2 days to go! Fledglings flock here.

[GoingGoingGoth]

LINKS FOR 29 DECEMBER 2013

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Babystep 29 highlight's the Ask Flylady page

This week we are in Zone 4 the bathroom & 1 other room. Detailed cleaning list for those that can be bothered here

It's Sunday so Renew your Spirit Day and no missions.

December's monthly habit is Pampering

Flight Plan for today.

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It's an OU course in health and social care, I have decided that I want to be a social worker specializing in the elderly, just because I've heard so many stories where they are neglected or hurt in homes needlessly. And I would like to make a difference to someone's end of life.

Bitchy I have just shared your DS joke over dinner! The boys found it very funny and are now memorizing it. My ds3 who needs to know it word perfect has asked me about 8 times so far.

Oh, didn't spot you were OUing as well Gossip - same advice then as for Toffee. I've been doing OU for about 18 months, but have been very slack the last few weeks. I'm registered for the Open degree and am taking modules in biological sciences and related subjects. Got two on the go at the moment, but am planning a break for 6 months after these ones.

Well, even though my list looked impressive I did most of it in my pjs and didn't get dressed till past 12!

ta da
Survived dinner with ils (mil is lovely, fil is a super fussy eater and eating with him gives me the rage!)
Washing up done
load fo washing dry
load of washing in machine now
ds to bed
amazon order (wanted a pocket diary and bought some handy compartment kunchboxes/water bottle/muesli container in an attempt to be organised and healthy in the new year)

to do this evening
write shopping list
start filling in new family calendar
think about thank you cards

Tomorrow
hospital for blood test (last one I hope)
Post letter to dsis
pop to supermarket for a bottle of fizz and some yummy, healthy treats for dh and I for ney (we're staying in)
Outside time for ds...so maybe playground

At the random extra 4th bedroom, really need to find one of those!

I am taking the DC out tomorrow, and then DH is taking them out all day on Tuesday so that I can have a good sort out of the house before the new year. Could do with doing the basics tomorrow afternoon though so I am not bogged down with mopping floors when I should be doing in depth stuff. It's all the stuff that doesn't get done often like tidying wardrobes and understairs cupboard and under the sink and airing cupboards that I really need to do.

Today I have managed:
Load of washing clean and dry
Different load of washing put away
Load of dishwasher
Taken down all Christmas decorations and DH put in loft

Need to tidy the living room when I go downstairs but not doing anything else tonight.

Gossip that sounds great! A close friend of mine is doing a degree in Social Work and is loving it and finding it really interesting. Good luck!
I didn't get the car cleaned but did get some work done and watched Gangsta Granny with the dcs, so all in all a good day

Hello to whispers.

Crawling into naughty corner looking for a warm duvet. Any hopes of getting anything done today have been given up. I can't physically do it, and am just waking up, sneezing a lot, clearing gunky eyes and nose, and falling asleep again regardless of how much coffee I drink.

Poor Just

WhoKnows - fantastic tip, thank you. I have just had a look at their website - loads of discounts!

Gossip - that sounds like an interesting course and I understand your concerns over the elderly. Am starting voluntary work at a residential home for the elderly next year.

Whispers - good plans for Tuesday. Hope you get some time to relax too.

Mercury - DS2 and I loved 'Gangsta Granny' - the book and the TV film.

Engels - well done on surviving your ILs.

Swan - congratulations on an extra hour to yourself! Am impressed you can find floor space to hoover in your bedroom because I certainly can't in mine.

I have dusted, mopped, hoovered and tidied the entire house. Also polished the knobs (they are gleaming). Just have to get DS2 to bed (still up and playing loudly with his toys), wrap some final presents, make DS1's bed, then I'm going to spend an hour tidying our messy bedroom before bed. Hopefully, tomorrow's visitor won't pop her head round the door, but I want it to look a little more respectable if she does (may have to employ boxes and large,draped towels as camouflage).

We opened our presents from/to BIL et all this morning. DD got a cooking book and stand and was planning a whole 3 course meal! We dragged the kids out to the pool where there were floats out so they had a great time messing about. DD swam a 50m breaststroke with a diving start and was only 5 seconds slower than her best time!

Tomorrow we are off out for a drive to see where Heartbeat was filmed and where the train station they used in Harry Potter is!

I cant match you OU girls but I have signed up for a 6 week online Forenstic Science course starting early January!

Blimey, that sounds complex, dizzy!

How are we all going to fit Flying in?

Thanks for the stern words Toffee. Pets dealt with.

Have been to panto today

Oh no you haven't!

She's behind you! Duck!

Dizzy - one of my current OU modules is Forensic Science. We can compare notes! Have you any background in science? My interest was sparked by two lots of jury service in fairly quick succession, but I also work in science, so interesting on more than one front.

LINKS FOR 30 DECEMBER 2013

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Babystep 30 is to check next month's calendar for birthdays etc to buy cards. The qmount of times I'm late sending my Gran's and Aunt's birthday cards as they are on the 1st of the month

This week we are in Zone 5 the Living Room and Zone 1, Entrance, Front Porch and Dining Room from the 1st. Detailed cleaning list for Zone 5 for those that can be bothered.

It's Monday so It's time for the weekly bleugh.

Sneak Peek for this week's missions. Today's is to spend 5 minutes 'sofa diving'

December's monthly habit is Pampering

Flight Plan for today.

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Round Up

Doris was an early bird this morning. We'll see you in January,

WhispersOfWickedness has joined us, hopefully you'll find flying a bit easier. We're not here to compare and if you have a CBA day, just embrace it

The main thing is not to try to do too much, as you know we're in a different zone each week, so just tackle small amounts each week. It's amazing how soon you can see a difference.

Alice has feral DCs, I think they all get a bit like that

Engels has started the unpacking, and had ILs visiting today

Mercury is determined to keep on top of the decluttered house and by today's list will manage it.

Now I feel nervous about our days out, WhoKnows I will try to set up a rating system Just for you I will start extensive testing of cake shops.

Eustacia has hopefully cleaned out the guinea pigs and cat litter.

Did you get your walk Feet?

Gossip sounds like she had a Christmas from a film, idyllic farmhouse, family, Lego, etc. So good you've officially got your extra room and that you uni stuff has come through.

Bitchy's DS seems determined to stop her from having any sleep, but she's still managed to get a shiny car. That joke was great.

Toffee is another student. And is trying to get her DS back into his old routines. I'm sure you'll do it, but the process must be frustrating.

Engels has signed up for a 10k run in May. can't believe you've never seen the Gruffalo before. Love it (and Gruffalo's child) Good luck with the blood test tomorrow

MTFF popped in to say she'll be here in January, but to ignore her as she needs to namechange It will probably turn out that she's a long term poster.

Swan has a poorly DD and so a disturbed night.

Merry had a late start but did so much, finding 2 iPads in the process. I panic if I can't mine for 5 30 minutes. Sounds like you had fun in the park, I love days like that.

Just snuggled down in the naughty corner, sounds like you need the rest.

dizzyday sounds like she had a lovely day. Wow at Forensic science.

Thanks for that amazing round up, Goth.

I have tidied our bedroom . OK, it's not without boxes, but at least the boxes are now neatly stacked and, if the door is opened by tomorrow's guest, I can explain that they are work related (lots are books, it's true). And they do look organised now. Wish I could hoover, but don't want to disturb the neighbours, so will wait till morning.

DH and I have decided we will spend a day tackling the bedroom when the DC are back at school.

Drinking hot chocolate now and planning on bed at a decent hour (for me), so I'm up bright and early for final preparations tomorrow. Just have to wait for the washing machine and tumble dryer to finish first.

We've got an unexpected guest arriving tomorrow for 2 nights (well, unexpected as in only arranged tonight, but not unexpected as he is a friend who often comes for New Year). So, a blitz of the spare room tomorrow (it has got clothes everywhere at the moment). I am really struggling with the DCs and clothes, they are good at putting clean stuff away, but always dropping dirty stuff on the floor and also pulling out more than they need and dropping it in amongst the dirties (their wardrobes are in the spare room). Also planning to take the DCs tenpin bowling as the weather looks like being grim in our part of the world.

Goth - I already have my mum for teashop recommendations (she spends more time up there than we do and used to live in Glasgow) - but I am sure if you had any more to share she would be happy to hear them! Have you ever been to the Titan Crane in Clydebank? It is on our list of things to try and do next year.

Well I decided to look that the list of stuff I intended to do today. Only think i really got done was the car and part of the emails that needed doing so going to transplant the list,tweak it and see what happens tomo.

to do
Make up ds friendly mince pies
folding
ironing
more washing
pack stuff for tomo's afternoon out
sort out ds' stuff for going to his dad's
do some tidying in ds' room
go through ds' clothes and make a bag or three of too small clothes.
write packing list to make sure that i have everything
trip to shops
Write important email and send the one waiting to go
training
ds to his dad
evening out

I am keeping my fingers crossed that the winds and storm that is due to blow up during tonight doesn't because that could be a big problem. As for sleep I think now is a good time to find it because i am actually really tired and ds is snoring. Getting him out of the house seems to have helped him.

Thanks for the roundup Goth.

I'm very impressed with all the studying planned by the fledglings in 2014! Well done everyone!

Going home to DH tomorrow, but have invited my DM to visit next weekend in the hopes that it will be the motivation I need to get the house in order by then...

Who its through a company called FutureLearn and I think we get a scenario (probably a murder scene!) then learn about the different ways evidence is collected etc. it is only a couple of hours a week over 6 weeks so not really sure if it will impart any real knowledge or not! I have no real science background after o level study but always been interested in FS and Psychology etc - prob. from watching Cracker! DH did work for the Forensic Science Service as a manager so had a lot of dealings with evidence etc

Hmm, when I said I hoped I'd be up 'bright and early' I didn't mean this bright and early. Ah well, at least I get a quiet cuppa whilst the rest of the house sleeps. Have a list to tackle before relative arrives at midday, so I'll get a headstart on that too.

dizzy - that course sounds fascinating.

Castle- I find having visitors is the best motivation for tidying up.

Bitchy - I hope getting out yesterday and (hopefully) a good night's sleep will set your DS up for a good trip to his dad's today .

WhoKnows - good luck with the guest crisis clean today.

Morning Toffee and anybody else who is up.

Your course sounds brilliant Dizzy

To do:
Make beds
Clean bathroom
Hang washing out
Reload wm
Dw
Small pile of ironing
Fold and put away laundry
Hoover throughout
Dust throughout
Meal plan healthy meals
Food shop
Put Christmas nibbles away so they aren't quite so tempting.
Take dcs out to practise on inline skates
Empty junk out of car
Study
Maybe see sil for so dcs can play with their cousins

There is plenty there to keep me busy. Best start by getting out of bed