October-fest: a fledgling (at best) might spruce up its nest (then take a rest?).

[strictlycaballine]

Welcome to the October 2012 Fledgling Flyers thread. Park your mops, buckets, microfibre cloths, golden dusters and spiders-web-removing-implements here!

A huge "thank you" to Whoknows and Pushme for leading us throughout September!! (Hope you are recovering well Whoknows - take it steady!)

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 along the way.

This little-and-often system is designed so that you can follow a series of steps and routines each day (which gradually become second nature) in weekly designated zones of the house; defining and minimising housework - which in theory should leave you with more time to do other more interesting things instead! At the same time it is intended to reduce that panicky "rabbit in headlights" feeling when you are overwhelmed and everything needs doing all at once. No problem if you miss a day or two; just jump right back in and it will all come around next month again anyway!

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 steps and routines using a three-pronged approach (dependent on the stage everyone is at):

• start or repeat 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.

[And if you are really enthusiastic and have finished decluttering - you can go on to detailed deep cleaning in each zone.]

More info here on getting started, and the flylady system here and here Don't be put off by the barf-tastic language of the site - the underlying system is sound.

All welcome!!

Still haven't done a thing, dp has set up computer so now we can wow together, ds1 has a headache so things are a lot quieter than yesterday (he was constantly talking, singing and making odd noises) its bad when you only get peace when kids are ill!!

We had to pop out earlier to get leads etc but tea is done and ds2 is bored, so he will be using comp in a mo, in the meantime he is annoying everyone else.
right off i pop see you later :)

Hi Clare
Yes do have a look at the classified ads
Best of luck with it all (could do with you in my neck of the woods)

Oh dear Carpe hope it doesn't develop in to a horrid bug. Might "just" be the teething grizzles although those are bad enough ... Hope you both get some sleep tonight

Issima I can parallel park but only because I have one of the smallest run-arounds ever manufactured (in theory can actually park at right angles to pavement!) Otherwise, wouldn't have a hope!

Mercury well done re: the volunteering and for keeping up with the basics - makes all the difference

If you'll all forgive me, going to post links and then visit my sister in hospital (once baby-sitter here)

Not going to post my ta-da list because woefully little accomplished today

Btw discovered that plaster fall due to building works two doors down where men are building enormous block of flats. Constant vibrations/shaking doing our (already fragile) house no good at all.

Tomorrow's baby-step, no 11 for Thurs 11th Oct is here writing down inspirational quotes in cj - totally ignorable!

We are in Zone 2 this week: the kitchen, more info here detailed cleaning list here once you have decluttered

NB Try and do a super fling boogie in the kitchen by the end of the week.

Tomorrow's mission here scrubbing kitchen appliances for 15 mins

Thursday is errand day here

Throughout October, we are focusing on getting rid of paper clutter. Try and shred/recycle/jettison papers you no longer need, 15 mins per day. More info here

If I've missed anything, have a look at the flight plan for tomorrow here which should update automatically.

Have a good one everybody. G'night! Heading off with grapes and stack of paperbacks... "see you" in the morning

Just home and the "grabber" hasn't taken the whole (3rd ) load
Found a note saying "no one in, couldn't take it all due to being too close to wall". Fair enough but the builder shouldn't have left it like that and should have been here to oversee
DS has cut his finger on a pencil sharpener.... He's having an ice lolly

Shattered today and need to start looking at schools... Yawn...

x posts [waves to OliviaLMumsnet] honoured to have someone from Mumsnet Towers gracing a humble Fly thread!

Oh no, what a bummer Issima hope there is something good on the telly!

Gossip hope your ds1 feels better soon

OOps - meant to say earlier - if you'll forgive me going to post links and run

x post

Shifty oh dear, tomorrow is another day and all that ...

It is... And breathe...

Please can I have an ice lolly?

Ooer, Olivia. I didn't report her, honest.
Nothing to see here.

Actually, literally nothing to see here. Zip, nada. Day two of the doldrums, although I forced my way through the list yesterday, and guides ran fine. We have camp this weekend. And I start work on Monday. And I've just had another email offering me an interview on Friday. I feel completely discombobulated and can't settle to anything. Might have to get the timer out for those 15 min stints to keep me in line. I'm flapping about all over the place and achieving nothing.

I learnt to drive late, passed my test, and then didn't drive for two years (long story). We then moved to Germany when I was pg with dd1, and dh went off on ops, so I had to get the damn car out to get to hosp apps/ grocery store, all the rl stuff that he normally would drive for... I loathed driving. But ended up essentially relearning myself on the wrong side of the road, pg.

When dh got back, and I had had dd1, we bought a new car (big ol vw passat estate) which I resolutely refused to drive. Until midnight one night when I couldn't put it off any longer, as I had to drive back to the UK with baby dd1, via the ferry, overnight. we are all still alive.

I never ever parallel or reverse park. Never have, never will. And I drive a fecking huge SUV. My previous car came off the road on sheet ice, two winters ago, and with snow for 7 months of the year, the truck is much safer. I wouldn't drive it in the UK. I had a vw Lupo. . Parking spaces, car parks and everything is soooo much bigger here - even my monster SUV looks tiny in comparison with some of the stuff that is on the road. Very few people drive actual cars, except in the city.

help yourselves... Except that one there, that's mine and I've licked it to claim it

Haven't found the timer yet...

@strictlycaballine

x posts [waves to OliviaLMumsnet] honoured to have someone from Mumsnet Towers gracing a humble Fly thread!

Ooh I love a Fly thread me. I can do anything for 15 mins.

Oooh a visit from olivia, we are honoured.

Evening all. I am merely passing through on my way to the corner. Work was marginally less crap, feel slightly less crap but dc's still behaving like craps but an improvement nonetheless. Oh andy flying is still crap. I think the problem is that I was away at the weekend which meant I started the week on the backfoot and now can't be arsed to catch up iyswim.

To all those talking about driving tests, i did pass first time but I haven't parallel parked in the 18 years since I passed. And i have no intention to ever parallel park again. There is no need for such manoeuvres, unless you are my DH trying to prove a point that women drivers are crap.

sc have missed that your dsis is in hospital , hope she is ok. Myfitnesspal is what has worked for me re body clutter. That and not eating cake. And not snacking. Still got a long way to go because I am a lardarse but the arse is not the least lardy it has been since post ds and he's 9 so i do allow myself to feel a little proud.

pa just caught the dengue fever bit. Hope you are looking after yourself.

madwoman i think discombobulated is the most underused word in the english language.

Big waves to everyone else. Am posting on phone and the stupid app won't let me scroll through without exiting this message. Not being rude, promise!

Now over the naughty corner for some ..... on a school night......because I am a rebel.

Oooh x-posted with oliviamumsnet, never said that in the 3 years I've been on the thread.

The problem here OliviaMumsnet is that we can all do something for 15 minutes... it's the other 23 hours and 45 minutes in the day that are the problem

Evening all, Sorry no time for personals disrupted evening routine due to activities at school. Hope everyone who arte or have poorly children feel better tomorrow

Washing machine with water under it. About to go sort out filters and crap.

Will send out Christmas list tomorrow while working as no way am
I getting near a computer tonight. Sorry all!

Evening all .
elliepac send your DH down to watch me! I can parallel park an 8 seater in a tiny wee gap (and I can back a tractor with a ten ton trailer on it). . It's one of my few skills, actually, and I can't really claim much credit - just that we live very rurally and I've driven now for 28 years. Still can't manouvre a hoover, however.....

sc hope your sister is much better. You concentrate on your family and don't worry about us. (We'll happily sweep the dirt under the carpet til you get back).

Carpe hope DS is feeling loads better, and same to GossipWitch. Poorly children are a nightmare.

Shifty - Can you bring cake next time? Have got sensitive teeth and can't take an ice lolly .

Madwoman - great about the job! (But I know how you feel....I supply teach and have quite enjoyed myself lately being at home. Have just accepted a fortnight's full time work and am going to have to haul my energy levels up to cope with it).

Waves and wingflaps to everyone else.......particularly OliviaMumsnet - I feel a bit like we've been Ofsteded.... (And passed).

Ta da list.

Swished and swiped (I'm good at half-assed effort)
made the bed
load of washing done, dried, put away
15 min-declutter (actually I couldn't face the kitchen so I arsed about under my bed.....cos yeah, loads of people see that).
Bought 2 Christmas presents.

BUT....It is anti-procrastination Wednesday and I:-

Sent back our will with corrections to solicitor (I blush when I see his letter was dated 4 May....and it has taken me 5 months to correct the spelling of my DCs name and add address of executor)

Off to shine the sink....

Sowornout - you've reminded me that I need to get out wills changed now we've moved - and they still haven't been resigned since we moved previously 3 year ago

I too passed my test 1st time - but had been driving on a provisional for 4 years before that. I am ace [mind my swollen head] at reversing and parallel parking. It's my DH who can't reverse for toffee!

My tiny Ta DA list is:

• told off (in a jokey fashion) the postie for breaking the letterbox flap
• Scrubbed from top to bottom our 2 bathrooms and the downstairs cloakrooms.
• Washing load in and will hang to dry before bed
• Cleared up kitchen after DD made a cake (to be butter iced tomorrow)
• Went for a meeeting about school about what they teach in Sex Ed. The Head said their context for teaching is from the viewpoint of a loving hetro married family. When I asked about what if a pupil was from a same sex family - and even though she admitted they had one - it seems like that's not really brought up . Luckily another couple of mums piped up to that in this day and age it needs to be more openly talked about so I think she will have to have a bit of a rethink.

DH's boss is collecting him in the morning as they are off to some conference so he may come in for coffee when he's dropped back in the evening, so you can guess what I'll be doing tomorrow!

Evening all!

My house bleugh day today, but only ended up doing downstairs because of being distracted by various errands and MN and reading for work. Need to get the beds made up again in a bit too.

Tomorrow will be a bit weird with one thing and another. I'm heading off tomorrow evening for a funeral on Friday on the other side of the country.

To do:
School/playgroup run
To station to check up on ticket situation
Sort out contract for exciting work project [squeee!]
Pack suitcase
Collect DS2 for lunch and Aldi shopping
Get stuff put away
Entertain DS2
Collect DS1 after multisports
Quick turnaround and out to station again...

Re parking etc, I passed my test first time too [boast] but only because I didn't have to parallel park. Now I need to, I can usually do it, but sometimes it goes horribly wrong. Usually when someone's watching...

Ellie - well done on the weightloss! 3 stone is brilliant!! MFP has helped me a lot, though I use it less for everyday logging now and mostly just for weighing in. I've got more of an idea of what I should be eating so don't feel the need to log everything obsessively any more (maybe my downfall, we'll see).

SC hope your sister is OK, and that the house withstands the building works!

Waves to everyone else.

sowornout I shall bring cake tomorrow, what flavour do you fancy?

blue hope funeral goes ok

Ta dah:
S&s
Printed off some school data
Contacted 2 schools for visits, waiting for them to contact me.
Shined sink
One load of washing done and hung on airer which used to sit nicely in conservatory but now that's gone I'm sticking it up in the kitchen

That sounds a little rude
Never mind

Nighty night fellow flyers

Bleurgh, I have done nothing today (or yesterday really!). Still need to stack the dishwasher but cba.

Oliviamumsnet though - how exciting

I am failing dismally on the body clutter. Don't have loads to lose, but can't stop eating cake! DS is still bf several times a day though - perhaps I will manage to eat less once he finally gives up if he ever bloody does

Good to see PA back - ha

Really need to dye hair DD informed me I 'look all stripy like a tiger' . Have dye but no time (and little inclination) so it will have to wait until the weekend I think!)

Friendly waves to everyone, but really have to go to bed!

Shifty Cake is cake, m'dear...I'm not fussy (although coffee cake is yummy)

Pushme I need to dye my hair too (I did try on procrastination Wed, but was sabotaged by DDs, both of whom claimed they were too busy to apply the dye for me). Really need to to it before Fri when I'm teaching, cos otherwise kindly teenage girls will tell me, 'Miss, your roots are really grey'.

blue Sorry to hear about the funeral. .

MIL rang tonight to say DH's stepdad is on last legs apparently and looks like we shall have to head off 350 miles at some point in near future too. (He has had Alzheimers for quite a while and it would be a blessed relief for MIL TBH).

Love to all.....heading for bed.

Morning all!

at teenage girls telling you you need to do your roots sowornout!

Just a dump although I have read the thread as have 5 minutes before school run and I'm dumping my list from my phone while the children are having a tea party in the circus tent- as you do on a Thursday morning

Oh and for those that asked, it's looking like the horse has an abscess in her heel, which is the best result as its not tendons or ligaments for once

To do:
School run *3
DD and mindee to playgroup
Routines
Today's mission...when I see what it is!
Clean out fridge
My laundry away
Buy pies for dinner
Get petrol
Ring baby Gymnastics
Date night...maybe!

BBL!

Flying on quickly to say that email has been sent to those that wanted it. Let me know if you don't get it!