Fledgling Flyers Olympic August thread.

[BitchyDragons]

Ok so not the wittiest of titles but this month we have the Olympics, holidays, return of football season and heading into the new school year. It's going to be a busy one...

Firstly thanks to Blue and Ellie who kept us on track last month!

Right, most of you should know how this works. It's a three pronged attack.
Phase one: The babysteps master these and you will be working like clockwork.
Phase two: Adding in Decluttering this will help you keep on top of the amount of stuff contributing to CHAOS.
Phase three: Missions Targeted activities to keep the chaos at bay and starting the deep cleaning.

The golden duster of Flying is stage 4: deep cleaning. This is for most, unrealistic and should only be considered once you have completely decluttered. PA might achieve this simply by virtue of some extreme life decluttering. Although I probably won't recommend her method.

Now for those of you who are completely lost, lets rewind a bit.
CHAOS: Can't have anyone over syndrome. Yep you know that state where you are embarrassed to have play dates fucking hate that phrase or people pop in unexpectedly.
The fly lady approach works by breaking the house down into tiny activities which you do repeatedly yep sounds bad written like that but bare with me and then build up into a routine that becomes habit and you stop thinking about it no really, you do.

Clearer? Yeah ok. I have probably lost you but there is loads of support and help on this thread. If you are confused then ask. However, as this thread starts on the 1st on August I refuse to post the first babystep until later today.

This thread comes with a warning: For those of you who have not yet encountered my leadership of the thread. Be afraid, very afraid aware that I have a rather unorthodox approach and that things can get a tad unpredictable. Starting with a namechange. So who?s on board this month?

Oh and spot markers can help themselves to a magic eraser and ensure there are no marks on the thread for the start of the month. Let?s start as we mean to go on

Plantopia Easy Fill Hanging Baskets. Mine are the big 14" ones. Going to buy 12" ones for my "hanging basket tree" which came with crap ones

Must add, it's not a deliberate reservoir, it's just they way they are, a solid bottom. You'll fill it with compost as normal but I think it's key to retaining water.
I'm pretty good at floral displays but normally mine look a bit tired about now, they are all blooming apart from the shite ones on my "tree", they are not really good in comparison. Never again will I buy a normal basket...

Anyway, back to flying... I am in too much pain from AF to be arsed do the ironing , and it's too hot. So I shined my sink and watched the Olympics instead.
Ironing will be done in the morning.. Promise

Scruffy - we had the same issue with our next-door neighbours' cats using our garden as a litter tray. This worked well until it was dismantled by my toddler son. The only cat it didn't work on was a Siamese, who worked out how to avoid setting it off.

Flying - thanks for the tips on hanging baskets. I'm going to put them in my control journal so I can follow them for next year . Meanwhile, I wonder if I can borrow a couple from the local pub just for the relative's visit next week....

Am going off this whole dog business now. I slept on the sofa with the Jack Russell again last night, which at least gave DH a break from my coughing. Woke up at 4 to find the dog walking around on top of me; she finally plumped down on my pillow beside my head . Went up to the loo and heard her scratching at the door and whimpering as I left. When I came back, a couple of minutes later, she'd done a wee on the carpet. Why??? Anxiety? Desperation? Cleared that up and sprayed carpet cleaner all over it, but then heard the other dog scratching from the inside of DS's door upstairs. Ended up taking both of them out for a walk at about 4.30am. Have got firm with JR now and put her in her basket in the kitchen. The BT is back upstairs with DS1. Only another two days with two dogs, then we are back down to one for the last weeks of the holiday. Phew. The novelty is wearing off fast.

Wide awake now. I expect as soon as I creep back to bed, the boys will wake up...

Morning all,

Scruffy - I've not had that problem for a while as we haven't had any neighbouring cats but my mum has a sonic repeller and says they get used to it after a while so not great. I find it ear splittingly annoying though, you can hear it whistling, not sure if they are all the same. Next door have just got a cat so I am waiting to see if it all starts up again. The only problem so far is that all the birds have vanished from our garden, I never realised how much I enjoyed the company and the cheeping sounds from a flock of sparrows that lived in our bushes, now they are gone the silence is deafening.

Toffee - sorry you aren't getting much sleep between dogs and coughing.

Flying - your baskets sound lovely. I've never done them, we haven't really got anywhere suitable for them (I don't think they would look right on the front of our house for some reason, no one in our street does them) but I like looking at other people's. One of my friends has a really wide house with a big porch and a garden wall with a trough the whole length of it, she goes to town with her bedding plants and it always looks stunning. I must admit I've been neglecting my own garden in favour of the school one the last couple of years. My sweet peas have been crap this year, but I haven't got a sunny enough spot for them and didn't plant them early enough.

Right, well, Flying has been maintenance only for the last few days as we have had guests, but I have kept on top of the tidying (which is so much easier following all the decluttering) and the laundry (4 loads line dried yesterday). DS has learnt to vacuum since we got the lightweight cordless vac (that and the Pledge duster things are definitely my Fly buys of the year) and is doing so with great gusto. More guests due tomorrow, just going to relax and enjoy the weather this weekend.

Oh dear Toffee has the novelty worn off for DS1 at all? I hope you have a relaxing day.

Good morning Whoknows

Internet playing up, so cant scroll further up or I will lose it all, sorry! but hello to everyone else. I will see if I can scroll later.

Had an absolutely horrendous night before last night. Was woken up by something crawling over my hand. I panicked and immediately thought of the rats and screamed the place down woke up DH, who was as useless as a chocolate teapot. He did try to reassure me that we would have heard a rat and that it was probably a gecko. I didnt really care what it was...I do not do threesomes in bed, thank you very much!! After ages of sitting up waiting to catch the bugger culprit with no luck I then lay down and mummified myself in a sheet to avoid a repeat. I was sweating buckets and most uncomfortable, but somehow managed to get back to sleep, only to be woken up by a claw scratching my forehead. Well, I did a major freak out and woke up the whole neighbourhood and ended up stood on the bed as naked as the day i was born screaming exactly what I thought of this stinking rotten place! I think the new missionary in town might have taught the Cambodians some new swear words! I didn't sleep a wink after that so felt like a zombie in a sauna all day yesterday, which just happened to be the day that we first met our new bosses who have just returned to the country. Hope they don't think I am always so spaced out and useless!! Last night I had erected the mosquito net and had it pinned onto the mattress around me so that nothing on this planet was going to invade my space any more. It seemed to work and I slept well.

Today I have done the handwashing, dried it and just need to put the sheets on the beds.
GOne to the supermarket and done my "meat" shop and all other essentials I dont get in the market.

Hope you are all having some lovely sunshine there for the holidays. I think I have already got used to this heat a bit more and I quite enjoy it now.

Have a good day everyone.

PA - I'm sorry to laugh, but that is hilarious . You poor, poor thing. I would be exactly the same - and if I thought it was a spider I'd be on the first plane home! Toby is going to have such a great time doing a project on you!

We have just come back from a long, long walk on the Downs, as I felt the dogs needed it. We took a frisbee and it was very funny to see the dogs bouncing over the long grass to catch it. The boys loved it. Lots of exercise, fresh air and sunshine was had by all.

As far as getting our own dog goes - well, neither DH nor I are keen, but we will do what we have to for DS1. Then, this morning, DS2 told us he didn't want a dog at all. So that just leaves DS1. And DH has just dropped the bombshell that DS1 is having second thoughts too! We would prefer to carry on the way we are now, 'borrowing' dogs and walking other people's dogs, but still having our little house to ourselves for the rest of the time. If DS1 is willing to accept that compromise, that would be great. We'll see....

DS2 is now pestering me for the computer and trying to read over my shoulder, so had better go. Hope you all enjoy the sunshine.

afternoon folks! hope you're all well...haven't had chance to get on for a while...
Have just got back from a weeks holiday on NE coast. Kids on the whole had a nice time, DS1 was grumpy all week, caravan was horrible, cramped and filthy on yucky site with folks in neighboring caravan having LOUD parties all night long In the end we came back a day early. Only positive is that littlies enjoyed it and were oblivious to the horribleness of it all!
anyway...feeling glum and extremely sleep deprived today.
Have about 450 loads of washing to do. Kids all just beyond themselves with tiredness and bursting into tears every 30 seconds....ho hum!
will attempt to get back into some sort of FLYing organisation soon!
BBL

OFM! Welcome back! You sound exhausted, you poor soul. It's great that your kids had such a good time, but I'm sorry that it was so awful for you. Our last two caravan holidays were wet and cold; we hated it, but DC were perfectly happy and wanted to go again .

I hope you can get all the DC into bed extra early tonight and then pass out yourself. Sounds like sleep should be more important than washing your clothes.

Talking of sleep, I have been asleep most of the afternoon. Was woken up by bouts of coughing a few times and now have no voice. DH is wondering if my allergy to dogs is kicking in - it's hard to tell what it's all about. Am fed up with it all.

Zero flying today .

Maybe you could set yourself and DS1 up as a proper dogwalking/minding service Toffee?

OFM some people are so inconsiderate. Hope you all recover soon.

PA - arf at threesomes, you are being very brave, I have to say I would have probably caught the first plane home after the rats. Glad the heat is getting more bearable.

Well, a nice day here, went into town for farmers market and park this morning, then to a local lido this afternoon, the DCs have been inspired by Tom Daley etc and wanted to learn to dive, DS had his first few goes off the springboard and DD managed well from the side. More than I have ever managed......

They are now screaming in the garden, DH is at the gym, I'm cooking. Going to go and do some gardening afterwards, feeling inspired by Flying and her baskets!

Yes, good idea, WhoKnows. Maybe DS1 could start a savings fund (though he'd probably just spend it all on Pot Noodles and sweets, knowing him).

Glad you've had a nice day. Great that your DC have been so inspired by Tom Daley.

Hi Folks! Back from v pleasing seaside holiday in Broadstairs. And the children absolutely loved being by the sea, and IN the sea, so that was a great hit. Our rented cottage was a bit cramped, typical Georgian/Victorian 2 rooms stacked on top of each other, but very charming and very clean. We just missed Folk Week (boo hoo) We all want to go back to Broadstairs, it is perfect, rain or shine. Possibly a drain on finances with all those restaurants... Horrid s/h bookshop though! In fact lack of reading matter was my only gripe...Re-read two Jane Austens as they were in cottage - brilliant, I had forgotten she was so funny.
Overflowing I am completely knackered by being on holiday, and very relieved to be back in my own territory! I am lying in my own bed, feeling as if it is some special treat reserved for post holiday recovery. Ds2 had some spectacular screaming fits over telly, Ds1 teased ds2 mercilessly, refused, to write a single postcard (for some reason I had set my heart on kids writing postcards and DH and I fell out several times over calorie control aka mission impossible of ds1 diet, so I don't think any holiday with children can be without flaw Also I find cleaning and cooking on holiday even more depressing than usual! Sand sand everywhere.

We used to go on seaside holidays in Wexford every year to stay with cousins. There was nothing, no restaurants, no shops, no amusements. We thought it was heaven to have a choc ice occasionally, and to swim in the freezing waves and sleep in a concrete outhouse on campbeds. Something of that feeling of the sea came back back to me in Broadstairs, it is endlessly absorbing just to walk on the sand and watch the tides.

Toffee just to make you feel better about Jack Russell, my brother has both his Jack Russells sleeping on the bed with him. They are extremely needy, intelligent creatures. They also pined bitterly for him when he was absent. Resident dogs are always going to be easier than visiting dogs, truly.

Glad you've had such a good holiday, Swan . Thanks for your words on dogs. I can tell this JR is very bright and needy. She has the dearest little face, with big brown eyes that look appealingly up at you, and you can sense that she needs reassurance. I think maybe she did a wee because she was distressed when I left the room, even though it was only a few minutes. The Border Terrier is, we have concluded, a little bit dumb, but very affectionate and undemanding.

Are resident dogs really easier? It all feels too much at the moment, but having this throat thing really isn't helping. Luckily, DH and DS1 did the afternoon walk, so I only have the before-bed round-the-block walk this evening. I am hoping to sleep in my own bed tonight, which means JR will be on her own. The other option is to have both dogs in DS1's room, but they fight sometimes (well, the JR snaps at the BT), so I don't think that's a good idea.

Anyone watching the meteor showers tonight? It's the sort of thing we'd love to do normally, but I don't think I can stay up that late (and I hope I won't be up before dawn, which is another good time to see them).

Readymeals done. Wine refused again . Still no Flying.

Toffee - we've got an airbed inflated on the lawn waiting to go out later and lie down and watch. If the DCs ever go to bed, they are engroseed in the Olympics. I am starting to wish it was over now, but Mo was brilliant tonight.

Swan - glad you had a good holiday.

Sorry I've been absent! But I've been at my mums for the day today anyway so only routines achieved and of course family fun day

Date from last night is on his way round with a bottle of wine to watch the meteor showers so I better shoot

The only flying I've done today is a load of washing but we have packed all the DVDs, CDs, DH's bookcase and half of mine, plus 2 boxes of crystal! As DH has been away all week at his new job we went out to a local tapas bistro for dinner which DD loved.

Am downstairs with the Jack Russell again . I fell asleep early and DH left her alone downstairs when he came up to bed, but she kept him up by barking and whimpering and scratching at the door. He is veeeeery grumpy now and begged me to sleep downstairs with her again (it's true that I'm good at sleeping on sofas, whereas he won't sleep). So now I'm back on the sofa, but at least I've managed to get JR in her basket, instead of with me. She is a hyperactive little bundle. Quite scary tonight, to be honest. She did a lot of jumping up and growling and snapping at me when I went in, even though she was obviously pleased to see me. She did jump onto the sofa to sleep, but I ordered her off and there was a moment when she looked quite defiant, but she did what I said in the end. I can sense a real battle of wills.

WhoKnows - hope you get to catch the meteor shower . The inflatable mattress sounds a great idea.

lauren - looks like the Friday date night went well then? Am not sure Flylady allows you to have two in one week .

dizzy - that's a lot of packing! of you going out for dinner.

JR is asleep now, so I might try sleeping on the sofa again and hope I don't get doggy company later .

Morning all! We haven't been up yet so no ta da yet! Yes the date went really well toffee- both times , we watched the shooting stars last night on a big rug in my back garden and he didn't go til 4ish so I'm now ridiculously tired! Lazy Sunday for
Me and DD!

How long do you have JR for toffee? It sounds like he definitely isn't a match for your family! I hope it doesn't put you off getting a dog

I hope you had a good night bitchy and your hangover isn't too bad

To do:
Clean fridge
Put shoes in newly emptied storage
Pay council tax
Paper work later (must do this)
Routines
Walk dogs

Body clutter: no loss but I have been off the wagon- must get back to it!

BBL!

I completely collapsed yesterday; Dh seems to be on a roll however and has done loads of washing and shopping.
Today alas we have the familiar anxieties about exercise (should Ds1 be allowed to loll around or should we be going on a full on family walk just to make sure he gets his exercise quotient?) homework (is he going to do any of it? when, etc) Dd wants to see her friends, how much arranging shall I do, or should she be lumping it and doing something to entertain herself.
And I'm off to Ireland again on Wednesday....actually that is good, just a bit of a fast turnaround...Dh not coming over till Sat, so I won't have to worry about packing up house.... More self catering and housekeeping in Ireland, though, I wish I could get better at it!

It is a beautiful day, our house seems vairy spacious,flowerbeds blooming and it is nice to be home, as long as the children keep their tempers
Dh is definitely mellower after holiday, and keeps saying what a great time we had. He also says we spent very little money on cafes considering. We ate three meals out in 7 days, so I suppose that is not too bad.
I think if I rent a cottage again, it would be nice to have a kitchen opening onto garden, as we don't have one at home, and then I don't think I would mind cooking the most delicious meals...and saving loads of money.

Toffee it is quite frightening when a JR gets snipey. I don' think I've ever seen a larger dog get so agitated as a JR feeling possessive over a ball! I think they just don't "do" training in the same way as some other larger dogs; at least my brother's don't! Please don't it put you off...

oh yes, Body Clutter - down to 75.5kg, from 80 kg 2 months ago. Lots of walking must have done it!

lauren and swan - yes, we have been put right off the whole dog idea, I'm afraid. I agree that the JR is a handful and we definitely don't want one. I really thought she was going to bite me last night and I didn't understand exactly what was going on. One minute she was excited to see me, the next she was growling and jumping at me with her teeth bared. Anyway, getting very strict and making sure I stood up over her seemed to do the trick and she slunk into her basket. I was a bit scared at going to sleep with her in the room though and wondered if I'd be woken by a dog bite .

What with a grumpy DH (he really hates having the dogs around) and me coughing and croaking everywhere, we are in a bit of a sorry state at the moment. If the dr confirms that my laryngitis and chest is dog-allergy related, the whole thing is off. Better to find out now though.

Just taking dogs and DC to a forest for some exercise, then off to do a bit of work at DH's workplace, then it's time to collect MIL for tea at our place.

lauren- that sounds like a fabulous date. Isn't it meant to be lucky to see a shooting star? Maybe it bodes well for you both...

swan - glad DH is doing so well with the washing and tidying. You sound incredibly busy. I hope you get a chance to rest a bit today.

BBL.

No hangover Lauren. Was out with car. Stars were amazing though.
Just woken up but tired and not sure that I can be bothered to crawl out of bed yet. After all I have nothing to move for. ds is away. Am pretty much on top of the laundry. Just my room of chaos and the rest of the toy corner of doom. And it isnt that appealing atm. So as it is sunday I think curling up with a good book is a better plan.

Well, I feel as if I have a hangover and I haven't touched a drop . Was woken at 4.50am by DH leaping out of bed and switching the light on to find water dripping through the bedroom ceiling from a leak in the tank, so we had to get buckets, turn the water off, drain the tank, strip the bed as that's where the water was dripping and wait for the dripping to stop. I then retired to the spare bed and Dh to the sofa, but I didn't really get any more sleep and haven't recovered. Plus no water to the bathroom, only the kitchen, so we're having to cart buckets through to flush the loo. Hoping the plumber can come out tomorrow and sort it for us.

Apart from that, we have been furniture shopping this morning (most of ours is old/cheap/both) and a leg fell off the sofa this week, it is now being propped up on a pile of books. Then I took DD swimming while DS and DH watched the Charity Shield. I normally look forward to the football season, but DS wants to arrange every weekend around what's on telly.

Anyway, no Flying today though and I'm not weighing myself till tomorrow. So there!

Afternoon all.
swanyour holiday sounds nice .
toffee jrts are definitely little characters! Our second dog is some sort of jrt cross. He also does the jumping up, growling, snapping thing.he does it when he is over exited and wants to play.he is getting better at learning it isn't allowed.when he gets overexcited he goes in his crate to settle down for a bit. I do think it is different with your own dogs though, especially if you get them from a puppy (rather than a rescue dog) both of ours sleep downstairs in the kitchen.they go to bed when we do and don't make a sound till morning. If you are not totally put off I'm assure there is the right digg for you out there somewhere!

Well, am feeling slightly recovered.have had some sleep although DC seem to be taking ages to settle off to sleep still....
Have been put for lunch at local Chinese buffet place today as end of holiday treat which was nice. Still got mountains of washing etc to do...and back to work tomorrow...but hey!
Off to try to catch up on rest of thread.bbl

Oh, and re body clutter I can only assume that the last week of copious wine and chocolate has done little to help, so I'm not weighing myself for a couple of weeks. I have however been to the gym this morning (before going out for Chinese lol)