Remember, remember the fledgling Flyers: dusting, and decluttering a lot..

[DarknessSoothes]

Come one come all, fledgling reunite. 1st of the month and we survived the fright. Bonfire month and lets burn though the housework to prepare for the festivities of December.

As from the 1st we will be babystepping, mission and deep cleaning our way out of the C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome).

For newbies and those who need reminding here is the principles behind the babystep system.

The basic is this:

1. Do the babysteps.
2. When you do the babysteps with consistency add in the missions
3. When you are doing the babysteps and missions as a habbit tackle the deep cleaning.

This thread is a mishmash of people at different stages. The lists can look long, but look carefully, some of us are reposting lists and parts of lists from day to day.

Our motto is this: Do not strive to be perfect, Progress is progress and anything is better then nothing and my personal favourite part of the fly lady system is you are never behind, just jump in and start from where you are.

So on that note here we go. With much thanks to Ellie who lead us with amusing roundups last month.

Day 1: Babystep 1 - How to shine your sink

Mission here - this will update overnight ready for the early fledglings

Tuesday's reminders are here: It's planning day

And for those of you who are eagerly awaiting christmas here is the flylady's crusing into christmas page. Personally i did some of this last year and done some this year and it does take a chunk of the stress out of christmas.

Well now that I have suitably scared you, see you all tomo!!

please darkness

Well this morning I managed to

Wash up
Put laundry away
2 wash loads washed, 1 dried 1 drying

Went to drop a mindee off and DD chose an opportune moment on a particularly iffy road to projectile vomit all over the car and mindee and then choked on the 20 litres that hadn't come out yet... I've never illegally pulled over and ran round a car so fast in my life

So we are having a day off tomorrow and I can imagine lots of washing being required

I will fly during naps

No flying done today beyond routines. Spent nap time firing off CVs and enquiries - getting seriously worried at the lack of work... Also got bad news about one of my favourite clients...

Pours more for lauren - sounds like you need it! Hope your DD gets better quickly.

Justonemore - info on italics, emoticons etc is below the "Add your message here" box.

Better go - trouble in t' bath.

Toffee wow a club penguin party! DD would love to go to one of those. What do you have planned? I made a club penguin birthday cake for her last birthday which look fab but took a lot of effort so i'm very impreesed that you are doing a whole party club penguin stylee

Lady - re Club Penguin party: I am planning lots of fake snow to make it look like the Club Penguin world, but not the messy, loose kind as we are in a church hall (you can buy a 'carpet' of snow). Thought we could have a fake snowball fight and some themed games. DH is planning to entertain the children by dressing up as a mad scientist (like Gary the inventor on Club Penguin) and doing some silly experiments. DS1 wants to run the 'giftshop' with a friend, which will involve sitting behind boxes chatting with his friend, then handing out party bags at the end.

What did you do for the Club Penguin cake? I was planning to do an igloo and plant a little Club Penguin figure with sledge next to it. I have also managed to get some Puffle toppers for fairy cakes.

I think Club Penguin is a lovely game, but I do find it very hard to get DS2 off it once he's on. Do you have the same issue with your DD?

Lauren - oh no, that's awful! You poor things! Sounds like you are in for a busy night.

Blue - sorry about the work worries. No work for me either. Am quite enjoying it, but it is a bit worrying (lots of redundancies which mean they are not hiring freelancers at present).

Darkness - forget the flying and have a .

Off to get DS2 into the bath and into bed, so DS1, DH and I can watch a recorded episode of 'The Walking Dead' (zombie gorefest and not at all my sort of thing usually, but I'm hooked).

Thanks for the blue I definitely do need it!

toffeefudge I am of ds's party that sounds great I want to come!!

So dd is in her cot but not asleep, she was sick on the dog after I last posted, I babywiped him and bathing him is now on the list for tomorrow boak!

Still not much FLYing going on here. Most of the day seemed to be taken up with preparing and teaching English lessons, and I'm busy with work again this evening. Tomorrow morning I need to fit in work, planning the school English lessons and getting the house ready for our friends' visit, and I just know the morning isn't going to be long enough.

Toffee Have never heard of Club Penguin - for some reason, I thought of Jacob's Club biscuits when I read your post. Not that I'm obsessed with biscuits or anything. The party sounds like it's going to be fantastic, anyway.

Blue Sympathies re lack of work and bad news - I lost one of my major clients a few years ago and now regularly go through dry spells. I've had quite a few enquiries recently (plus one job) through the ITI website; are you a member? I keep meaning to apply to the agencies that have contacted me, but have been quite busy with English teaching recently (although compared with translation, I find it's harder work for less money) and just don't seem to be able to find the time.

Oh no lauren, sounds like is definitely in order for you tonight. And for you as well, Darkness.

Am joining you in the naughty corner, SC. I have been here for weeks.

Sorry, no time to go any further back - must go and get something to eat now. Waves to everyone I've missed.

Tbh i don't need i need my bed. just about to chuck ds into his. In the mean time here are the linkipoos...

babystep although fuck knows if i can figure out from that what we are supposed to be adding. Room rescue? hopes someone more awake can have a look and clarify.

mission

Wednesday is antiprocrastination day

So I am doing precisely that and going to have coffee with a friend in town that i have been putting off doing.

Right bollocks to everything that didnt get done and needs to be done. I am going to bed. NIGHT

well, so far so good. (and you're right, darkness, i did have the one scarily efficient day )

dwdone
wm - not yet
vaccuumdone (get me!)
wipe down kitchen done
brownie planning done
and it's lunch time! hooray!

ds1 missed the school bus this morning, despite a 20, 15, 10, 5 and 1 minute countdown and telling him the bus was going up the road, then down the road. he basically moved not a muscle. no effort to try and catch it at all. i had to put dd2 on her bus which leaves 5 mins after his, and when i got back he was standing on the doorstep in a hoody (it was about -15) grinning and chatting to his friend from next door. not even 'oh, i've missed the bus'. so i walked past and cleared the table and loaded the dw.

i did give him a lift to school eventually, once i had given him a huge clue that he was completely responsible for the next move and that i was just going to carry on with my normal routine and ignore him in the same manner that he had been ignoring me for the previous hour and a half, until he had made it. we had a Long Discussion. i mentioned home ed again. i really don't know what to do. he is totally in a world of his own.

i'm going to try Planning today. that'll be a first.

oo, i like the look of the menus site as well toffee. i might sign up for the week free trial and see how it goes...

Lauren - party may sound great, but whether it will actually be great is another matter. I love the planning - it's the actual party that worries me. Sorry your DD has been so sick again (poor dog!).

Linzer - doesn't sound as if you have any time for Flying. Are you still enjoying teaching?

Am waiting for DS2 to settle down to sleep. We've had "Mummy, I'm scared", "Mummy, I've got an eyelash", (he means, he's got one caught in his eye - not true, incidentally) and "Mummy, I need a wee" . Why won't he go to sleep?! Children should have an 'off' button.

Good idea to do the trial, Madwoman. Hope you enjoy it. Sorry about your DS's lack of motivation. Was he hoping that he wouldn't have to go if he missed the bus, maybe? If it's any consolation, my eldest son can be maddening. If he loses something, it's always, "Where are my glasses?" as if it's my fault. I say, "Wherever you left them" and he gets angry with me, as if I should know where all his things are.

Right, DS is still grumbling, but he's listening to a story tape and may not notice if I sneak downstairs...

no, i think he knows full well that there would be no way he would miss school... he was just in a little dilly dolly world of his own. i think he was reading, but he was making the right 'okay' noises every time i shouted up the stairs, and he gets really upset if i follow him around and monitor him as he gets ready (he just stops and refuses to move and gets really anxious, bursts into tears) so i'm not sure. he was definitely carrying his book when he eventually appeared from upstairs after his bus had driven off... and he hadn't brushed his teeth, washed his face, or done his hair. and it was photo re-take day.

and don't mention the losing stuff. it makes me crazy. it's a miracle if both he and his homework make it to the house. yesterday he asked me for $15 to pay for a school library book he's 'lost'. i said no, because he hasn't even looked for it yet.

he knows we are considering home ed though, so it might be playing on his mind...

Very sorry- I have read the thread but I don't have the energy for personals. Think I've got the kids bug because I haven't made it off the toilet out of bed today.

Tomorrows list though- assuming I feel better.

Empty DW
Hang wet washing
Hoover downstairs
DD for immunisations
Visit aunt for lunch (she wants to see DD walking)
Work through hot spot of school letters and make appropriate replies/cheques
What's for dinner?
15 mins in kitchen

And that will do.

Night :(

Toffee DD is not a member (she was in the summer hols but never in term time - my sis may buy her a month for over Xmas hols tho as her Xmas present) which def helps but she'll play whenever i let her which is usually 1/2 hr x2 per week sometimes more if H/W is done.

Her cake was a ready made rectangular ASDA one with white icing. I made an igloo out of rolling icing and fashioned it around a pudding cup then scored the bricks with a knife. Made a few penguins and puffles out of coloured rolling icing and a surfboard, skittles and i can't remember what else. Made some blue royal icing and iced blue waves around the edge of the cake which made it look more authentic. So enjoyed doing it and her friends and their parents all congratulated me which made it all worthwhile as it did take a few days to decorate. Oh yes and i made a lighthouse with white and red icing and made windows and a door out of black icing rolled like worms.

Wish I could post a pic but not sure how. Hope that helps anyway

Nicknacks hope you are feeling better tomorow
Darkness thanks for the links - Hope you manage a good nights sleep
Madwoman sometimes Dh is like that. Dilli-dallies and doesn't realise you have beentelling him to hurry up until its too late.
blue I hope you get some work soon. Lack of a job is also praying heavy on my mind. I'm trying to buy things for xmas spaced out but i've no idea how we are going to afford it without me working still.
laurenamium Hope DD is better tomorrow

Right my list is completely done. DD got a glowing report at parentsevening and I am up early tomorrow for DDs hospital appointment so I best get to bed.

Thanks MC, toffee and Linzer. I'm starting to realise that I really need to get my act together and advertise myself better...
Linzer, no I'm not a member of the ITI. I just had a look at their website and found it so confusing I backed out hurriedly! Will have to have another look tomorrow when I'm more awake... I've got a couple of leads which might come to something. Just praying they do!!

Anyway, waves to everyone else. Night all, and hope poorly peeps are feeling better in the morning.

Madwoman - that sounds so frustrating for you. Today, my DS told me cheerfully that he had received a detention for not bringing his PE kit in. I always make sure he has his PE kit in school on the right day, but he had left it in his locker in his classroom and there was a lesson running, so he felt he couldn't interrupt. This is the third time he's done this! I told him he should bring the PE kit home if he wasn't able to access it at school, but I'm sure he would be able to retrieve it from the locker if he organised himself better and arrived at the classroom before lessons started.

Lady - your Club Penguin cake sounds fabulous. I love the lighthouse idea, but I'm not sure my decorating skills are up to that. I think I'd better keep it simple.

Nicknacks - that bug sounds horrible. I hope it passes quickly.

Blue - hope you get some good news re work soon.

Makingchanges - well done to your DD for getting a glowing report .

Off to bed now. House is a tip, but I'm trying to ignore it. Am hoping for more energy tomorrow.

Night everyone.

lol toffee, ds1 is going without an entire year's worth of monthly pizza lunches at school, because he lost the order form and didn't feel able to ask the class teacher for another one.

You lot can flippin talk for England, cant you!!!

My whirlwind life should abate slightly after today, so I am just hanging on in there for today and hope that tomorrow gives me just a slight moment to breathe.

So waves to everyone and I will return tomorrow and try and catch up on what you have all been doing.

I'm sorry it's been two days since I was last here! As for flying

Dh currently in kitchen shouting at children and telling me he can't cope

Am I not the one who is up at 5 every morning trying to get them to stop fighting and go back to bed?????

Anyway work, nursery, school
Post thank you cards for ds and dd birthday presents sept and oct
Home to put clothes away
Sort out which Christmas present is for who and wrap!

I'm going to leave it like that and rejoice if we all get through to bedtime without killing each other. Should be ok at least dh is working tonight.

I do hope you are all well.

darkness I bow down at your ability to roundup these loveable chatterboxes.

Have lovely days everyone.

Morning all,

Just flying by before I start work. Am hopeful that I'll finish in time to finally make a start on tackling the chaos. Although I've just remembered that I still need to plan tomorrow's English lessons.

Toffee Yes, am still enjoying the English teaching, although the kindergarten group is very hard work...

AIBU to expect four 5 year old boys to sit still(ish), or at least to stay sitting down (in a circle), for more than about five seconds? Plus the two most boisterous will start play-fighting if I take my eye off them for more than two or three seconds. They're better when they're sitting at the table colouring in but I can't really spend the whole half hour doing that. I'm exhausted at the end of the 30 minutes!

Blue Hope your leads turn into work for you. Must admit that I found the ITI membership application process very time-consuming (particularly getting references and the exam itself, although you can also choose to have work that you've already done assessed) but I do get enquiries on a fairly regular basis from people who've found me on their website. Their Bulletin is often a very interesting read too; I'd be happy to pass my copies on to you if you like as the other translators I know are either members or have access to the Bulletin. It seems a shame to just throw them away but I know that I'll rarely refer back so have started to declutter them in the hope that one day, I'll have a tidy and decluttered office!

Anyway, must get on with some work; back later.

[SC pokes head out of duvet in naughty corner, slides tray containing coffee pot, sustaining bowl of porridge and power berries in direction of Darkness, takes one look at list and pulls duvet back over head]

sc

Thanks everyone for well wishes for DD she's currently still asleep after having me up no less than 9 times last night

So to do today:
Wash up/dry/ put away
Shine sink
Yesterday's mission
Today's mission
Hoover up
Wash kitchen floor
Bath the dog...yak
Food shop if I dare take DD out the house - will see how she is this afternoon!
4 washing loads (ish) of bedding and pyjamas!

Right here goes! Have a lovely day everyone!

I think I'll just have to jump in again as I'm getting confused which way up the thread is when I flip it...

meanwhile sympathies [I think] to Lorelais MC and Nicknacks whoI think were suffering from lack of sleep and illness (but as I say I'm a bit lost)
and Toffee your party sounds amazing! Wow! I'm sure ds1's day at home won't go amiss anyway, just a bit irritating for you.

FOUND CAR KEY Yay! It was in Ds1's knapsack how on earth did it get there...well it is a long story...I must have handed him the car key to open the car when we went to Grandma's...on a whim he fetched a book from his schoolbag, and put the key in the schoolbag (which of course we didn't look in because it was halfterm)for some reason and all else is lost in the mists of time and insanity
we only found it because ds1 lost his diary yesterday, and we turned his bag upside down onto the carpet and VOILA there was the car key
So I am in a very good mood at the thought of all the time and money I've saved by not being efficient and getting keys replaced... A whole 2 weeks carless has paid off..Not to speak of the fact that I'm now absolutely determined to get one of those sonic car/house key attachments so you can summon your key when you lose it.

Today I have organised an appt to start the statementing process for Ds2's ASD with Parent Partnership, so that he possibly has a Statement by the time he gets to Secondary (he's in year 5)First step is apparently a statutory assessment application, which is distinct from a diagnosis..all v.complicated.

done
rubbish/recycling
clothes in right rooms
load of washing
music practice x 3
ds1 off on Geography trip for the day with packed lunch/homeclothes

todo
pay school dinners
pay Structural engineer
tickets for Eire after Xmas
pop into Wickes to start kitchen planning???
Statement appt at 1pm
ring plumber?
tackle muddy horrendous garden strewn with dead fireworks/old branches

DH had two days at home with his sore foot, and he has [DRUMROLL] started to tidy his study, also shown some interest in replanning dysfunctional kitchen, and helped yesterday again with kids/homework/playdates so that was lovely.