April Fledglings Fly into Spring, Get That Clutter into the Bin

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Welcome to the April 2012 Fledgling Flyers thread. Come and join us for a bit of chat and a lot of housework (or possibly the other way round).

A huge "thank you" to SanguineChompa for leading us through March

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 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. Feel free to browse the Flylady website as well, links below

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:

• 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!!

Did long reply last night, only 3 personals cause I got to Sanguine planning to get a dog...erased 3 very long replys...then said sod it and post...been doing it so long had been logged out and lost reply bugger bugger bugger.

Sanguine to sum up getting a dog. HARD WORK. The end. If you still want to go ahead with my warnings echoing in your head...a) DON'T GET A PUPPY = extra hard work b) Short haired dog c) don't get one.

Of course I'm not one to talk...got puppy in may last year and hated the experience that much and the huge amount of cleaning that came with her and then got a 6mth old rescue puppy in February so they can't be all that bad! get one with a family who carry the gene for a cast iron stomach. And no nose so they can't smell out crap and eat it. Inc their own crap.

at Flying's dog owning advice.

Been a busy day here, ds is going to be late to bed the night before his first day back. Oh how his teacher is going to love me. However, he is a happy bunny so all is good.

Ta da
So far today has been a case of up and out to try to sort out equipment for training. (2hr round trip)
Back to ingrediants into bread machine.
Remove yet another pair of trousers that are too small.
Retape stick
turn dough into rolls (works better if you remember the yeast )
eat lunch (rolls)
Go to game.
Get ds showered and ready for bed post game - In bath as I type.
tea (pack up for ds of another rolls to tied him over till chicken is done I am sooo hungry now)
Make ds' lunch.
Put second batch (with yeast) of bread dough ingrediants into machine
Watch transformers film with ds
Work on 9 block component strips for big project.

To do:
Finish cooking roast tatties and chicken (and eat)
lay out ds' clothes for Monday
make sure ds' bag is ready for monday
Turn second batch of dough into rolls.
EARLY NIGHT. - well for me.

My brain is tired now. I guess I just need to get something to eat and the whole world will be fine. I want my bed now though Been a good day.

What's that you're saying about getting a dog, Trying?

We have told the DC, so there's no going back now. Not planning to get a puppy as everyone says they are a nightmare and I can't cope with sleep deprivation and toilet training all over again. We are hoping a dog will help DS1 with his anxiety issues, as it should distract him and give him something else to focus on. He has always wanted a dog.

SOrry Toffeewhirl I wrote you name at least 6 sodding times last night!!!!

Its not all bad thank god your not getting a puppy. I feel relieved on your behalf. YOu have common sense unlike me.

Rescues are very good. Nothing wrong with dogs, just the owners who dump them. Training can help with most issues, and the rescue will match dog to owner. And they are MEGA cheap. £150 at most places, ddog2 (rescues tend to be very grateful :)) was £85!! We paid A LOT more for blue blooded ddog1 (ungrateful temperment). And you get them spayed/castrated (£110/£60?), vaccinated (£60), wormed (£1.50), defleaed (£5)...we spent over a grand on ddog1, inc purchase price and spaying and vaccinating (2nd).

What type of dog does ds1 want? I think a dog is a very good idea :) very loving and faithful and trusting and mischevious and you have to be responsible for their every need. Great distraction. .

Oh and purchase 5 litres of 'weeaway' incase there are any woopsies...gets rid of smell so dog won't wee in same place again (just ordered 5 litres of the bloody stuff).

Better go, waffling now, other half is wondering where I am...dogs peacefully asleep (ddog2 going to vets for his knackers off next week due to relentlessly humping his beautiful, now slightly soiled with dodgy looking stains, new bed as dh's 11 year old ddog would not let him have it off with her )

night allx

Trying thanks for advice but don't think it is me that is getting a dog (hope not anyway!!) Tis Toffee as you have already discovered. Would love one but I live in sodding city where there is too much evidence of them all over the streets already ... Also, ideally, prefer animals (such as horses and guinea pigs) that are physically unable to puke ...!!!! (OK so they have poo problems instead, but am rather enamoured of horse poo ) Arf at ddog2's "relentless humping!"

Toffee hope you find a lovely kind mature fellow for your ds who has 'been there, and done it' and has a calming effect ....

Hot cross buns have turned out surprisingly well (and without the need for me to become either hot or cross ) which is a bit of a miracle. Forgot lemon zest so added some lemon juice to sugar glaze at end. Also added a bit of cardamon as per Nigella although used Mumsnet recipe by Dan Whateverhisnameis.

Will leave out on tray in naughty corner for the morrow!

All set here. Pencils sharpened. Gym kit at the ready. Oh and do you remember those reward charts that were started aeons ago - itended to eliminate the need for shouting in the morning and evenings - and encourage more autonomy in dd - they are finally, fiinally on the walls and ready to go Here's hoping ... here's hoping ....

G'night all!

Evening all,

Swan - good to see you back on here again. I too am surprised at how many of the DCs friends are watching Harry Potter and the like.

Toffee - we haven't had much success with the cinema till recently. DD gets upset that animals will get lost or die or be eaten, which does seem to be a recurring theme. DS just hasn't had the attention span for it till recently. Oh and I hate most children's films too. Tedium, yawn, etc. This was the first occasion on which DS has sat through an entire film without climbing out of his seat, on to my lap, back again ad infinitum. I have to say buying him a big box of popcorn helps a lot. Also booster seats so he can put his feet on the front of the main seat and not have to swing his legs. Neither of them EVER watches a film at home. Well, maybe once a year at Christmas when we force them as happy family time.

I haven't really got time for a full round up, still got lots of school stuff to sort out. We've had a nice day today, one of DS's friends' mum invited several of them to go and play football in the park as she can't do playdates in term time because of her job, he really enjoyed that. DD and I spent a couple of hours gardening, which I really enjoyed. DD just directed operations from the trampoline, which is turning out to be a great buy. Anyway, by the time we had had dinner my back was giving out on me, so I went to have a lie down, then the DCs came into my bed for stories, but we ended up looking through baby photo albums instead, which was lovely. I still need to do packed lunch for DS, dinner money for DD, find and polish shoes, check PE kits and bookbags, find water bottles. Aargh.

Back with links in a minute.

Monday Links

Babystep Read and contemplate one of Flylady's emails. Or then again maybe not. Perhaps go and browse the website for a bit instead. Just DON'T sign up for the emails.

Sneak Peek - Bathroom plus one other room Sneak Peek

Mission Clean your bathroom bin

Monday's Focus is Home Blessing, details on the Mission/Flight Plan Link

Wooo Hooo I don't need to do the mission. I did it when i emptied it and it has not been used yet must be a rare occassion I have done the mission

Right done everything on my list and also fixed the washing machine which threw a hissy fit and prep some stuff for crafting tomo night. Done a deal with ds that he watches tv, I will sit with him if he ignores sewing machine. Worked really well with transformers film today although need to get him to stop talking through the plot through the whole sodding film.

Ds has watched a number of the Harry Potter films, and things like Transformers. Tbf it was his dad who doesn't know how to say no allowed him. He doesn't seem to be affected but we have done a lot of work wrt to real vs fiction and he is an analytical soul who will sit through a film and tell you why something just couldnt happen in rl because of xyz see earlier comment of getting him not to spoil film by talking through

Right I have a job application to hunt down and then tomorrow's list looks like this

Up and out - school run
note to teacher
washing on
Applications and paperwork
house bleurgh (as much as possible - still no floor to hoover)
Tip run.
Plant out broad beans
Plant out mutant runner bean
Rescue/get bag of soil for planting seed potatoes.
School run
Tea - chops and veg
crafting whilst wataching whatever ds negotiates
A little bit of crafting additional craft post ds bedtime
Clear up kitchen
Early night.

Evening, hope all of you with school aged kids are ready and prepared with clothes laid out and bags packed?

Just a quickie - more undercoat, yay!! Looking much better already, Nicknack walls will be light, Farrow and Ball's 'pointing', which is white according to dh, but have maintained that there is a distinction, which possibly only i can tell, usually muttering something about 'tone and depth', added interest comes in the form of multi colour on spindles, in different shades of green, this will either look great, or be a very expensive mistake, we'll see!

Got 2 loads of washing out today and ironed as well as remainder in basket, so can go to bed satisfied.

All this talk of kittens and puppy's is making me feel broody for a liccle animal to play with, how are they settling in Swan? Working far away from home precludes us from getting a dog, so make do with my mum's instead, who i see regularly, their previous dog ate own poo and regularly rolled in all sorts of poo on walks. The new one is much better, although daft as a brush and not so good at returning if she's been let off the lead, especially if water is involved - sounds like quite a lot of hard work, hope yours is paying off trying and your dog no longer has the shits, although the above post does not sound promising.

whoknows have also been gardening today, have to snatch time when i can and amazingly, both children napped AT THE SAME TIME, hurrah. Weeded my terraced bit. I have got a large veggie patch, already prepared and waiting to go, so far i have some onions in, this is my first proper foray into vegetable growing, what are other growers putting in? I notice bitchy you are putting in beans, are these from seed? Note to self, to go out and get some seeds tomorrow.

Sc i'm super impressed at your cooking of hotcross buns, yum yum.

toffee hope ds has a good week with the activities you have planned.

Waves at everybody else, need to get to bed or will be failing on the go to bed at reasonable time

Thanks for your advice, Trying - especially the 'Weeaway', which neatly links dogs to Flying, I see! . We have no idea what sort of dog we'll get, to be honest. All we know is that it needs to be small/medium, good with children and not shed too much fur as I have tested positive as allergic to dogs (already take pills/inhalers so that should help, plus we'll keep upstairs dog free). We all like Jack Russells and Cocker Spaniels, but I'm not sure if they would be suitable.

Has anyone yet bred a dog that doesn't wee/poo/throw up?

SC - had no idea horses and guinea pigs couldn't throw up. I have shared a rather unpleasant experience of poo impaction in a friend's guinea pig, though - I think I would have preferred puke.

WhoKnows - giant carton of popcorn sounds like an excellent idea to keep DC still during the film. It sounds as if you had a lovely last day of the holidays today. Thanks for fitting in the links in between getting ready for school tomorrow.

Bitchy - hope your deal with DS worked out tonight - sounds like a good idea.

Have no idea how I'm going to get DS2 into school on time on Tuesday morning. He has happily settled into a holiday routine of going to bed around 9pm and waking up late, which suits us just fine, but won't work when I have to get him up at 7.30 again. I think I'll have to get him up earlier tomorrow, so that he will hopefully get tired earlier tomorrow night.

Good luck to everyone starting back on the school run tomorrow. Have just remembered that I haven't even washed DS2's PE kit yet . Chickened out of washing his hair tonight, which means I'll have to tackle it tomorrow instead. Oh, I hate doing his hair. It doesn't matter how I rinse it (have tried getting him to lie back in the bath, used a 'magic jug' which doesn't leak, put a flannel over his eyes, used the shower hose whilst he lies on my lap...), he screams blue murder. One day, social services will come round and ask me what I'm doing to him.

Need to go and sort kitchen now, then get an early night. Night all.

Sorry, have only just seen your post, Waffler. The Farrow & Ball paint sounds very nice. Am trying not to notice your paragraph about dogs eating own poo and rolling in shit .

toffee In the end I just go for the dump huge jug and ignore screaming method with ds. He has now learnt to do his own in the bath and shower. Simply because he has more control. I still go for the dump and run method when he puts up too much of a fuss. No fuss, more effort to not get in eyes. 5mins fuss is my limit. So glad they get better as they get older.

waffler broad beans are plug plants bought germinated and reasonable size, runner beans are from seed started on bathroom windowsil. spring onions have been started from seed as plug plants (again using bathroom window sil as south facing and gets some of the rare bits of sun for the garden). Bought some plug plants for the hanging baskets but natural selection seems to be thinning their numbers it would appear some are more drought tollerant then others

Right must head to bed. Only about and hour and half later then intended.

Waffler "pointing" always looks good. I've seen it in dark rooms and sunny rooms and it is very elegant!
Toffee we spent a lot of time with my Irish brother's 1 and half year old Jack Russell. Recall - very bad - in endless search of small smelly creatures to sniff out (although another neighbour with that Jack Russell's brother, said it was because my brother hadn't trained him properly Affection 100 per cent, intelligent, but still quite tiring to look after, and liked playing loads of games or he got bored. Happiest pottering around with another dog or two, although this wasn't on offer often at my brother's house - I just noticed this when he was in company of another dog. Tbh although he was sweet natured and small, he was still quite a bundle of energy. Can't remember him shedding much hair. My brother adores him and he's getting another Jack Russell puppy now too! I would say he was much less destructive than a cocker spaniel around the house, just because he's smaller and neater, and when he wags his tail he doesn't knock lamps over...

done
watched Homeland - addictive and I missed last week
wiped worktops
supper
sink
wash in
introduced old cat to new kittens - neither were very pleased to see the other unfortunately, so keeping them well apart for now - lots of growling from the kittens I think my 3 year old cat was scared of them!

oh dear forgotten everything else..
waves to all

jack russels were bred originally as ratters. Traits you mentioned swan would be consistant with that bred purpose. It can be over come with training but it what was selected for when the bred was being created. Although I could be biase as having had a few bad experiences, I am terrified of Jack russels. being bitten by one was not a highlight

Cocker spaniels were bred as gun dogs. High energy and high need for stimulus iirc. But the ones that I have encountered have had very good personalities, but could intimidating due to bounce/energy factor.

Ds wanted a dog, the ex wanted a dog. I am terrified of dogs. So i did a lot of research and bought ds a soft toy dog. Personally I would look at the original purpose of the bred because the traits that made the bred suitable for purpose will influence the personality. And whilst I understand that this is not a garantee of the personality of the dog, and training can alter the dog's behaviour, imo breeding is important. But that also might be because of looking for excuses for not having a dog. Thus I am going to run away from the dog discussion and suggest perhaps asking about breds and suitability for ds' particular needs in the dog house area of mn? There are a lot of wise dog lovers who might be able to give very good advice.

Thanks for the advice about dogs. Hmm. Both Jack Russells and Cockers sound a bit high energy for us. I did ask in the 'doghouse', Bitchy, and had lots of advice, but didn't end up any clearer about which breed because everyone had different ideas (mostly biased towards their own dog, understandably).

Swan - your brother's Jack Russell sounds exhausting. I suppose it's always a bit of a lottery. My son's best friend has a Jack Russell and this one is quite relaxed and lazy, but I think he may be the exception. DH is addicted to 'Homeland', by the way, and has persuaded me to catch up online so I can join in his addiction.

Bitchy - re hairwashing: yes, I also just try to get it over with asap, whilst trying to ignore the screams. I have been through all the options with DS2, but he just doesn't want his hair washed, which is not an option. I think I find it almost as stressful as he does.

Off to bed now....

Tbh I am not surprised re-dog house. hence the look at breed original purpose. I have encounter labs and get on well with their personalities but they are a larger dog. I have encountered well trained alsations and they can be amazing but need working and if not properly trained can be a nightmare. The thing that alot of people forget is that most breeds of dogs were created for a specific working purpose and thus most need channeling. Which could work in DS1's favour. for example, some of the gundog breeds work well at agility and require a very good relationship and training relationship with the owner. This is something that ds1 could take responsibility for and give him something to focus on instead of being anxious. He would be focusing on the dog in a training environment etc. SO that might be something to be considered. Mixed breds can balance out certain breed specific characteristics. Like I said I did a lot of research whilst trying to get out of getting a dog. These days the no pet housing rule and the lifestyle of never being in one place too long/away for long periods of time works in my favour. A fact i am eternally grateful for

Early night? what's that? bugger

God I am good at mind splats when tired sorry about that.

Good morning flyers! ?

don't ask and I won't lie about when finally went to bed

Cold out there (car is frosted over) but it looks like we might get a sunny day here.

Good morning you lovely lot.

Sorry for not being around last week, school holidays and all that......

So, this morning I was determined to get right back into flying. BUT>>>> it's DS's 16th birthday, and all gone to pot already. I have got a lush chocolate cake smelly yummy in the oven already, though, so not too bad.
A day of interviewing for my job today, so trying to make myself look half professional and as if I know what I am doing!!

We have had a really exciting few days of going around wedding venues for DD3 and her fiance. They want to find the venue before we leave the country, but none have wow-ed enough so far - the only one that did is so far out of our budget, it was like looking at a millionaire's palace when you have enough for a 2 up, 2 down!! The right place for them is out there, we just need to find it. A little restricted here on the island! Wedding has now been brought forward a year and hopefully will be next June when we come back for a few weeks.

Due to interviews today DD3 is going to have to get herself to college on the bus for the first time. I just hope she is ok and doesn't collapse before she gets into college. She insists she will be ok, so I must not worry!! It's like letting go of a 10 year old again! She only has to walk a very little distance down the road to the bus stop, but the other end it is probably a 5 minute walk, which is the most she has done for 4 years!!!!

Tonight's meal is a Mexican banquet - DS's birthday request, so loads of cooking for me when I get back tonight.

Sorry for lack of personal - how selfish, am I????? I promise to catch up with you all tonight or tomorrow morning.

Massive to everyone!!!!

oh my list disappeared.

Good morning, and Happy Birthday to PA's son, [I remember him being only 14 on this thread, must have been a while ago]

two children back to school with relevant items

and a busy day clearing up and painting the Motte and Bailey ahead
One child here...he is still asleep, but has to go in to school at 1.30 for a rehearsal in Full Uniform.

Toffee I really feel for you in your dog decision, however I suspect as you are a very kind conscientious person, whatever dog you get, however unsuitable - ratter, retriever or lounger you will probably put a lot into, and things will turn out fine. If you went to a rescue you might find your decision was made for you? I think dogs like children are exhausting and timeconsuming but for some reason we still have them. It is possibly a bit like getting an extension in the sense that trying to decide the type of extension is a nightmare, and installing it, but when it is done, you wonder how you lived without it. I think the allergy aspect is quite an important decider in the type surely, because dogs need a lot of snuggling, although the children will probably do that for you. Brother's Jack Russell is an excellent snuggler....

PA hope dd3's journey goes uneventfully. So exciting to plan a wedding. I was thinking of your motorbike fears - my mum used to let us go on our Nanny's (not grandma but childcare sort of Nanny) motorbike when we were 6 and 8 (we would take it in turns to be wrapped in her incredibly long handknitted red scarf to keep the cold out!) for two mile journeys round the Triangle as it was called...(luckily there was no traffic in the 70's..

Oh dear, I really must get off the internet and organise something, although very reluctant to leave the warm kitchen interact with ds1 who is probably doing something he ought not like watching the Simpsons-

Morning all,

Well, just been to pilates class to try and put right the back problems I inflicted doing the gardening, just bracing myself to try and do the home blessing without doing any further damage. It's a lovely sunny day here, not very warm but it lifts the spirits. I feel quite lonely without the DCs but at the same time it's quite nice to have the house back to myself again for a bit.

TheWaffler - I'm cutting back a bit on veg growing this year due to a) the hosepipe ban b) having sacrificed some border space to make room for a trampoline. However I run a gardening club at the DCs school, so I can get my fix there. At home I grow herbs in tubs all year round, also this year I am doing spring onions, onions and radishes in one raised bed, potatoes and carrots in the other (deeper) one. I will also be growing rocket in tubs on the patio. I have strawberries and blueberries in tubs on the patio but don't usually get much fruit with either. At school we have a lot more space. We have got broad beans, onions, carrots, beetroot, rocket and radishes all growing from seed in the raised beds. Also sweet peas, french marigolds, squash and cucumber seedlings started in a little greenhouse.

To Do

Hang out washing, do next lot
Put away yesterday's washing
Thorough clean of bathroom including floor
Empty DW and put breakfast dishes in
Run hoover round ground floor
An hour of OU work
Make a proper to do list of admin jobs that need doing, I've let it all drift over the school hols
Place Ocado order

But first anyone?

Back later

Thanks for the , WhoKnows. Impressed that you have been to Pilates. Am considering joining a fitness bootcamp with a friend .

Swan - thanks for your kind words about me getting a dog. We are either mad or desperate, or both. I'm hoping the allergy isn't too bad. I did have a dog as a child, but, actually, my hayfever / asthma was pretty bad then, so that's no help. However, I feel fairly sure that it's cats I'm really allergic to and that my dog allergy isn't as bad. I certainly want a dog I can cuddle too.

DS1 fell asleep listening to his new relaxation CD last night. He says it's brilliant. This is the only relaxation CD he has every liked. Am so relieved. And he did really, really well staying at his friend's house overnight on Saturday and staying all day yesterday. I'm going to start the programme for conquering anxiety properly with him tomorrow, when DS2 is at school.

Very, very lazy start to the day here. I'm actually quite grateful that school starts for DS2 tomorrow and I will have to get back into a routine again.

Done so far:

Helped DS2 build a Lego cinema (with the films on his camera as the screen )
Breakfast for DS2
Checked emails
Made self look human
Woke DS1 at 11am
Tried and failed to persuade DS1 to eat b/fast
Proper clean of bathroom
Emptied bathroom bin
Did mission!
Sorted laundry
Breakfast for me

To do:

Put rubbish out - argh! Had forgotten.
W/M on - nb PE kit
Persuade boys to go to playground
Iron school shirts and some of my tops
Sort school uniform
Polish shoes
Label water bottle and freeze
D/W on
Tidy and clean up kitchen
Take boys to the playground
Room rescue in our bedroom

That'll do for now. Back later.

I hadn't picked up that DS1 stayed out for the night Toffee - well done to him! Is the relaxation CD a music one? My DS can't go to sleep without music on at home, he's OK when we're away though, just a routine thing. He put nursery rhymes on last night, I thought we'd heard the last of those some time ago!

List dump (and run)

Up and out - school run
note to teacher Spoke to her.
washing on one load done more needed
Applications and paperwork
house bleurgh (as much as possible - still no floor to hoover)
Tip run.
Plant out broad beans
Plant out mutant runner bean
Rescue/get bag of soil for planting seed potatoes.
School run
Tea - chops and veg
crafting whilst wataching whatever ds negotiates
A little bit of crafting additional craft post ds bedtime
Clear up kitchen
Early night.
Nap still feel a bit like death but have to sort this sleep pattern out.

Anyone see me on here or fb after 10pm tonight tell me to go to bed or something. Just one more thing is my biggest problem. Don't know when to stop.