July's Fledgling Flyers: Summer holidays are on their way and the clutter is going to FLY away

[elliepac]

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

Thank you very much to cpmpy for leading us expertly through June- it's been a while since I lead so I can't promise to be as efficient but will do my best . This will start by copying and pasting pmpy's original June post

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

Toffee that's what I like about the holidays - just one thing a day COUNTS as an adventure, and most things are optional. Well done on library visit. Coupons sounds crafty. A packet of crisps per piano practice would go down nicely with dd. Maybe as Bitchy said for my layabouts ruthlessness is the key..no breakfast unless your bed is made etc etc.

done
sailing is finished
the children are as brown as berries and possibly more coordinated
ds2 conked out today and didn't go as I think four days was enough so he had the fun of accompanying us to the Ftherapist instead of Archery
and my feet are up the moment because they are very very worn out from walking!
Also saw CBT lady again today

and it is my birthday. Dh is cooking a nice meal and I am enjoying being dressed up in nice fresh clothes after a shower. We could be on holiday, certainly feels like a holiday atmosphere suddenly.

done housework by cleaning lady
tidied up ds1's room (me)
threw out old pillow (me)
changed sheets
hoovered floor
recycling (me)
washing (me)
s & s (me)

Oh, happy birthday, Swan

Pheeeeewwww wot a scorcha!!

Heat incredibly oppressive here. Had blissfully cool morning, but it then got very hot again this pm.

Ta da:
-2.5 hr post party tidy up - put everything back in it's place on the ground floor
-persuaded a reluctant dd to corale her presents in to one neat pile instead of leaving them all over the house
-laundry x 2
-downloaded party pics from camera and sent to various people then found that most of them were undelivered - a whole hour wasted - first lot went OK, second lot outlook express address remembering facility wouldn't play ball, so switched to ordinary e-mails with photo file attachments and yes, you've guessed it, over permitted space limit!!! Grrrrrrr!!! Thought the whole point of Picasa was to make this sort of thing easy!!!
-spoke to friend on phone
-light veg pasta for lunch
-fielded a load of calls from people trying to get hold of dh

• (Sorry - first world problem digression alert) At which point my cleaner came for the first time in three weeks (bad back) and told me that she was going on holiday now and won't be back until Sept 8. And we pay her sickness pay and holiday pay ....

-went out with dd to buy bread, berries and cakes and go to bank -prepped sodding strawberries and sodding dainty sandwiches at break neck speed while perspiration ran down my back (sorry for tmi) -hosted tea for latest summer stagaire who is leaving office today whilst resembling a large perspiring beetroot -then as he was leaving met lovely colleague of dh in street who was posting get well card through our letterbox and she came in for tea round 2 -tidied up tea and then made light chicken supper for dh and dd -put rabbits to bed and proffered tlc (have been neglected a bit this week what with everything) -about to crash in front of telly but stonkingly hot in all boudoirs

Doesn't really sound a lot but haven't stopped all day. Heat has been energy sapping but feel buoyed up by fact that sitting room/dining room/play room (although badly in need of decorating) do look the tidiest they have in a good while (although still in need of proper storage/decluttering).

Planning to have a quiet weekend. Here's hoping anyway...

Have a great holiday Blue!!

More power to your elbow with redecorating Ellie Am mahoosively impressed by your energy levels, combining it with school trip and having only just got back from short break. (I could do one or other but not all three!)

V. impressed by your post-holiday Flying Goth Glad you had a good 'un

Aw at your 5 yr old and bid to wear party dress Saturn! (Know what you mean about reassurance of house being under control when everything else is going pear-shaped btw!!)

Way to go re: blanket box Trazzles!!

Asheth good on you for getting the dc to Fly - def need to work on this with dd now special birthday girl status receding!! Determined to start next week...

Well done re: the haircut Bitchy, the hills will be there another day [is it worrying that I keep imagining you running across the mountains a la Maria Von Trapp to the strains of "The Hills are Alive etc" with your ds following behind wearing play clothes that you have run up from a pair of curtains]...???? Think the heat must be getting to me

Big wing flaps to Toffee Feetheart Whoknows Swan Honu Just Lauren PA Carpe all newcomers and everyone I've forgotten!

[Leaves out copious amounts of on naughty corner bar]

x posts

Many happy returns of the day Swan!!!! Hope you have a lovely evening!!

Cheers Toffee!

Put your roller down and come on over to the bar Ellie!!!

And everyone else ...!!!

[Hangs bunting]

Happy Birthday Swan chink

Ta Dah
Lie in
2 loads laundry washed
3 loads laundry hung out
Beds
Check food cupboards
Shop, grocers and hardware store (got 10l compost, forgot cat litter)
Repot tomato plant & butternut squash
Cross fingers the rain holds off-it didn't -Bring laundry in
Sun came out-hang laundry out
Bring laundry in
Iron 2 loads
Fold and put away towels
Put another load laundry load in for tomorrow
Dh went for cat litter
Cleaned litter tray
Cleaned bird feeders
Dinner
Wash up & SS
Get stuff ready for work tomorrow

Plus I did have a nap this afternoon, it was SO hot

Happy birthday swan

Wrote a long post and lost it going to bed now so will catch up in morning

Ta da
Get dressed to shoes
Shine sink
Read Flylady e-mails

To do
Negative voices

Well I suppose negative voices are telling me that it's all well and good when I only have a few things to do, but when more things are added I'm going to start feeling overwhelmed and give up and be back where I started...not sure how I'm supposed to turn that round to be nice to me...

Sorry, a bit of a depressing way to end the day...will try and be more positive in the morning...think I'm on hot spots tomorrow...

Night everyone x

Evening all. Just got back from a lovely evening at BF's with DC's. i love the summer holidays because long evenings sat in the garden whilst the dc's play are almost obligatory and no stressing about tiredness!

Happy Birthday swan. Hope you have had a lovely day.

saturn please don't feel negative. The babysteps are just that. Small steps. Even just doing a few makes a difference. Hand on heart in nearly 4 years on this thread I don't think there's been one month where I have managed to do all babysteps everyday. It's about establishing workable habits that work for you. And I think everyone on here has felt negative at some point. Focus on the positives and expect miracles overnight.

toffee my ruthless decluttering crumbled in the crumpled face of DS and we decided that he could jave it by his bed and that if his friends came round he could slide it under because he thought it was too babyish. Just goes to remind me that even though he is 10 next month, he is still a little boy at heart. Bless him.

sc don't be too impressed. Have actually got to do it all yet. Am absolutely brilliant at talking the talk but don't always walk the walk. Just conscious of having the money to do it at the moment and don't want to fritter it away so am determined to buy the bulk of stuff tomorrow and get on with it. The problem with both of us working so hard is that holidays are often the only time we get to do any of this stuff!

Off to bed now. Bodyclock hasn't switched over to holiday time yet and am pooped!

Saturn you can beat/ignore the nagging voice, you're only adding 1 new thing each day, and I don't think any of us do all the steps.
AND if you don't remember them all one month, well we start again the next.

Personally I like that we're not aiming for perfection, 'good enough' is acceptable.

Saturn Also if long list demotivate you don't write them have a short list, do it. then think about another short list. Around here it is the power of 3. A lot of us work to it when we are struggling.

SC yeah ds would totally disown me if there was singing. he rolls his eye enough if i sing in the car.

flying 0 sleep 1

failing at early night though. need to get that sorted.

Happy birthday swan

Ta-da:
Changed approx 1,000,000,000 nappies
Changed Joe's clothes several times
Not killed anyone.

that is a very important ta da list trazzles

power of three today, to do:
get up
put bedding on to wash
make sure have clean training kit for tomo

be back when i have done that.

Agree with Bitchy - that is a very important list, Trazzles, especially that last item. I hope Joe is adjusting to his new feed and there will be an end to this hospital visit in sight soon.

Have been busy with the boys all morning. DS2 had earned '20 minutes' undivided attention', so I had to sit and watch 'Minecraft' with him first thing. The tick charts are going well, if I keep reminding the boys to stick at them. DS2 happily hung some washing out and did some Maths and English after breakfast because it earned him more ticks .

Ta da :

Cuddles and play with both boys
Pancakes & smoothie for breakfast
Boys dressed, teeth done, hair combed
20 minutes' time with DS2
D/W unloaded
D/W reloaded
Kitchen surfaces wiped
Kitchen floor mopped
Washing on
Maths and English with DS2

To do :

Bath and hairwash
Playground with boys
Take boys to have haircuts
Take boys to see bearded dragons, which we are looking after in the holidays

DH and I are going out tonight .

Hope you all have a good day. Thinking especially of Trazzles, stuck in that hospital room. Really hope today is a turning point.

Sorry for late posting. Was feeling rough this morning. Am suffering from intermittent nausea. If I didn't know better I would POAS. But I suspect it's side effect of new pill.

Today's babystep is to eat food that's good for you, drink water and sleep. Easy peasey.

FFS where's the first half of my post?

CBA to write it all again. Was basically a grovelling apology for being late.

Arses.

Surprisingly there'll be no flying chez Trazzle today.

Not entirely sure why I bothered turning up this month!!

You bothered turning up because you would miss us trazzles. If actual flying was a prerequisite for being here, I would have been kicked off years ago. And I don't have half the RL shit going on that you have.
And don't apologise for flying when you are with Joe.......silly billy.

DH and I are actually going out tonight. Like proper out of the house, with friends, for a meal and drinks afterwards. We have a babysitter and everything. It's like we are a couple or something.

Have done minimal flying but swept around and tidied a bit.

Going to try and make myself look human now. This may take some time!

Have a good evening everyone!

Apologies for the negative post last night, thanks for the positive comments...will stick with it!

Ellie and Toffee - have a lovely evening out tonight

Trazzles - hope you are ok

Bitchy - thanks, power of 3 would probably suit me better. Have a habit if spending half my life writing lists and never actually doing the things on them as they then seem too daunting and don't know where to begin

Goth - will have to keep repeating that to myself "good enough is acceptable!"

Ta da
Dressed to shoes

To do
Read Flylady e-mails
Shine sink
Hot spot
Negative voices

Trazzles yesterday sounded awful for you

thanks for birthday wishes everyone. My sister gave me a bright pink and yellow tablecloth..I think she was trying to tell me something. DH said I should wear it as a sarong

Severe and unnecessary tension is now setting in re: holiday departure, not helped by watching |The Impossible with dcs and Dh . I think only a list might help but I am terrified at the sight of all I need to do, particularily organising things like catsitters when DH has gone in a week. Tomorrow I had arranged to meet some cousins, and that is an additional source of tension. But it is ridiculous to cancel; they are lovely and want their kids and our kids to play cricket on Hampstead Heath.

done
friend for coffee
more washing of sheets etc
clean laundry upstairs (dumped on landing)
laid table
dcs did a few chores, and dd packed her suitcase
My plan is to have no suitcases just backpacks but dd is allowed some clothes

SC I want you to stop being superwoman! Very frustrating about cleaning lady when you were relying on her at this difficult time.

Re: summer perfection - I read the Guardian today re: food, and I've decided that all the recipes are for people who have no children at all do not look after their children during the holidays or grownup children who do the cooking for them...Spinokopitta with your own homemade filo, Genoise sponge That is not the way my summer pans out!!!!! Today we avoided a minor incident at lunch when ds2 discovered some finely chopped onion in his homemade hamburger and had a screaming fit.

Ta da
Dressed to shoes
Sink shined

To do
Read Flylady e-mails
Hot spot
Negative voices

Just to clarify after previous post, haven't only dressed to shoes today! Only flying thing I've done. Took DD to library to sign up for reading challenge...thanks Toffee, last two years not remembered to do this until the end of the summer holidays and then had to fit in multiple visits to library each week to manage to get all the stickers

Then DD and I had our nails done and then had our hair done this afternoon , followed by Pizza Hut for dinner

Ta da
Dressed to shoes
Sink shined
Flylady e-mails read
Negative voices
Hot spot

First day of hot spot today and didn't seem to get much done in two minutes. Hot spot is next to drawers in bedroom where everything gets dumped...absolutely everything!!!

Tomorrow will be my day 7, lay out clothes for tomorrow...will get DD to do this too and then we won't have party dress issues for holiday club! (She put a party dress on again today, but didn't bother arguing...the fact that we were both up and dressed to shoes on a weekend and not rushing to get dressed 5 minutes before we were due out of the door was quite impressive )

Anyway, hope everyone has a lovely evening...

Well, I'm having great success with my little fledgling flyers! Not only has there been no more moaning, but DS1 even picked a few things off the floor on his way upstairs before the timer even started! Their floors are now clear and we've started decluttering surfaces. Took everything off DS2's windowsill and gave it a wipe down.... the cloth turned black

Hugs to Trazzle. Housework can definitly wait. Everything you do for Joe is so much more important.

Saturn well done for being ready to go with time to spare. Something I suspect I'll never achieve!

Toffee Minecraft for 20 minutes? I'd have fallen asleep in 20 seconds!

I like the power of three Bitchy Might have to try that.

Hope you had a great night Ellie

Cripes and bugger - bugger and cripes! [hair standing on end emoticon]

Just as well you are not over here at the moment Jdub with your tendency to attract lightening and all that! We are in the middle of the most mahoosive storm atm. Rain bucketing down. Wind rattling the windows. Lightening uncomfortably close. Thunder uncomfortably loud!!

Feeling rather weary but looks like I am going to be up most of the night because we have a major leak in the roof and water is also starting to encroach in to the cellars . Water is pouring down one corner of the adjoining room in which dd sleeps and it is coming from the floor above and the roof above that ... think we have a problem with lead flashing (or lack of it). Dh is still in recuperation mode so I am intermittently climbing the 80 or so steps up to our roof from the cellar with mop and buckets and down again, dd lighting the way with her Hello Kitty torch (no electricity in attics), trying to avoid the rather large holes in the floor! Rabbits (in cellar) are fine at the minute (and they have high ground in an emergency), but obviously checking them every 20 mins or so... they'll be strapping bits of wooden pallets together and making themselves life rafts if I'm not careful Unfortunately, rain is predicted for the next three or so days ...

All in all, it's not been the best of fortnights

Saturn you never ever need to apologise for posting negatively!!! That's what we are here for and I do it constantly

Wise words there from Goth about battling perfectionism/negativity

Swan good luck with holiday prep!! There's always a bit where everything looks terrible and out of control and then it comes together when you don't think it ever will ifyswim. Enjoy the family cricket match!

Ellie and Toffee hope you had/are having a lovely time!

(Hope you are feeling better too Ellie - take it steady)

(Eek at bearded dragons Toffee)

Trazzles you have flown this month - you've done the blanket box remember!!! With everything else you have on your plate atm, that is equivalent to one of us decluttering our entire houses 20 times over!!! Hope immodium is kicking in and little Joe's tum is feeling better and that you both can get out of hospital soonest. Keep thinking of you stuck in there in this oppressive weather - it must be so hard xxxxx

Ah, shame Bitchy rather like the idea of a sweary Maria

Right, worst of this immediate downpour appears to be over. DD has gone back to sleep. Had better don the galoshes and do my nightwatchman rounds ....

Just back from loverly evening out with friends (hic). Diet has gone out the window. Much wine has been consumed. Have just insisted that DH let me have a lie in tomorrow.

Night.