might happen if he misbehaves. He did say to dh yesterday amidst some crying friends that he feels nervous waiting to go in yesterday he got to Amber for sliding under the bathroom doors.

I'm sorry but I don't remember anything else.

I'll post my list and hide

Get up dressed, fed, nurseried, schooled, work.
S/s
Wm
Td
Loadsa work
Trip to b&q for mad scientist safety goggles and maybe overalls if they do very very small size!! Mad scientist day on Friday at school
more work
Pick up ds take to drama club
Pick up dd go back to pick up ds from drama club ( hope he wasn't too tired)
Bathe and bed
Have something to eat before friend comes round to help me accessorise my black dress into black and White for black and White ball on Saturday! With some
If not too merry will do another 15 stint in my bedroom, try and clear another surface!
Bed after that I think

Hope you have a fab day

Ahh haunted = eawifie and I had only just read it (there is no hope for memory)

Morning! Positively autumnal here today.

DroitwichMummy so very, very sorry to hear about your fil That's an incredibly sad and stressful situation for you all. I hope you and he and both your families are getting all the support you need.

Crikey Ouch that was a corker of a list you completed yesterday! Very well done!

[SC imagines Cnettle wearing mad scientist goggles and a black and white ballgown ] Have fun with your friend today and good luck to your mil.

Blue Sorry! Round-up times all over the place (a) because I'm disorganised and (b) because of dh coming home at wierd hours! So you weren't late yesterday - I was early

Haunted Disappointing you got such a response after all your efforts Go with your gut instinct if you don't like their attitude. Good luck with the essay!

Listen up everyone - a word to the wise ...and to newcomers!
Droitwich as usual highlights a very important point about not burning out! This is the v. essence of the Flylady system which encourages us to try and carry out our tasks in short, sharp, focused bursts of activity leaving us time over to do something more interesting instead (well that's the theory anyway). So be careful of too long a lists (Ihate this doesn't apply to you - I know you like to work this way) it's better to keep going a small amount consistently every day - than do loads on one day and then virtually nothing the next like me!!

Have a good anti-procrastination day everyone!

Oh and in case you are thinking that I am looking over my pince nez at you Ouch I'm not! It's just I'm getting worried that everyone's lists are getting longer and longer (including my own) and (again, at the risk of sounding like some wierd sect leader) that goes against the whole ethos of the system.

So let's try and do things quickly and imperfectly today and tell ourselves "that's good enough"!

God no SC I am still a burnout and nesbitter. Need all the encouragement re lists. I have no motivation atm and the praise is helping

Ds slept well considering. Today is not going to be mad as it is a high mileage day.

Done
Up
Make lots of coffee and drink some (dsis in most need this morning)
Ds up, dressed, breakfasted
School run - dsis doing as last goodbye to ds.
Put towel load into dryer
Laundry - first load on
check mn
fold washing that is clean/sort ironing ready for ironing
collect bin
make up swimming kit

To do:
empty car
wash hair
check directions
take dsis back to uni
more washing
figure out what to do for tea
swimming lesson
sort out the recycling for new rules and into new bin
sort finishing another project
work on knitting project
15mins in my room
clothes away
move sewing machine and set up
Remaining ds homework if he is not too tired.
ds' bedding
15mins in ds' room.

right dsis is back from school run and we need to be ready to leave so i can be back in time for the school run this afternoon. Must go tackle list. Hair and car being first priorities...

have fabulous days.

Wise words, SC - I find the longer my lists, the less likely I am to do them (although I know this doesn't apply to everyone). So I'm back to a three-item list this morning:

Run done
Prepare tomorrow's English lessons doing
Washing in dryer

Yes, I know I should really get my morning routine done too (have done bits of it). And I really need to find time to wash my hair (running and shredding mean I can't get away with leaving it as long as I used to in between washes). But hopefully my list won't take up the entire morning, so I'll do a new one once it's finished.

NickNacks I'm in Austria, just south of Vienna, and am also a trailing spouse - DH is Austrian but we've moved around a bit, although I think we're settled here now. You may notice me (and Cinders / Alice, who is also in Austria and not too far from us, in fact) complaining about the length of the school day here, which is over by lunchtime, but I'm trying very hard not to use it as an excuse for a lack of FLYing!

Actually i think when we get around to writing morning routine instead of the 10 odd items that make up the morning routine it will look more like what the fat fairy is asking.

Alot of my lists are tiny little things that need doing rather then routine things. Haven't got the routines sorted yet. I suspect when I get the routines done my list will look like this:
morning routine,

Mission
afternoon routine
homework +

Evening routine.

Which will look so much more managable. Especially as haunted actually managed to achieve a hell of a lot but her list was tiny as it came under the neat title of hot spotting. i am sure if she listed the individual tasks we would all have heart attacks looking at it

Do you know what...my list could have been...

Room rescue x7...

The shortest of the lot.

It is whatever works as individuals I guess. For me it will probably be a mixture when I get going...admin type stuff will probably need to be itemised cos I will.forget stuff, or 'postpone' stiff. Otoh for me I don't feel I need to put 'school Tim's on the list cos that is a fixed event that has to happen and no backing out of it IYSWIM.

*school run.....I have no idea who TIM is!

Good Morning all. I'm in a very good mood today as had a very calm start to the morning and although a little chilly, the sun is shining.

Droitwich Sorry to head about FIL.
Haunted EA yesterday sounded Hope todays is better.
Nettle mad scientist day sounds brilliant. What a cool idea

Well I was up and about and organised so much this morning that I managed to bring DH brekkie in bed and DD managed a jigsaw before school [shocked] Usually we are lucky if DD gets brekkie whilst I run around like a mad woman. But yesterday I got out DDs uniform and her breakfast bowl and felt calm knowing I was organised today. I'd like to think DH was impressed but I mention flylady to him and he has this look ->

Ok list

• Morning routine Done
• DD to school Done
• Check e-mails Done
• One load of washing next
• Write lesson plan for Friday morning
• Mission
• 15 minutes in main bedroom
• 15 minutes in spare bedroom
• Lounge hotspot
• Pick up DD and take to Karate

Today I have decided I deserve some me time so I am spending an hour or two on my list and then I am off to the big shopping centre to spend my Birthday vouchers.

I hope you all have a good day.

Morning all (sneaks back in hoping no-one will notice absence)

Feeling a bit flat today as have concerns about DD and school - nothing really to do with DD just that she is in a very difficult year group and I feel that she (and the other quiet, well-behaved children) are getting a very raw deal. Had begun to feel hope that this year (Yr 4!) might be better but now teacher has gone off sick for 3 weeks. Have asked for an appointment with the lovely deputy head to air my concerns (and probably have a weep on her shoulder ). I have no idea what school can do about it but I need to let someone there know how I feel.

Should be working but seem to be avoiding it though achieving something will probably make me feel better - really need chocolate and have none :(
Will do short list and try to stop procrastinating:

• WORK
• Ring people about work in both rental properties - its like buses
• Make something sweet and sticky and scoff lots

To do
Strip beds, wash sheets, remake beds
Music with DS2
Boys to CM
Bedroom mission catch-up
Filing
Dust
Mirrors
Bag up charity shop stuff
Clean bins
Blogging/emails/drum up work stuff
See if space on other Zumba class
Zumba??

My lists vary from putting down absolutely every minute task to vaguer headings too - depends on my mood and whether I need encouraging!

Well done on your organised morning MC and enjoy your retail therapy!

I'm off to put the kettle on. Anyone for a ?

Hi all,

Feet what is happening to your DD? Are they noisier children taking over? I hate having to speak to the head teacher, but the last time I did, it did help. Hope you can find a solution.

Blue yes please to the tea! I have bought more bulbs (sitting in pile of bulbs laughing like a maniac) I may need some kind of intervention.

MC that sounds like a nice morning, was it relaxed?

My list
washing out DONE (hahahahah it's raining and blowing a gale, but I don't' care!)
Morning routine - kitchen and bathroom DONE apart from sweeping
Lunch
Plan Dinner - someting with sausages in it?
recycling out DONE
Tumbling some almost dry washing
Phone property people - finally got somebody DONE
5 minute room rescue bedroom
declutter a toy box and drop off at charity shop before DS sees
water plants
water/feed outside plants
Still no new babystep (sticks fingers in ears and closes eyes)
pay swimming people
set up standing order
post cheque
that'll do
try to fit in powernap - very tired! ZZZ!

rowingboat - Toad-in-the-hole, that's what we are having tonight :)

Problem in DD's year is that there seem to be a lot of disruptive children whose behaviour dominates the teacher and TA's time. They have tried mixing the children around most years to get a balance that works but without success, there are just too many disruptive ones in that year group. DD copes pretty well (she doesn't know any different :() and does pretty well BUT I am becoming more and more concerned that she is being short-changed. She isn't getting the education she deserves because so much time is taken up with the 'problem' children. I have had concerns for a long time, as have quite a number of other parents, and have kept an eye on it but she is in Yr4 now and I really feel her primary school years are slipping away without her being able, or allowed, to get the best from them. I don't really have any answers but I don't feel I can sit back any more either.
Thankfully DS's year group (Yr 1 now) are a lovely, supportive group of children who have gelled beautifully for which I am SO grateful although it does highlight how unlucky DD has been :(

Sorry, that was long but it is preoccupying me today, and making me sad :(

Need to make phonecalls

Unfortunately when I get focused on getting stuff I am likely to forget the school run if it is not on the list. Don't mean to but time gets away with me.

Done
Up
Make lots of coffee and drink some (dsis in most need this morning)
Ds up, dressed, breakfasted
School run - dsis doing as last goodbye to ds.
Put towel load into dryer
Laundry - 2nd load on
check mn
fold washing that is clean/sort ironing ready for ironing
collect bin
make up swimming kit
check directions
take dsis back to uni
figure out what to do for tea
sort out the recycling for new rules and into new bin
move sewing machine and set up
Strip ds' bed.
hand washing.
Spend 15mins on landing decluterring.
1 5mins in ds' room. - Its actually not bad atm. just a bit of laundry a few bits to put away.

To do:
more washing
empty car
swimming lesson
sort finishing another project
work on knitting project
15mins in my room
clothes away
Remaining ds homework if he is not too tired.

Whoo, busy day! flying in here to update then I'm off again...

Yesterday's flinging went brilliantly, I ended up with two bags of rubbish plus a load of things to sell/donate. Spent yesterday evening putting things on Ebay, today had two bags to go to the charity shop, then off to my birthday lunch with friends (birthday was in August but we always wait till the schools are back). Then Tesco, now I'm having a quick cuppa before I start again!

Today's list:

Scrub pans from last night (left them to soak overnight as burned! ) done
Clean cat's food corner done
Towels washed, put in dryer done
Bags to charity shop done
Lunch done AND I didn't have dessert!
Tesco done (but I bought chocolate to make up for no dessert)
Fold towels, put away
Clean car out for trip to London tomorrow
Tidy living room
Clear kitchen counter top (its a permanent Hotspot)
Venture into DD's room to rescue stray mugs/plates
Remember to get to mum's by 5.30pm for tea!

EA 2 been and gone and I didn't like her either...dunno why she just wasn't very 'convincing' that she knew what she was talking about....

Oh well, school run time....