Fledglings “March” 31 steps away from CHAOS and mess towards domestic success...

[sanguinechompa]

... well, a shiny sink at least!!

Welcome to the March 2012 Fledgling Flyers thread. Park your mops, buckets and microfibre cloths here!!

A huge "thank you" to Linzer for steering us all through February - not a small achievement Linzer considering your school run/teaching commitments and with your dh travelling so frequently.

If you're house is a mess and you are strugging with C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome) and S.T.U.F.F. (something that undermines family fun) then this is the thread where we (loosely) follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own, unique, relaxed style) with lots of chat, whinging (in my case anyway ) and support along the way.

We advise not signing up to receive the Flylady e-mails as you will be inundated! All the information you need will be linked here on a daily basis.

From the first of the month, we will be following Flylady's tips on restoring order to our homes, and as we are all at different stages we will be using one of the following methods:

Here you can, for one month:

• repeat or start baby steps

• repeat baby steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone

• reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.

More info here and here!

All long-standing members, intermittent returnees, lurkers and newcomers welcome!!

Going to list my tada

up, dressed, breakfast, dogs walked, DD to school.
Blinds in DR cleaned (bloody wooden ones, you'd think I would learn)
Kitchen cleaned
1 lot of laundry put away
Been to hygienist, popped into sewing shop
bin emptied

just off to swish bathrooms and change DS bed.

Ta Da
morning school run
fresh baked tiger rolls for lunch - hot out of oven. Yum.
2 loads of washing
Ironing up to date
CV tweaked, application letter half done.

To do:
Look at a way of sorting finances. Spreadsheet?
Finish cv and letter asap
(see previous list stuff)

Jax - Maintaining is good, I find it very difficult to maintain!

sc - that's just so terrible! Those poor children and their families.

Woke up this morning with a headache and feeling sore. Rushing down the stairs last night and my foot slipped down 4 steps, managed to hold on with my other foot and by grabbing the bannister, but managed to sprain my big toe, my behind is sore on one side and my shoulder is achey. Stupid stairs.... desperately need stripping, sanding, painting and recarpeting....

Not much flying done today, supermarket shopping this morning and off to playgroup with DS2 soon.

Went through my DVD collection thinking I could get rid of some, and discovered 26 DVDs I haven't watched yet! I knew there were a few I hadn't seen, but hadn't realised just how many. I've lost count of the number of evenings I've complained about there being nothing but rubbish on tv, too!

sc that's awful news. I just waved my dd off on a 4 day school trip yesterday, will be slightly anxious when they're on the bus journey home. Only 4 hrs though so hopefully driver will be sensible.

Done so far:

1 child to school - so easy with just 1!
Next doors rabbit fed.
Dogs walked & fed.
DW emptied.
Downstairs vacuumed.

To Do:

Finish mammoth file-a-thon and reclaim study. Do you know, I actually have a desk in there? I thought the piles of paper went all the way down to the floor, but no, there's some wood under there.

2 bags of paper into recycling bin and one sack of rubbish and a bag of charity donations so far.

Right, fresh cup of coffee and off I go. It's 9.20 here and my day is free until 2.45 when I have to go to school for teacher fisticuffs meeting.

chitchat kwym - I never seem to sit long enough to watch a DVD. Or I fall asleep!

I don't seem to have stopped since I arrived home last night. Then have been on the go all today (school run, took DS1 to his bf's house (good sign that he's going), family therapist appt, library, food shop) and only just sat down for my first bite to eat at 2.30. Off to do the school run in a minute and I haven't even had time to tackle the washing up. MIL said she has never known a house to have so much washing up!

SC - that is too, too sad .

Right, got to collect the boys in a mo, so let's see how I've done...

Dusting - nah
Hoovering
Mopping
Find stuff for NCT sale - some done but some still in loft
Ironing
Remake beds - to do later
Tidy bedroom - ish
Bathroom cleaning/mission
Filing
Work x2
Order Mothering Sunday flowers & write cards x2 DS1 and DH still to sign
Zumba! - later

Also done: general tidying,
recycling out
cleaned food bin
newsletter chasing up

Not too shabby!

ChitChat - ouch - I'm the same with DVDs - watching a film seems to take more energy than TV somehow!

Toffee - have a !

cq hope the file-athon is going well!

Waves to everyone else.

Afternoon All
List Update
Morning Routine - up and DW done but nothing else so far done
1 laundry load to wash, dry, iron and put away done
Handwashing done
Work - recruitment, construction project and some ruffled feathers to smooth work done, feathers less ruffled
Haircut done, awaiting DH to notice
Birthday cards to deliver done
Also quick whiz with vacuum cleaner and swish and swipe of bathrooms as cleaner called and can't come this week

Still to do
Dinner
Homework to supervise

cq - hope meeting with teacher is OK
Toffee - hope DS continues to grow in confidence, less anxiety
chit - hope the bruising is reducing in pain

Hi all,

Very very about that coach crash. What a nightmare!

Sounds as if the meet-up went well, ladies.
Toffee hope Dh is feeling better and DS survived being abandoned!

Life has been a bit hectic here for the last 48 hours. Discovered on Monday afternoon that DBro was in intensive care after having a heart attack. SIL had not told us that it had happened on Saturday. She is really showing her true feelings for our family and total disregard for how my parents would feel about their only son lying in ITU maybe dying!! Being the good person and practising to be the missionary that I will be I will not type what I think of her, but lets just say if it was on TV there would be a mass of bleeps! We found out when a mutual colleague of DBro and DNephew (not his son, but my sisters) was asked if he was alive still! Had to have the inevitable fall out from DM & DDad. Mum has dementia and just cant understand what is going on and Dad is just not coping with anything anyway at the moment. As someone else said on here earlier today, Old folk are a headache, aren't they!

Anyway, things are looking better today and he has had a stent put in his heart.

SC I am holding you personally responsible for the reappearance of a certain feathers enemy on my sky dish today causing loss of TV!! They had not been a problem for months, then you go and mention it on here. I am now thinking that they are secretly watching my internet conversations and were reminded they needed to bug me endlessly. Clever pigeons here, you know!! I am now proficient at the brush up bum movement though and am now quick enough to not be seen by neighbours. (Either that, or they have all just decided that I am the loony of the road and ignore my madness eccentricities! )

Absolutely no housework done for 2 days. I have even treated the DCs to take-away tonight because I am done in!
Day off paid work tomorrow, so I will hopefully come and post a list to get me motivated in the morning.

I'll leave a few and for everyone to share.

Heads over the the sunroom. collapses in the corner.

i fucking hate shopping. it is even worse with ds with me. What's worse is that we couldn't eat in peace we had to have the birds and the bees talk ffs. So bloody relieved we went take out and ate in the car. Not sure i would have wanted that conversation to be overheard. Ds has concluded that parents his dad and his dad's gf have sex and that this is ok unless he ends up with a sibling and he has been told he has to wait with his question of but how do you make sure that doesn't happen. Although he thought if ex married his gf i would no longer be his mum. Oh the contrast between grown up and being little. Not quite what i was expecting this evening but i suppose it is a good thing that these things can be discussed .

Sending large Margaritas to Bitchy & PA. Families eh?!

PA hope your brother is on the mend now - stents are marvellously simple solutions in a lot of cases.

Bitchy - how old is your ds? Sounds like he's at that really nosy age. DD asked me the other day if Daddy and I still 'do it' because we've had all the children we need now. Told her there are some things that are none of her business.

Evening

Busy busy day. Shortlisting at school till 1pm, very interesting and very daunting. Tile shopping. Children picked up and food shopping delivered.

Tomorrows list

more tile shopping and lots of catching up at work to do

welcome back jax
scatty lol at marathon being a very long way
hi blue jwim
bitchy yum thats sounds delicious tiger baked rolls. Ouch at birds and bees talk
chitchat aw poor you falling down the stairs. Take heart there was not a glass cafetiere at the bottom for you to sit on and then to end up with 13 stitches in your bum Ditto on dvd keep thinking must sell them.
cq gosh i understand your nerves but this is just one of those accidents. Hope she has a fab time.Are you like a proper angry bird like those ones my son keeping playing on the computer ?
pa what a terrible way to find out. thats awful especially when someone asked about him in that manner without you even knowing. Stents are marvellous I hope he goes from strength to strength.

Oh did someone say this was a flying thread and are questioning where my flying is???

I have laid out clothes and puts away dirty ones and swished and swiped the worktops. Apart from that that will have to do.

Have love evenings im off to find out how ebay is doing desperatly need to sell stuff to pay for bathroom tiles.

night all [chucks duvets in the corner and leave crappyD's wrappers and balloowns everwhere.]

Evening. Not a good day here in light of v. sad events - being a very small place, the whole country is in mourning Couldn't help but think about it all day. [Vows to try and not complain about trivialities ever again] DD's school said prayers this morning and they are going to hold a mass for the families later in the week. Can't imagine what those parents are going through tonight.

                  <strong>*</strong><strong>*</strong><strong>*</strong><strong>*</strong><strong>*</strong><strong>*</strong>**

Oh no PA I'm so sorry to hear about your db and what an awful way to find out . That must be so tough on you all. So glad things are looking better today I hope he recovers quickly and your mum and dad feel a bit calmer now x

[Typically, despite your v. bad news you still managed to make me laugh out loud at "proficient up the bum movements!!!!" T'wasn't me guv!! Promise!! [SC sneaks off island trailing bag of crumbs ... ]

Thank you for prod Blue It was really needed and appreciated! Did spend some productive time in laundry of doom although obviously not long enough as dh has underwear crisis. (He is v. willing to sort out himself btw but I've banned him from going anyway near wm after a certain incident with a favourite top of mine ...) You sound v. organised and in control - well done - hope Zumba enjoyabe (think I am only capable of Zumba Gold these days )

Jax good work with the blinds!

[Joins Bitchy in sunroom ...] Steals a tiger roll ....
... don't know what tiger rolls are - but they taste delicious!
And pours large glasses of following stress of birds and bees talk!

Chitchat not too shabby at all!!! Sorry to hear you have joined Swan in the bruised and bumped category! Hope you both feel better tomorrow x

Hi angry bird cq Hope you were able to defend your chick d meeting was productive!! Try not to worry about coaches - easier said than done I know - but lots of items on news tonight about them being far safer than cars .... Arf at desk discovery and congrats at mammoth filing session - need to do that in my home office too! [fellow fledgings sick to death of hearing me blither on about this I'm sure - need to ACT]!!

Hope you get a bit of time to sit down tonight Toffee after being on the go all day

You've been on the go too JWIM I see - hands over more Well done with your list!

Back to post links after Masterchef. Dh and I rooting for lovely plasterer from Cheshire although I think both beautiful Mauritian lady and sweet koala-bear faced chap both very talented....

Evening all,

I thought of you this morning when I heard the terrible news about the coach crash SC, what an awful thing to happen.

PA - that's shocking too about your brother, hope he makes a speedy recovery.

Bitchy - DD went through a stage of persistently asking how babies got into mummy's tummies about a year ago. I alluded to the special cuddle and changed the subject, she was only 5. I have bought a book that I saw recommended on MN, called Mummy Laid an Egg.

JWIM - has DH noticed the haircut yet? I had a fringe cut into my hair for the first time in a few years a couple of weeks ago, it looks really different, he still hasn't said anything, although lots of other people have commented.

ChitChat - ouch, hope you are recovering. I have got two carrier bags of DVDs and videos in the car boot waiting to go to charity shop / tip, many of them belonged to the DCs, hoping they won't notice.

Linzer - I feel as though I haven't spoken to you for ages, sorry! Sounds as though things are quite stressful re DS and school options, hope it all gets sorted out soon.

Swan - hope you have survived your complicated day and recovered from yesterday. I was SO tired last night, didn't help when DD appeared at my bediside at 3.30 am wanting to sleep with us because of nightmares and clutching 10 teddy bears (I suspect she just woke up, she didn't seem at all agitated, hadn't been crying and had managed to select and carry through all her teddies).

Toffee - hope DH is recovering and you have caught up after yesterday too.

Not much Flying done here today really, usual routines plus changed spare bed sheets after Monday night guest, went to work, went to Scout shop to buy Cub and Rainbow uniform, errands in town, school run, Rainbows, tea. Wasted an hour arguing with DS while DD was at Rainbows, a pity really, we just couldn't agree on what we wanted to do. Need to go and clear up the kitchen, DH still isn't back from work. Also need to sort out a pile of long overdue paperwork as I have an appointment with the financial advisor tomorrow to sort out tax/pension mess. Night all

SC - it's not just me that thinks he looks like a koala bear then!

cq/Bitchy um, speaking of birds and bees, er, what sort of age are we "having the talk" nowadays?? (SC prepares to hand this task over to dh-- buy an informative book ) DD's already asked some fairly direct questions and I totally fluffed it Had it all prepared as well ... just lost my bottle ...totally idiotic in this day and age ...tis Catholic guilt

Crikey Whoknows that sounds like a demanding day!! Hope you are still not up to your eyes in paperwork and that your dh made it home eventually. Hope you can catch up on sleep tonight. Must confess to stealing koala bear description from Masterchef thread on here!! Made me cackle ...

Nettie > "Oh did someone say this was a flying thread" [oh no, my distraction tactics have been been rumbled!! I'm desperately hoping no one will notice my lack of lists ... Well done with the swishing and swiping and happy e-baying!!

Sorry they are a bit late ...

Baby-step number 15 for tomorrow, Thursday 15th is:

here Add bed-making to your routines. would if I could find it under the clothes

Mission for tomorrow here Shining the bath and shower. JWIM you are ahead of the game!!

As you know by now, we are in zone 3 (the bathroom + one other room) all week. Detailed cleaning list included here

The daily focus for Thursday is errand day

My goodness you lot can chat :)

SC - I thought about you too today when I heard about the crash. Such an awful, awful thing to happen :(
:) at koala-faced MC contestant, so, so true. No spoilers please as haven't seen tonight's yet.

PA - so sorry to hear about your brother and particularly how you found out I hope he is on the mend and that the ructions it has caused are dying down a little.
Also sorry to hear about your poor daughter, she really has been through the mill since leaving home hasn't she? Didn't she end up in hospital soon after moving away too? Kids eh?
Feathered action made me giggle again too. I still snigger at the original story when I think of it :)

Toffee, swan, Whoknows - glad you enjoyed your meet-up (and the workshop) You were all in my thoughts a lot yesterday :)
I'm definitely up for a meet-up when Linzer comes over although my MN post-natal group blew up spectacularly after a meet-up disaster so I may be jinxed.

I think I have just about recovered from the half-marathon on Sunday - my legs and bum feel like my own again, crouching is no longer agony and I have stopped walking like a puppet

It was hard going but I did enjoy it and am thinking about when I can do the next one

Need to get to bed as we are in the middle of School Assoc Mother's Day craft sessions at school however I am waiting to see if DD actually manages to get to sleep or throws up again instead
Hope everyone else gets an earlier night than me.

Nope, Feet, still awake here. Not my plan, but I had to email everyone on my email list to tell them not to open a spam email sent to them by a virus, through my computer (thanks to DS2 playing an online game). If any of you have my email address, don't open any messages from me today! (PA - well spotted!).

WhoKnows - sorry I hadn't got round to emailing you my address, but that's just as well for you now! I will do it, I promise.... Am at the thought of your DD clutching all her teddies. Though it can't have been very funny for you at 3.30 in the morning! Looks like you are having a non-stop week as well. I haven't even had time to go through the documents we were given at the meeting yet.

PA - so sorry to hear about your brother and how you discovered it. It's incredible that your SIL didn't contact any of you. Your poor parents! Glad to hear that your brother is recovering well though.

Bitchy - ah, that talk! I have had lots of astonishingly detailed discussions with DS1 over the last few years whilst DH cowers in another room. I do remember DS1 saying, "So you and Daddy have done it twice!" (two DC. Logical, I suppose).

Swan - sorry you are having such a stressful time. I hope you can get everything sorted for your mum soon - it's such a worry. Might be worth getting your knee checked by the GP in case you've torn a ligament or something (voice of experience). Oh, I noticed your glittery lace-up shoes too! The glitter made me smile (particularly when those anecdotes were going on a little toooooo long ).

PA - sorry, but I'm not getting any Flying done at all at the moment. I managed to wash up today - and that was it .

Have just finished dealing with the virus on my emails and sorting out schoolwork for DS1 to do tomorrow. I'm going on a school trip all day so won't be here to supervise him (DH will be, but he's still not well so won't be up to teaching).

Must go to bed or I will have to prop my eyes open with matchsticks tomorrow.

Sorry I can't do personal messages to everyone.

Have been reading thread but no time to post. Entire back of house now reduced to heap of rubble. Garden full of diggers and lorries. Builders arrive every morning before 7.30am! Flying is not doing very well and the lounge is still full of stuff with no home.

Toffee, Swan, Whoknows were the others like you had imagined them from the thread? I feel it must change the whole dynamic once you have met. And did you instantly suss the delegate who was not one of you?

PA don't listen to your DH if he says now is too early to start clearing out. The bits I had already sorted were much easier to deal with than the rather larger areas I had not dealt with when it came to moving them around.

Good morning.

Thanks for all good wishes for DB. THings are looking good and he is back on the island now.

Honu - Oh dear, I was going along with DH's philosophy cos it is less work now. It won't be too bad as we are leaving the house here with 2 DCs living in it, so it is not like we have to get rid of everything, IYSWIM. SHould start sorting out some stuff, though soon.......

Right, I am not going to do too much chatter otherwise I will run out of time and get nothing organised!

List for today: Day off!!
Dishwasher unload/load
Washing machine unload/load
Hang washing on line if fog clears
Take DD1 to the boat (training on mainland today for her)
Catch up on last nights masterchef - apparently the Chelsea game was THE game of the season and far more important that masterhef - although have to admit even I got quite excited in the end and I am sure the whole Island heard the yells from DH and DS when the final goal went in!
Take DD3 to college
Prepare dinner for tonight - shepherds pie - sort it so that DH and DS can serve it as I will be out at teatime and we have visitors coming over.
make bread rolls
make chocolate cake
Hoover hall/stairs/landing
ironing
meeting with bank manager - trying to get definite answers to some questions but beginning to think we are the only people ever to do something so wacky as move abroad and still need to pay bills in this country.
Prepare study for tonight
DS - maths tutor coming over
Hairdressers - where DD3 is going to colour my hair - YAY!! Swish head here I come!
Straight to home group tonight
Will be home at about 10.30 when I might have a minute to eat tea before bed, or I might just not bother!!!

Good grief DH has just had a conversation with who he thought was DD1, - it was her friend who stayed over after a night out. Bizarre conversation as he was getting a little uppity that she was not saying good morning dad and being all cheery. DD1's friend must now think we are a houseful of loons!!! (don't dare say how right she is!!! )
I have now discovered a roomful of friends!! Oh good grief. Stale alcohol smell. Yuck!!!
I need to go and make a lot of noise and get rid wake up all the "extras" in my house!!

Morning all,

Just back from a very positive meeting with the headteacher. She said that DS's shyness isn't a problem per se but that because they weren't able to completely assess him at school enrolment, she's more or less obliged to do so in May. No problems were noted with any of the activities that he did actually do, so from the school's point of view the only "problem" is his shyness - and the head did say that they do, of course, accept that some children are shy and it's part of their character. Hopefully he'll be slightly less clingy in May as it will just be him and the headteacher, and possibly one or two other children - not a big group, the majority of whom he didn't know.

However, I'm now almost wishing I hadn't spoken to his kindergarten teacher yesterday. She thinks he's going to struggle because of his writing skills, which the school hasn't picked up on at all. Oh well, we'll just wait to see what the head says in May. As part of the assessment, they had to draw a picture, draw circles round dice with a certain number of dots, etc. - and because he'll be more closely observed next time, I'm sure she'll pick up any potential problems. We told her that we're open to both options and that if they think he'd be more suited to preschool, then we'd be fine with that. I'd rather not have to wait two months to find out what's happening, but will just have to be patient.

feetheart I met WhoKnows when I was in London last November and we're still speaking. Even if she is ignoring me now.

Only joking, WhoKnows, please don't worry! I'm finding it very difficult to do personals atm with the thread so busy, and even when I manage to do so am sure that I still leave people out. Hopefully I'll be back on the C25k thread soon, where it's a little easier to chat - next week is the week that I really have to get my limbs sorted out. My arm/elbow has been painful for weeks - am wondering whether it might be RSI - so I'm going to make an appointment about it next week and ask the doctor for a referral for my knee at the same time.

Am feeling slightly less worried about my appointment at the dermatologist's this afternoon, as according to my sat nav it will only take me 22 minutes to get there and I don't have to drive on the motorway. Now I'm just worrying about parking. Also trying to decide whether to go the gynae tomorrow, but luckily she's said I can just turn up and she'll fit me in, so no phone calls needed (I'm a terrible procrastinator when it comes to picking up the phone to make appointments).

Mainly just managing to maintain basics at the moment but it?s been mainly from prone, so other things stacking up, which doesn?t do much for progress.
However have managed to use prone time fruitfully to get head around universities and student finance.
One of today?s unexpected jobs is to find out why this house is now covered in scaffolding, and I know nothing of why.

Mustn?t spend time doing personals now or wont manage to get on so going for waving to all apologetically, but have to say to;

PA Your SIL?s a real piece of work! Hope your brother makes a full and speedy recovery. (:D at D/h having a go at other people?s teens by mistake.)

Linzer One thing I've learnt, is no matter how well meant, every professional has a different opinion of my child/ren, and each holds theirs to be the most important one...

Morning All, late to the thread today but have so far done morning routine, sorted payment for plumber and got him to turn water back on to downstairs cloakroom that he forgot about when here to sort shower. Have also done more to limescale and it is nearly all gone - so that's my nod to today's mission!

Who knows DH has yet to notice - although always comments on friends 'do's' and he has no excuse as appointment was in the electronic diary we wll access (at his insistence) - will let you know when the penny drops.

Hope everyone else achieves some of what the are aiming for today.

coost good luck with the shortlisting - I have done it (about to enter second recruitment round so feeling more prepared) and it does feel very onerous - but it is rewarding when you finally appoint and it all works out well.

To Do
Work
Laundry - dry, iron, put away
Handwashing ditto
Dinner - so shopping will be needed
Plan for Mother's Day lunch for Mum - us, dad, and 6 others (siblings/family) 12 altogether

brighter news today: Family therapist cancelled at short notice so we didn't have to tidy up the house (always a strain straight after breakfast!) Dh very relieved not to see professional help
Twins' birthday today, piles of presents gratefully received (Dd Yes I Know I don't play with sylvanians but I like collecting them!)
Isaac Newton (aka dd) and Louis Bleriot (aka ds2) waved off with labels indicating what they had invented (yes I know Newton didn't actually invent gravity) Inventors' Day at school adding to yesterday's busy schedule.

done
yesterday two hour trawl in search of costume props, great fun actually!
Brownies
Beavers' helping
birthday shopping
sorted out mum's bed, wheelchair, various things
Mum back home safely (her London home) with Dad and my brother who is over to help; and she doesn't want a carer...except me and my Auntie, next week..so that's good she is feeling a bit better..(although she can't walk at all due to enforced rest with fused ankle - no crutches allowed etc..