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

Morning all

Just a list dump here, still no work as DD is still infectious and covered in rash!

To do:
Routines
Walk dog
Spray tan for tomorrow
Today's mission
Find somewhere to put blankets from under DD bed
Bath puppy ready for his sleepover at my friends tomorrow
Pack DD sleep over bag ready for tomorrow
Mine and DD laundry

BBL!

Bitchy and Honu - you are spot on. We worry so much about DS1 and we are simply relieved that DS2 is 'normal'. He certainly gets lots of attention, but where the dog is concerned we are focusing on DS1. Thanks for pointing this out. The truth is that DS2 is still terribly apprehensive about the dog, although he did manage to eat his dinner with her in the room last night, which was an improvement. He stayed up in his room, playing, once she arrived, and wouldn't come down (apart from dinnertime). I have kept her away from him and held her by the collar whenever he needs to go past her, so that he is reassured that she won't jump at him. She is a very affectionate, licky, jumping-up-at-you sort of dog.

I don't know... She is so good for DS1. He slept on the floor downstairs with her last night (it was too hot in his bedroom) and was up and dressed by 6am to take her for a walk on the Downs (have told him not to do that again, though - imagine us waking up to find him gone and no idea where he was !). He has cleared up her poo, fed her, played with her... She is actually getting him out of the house, which is a major achievement. Today DS1's best friend is here and we will be taking his dog out as well, which means long walks on the Downs with the two dogs. It's so good for DS1 to be getting out and about at last. (And I have really been enjoying getting out and about with the dog too).

I am just hoping that DS2 will get used to her and get over his fear. Funnily enough, DS1 was also terrified of dogs at the same age. It was getting to know my aunt's dog and a friend's dog that helped him get over his fear and learn to love dogs instead. Same with my DH. I think that's why I feel so sure that DS2 will get over this in time. DS1 would be heartbroken if we didn't follow through with our plan of getting a family dog.

Sorry, this is very off topic. Very perceptive of you both to point this out though and I think I needed it. Thank you.

Actually, DS2 is not so well still. Think he has a chest infection, so I'm taking him to the drs later.

So, to do:

Get dressed (ahem - late this morning, but I do have very respectable PJs on)
Swish and swipe
Washing up
Lunch
Dog walking
Read/play with DS2
Ironing
Put away big pile of laundry
Drs appt
Dinner (defrosting spag bol sauce)
DS2 bed
Watch Olympic Opening Ceremony and drink

Lauren - really hope your DD improves soon. Poor thing .

Honu - how lovely that you were part of 'All the Bells' .

Morning. Just a quick hello and tantrum... apologies for not reading most recent posts, but hope you are all ok. No time to myself today and feeling very stressed about it all. DM has been visiting the past few days and she is a hoarder, which has made the routines all the more difficult as she desperately wants to help but then everything is: DM please can you put that in the bin? DM: This? But are you sure? Sure you won't need it in 100 years' time? Sure you have 2 of them? Sure you've finished eating? Me: ARGH! JUST PUT IT IN THE FLAMING BIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNN!

As a result, my sink is no longer shiny and my house is now officially buried under 3 extra tons of crap.

DS still potty training unsuccessfully.

Shattered (my own fault for going to Olympic football last night! Exciting!) but this just makes today's despondency all the worse. Feeling v down about it all which is most unlike me, although all my posts so far on here seem to be whingy! Sorry...

Better get the bin emptied before DD wakes up so that I can scrape the plates and do the washing up that's built up during the whole of the last week. Sobs uncontrollably...

Hello! Bonjour! Dag! Just Flying through again (in all senses of the word) before leaving again for a few days - off to hitch up with lovely cousin and family on their way through France. Hope you are all OK and not wilting in the heat (well I know you are PA !!)

DD had great b'day - zoo with best friend, godfather over for tea, late viewing of Black Beauty [sniff] followed by day of rest/re-organisation, followed by more friends and another godparent for birthday lunch.

On the less positive front, wierd shenanigans/ re-organisation happening at dd's school involving emergency meeting which they have contacted us about (very odd timing) and not very sure how it is going to impact on dd in Sept but we will see.

Also, dh nearly caught a thief yesterday nicking a wallet from the chauffeur of an embassy car (embassy is in same office block as ours) and it all feels a bit strange and unsafe here now everyone has cleared out of town (traditionally the time for burglars/opportunists to focus on empty properties).

Also, getting a bit frustrated with all my friends who seem very unenthusiastic about the Olympics. I am really looking forward to it - can't wait in fact- but everyone really cynical and/or completely disengaged Don't understand how anyone can't be enthusiastic about it such feats of strength/determination etc. Oh well ....

Haven't had time to catch up with everyone or post lots of personals but ...

WOW PA how amazing you are!! And what a huge change for you all. Brilliant to hear all your news. Sending positive thoughts, prayers and vicarious bottles of sun cream, iced mineral water and beer your way. It's bound to be a really tough adjustment at first but you seem to be coping with your usual full quota of breezy courage and good humour [doffs hat in awe]. Thinking of you xxx

Don't know how you are coping with the heat btw...I'm finding it bad enough here at a mere 30°c.

Can't remember which of you recommended the book "No more clutter" by Sue Kay but huge thank you to you as have been reading it on travels and I think it's one of the best books on decluttering out there. It has really raised my enthusiasm for the subject!!

Am desperate to declutter now the holidays are here and it's bright and sunny and I'm not tied to any sort of particular schedule... but there is always one more family event/birthday/meet up/trip to get through before I can focus on it. Bah!!!

Bitchy v. good of you to offer to do August

Elliepac hope you are hanging in there and many congrats on totally fab news about your sister!!

Hope your ds2 feels better soon Toffee and arf at respectable pyjamas!!!

Same with your little one Lauren

Sorry no more personals as must dash and do a million domestic things. Huge wing flaps to Honu Trazzletoes Nicknacks Whoknows OFM MrsOnatopp Swan Linzer MC Cupcakes Engels Blue and everyone else I've missed!!

Btw Engels can really really sympathise with your dh's dislike of crowds/busy places .. it's such lovely weather atm, how about a lovely anniversary picnic together by river bank in lovely, quiet beauty spot .. with fab hamper and chilled wine etc ... I always love that!!! Photo album idea lovely too!!

Tally-ho everyone!!

sanguine I am all geared up for Olympics opening ceremony. Just finished supermarket run to het lots of yummy things whihc I will prob be eating on my own as DH will likely head to bed before it's finished! Also going to hone my cocktail making skills.

Don't have a Union Jack though so will be waving Dutch flags for the next 2 weeks (but in my heart it's team GB all the way!)

heading out into the garden now with a cool drink, a good book (well, kindle) and DSs paddling pool for my feet (he's napping!).

That's my flying for today done

Oooo fab!! I'm not alone .....!!! Waves lots of Union Jacks and Belgian flags back at Engels!! Will be with you in spirit tonight!!

[Really like the sound of your Flying btw ]

Ta da
Clear email account of unwanted email and sort ready for a proper clearout cull.
check other email accounts and fb and mn
strip ds' bed and put bedding into wash
wash plastic sheet
remove laundry from lounge and put on ds' bed to sort.
remove a box of books a bits that was left in ds' room when i sorted through the cupboard.
find a home for the books.
up date ds' calendar
cull the contents of 4 files
sort through and reasses the contents of 5 files.
transcribe some huge posters so that unstorable resources can be rehomed (school/recycling)
Spend 10/15mins on sewing project (in few minute chunks here and there)
1 load of clothes through washer
1 load of towels through washer
Go through massive file of old teaching stuff. reduced by more then half.
Rebox above.

Afternoon all

I hope you are all well.

I hope DS2 is feeling better soon Toffee and that he gets used to the dog.
Engelsmeisje I am also looking forward to the olympic ceremony but DH is really not interested. He will however watch any sport just not involved in the 'prancing' - May have to do a trade off.

Well no flying yet here, hve been to country park with DD and BF and have a lovely catch up, then lunch in cafe, to library to register for summer reading programme thingy and also went to animal olympics where DD has stroked a skunk, a lizard and two snakes so she is happy.

Now DH has just gone off to get a valuation on my car I am selling and I am about to take DD to karate, after which I'm going to have 15 minutes on bedroom, 15 minutes on spare room and 15 minutes on kitchen and that is it today.

Bitchy were you a teacher at one point? I didn't know that.

I've just realised that I didn't put suncream on this morning, realised because DD has just pointed out huge red shoulders and chest - I bet I'll be suffering for that later. Grrr

Afternoon all!

I've just earned myself some terrible parent points I took DD with me while I had my spray tan (my friends salon and it was closed so only us and another friend) and now she's eating a happy meal...she's going to turn into an unhealthy food eating Barbie isn't she

I better add, DD is much better- rash has gone and she's back to being herself! I didn't take a poorly child to a salon!

At least it wasn't a sunbed?

Glad she's feeling better. If it helps, I was wondering to myself whether 6mo dd is old enough for oven chips...

Oh no there's no sun beds there it's just the make up spray on type! And she didn't have one she just played with my friend while I had one DD wouldn't have managed oven chips at 6mo as she was still on slop but I always think every now and then is okay for that kind of food but I did just feed 20mo DD a chicken nugget happy meal

I decided against the oven chips in the end... quite fancy a spray tan myself now...! Mmmmm happy meal...

Evening all. What a crap thread leader I am, totally forgot about it. To cut a long story short, late last night we decided to ditch the planned camping in Pembrokeshire as te weather forecast is beyond shite and I am definitely a fair weather camper. So complete change of plan which means that, after a rather hectic day, i am now sipping Malibu by the seaside in Filey and we are now all settled in the caravan for the week.

Big apologies for being so shite. Will be back later. Dinner just arrived.

I really like Filey Ellie

I am feeling rubbish. DH thinks I have mild sunstroke as I am now red as a lobster on chest and shoulders, feeling sicky and hot to touch but under a blanket. I'm watching the opening ceremony of the Olympics with a bottle of water instead of my bottle of gin that DH treat me to though

Back for a busy day tomorrow.

Ta da
Clear email account of unwanted email and sort ready for a proper clearout cull.
check other email accounts and fb and mn
strip ds' bed and put bedding into wash
wash plastic sheet
remove laundry from lounge and put on ds' bed to sort.
remove a box of books a bits that was left in ds' room when i sorted through the cupboard.
find a home for the books.
up date ds' calendar
cull the contents of 4 files
sort through and reasses the contents of 5 files.
transcribe some huge posters so that unstorable resources can be rehomed (school/recycling)
Spend 10/15mins on sewing project (in few minute chunks here and there)
1 load of clothes through washer
1 load of towels through washer
Go through massive file of old teaching stuff. reduced by more then half.
Rebox above.
trip over to next town for some shopping
transfer training kit into new kit bag
Transfer 380 photos to new albums so baby photos can be in matchin albums despite the discontinuation of sale of album.
sort throught the 1st half year of ds' life in terms of photos
sort through 3 boxes of stuff
More washing through machine then can remember or wish to.
tidied explosion of stuff that was on lounge floor
Tidy dining room
take out huge amounts of recycling
gather stuff for the tip
watch olympic opening thingy
gather stuff together for going into the loft tomo

Just going to put finishing touched on the lounge and then I will be heading to be. Soooo tired.

I'm not surprised you're tired bitchy that's an immense list. Wow well done.

I'm fecking bored of this opening ceremony now. Just light the fecking torch.

Me too but once I started watching I had to finish. The cauldron was amazing though.

I know but put a proper dent in the decluttering today. I feel so proud of myself. It is quite an achievement. Especially as I have been avoiding several of those boxes due to them triggering an emotional response. Feel relieved it is done. Guess that won't help the tired feeling.

Wow well done on the list bitchy!

I'm off to York races today for ladies day, the puppy went to my friends last night in preparation and DD and the other dog are off to my mams for the day and night today! So zero flying from here!

Have a nice day everyone!

Ooh have a great day lauren

My list

Tidy my bedroom
Get ds's to tidy their bedroom
Wash on
Hoover top to bottom
Mop bathroom and clean sink
Mop kitchen
Tidy worktops
What's for dinner?
Lunch for all
Dd nap and tidy her room
Clear landing
Hang washing out
General tidy downstairs
Write next weeks activity plan

Be back later!