October's Fledgling Fliers: Seasons of Mists and Mellow Flyfulness

[elliepac]

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.

Yep SC I do a curry every Saturday and have done for many years. I have to admit the the recipe I use has "matured" over the years and I just add in a bit of this and a bit of that. Some weeks are more successful than others, but generally it gets approval. I have not followed a recipe for many years now, so would not know where anything originated from, sorry. I could try to take notes from todays and let you know a rough recipe, but it is definitely not an exact science!

I-tunes voucher?

I am not awake.
Ds is running around like a crazy person but has at least found his sense of humour. Nerves and change of routine NOT a good combination. Thankfully I am to calm to give a shit. So he is not feeding off my emotions to further explode. He has a comp type thingy today. So today's flying will basically be prep for that.

Construct kit bag - double check nothing is missin.
put clothes away
find clothes for ds to wear pre comp
Put on Kit load that I cba to do last night and needs to be dry for 2pm just done
remove sewing machine from lounge
Remove project from lounge
remove ds' toys from lounge
pack kit etc into car
Find ds for distracting ds later.
Charge ipod for same purpose
Check emails done
Sort out match vs comp dates. done
Update calander with match dates done til end feb

Hmm started this post about half nine so I guess I can safely say I have been procrastinating this morning. Not. Good.

Hope you all have a good one.

Hi all,

SC I second the voucher idea, don't know much about iTunes, but I quite often buy my brother an Amazon voucher because there is so much on there he can't fail to find something he needs/likes. If not the internet then most shops have shopping vouchers. The other thing I used to buy my brother was a cinema voucher. I'm sure you will think of something just right.
Supporting another family sounds like an uphill struggle, it's probably quite common these days, but I have trouble supporting my own (tiny) family. You are obviously a very responsible and kind adult.

Toffee do you brush your Ds's teeth from the front or behind? The dentist told me to stop doing it from behind, but I haven't tried it yet because Dp was on bathtime duty last night.

OK this is my list
Sit down with ds and design an invitation with DS
Email it to myself to print
Finalise birthday guest list (sorry you can't come in, you're not on the list!)
Morning routine almost done except sweeping bathroom
lunch
vits
brush hall rug
polish ds's shoes and possibly mine
wipe bookshelves
plan and make a start on hall cupboard rearrangement
tumble semi-dry washing - much later
dinner
quick go on keyboard

OK this is my list
Sit down with ds and design an invitation with DS
Email it to myself to print
Finalise birthday guest list (sorry you can't come in, you're not on the list!) smile
Morning routine almost done except sweeping bathroom
lunch done
vits
brush hall rug
polish ds's shoes and possibly mine smile
wipe bookshelves
plan and make a start on hall cupboard rearrangement
tumble semi-dry washing - much later
dinner - risotto chicken and mushroom (probably fish fingers for ds - hates mushrooms)
quick go on keyboard
Pop out and throw some bulbs into pots.

I'm sorry to keep printing this, but I am really struggling today and I need to do ticks.
OK this is my list
Sit down with ds and design an invitation with DS
Email it to myself to print
Finalise birthday guest list (sorry you can't come in, you're not on the list!) smile
Morning routine almost done except sweeping bathroom OK I'm just not going to sweep DONE
lunch done
vits
brush hall rug
polish ds's shoes and possibly mine smile
wipe bookshelves
plan and make a start on hall cupboard rearrangement
tumble semi-dry washing - much later
dinner - risotto chicken and mushroom (probably fish fingers for ds - hates mushrooms)
quick go on keyboard done
Pop out and throw some bulbs into pots. done

OK we are now going to watch Dr Who!

Hello. Thanks for the kind wishes for the boys. DS2 is still just slightly coldy and rather grumpy. Last night we were wondering if DS1 had tonsilitis or something, but he seemed more or less back to normal this morning, if a bit croaky. He's slumped now, though, and his temperature has shot up...

Still, have managed a big Sainsbury's shop - £10 off a litre of fuel if you spend £60 before tomorrow, so going round with a calculator!! Also collected the 2 missing drawer fronts from the post office (long story!) and DH has fitted them. The boys now have their own coat hooks and shoe rack that they can reach too.

They're watching cartoons so I have escaped upstairs to play on the computer sort out the laundry.

Ouch - hope the competition goes/went well.

SC - lego? Trying to remember what my brother liked at that age.

Ouch and Rowingboat Thank you for the 11 yr old boy present suggestions !! Much appreciated! He is very musical/in to music (chorister) so Itunes voucher will be perfect and not a problem for posting. Cinema/Amazon vouchers very good ideas to 'store' for future years!

Ouch that's so true about dc 'feeding off ones's emotions'. DD gets much more shouty if I am in a demonstrably foul mood and then it all escalates horribly - have to really watch myself with this!!

Rowingboat well done with the bulbs - I had intended to do some planting this w/e but it is chucking it down here and has barely got light today!!

Thank you but it's really dh who is the responsible and kind adult in this household - he really is a saint (and has the patience of one too!) and does all the earning (I work for him but don't get paid) so I can't really take much credit on that score!! Sounds like you are the main breadwinner in your family - that sounds VERY responsible (heroic even!!) to me!!

PA your 'evolved' curries sounds delicious - all the best recipes are ad hoc!! Thanks but don't worry about providing notes - I have found an old Madhur Jaffrey recipe book I'd forgotten we had and will use that as a starting point. (Bit of a challenge to find all the ingredients here though - wonderful grub available but all rather conservatively Belgian - it is gradually getting better though year by year - can actually buy dried chillies in a standard supermarket now)

Oh dear - just 20 mins to go before Masterchef/Strictly TV marathon!! (Terrible scheduling!) And I haven't finished my list:

apply thumb screws to dh and plan month ahead ie travel/social stuff/work done
take photos in for processing done
parcels to post NOPE
dd to ballet done
food shopping done
toiletries shopping NOPE
decluttering in home office!! NOPE
sewing done and more to do (name tapes on dd's new winter clothes!)
exercise NOPE
French NOPE
cooking that wasn't done on Thursday done
hwk supervision half done
more laundry done
afternoon/evening routine nearly
early-ish night again

Also bought two birthday presents, put away two paniers of ironed clothes, bought new gp supplies (had a conversation with a white cockatoo in the petshop poor thing), made leek and potato for lunch in addition to other cooking and played ludo with dd.

Enjoy your evening everyone!

Hang the early night. Fabulous fun this evening. Smiley tired happy ouch!.

Quick list for tomo and then I must sleep:
Washing into dryer
quilt in to wash
pick up present and card for party
Get ds ready for party
Training
Ds' homework
sort ds' bags for school
Early night!!!!

For those that asked, Ds had a marvelous time at comp/match thingy. They didn't win but tried really hard, especially as they were against a team with more experience. Ds is already talking about the next one.

Right. must set alarm and then sleep.

Morning all

We are quiet on here, hope you are all having lots of family fun. Sorry I was missing yesterday, took DD to dance class then we all went swimming and out for a meal. I had been feeling rough all day though so ended up asleep on couch my teatime. DH has let me have a lie in today so feeling a little better but still really achy.

Having a nice family day today. DH has taken DD to ballet exam and then to McDonalds on way home. We have a chicken roasting for tea later and I've do all veggies ready. Think we ae going to snuggle on settee with some dvds as DD is full of cold as well and DH said he didn't feel brill.

Anyway as well as doing tea, have done a load of washing and cleaned kitchen and bottom of stairs area. Need to do another load and DD has some homework but thats it.

Will be back tomorrow if not before - I have a busy week ahead and I need some structure to it.

Ouch glad DS enjoyed his day yesterday and it sounded like you had a good time too.

SC I too would go for I-Tunes vouchers. Can you use them on things other than Ipods and Iphones though?

done
just appearing to say I've found the dongle!
(it had disappeared into the clutter)

Twins had a lovely time at mini-boarding school experience
well, surprisingly ds2 (who has ASD) came back 2 ft taller and in excellent spirits and dd came back a gibbering wreck, because the girls said her disco dress made her look like a leprechaun [grrr]

oh posted too soon, but have to rush out now

house completely covered in clothes from unpacked suitcases

SC 11 year old boy here likes goth teeshirts, music cds, fantasy figures (still) and computer games. Also still likes chemistry sets, hates lego/airfix but other boys I've known liked them if they had a collecting obsession or particular theme they were building for/say model railway stuff...Also he likes thing like snazzy sports bags, knapsacks, posters, souvenir type things from different countries to put on his shelves, fancy pens, Risk/board games/fancy chess sets.

done
long chat with old friend from Hexham, thank goodness I've finally made contact with her. She is a breath of fresh air, like all old friends.

ouch was it a skating comp? well done to ds anyway

I'm back- did you miss me?

Only joking! Thank you to everyone who sent best wishes for DS1 and his 'incident' at school. I can't say too much but luckily he's not been aware of anything. I've just had to have a lot of meetings with the Headteacher and hopefully all is well again.

Back to FLYing. Last week I really just tried to keep on top of the basics which I managed with relative success.

Yesterday was great though. My mum came over to help me paint the kitchen (DH was less than helpful and peed off out to play golf leaving me with 3DC's to watch whilst painting). It looks fab now and of course gave me an opportunity to declutter the sides. Cupboards and drawers are not too bad as we don't have much storage to gather clutter in. Amazing and I have made a promise to myself to keep on top of it. We shall see!

Rest of todays jobs.

Wash dry and hang up uniform.
Pack PE kits, and 1 swimming kit.
Clean out slow cooker.
Clean up after DH cooks the Roast dinner.
Shower tonight.
Bath DS's.
Quick tidy of dining room and sitting room.
DS1 needs to read.
Mop kitchen floor.
Wash voiles and re-hang.

Sorry you've all gassed too much for me to remember but i hope you've all had lovely weekends and be back later.

:)

Just popping on to say "thank you" again very much to Swan Blue (sorry, missed yours earlier!) and MC for present suggestions. All brilliant and much appreciated! I have bought it now but will store all those for Christmas and next year and future years .... it gets harder as they get older doesn't it? And, as I said earlier, I am not really tuned in to the minds of boys ...so am not quite sure what appeals and at what age.

Nicknacks kitchen sounds fab and thank heavens for helpful mothers!

Swan so glad the twins had a good time (apart from leprachaun dress remark - how horrible) Used to holiday a lot in Hexham and around Beadnell way - such a gorgeous area.

MC Hope you are not all going down with something - take it steady
Not sure about Itunes usage - will check with boy's mother

Ouch glad you had such a good evening and well done to your ds and his team!

Hope your boys continue to feel better Blue

Waves to RowingBoat Ellie (hope you are feeling better* Linzer Toffee Whoknows Feetheart Ihate and everyone else I've missed

Humungous waves to everyone else!

Quick update

Wash dry and hang up uniform. done
Pack PE kits, and 1 swimming kit. done
Clean out slow cooker. done
Clean up after DH cooks the Roast dinner.
Shower tonight.
Bath DS's.
Quick tidy of dining room and sitting room.
DS1 needs to read. done
Mop kitchen floor.
Wash voiles and re-hang. in the WM

Gosh it is quiet on here tonight- I feel like I'm harrassing you all with my list! I have needed to though else I will wander off focus and start to slip in an already unproductive week.

Wash dry and hang up uniform. done
Pack PE kits, and 1 swimming kit. done
Clean out slow cooker. done
Clean up after DH cooks the Roast dinner. done
Shower tonight. will do before bed
Bath DS's. done
Quick tidy of dining room and sitting room. done
DS1 needs to read. done
Mop kitchen floor. done
Wash voiles and re-hang. done

Have also.....

Made apple pie and ice cream for pudding done
Booked DS1's birthday party- very exciting 'Water Walkerz' done
15 mins declutter done
Food shop done

Take care - see you all tomorrow!

Am tired. Ds and ex are making a meal of a free drawing trying to make it more technical and realistic He was supposed to use his imagination.

Bed here when that is done. List for tomo:
Up and school run, remember to remind ds to give teacher permission slips and homework
Washing
sort out kit for tuesday training x2
hoover lounge
wash bedding
Deal with toy tray of doom.
Early night.

Right ds has 40mins and then it is bedtime. He is busy finishing his homework. Won't be distracted by offers of tv or ds and finishing tomo so leaving him to it to mn for a bit. Catch up tomo.

night.

That's what we're here for Nick.

I myself have had a fairly unproductive day, I have got a bout of sciatica, I get it every now and then, and I need to be really careful for a few days till it calms down. DH is about to find out how much stuff I normally do on a Sunday evening! It also probably rules out home blessing for tomorrow, also gardening, helping at school, everything I had planned for the day basically. Grrr. On the other hand I have lots of stuff on my Sky+ box!

Swan - glad the twins are back safely and have had a good time (apart from leprechaun incident, how horrible).

As a child I thought homework should be banned. Now as a supervising adult, I know it should be banned. Arrrrrgh.

Sorry but how on earth do you survive homework hell? Without murder or insanity?

I think it should be banned until at least Year 5. Don't mind reading/spelling/times tables but hate the creative stuff!

Yes, it should definitely be banned. The DDs have had it ever since they started school (from the first week in DD2's case, second week in DD1's), although luckily it rarely requires much in the way of creativity.

Also banned should be tests verging on exams for primary school DC as well as DHs who take said tests far too seriously. DH has been making sure that DD1 has been revising every spare minute this weekend. She lay down on the sofa earlier, looking pale and tired; we were worried she was coming down with something so cancelled my birthday lunch out (we celebrated today, although it's not my birthday until tomorrow). Luckily she perked up in time to go to the birthday party she'd been invited to this afternoon, but I'm sure that all the revision she's been doing must be putting her under quite a bit of pressure (DH disagrees, but then he would).

Hope everyone has had a good weekend. I spent the afternoon lesson planning while the DDs were at the party this afternoon, as DH took DS and a friend to the Technical Museum in Vienna, so am finally ahead of myself for once. Shame the same can't be said about my FLYing.

Apologies for the slightly Germanic word order in the first sentence of the second paragraph. It's getting late and I have had too much Sekt.

Whoknows/ouch Homework dominated our entire weekend . We would like more creative stuff as it's all very dry and death-by-worksheet here. Agree with you that there should be far less of it! It is indeed hellish.

Whoknows ooh poor you - sciatica is horribly painful - hope you can rest up a bit.

Ouch you sound v. organised

Nicknacks Gosh - you have had a productive day - top Flying marks to you!

Ta da:
morning routine inc dw, wm, s&s, boudoir tidy
more laundry
hwk supervision - dictée
church
leek and potato soup for lunch
exercise
name tapes
more hwk supervision (learning of tables)
cover exercise book
wrap birthday presentsc
finish gathering baby equipment from all corners of house and carry down stairs with dh
afternoon/evening routine
chase dd around house, corner with large net, immerse in bath
supper roast lamb, cous-cous, root vegetable & chick pea casserole

To do Monday:
iron dd's gym kit which hasn't dried yet
photos
parcels
work
home bleurgh
write god-daughter a letter
e-mail other god-daughter
2 more e-mails to friends sorting out social stuff
phone dsis
more laundry
start sorting and cleaning baby equip
clean pram for dd
stationery shop
school run
exercise
hwk supervision
supper - cold lamb, rice, veg
afternoon/evening routine

This wk:
office laundry
finish sorting and cleaning baby equipment
finish sorting and decluttering my wardrobe
doc x 2
keep up French study/exercise
decluttering of home office/present cupboard again
order address stamps
start sewing Xmas presents - Tues & Thurs

Going to spend a bit of child-free time with dh before bed ...hardly seen him this week ...

Huge waves to everyone!

x posts with Linzer waves! (Sorry to hear your b'day lunch was cancelled. Hope it can be rescheduled for next week!)