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.

Oh, and well done to your DD too, Swan .

x-post Toffee I feel much the same, frequently The only thing that stops me from screaming is the memory that my mum felt exactly the same, so it must be an eternal problem. The person I know with the tidiest and most decluttered house has sent three of her five children to boarding school, which I have no intention of doing, so that is a comfort ifysim.

Dh working from home has compounded the lack of space, and made him much more tetchy about what he regards as the grownups' room (which is covered in matchbox cars and cds) xxx to your kitten. I miss ours, I keep hoping a stray kitten will turn up that I can rescue However, three resident cats are very sweet and enjoying being a trois again, so I can't complain. Brother and sister cat have made friends again and spend most of their time curled up on same sofa or bed. Oldest cat is still a bit of a loner but likes the brother cat [sometimes] He likes Dh best of all

Evening,

Not much to report here, Ds went back to school, but was nearly in tears at home time because they had all been choosing their races for Sports Day and he can't do any of it. I asked his best friend if he had been OK the rest of the day and he said he had, which is a relief. They've got a school trip tomorrow, pretending to be WW2 evacuees, so we have been making a 1940s style packed lunch to take in a gas mask case made out of a shoe box. DH has managed to get hold of a modern gas mask from work for him to take too.

Hope Toffeekitten is recovering, haven't read all the posts today, so excuse me if I have missed anything. Next door have a new kitten who has taken to wandering in through our back door, the DCs are very taken with it and leaning on me to get one, I am very unsure as I have no real idea what is involved, where you get kittens from etc. It is very sweet though.

Swan - my DS can be like that, normally after school he comes round to DD's classroom, but with his cast he can't manage his things so I am fetching him from his class first. The other day I was waiting outside for about 10 mins (I was early and chatting and in full view of their window), then remembered I needed to go to the office so popped off and came back to a DS outside the door about to burst into tears because he thought I'd gone without him. They still need their mums.

Er, Flying. Nul points. Bought a new dustbin for the kitchen. Swept the kitchen floor. I was at work most of the day and shopping for / making the 1940s packed lunch and gas mask box took a while. Scout executive meeting this evening. Oh well.

Morning all!

Well, flying yesterday was confined to the living room and kitchen; I didn't get the study or bedroom done (other than laying away washing plus doing another three loads ) due to the inordinate amount of time I spent sorting out all the toys.

I put some upstairs into DS's room, so guess what toys he wanted to play with this morning? At least they were easy to find if nothing else!

Had a lovely evening though as DH was out, so I had full control of the TV - got through loads of episodes of Revenge which is my new guilty addiction. Was a bit spooked for a bit of the night, as the sea fog came in, so I was expecting the zombie apocalypse - but woke up to find we are all still here. Either that or the zombies had decided that I didn't have enough braaaaaaains!

Today will hopefully be a trip to the supermarket for the last "stock up" before the holidays. Still need to menu plan first though. I really hate menu planning. I really need to sit down with DH and set up a four week rolling plan which can then be adapted for any guests/other events. Just CBA really.

Right, on with work, and more work, and um, more work!

Good morning! Not much done here - and no filing achieved - just a case of mild paper shuffling!! Best get on and try harder. Day off tomorrow,so will have a good tidy up then!
Have a happy day x

I'm currently lurking and cooking while my lovely and far more patient friend plays hide & seek with the boys...

Not much done today but watched DS1 in his class assembly.

Must be tough re sports day for your DS, WhoKnows. School trip sounds fun though.

Big waves to all and all round...

Quiet on here today!

Good day at work today and plenty of flying for a weekday!

Ta da:-
Morning routine
Washing x 2
Washing up
Dinner
Tomorrow's dinner cooked (bolognese sauce anyway)
Packed Lunches done
Quick tidy downstairs

To do:-
Bathe dc's
Evening routine
Washing loaded for morning
Washing put away
Collapse with a small.

whoknows for DS. Trip sounds fab though. I am going to see Horrible Histories live tomorrow with school and am rather excited and then in the afternoon hear a Holocaust survivor speak in school. I love my job.

Back later.

Crikey - check in to Mumsnet and see poor Nigella's face on Homepage! As if she doesn't have enough to contend with! Wouldn't usually dare to criticise Mumsnet Towers who have provided us fledglings with such a wonderful home and I know the subject of dv is hugely important (and I suppose N is symbolic of fact that it can happen to anyone of any class or level of wealth so perhaps they feel it is an awareness-raising opportunity they cannot afford to miss) but can't help feeling it's a bit exploitative ... .

Anyway ....

Hello! Hope you are all OK! Absolutely sweltering over here - 32°C!! Put washing out on terrace and it was grilled dry in 5 mins!!! Got through x4 loads no prob!! Very heavy atmosphere though - apparently there will be a storm tonight.

Nearly posted a very gloomy Eeyore-ish post this morning but decided not to inflict it on you all - very glad I didn't because day has been unexpectedly positive!

Had end-of-term meeting with dd's headmistress and she said that dd can go through to next (and last in primary) school cycle (5ieme and 6ieme primaire) no problem!! Phewww!!! Can't believe it! Wasn't expecting that pronouncement before dd's even half way through her exams either !! (She has already scored below requisite 70% in two of them as well!!) It turns out that they had come down very hard on us and dd in order to get her to push herself a bit more (she has a tendency to "coast") and so we were hearing bleakest scenario. We are still not allowed to tell dd the good news until after the exams though!!

Couldn't believe it though; headmistress ended meeting with the question "and what are dd's projects for the summer?" Dh and I looked at one another blankly and I wanted to say "she's 9 fhs what do you think she will be doing: seeing family, playing with friends, watching telly, horse-riding and HAVING FUN like any regular child during the summer break" but er, didn't quite feel we could quite put it like that (headmistress is really excellent but completely relentless). So we ended up promising that dd would keep up with her French (which is probably a good idea in actual fact but can't face thinking about it atm).

Anyway, anyway, thank you for all your sympathetic words about dd and her exams!!! They really really helped!!! (Don't know what I would do without this thread sometimes!)

And, now I've got all that off my chest, how are all of you?

Pushme sorry you are feeling below par, hope sore throat hasn't developed in to anything worse... . Let us know if you need help with links etc.

Blue [from down thread] I managed to miss your telly appearance!! How was it???

Doris hope supermarket trip not too onerous today! (And yes - 'tis one of the dangers of Flying - toys always seem to hold extra special attraction for dc once they have been meticulously sorted by our good selves, thus enabling them to have huge fun muddling them up all over again!! .) Hope clumsy nurse didn't inflict any lasting damage!

Jdub Sympathies! I think I have shuffled each individual paper in my home office at least 50 times ... need to actually shred some now! Enjoy your day off tomorrow!

Sorry that your ds1 was so upset about Sports Day Whoknows It must be tough for him having to sit it out. Hope the school trip succeeded in taking his mind off it for a bit!

Hope your dd is recovering Swan I love the image of you together both enjoying the calm of your "hotel" boudoir!! Congrats to your ds2 for doing so well on his Outward Bound course!! Sounds brilliant!!

Toffee so glad the CBT went well for your ds1! Hope kitten still hanging in there!

Swan/Toffee/Whoknows awww at your boys needing you there [sniff]

Tofffee and Swan sympathies over ground-hog-ness of clearing up and general despair at mess etc. If it's any consolation, my dh only notices things when they aren't done too... . it is very demoralising. One of you (I think it was you Toffee) recommended the book 'Housework Blues' by Danielle Raine which has helped a lot !

Goth I'll raise you a horse (in the eating stakes)!! Have been starving all day!! My stomach (in a summer dress for the first time in ages today) looks as though I am 8 months pregnant

Well done for getting through such a long list yesterday Lilleth Hope today's went equally well

Mercury hope your dd was OK being back at school today

Consils how did Ascot picnic go? Am very but hope you had a really lovely day. [Very sad without Henry Cecil though. ]

Arf at Bitchy's Flying-without-quite-realising-it. Congratulations!! You have become an official member of the sect Fledged!!!!

Like the look of that family organiser Trazzles!

Humungous wing flaps to Ellie Feetheart Honu Just PA Castle Engels Asheth Newby and everyone else I've missed!!

sorry - didn't mean to write quite such a mahoosively long post

x post - waves to Ellie!!

SC despite nearly 3 hours' filming, the choir was on for maybe 20 seconds. Saw my face once and a bit of my T-shirt once on slow second viewing so wasn't exactly superstardom!

Glad to hear about DD. Can you work the French practice into playing, riding etc? Talk about what you're doing in French? Watch French telly?

sc glad to hear things have worked out ok with DD and school.

Ta da part 2:-
Put washing away
More washing on line
Bathed dc's
Dried up and put away washing up
Shined sink (2 nights on trot)
Uniforms laid out
Drank a small glass of

Have a good evening everyone.

Evening, Im still around, just busy.

So today I have:
Made beds
Load of washing
Ring electric company possibly (didn't need to as Direct Debit had been taken out)
Rang Tax credits as an extra payment came in and I wanted to check it was extra before spending it
Bought a new mobile so now I can download a running app (among others)
Mow lawn
Kill weeds
Shine sink
Daily mission (well I sorted some drawers so I now have more drawers for clothes )
Sort out clothes for wed
Running club

Tomorrow's list
Wash DCs bedding
Make our bed
Get DCs ready for school
Go volunteering
Appointment at school re DS (statemented)
Load washing machine for Thurs
Back Lawn
Daily Mission
Shine Sink

Sorry Ive not been around I seem to be rather busy of late. Though Now I have plans and routines on what gets done on what days my lists seem bigger, but in reality a lot of it I did anyway.

Glad to hear you had a positive day SC and that DD is able to go through to the next school cycle. Good luck with the summer project.

Push Hope you feel better today.

Blue 15 mins of fame eh? That's it now you will be far too busy having the life of a sleb to talk to us mortals

Consils hope you had a lovely day at Ascot. Ive never been to the races ever and Im originally from York and EVERYONE goes to the races in York.

Doris Hope the work went well along with the last min holiday preparations

Big waves to everyone else. I need to go and get some clothes on as Ive been sat in a towel for the past hour after my post run shower. Off upstairs to watch Hart Of Dixie my guilty pleasure

ToffeeKitten not well at all . Took him in for blood tests today because he keeps falling over. We have to wait till Thursday for the results, but the vet thinks it may be liver problems. Haven't told DS1 yet and won't tell him until we know more on Thursday. Have been so, so upset. He is such a sweet kitten.

Sorry, haven't caught up with the thread, but several of you asked about kitty, so I thought I'd update you.

Oh toffee, so sorry, poor kitten

Evening all,

That's good news aout school SC, what a relief. Boo to projects for the summer holidays!

Blue - glad you got your moment of fame even if it was momentary.

Well, DS enjoyed his school outing. I wondered if they feel a bit short-changed as it is their main outing of the year and all they did was walk a mile to the station, get on the local steam railway train and go up and down the line for an hour before walking back. Whereas normally they go off on a coach a bit further afield to the zoo or similar. Anyway, he didn't say anything, so obviously it was fine. DD goes to the zoo next week. Ds managed Cubs tonight too, but is moaning a lot again about his arm aching. Back to the fracture clinic tomorrow.

A bit pissed off at work today, one of the other members of staff has done something a bit weird (it's not so much what they did that is weird but that they went to some lengths to conceal it from me when it would very obviously have been a good idea to discuss it with me, and was a bit pissy when I inadvertently found out today). Hmmm. Now wondering what the hidden agenda is.

Anyway, Flying. Er, usual routines, washing etc. I am really slacking at the moment. MFP and exercise not going too well either. .

Hello all, just a quick check in,

Toffee fingers crossed for kitten, I hope the blood test comes through ok.

SC thank god for your posts, they aid the skim reading

Looks like I'll be posting on the app for the rest of the month as the iPad is throwing a strop at the thread length

Toffee oh no, poor little thing I can't bear it. Poor ds too.

SC what a mean witch to frighten you like that, really..I am now beginning to lose patience with the Belgian system after all.
On that contrary note, I've told off by three teachers maybe four, at Ds's parent's eve (4 hours of it) for his general slackness and lack of going that extra mile. Apart from Geography and Music where he appears to be putting in the effort. ICT teacher was kind enough to explain to me the process of making websites, spreadsheets and databases. Maths teacher glared at me when I said I had only just passed my O'level and it was in the genes. Art teacher said ds1 had enjoyed being part of a Picasso collage contributing his violin to the scene!

Tiring day doing I don't know what. Vet, followed by gardening, library, followed by talking to dd who is ill, followed by parents' eve. I managed some driving too. Ellie I'm not sure how you can cope with parents' eve, they must be v wearing.

No carbing still going well here, v boring though. I did have some peanut m & ms at teatime though and a quite a few bananas. I kg down in a week so far. Loads more to lose though. Need to get back to 74kg and I'm 79 and 5ft 10

Feeling a bit better throat-wise today thanks for asking

I am sulking a bit though tbh, because despite being pretty good at sticking to 5:2 with minimal overeating on non-diet days I have lost no weight at all this week. I wasn't gaining before and i have been starving all bloody week so I was hoping for at least a bit off this morning.

If it takes a 3500 calorie defecit to lose 1lb then I can't see how I can possibly cut this many out and still be allowed to drink wine eat at all.

Anyway as this is theoretcially supposed to be a housework thread I do have a small list...

Ta da
Routines
Empty bins
Disinfect living room bin
De-flea cats
File DC's artwork (only partly in the bin )
No need for the mission as there is no clothes pile in my bedroom

So glad a bit of the pressure is of with your DD sc, must be a relief to know that she's not going to be kept back.

I hate menu planning as well Doris. I do it weekly on a Monday night when I finalise the online shop. I don't have a rolling plan (combination of cba and don't like having to decide now what I will want to eat in 4 weeks time), but do have an annual spreadsheet that I started last year that has every tea that we've had over the last 12 months (God I am fun ), which I find useful as I try to cook seasonally where possible so the June menu features asparagus and strawberries and similar whereas November has stews and chilli.

Fame has to start somewhere blue. I was on Countryfile last year for a few seconds and now am inundated with tv offers . Of course I turn them down as the attention would be too much

Just realised it is my self-appointed bedtime and I haven't done the links so big wingflaps to jdub, lileth, castle, ellie, bitchy, whoknows and everyone else

BBinaminute with the links...

Toffee - must have x-posted with you earlier, everything crossed for Toffeekitten.

Toffee and Whoknows I don't think ds2 will ever see the funny side of me not turning up, but what he finds funny is the idea that I have to spend the whole of this year taking him to football matches in penitence - he has a BlackAdderish sense of humour in that way.

*
Here are the links for the 19th June

The babystep is to read another of flylady's inspiring testimonials. So read it, and be inspired .

Day three in zone 4 and the mission is to tidy your wardrobe floor. My wardrobe is in DS's room and he'll most likely be asleep by the time I get back from work tomorrow so I may have to substitute with tidying a drawer out instead.

The flight plan is here and the daily focus for Tuesday is anti-procrastination day

Enjoy your water and your Wednesdays!

*

Lilleth the only races I've ever been to are at York!!! But I did live about 4 houses down from the Knavesmire pub...

I am awake but not happy about it. I have been awake for a few hours now. Stupid arsing cunting bastard phone keeps telling me it is running out of battery. it has done so since it was still dark outside. I was trying to be asleep. I can't find the stupid phone either which means it is most definitely a job for getting my room sorted today. Which I really don't want to do as I currently have a thumping migraine from the disrupted sleep and lack of sleep. right now I am going to go find breakfast coffee and pain killers. And perhaps a nice hot long shower.

Thanks for the kind messages about ToffeeKitten. He is even more wobbly on his legs this morning. However, he is happy in himself and eating well. We will be making sure he has extra special cuddles and time on our laps today. DS1 has noticed his deterioration and commented that he might have a disease, so it is dawning on him gradually.

I was in floods of tears about it yesterday (not in front of DS1), but am calmer today and ready to deal with whatever happens.

SC - well done to your DD on passing her exams well enough for next year's class, but what an awful system. The headmistress sounds awful! It wasn't me who mentioned that housework book, so I am going to check it out on Amazon now.

Must go and get ready for the school run now, but I hope you all have a good day.