February Fledglings FLYing High

[BlueEyeshadow]

Welcome to the February Fledgling FLYers thread

... where we (loosely) follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own, unique, relaxed style) with lots of and chatting along the way.

This little-and-often system is designed so that we 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 us 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 we get when we are overwhelmed and everything needs doing all at once.

To avoid being inundated with details, we advise not signing up to the Big Tent

We are in the process of 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.]

Flylady site here

Don't worry if you are behind; just jump right back in and it will all come around next month again anyway!

All the links for the babysteps and missions will be posted here every day and we'll all be here to cheer each other on.

to SC for leading us through January and for the brilliant OP I've just cut and pasted .

So come along in and park your dusters ready for Feb!

[ToffeeWhirl]

Lilleth - sorry, I don't know the answer to your question either. Is there a career counsellor at the college who could advise you at all? I suppose you need to know how important for your job prospects it is that you get these qualifications. Also, whether you can study and work at the same time.

SC - DH and I caught noro-virus at same time and we were so ill that DS1 had to look after his little brother whilst we had an undignified fight over the only loo in the house were ill upstairs. He was wonderful. He went to the corner shop and bought them sweets, crisps and juice for their tea , then put DS2 to bed (in his clothes, mind), and sat with him till he fell asleep so he wasn't scared . DS2 loved it.

I like your contributions to the Victorian Flylady thread.

Have covered the digestive system in home ed. DS has practised his handwriting. I have emptied the bucket of water under the boiler, then made pizza for lunch. About to study nouns for English.

Still waiting for plumber.

[BitchyDragons]

Goth all the kids love Gangham style. Thankfully ds has a pretty ok music taste nickleback, muse, erm... and a load of groups i don't like so i subject him to my music which he tolerates JUST cos then i will let him listen to Gangham style when it comes on which is not often as we mostly listen to cd in the car

ta da
early training
2nd load of washing on
tidy hall
tidy bathroom
empty bins
bins in to disinfect
30mins tidying in my room
change the bedding on my bed - strip and remake
dw run
kitchen tidied and cleaned
boil up hand warmers
sort out important stuff for big meeting later
name hood of ds' new coat why the fuck are hoods detachable these days?
sort out plan for trip next month
confirm membership renewal
check email/fb/mn
move extra chairs into spare room
collect recycling together for taking out
find pe kit stuff that is still waiting to be labelled
Sort out ds' training kit

[SilveryMoon]

Evening all
Oh, sc so sorry to hear that the funeral has to be delayed and that you?ve been so ill. Sounds like your dh is a star, and fingers crossed no one else gets it. Hope you?re feeling a bit better. Is a horrid bug to get.

Speaking of Gangnam Stlye, my boys LOVE it! They sing it all the time, and I have a brill video of ds1 dancing to it, he has all the moves down to a t! (He?s 5)

Teacher was off again today. He will be back tomorrow, just in time for half a day's PPA. Arsehole.

Managed to do today's mission again this morning before work. I set the timer and pulled out both sofas, collected up all the marbles, cars and all other crap under there, hoovered and mopped and put sofas back. Didn't have time to put all the toys back in their places, so did that this evening as my hotspot time.
Would be great if I can manage to keep doing the missions in the morning.

[GoingGoingGoth]

Lilleth Now 83! I am sooo old, I got 1 - 5!

Toffee has your plumber been yet? I have no idea what the landlord has done, but we still have hot water, which is good, as it was them doing work on it previously that buggered it up.

done
Beds
Windows
Dd to school
Wash up
Litter tray
S&S
5min tidy
Go to city whilst water is switched off at home,
Get padding & ribbon to make pin board for DD's room
Collect DD
Make padded notice board
Spelling practice (DD's )
Dinner
Wash up & SS

[BlueEyeshadow]

Evening all.

Another quiet day on the work/flying front here, but far from quiet on the sibling rivalry/grumpy mummy front. :( Feel like a horrible screeching harridan so much of the time?

Hope other people have had better days.

SC - so sorry to hear you?ve had such a vile bug to deal with on top of everything else. Hope you?re on the mend now.

Jdub was hoping to avoid the gravitational pull of the sofa this evening. Did you manage it?

Going was having boiler troubles and using it as an excuse to head out. Share your at Now 83! The only one I ever owned was Now 15 but DH has loads of the ?90s ones. Glad you still have hot water, too.

Just was crisis cleaning someone else?s home! That?s dedication.

Toffee was also having boiler troubles and consequently feeling Victorian.

Lilleth was wondering about work, courses and qualifications ? sorry not to be able to help. Is there someone in RL you can talk to as Toffee suggested?

Bitchy seems to be heading back to mega-list territory and continued the Gangnam Style discussion.

Silvery did the mission before work ? terrifying what appears under sofas, isn?t it??

Talking of feeling old, DS1 was explaining phone boxes to me as we walked past the vandalised local one today ? they seem to have been learning about them in history? ?In the OLD DAYS, they had phones like that cos people didn?t have mobile phones or mighten of not even had them in their HOUSE so they had to have phones on the road like that so that if they wanted to phone somebody they could go on the ROAD and use a phone like that cos they didn?t have a mobile phone cos they hadn?t been invented yet??

Aaaaaanyway, on to the linkies:

Babystep 27 is ?what?s for dinner??

Mission is to get rid of things that don?t belong in the living room.

Wednesday is anti-procrastination day?


Night all.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Evening all,

Another Gangnam addicted DS here, while DD loves One Direction . We have settled on a series of CDs called Pop Party which are a bit more childish than the Now ones (I am also old enough to remember Now 1).

Not much Flying done here this week, been busy doing other stuff. Also I appear to have slightly strained myself in the gynae department which is worrying as my operation site had been totally painfree for a good few weeks now, luckily I have a gynae clinic appt on Friday so can ask them to check it out then. My strained arm is proving problematic too, the anti-inflammatories haven't really helped so I am going to have to go to the GP about that too.

Lilleth are you registered unemployed, or SAHM? I think if the latter plus studying and the benefits you are claiming are CB and tax credits then that's fair enough that you aren't working (your DH is working I guess?). A bit different if you are on JSA though, would be harder to justify it in that case.

SC sorry to hear about the lurgy, not what you needed I'm sure.

Toffee - hope boiler gets fixed soon, you too Goth. How sweet DS1 looking after DS2.

[LillethTheCat]

Evening.

What a night. Went to an extra lesson for my course 40-45 min drive away. Im not 100% of the way home (which becomes obvious in a bit) so need sat nav. But of course it couldn't find a signal so I drive for 20 mins in the wrong direction only for the sat nav to tell me to turn around. This wasn't down any big nice wide road, but a country lane with steep hills and tight turns. Anyway I made it home safe albeit 30 mins later than usual, plus my hair needed washing so Ive just sat down before going to bed for the night.

Right lists

Tada
tada

• Make beds
  
• Turn on washing machine
  
• Dry Laundry
  
• Put laundry away
  
• Wash up after breakfast
  
• 15 mins DS bedroom (it looks a lot better now, surprising how much difference 15 mins makes)
  
• pop into town
  
• Wash up after lunch
  
• Shine Sink if DH washes up after tea (Im not home till nearly 10PM) Yey he did, but the sink was disgusting with pasta sauce in the bottom of it
  
• Fill washing machine for Wed
  
• coursework
  
• Go to AAT course.
  

tomorrow's list

• make beds
  
• turn on washing machine
  
• Dry laundry
  
• put laundry away
  
• Wash up 3X
  
• Shine sink
  
• Fill washing machine for Thurs
  
• 15 min kitchen
  
• meet some MNers for the first time
  
• go for 4 mile run
  
• coursework
  

Meeting some MNers tomorrow morning. Its the first of many hopefully. I moved here a year ago and have just decided to get myself out there meeting other people on a social level. So wish me luck that they are lovely.

My first Now was 14 on cassette. Had quite a few up to Now 28 ish. Then none until Now 80 and Now 83. DS wants Now 84 when its out.

at Blue DS1 and mobile phones not being invented as though they have been around forever. I still remember when they were frowned upon a bit and you were classed as being a loser for having one.

Hope you are all having a good night.

[LillethTheCat]

Cross posts there whoknows No Im not on JSA (If I were I would obviously be trying hard for a job), but on Income Support as DS gets DLA and DH gets carers allowance. No-one official is telling me I have to work, but I feel like I should be doing if that makes sense. Though if I do work I wont be able to do all of my courses as they are during the day. One is on a night (45 min drive away so need to leave early), one is on a day (with work experience on other days) and Im going to get back onto ECDL (I had to give that up for another one) through Learn Direct so that will be in my own time. Thinking about it I realise I should look for work, but keep doing my courses while I am out of work. Its just hard when people are saying other candidates applying for the same jobs are better qualified than me or have more recent experience. So in answer to your question, Im not registered unemployed, but Im still jobless and there is no reason why I can't work (unless its because I am studying)

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Well, I think you need to keep looking in that case Lilleth but be reasonably selective about what you apply for so that you don't spend all your time on CVs and letters to the detriment of your studying, also if you are selective you can make a really thorough effort at the applications you do make, it does make a difference. Also, network like mad, sounds as though you are making a good start with your MN meetup - talk to everyone you meet about your job search and your studying and you never know, many jobs are never advertised (mine wasn't, I work for a friend of DH).

[ToffeeWhirl]

Blue - that's so funny about your DS talking about phone boxes as if they were from the mists of time. I had a similar thing when watching DS1 and his friend playing on the XBox one day. The game kept showing a toy that I used to have and I remarked on it. DS1's friend told me (with a cheeky grin) that the game used toys from 'the olden days'!

Mind you, when I describe my childhood to DS1, it does sound very old fashioned ("We didn't have computers, so we did lots of reading. There was no children's telly on in the daytime..." etc.).

Both boys love 'Gangnam Style'. Have any of you seen the Eton version? Hilarious.

Goth - glad you have hot water at least. Hope your boiler gets mended soon. The plumber says we need a new valve. Luckily, the boiler is still under warranty. Unluckily, the engineer can't get here till Friday and he may have to order the part (not sure why he can't do it beforehand ). However, our woodburner is keeping us warm in the sitting room (it has been very cosy, working in front of the fire with DS1 during the day) and we just turn the boiler on now and again for water and a quick blast of heat in the rest of the house. The kitchen looks a mess though as we have had to move the cupboard from under the boiler so that we can collect the drips.

Lilleth - you have no need to feel guilty about not working. Sounds like you are doing everything you can to gain qualifications and you are willing to work if a job comes up.

Silvery - am very impressed at you doing your missions before work. Grr at the teacher.

Bitchy - hope the big meeting went ok.

Fell asleep really early last night, so was up ridiculously early this morning. At least I have been able to warm up the house before everyone else wakes up.

DS1 has an appointment with his psychiatrist this morning. It feels odd to be going as he is so much happier and less anxious at the moment. I would like to request CBT for him to help him spread his wings a bit more, but he doesn't want it. Hmm. Will see what the psych. says.

Hope you all have a good day.

[LillethTheCat]

Thanks for the advice. Ive registered on Linkedin as that's meant to be good, but have no idea what Im doing on there. I have a couple of deadlines with my course next week (coursework to be in Mon, Exam Tues) so next Wed I will have another look at it.

I do feel guilty though,everyone else works so why can't I?

[ToffeeWhirl]

It sounds to me as though you work very hard, Lilleth. You are not being paid for your work, but you are hardly lazy! You are bringing up your DC and studying. In time, you will get back into paid work. Don't beat yourself up about it.

It's not true that everyone is in paid employment. Lots of people have gaps in their employment. For instance, I am not in paid work at the moment, as I'm home educating DS1. I don't feel guilty about it because I know that I didn't have any other option and I work very hard at it. I'm just not paid for it.

[LillethTheCat]

Thank you Toffee I think its because you hear people benefit bashing and I think they are probably talking about me. Although one day I will get a job and it wont be too badly paid and hopefully I can build up a career and do well for myself, so what Im taking now I will be paying back. Not forgetting of course I was earning before and for over 10 years of my adult life I have paid taxes etc. I just feel guilty everytime someone mentions about people not working and living on benefits and how they have to pay for them etc. Though I suppose its not like Im sat back not doing anything.

Anyway today's list

tada

• make beds
  
• turn on washing machine
  
• 2nd load
  
• Wash up after breakfast
  
• 15 mins crap cupboard (the cupboard under the stairs that is full of rubbish and old shoes etc)
  

to do

• Dry laundry
  
• put laundry away
  
• Wash up 2X
  
• Shine sink
  
• Fill washing machine for Thurs
  
• 15 min kitchen
  
• meet some MNers for the first time
  
• go for 4 mile run
  
• coursework
  

Hope everyone has a good day.

[GoingGoingGoth]

Toffee seems weird the part can't be ordered first, I hope the engineer sorts it out soon. Sounds a 'bit' like when we moved into this flat. The fire needed a new part, but rather than ordering it, the gas fitter (very young) got his colleague to come out instead a couple of days later. I think we had to wait 3 weeks for it to get sorted. Obviously they came the day after I cracked and bought an portable electric heater. I'm sure they just come to practice on our boiler (it supplies the whole block) because it has been working fine.

Lilleth I know what you mean about feeling guilty, I've only been unemployed since last summer, and with moving there was no way I could even start to look properly until November. It does sound like you are putting a lot of effort in. I can't imagine trying to fit a course in plus look for work.

As I'm still waiting for Brownies to get back to me over DD joining a group up here (been trying since last October) we're going to try 'the Woodland Folk' tonight. It sounds like an eco-splinter group from the guides/scouts. I don't know about DD but I'm looking forward to it.

done
Bed
S&S
Windows
Dd to school
Photos printed for DM (wish she'd get a pc & broadband)

to do
Write a couple of letters
Bins & recycling
Laundry on
Hang laundry out, if this fog clears
Mission
Prep onions & freeze
Bake
Collect DD
Spelling practice & timestables
Dinner
Wash up
Dd to 'Woodland Folk'
Chill out overexcited DD & cram her into bed
SS

[BitchyDragons]

Well it might be anti-procrastination day, but really I don't give a fuck. CBA ruleth.

ta da
Have an argument with ds about 8yr being perfectly old enough to yourself dressed especially as he does this every day without fail until today
Have a long chat with a friend
make my bed
strip ds' bed


Big meeting went surprisingly well. AND I didn't have to answer any difficult questions because someone else was asking them!

[superfluouscurves]

Helloooo!! Feeling a lot sprightlier today. Still sewing madly so please forgive lack of personals.

Big wing flaps to everyone from amidst a pile of plackets, facings, bias binding and zipper foots ....

[BitchyDragons]

You are a better woman then I SC. ds has world book day friday (it seems to be bloody random when schools do this though) and he will be going as harry potter. Costume bits needed? One eyeliner lightening bolt to the forehead! really cba with pissing about making stuff

[BitchyDragons]

ta da
Have an argument with ds about 8yr being perfectly old enough to yourself dressed especially as he does this every day without fail until today
Have a long chat with a friend
make my bed
strip ds' bed
gather and sort mount washmore
put first load of washing on
make more coffee
sort breakfast that'd explain why feeling whoosey oops
emails/fb/mn
sort ds' world book thingy out in brain
consider new changes needed to cv damm thing is not effective atm
resist urge for now to fall into a very large pile of chocolate

just about to take a nap. seems sensible. 1hr will help i hope.

[superfluouscurves]

Wish I had adopted your approach Bitchy!!!

[ToffeeWhirl]

Lilleth - if I were you, I would ignore anyone silly enough to say they are paying for those on benefits. Those very same people might need benefits one day - and if they don't, well lucky for them. Not everyone is so fortunate. As you say, you have paid lots of taxes already and I'm sure you will again.

Goth - yes, it's really annoying that the part can't be ordered first. I think the engineer has to check that he/she agrees with the 'diagnosis' first.

I hope your DD enjoys the Woodcraft Folk. I looked into it for DS1, but he hates groups so we never joined.

Bitchy - I'm really glad the meeting went well . You deserve a CBA day to celebrate.

SC - very impressed by all your sewing (I can't sew and hate doing it. I turn to Ebay when the DC need costumes ).

Like, Bitchy, we have also had a good meeting this morning. The doctor said DS1 was the 'most relaxed' she had ever seen him. She is really pleased with his progress and said we just need to continue gradually drawing him out of his comfort zone. We also need to give him higher calorie foods, as he is a lot smaller than other boys his age. Not sure exactly how to go about this as I already give him high calorie foods, but he has a tiny appetite.

Kitchen is a mess, but am home educating DS1 now, so hoping DH might tackle it...

[BitchyDragons]

Glad to hear the meeting went well toffee

ta da
Have an argument with ds about 8yr being perfectly old enough to yourself dressed especially as he does this every day without fail until today
Have a long chat with a friend
make my bed
strip ds' bed
gather and sort mount washmore
put first load of washing on
make more coffee
sort breakfast that'd explain why feeling whoosey oops
emails/fb/mn
sort ds' world book thingy out in brain
consider new changes needed to cv damm thing is not effective atm
resist urge for now to fall into a very large pile of chocolate
2hrs nap
sort out fall out from last night's meeting. Communication on the behalf of the committee is not the best so ill feeling is being created because of it. What they want to do is not the problem Which gets really frustrating.
Fail on the chocolate resisting front and eat two small bars of green and blacks that have been in the cupboard far too long and thus need putting out of their misery
take migraine meds to prevent the dark chocolate induced migraine
Reheat coffee that got made but forgotten
2nd load of washing on

[BitchyDragons]

ta da
Have an argument with ds
Have a long chat with a friend
make my bed
strip ds' bed
gather and sort mount washmore
put first load of washing on
make more coffee
sort breakfast
emails/fb/mn
sort ds' world book thingy out in brain
consider new changes needed to cv
try to resist urge fall into a very large pile of chocolate
2hrs nap
sort out fall out from last night's meeting.
Fail on the chocolate resisting front
take migraine meds to prevent the dark chocolate induced migraine
Reheat coffee that got made but forgotten
2nd load of washing on
3rd load of washing done
4th load of washing done
speak to ex
make home made pizza for tea
deal with more meeting
deal with a very challenging ds

Been feeling cold all day and can't get warm. Not matter what i do. Hot water bottle etc not helping. Hoping this is not me getting sick. Got another meeting tonight. Can't be arsed with it but going to have to get ready go. Hope you have all had productive days. night

[ToffeeWhirl]

Bitchy - hmm, feeling cold all the time sounds horribly like you're getting sick, but I hope it doesn't turn into anything. Good luck with next meeting. Cannot believe you managed four loads of washing today, by the way .

DS1 is having his first guitar lesson tomorrow morning. Crossing my fingers it goes well.

Not much Flying done today. Haven't done any washing for two days, which means it's piling up now. Will try harder tomorrow.

Aiming for an early night. Goodnight all.

[SilveryMoon]

Not caught up yet.
I really don't like ds1's teacher. It's not because she says ds1 is a year behind, I can accept that, but she is so damn negative.
Nothing seems to be good enough for her.


So, I'll take over the thread for March, and will post links etc in the evenings. So I will start a newthread tomorrow.

[NickNacks]

Blimey, I'm sorry I thought I'd only been absent from thread for a few days but I've just looked back and it's been well over a week.

So sorry I've been really crap and have no idea what's going on. My mission for March is to be on here everyday and reacquaint myself with you all.