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

Weather well and truly broken in Hampshire now PA - massive thunderstorms yesterday, cool and sunny intervals today, forecast to be wet again from tomorrow.

Sheffield isn't as bad but it is cool and cloudy.

PA You really aren't selling the Cambodian experience. I wouldn't have slept a wink either if I thought a rat was in the house.

Further Ta Da list

• Mince cooked for pie later
• 15 minutes tidying in the garden
• both bathrooms cleaned and sparkling
• fridge decluttered
• All fed

The diving commentary is making me
So far we have had such jems as:
"I wouldn't recommend holding hands on the way down"
And "health and safety report quickly to the mexicans" (someone got caught out by the flipup chairs).

I should be doing something productive though.

I am tidying while watching it. Think they've blown it. I don't warm to Tom somehow, think it might be because he reminds me of David Platt in Corrie.

Could it be because he comes across as thinking he is god's gift and no one tells him otherwise? Don't believe in golden children iyswim. Also agree they won't get a medal. Mathematically possible but realistically?

Quite possibly. I have to say I don't know all that much about him, I have never really warmed to him so never bothered reading interviews, watching programmes about him, it's the Andy Murray effect all over again.

Yep, he is another one who I don't get the appeal of.

Felt a bit sorry for the american gymnast who not only landed failing his vault but caused the USA team to go out of contention. Some of the performances are pretty amazing.

Crikey PA You'd think the rat man would take away his day's "work" with him wouldn't you ....??? Arf at your dh in wellies and boxers!! Make a note not to mention Weil's disease Sending virtual KitKats your way ... actually... what about acquiring an actual kit cat ... or a small terrier???? That might keep your unwanted furry visitors away....

Witchy/Whoknows Oh I rather like Tom and he's been through such a hideous time losing his father this year - think it's amazing he's able to compete and contend with all the pressure heaped on him in the circs at such a young age. I always thought he came across as rather level headed but perhaps I am just old and drunk sentimental

Whoknows so sorry to hear about your dad . It must be still a shock even though not entirely unexpected. Hope he is getting good medical support despite your mother's reservations. Sorry you are having to cope with what must be a very stressful situation all around.

Toffee I was speed reading your post and thought it said "dog did washing up" Well, if he likes eating his dinner off china plates not entirely unreasonable to encourage him to clear up too ...

MC geocoaching sounds fab!

Lauren thanks v. much for tips but sadly don't have Sky. Beeb has redeemed itself today though - have spent hours glued to box for fab x-country coverage . Go team GB!! Bloody impressed by Toddy at 56yrs too!!! Should be a nail biting finish tomorrow - not sure I can bear to look actually!! Glad you had good day at races!!

A warm welcome to Angelico Can really recommend a book called "No more clutter" which specifically answers many of those questions and was recommended to me by someone on here. I've found it really helpful!! (Still drowning in paper and sentimental bits and pieces though!!) Agree with Whoknows¨about self limiting storage.

Engels must confess to feeling a bit homesick atm what with Olympics and everything. Won't be long before I'm in Blightly for a holiday but so agree with you about wanting UK commentary. Very few Belgian athletes (although country as a whole I guess punches above its weight) so you get to know more about them then you could possibly ever want to know!!

Huge waves to Honu Feetheart Ellie Swan Nicknacks Carpe and everyone I've missed

Have just (rather ominously) received 6 page email attachment from school listing equipment and materials necessary for dd come Sept ... had better go and start reading and wielding a highlighter pen [sigh]

Ta Ra! Back from Ireland today.
SC Olympic crazy sons here..dd totally uninterested as she is actually taking exercise
The opening ceremony was bizarre (well I thought so) What on earth was Kenneth Branagh doing in top hat reading Shakespeare, why wasn't he dressed as Shakespeare if they wanted fancy dress? I loved your Olympic interjection Ellie that is exactly what I would have said if I had dared thought of it...

No internet where I was, and no washing machine...and rats too! But I can honestly say that the terriers and cats kept them at bay. PA Thinking of you and feeling excited for you in your new life, as well as prayers.

Whoknows glad you had such a lovely holiday. So hard worrying about the parents. I bet your mum will listen, maybe she will just have a kneejerk reaction then it will become easier for her to work out what to do conventional medicine wise. It is very frustrating to contend with fixed opinions in either camp, maybe she can come to a compromise.

Toffee ds1 is terrified of dogs. He is getting better, and it is due to familarity with resident dogs which we meet in Ireland. So you are doing right thing to get him used to dogs now... I loved hearing your holiday exploits so far. Also impressed at thought of persuading ds to read somethign about Tudors...So far ds has started a new vampire book

I have been obsessed by The Hunger Games Trilogy this holiday, just finished last one today. Brilliant. I think I need to up the stakes a bit and find a more demanding read....

Well, I stopped taking the antidepressants on day two of hols after three weeks on them, and felt completely normal almost immediately (give or take a few rows with my mum)
I think I need to concentrate on the CBT as that is what will make a difference. My anxiety levels seemed to be much worse on them, and giving them up I feel I have turned a corner, in terms of taking back purpose and identity. I will see how next few weeks go.

Better go, husband want to talk to me!

Hi all!

Had a busy day today and it's increasingly looking like a very busy week! I have a potential mindee visiting tomorrow straight after my usual mindees go home. Luckily I have done my home bleugh so the house isn't too bad

Ta da:
Home bleugh
Banana loaf is in the oven
Walk dogs
Picked up dog poo
Routines
Hoovered sofas- today's mission!
LOTS of laundry- still need to put it away
Cleaned windows and doors
Cleaned kitchen worktops
Shined sink
Food shop
Family gathering for cousins birthday

I still need to bring a box full of books and a scooter in from my car before bed.

mc I'm not on my laptop tonight but will definitely have a look at geocaching tomorrow it sounds great! Funnily enough my auntie mentioned it too this afternoon when I was at the family gathering! I had never heard of it and then have twice in one day today!

Thank you for the washing machine tip whoknows I can't leave it open in the day but I definitely will start on a night time o give it time to breathe!

Argh at rats pa!

olympics chatter I have recorded all of the cross country and I will find time to watch it at some point tomorrow night hopefully

I'm not looking forward to DD going to school if I'm going to get a 6 page list sc

It's good that you have a focus on how to overcome your depression swan! And you sound very positive after your break, it was obviously well needed

Waves to all. I felt like I was walking round in a bubble of irritation most of the day, but have a ta-da list so it can't be that bad.

Ta da!
Swept floors x loads
washing done and dry
Clean laundry away
S&S
Swept out sofas
Been to park twice! (2 different parks, once last minute with friends...)
Successful dinner
Not killed boys
Zumba!

I even got bread in the machine, but forgot to calculate the time properly so it won't be done till nearly midnight. Bang goes reasonable bedtime!!

Re geocaching - DH signed up for it once but the welcome email was still languishing unread in the inbox when I cleared it out the other week...

Welcome back swan you sound very positive on your return. When I was on ADs they made me feel worse before I felt better. I remember on about week 5 I suddenly turned a corner. If you don't feel like they are for you, I hope cbt works. My doctor wouldn't even consider it until the ad's had been tried

I hit a problem this afternoon on returning from dds swimming lesson and have had a weird sensation at the top of my eyes and nose. It turned into a headache so I think it'll end up as a migraine . So made tea, laid on settee and watched a film instead of finishing my jobs list. I'll have to finish it tomorrow instead.

Off to bed, night all

lauren Relax sc is not in the UK. We don't get those long lists here.

Swan kenneth Branner was supposed to be Brunnell who was one of the driving forces of the industrial revolution. He built the bridge over the meni straights and a tunnel thingy somewhere. Even has a uni named after him.

morning ladies

Arses link explanation fail. Click the link ^^ to find the august thread.

Hope you escape the migraine MC. they are bloody awful things.

Get ds back today and rather excited. Haven't enjoyed him being away this time. which is odd as it was only a few days. hoping leading the thread and being focused might help when he is away for an extended peroid later this month. Loads to do today.

to do list:
fold laundry
put clothes away
ironing
make up ds' bed
collect ds
do some research for wed on timings and plan of action etc
make sure dvd's go into post.
beat the shit out of little green chopping things with ds
early night

my day is all shifted about funny. It is not good. So I am going to bid good bye to monday and see if I can sleep for a few hours before I say hello to tuesday. Hope you all have good days.

This morning has started badly, but I feel I have managed to claw my way out of trouble...vis a vis both sons screaming their heads off over Olympics. I have switched off telly. (I think we need two [tellies] as they really cannot sit together on the sofa anymore without killing each other
House complete mess round the edges (dh tidied the middle portion as he has been here for last ten days) but I am determined to get everyone out of the house before I worry about it.

Dd now has playdate round corner
Ds1 has been showered and is going to go on a errand for me
And [sob] I shall now have to take ds2 to play tennis at the health club, alas no lesson just me and him.

And I also have to get dressed myself.

Oh dear arguments starting again..I will stay calm. They are imitating each other!!!!!

Bitchy oh, I see, he was Brunel. I know two Isembards! It was a fashionable name in seventies... That's what comes of not watching telly properly, but fag-ending your children's viewing. I must watch the Olympics properly, as I suspect I would find my children's addiction less trying if I did...

swan when kenneth Branagh came on and I wondered who he was supposed to be he replied, "Abraham Lincoln" he swears he was joking but I'm not so sure

ps...what does fag-ending mean?

Also baffled by fag-ending :)
I?m starting to get on top of the clutter again, having cleared out a drawer in the living room for MIL to use. Started Decluttering the filing cabinet last night (it?s only one drawer under the desk, so not a huge job). Working today so only have tonight to do any FLYing:

To Do:
Filing Cabinet
Clean Window (doggy nose prints have returned due to DH spending most of yesterday afternoon working in the front garden. Pupcakes would rather stand inside and watch through the window than go out with him )
10 minutes training with Pupcake2
Dinner ? Baked potatoes
Put away clean laundry
Make rhubarb & ginger crumble

This morning, DS1 came back from a sleepover at his best friend's house declaring that was going to catch the bus to a nearby city with his friend and some other boys . Further questioning showed that he had no idea how much all this would cost, where he was going or what he would do if he got separated from them. I tried to be a calm, practical, not overprotective mum (complete panic inside, of course) and printed off a map, showed him where a friend works in the city, recharged his phone and checked our numbers were loaded on it. Just as I was about to buy him a bus pass from the local shop, DS said actually maybe it was all a bit too much for him and could I please make an excuse for him?

Dog has been shampooed and had her hair trimmed this morning. She looks like a little puppy now .

Swan - good to have you back. I missed your updates. Sorry the ADs didn't suit you. Hope the CBT is more helpful.

MC - hope your migraine passes soon. Horrible things .

Bitchy - thanks for starting the new thread. Glad your boy is back home with you .

Where's today's Cambodian update? . I'd like to see PA's new daily routines (must have 'dispose of dead rats' on there somewhere ).

Right, after the early-morning whirl of dog haircuts and boyish adventures, I am now able to sit down with a cup of tea. Routines still to do, then am going off for my first mammogram this afternoon (free because I'm 'moderate risk' apparently). Am hoping it won't hurt. MIL is coming over to babysit for the boys. Oh dear, that means I need to tidy up...

Whooo hooo!! GB won silver [eventing]. Can now shower, eat, dress, visit the lav and do a bit of light Flying until individual comp this afternoon!!! (Was completely paralysed with fear this morning in case one of the horses didn't recover from x-country.) Go Mary!!! Go Tina!!

DD is bemused because for once I am not restricting use of the DS, insisting on brisk walks or creative activities, and her Playmobil stable has spread across the entire floor ...she is also still in her nightie [negligent mother emoticon]

Bitchy thanks hugely for new thread! [Can it really be the end of the month??? ] Glad your ds returned to fold too.

Thank you very much to Blue Ellie and latterly whoknows¨for running July thread.

Welcome back Swan!! You were very much missed!! Sorry to hear that the ads had such a horrible anxiety-inducing effect on you. Hope CBT works better.

Yes, don't worry Lauren huge equipment lists preserve of formal stifling French inspired education system here ...only 38 items required this year apparently . Usually have to hide the bill from dh. Have now realised my cunning plan of buying it all in UK (much cheaper) will not work as (frighteningly precise) specifications not the same...grrrr

Hope you are ok MC

and that you are surviving heat and rats PA

Letherebe we now have rabbit paw prints on our windows as they have recently learnt to knock on the kitchen and terrace doors, asking to be let in

Huge waves to Honu Feetheart¨Ellie Nicknacks Linzer Carpe and everyone else

Left out Toffee

• meant to say that it's really positive that your ds1 is enjoying sleepovers with his bf