Is June the new January? - the Fledgling Flyers are doing their flaming best

[pushmepullyou]

Welcome old and new fledglings to the June Fledgling FLYers thread!

Thank you very much to castlelough for leading us expertly through May - I shall try not to be too haphazard with June, although I make no promises

If you're overwhelmed by clutter and general household grub then join us as we (loosely) follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system or languish in the naughty corner hoping to do better tomorrow

As usual, we will be following the Flylady three-pronged approach:

1. Baby-steps (a daily step to establish routines)
2. Then baby-steps + 15 mins daily decluttering
3. (And once decluttered) babysteps + daily missions and maybe even detailed cleaning in the weekly zones

For more information have a look here, although to avoid a cluttered inbox, we advise not signing up to the Flylady emails. The basic principle is little and often and don't worry about perfection (no chance of that 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 and chat our way through the month.

Afternoon all.

Bit sad this afternoon as I have just said goodbye to the loveliest pupils I have ever had the privilege of teaching. They are the reason that, despite Mr Gove's best efforts I love my job. They all gave me some lovely feedback and i nearly cried when giving them the last 'you can do it' speech. Will actually really miss them!

No flying done.

lilleth was going to post some sage advice but chb has said everything I would say so I won't bother.

Lilleth - Bitchy has given good advice, I know how keen you are to find work and to be honest it sounds like a good opportunity (provided the practicalities can be dealt with). However 45 mins is quite a commute. But then again its only one day a week. Probably the worst that can happen is that you end up leaving again and have to answer awkward questions about why you left at subsequent interviews, especially if you leave fairly soon after starting. Is there any chance of a trial period?

Thanks for the advice. Thanks as well for not just saying well its a job so I should do it. If I were to take it and decide it wasn't for me and left after a month or less I dont know if I would put it on my CV, or I could and state that I tried it, but found the distance too much or something.

Right reasons for:
-Its a job (no other explanation needed)
-Will boost my CV
-Will give me some income
-Who knows where it may lead? Initially its one day a week, but where will it be in 10 years. He did say he was wanting to start proactively try to gain new clients and was hoping he could extend my days to 2 a week in the near future.
-Can start to do 5:2 diet (I know its a silly reason, but I would find it easier to do the 5:2 eating plan if I was working)
-Can avoid the school run (another silly reason, but I cant help thinking it. I dont have a problem with doing it, but Id rather not)
-Whats the worst thing that can happen? I mean I can always give it a go for 3 or 4 months and then leave. Thats only 17 or 18 times at work depending on how many Fridays there are in each month.

reasons against
-Its 45 min (20 of that on A1) drive on a good day. I will be working predominately Fridays and the roads are always worse on a Friday afternoon/evening time
-There is just me and him in the office. Id rather work in a team of more people.
-Cost of getting there and back. Also what if I have a problem with the car
-My gut feeling is not to do it

• Im not sure we'd get on. I didn't feel very comfortable while I was there, but I suppose people just need to give each other time. There was nothing bad about him, we just didn't click IYSWIM

So there are 7 reasons to go for it and 5 not to, but the 5 not to are quite big and 2 reasons to go for it are little things that aren't a real reason at all. Of course I dont know how much he wants to pay me as Im still waiting for an email so I can't even factor that one in. I guess for now I will have to think about it over the weekend and see how I feel on Monday. Thank you for listening and advising.

Right off to do another post now regarding flying as this one is getting too long.

So in terms of Flying. I didn't make a list today, but I will make one now see what I have done and what I still need to do

Washing done
Shine Sink in a bit
Go to see about this job done
Weekly shopping done
Tidy out handbag done and didn't even realise it was on Flyladys list
Sorted out clothes for tomorrow done
homework once DCs are in bed

Tomorrows list
Parkrun
Washing
Watch Wreck It Ralph with DCs
Puzzle with DD1
Shine Sink

SC Im not feeling too good about trying to lose weight either. I need to be more strict with myself. Im getting addicted to Coke (the drink kind) again. Last year I did really well and drank lots of water, but Ive noticed over the last week or so Ive been reaching for cans of coke Im hoping to start the 5:2 in the next couple of weeks though so I might be able to give you some encouragement over here (though I might join a 5:2 thread)

ellie about your pupils.

Toffee fingers crossed about the test results. Good news about being able to have a glass of wine and still being under your calorie goals at sticking below calories without the wine never mind with it

Waves to everyone else as Ive just noticed the time

BBL

The wise one agreed with me? shit must be slipping.
Mind you am about to go to bed for sleep.
There is clearly something seriously wrong...

chb

Hi everyone
What a lovely day today! I took the day off as it is DHs birthday today, which meant lots of nice time in the sunshine and a lunch out with no kids - yay!
I did my morning routine, altho I had to iron my shorts (should have done that last night) they only needed ironing coz DH had hung that load out to dry and left them all crinkled (grrrr)
I have not done the kitchen tasks at all this week bar the fridge and boy does it need it, but we are having a bit of a do tomorrow so my excuse is that I will clean AFTER everyone has gone....
As someone (sorry it was prev page) said there is no point in cleaning BEFORE baking....
I have done a hotspot as well this evening, the pile at the top of the stairs which has been there FOREVER. That reminds me, there is a great book called "The Pile Of Stuff At the Bottom of the Stairs" by Christina Hopkinson, has anyone else read it? It is a great satire on a wife who tries to keep tidy and a DH who drives her mad!!
Re handbags, I have a large african basket and a large picnic style basket on shelves in the bedroom full of handbags, and the most used ones hang on a hook on the bedroom door.

I think everyone who is trying to lose weight is doing really well even to try - big cheer to you all - it is really hard I know. I lost 2 stone in about 1 year, just by cutting out the cr*p and cycling loads. It's hard but I just decided I could not keep on eating like a twenty-year-old!
Keep it up, it's worth it in the long run (although my fave jeans no longer fit..)

Whoops meant to say Lilleth - hope you come to the right decision about the job - it sounds like it would be worth a try, because you never know how it may work out or what it might lead to. If you keep in mind what you want out of it and put forward a nice assertive front, you'll do great, I'm sure!

Fudge/Lilleth Thanks for (much needed) weight loss encouragement Much appreciated!!

A belated "happy birthday" to your dh Fudge! You certainly had lovely weather for it!!
[remembers dim and distant past when it was possible to wear shorts]

And thanks for handbag storage advice!!

Lilleth just on my way to bed and read your posts about potential job. Congratulations on earning such a great opportunity!!
I probably shouldn't say this because I let my heart rule my head all the time (hence bulging waist line and untidy house!!) but I wouldn't totally dismiss your gut feelings. Don't want to sound discouraging at all, but, fwiw, alarm bells ring for me when you say "I didn't feel very comfortable while I was there". I would trust that instinct and perhaps use this opportunity to say "right, I've won that position but it's not quite right, I'll use the confidence gained from the experience to find a similar position nearer home working with someone with whom I feel more comfortable". Dunno! I am probably talking through my hat as usual but if there's only the two of you in the office then personal chemistry is going to be an important factor!! Good luck with whatever decision you make! And congratulations again on winning the opportunity in the first place!

Ellie bet your pupils were sad to say goodbye to you too!

Waves to Bitchy Whoknows and everyone else ...

Morning! I've just caught up with the thread. Sorry I haven't been on much this week, RL has got in the way but I have mostly been keeping on top of stuff.

My washing baskets are empty! And I've finished going through the bookcases. We then got a charity bag through the door on Friday for collection Monday morning for stuff to sell in the local hospice's shops so I am excited to get all this stuff out of the house and bless someone else with it.

Joe only has one more radiotherapy appointment, so only 1 more get up at 2am to stop his overnight feed for his anaesthetic. Yessssssssss! As a result, and because he is feeling so well, I am hoping to go back to work on Tuesday...! It will be the first time since mid-January and I'm a little nervous that I have forgotten everything again.

Anyway, today his godfather is coming to visit which will be lovely. But I'm waiting on our shopping to arrive first so I can make the sausage rolls for lunch. Ooof I really ought to drag myself out of bed!

Oh and the mother of all spiders that was living in our downstairs toilet has kindly died so I can go back in there now

Trazzle - well done on all your decluttering and on emptying the washing baskets. I haven't seen the bottom of ours for many years.

And I'm very impressed that you let the spider live out its natural life. I'm afraid it would have gone up the hoover wouldn't have lasted so long in our house.

SC- am still laughing at your phrase: 'simultaneous sandwich violation'. Managed to squeeze a glass of wine into my calorie allowance yesterday .

Lilleth - wise words from everyone re your job offer. And well done for getting the offer, which bodes well for future work opportunities.

fudge - congratulations on losing all that weight. I am only just coming to terms with not being able to eat like a skinny 20-something (am in my 40s now, so long overdue!).

ellie - you sound like such a lovely teacher. I'm sure your pupils were very sad to say goodbye to you too.

Have to go and get ready now, as MIL is babysitting for DS1 whilst we take DS2 and his best friend out to the woods for the day. DH wants to dam streams and build dens with them. Am hoping I can sit nearby and drink wine but I fear I may be in the water with them.

Hope you all get out to enjoy the sunshine.

Morning everyone

Went out last night for about the first time since September so I haven't had a chance to post the links yet but will be back shortly.

In the meantime as I'm sure you all remember Saturday is family fun day! Have Fun dammit!

oh I intend to pmpy but will skip the family bit ds is away Off to a near by town to see a very lovely lady or two for the day and evening Really looking forward to it.

Hello trazzles yay for final treatments, yay for empty washing baskets and at regaining access from the pesky spider.

Aw den building is fun.

Realised this morning as I stood abscent mindedly folding a basket of laundry whilst waiting for the kettle to boil for coffee and my breakfast of boiled eggs to cook. That perhaps this flying thing might finally be working. Otherwise why the hell would I be folding washing at 8am on a sat morning when I am supposed to be going out?
alternatively I repeat my statement from last night that something must be seriously wrong...

Applause to everyone for your successes!

J still has other treatment for the next 6 months but its nice to celebrate each one completed.

The spider was too enormous to go anywhere near. I'm not certain it would have fitted up the Hoover also, I can't bear vacuuming them in case they run out when I'm sleeping and come to exact their revenge.

Trazzles BRILLIANT news that you are nearly at the end of the radiotherapy tunnel and night feeds and top top Flying marks for being on top of the laundry and decluttering at the same time!! That is mahoosively impressive on all fronts!!

Toffee luv - where are you on MFP? I keep looking out for you in our group but can't find you. I'm useless with finding my way around those sites though so could be looking in wrong place.

Bitchy your ruthless efficiency is scaring me Have a great time tonight!!

Waves to Pushme and everyone else!

Belated links for Saturday

The baby step for the 8th is to [http://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-8/ establish routines]]. I am quite good at my routines now - they really have become, erm, routine. I have too many things in thm I think though, and not particularly the things on Flylady's list

We're still in the kitchen (!) and the flight plan is here. No missions because it's the weekend.

We're having family fun today by visiting the local agricultural show. Really looking forward to it and for once there isn't driving rain!

V pleased for Joe trazzles

Big wave to sc, bitchy, toffer, fudge, ellie, lileth and everyone else

Oops link fail

babystep

Afternoon all!

Had family fun morning as went to dmum's for brunch which was lovely. Do need to get some stuff done now though so i can have family fun evening as well.

On a positive note though just got a letter from hsbc saying they are going to pay me several thousand pounds in ppi reclaim money. Wooooohooooo. Money earmarked for new boiler but still a serious shopping trip to be had.

trazzles yay for Joe, yay for everything else. Lovely to see such a positive post.

fudge well done on the weightloss. It is hard, incredibly hard. I have lost 5 stone in the last 11 months, still going but motivation comes and goes doesn't it. Slow but steady wins the race though.

chb sounds like you have a lovely day planned.

Better get cracking on the tidying up and flying. Back later!

ellie Several thousand pounds I know boilers are boring, but happy spending with the rest. kind of puts my £2.90 win on Euromillions to shame

5 stones in eleven months Ellie Congratulations!!!! That's not slow and steady, that's... that's ....mega-awesomely-incredible!!!! Congratulations!!!

Fab news Ellie, we had one last month from nationwide. Not quite as much (£1800) but still welcomed!

Can anyone give organisational tips for me to ease the shock of middle school? Ds1 is off in September and dd is starting preschool so I'm going from two in 1 school to 3 in 3 schools. Argh!

Main problems:

• Going from leaving at 8.30 walking with me to 7.50 leaving on his own to catch bus.
• homework and book organisation.
• calendar dates, timetable and school letters/ communication
• uniforms, kits, bags, lunches

It's so simple at first school. They only read and have occasional homework, free hot dinner, and school very relaxed about uniform. Just call me at home or catch me at school with any messages. Ds1 has a terrible memory and organisational skills aren't the best (always remembers on the morning of mufti day etc!) and I won't be in the playground catching the news!

Help pleas I'm scared :(

Waves to Lilleth!

Putting on my best Joyce Grenfell and trying to make the most of lovely weather but dd is not cooperating. So have come on here for a 5 min breather.

She is over-tired and sad that dh is away on father's day (she'd made a card and practised her omelette-making skills) - not that we usually make a big thing of mother's and father's day tbh but the school does. We've already done tutoring, some hwk, and errands this am and now she won't be persuaded to go out again, bake, or sew. But she is not too tired to be restless ifyswim. Kicking myself for not arranging a playdate. Think it might be time to get out old blankets/throws/sheets/clothes pegs and make a tent in the garden ... .

I don't, as a rule drink, when dh is away but tonight might be an exception!!