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!!

PA Hark at you! Typically organised as ever!! Can't guarantee sanity but would love to receive all your gossip (you already have e-mail) Promise to actually reply one of these days too Good news about helper!!

Thanks for explanation Gossip stopped my imagination from running away with me

Proffers for Carpe and anyone else in need ....

Evening. Whoknows was having problems with the mn online/offline thing that has been happening tonight and said she will post links tomo as she was too tired tonight.

I have done projects and meeting. I appear to have volunteered myself for something that I am not entirely sure what is so need to do so research.

Tackled and finished another UFO and another is near completion.

Fri list:
Food shopping
finish off UFO
laundry
load dw and run
Take chicken out first thing to defrost for tea.

Short and sweet. Tis a crazy week/weekend here.

Thank you Bitchy

So, it's Friday.

Babystep What's for dinner? Takeaway in my case I think.

Mission - re-make your bed

Friday Focus Declutter your car and bag day.

I may or may not be around later, or may be stuck posting from my phone, we are having our broadband upgraded this afternoon and these things rarely seem to go smoothly. In fact I am going out for supplies of alcohol now in anticipation of a stressed DH later. I will leave some in the naughty corner!

WhoKnows you have my sympathies!

Our exchange is due to be upgraded in September and DH is already starting to contemplate new packages etc and I'm planning on buying a dongle for obvious reasons

But I just know that it won't be smooth, he'll be frantic, and DS will then get wound up...

Flying - I'm taking a day off. I CBA and I'll just nesbit so I'm just not doing anything barring a load of washing for us, and one for DS. My WAH job is done thanks to my boss doing his bit at stupid o'clock so I'm having a clear conscience. Oh - I may hoover some crumbs, but that's not really flying!

Today is not going to plan. Ds is so tired I have had him in tears twice already. As for getting to school he is going to be late. Although I suspect when they get him in they will wih i had kept him off. Poor kid has a crazy weekend so now chance to rest there.

Taking day gently and slowly.

Enjoy your day of rest carpe.

good luck with the upgrade whoknows

That's a good point Carpe - we have a dongle. But, it's a PAYG one, set up to be topped up from DH's credit card as and when needed (holidays mainly) and his card has expired, he's forgotten the password, can't top it up. Grrrr.

Bitchy - hope DS is OK. I will put some hot chocolate in the naughty corner for you both for when he gets home from school.

I've got to do a quick crisis clean, friends due for coffee in half an hour.

Morning all. Its actually not raining here at the moment. I should go for a run but have GPs appointment at lunchtime to discuss DS and his migraines/ongoing headaches and am fretting. Run would probably help but somehow can't summon up enthusiasm to get out! Have eaten large pain au chocolat instead :)

Short list for today:

• Event insurance
• Work - pay Corporation tax :(
• Rental property work - various end of month bits
• Hoover living room
• Potter and fret
• GPs appointment

Might start a 'what should I ask GP' thread

Friends have been and gone, I had to employ the basket of shame technique to clear the debris from the lounge to the understairs cupboard.

BT man has phone to say he'll be here shortly, so I have just done a very quick clear of the relevant parts of the hall (where the socket is, behind the shoe rack, not vacuumed for about a year) and the desk (cleared the clutter to the kitchen table, wiped up all the coffee rings).

whoknows

Feet - usual - diet/sleep pattern/allergy related (wrt triggers), treatments - relievers vs preventers (yes they do these for migraines, preventers are very good when having clusters of migraines), long term management/review plans. But that is off the top of my head with no details.

Right I have done the shopping. and trying to get some stuff done. I am just grateful the no longer used computer downstairs will talk to the printer even if i have to move the bloody printer as my netbook point blankly refuses.

that was me falling off the wagon...

My house is not as neat as it was on Tuesday. You know when you do a big tidy then think 'well that's okay for a day or two then'...and the day or two drags out.....

Made me realise, I know I'm a bit dim, that you really actually have to work at housework...

I bet some will help me see things even more clearly...

Waves to all :)

I'm back, internet is re-connected, wasn't too painful (BT man and DH arrived at the same time, I departed to go shopping).

It's a beautiful evening, all sunny and warm, after torrential downpours earlier and the forecast looks terrible, so I'm back off out to the garden for a bit. Going to plant my spuds.

Ta da
Food shopping - 3 supermarkets to complete list
2 loads of washing
1hrs ironing
folded 3 baskets of clothes
nap
load and run dw
eat far too much chocolate

About to add drink too much coffee to that list.

To do:
move printer
get ready for evening out
check 2x kit for tonight
print sponsorship form (lost original) and cv.
finish ironing?

Got an hour to do that list. Very achievable. But must get on and move.

Have fabulous evenings!

Quiet on her tonight

In fact quiet all day (maybe you were all busy Flying).

Feet - hope Dr appointment was OK. I am a great one for procrastinating because I am fretting about something, usually to do with one of the DCs, I also need no excuse to put off my running. Weather permitting I am going to go out tomorrow, my back is much improved over the last few days.

Bitchy - hope you've had a good evening out

Trying - I know exactly what you mean. My living room was spotless on Monday, having to resort to the basket of shame today made me realise as you say, you really do need to work at it.

Carpe - hope you have enjoyed your nesbiting.

After my frantic clearing up this morning I have not done much else. The basket of shame still resides under the stairs and is going to stay there. I did get my scrubbing brush out and start scrubbing the teak patio set though, it gets unbelievably filthy over the winter and it is quite enjoyable restoring it, especially on a nice evening like tonight.

Links coming up

Saturday

Babystep Eat well, drink water, get enough rest.

No mission because it's Saturday, which means

Family Fun Day

Not much done today except surviving. Boys and I haven't been out for 2 days and all going a leeetle stir crazy. I'm also feeling all stuffed up and sneezy again.

Good night out. Ds is exceptionally tired and thankfully already fast asleep. tbh don't think i am going to be far behind him

hope you all have good weekends!

Morning all
Shattered
So I know what "get your rest" means

Was reading up about Qatar. DH has a potential job offer for there. I'd rather like to go but... I'd have to give up a good job / career, one that I'd probably never get again... On the positive, I could be a "lady who lunches" and. Really FLY!! Downside: it'd be in a rented home and not the home that ACTUALLY needs sorting

Think DH has been put off by talk of "sh1thole" on one website. I've been encouraged by talk of "meet us all by the pool" & "hey, if you want to work, I'll happily look after your kids"!!

Different websites = completely different views. So we need to use money, travel opportunities and my career (or loss of) as decision makers.

Morning.

Weather is nice which means i have to go and sort the garden disaster. Then there is training this afternoon for both me and ds. that about sums up today's activities. training should be a laugh though so will definitely count as family fun.

Morning all

Sitting here waiting for arrival of third and last consignment of stuff from my ma's house (it was cheaper to get three part loads/one on empty pantechnicon coming out to continent) than one big delivery. Don't know where it is all going to go ....

Waves to Bitchy enjoy your family fun training!

MummyNickleby don't do it!!! (How's that for impartial advice? ) Sorry - your decision entirely of course - but believe me, life of trailing spouse not all it is cracked up to be. One is frustratingly dependent and has far less autonomy. I gave up a career I loved and have regretted it ever since. Loads of brilliant stuff about living over here of course - great place to bring up a child for example - much less stress generally than London - but once dc have grown up a bit, not having your own career, and having very little likelihood of one, when you have been used to working all your life, is a bit of a killer.

Hope you are all surviving Blue

Whoknows well done with spud planting/patio furniture scrubbing

DD has friend coming over after ballet. I am hoping to get Barnet Fair cut. No cleaner this week so may idly push a hoover around a bit and fling in a load of washing or three. Home made chicken goujons and chips for the kinder tonight. Hoping to get away tomorrow for the long weekend and see some green fields. That's about it really.

Enjoy your weekends everyone. Vigorous wing flaps to all!

Just thinking at least you were able to find something you loved career wise and do it for a while, and then have DCs and live in another country - all sounds good and quite exciting sanguine Maybe it's just difficult to "have it all" at the same time ?!

Anyhow hope you find somewhere for all your stuff when it arrives ? Where abouts are you ? What do you like about your new home/country ?
(shamelessly heads off on another tangent !)

Sorry SC

30mins in front lawn done
1hr in bath to soak back done
Consume too much coffee doing
Ponder matter of own sanity doing
Have long in depth convo about following instructions done although i don't think he was actually listening
ds' clothes away - ds did without being asked yay!

need to do:
make up 2 x training kits
sort out lunch and snacks for tea
washing up
ironing.

Rain all day so far . DCs are playing nicely (not sure how long that will last) I'm just pottering. DH is also pottering, but I can tell he is getting the urge to go out somewhere.

MummyN - Is it a permanent move or a fixed contract? I wouldn't want to live in the Middle East TBH (too hot, like it too much here, too far from family, lack of career for me, not sure if the ladies who lunch lifestyle is what I want my DCs to grow up with). But plenty of people would love it. If you don't think you could get back into your current career that would be hard. Having said that, I swore never to give mine up, but it got to a point with stress of my job that I eventually took voluntary redundancy a couple of years ago in the full knowledge that I was probably walking away from that career for ever and I felt OK about that, saw it as new doors opening etc. Then I went and got another job in the same line of work after all last year, but far fewer hours and much less stressful. So you never know. Sorry, not much help really...

Better go, DH is pacing up and down.

It's permanent, with their version of NHS hospital.
Would work out £1300 extra a month (but cost of living is higher), that's with me not working but based on my current pt salary. We'd be able to pay off, low estimate, £500 a month off our mortgage (wouldn't rent our UK home out) so that's a nice thought.

Must admit my job a great, I love what I do, it makes a real difference. My skills are transferable but in Qatar they use Indians in that role & pay peanuts.

I'm more enthusiastic than DH. I see it as a fresh start. But the same stresses of relationships / families are always with you I guess.

It's so hard.

Also, when DS goes to senior school I'll be full time, so that'll be about another £10k a year on today's salary. So the difference won't be as high.

Oh I don't know

No garden to speak of, no Peppa Pug World... But a swimming pool (community) and a good base to have holidays in the rest of the world.

I'm also a wilting flower in heat over 30

Hard decision. Would be easier if it wasn't "a sh1thole" lol

MummyNickleby/Juggling/Bitchy please ignore my perpetual whingings - Juggling is dead right - I have LOTS to be thankful for and I shouldn't really complain because it's worked out to be v. v. good decision for us as a family overall. It's just that I like to earn my own money - not for sake of dosh itself so much (although that always helps!) - but I think v. important for autonomy/morale/self esteem/keeping one's brain ticking over etc etc and so you don't feel like too much of a parasite.

Also, as Bitchy says - it's not exactly 'domestic goddess' country in our gaff as it stands atm! (Unrenovated - tumbling plaster - holes in walls etc.) Good news on that front though as have decided to tart up ground floor temporarily - just so I can curtail my own cringing when I open door to strangers!!

Good luck with your decision MummyN!! (And if you decide to go for it, make sure you buy/rent somewhere that's already been renovated!!!

Lots of contented pottering going on here too Whoknows (dd has friend over so all is calm)

Bitchy arf at sanity pondering! (Frequently do the same!)

And you are right also Juggling re: "having it all". It's just that I have been here over 15 yrs but only planned to stay for three to five ....and it now looks like we are probably staying permanently but it's not a decision I have actually ever "made" ifyswim. Oh lordy, I'm whinging again aren't I?

Better go!

Big waves to everyone!

Where do you live SC?