Fledglings Fly into July!

[BlueEyeshadow]

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

A huge "thank you" to SanguineChompa for leading us throughout June!!

If your 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, support and wine 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:

• 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.

All welcome!!

Apologies for starting the thread so late - it took SC lobbing the duster at me to make me remember it's July tomorrow (and I've blatantly cut and pasted her OP too)!

The first baby step is to shine your sink! See here for the Fat Fairy's tutorial...

No mission because it's Sunday. But here's the flight plan for established flyers

I have been feeling very anxious this morning...dunno what has got into me...the more problems are solved the faster I seem to create new ones...

Ds1 has a sore throat still, but he has got through two performances of singing Bohemian Rhapsody, and only one to go, this afternoon...1. worry no1 - Dh said it was great yesterday (he went last night) so whatever happens today it is not the end of the world

Dd has to be dropped at Guides afternoon, somewhere I am not sure quite where...2. worry no 2...find map and feel more confident I can find it

I have to make lunch 3. worry no 3. Buy some potatoes to put on top of bolognese sauce - cottage pie

I need to get dressed. 4. worry no 4. ironing pile - iron a few clothes only...

Right, I can beat these worries today!!!!

Lauren it is a nightmare, just steel yourself and think the worst that can happen is xyz..then you will find you CAN do it. x I had one of those meetings about four years at a wedding ago, and it did give a sense of closure, but only after a lot of heartsearching.

Ta da:-
Bottom of house restored too presentability (is that a word?)
Washing x lots
Got pissed off waiting for Tesco delivery which was an hour late
Rang Tesco and ranted down phone for being late 2 weeks on trot
Got refund on extortionate delivery charge (should be late every week)

I was waiting and waiting for the sodding delivery to arrive to mop the hallway. Mopped the hallway and the sodding delivery arrived as floor was still drying. Back to mop sodding floor again!

Back later.

Ta da:
make dough for biscuits and put in fridge to chill
2 loads of washing
counsel a friend though an issue
catch up with team stuff x 2
try to sort film tickets out
set ds up on wii and leave to yell at tv
drink some but not enough coffee.

Now heading for more coffee and to figure out how to restore house to presentable level.

Today's been one drama after another so far. Started with water pouring through the kitchen ceiling. Cue frantic mopping, bailing, calling plumber etc. I took the boys out and left DH to deal with it. Got home - all fixed but then discovered that it had got into the electrics and fused the cooker circuit. Electrician can't come till MOnday but it might start working before then as it dries out. Boys parked in front of Wall-E, DH trying to dry cooker with hairdryer, I'm upstairs trying to work.

Meant to be doing loads of baking tomorrow so hope it works by then!!

Afternoon ladies.

Toffee sorry you are feeling no better. Be gentle to yourself today
Blue oh no re water, but it does sound like it is being dealt with and you have the task in hand.
Swan I hope you get through your worries. You can beat them!
ellie Grr at Tesco delivery man. I hate waiting in for deliveries. It drives me mad.

Well not too bad a day here. Currently on washing load three, DD been and back from dancing class, been to small local shop for a few bits and done all literacy and numeracy planning for next week. (I refuse to bow to end of time playing and fooling around / watching DVD)

Still to do
Fold and put away clean clothes
15 min room rescue of bedroom and also of DDs room.
Run hoover around upstairs
Cook tea
15 minutes under stairs clearing (This always seems to be on my list. It is my nemesis)
marking this evening

Fuck it. Pjs it is. This evening i shall be doing very little.

Thanks for all the good wishes. Am feeling better now and was able to take DS2 out to a local pottery cafe this afternoon to make presents for the his teacher and TA. Then snuggled up on the sofa watching an old episode of Dr Who (although DS2 seemed more interested in using me as a playground.

Sorry for lack of personals - I can't scroll down to the bottom of this box, so I can't write more than a few lines before I lose my text . It's happened before and I can't remember how to solve it...

'for his teacher', I mean.

Evening all. For once I can say every room in my house is presentable. I have even found the floor in my bedroom! I am chuffing knackered though. I have changed all beds, put all washing away and done a stack more, fed kids, despatched kids to bedrooms to watch a dvd, had a bath and am sitting down to watch tv. Phew, exhausted just reading that back.

Glad you are feeling a bit better toffee. Still got to sort pressies for teachers although ds's is an arse and getting sweet f.a. so that makes it a little easier.

Going to collapse in pj's avec vino now.

Well managed another load of washing, to empty two bags of school rubbish and sort, empty my entire car of rubbish and put away and clean out the fridge. Didn't manage my marking though.

Ellie a good way to start the ho lidays indeed!
Toffee very heroic to go to pottery cafe - but very good forward planning for presents
Blue have you read your little ones the Alfie book about the leak? Water pouring through the ceiling as well as outside, not good, poor you. Life is always too interesting isn't it never a dull moment...

done
got through anxiety today, did lots of driving, and watched ds1's performance at school. It was very good/he was brilliant, and my knot of tension finally went...but now I am exhausted, also after a courtesy visit to neighbour's party...if I don't go, she might not invite me next year

Dd and I watched Twilight the first one on telly schedules, for some reason I don't have DVD. I've seen it before, but it was still seems so wonderfully odd and quirky, compared to all the sequels. I love Edward's ridiculous bouffant hair, that has dated somewhat.

Tomorrow more "fun" awaits to tie me knots...altar serving x 2, and a trip to my cousin's in the far north of London with a reluctant dd in tow...

MC very admiring of you continuing to plan for last days, in our school they pack up everything by penultimate week once reports are finished, no homework etc (which is of course good
My car is a disaster again, not helped by doggy smells...Although it is handy to have all the swimming kit in there

Morning all!

BBQ was actually lovely, had lots of catch ups with cousins etc that I don't often see. The ex didn't bring his girlfriend. It really took it out of me though, it was hard to be in the same place as him and not talk to him- he blanked me when I said hello which was awful but today is a new day and the suns out

To do:
Make banana loaf for beginning of the weeks snacks
Routines
Buy DD blackout curtains
Online shop to be delivered tomorrow
Walk dog

Body clutter: have lost 3 of the 4 pounds I put on last week...so hopefully will be losing properly again soon! I need to get back shredding but I'm just exhausted by the time DD is in bed!

Glad you survived the bbq lauren
My car was so bad it will have taken 3 attempts to clear and tame it. Done 2 must attack it again later. It's one job I refuse to do in the rain!

Crashed when ds when to bed. So feel a bit better. Did not appreciate the fact that ds thought it appropriate to be in and out demanding his ds charger before 7am this morning. Him declaring I was selfish because i told him to go away and deal with it means that this morning is likely to start with fried tempers.

To do:
see yesterday's list - whole house.
But specifically - get last load of laundry done yesterday dried.
fold all laundry
tackle my car
tackle my room - there is floor if you believe!

First up shower and coffee. Few more nights like this and i might start to feel human!

Sorry didn't get link up yesterday - here it is:

babystep 15

Ps no mission because it's Sunday.

swan - yes DS1 was v knowledgable about the leak thanks to Alfie!

Body clutter news:
current normal trousers too big
Next size down a bit snug. But not so much that they can't be worn.
Progress!!! `
Weight? Meh not looking at that. I want to get into the clothes in my wardrobe (only one size smaller so totally realistic)

OK, body clutter, I'm starting again today. I've just weighed in and am going to put it in MFP now.

Feeling much better today, in spite of being up at 1am planning DS's home ed for September. Didn't get to sleep until 4am thanks to brain buzzing, but I feel that I now have a clearer idea about what we're going to do. Am trying to get a happy medium between my enthusiasm and urge to invest in expensive courses and workbooks and DS1's hatred of both those things .

OFM - have just realised you have dogs (plural!) as well as six children !

ellie - how annoying about Tesco - but good that you got money off! Well done on your presentable house . You are sounding very positive, although I know it can't be at all easy. I hope you have lots planned for the holidays.

WhoKnows - thanks for the tip on the nightlight. We actually used to have one of those for DS1, but it was thrown out in one of DH's mad decluttering sessions lost. DS2 described what he wanted and it was basically the one he'd had as a baby: it played lullabies and projected pictures on the wall. So, I have ordered another of those and hope it comforts him enough to settle him back to sleep without me yo-yoing back and forth.

Witchy - ah, DC seeking charger (or computer) in parents' bedroom in the early hours - I know that feeling well .

Swan - I love those 'Alfie' books, but have missed the flood one. Wonder if DS2 will still appreciate it at nearly seven ? Well done on overcoming all your anxieties yesterday. The ADs should be helping with that and if they're not, I would go back to the dr to discuss. Good luck with today's challenges too.

BlueEyes - how appalling about the water pouring through your ceiling . I hope it's sorted out as quickly and painlessly (and cheaply ) as possible.

MC - very conscientious of you to plan for the final week. I must say DS2's primary school doesn't do a lot of work in the last week - seems to be one long round of end-of-term parties and extra time watching DVDs! Am stunned that you managed four loads of washing in one day

Morning all (Or maybe afternoon by now)

Toffee and Bitchy I feel your pain on early risers, DD got up at 6am for the second morning in a row today. I'm so not a morning person.

Lauren Glad BBQ wasn't too bad and Swan glad that you survived your day yesterday. It sounds like you did well.

OK so DH is away most of next week so today I need to get organised. I've set him on the task of putting a new parcel shelf in my car (Its a new car, well to me anyway and I hated that you could see into the boot) and mowing the lawn before the neighbours start to complain. I have been to local shopping centre for weekly food shop and also to little supermarket for a few things on offer.

To do list

• Wash bedding - DDs and ours
• Marking that I ignored yesterday.
• Main bedroom declutter - I also can't see my floor and its full of clothes that don't actually fit in the wardrobes and drawers, meaning that my everyday clothes are just in piles around the room
• tidy bathroom and ensuite
• take DD to park to practice riding bike without stabilisers
• Homework with DD (Last ones of the year - Yippee)
• Another block of time under the stairs - made a big improvement here yesterday so want to finish it before more gets dumped.
• Cook / bribe DH to cook Roast pork sunday lunch

I'm sure there is more but that will do for now. Off to make everyone sausage sandwiches and mugs of tea.

BBL

Afternoon all. Currently at ballet exam with dd3&4 Have already between to buy new school sites for dd1. (yes her shoes managed to totally fall apart one week before end of year....I am just hopeful though as I think her ferry have stopped growing (fingers crossed...she is a size 7 bless her!)

Am feeling totally overwhelmed and frazzled though. Thinking a lot of out is background anxiety about getting everything done when I have lots on....need to learn to just handle one thing at a time in a calm way!

Re dogs......yes they are a lot of extra work....my family think we are MAD for having them....but I LOVE having them.....I think they add more to our family than they take!

Right....girls due out in a minute....then more mad dashing about....

Bbl for proper catch up when not on phone...

SHOES obviously......

And FEET....not ferry lol.....silly phone !

Overflowing I thought I was the only one daft enough to be at ballet exams on a Sunday! I had to do grade 2 today (well, I did the bun and the transport anyway...).

Barely keeping head above water here - bin bagged DD2's room yesterday (she had lost leotard for said ballet exam) and will give her bags back one at a time as she clears it. DD1 liked the idea and bin bagged her own room this morning so she can clear and organise it in the first week of school hols.

Actually foad I like that idea too