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.

Ugh! DH and I could both smell gas this morning. Ended up having to call the gas emergency line and a guy came out and disconnected it - the new gas hob was leaking badly. Since then, the gas fitter and the kitchen fitter have been round here trying to find the leak. They reckon it's the actual hob that's the problem and it'll have to go back... Nightmare! :(

Ta-da!
Washing done and on line
Gas emergency...
Picked beans
Several major hotspots
Dusting
Played with DS2 in lieu of toddlers
Various emails

To do
More hotspots
Get tea

Glad you're feeling a bit better Toffee and well done to your DD Bilbio.

Typed all that out but never pressed post because the gas palaver all came to an end. He found the leak and fixed it so hob doesn't need replacing. Just hope they'll refund the cost and not say it invalidates the guarantee or any other scumminess.

Right, lets see how I have done:

Clean shower filter done - disgusting job with 5 long haired people in the house!
S & S while I was there - done
Kitchen done
Dishwasher unload/load done
Pork in cider/mustard & Apple in slowcooker. done
Top for crumble to make (apple prepared yesterday) made a pie instead
Work done x2
hoover done
Dish up tea done for 7, another 2 to go in an hours time
Eat done - yum!!
Collapse with a doing

RESULT I dont think i have completed a list for ages! Ok, so it was hardly massive, but I feel like I have had a good day, so thats good.

Sorry to hear that you were puking Toffee, but glad you seem to be better now. Hope the washing doesnt overwhelm you.

BES oh no!! Have a takeaway!

Blue I had a long gas saga, when after six months of vaguely smelling gas I suddenly decided the house was going to blow up and it was not just my imagination, turned off all electrics, opened all windows and doors...sent playdates home...luckily it was just hairline leak from meter..
Hope they pay!

PA I have seem to have given up meal planning so it was a great help to hear what you cooked, as I decided to cook it too
no crumble tho

done
letters to twins posted
supper cooked
2 lots of homeworks prodded
feed back to conservatory co emailed
invoice for building plans recieved v. reasonable, tg
washing on, and hung out
ds1 washed and pjs on (in absence of other children to fuss over)

felt suddenly like I was missing ds2 when I saw all his soft toys on his bed [boo hoo] Lewis Hamilton the green beanie bear[sob]

but otherwise a peaceful day, very relaxing.
off to bible study group now, Dh for some reason has decided to watch selected highlights of the Matrix with ds1, most unsuitable

It is a bit awkward as I think the Bible study ladies are trying to convert me (they are Baptists) I started a conversation yest about shrines when she came to door step to invite me, and her face darkened I suddenly realised what a big gap between Baptists and RC there is, and I keep putting my foot in it. But as they are 80 plus I don't want to let them down as they are v. kind. Plus I learn a lot at the study group.

Hi ladies I have made my return!

Been out the hospital since Saturday night (late!) but been convalescing and being patted at regular intervals by DS

I can safely recommend never having gallstones as I'm now on a low fat diet for -all eternity a while until they take out my gallbladder - if they take it out! Either way, no choccies, alcohol, crisps, sauces etc until something happens. However, I definitely can recommend my local hospital, their doctors and treatment, and the application of morphine at regular intervals!

Now starting with the babysteps again as house is a tip after DH and DFather have been looking after DS. I don't really mind, as the clutter is still banished, it's just stuff in the wrong places, so it will take a few days but I'll get there, slowly and wincingly!

So, today, I have shined my sink!

DH is back to work tomorrow, and then DFather leaves on Thursday and then I hope I can cope!

Swan I did exactly the same with a gas leak when DD was a baby, ignored it for months then decided enough was enough when a friend and her DD were round to play, was the same as you, a hairline crack in the meter.

PA glad you had a better day today. Sympathies regarding your parents, it sounds like a difficult time for you all.

Blue grrr re the grill, hope it gets sorted quickly.

Rowing impressive list!

Bilblio blanket sounds lovely. I try and crochet from time to time but not with a great deal of success.

Toffee glad you're feeling better.

Ouch hope you had a nice lunch. I'm off for lunch with my former ante natal class tomorrow, we still manage to meet up most weeks 8 years down the line but rarely eat out together, normally just go for coffee, so this is a nice treat.

Linzer just been watching the Great British Bake off contestants making Sacher Torte, made me think of you.

MC hope your mood has improved

Feet well done on the Autumn Fayre.

Waves to Ellie, SC, DTG, everyone else

Feeling old today, went for my smear test and the nurse started going on about the menopause, which hadn't even occurred to me might be on it's way, aargh! Minimal Flying today as it was a work day, just the basic routines. Going to sit down with my recipe files now and have a sort out, my menu planning has gone to pot recently.

Welcome back, Fuzzled! I'm glad you were well looked after in hospital. You must be missing their care - and the morphine! Definitely stick to babysteps at home if you can.

WhoKnows - with the nurse who reminded you that the menopause is the next milestone. We don't need to be told these things, thank you very much.

Swan - sorry you are missing the twins. Where are they? I must have missed an essential post, sorry.

PA - glad you had a productive day today - the meals sound delicious.

Blue - I made myself very unpopular with some friends we were visiting for dinner once when I rang the gas emergency line to report a gas leak in their street. As a result, the street was closed for several weeks and neither they nor their neighbours could find anywhere to park. Better than being blown up though, surely? (And there really was a leak, not my imagination).

Bilblio - how lovely of your daughter to get herself dressed for school without disturbing you. Make sure you share those brownies with us (I must be better - I'm thinking about food again).

Rowing - can't answer that question, sorry. Hope you got through your list OK.

Well, everyone is sleeping in this house now, except me. DS1 has been sleeping most of the day, which is a good thing. DH has been sleeping most of the day too, which is not a good thing ). Meanwhile, I have:

Been up since 4am to look after sick DS1
Organised before-school routine for DS2
Done three loads of washing
Scrubbed the mattress and carpets in DS1's bedroom with washing-up liquid and bicarbonate of soda
Discovered the mattress had removable cover (oh joy!) and washed it
Spent time keeping DS1 company and making him Lucozade ice cubes (his idea)
Ordered DS1's birthday card (12 on Thursday) online
Bought supplies from corner shop
Slept for a couple of hours in the afternoon
Brought washing in and tumbledried damp stuff
Made pasta for dinner and ate two portions myself - god, I was so hungry!
Loaded d/w
Room rescue - kitchen
Sprayed carpet stain remover on DS1's carpet and mopped and hoovered (seemed to help)
Bedtime routine - DS2
Before-bed routine - lunch boxes, uniforms, etc.

Just going to do an online shop, then off to bed myself. I can't decide if DH is actually more ill than I am, or just imagines that he is too ill to do anything. I can't help feeling somewhat irritated by it, but am trying to be patient in case he really is more ill. Sound familiar to anyone?

Good to see you again Fuzzled. Glad you had good care and hope you're able to continue taking it easy for a while.

Toffee - hope your household is all better soon.

swan - I hope you enjoyed the Bible study. I admit the 80+ Baptist ladies trying to convert you did make me giggle.

Yes, the hob is all safe and usable again. It's just whether or not to try and get money out of Bosch that's the problem now - DH thinks they might say getting it repaired has voided the warranty...

Anyway, tomorrow's list:
Strip beds, wash sheets, remake beds
Tidy bedroom
Filing
Dust
More hotspots
Try out stir-fry on boys

DS1 took himself off to bed at 6.30 this evening. I meant to follow his example and get an early night... Yawn! Better be off then.

Evening all

Mood has improved from this morning. Have sorted out a visit to a school and a meeting re a voluntary eduational position for Thursday, tidied the kitchen after returning from Brownies (and leaving DH), organised a meal out for our anniversary and sorted some more paperwork. Other flying didn't get done as was in a totally CBA mood after a run in with the supply agency again.

Jobs for tomorrow

• Swimming lesson
• PT session at the gym
• DD to karate
• Another job application (I'll be an expert at these)
• Toy cull - DDs idea of tidying on Monday was to pile up the toys - I think they may fall so I'm going to get rid whilst she is at school
• Attack ironing pile - Its piled up again so I'm going to get three baskets, one for each family member, sort the pile into this and then DH and myselfcan do our own and we can share DDs - I'm not doing this on my own!
• Sort out fridge to find out what I can make for rest of week - i'm trying to eat out of fridge, freezer and cupboards this week to free up some space and save money.
• Wash DDs ballet uniform as she has an exam on Sunday
• Mission (Tomorrows and Todays)

Right not sure when I'll get online tomorrow, but hope you are all well or getting better if you have been unwell.

i've got a new washing machine and tumble dryer! [brag]

Hi all,

Mad fantastic news on the new washing equipment. Hope it folds the clothes and puts them away!

Blue rubbish about hob, but good no explosion and all fixed. Nice and safe!

Fuzzled good to hear you are back in civvy street. That sounds a boring diet, but sushi, do you like sushi? Rice cakes, dry bread - trying to be positive here but failing. Still can't do the waistline any harm I suppose?
I hope it is all resolved soon. My did didn't need any treatment after his gallstone it just kind of disappeared and they didn't think it necessary to remove the gallbladder.

I just wanted to come on and do a 'WAH!' because, after spending washing and drying the 'Winter' part of my 4 seasons duvet, and finally putting it on the bed - DS has pee'd on it!!! I can't believe it! He had fallen asleep on top of the duvet and I went to get him - puddle!
So it's back off and I have washed the pee'ed on bit again by hand. At least it isn't the whole thing. Waterproof duvet cover anyone!

Sorry, not 'did' I meant to type 'Dad'.

Yup, low fat = boring

Seriously ladies, for fun (!) next time you shop, check out the fat content on some ordinary items and share my pain! I honestly didn't realise that so much stuff had high fat - like bog standard sandwich ham from the deli aisle - banned

Still, instead of mayo and butter, I can now eat redcurrant & cranberry jelly. Christmas every day for me

Today I need to catch up on laundry and hopefully dust the living room. Finishing Christening cards for my DS (who is 1 today - eek! ) would also be good! DFather is still here, so that's good as he can help herd DS if when I get tired.

Anyways, on with the day!

Morning all,

No excuses this morning as I have no runs to go for, no lessons to teach today, no school run (the DDs finish at the same time so can walk home together) and nothing planned until DS's appointment at the paed at 4 pm. He has to have a tick jab and keeps bursting into tears whenever I mention the doctor's (he hates having injections), but we've agreed on a compromise: we'll tell the doctor he doesn't want to have an injection. I don't like to tell him it won't make any difference, as he just wouldn't calm down otherwise!

rowing Oh no, how annoying about the duvet!
Re the homework, yes, the DC do get quite a lot. It starts virtually in the first week of school (although children don't start until 6 here) and it's rare that they get a night off. On top of homework, they also have extra things to revise; DD1 in in her last year of primary so has eight Schularbeiten (quite important tests) spread over the year, with her first one coming up next Tuesday, while DD2 is currently practising for a dictation tomorrow (two pages of words and sentences to learn).

MC Sorry to hear about your run-in with the supply agency but glad to hear that your mood improved.

Toffee Hope you're all feeling better this morning. It's a well-known fact that, if they come down with the same thing, men are always far more badly affected than women - I feel your pain!

WhoKnows Funny you should mention the menopause - it was a topic of conversation when I went out with friends on Friday night, as another friend of ours is currently going through it, and we suddenly all realised that that's the next stage we have to "look forward to". Since then, I seem to be constantly reminded of it; the other night we were watching the episode of Desperate Housewives where Bree discovers she's going through the menopause, then you mentioned it on the thread... It's all a conspiracy to stop me enjoying the last few days of my thirties.

Welcome back Fuzzled, good to see you again! Starting again with the babysteps sounds like a good idea. Happy birthday to your DS!

Talking of birthdays, this is a ridiculously busy week for them. DD2 is going to a birthday party on Friday, both DDs are going to parties on Sunday and Monday afternoons (school friends of DD2's, but DD1 has been invited too) and it's my birthday on Monday so we're planning to go out for lunch on Sunday. DH is quite worried about how this is going to affect DD1's revision for the test on Tuesday, although she'll have all of Saturday and Sunday morning to revise (which I think is a bit over the top anyway - it's maths, which is one subject she doesn't struggle too much with, and there's only a certain amount of revision you can do; it's not like learning pages and pages of facts about the Romans/knights and castles/our town, as we did last year [thank goodness]).

Short list for this morning (although morning routine covers a multitude of sins items):

Morning routine
Send invoice
e-mail
Plan tomorrow's English lessons
Decluttering
Mission

Done
recycling out
ds1 to school

now off to ASD group again [sigh]

Religious Talk [disclaimer]
and..I'm joining a new Bible study group from now on, as I really don't agree with lots they say about other religions and it's got a bit tricky.
Funnily enough a mid 50's neighbour who I had a snarky conversation with, at lunchtime, over an overhanging tree which she didn't want pruned, turned up there (she is RC, I hasten to add) and as the "text" was all about getting on with other people, it was a chance for us to make peace (subliminally ifsyim). She had had a difficult week - it all came out at the meeting, and that was obviously the reason she had felt cross about the tree. So, nothing is wasted....I felt glad I had gone if for no other reason except to make peace with neighbour...(by accident)

Normal Stuff
Dh is in a very good mood after buying lots of lovely books in Stoke Newington yesterday..may be a job should be a vocation after all, he certainly thinks so

MC sorry Supply agency is causing difficulties
Rowing ah yes.. but cat pee is far worse on a 15 tog double goosedown duvet!
Fuzzled glad you are over the worst. Yes it is amazing, for example a bagel is loaded with fat even before you spread anything on it. After a bit though you just won't want fatty stuff.

I am so so sorry. Had to go out last night to my mum's to deliver a bit of tlc and got back very late, then I didn't sleep all night due to severe faceache and then had a ridiculously busy morning.

The babystep for today is about having a bit of positivity and getting rid of the negative voices.

We are in the Hall, Porch and Dining Room.

The mission is here

And last, by no means least, today is Anti-Procrastination Day! Get all those jobs done you've been putting off.

Fuzzled, I'll pass on your fat challenge although will send my sympathies. Ds was severely allergic to milk in his younger days. Did you know they also put milk in a lot of deli counter ham too? Hope you feel better soon!

CBA has kicked in. The doc appointment yesterday was a bit they are going to do some tests and are thinking about playing around with my meds for my migraines. In the mean time I have some sleeping tablets. Took one last night and I feel like hell but don't have the option of sleeping it off. But did sleep deeply and 9hrs last night. So I suppose that is something.

I have a lot of yesterday's list to do today plus new stuff:

Up, ds to school on time nearly
fill in ds' reading record done
Find and email birth certificate image done
Set up and re-install scanner done with lots of swearing stupid computers.
finish project
wash project
wrap and send project
school meeting
sort out ds swimming kit
ds' swimming lesson
cook tea
empty car of kit from last night and air.
Laundry
empty bins

oh bloody hell this list is growing completely the more I think of what needs to be done the more gets added. I am going to stop and work on the finish project bit.

whoknows lunch was a giggle but just not long enough. Enjoy yours!

I've just realised I virtually always cba on antiprocrastination day go figure.

oh dear, I'm getting absolutely nothing done...
didn't get to ASD group, trying to sort out some net stuff...to do with kitchen, but b & q online planning thing keeps crashing

however Ouch installed my new printer last night with a scanner! It was getting ridiculous my lack of techy equip!

now when I am come back on here, I am going to have cleaned the whole of upstairs and changed all the sheets and then hopefully my house will look like a nice hotel.

DH still in bed and feeling dreadful. I am trying to be patient. DS1 up and about, but still off school. DS2 at school.

Can't be bothered to list my 'to dos' today, but it involves further scrubbing of DS1's bedroom carpet and mattress (carpet shampoo seemed to help), more washing and a whole house rescue. Ocado order coming later to cheer me up.

One daft thing I wanted to share with you all. I have just gone through a long palaver of buying a denim skirt from White Stuff, then, when it turned out to have a frayed hem, ordering another one online. This also turned out to be unsuitable. However, I have just discovered the very same skirt hanging up in my wardrobe. I think I bought it a year or two ago and had forgotten all about it .

Time to sort my wardrobe out, I think.

Somebody give me a swift kick up the backside and tell me to buck my ideas up. I really need some motivation today (and this week in fact) the house is looking a state because I CBA - I'm fed up. I'm off swimming in a minute and really don't want to go. I did however go to the gym and realised how much better I felt until I got hom (and saw the mess)

Right I've got 20 minutes before I need to leave for swimming. I'm going to get changed and then spend 15 minutes on ironing pile.

Hi all,

Toffee high five about the skirt! As long as it fits of course, but after your 'episode' with the bug I would imagine most things fit.

Swan Urk at the cat pee! Was it the launderette for you, or did you manage to wash it at home?

MC buck up your ideas! Quit yo jibba jabba and hit the house! Did that work? Could you just do a swish and swipe and a room rescue or something? Just to 'do' something and get your fly-mojo back?

Linzer bless your DS, poor little thing. There isn't much you can do really is there, just get through it somehow, with copious amounts of chocolate, trickery and threats.
My ds is the same - the nurse told me he is one of the worst children she has ever had to inject. He can be quite calm until he is in the room and then he goes beserk.
That homework sounds pretty heavy. We did a bit of stuff last night 5 adjectives, but he is just learning how to write/spell so it takes quite a long time for him. He could read when he started school so now is between two stools and gets homework from his own year and from the year above. I'm going to speak to the additional needs lady to find out what is expected given the fact that the year above are competent writers.

So this is my list
Get new key cut - wandered lonely as a lost person searching for the key shop then finally found it and that's that really
Book room for DS's birthday - have details need to decide today/tomorrow and book
get baking stuff from Tesco - done
bake 2 batches of muffins for tomorrow's cake stall
get washing in
put washing out
get new load on - pee'd on stuff mainly
put new card in Blackberry and load on music - doing that, I think?
morning routine
done kitchen not bathroom yet
hoover perhaps if time
that's it
oh get ready for work
ds park 30 mins
work

Its funny how different schools approach homework. It is only now in year 2 that ds is bring home homework that isn't reading and spellings. He was given last year cos of the split year group thing but only attempted if he wanted. It is a shock to his system that this years 1 sheet/wk is not optional. He hates writing it is a trauma that needs bribery for him and I am beginning to think vast quantities of alcohol for me.

Right Am on a massive fail due to motivation. GOing to have lunch. coffee and see if i can actually cross anything off the list. Still working on the blooming project. Getting sick of it now :(

This is my only five-hour morning this week and still I don't manage to get half of my list done. Lesson planning has had to be postponed until this evening as some urgent work arrived, and cooking a big batch of bolognese took up a good hour (but should keep the DC going for months).

Trying to supervise homework at the moment, but DD2 is tired and in a foul mood and DD1 won't stop chattering. DD2 is also complaining about a pain in her mouth (can't tell whether it's tooth-related or not from where she's pointing, but I think it's more in her cheek), so I'm hoping the doctor will see her when I take DS a bit later.

Must get the following done before I pick up DS:

Hang up washing
Write birthday card to friend
Get DD2 to write card

rowing It's good that your DS is getting extra work from school; children here seem to be expected to all work at exactly the same level here. It was a huge problem when DD1 started school (she has a mild form of dyslexia) and everyone told us DD2 would be bored when she started as she could already read (very unusual here, despite the fact that they don't start until 6 - she was one of only two in her class who could already read and I think the only one who could write). Fortunately she's not bored at all but she's never been given any different work from the rest of the class.

Toffee I've done exactly the same thing with a cardigan - bought one when I was back in the UK last summer and was about to put it away when I discovered that I'd bought exactly the same one on a previous visit.

Only have about 20 minutes left, so must get on with my list.

Oh dear I'm so tired as well. I think we should all stop for a cup of tea or something and just watch 'Come Dine With Me' or some rubbish for ten minutes to recharge.
I'm just off to make a coffee....[trots off]