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.

I'm struggling to keep up with this thread, but I am at least still on top of the housework.

Felt dreadful yesterday, really fluey... or really pregnant? and slept most of the day, Today has been much the same so I'm not doing much... I think that might be a running theme for the next few weeks months.

So far 5 minute room rescue all around the house.
1 load of washing on
Yesterday's washing hopefully dry.

Plan for the rest of the day:
Sweep & mop downstairs
Put today's washing in to dry
Put away all washing (this is probably my least favourite task and there are 4 loads to put away. )
Clean out fish tank.... maybe.... tonight.

Ellie Hope your face/tooth gets sorted, tooth infections are Evil!
Nicknacks Hope DS1 is okay.
PA Good luck with the language learning, it does sound very complicated. I failed A-level Spanish spectacularly but I can get by if I ever need to (although I haven't been abroad for 10 years.) Immersion is definitely the best way to learn.

morning routine done
volunteering at school library done
no washing today - last lot is still on line wet, dry, wet, dry....etc...
book DS's party done
activate new debit card - cool new HBOS/Lloyds account where you get £5 a month credited to your account, but don't pay any fees. What could possibly go wrong... done
Hoover sitting room and hall and bookshelf
Final list of guests for DS's party - later
DS's footie stuff to school
read instructions for Blackberry - completely in dark at the moment - no please!!
find out why sim has not uploaded 50% of contacts
Joomla tonight hopefully set up by end of evening
check emails
lunch + vits done

Nicknacks I hope your DS is OK.

Blblio I'm impressed that you are even attempting this, consider anything done as a bonus.

Floor done
Washing drying

Desperately need a drink now but refusing to walk on wet floors. One day I'll remember to make a cold drink before I start mopping.

rowingboat, FL really got me out of a rut/depression during maternity leave last time, and the house desperately needs decluttering, it's my mission for this year. I figure any routines I can get started on now will help in a couple of weeks time. :)
I'm beginning to get slightly annoyed with DH thinking this is all nesting though, Nesting is randomly cleaning out cupboards (which I haven't the energy for.) Hoovering, tidying & mopping is keeping on top of the housework. He's a SAHD so really it's him that needs the routines. Although I'd rather sweep and mop myself, he's not very good at it. :o

list update:
take several phone calls. done
Ironing done
Fold clothes up to date
Pick up antibiotics about to do.
Make sure ds' kit is washed and ready for later done
Pick up ds from school
Ds training
Early night.

Agh! DS1 is being pathetic. Don't know whether it would be better or worse if he were coming down with something ...

Ta da!
Washing done and on line
Hoover emptied
Hoovering
Applied to various translation agencies
Long phone call to my mum
Lunch at school with DS1 - special event to show off the new menu to parents
Power nap
Aldi shop and put away
Collected boys
Cooked tea

Phew. A friend coming over later so may not be back on this evening.

NickNacks - hope your DS is OK.
Bilblio - (a mug of cold water!)
Ouch - hope you get an early night.
PA - good luck with the language course.

Evening all,

Nicknacks - sorry to hear about DS1

Bilblio - I always make a cup of tea and put it just outside the kitchen before I start mopping. Then I walk off and forget to drink it!

ELlie and Ouch - hope you are both feeling better soon

Linzer - thanks, book arrived today, it is one I have been meaning to read for ages.

MC - hope the bread turned out OK

PA - there are a couple of teach yourself Khmer sets on Ebay Khmer. I did A level French and was fairly fluent 20 years ago, it has largely drained away I am sad to say, although it starts coming back quite quickly whenever I go to France.

Uneventful day here, apart from me totally blowing a fuse with the DCs after school, we have 20 minutes to get change, have a drink, snack and a wee before heading out to tennis, I lay all the clothes out for them, they love their tennis, but will they get ready on time? No, and it drives me nuts, I was screaming at them like a madwoman, grrrr.

Who was it that lost their wedding or engagement ring on here a few weeks ago? Did it turn up? I had a similar thing today, I have a silver pendant which was made for me by my aunty when I was about 8, it is one of my most treasured possessions and I wear it most of the time. I took it off to do the Shred today as it bounces and hits my chin, put it back on afterwards and set off for my run (which I aborted after 5 mins due to shredded legs and a freezing cold gale), only to realise about 2 hours later (at tennis) that I wasn't wearing it. Got home, spent half an hour searching for it whilst cooking the tea, no sign, DH got home just as it was starting to get dark so I dashed out to try and retrace my running steps on the green outside and luckily found it about 10m in from the side, phew, I would have been devastated to have lost that.

Anyway, the DCs ended up having their TV time curtailed tonight due to fighting when I was trying to get them to tennis, the upshot of that was that they behaved beautifully when we got back but wanted to play games and do homework in telly time, also DH is out, so I still need to do washing up, packed lunches etc and collapse into bed with a good book thanks to Linzer

Sorry, just realised that post was completely devoid of any mention of housework .

Glad the book arrived OK, WhoKnows. I enjoyed the first couple of chapters, but then interrupted it to read book no. 2 so that I can bring it over to London for you - however, am really struggling to get into it and seriously thinking about giving up on it, which I hardly ever do. Have just had a quick glance at the book swap board and it doesn't look líke anyone has reviewed it, so I'm wondering whether I'm not the only one who struggled!

Another late (too late for me, anyway) night here; I still haven't written my shopping list (was planning to go shopping first thing tomorrow after the school run), but will probably leave it until the morning as I'm propping my eyelids open as it is. Will have an earlier start than usual tomorrow too, as I have to drive DH to the station at 6.30 am.

Also need to wrap a present for a party that DD2 has been invited to tomorrow, but she/we should have time to do it in between the after-school English lesson and the party. Discovered when I phoned a friend this evening that her DD has bought exactly the same present for the birthday girl, so I've dug out the receipt and will take it along to the party when I drop the girls off!

Hi all,

just popping in. Getting nowhere with my Blackberry, it doesn't talk to anything else so I can't move files the way I used to with my old Sony and it has only read half the contacts on my old sim so I am missing lots of people.
I'm sure there is a perfectly reasonable explanation, but it's frying my head.

Who knows what luck finding the necklace! That must have been such a relief! Very methodical approach though.
I once lost a pair of specs in very high winds and searched until it got dark that night. Feeling a bit emotional about it all I went to bed. The following day DS spotted a 'twig' under our back car tyre, which turned out to by my glasses. They could have blown anywhere and under any car, but the were wedged under the tyre of our car. So lucky. Even more lucky that I didn't reverse out of the car park and crush them.

Linzer how did your DS get on with the injection?

Another peeing event courtesy of ds, I heard a noise around an hour after he went to sleep and went to investigate. Opening the bedroom door I almost concussed him due to the fact he was standing directly behind the door.
Off we went to the loo, but he didn't want to pee, despite having a wet trouser leg.
I went back in 5 minutes ago to take him to the loo and realised there was a wet patch directly behind the door! Hmm! How did that get there? He must be marking his territory at the moment.
Good job I have my trusty carpet cleaner ready to go (and the carpet is revolting so quite handy).

Rowing - last year DH lost his phone out on the same green in the snow. 2 weeks later, when we had searched and searched and most of the snow had melted, one of the neighbours found it in the remains of a snowman, took it home and dried it in the airing cupboard, recharged it and rang the ICE number to find out whose it was. Of course he had gone and bought another one the day before, but he was very pleased to get it back.

One of the nice things about having very old carpets and furniture is not minding so much when the DCs trash it or wee on it!

Wow Whoknows your green sounds like a treasure chest, I'm coming to have a look, might bag a new ipad!
Yes the old carpet thing was my plan, it was all intentional and nothing to do with having no money to buy a new carpet.

Thanks for the link Whoknows. I am "watching" one and will see what happens near the end of bidding at 7pm tonight. I get very excited about ebay bidding!

Rowing - my DS used to sleepwalk and wee wherever he happened to end up. He never wet his bed, but would get up and open his wardrobe and wee, open his draw and wee, come into the kitchen and lift the bin lid and wee, open the back door and wee.........but he was asleep! Could your DS have done the same?

I am working today, but DH is off which results in me being able to do absolutely nothing around the house. So I will not do a list today......I would only fail miserably!

Have a good day everyone. Hope you are ok Ellie. to everyone else.

Morning all. Am still alive but in the most horrific pain. Turns out it is a dental abscess and a massive one at that. Have got some antibiotics and am hoping they will kick in soon. However i still have no laptop so if someone could post links this morning i would be very grateful. Am hoping to get laptop from school at some point today as the battery has gone our one at home.

CM has also phoned in sick today (think she is having a miscarriage ) so have got school run to do and the pleasure of dd's company this afternoon. I had already decided not to go to work before she rang so at least i have the dc's covered so to speak.

Back later.

Oh no, that sounds awful ellie; really hope it clears up soon. I'll post today's links for you - back in a few minutes.

Thanks linzer.

Today's babystep is to pick out your clothes the night before (I don't always do so for myself, but find it invaluable for the DC).

The mission is to spend five minutes sweeping your porch and then five minutes vacuuming the entrance area.

Here are the reminders for Friday. And don't forget that Friday night is date night.

Poor poor ellie they are excrutiating. I think it was the only time I didn't mind sitting in dentist's chair, just to get it cured.
Whoknows my ds2 is so terrible at getting ready - he will get completely absorbed in something else and forget entirely that time is passing. Conversely when he sets his mind on something he gets incredibly anxious that he's going to be late. I suspect he doesn't like thinking in advance about things because that is a source of stress, so he does the total blot out method of preparation I share the same symptoms alas.
well done on finding your locket, how lovely of your aunt to make it for you!

Today the twins are returning from their 5 day school trip. I suppose I should tidy their rooms that would be a good mother thing to do
It has been lovely without them So much time to chill out with ds1, and the mornings have been so relaxed too.
On the other hand...I am now very much looking forward to giving them both a big hug and hearing all the thrills and spills of their outward bound course.

I feel like dh and I have also had a bit more time to communicate...

NickNacks sorry about school incident. These things are so overwhelming at the time aren't they. Partly due to the not quite knowing what has happened, communication issues, all the other parties involved. Do hope your little boy is alright (is he 6?)

re: DH. I also suspect absence of extra two children has meant we have also had more energy time to argue over various matters

PA that is truly a nightmarish vision of childhood! It brings back terrible memories of dreaming one is lookign for the bathroom...
So much easier in a tent

todo
last night in desperation I cut out various meals from mags and stuck them onto a page to force myself to meal plan. (and allow myself to declutter mags)
bank to pay somthing
shops to buy food for weekend, following ingredients on meal plan
tidy twins' rooms
tidy our bedroom, hoover
start trimming fig tree
mow lawn
rubbish dump

Linzer what book are you reading that wasn't good? [nosy emoticon]
I am about to read Corrections and Skippy Dies. But I seem not to have read anything for ages - too many books everywhere it seems to put me off.

Morning all.
Sorry to be a sporadic poster again, I am with you in spirit if not in action

Whoknows - glad you found your locket, it's a horrible feeling when you lose something isn't it. As for not mentioning Flying in a post, I think that's my forte, it must be a rarity when I do mention it. Certainly not much is being done at the moment inspite of even more good intentions.

Ellie - hope the ABs kick in soon, tooth pain must be one of the worst types of pain. Also hope DD behaves for you this pm - I'd go for the Cbeebies/DVD method of childcare if I were you. Also hope poor CM is OK.

Swan - the absence of a family member or two really can shift the dynamnics can't it? Hope you can enjoy your final twins-free day and enjoy their company once they get back - lots of hugs sound nice :) .

Ta Da:

• Run - need more layers as I was cold, did make me run faster though
• Prepare for meeting with deputy head about DD and the year group from hell
• Bath
• All up and out
• Washing in
• Sorted out yellow clothes for neighbour's DD. Non-uniform day (different school) and she had forgotten. Luckily my DD LOVES yellow so just raided her wardrobe. Was HORRIFIED by state of DD's room when neighbour followed me upstairs - definitely CHAOS in this house ATM

To Do

• WORK
• Washing out (probably on airer not on line :()
• Breakfast washing up done and sink shiny
• RR in living room
• 15 mins declutter somewhere - 'dining room' cupboard maybe
• Bathroom

That should do for now, might even be achievable

swan It's The Star of the Sea by Joseph O'Conner, but it has some very good reviews on Amazon so maybe I was just in the wrong frame of mind when I started reading it and should give it another chance. It could just well be one of those books that takes me a while to get into.

Do you happen to have been past Oxfam in Ealing btw? No worries if not as there's no rush, but DH was asking me last night if I knew any more. He has a new (and far more expensive) obsession, however - cameras.

feetheart I'm looking forward to running in colder weather, although possibly not in the pouring rain that we had this morning. Am already stocking up on winter running gear - must go to Tchibo this afternoon, as it's on offer there this fortnight.

Still no time to do much FLYing. Must go and cut up some fruit in preparation for today's English lesson...

Morning all

Ellie Hope the tooth pain gets better soon
Swan enjoy your last day without the twins but I bet you'll enjoy it even more when they return.
Whoknows Glad you found the locket safely.

OK well its my anniversary today. I've been married 5 long and torturous years not really. 5 lovely years. So tonight DH is taking me out to a local restaurant and DD is going to GPs. I am however in the bad books as I forgot to get a card and DH is in the bad books as he got me a pressie (Which we don't do) although I don't know wht it is yet cos it hasn't arrived.

Went to visit a school yesterday. Lovely school, only 10 minutes away but with a very problem pupil!! Spent last night really agonising whether to apply or not. I think I've decided that I am going to but the application needs to be in the last post tonight so that is going to be my main job today.

Other things to do

• Post office to pick up parcel
• Shop for bread
• Application form
• Speak to volunteer manager about plans for my first week volunteering next week
• Email supply agency
• shower ready for tonight as my hair is completely windswept and got drenched in the rain last night.
• Hoover rest of downstairs - Have already hoovered kitchen this morning after a coco pops explosion
• Finish off spare room - spent about 1.5 hours on it yesterday, sorting clothes etc that I had let pile up. It is also our dumping ground and the door I keep permenently closed
• Pick up DD from school and take her to GPs
• Have a lovely romantic night out with DH

Right best make a start with the application. Back later

Hello fellow Fledglings,

This is the third time I have posted - lost other two messages because builders in house - lots of clattering and banging - and keep being interrupted and then posts somehow disappear!

Had spectacular fall from Flying this week which is rather embarrassing considering my "determined" promises to myself to do better this month However, [lazy mare emoticon] my twice fortnightly ironing lady is here (1st time since mid-June!!!) and my new cleaner has returned for second time (thought she would be too horrified by house to come back!!) Yayyyyy!!! So relieved that both of them are here because there are 7 paniers of ironing (2 for dh, 2 for me, 1 for dd, 1 for house, 1 for office ) and builders have created rather a lot of plaster dust and mess.

So Feetheart puts it very well - I am Flying with you in spirit rather than in action! Attending to Mnsnet 'work' work atm.

Ellie Oh no!! So sorry to hear about the abscess. That sounds really awful. And sorry to hear about your cm too. Hope you are managing to get a bit of a rest this afternoon. Take it steady x

MC Happy anniversary to you and your dh. Hope you have a lovely celebration. And good luck with job application should you decide to go for it!

Linzer thank you for links!

Swan good to hear you and your dh have had the opportunity for a bit more time together while the twins were away (tis v. necessary from time to time) but enjoy the reunion today!

Rowingboat sorry to hear you have extra laundry today [but arf at 'marking territory!]

Whoknows how strange had similar late-for-tennis-inspired screeching match with dd yesterday afternoon after school . Got there in the end though (first session of term) and she enjoyed it. So glad you found your locket.

Btw MC was it you who lost your rings on the Sept thread? Did they ever turn up?

Nicknacks hope your ds is OK x

Ouch sorry haven't pm'ed you yet re: headache info. Will do so as soon as I can gather my woolly brain together.

Take it steady Bilbio hope you are feeling a bit better today x

PA !!!!!! at learning Khmer ... your life is never dull is it???!!!! Don't worry about it - it'll be much easier to pick up once you are in situ!

Huge waves to Fuzzled and Nettie (hope you are both taking the time to recover properly if at all poss) and Droitwich Blue Ihate Toffee CheerfulY Cinders and anyone else I have forgotten ...

Ellie - so sorry to hear about the abscess - I have never had one, but they are terrifically painful, apparently. It must be awful. And I'm sorry to hear about your CM - I hope she doesn't miscarry .

Nicknacks - sorry that your son has been having a bad time at school. How awful for you all.

MC - Happy anniversary! Hope you have a lovely evening out with DH.

Swan - glad you have enjoyed your twin-free time. Hope they had a good trip.

Linzer - my package has arrived (DH just shouted up the stairs). Thank you!

Feet - my DS2 had a yellow day at school yesterday. He doesn't have any yellow clothes, so I sent him to school with a yellow sock puppet on his arm instead .

PA - at your DS weeing all over your house - although I'm sure it wasn't fun for you having to clear it up all the time!

Yesterday was DS1's 12th birthday. He was up at 4am , sent back to bed, but then woke up DS2 and they cuddled up together, talking, until 6am, when we gave up and let them get up and DS1 opened his presents. By the evening, they were both so tired they were weeping. DS1 was convinced that I was going to ruin tonight's sleepover with his friends by not allowing them to watch a scary movie (er, no, DS1, you can't watch 'The Exorcist', 'Saw' or any of the other horrific films that all your 11- and 12-year-old friends claim they have watched). I finally cuddled him to sleep and thought what a little boy he still was, in spite of all his pretensions to being 'grown up'.

So, today I am washing more or less continuously, it seems, doing the usual chores and sorting out DS1's bedroom for his sleepover. I seem to have vanquished the vomit smell at last (lots of carpet shampoo, open windows and aromatherapy smelly stuff placed at strategic points).

DH is out of bed at last. He is making us lunch and reloading the d/w as I
type.