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

MC Ouch to your DH's finger; hope the splint fixes it. I must also admit to indulging in a spot of couple analysis on the very rare occasions that we go out!

SC DS starting school won't make much difference to my child-free time; he'll actually be home earlier than before, as he used to stay at kindergarten until 2-3 pm but will be out of school at 11.50 am every day. The preschool class doesn't even give parents the luxury of one longer morning until 12.45 pm!

Have just sent off my work, so must now whizz round the house tidying for an hour. I could get used to the DC being out until 4 pm; it's definitely a rare luxury to have lunch in peace.

I've just realised we're half-way through the summer holidays today, so only 4.5 weeks to go. It's actually flown by so far and I'm enjoying having a break from the chauffeuring to afternoon activities, homework and English teaching. And the fact that the DC have been out most mornings that we've been at home definitely helps me retain what little sanity I still have.

SC you must tell us how you negotiated all those holiday visitors with family time? Did hordes of guests turn up? Did you survive (okay I know hols not yet over

Re: school text books. Today we got a pathetic letter from Ds1's secondary asking us to return his Maths text book No such thing as buying books or anything here, tis all completely free (they go from class to class), unless you lose them...
We also got an even more reproachful letter mentioning that Ds1 had left his PE kit in school and would he mind picking it up in Sept? That will be nicely matured by Sept...I dread to think...
Covering books with sticky back plastic has been a nasty shock at secondary level I admit. Never before have this been required of us..

A good day.
All did swimming or tennis.
Cleaned kitchen in honour of family therapist. Dh behaved alright, although he said afterwards he thought the intervention of professionals "bizarre". He also thought the cleaning of kitchen bizarre too as I never cleaned the kitchen to please him, only strangers. I asked (Muslim) therapist if she was fasting - was wondering if it was rude to offer her a cup of tea (it was Ramadam) and she said rather bashfully she wasn't, so I wonder if she was pregnant

He has taken two kids to Ealing now to buy some holiday teeshirts.
Telly is on again [sigh]
And I should make supper, chops. They will be back soon.

SC hope Dh comes home cap in hand.

Justgettingon hope you can be brave and stand up for yourself - how can you help others unless you look after yourself FIRST, and bravo on all the energy expended on exams and education, that must be worth being proud of. about horrible medical forms, I find them quite impossible. Hope home situation is on the turn, and work will be done soon (will you be able to move back in eventually?)

JustGetting swan is right, you need to start putting yourself first. Not always easy when others have come to rely on you, particularly if they're the type to make you feel guilty about offering less support, but you need to take care of yourself.

swan I used to quite enjoy covering books in sticky back plastic. And wallpaper - I vaguely remember covering books in wallpaper.

Textbooks are about the only thing provided by schools here - brand new each year, and we get to keep them. This inevitably leads to yet more clutter as each child has a big box full of dozens of exercise books, folders and textbooks for each year. DH has convinced me that I need to keep every single thing until the last child (DS) has started secondary school but I shall be ruthless then.

Waves to Linzer, PMPY and JustGetting - nice to see you again!
Welcome to Issima and Auxey :)

Should have done tons of flying today, but haven't. Hey ho.

Don't envy all the continental school prep. DS1 has a birthday party to go to at the end of August which is right by the Startrite factory shop. I wonder how many other of his classmates we might meet in there that morning...

SC - at the very least there is an excellent pizzeria and several Italian icecream parlours in Broadstairs, so you can pretend you're in Sardinia... Hope you have a lovely time, anyway.

Hi all!

It's been a busy day here work wise but I've still managed to get some things done

Ta da:
Walked dogs
Cleaned playroom including dusting and washing windows and shelves
Routines
Emptied cupboard in the playroom
Sorted box out which I thought was books but was puzzles and put them in newly emptied cupboard
Shined sink

I still need to put DD old blankets in a box, shred and maybe clean kitchen floor too.

This month i am determined to make sure I always go to bed with an empty sink and clear hotspots too! [determined face]

Your seaside adventure sounds great swan! I'm lucky enough to live at the seaside so I do take it for granted but the sea is very calming!

Welcome backs to new and old flyers

I'm of your jetset life at the minute linzer! I've always wanted to go to Italy!

Snaffles trazzles biscuits and licks the plate

I am still reeling over the school lists you have to deal with sc and linzer !

Ouch at your DH finger mc!

We are here for you if you need to offload gettingonwithit! It sounds like you are having a tough time of things at the minute

Totally shattered after a day spent walking miles (trips to town, endless dog walking, walking to friend's house to babysit) and looking after, in total, two dogs and five children.

Must just report that DS2 actually took the dog's lead this afternoon and walked her round our friend's garden. And he stroked her head this evening. It has taken him seven days to go near her. We have another four weeks of dog-sitting to go, so, hopefully, he will be over his fear of dogs by then.

Good to see you, Linzer. Welcome to the newbies (we are definitely not natural housekeepers, Auxley). Sorry about your DH's finger, MC . Thanks to Blue and Ellie for your wondrous leadership last month and to Bitchy for taking over and very usefully reminding me that I need to sort out the school stuff.

Sorry, too tired to type anymore.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz......

Evening all

Not had too bad a day today - though not the 'flying' start it could have been. The sink is shined, the washing done, holiday half booked (waiting to pay) and a bit of the entrance hall tidied. Not really a full 15 minutes if I'm honest, but have moved DHs fishing boots and half a dozen random coats. Will round up some renegade shoes on my way to bed

Am a little worried DD could be coming down with the pox this evening - she came home from nursery two weeks ago talking about a little boy who was spotty and couldn't go to nursery, and she has a couple of odd looking spots this evening . Really nervous about her getting it as she's a bit funny with touch and itching etc - she has apparently permanent scarring on her back from scrathing herself when a label was itching her and she won't wear anything except leggings and long sleeved T-shirts because she finds them too uncomfy. I can't imagine chicken pox is going to be something she reacts well to.

Really so pleased to be back - hadn't realised quite how much I'd missed all of you and the thread. Real life has been rather hard work over the last few months - nothing dramatic, just day to day grind and an awful lot of work.

swan impressive memory - I don't even remember writing that myself! Yes I'm still in the same job, wouldn't be anywhere else, but a heavily construction dependent arm of the environment sector isn't exactly the easiest place to be at the moment

sc I am very well - how are you? I am assuming everyone with a minor name change is who I think they are, which has potential for comedy mishad if I am incorrect!

welcome auxley you've definitely found the right thread - we are all (I think) rather naturally unblessed in the cleaning department, but are overcoming our disadvantages and gradually becoming cleaner and tidier (domestically at any rate)

I really need to go to bed, but a big prodigal wave to bitchy, linzer, toffee, feetheart, blue, makingchanges, justgetting (hope you are OK), lauren, engels and trazzle and honu who I don't think i've 'met' before? Not to mention (evidently) everyone I've missed

Good evening. I am pleased to say ds survived today's activities. Although he is totally stressed out and I believe it will be another hour plus before he is calm enough to go to sleep. I am emotionally drained. Glad to have gone, but didn't enjoy the experience due to the parenting iyswim.

Going to keep it short tonight as I still have parenting to do and tbh I want my bed.

babystep 2: get up, get dressed. Shoes optional.
missions scroll down to find thursday's
Thursday is errand day

Wow bitchy that seems like you'll be having a late night. Take it easy.

Ok have found things I am not happy about of DHs. I need to 'have it out with him' but he's not back til late tomorrow and I am fuming.

On a positive note managed to get my cv completed, printed and a copy sent to supply agency. I have also managed to attack the dining room toy clutter a little abs threw out a black bag full whilst dd isn't here to save it . I also found the missing library book hidden in a box, under toys between half drawn on pieces of paper. I'm amazed that didn't get thrown out.

I'm still up because my mouth is still hurting from the dentist and my brain is wurling. I'm going to go to bed and watch tv and hope I fall asleep doing this. Tomorrow I'm going to try and attack the rest of the dining room toy clutter before dd comes back tomorrow afternoon.

Yesterday was a nightmare. Just off to have a take 2 of groundhog day. Mightily p*** off right now. Sat for 3 hours in the visa office. Finally got the visa, got home. Spelt my name wrong, so back this morning. Then on the Immigration. No water again. Bloomin hot and its not 8am yet. Fed up of this. Nothing is simple! Will come abck later and do a better tempered post.

PMPY - No, not IOW now, Cambodia!
Swan - see, I took you up on the complaining!
Auxey - love the description not genetically blessed... That's me! Not genetically blessed with a lot, but still. Even sense of humour has got too hot and bothered and is seriously lacking life today.

... must go, driver is here. Back later.

at you having to go because your driver is here, PA - if I didn't know where you were, I'd think you were living the high life! Must have missed your move - hope you're setting in well apart from your nightmare day yesterday.

MC Hope your mouth is better today.

Bitchy Thanks for the links.

PMPY How is your DD this morning?

Toffee Glad to hear your DS is starting to overcome his fear of dogs. DS would love to have a dog, but DD2 is terrified of them - it's more his allergies that are making us stick to cuddly toy dogs, however!

lauren No need to be as I'm really not that much of a jetsetter; Italy is only about three hours' drive from us (although it took us 5.5 hours to get to our holiday destination). The only place I'm jetting off to this summer is the exotic location of Birmingham (and then on to the sunny climes of Wales).

Blue The continentals (well, Austrians) don't seem to be bothered about getting their children's shoes fitted; you just go to a shoe shop, get the DC to try on a pair and buy them if they seem comfortable (you can ask to have children's feet measured but there are no width fittings and the assistants don't to be very competent half the time). It used to really bother me and I would always buy the DC's shoes in the UK, but I've given up now that it's virtually impossible to get anything other than black school shoes or sparkly shoes with heels for the DD, neither of which they need.

Cleaner is here this morning, so at least the house will be clean and tidy for DS's party. As so many have cancelled, we've decided to go out with the remaining few as it's quite a manageable number and generally easier to go out somewhere with this age group! We're going to go down to the river, have a picnic and let the children splash about in the water - and with walking there and back, and having birthday cake at home, that should hopefully use up most of the three hours.

Oh dear pa that sounds like a nightmare !!

Just a list dump:
Clean fridge
Wash kitchen floor
Clean bathroom and bathroom walls
Box up DD blankets
Cut the grass if the weather holds off
Walk dogs
Shred
Dads for tea

BBL!

Hi everyone! The only thing I achieved yesterday was to ice those damn biscuits!!

DD and I have stinking colds.

So much today that I would like to achieve but I need to prioritise packing (!) off to the Olympics tomorrow and about to explode with excitement so must make sure am all prepared, esp for DM and DSis to cope with the DCs for a day!

Morning all,

Get well soon trazzle (or beterschap as we say in Dutchland). Have fun at the Olympics.

Have fun with the party this afternoon Linzer

Sympathies PA. Hope it gets sorted today.

Hope you managed to get some sleep MC

Bitchy You always post so late at night ? I am comatose by then (and apparently snoring according to DH).

Hi push and justgetting I am a newbie in the last 2 months. Nice to meet you.

Waves to sc, blue, lauren, honu, swan and anyone else I;ve forgotten.

Going upstairs for some major decluttering. Cooler here today and DH is home so he?s on DS duty and has even suggested that he would like me to help him sort out the wardrobe later (he has about 70% of storage and he only wears 10% of his ?motheaten?clothes.

Have just finished No More Clutter and am feeling enthused!

BBL

Total waste of another 5 hours of my life that I will never be able to live again!!

Tomorrow we start again, apparently. We have given up on Thailand and now need to try the Vietnamese embassy, then travel to Vietnam next Tuesday. Such a hassle and all because of incompetence from someone who will be my close work colleague here. Not impressed.

Anyway, as some of you might be thinking that I'm swanning around in luxury with my driver I will enlighten you to small snippets of life here that I was unaware of before I arrived.

We don't use toilet paper. Now I know its normal not to flush loo roll into the system in places like Greece (which I found absolutely disgusting when holidaying there!). But here we have "bum guns". Each toilet at home and out anywhere has a hose thingy attached beside it. When you poo, you aim the gun at your bum, squirt - its quite a viscious squirt, believe me, then drip dry. Done. Easy. Surprisingly nice sensation, actually!!

Another thing I find odd is that if you have a car, when you park it at home, you park it IN your front room. You open up the frond doors and drive it straight in. It stays safe, apparently!! Not sure how they manoeuvre around it, but they all seem to. We bring our bikes in at night, but if we ever got a car I think I would find that most odd.

Yesterday I got to the market and chickened out!! So today I dragged DH along to a different, closer and far nicer market that I discovered and we managed quite well. It will be far easier when we can say just a few words even, but they all seemed nice and friendly. We are an oddity out here and they find fat white people hilariously funny.

Hope you feel better soon Trazzle and enjoy the olympics.

Enjoy the party Linzer

Engel good luck with the decluttering. You will feel wonderful when it is done.

Waves to SC, honu, mc, bitchy, pmpy.......et al.......

Total waste of another 5 hours of my life that I will never be able to live again!!

Tomorrow we start again, apparently. We have given up on Thailand and now need to try the Vietnamese embassy, then travel to Vietnam next Tuesday. Such a hassle and all because of incompetence from someone who will be my close work colleague here. Not impressed.

Anyway, as some of you might be thinking that I'm swanning around in luxury with my driver I will enlighten you to small snippets of life here that I was unaware of before I arrived.

We don't use toilet paper. Now I know its normal not to flush loo roll into the system in places like Greece (which I found absolutely disgusting when holidaying there!). But here we have "bum guns". Each toilet at home and out anywhere has a hose thingy attached beside it. When you poo, you aim the gun at your bum, squirt - its quite a viscious squirt, believe me, then drip dry. Done. Easy. Surprisingly nice sensation, actually!!

Another thing I find odd is that if you have a car, when you park it at home, you park it IN your front room. You open up the frond doors and drive it straight in. It stays safe, apparently!! Not sure how they manoeuvre around it, but they all seem to. We bring our bikes in at night, but if we ever got a car I think I would find that most odd.

Yesterday I got to the market and chickened out!! So today I dragged DH along to a different, closer and far nicer market that I discovered and we managed quite well. It will be far easier when we can say just a few words even, but they all seemed nice and friendly. We are an oddity out here and they find fat white people hilariously funny.

Hope you feel better soon Trazzle and enjoy the olympics.

Enjoy the party Linzer

Engel good luck with the decluttering. You will feel wonderful when it is done.

Waves to SC, honu, mc, bitchy, pmpy.......et al.......

sorry folks. Stupid MN.

Love the idea of parking your car in your front room, PA. They must have huge front rooms/doors. It must also be a good incentive to keeping your front room decluttered (at least the floor)!

Engels I must reread No More Clutter, as I always find it really motivates me. And a DH who takes up 70% of the storage space sounds very familiar.

Trazzle Hope you're feeling better soon.

Waves to lauren and anyone else around.

Three hours before the party (and a month after we sent out the invitations), the one boy we were still waiting to hear from - or rather his mother - has finally RSVPd. And asked whether his younger sister can come too because "she's mad about her brother". She has form for this kind of thing; a friend of mine was also quite when she brought both children to her son's party, but said "What could I say?". I ummed and aahed and said that we were taking the children to the river so didn't really want too many there as we needed to keep a close eye on them and really didn't need an extra 4 year old tagging along, but said that she could come if she wanted. I have no problem with siblings coming if they actually know DS (we invited his best friend's two little sisters, as their mum will often have all three of ours over to play and even overnight, and another friend's big sister because she's friends with DD2 and her mum invites all three to play/all their birthday parties). But I hardly know this mum, don't know the little girl at all (nor does DS) and just think it's a bit of a cheek for her mum to send her too.

Off to book my assertiveness course now. No is a complete sentence.

Hi everyone, can I come back please?

Been away for a few months. Managing a bit better than I was before, but still struggling. House is marginally more organised, have actually got some of the storage cupboards in the dining room. Have wardrobes in the bedroom!!!!! (only took a year )

Have DS2's birthday party here tomorrow so need to get some frantic tidying up done. Only a few little ones (he will be 3) with their parents, but still, needs to look at least a little organised! It's not too bad, more 'unfinished'. The table, not 'quite' clear' the counter's just a little cluttered, etc.

So about to go and do 15 minute blitzes in the various rooms and see how far that gets me.

Hello hello. Lots of chat on here today.

Rather surprised to find that it is already Thursday (thanks for links Bitchy and hope you got some sleep eventually) seem to have lost three days in a darkened cave watching Olympic eventing coverage!! Also sending lots of e-mails back and forth to solicitor re: late ma's estate.

Channel hopping without success to try and find some dressage coverage today but only available through BBC red button (not available over here) so thought a German channel might oblige... but really must drag myself away and try and impose a modicum of order on boudoir else packing for departure early Sat am will be hellish. Have really let things go to seed since Monday.

Dh and I still snippy with one another - barely spoke last night but atmosphere has thawed over lunch time - so ridiculous really for grown adults but tension levels traditionally high during holidays because he starts getting shifty when he knows he actually has to leave his desk for a week or so [sigh]

Ellie and Blue (and latterly Whoknows) meant to say before ... a huge "thank you" for steering us all through July. Much appreciated!

Justgettingonwithit Great to have you back but so sorry to hear you are still going through housing and financial traumas. That must be incredibly tough and stressful. You sound as if you are being terribly hard on yourself though considering everything you have gone through and are still going through. Sounds like a good plan to focus your energies on yourself for a while ... hope things start to improve for you soon. And congratulate yourself for sticking with your studies - that's an amazing feat considering everything else you have had to contend with!! x

Hope Olympic experience was fab Feetheart!!

Honu ditto over decluttering and steps. I really must start getting serious about this.

Sorry to hear about your dh's finger MC but glad that you get to see a bit more of him as a result (once you have thrashed things out with him tomorrow night that is - hope all goes ok) !! Good that you got a rare lie-in too. Hope your toothache has eased and that your cv produces some good responses for you.

Oh no Linzer sorry to hear that your school-run schedule will be even more complicated next term ... I hope at least all your dc are in the same building now though!!! Holidays flying by here too ... have fun on your travels! Arf at covering school books with wallpaper btw!! Hadn't thought of that in years!

Good luck with the party today and sympathies re: pushy mother!! There's always one isn't there!! Hope your ds has a fab time!!

Blue/Linzer I've given in and taken to buying dd's shoes on-line for the past few years . (They are ridiculously expensive here and only have one size available per model per shop and there are always nine families trying on at the same time.) Negligent though it sounds, it's actually OK once you find a brand that fits your individual child's foot and one is thorough about checking out the sizing and not lazy about sending them back/trying different options -try them on wearing different thicknesses of socks/tights standing on a few towels on floor and let dd have a short walk back and forth. I find it is sometimes easier to be more thorough in checking them out in the chaos privacy/calm of my own home then when there is a queue of impatient parents waiting their turn! (Can also limit the choice so that you don't have the "I don't like that" hassles in the shop on the day or the reverse "I want that completely unsuitable one".) Can always return if not OK and try with another model. Works ok so far and her feet are not distorted yet or anything! Also, much larger choice available at better prices.

Holiday logistics not as bad as I had anticipated thanks Swan (I always get in to a bit of a state about it). OK so far largely because we have been a bit selfish and cut out one trip and one set of visitors. Still feel guilty though. Have done two small trips ourselves so far and had one set of visitors. Two more trips and maybe one more visitor to come ... .Arf at your ds's "nicely matured" PE kit and glad family therapist visit went OK

Lauren at you living by the seaside. Bet your horse's legs benefit from all that lovely salt water!

Well done re: all that walking Toffee!!

Yes, don't worry, you've matched the right names with the right people Pushme Hope your dd is OK and she hasn't got chicken pox. (Dc are vaccinated for it over here - is it not the same in UK?) Sorry to hear rl proving tough going for you at the moment. Yr ecological studies sound fascinating though.

PA sorry that your day was such tough going yesterday and that you are having to suffer all those visa hassles. Had to cackle loudly at the bum gun though!! [Considers getting one of them for rabbits ] Here's to a better day today (and slightly lower temperatures)!!! Prayers winging your way x Oh and good news about new market ...

Trazzletoes icing biscuits counts as Flying in my book Hope you feel better soon and have great trip to Olympics tomorrow!!

Engels hope decluttering progressing well I should be doing same thing instead of Mnsetting

Welcome back Chitchat!! Good luck with the cleaning/tidying today and hope your ds2 has a lovely day tomorrow.

Right, there's no getting out of it, off to the boudoir ....

Mahoosive waves to everyone I've missed!!

Hello all,
Back again, presumably I can only improve on my half hearted July effort. Sink was shiny for about 8 days of it before month was entirely derailed by bout of hand, foot and mouth (revolting virus, although apparently nothing to do with the sheep one!) which coincided with DD2's 1st birthday and struck down all the girls of the house in turn, leaving DH to be both unsympathetic AND useless around the place while my hands and feet were painful as hell!!

Frankly am glad it's a new month. If I muster an Olympic effort at this flying lark I may actually make a difference.

Bitchy you are spot on about the playdate reference in your intro!! Both avoiding them and hating the term.... CHAOS here is so pronounced that when someone rings doorbell unexpectedly I stand in doorway attempting to block view through to kitchen so obviously that people must suspect I have hostages in here!!

Waves to everyone, loving your updates, especially yours PA maybe I will resort to your extreme decluttering method if august brings no more success!

busy morning again, another appt, and complex childcare arrangements during..

However, managed to get ds1 off to Sportscamp for a day
have friend over for ds2
and take dd out to a pizza with her dad (don't ask too complicated

glad to hear sea is calming Lauren that is exactly what I need!
Blue which is exactly why I picked it, the restaurants I mean...and the secondhand bookshops...

Dd is packing her suitcase which is an extremely stressful procedure, demanding vast quantities of accessories, special outfits, sparkly tops. I need to follow her example. We also need to go back to M & S to change some size 11 year clothes into size 12, Dh and dd were misled into thinking a 10 year old would fit into them [sigh] They dont fit at all, and dd is not at all fat, just beautiful and tall!

Typically I have lost booking letter from cottage company, I have rung to ask for email version, but no-one is answering the phone HELP! Hope they respond before dh gets home...

Paperwork is at its worst again, I could swear I left it in neat orderly piles, only I didnt seem to have a holidays section

PA nicer market sounds hopeful. Boo to very tiresome colleage with nil administrative talent. Water is such a luxury isn't it, I know when I am short of it (and even hot water is a luxury I do appreciate after years of my parents' plumbing systems) I see what it must be like to carry all the water you need on your head from a well.

PA nothing can be as awful as those Turkish squatter loos though hygenic though they may be...
I spent happy Norwegian holidays in a house with two compost loos. There was a Protestant and a Catholic one! (my deranged godmother insituted this system, not the compost, just the religious demarcation) It was fine.

Toffee oh, that is sweet - so glad they are making friends (ds2 and dog)