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Housekeeping

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

746 replies

BitchytheGreat · 01/08/2013 00:54

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 Wink
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 Grin 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 Grin

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

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

OP posts:
elliepac · 28/08/2013 08:37

Morning all!

Productive day yesterday. I finished decorating ds's room (wallpaper yesterday) apart from some touch-ups. New carpet not coming until Monday so not much else I can do until then. Dsis is on holiday and rang to say BIL was coming home and did dc's and I want to join her and dNephew for a few days. I realised i was getting old when i was about to say no because i wanted to get the house straight before back to work next week. Luckily I saw sense. House will still be there at the weekend so I bunged some clothes in a suitcase and am currently ensconced in Filey preparing to go to the beach for the daySmile. Some things are more important.

pa glad you got things sortedSmile

bitchy I know it's not quite the same but dS is a similar age to your DS and he is such an annoying smartarse at the moment. I do think it will partly be the age. Hope today is better.

goth sweary thread? Have you ever seen mine and bitchy's fucking postsWinkGrin

Big waves to everyone else. Have a good day.

I am determined to squeeze every last bit of sun and fun out of these holidays!

BitchytheGreat · 28/08/2013 09:12

Tbf ellie we have been fucking well behaved recently, mostly, kinda. Well you have been Grin

Today is anti-procrastination day and today I am procrastinating and taking life easy. Ds has been given a pj morning and then we are off to see yet another musuem. Hopefully he will be less hard work at this one Hmm

missions

babystep

Whoknows good luck with the september thread and thanks for taking over when we need a more consistant and stable approach to doing things WinkGrin

OP posts:
BitchytheGreat · 28/08/2013 09:15

Re ds, yeah i had a feeling age was going to be a contributing factor. And when you have a child with a photographic memory it is hard for them not to be a smart arse sometimes. Especially when they know they are academically working significantly above their chronological age. Doesn't mean to say he can't learn to have these talents graciously! and will bloody learn so if i have my way, cos no one likes a smart arse not even mothers and teachers! HmmGrin

OP posts:
GoingGoingGoth · 28/08/2013 12:03

Morning all (just)

Yay my cracked bedroom window pane has finally been fixed! It's been crackled since we moved in last October. We had a number of repairs, which were slowly sorted, but this kept dropping off the list -grr.
The glazier was working on downstair's windows this morning, so I rang the agent, and they got it sorted Grin

Back at work for the next 4 days so not much Flying, only 5 more weeks here, so re-starting the job searching. Got 2 applications in yesterday, turns out one of my friends has also applied.

ZingWantsCake · 28/08/2013 12:29

afternoon all!Wink

yesterday I spent most of the day putting photos in albums.
I need to by albums, we have thousands more to put away!

I threw away a bunch of old videos too.

I freed up 4 drawers in our living room thus making space for most of my beads that I kept elsewhere - and now that space is freed up to fill with some other crap
I have my loose beads to sort and a bunch of jewellery to fix so I might do that today.

I also have a lot of recipes and craft pages torn out of magazines so I'm sorting and filing those too.

all because DH is on holiday and took out kids yesterday and will do today and tomorrow as well!
he is sorting through all their clothes with them (that is 5 boys!)
I'll do the school clothes with them on Friday or Saturday.
DD's stuff's been done.

I still can't sew. my finger really hurts, it's been 3 days. going to osteopath tomorrow.

good luck everyone!

BlueEyeshadow · 28/08/2013 14:33

Feel like I'm making progress at last. After a massive strop at DH last night because of his insufficient interest in making the office/dumping ground a habitable spare room again before my parents arrive on Sat, I have hit anti-procrastination day with a vengeance!

Ta da!
Big box of junk to charity shop (thus getting rid of said big box in process)
Listed loads more stuff on Freegle
Done filing!!
Shredded old bills that don't need keeping
Discovered the reason noone replied to ancient Freegle offer was that it didn't post properly so sorted that out

Took the boys into town on the grounds that we could go to separate Mad Science and sports events. Unfortunately, the Mad Science, although great, was less hands on than I'd hoped and DS2 didn't have the attention span to watch/appreciate the demos. As for the sports thing, we couldn't find it at all. :( Did buy fruit and do the charity shop dump on the way, and got lunch at a café out of it though, so not all bad.

Well done with sorting drawers, Zing and sorry to hear about your finger.

Steamedcabbage · 28/08/2013 15:09

Just popping in to say "hello". We are sort of away (only about an hour's drive away) but I've had to pop back today for office/rabbit management reasons. All being well, going back tomorrow morning. Loads to do now so not much time for personals but hope everyone OK and great to see you back Nicknacks!!! Will gather low fat recipes on return Feetheart!! Big feathery wing flaps to all!

NickNacks · 28/08/2013 19:50

Lots of waves back to you sc :) enjoy the rest of your time away.

I've had quite a good day today, kick started by a visit to a (previously talked about) friend's immaculate home. I came home and decluttered a book shelf AND as dh was on his way out he took the books straight to the charity shop. Also sorted out dcs craft drawers and we've stuck a load more stuff on eBay.

Another free day tomorrow so hoping to get lots done. Will be back in the morning posting a lovely long list.

Wine and Brew left out for everyone.

Swanhilda · 28/08/2013 20:26

so, I'm back, typing in the dark so excuse the typos.

Had a nice beach holiday in Kent, very hot and sunny (wish I had had the use of beach hut like Toffee) Loved swimming the sea, dared myself to brave the waves after at least 10 years, and it was fab. Id forgotten how cold it feels when you first go in, and then how warm it is when you actually swim Properly.

Back home we are still surrounded by suitcases and sandy clothes, but at last the lino is down in the bathroom upstairs.

Today I took ds2 to Chiswick House which was for once looking Italian in the sunshine and we had a nice busride there.
Otherwise I have to say that this holiday he has done a lot of screaming -hmm-

done
ds2 science homework a bit more
decluttered some clothes to the clothes bank
two loads of washing and hung out
wiped down kitchen
unloaded dw
made supper
bought some big investment foodstuffs, like a giant sack of onions for 1,99 in my new budget bid
paid builder last bit
rang bank again in vain search for dosh

Children in the garden behaving not very well and playing badminton at the same time. Ds1 is so tall and oafish alas he is definitely entering the Kevin stage. Endlessly repeating the same story about Shaun of the Dead...

Dh trying his best to deal with all the children, Im afraid apart from maintaining a vague goodhumoured aspect and not complaining about their bedrooms I have slightly given up. Still extracting one chore a day from them though.

Watched Lincoln film. It was superb. Incomprehensible for first twenty minutes and then slowly you started to understand what Spielburg was trying to do. Loved all the long stories which appeared to have no point and then did.

Swanhilda · 28/08/2013 20:29

Oh and dd is being v stroppy, just add that in to mix, and denim cutoff shorts too and a lot of curling up with the cats and head tossing and youre so mean you wont buy me x y and z. I think she feeling nervous about secondary but also longing to go ifysim.

JustGettingOnWithIt · 28/08/2013 22:59

Nick Nacks, nice to see you back, didn?t mean to not say hi last night.

PA really glad to hear you?ve found a way round things.

Have spent weeks and weeks dealing with LEA, Connexions, HMRC, council, HA, and sen statements, LD assessments, moving on plans, funding, organising this year?s education, sorting out sheltered work were they?ll take him as he is, and making sure that ds working while learning and saving for uni is ok with everyone and doesn?t result in him being penalised and that all the powers that be are happy with everything and we can calmly move forwards, only to have the same council that?s been involved in all of this decide to go back to the drawing board and question if instead of saving for uni he could be made to be the family breadwinner for the year, (and then not be able to afford to go!) the day before he?s due to start everything. (after months of agreeing everything)

It seems if they can find a way to destabilise every bloody attempt to create a workable future and teach him that work and study don?t pay, they will!

There?s no words for the meltdown that?s happened and no idea where tomorrow stands now.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 28/08/2013 23:06

Oh no Just, what a nightmare. My heart goes out to you.

Steamedcabbage · 28/08/2013 23:36

Bloody hell Just how utterly demoralising...

BitchytheGreat · 28/08/2013 23:48

I am so so sorry Just. that is more levels of shit than is needed by anyone. :(

OP posts:
ZingWantsCake · 29/08/2013 01:39

Just what bastards!
Thanks and big hugs! I have no wise words. Sad

JustGettingOnWithIt · 29/08/2013 07:10

Thanks for listening. It's a bloody lonely battlefield this side of the line.
Ds has been in the loo since 5.00 and is in a right state.

Today's list as far as I can work it out:

Get ds washed, shaved, hair, dressed, fed in double quick time.
don't respond to attempts at row.
Convince him to do everything anyway without a rug under his feet.
don't respond to attempts at row.
Re iron his stuff (casulties of meltdown)
don't respond to attempts at row.
Get him out and to push me to top of hill
don't respond to attempts at row.
Get vehicle started
don't respond to attempts at row.
Get him to work experience induction
don't respond to attempts at row.
Shovel him in and pray.
Not snap before or after.

scan and print loads of docs
Get on phone
try and get appointments
try and make these see what they are doing and that they are wrong.
Contact education materials providers and plead.

washing
more ironing
respond to emails
collect ds (hopefully at correct time)
Home ed

insurance unit
load more stuff in
rescue friends damaged cupboard and deliver it back
Complete home ed diary

dinner
listen to other friend and try and convince her the world cares without developing Pinochio features!
say thanks to fly lady and you guys, because even if it's all a horrible mess, at least i have some idea that it's possible to re order it all.
sleep

BlueEyeshadow · 29/08/2013 08:04

((just)) so sorry.

ToffeeWhirl · 29/08/2013 08:12

Oh, Just, that is so unfair Sad. How awful for you and for your poor DS. I really hope you can get these bureaucrats to see sense.

Am not up to date with the rest of the thread, but I hope everyone else is ok. We are still on our hols with my Mum. Staying an extra day, then we do the long journey home, arriving with just enough days left to get ready for school for DS2.

NickNacks · 29/08/2013 08:41

Shit just that's awful. Your poor son and you. :( Will be thinking of you today. Flowers

PositiveAttitude · 29/08/2013 08:48

Just that is so hard on DS and you. I do hoe you can get something sorted for him today. Is that a final decision, or can you appeal? ((hugs))

Laptop playing up, so cant add a lot here today. I could well be without it for a few days to get it mended.

BitchytheGreat · 29/08/2013 09:45

babystep
missions
thursday is chore day.

OP posts:
BlueEyeshadow · 29/08/2013 09:45

Do hope you can get some heads banged together today, Just.

By the way, if anyone has any words of wisdom re shaped cakes, could they come over here please??

elliepac · 29/08/2013 10:18

Morning all.

Lovely beach day yesterday and heading into the North York Moors for the day today.

just that sounds such a difficult and shitty situation. ((Hugs)).

elliepac · 29/08/2013 10:20

Morning all.

Lovely beach day yesterday and heading into the North York Moors for the day today.

just that sounds such a difficult and shitty situation. ((Hugs)).

Blueandwhitelover · 29/08/2013 10:26

Late to the party as always and only on page 3 of the thread :-)
This morning I have emptied out all the kitchen drawers, cleaned them, dried them in the sun, sorted contents and thrown rubbish. Also emptied out double kitchen cupboard, cleaned and sorted. All spare items have been put into giant box in the garage-does anyone really need 9 roasting tins???
Also, wiped down the freezer and fridge.
Coffee break mumsnetting now before doing some school work :-)