August is when the fledglings party, and perhaps do a bit of flying, maybe.

[BitchytheGreat]

Roll up, roll up to this special birthday month for the fledglings...

We are going to attempt to keep the dc happy, whilst flying. No mean feat in the month of holidays and adventures.

Rule 1. yes even in a birthday month we have rules
It is not about perfection. A little is enough, no really.
Rule 2.
You are aloud to spend time doing fun things, don't regret them or feel guilty.
Rule 3. This one is a fat fairy rule.
you are never behind, jump in where you are

So newbies if you are reading this you are probably thinking wtf?! This is a wonderful system designed by the fly lady. in days gone olde one fledgling had a dream about the fly lady in which she was a fat fairy, thus the thread nickname fat fairy was born. Just so we don't confuse you like
Anyhows, this month it is Bitchy's turn to lead, and perhaps this should come with a warning. She has her own unique style of leading but don't let that scare you off, the fledglings are luffsly and generally far more sane then the bitchy one just be aware of bitchy's special brew. Terribly high in caffine and can sometimes be found in the naughty corner. Which reminds me, the naughty corner if for those who are struggling for whatever reason or those just in need of a stiff drink.

So this flying thing. It has three stages:
stage one: the babysteps. these build a routine. some of them are contriversial, and some a little wishy washy seem a little less significant. But most are really good.
Stage two: babysteps and missions one the routines are in place the missions are designed to help you tackle tasks room by room. These room by room approach is helpfully referred to as zones.
stage three: the mythical deep cleaning stage yeah lets just ignore that, none of us have got to the point where we have not only decluttered but got in control of the chaos

Oh yeah CHAOS - what the fat fairy calls "Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome"

That clear as mud? good. Let's Begin....

ta da :

DS1's CBT appointment (if I achieve nothing else today, this makes the day worthwhile. He did everything he could to get out of it, but I got him there! )
Plumber here to mend loo
Second b/fasts
Online shopping arrived and put away

Am going to take DS2 to the playground next. DS1 has hurt his ankle whilst skateboarding and jumping off playground equipment, so I have given him an ice pack and Nurofen and told him to stay at home and rest.

Cold is not getting the attention it wants, so has retreated into the background.

No motivation here, but lots to do. Will try the power of three:

Washing
Kitchen rescue (including washing up)
Sitting-room rescue (including hoovering)

No motivation here either. the last power of three I succeeded at was:
eat bag of jelly babies
eat bag of giant chocolate buttons
drink fizzy drink

Not exactly in anywhere fucking close to keeping with my diet.

at bitchy setting a good example as thread leader.

Ta da :

Massive room rescue in kitchen (including endless washing up, floor mopping and other tedious jobs)
Three loads of washing
Room rescue in sitting room

My diet has gone out the window too, bitchy. Really can't be arsed. And I'm hungry.

Very frustrating day! On my feet since 6am, but have achieved precisely nothing in terms of moving the house on. Why oh why does everything take so long to accomplish? I'm not talking here about ordinary routines/meals/running of the house, just trying to move things (decluttering/reorganising wise) in a meaningful way. Start of term is approaching fast! Really needed and wanted to devote a good chunk of the day to the boudoir but got side-tracked by entertaining dd, then boy from down the road turning up, phone calls, booking train tickets for my sister, interruptions from dh - oh just ordinary stuff really but all time consuming. Only just managed to put clean washing away and so some laundry + routines/cooking, never mind do much else .

Love the 'alternative' power-of-three Bitchy!

Well done for ploughing on through Toffee hope your ds1's ankle mends soon

Waves to everyone else!

Toffee - wine is probably best if you are not feeling well, will help you forget how awful you feel (for a while anyway!). Good news re your DS

Bitchy - like your power of three, when do I get to incorporate these into my routines?

SC - hope you managed to get through your list today

Ellie - good luck with GCSE results!

Waves to blue and everyone else

I'm exhausted, moving offices at work and have been moving boxes and doing manual work for two days - used to sitting at a desk all day, not this physical labour .

Anyway flying not going well, supposed to be on day 31 today - yesterday was supposed to start on weekly routines, but struggling to fit in the daily routines into my day - never mind adding a weekly routine to this.

Ta da
Dressed to shoes

To do
Everything else!

saturn cut yourself some slack. it can take a while for the babysteps to get there. Fat fairy herself says it can take 3-4months. Otoh, you are flier enough to manage powers of three like mine. Enjoy

Evening all.

A day of two halves here. Took the dc's and their bikes to the local park for a couple of hours this morning. Twas lovely.

This afternoon my washing machine broke. But I fixed it. Blocked drain pipe.

Have also tidied up garden and finally got around to buying DS some birthday presents. Good job seeing as it's his birthday tomorrow.

Am pooped. And stressed. Back in morning.

Tbh i have spent the afternoon armed with a hook and working on decluttering a project that has laid abandoned for 4 years. I started it on the last holiday that I had with ds. I say last, there was an attempt at a holiday about 3 years ago but it got canceled 48hrs into it and was not anything that could resemble a holiday. I need a holiday so i have decided to do a proper stay-cation. What makes our holidays is that they involve doing loads of stuff. Nothing to say we can't take the same approach just using home as a base. Well that is the theory. Will have to see what ds I get home. The one who copes or the one who is in meltdown.

Good luck with the GCSE results tomo Ellie good luck with the party too.

going to do another 30mins of hooking and then go to bed at a sensible time.

thursday is errand day

missions

babystep not as essential as some of the steps and we all do this one in different ways.

Am here. Have spent the day working, mostly. Did anti-procrastinate a couple of things though. Tomorrow is definitely errands day, but am hoping to take the boys swimming too...

Big waves to everyone and good luck for results tomorrow, Ellie.

Good luck with the exam results this morning Ellie! Bet they'll do you proud!

I am back. Got to get my butt in gear today as I am hosting a "Pudding Party" for the youth group. (about 20 teenagers eating huge amounts of sweet stuff and making an even huge-er amount of noise and mess in my house! )

Hope today goes well for you Ellie - I was sat with a teacher friend yesterday trying to make her feel better about AS results out last week and calm the panic for today.

I was so pleased to read the progress of DS1, Toffee. I hope it continues and I hope you are feeling well now.

I am wondering why, oh why, have I got the only teenage lad on the planet that has not had a "Kevin" time. Just for 30 minutes would be great! He just does not stop talking!!! A few grunts every now and then sound like a wonderful idea to me right now! He seems to think I need to know every daft fact that he has ever come across, every minutiae of everything he does, every detail of his future plans..........just a small time of peace would be great right now!
(Although he is up early now baking like a pro for the pudding party, so not all bad!)

So, today's list:

Clear out large back room for the party - major job htat I had planned to do bit by bit over the past few days, but have not been able to do because of aching muscles from my fall.
Hoover downstairs
Make a load of phone calls - some for work, some official, one to Dsis
Help DS prepare food for tonight
lunch
Visit to hardware store to get a longer screw for something DS was wittering about putting together yesterday
Visit material shop for samples of material for new Roman Blinds planned for front room
Go and pay for DS college materials/uniform - and try not to faint at the price!
Collect DD3 from her home with her puppy - I think I am puppy sitting while DD3 works this evening, not sure what I agreed to when she phones just as I was dishing up tea last night. - on reflection this might be a massive mistake 20 youth + 1 playful pup + loads of food = even more of a mess!
Pudding party
Pudding party clean-up!
sit with a large I think......

I am in desperate need of a large breakfast right now, so off to get that before the day officially starts.

Wing flaps to everyone.

No time really but have to say ...

PA do NOT mix puppy with youth+puddings because they WILL feed it and it won't just fart and poo like an adult Labrador, it will be ILL.

it's ok honu don't panic. dd3 too ill to work so I am taking puppy for a long walk this after noon to wear it out. she won't be here same time as the hormonal food hoovers

Morning all, just a quick visit, as I want to go grrr:

Landlord has had the fuse boxes in the flat replaced (YAY) but I've lost a shelf in the cupboard now have a tall cupboard with 1 shelf! It's the one I keep toolboxes, cat food,outside toys etc. Can't rearrange bearers because of wiring, and it's shallow, so not sure about storage boxes.

Good job the Ikea catalogue arrived yesterday

Hope you all have a good day

So last night I went to sleep at the latest time on my plan. It was before midnight. In fact it was 11pm which is a highly realistic bedtime for normal people Woke up at a normal person time without the alarm clock. I got about 9hrs sleep. feeling a bit fuzzy headed but that is to be expected. Especially when crash removing caffine from the system.

ta da
internet stuff
up and breakfast - incl full make up and shoes.
2nd load of washing on
bed made
Deal with the mother who is becoming more and more of a chore to do so

Waaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiilllllll - I missed the party :(
Did someone mention having another one this w/e?

We were camping in Sussex over the w/e for my birthday and have come back feeling much revived - 4 days in the sunshine and at the beach felt like a proper holiday. I even went for my first ever run along a beach which was brilliant.

PA - I waved at you as we could see you from the beach :)

ellie - good luck for results today

Toffee - has the cold had a chance to do its thing or are you still too busy to give it a chance?

Ta da:

• Washing x lots
• DS in bath (finally getting more dry nights than wet but still not reliable)
• WORK - got lots done as neither DC woke until after 10am - camping and the seaside really does wear children out :) Think I have messed up SAGE though, may have to resort to asking DH to take a look.
• Fed DC 'breakfast' at 12.30

To do:

• More unpacking of car
• Costco - need to renew membership and find list!
• More washing
• DS diving
• Cook something for dinner
• Ironing

Waves to everyone

Yay Feetheart meet you in the naughty corner on Friday night with a pile of bunting and the odd bottle of or three !!!

Your four days at the beach sounds fab!

And a belated "Happy Birthday"!!!

Bitchy I am getting worried: 9 hrs of sleep at a regular time, up and dressed to shoes with full make up ... are you morphing in to FlyLadyBitchy?

Goth could you poss attach hooks to underside of shelf to suspend storage from there ifyswim?

Waves to Honu

Good luck for tonight PA and be careful not to re-injure yourself when clearing out party room ...hope you have some willing volunteers to help ...!!

Ditto what others have said about not being too hard on yourself Saturn - it's not a problem if you miss a day here and there - the baby-steps and missions will all come around again next month!

Hope all is going OK at school Ellie

Waves to Blue and eveyrone else!

Well I'm a bit shocked too because my downstairs is immaculate (well as immaculate as cracked floors and scratched parquet gets) and I have been out on errand day to do errands no less!! Crikey!!!

Ta da:
morning routine including s&s, dw, wm, rabbits
dd chased in to bath and scrubbed
spoke to friend on phone
dining table hotspot
prevented rabbits from chewing cables...
examined school lists for missing items
laundry x 2
post cheque to uk
dreaded school shoe shop (surprisingly painless!)
bought 2 school pinafores and 2 school blouses
bought gym shoes
bought 6 missing bits from stationery list (only have six paint brushes to get and it's all done thank heavens!)
quick supermarket shop on way home
healthy lunch
sunbathed on terrace for 10 mins and frightened the neighbours!

To do:
sort and label and name all files and notebooks with dd
name tapes on new purchases
write name in shoes
sort gym kit
more laundry sorting/washing
BOUDOIR
bicycling/badminton with dd
Note to self: buy soap flakes (with which to wash a couple of winter duvet coats)
Check to see if dd's trainers have arrived at office
Low-fat supper
Evening routine

Hope you are all having a good day!

What were you saying about morphing into fly lady SC

arrrr that was you waving was it feet. I didn't have my glasses on so I couldn't quite see who it was.

Phew....and breathe. Department results were ok and my class did absolutely brilliantly. Am so proud of them, they worked so hard and deserved their success. Will miss them!

DS's birthday is in full swing. 20 or so expected in an hour or so so no time to stop. I refuse to believe that my pfb baby boy is 10! I have to decide on secondary schools soon fgs.

Back later.

That's fantastic news, ellie . I hope your DS's birthday party goes well too.

PA - best of luck with the pudding party and the puppy. I hope the two don't coincide.

SC - well done on your immaculate downstairs and on doing errands on errand day. Nothing immaculate in the Toffee household, although I have done some errands today.

Feet - you should have waved at me too! I am in Sussex! Glad you had a lovely break. And yes, the cold has gone, thanks to me ignoring it.

Bitchy - well done on the nine-hour sleep. Am a bit envious, to be honest...

Goth - sympathies on landlord NOT improving the cupboard. The plumber who came yesterday mended our loo, which now flushes properly, but then fiddled with the bath tap, which now doesn't work as well as it did before. Am wondering if he's done this just so we have to ring him and get him back .

Waves to Blue, Honu, Saturn and anyone else I've missed.

Main achievement today was getting DS1 to the hairdresser to get his hair cut. Also managed to spend £££££££££££ on new school shoes and trainers for DS2 .

Packing now, as we are travelling up to London to meet my Mum tomorrow, then getting the train together to her house. She will be recovering from an op, so I am Nurse Toffee for the week. However, we will, hopefully, make a holiday of it for the boys too. A friend of my Mum's has lent her a beach hut for the week, so that should be fun .

Crossing my fingers for good weather...

Hope you do get good weather, Toffee.

Great news, Ellie and hoping you've survived the party.

Glad you've had a good break, Feet.

Congrats on immaculate downstairs, SC!

Today has been quite successful - wore the boys out with swimming, walking and errands this morning, then parked them in front of a film while I got some work done this afternoon. Have also pre-cooked tomorrow's dinner as will be up against deadlines by tomorrow afternoon, I expect. Then Zumba and a catch up with a friend after that. :)

sorry for neglect, still on holiday!

it's my birthday today so is on me!

Thanks bitchy and SC - just don't seem to be doing any flying at all most days and school starts soon and then life will be even more chaotic (panicking at the thought

Ellie - congrats on GCSE results

PA - pudding party sounds fun, hope it went well

Goth - enjoy IKEA catalog, a good reason to indulge definitely

Feet - glad you enjoyed the camping and feel revived, makes such a difference camping when we have the weather for it

SC - immaculate downstairs? Ditto bitchy, you are a true flyer

Toffee - have a lovely time in London

Happy birthday zing

Waves to blue, honey and everyone else

So, as bitchy is leader for this month I am going to try and cut myself some slack therefore this morning:

To do
Dressed to shoes
DD dressed to shoes, inc hair and teeth
DD breakfast
Pack DD lunch (going out for lunch myself, so one less thing to do)
Try and get dryer to work
DD to make a birthday card, for a birthday that is today so late already
Put a load of washing in
Put dishwasher on
Make sure have money for holiday club trip
Pack for DD staying at mums
Buy two cards on way to work
Post late birthday card
Text friend happy birthday for her DD
Leave house on time, calm and serene!!!

All in less than an hour...better get going!

Bbl x