Fledgling flyers - it's the month of May: if your house is a mess, try the Flylady way

[ToffeeWhirl]

Welcome to the May Fledgling Flyers' thread. A very big thank you to WhoKnows for guiding us through last month.

Are you living in CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome)? Flylady's routines aim to help you take control of your home, tidying and decluttering and setting up daily and weekly routines that keep your home looking presentable. On this thread, we do our best to follow these routines (although we also chat quite a lot and sometimes forget why we're here ).

There are three methods of the Flylady system, depending on whether you are new to it or have been following it for a while:

1. Babysteps
2. Babysteps + 15 mins daily decluttering in current zone
3. Babysteps + daily missions

Following the babysteps helps to establish daily routines and build a weekly plan.

Today's babystep is to shine your sink.

I really must get off MN and do something...

Must not skim read. Engelsmeisje i thought you said you were doing a spot wedding. I was wondering what a spot wedding was

I am officially on a work holiday.

DH is officially on a work holiday.

DS is always on holiday

Flying can go... fly for the day!

Morning everyone [distributes all round]

Yay PA glad to hear your dd doesn't need further treatment and arf at acclimatisation training sun-bathing!! You are made of sturdier stuff than me - 27°C at night would do me in! Good luck to your ds with his exams and with all the job transitions .... And how fantastic to have a willing bread-maker in the family!!!

Great you have an appointment Whoknows and with a good bloke!

Good luck with the 'sleep training' Bitchy I think a good night's sleep (if possible) is the key to so many things ...shame I can't take my own advice!

swan and whoknows sorry you have been going through such stress with your ds's. I think children tend to go in phases - remember that time last year (or was it earlier this year? - tis all a blur) when dd was an absolute nightmare? Heaven knows what causes it; developmental spurts? Phases of the moon? And this time of year is stressful for dc with all the end-of-term type things going on. If it's any consolation, things with dd are a lot better now - although not perfect by any means - but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Until the next strop anyway ... !!!

Maggie and Blue hope those painful feet of yours start to feel better v. soon

Thanks for links and round-up Toffee and hope you manage to catch up on sleep tonight! Good luck with hair cutting tomorrow!

Swan ah the curtains ..... have a difficult decision to make ... meant as a "cheer me up" "inspire me on" present to myself ...but frankly the quote brings tears to the eyes (Not helped by 3 m drop!) And yes - the fancy pleats and double molleton linings (freezing in this house in winter! ) all add to the cost. Not sure I can justify spending that much for them to be nibbled on by rabbits!! Might compromise and just buy material from shop and make them up myself - if I dare! Might just do what many people do here - and use a plain material trimmed in expensive stuff. Oh I don't know!!!!

Cost of house renovations a sore subject atm - decoration of hall and landing costing an absolute fortune!! Cash for this here - that there - it is all adding up.

I desperately need to earn some cash of my own!!

How is your garden/terrace looking now - is it coming together nicely?? Are you pleased with the end result?

Waves to Engelsmeijse Lauren Honu Linzer Flying Morecats Ellie Castle and everyone else I may have inadvertently missed.

Had better get off the screen and go and do something productive ... Have a good day everyone!

[quaffs sangria and lifts glass to Carpe]

hic

It is a sublimely beautiful day, and if this was a holiday cottage I would think I was in heaven - roses outside window, patio to sunbathe on, swimming pool 5 mins away etc etc...books to read, 1000 of lovely records to listen to, piano to play...kittens to watch, craft to do...

However being me, today seems like a series of problems to be solved...

As usual combination of housework and long term organisation is sending me into a spin. So much manual work still be done in garden.
Need to book tickets for Ireland
ring bank to send draft for Irish rental
find a seaside holiday cottage in England - we haven't been anywhere but my parents' since 2007 (apart from brief fling in Berlin)
order large shrub to fill blank spot in garden, and some climbers
clear out fridge which is vile
find swimming clothes for swimming lesson this afternoon
take out rubbish
wash kitchen floor
wipe table
clear out car which smells like there is something dead in there

oh and buy a pair of shoes from Ealing - I have no summer shoes - Maybe that could be combined with food shopping...

Whoknows glad you have got your appt. I'm mortified if I meet even a teacher from school in the supermarket looking at my shopping basket, so I can imagine how you feel...

Ds2 is in excellent spirits this morning, his new coping strategy is to say he doesn't want to talk further about the previous day's upsets. What a nightmare yesterday was, I don't think it was just ds2's fault just a combination of me not wanting to go out in the evening at all, finding driving difficult, house a mess, ds1 not to be trusted with exam revision...I hate all these schooly functions - utterly exhausting when you are doing it singlehanded.

Toffee I hope ds gets to hairdresser alright. Hope you are finding a suitable dog too...is there any puppy on the horizon after your holiday?

There, I feel calmer now....FIRST book tickets!

SC I made the curtains for my room. Straight seems and Tabs. Nothing too fancy. Thermal line too. But then they are just lining material dyed to the colour i wanted, simply because i couldn't find curtain material that i like or ready made curtains that would fit.

Today's to do list:

1. Sleep
2. put washing on
3. clear ds' room ready for matress for new bed
4. clear lounge and landing for new bed
5. make sure ds' bag is packed for the weekend
6. pack training stuff
7. Have cold shower
8. long drive
9. training

10. Sleeeeeeeeeeep

Just for completeness mind ;)

SC I have never regretted the money I spent on the drawing room curtains (very thick heavy handpleated William Morris when we were young and rich young fogies) I regret bitterly not interlining the playroom curtains, design though too has given pleasure for 14 years...

But being a woman of many talents I bet you could make them yourself, if it is just one set....Depends what else you would rather spend the money on... My mum loves textiles and had to furnish an enormous house, every bedroom has beautiful curtains, made of classy seconds from Portobello road and rufflette tape, not a hand pleat in sight... She paid a local dressmaker to make them, very cheaply compared to smart curtain makers. I suppose I was doing the opposite when I had smart curtains made when first married, but I'm sure rufflette would have done just as well in the long term..... Also if you have very expensive curtains made, that's it, you can never ever justify changing them!
Have you looked at any of readymade curtains at places like Oka or is there somewhere called the Natural Curtain company?

Morning all!
Went to bed very smugly last night and woke up this morning feeling V organised....

...since then it's all gone a bit pear shaped!!

Beds were made
DS's up and dressed
Dropped DS's off at school planning a quick shower and hanging the washing out before work -
DS2 then announces he's left his swimming kit at home - cue 30 minute round trip to drop said kit into school, whereupon his teacher tells me they don't need it today! Never did get that shower

Dh returns with new campervan tonight and I'm at work all day so can't imagine much flying will be done here today - house does look fairly presentable though for the first time in ages.

SC curtain making is suprisingly easy (really if I can do it so could a one-armed monkey) and gives many opportunities for barely disguised smug pride...

"Oh SC are they new curtains, where did you get them?"
"Well" actually I made them myself..."

That's another thing that needs doing, our lounge curtain rail fell down a couple of nights ago (well I noticed it was coming away and took the curtain off, shoved the rail back up).

If you have very thick, professional curtains, you must need extra strong curtain rail fixings? All our curtains are thin and lightweight and yet this has happened (I suspect due to the DCs pulling on it to try and open it).

I would like to replace most of our curtains at some stage soon as they have mostly seen better days and were cheap to start with but I don't want all my rails falling down!

I made curtains for DS's bedroom, stripey material which was very easy to sew straight. I am not an accomplished sewer at all though and don't think I would like to try with non-stripey fabric!

Thanks for all the curtain advice everyone - MUCH appreciated!! I do love a good natter about materials/textiles too!!

I'm going to have to ponder this one for a bit I think. I can sew quite well and I was planning on making the curtains for the upper floors/bathrooms etc. I just wanted the sitting room ones to be very professional (it's two sets Swan btw one at each end of long room divided by double doors). Maybe I should start at the top and work downwards so I can get in to my stride!

Your mum's house sounds lovely Swan and she is obviously very creative/talented

Clever idea to dye yours Bitchy

Maggie agree it would be satisfying (if it went OK that is!!)

MMmmm, as Swan says ... it all comes down to what else we have to spend budget on ... and in this house that is an awful lot!! In fact, the list is endless!

Good luck with your lists everyone - you all sound very busy - hope the day does not prove too stressful for you!

Had better go!! Thanks again!!

Maggie - I really, really couldn't ever make a pair of curtains. I can't sew and wouldn't know where to start

PA - I'm still laughing at your DS's description of his bread . It's just the sort of extraordinary thing that DSs come out with, in my experience! Best not to think about it too much, maybe!

WhoKnows - at you meeting your doctor in the local pub. I once had a long chat with a lovely familiar woman in a shop - couldn't think where I'd met her though - and as I walked away realised it was a doctor who'd done my smear a couple of months ago .

Thanks for the good lucks for hair cutting this afternoon. I have reminded DS that we have an appointment. I think he's pretending it's not happening. I really want him to have a decent haircut for the holiday though. DH had his first haircut in months yesterday (he always gets me to cut it with clippers) and looked sooo much better, as he'd been looking rather dishevelled (my hair-cutting skills are about as good as my curtain-making ones).

Bitchy - your sleep plans sound very good. We'll try to remind you. I have decided that there's no point worrying about my sleep issue at the moment as it fits in so neatly with the time we'll be getting up to go on holiday next week, ie. 2am!

Swan - oooh, we have recently had William Morris wallpaper put up on one wall in our sitting room. Have had lots of compliments.

Done:

School run (and on time for once!)
B/fasts
Load d/w
Load washing machine
Tidy kitchen
Room rescue in sitting room
Room rescue in DS2's bedroom
Swish and swipe in bathroom
Made beds
Emptied bins

To do:

Hang washing up outside
Wash up pots and pans
Last-min online holiday shopping
Errands in town, incl. The Haircut
Ironing
Put away laundry

DS has been left to his own devices on his computer and is very happy with that . I have realised I don't have time to sit down and work with him as well as sorting the house and the holiday. MIL is popping into our house whilst we are away and said, "I'll do the washing up for you", which was well meant, but just made me think, "Argh! What does she think of me?!" Am intending to leave the house immaculate and knowing she's coming is a good incentive.

x posts Whoknows thanks for the tip about the curtain posts/rails!!

That's one of the reasons I was getting the shop to deal with all of that as dh is absolutely useless with this sort of thing. Not exaggerating - he has to have several attempts at changing a light bulb!! !!! (That's horrible of me isn't it??? )

Yes - stripes and checks much easier to deal with I think. The curtain I have in mind is one colour but with a large floral motif. MMmmmmm... ponders again!

:o at Toffee and one-armed monkey checking and also at PAs DS and bread comment - my DS is very into making bread at the moment too but if he came out with a similar comment I would be having serious words with school (he is 6 though!!)

Sorry to have been AWOL but have been trying to get ready for our holiday - 11 days camping at a circus festival in the middle of Suffolk. The address is Farmer Paul's Buttercup Field :) However, we go tomorrow and I should be sorting things out.

Best get on as DH has just shown up. Will catch up later - probably from a sunny field in Suffolk.
Happy Flying everyone :)

Hi feetheart (sorry - forgot to wave before!!) Sunny field in Suffolk sounds absolutely glorious!!!! Hope you have a fab holiday!!

Having a bit of a "moment" here. Boiler has just blown up, so no hot water. Painter has left what seem to be permanent marks on marble floor. Ironing lady has not turned up AGAIN. (I know I said I was flexible but this is ridiculous!!) Load more plaster has just dropped off the wall and sent up huge clouds of white dust everywhere and to cap it all ... painter and his wife (my cleaning lady) are having a stand up row in the hall!!

Anyone got any more sangria????

Bloody hell SC, strong stuff needed indeed!

Thanks Bitchy

By chance, renovations going on in office at the same time as here and one of their men has just popped over to take a look. Official verdict - boiler is dead and needs replacing (it has been leaking for a while). Dh is not going to be happy about yet more expense. On the positive side, builder said he can come with replacement on Wednesday so not too long to survive without hot water and at least the weather is lovely and warm!!

Believe it or not, have just discovered that dishwasher isn't emptying either!! It's not Friday the 13th is it??

Decorator and his wife have left (sighs with relief). They seem to be on speaking terms. But have just noticed that he has painted over lovely ebony finish handrail (he was only meant to paint vertical balustrade)

Reaches for corkscrew ....

Oh, SC, you are having a rough time .

Feet - hope you have a wonderful holiday.

Well, DS1 couldn't make it to the hairdresser after all. He managed to walk part of the way there, then was overwhelmed with panic and had to turn back. Luckily, the hairdresser was very understanding and didn't charge me (this is the third time he hasn't shown up, so they would probably be more surprised if he did arrive).

I know it's silly, but I really want Ds to have a good haircut before we take all our holiday photos.

Other errands - I managed to get DS1 some shoes on the understanding that I can change them if they don't fit. Bought some sandals for myself from Clarks - they are a little grannyish, but possibly the most comfortable sandals I've ever worn, so will be great for the holiday.

Also had to order DS some new glasses and I have to give a plug for SpecSavers here and say they should win an award for customer services because, after I explained the problem, they said that, if DH can drive DS to the back of their shop tomorrow morning, they will come out and try the glasses on DS without him even needing to get out of the car.

Having spent a scary amount of money on stuff for the holiday , I was more than happy to agree when DH asked me to help him out at work tomorrow.

Off to tackle laundry and general mess now.

Well, at least he tried to get there Toffee. Have you thought of getting a mobile hairdresser? Several of the mums at the DCs school are hairdressers who either work mobile or just doing favours for friends. Well done to the Specsavers staff, it's nice when people are so helpful.

Hiya all! Hope you are hanging in there sc

at PAs DS bread!

No flying again here but did go shopping with my mum after work, I needed a pirate sword for my fancy dress trip to blackpool tomorrow and DD was very spoilt!

Still need to:
Pack for both me and DD tomorrow
Unload dog food from car
Wash kitchen floor
Put pots away and shine sink
Bath DD
Fake tan and pluck eye brows

Hope everyone is ok and enjoying the sunshine!

Hi ladies! Yes, I have discovered bleach! Why did no one tell me about this before? Have just done crisis clean of bathroom and downstairs toilet as we have friend coming to stay tomorrow for Eurovision party. Sink is still not perfect - DH wet shaves and by time I get to the sink the soap skum and little black hairs are baked on in this weather

toffee sorry DS didn't make it but sounds like he tried really hard. Perhaps the hairdresser will come round as a 'one off' - she sounds very understanding. And to Specsavers - hope that idea works.

Really sorry no time for other personals but have read all. If I finish crisis clean ^in time later I will come back.

[Quaffs Pimms - thank you Whoknows]

Evening all - thank you for commiserations - much appreciated - this thread is keeping me sane atm!! I reckon though that if that is the worst thing that happens, then it is not too bad really!! (Can't you tell I'm more cheerful now having imbibed alcohol ])

Come on over in to the naughty corner everyone!!

Sorry your ds didn't get to hairdresser Toffee - mobile hairdresser good idea as he could watch a film or something while it was being done. I know it sounds a bit wierd but I happen to know that 'Help the Aged' have a list of trustworthy ones in each locality... . If you rang them and explained the situation, I'm sure they wouldn't mind giving you the details of someone sympathetic. (Hope your ds doesn't end up with a blue rinse though!!)

[flaps wings at everyone and dives for naughty corner cushions zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz]

Morecats I'm big on bleach but my clothes have suffered! Lots of white splodges ...

Enjoy the party Lauren. Hope your buckle is duly swashed! [Hic]