Feisty Fledgling Flyers flutter through Feb with flair, finesse, flaws, failures, fortitude, feedback, fiascos, fabulousness, friendship and fun!

[sanschocolat]

[The fiascos are all mine btw !!]

And just for Just, February is the new January that was the new January before

If you are struggling with C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome) and S.T.U.F.F. (something that undermines family fun) then this is the thread where we (loosely) follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own, unique, relaxed style) with lots of chat, support and wine and cake along the way.

This little-and-often system is designed so that you can follow a series of steps and routines each day (which gradually become second nature) in zones of the house which are designated weekly; defining and minimising housework, which in theory should leave you with loads more time to do something more interesting instead!

At the same time it is intended to reduce that panicky "rabbit in headlights" feeling when you are overwhelmed and everything needs doing all at once. No problem if you miss a day or two; just jump right back in and it will all come around next month again!

It’s up to you, but we advise not signing up to receive the Flylady e-mails as you will be inundated! All the information you need will be linked here on a daily basis.

From the first of the month, we will be following Flylady's steps and routines using a three-pronged approach (dependent on the stage everyone is at):

• start or repeat baby steps

• repeat baby steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone

• reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.

[And if you are really enthusiastic and have finished decluttering - you can go on to detailed deep cleaning in each zone.]

More info here on getting started and Flying lessons. Here's the launch pad for more experienced fledglings. Don't be put off by the barf-tastic language of the site - the underlying system is sound!

Points to keep in mind:
(1)No perfectionism allowed - this is harder than you would imagine
(2)You are never behind just start where you are and anything you do is progress.
(3) It didn't get into a mess overnight, it won't get tidy over night - accept it will take time to get on top of things and you will be happier.

Humungous thanks to Bitchy for steering us through the hectic January thread and for the wise three-line mantra above.

All regulars, lurkers and newcomers welcome!!

Engels I'm so used to ill children scuppering my plans I don't even make many but I hope ds feels better soon.

Well, today ds2 has scuppered plans, partly with my tacit understanding as yesterday I had to pick him up from school in floods of tears at 4.30 (usually he makes his own way home) There was some mixup over a drama/presentation thing he thought he was in, but he wasn't and he took it very much to heart. The lady in Welfare was very kind and supportive as was his teacher but it turns out today is some Ofsted related thingy going on, so they were less able to accommodate him (they were preparing for some assembly) Anyway I'm afraid to say, I thought, well if they don't want him to mess up the assembly, I'm not sending him in - because he might start crying again when he watches the others performing, or be teased about his strop yesterday [not that but just making the best of a bad job What a lovely calm evening we had as a result of knowing he didn't have to go to school tomorrow. I know we should have been strong and sent him in, but as I don't really know what was going on, and they are obviously up to their eyes in Ofsted, I cannot start fussing about it. [Rant over - and it is really not the school's fault - ds1 is a terrible prima donna about acting]

Dd and Ds1 were up bright and early at 6.30am so that I could take ds1 to Running Club for 7.45. As you say SC Spring mornings are fab!

There is loads to do today. House needs a thorough hoover, there are stinky wet clothes everywhere, and I'm sneezing because there are so many cat allergens flying around And I need to gainfully employ ds2.

Also, horror, dd's parents' meeting at 3.20, will have to drive to distant borough. And Beavers.

Bitchy hopefully they’re right about AB’s but don’t be afraid to query if you go downhill, they weren’t with me and then told me off for not coming straight back and querying their judgement.

Engels sorry about poor ds, hope he’s better soon and over the worst this morning.

Ellie don’t underestimate what being unwell does (pot advising kettles) Hope school is one you want.

Toffee good luck this morning

Mercury I’m stuck with you top hatted and stripy too now.

Waves apologetically to all but must run or ta da list will have been personals and no work!
still to do
Iron ds shirt
Get ds out on time
Find smart meter order number
Bathroom
get vehicle moved on time
Cut back brambles
More Tree removal
Pick up food
Boxing stuff up
Blitz front room
Washing
Ironing
Call British gas, try and convince them we exist
Call court re trying to set aside default issue fine, despite appealing.
pay £80 anyway!
Write to council re ds being still my dependant
Appeal loss of single adult ct rebate
Look into PIP again
Filing
English prep
Make ds re -read book taking proper notes
Try and get further on future learn
Catch up home ed diary
Answer difficult text
Look at CV rewrite
Listen to friend
Prep tomorrow
Dinner
sleep

Swan don't blame you with keeping ds out of Ofstead madness if he's already stressed out by yesterday.
Good luck with parents eve.

Argggh today has not gone to plan.

ta da
spring clean shelves in fruitility room
ditch whole heap of suspect food from fridge and shelves
deal with collapsing unit
make plans for ds' art station thingy
sort through baking stuff
cull rusty cake tins and baking trays
put away replacement tins etc
tidy lounge floor
create a home in frutility storage for iron
physio walk in the sun
put a load of washing on
ds' lunch - he did most of it himself without being asked
collect tip stuff together
collect charity shop stuff today
investigate the laundry area as to what needs doing

So not much of the original to do list then

I've lost my get up and go. Really cannot be bloody bothered. It's the constant mundane repetitiveness of cleaning up after everyone.

There isn't even anything nice to eat in the house.

Would very much like to curl up and sleep right now, but it's the school run shortly, plus it's an open classroom so I have to go in and admire DS2's work.

Had a very interesting morning hearing about the uni course. It did cross my mind that I would be perfectly happy going to regular open mornings, without ever actually doing the degree .

Good discussion with a friend who was also there about the new school we are visiting tomorrow. She also took her son out of the current primary and sent him to this other one and says he is much happier. He and my DS are good friends, so they would enjoy going to school together. Am very excited about visiting the school tomorrow.

Home in time to do a quick room rescue in the sitting room before the learning centre TA arrived to see DS1 and give him more homework. After he'd gone, I had an email saying DS1 has been allocated three sessions of online teaching per week (my statement application appears to have prompted further offers of help from the learning centre ), so that's good. Not that DS1 will appreciate it as he will just see it as an unwelcome interruption to his computer-game designing.

Peanut - we have run out of nice food too, so I'm down to scrabbling around in the freezer. Having said that, I have just eaten fried eggs and chips for lunch, which was absolutely delicious and was one of my favourite meals as a child.

Engels - poor DS. Hope he feels better soon.

Ellie - hope the pre-op assessment is straightforward.

Afternoon all,

Mercury I love cat in the hat
Engles hope DS is feeling better
Bitchy and that your day gets better
Toffee ?

Done
Beds
Packed lunch
Mop up DD's spilt milk (as she just stood staring at it) & put rug in wash (again! )
DD to school
Trip to city
John Lewis for wool & free coffee & cake (lemon drizzle-lovely)
Blood doners
Pick up few other bits
Meet DD from school, hand over to DH
Go to card shop
Return to school for parents evening - she's doing ok Yay!
Home
Dinner

To do
Washing up
Take DD to Woodcraft

Thanks, Goth.

ta da

School run
Open classroom
Home
Made snacks for both boys (DS2 seems to have eaten most of a loaf of bread )
Phone call from MIL, who is cross that we are going to be out tomorrow morning (visiting the school, then food shopping), as she was going to come round. "You and your appointments!" she grumbled.

Boys are full of food and both glued to screens, so I'm going to tiptoe off to the bedroom to catch up on sleep.

Toffee - fried egg and chips is my favourite comfort meal. . Sounds promising anout the school.

I feel rough as anything, this cold has really taken hold. I was ok after the school run so I went to work but probably shouldn't have done. Managed half an hour sit down after school pick up, I'm now watching DS trampolining while DD is at Brownies. Wish I'd brought the car, it's only 1/2 a mile but found it very tiring walking here.

Oh, poor you, WhoKnows . I find Lemsip really good for colds. Make sure you go to bed early if you can.

Funny that you love egg and chips too . I hadn't thought of it for years. It was the empty fridge that inspired me.

Feel so much better after a sleep. I woke up to hear DS2 and DH shrieking with laughter at 'Top Gear'.

Have just realised I'm going to have to do a tidy up before tomorrow because MIL will be letting herself in whilst we're out in the morning.

Crawled home with the DCs, thankfully DH is at home so I'm now in bed in my pjs while DH makes the Lemsip. Toffee - I have a dear friend who I don't see much now as we live at opposite ends of the country, but in the pre DC days we would meet up for the day in London, go for egg and chips in a little Italian cafe in Covent Garden and then hit the museums/theatres, egg and chips always reminds me of those days.

Mmm fried egg & chips, lovely.

DD didn't want to go to Woodcraft tonigh 1st time that's happened, but her friend wasn't going and today's theme was bugs.

So instead, I've moved bedding changing forward (and it's not even March yet ) and got her bathed and hair washed.
Bedding is now in the washing machine and I am looking forward to a nice long soak, once she's in bed.

No flying here. See you tomorrow.

Hi everyone. Not much done here at all. I am hoping to get a bit of time tomorrow to catch up. Kids tired and miserable already and they have only been back a couple of days....

I could now kill for ham, egg, chips

Been very busy. just sorting out bath for the walking stink boy to get in for emerging clean and pleasant to be around. Before i chuck him straight into bed

Need to check the to do list and see what i actually managed and what i didn't get done. Another 2 hours before bed about ready to kill anyone that sings, beat boxes, shouts, grumps or generally gets in my way. [overtired] clearly a good tea would solve this problem. Might go see what i can rustle up whilst the stinky one is in the bath...

WhoKnows there are some right proper evil coughs and colds about atm. Hope you feel better tomo

Just you are very right and I will keep it in mind. I hope you are feeling better and are heading towards being fully recovered now. Good luck with everything that needs doing

Toffee open days can be fun. I did a couple when i was considering a course recently. Have you decided that you will go for the degree? Good luck tomo's school visit

Ellie ta ma dear. look after yourself and good luck preparing yourself mentally for the required down time. Ime rest is easier if you are aware of it in advance, suddenly imposed rest can be very unsettling.

Will be back later with a proper ta da list and a summary of tomo's to do list...

Toffee that's a relief to find a kindred soul over the school..it is such a lonely place when you are doing what you think right, but everyone else is doing something else.

done
dd and I are shattered after parent's evening/buses could not face driving and parking. It went fine. She is good at everything except History and Geography! And been told she needs to try harder at football and not to chat in Chinese lessons..

ds2 and I
hoovered kitchen
made spicy butternut squash and tomato soup (eaten only by adults of course)
finished his art portfolio
considered the garden and mud
dw
washing
more washing
went on the computer a bit

still low carbing...I could have done anything for a nice glass of whisky this evening and piece of toast, but made do with some cheese.

taken loads of exercise today too.

everyone in bed now, after baths. Early start again tomorrow, more bl**dy running club.

Hi, bit of a tiring day (dh grumpy with fatigure, dd white with fatigue and I'm cross eyed from checking proofs) so will just post links and catch up with personals properly tomorrow night (out most of day tomorrow) but hope everyone OK!

Liking the sound of ham, egg and chips though

Wishing a speedy recovery to whoknows and anyone else who is ailing

Ellie hope assessment went OK and that you are taking it steady

Try not to get demoralised Peanut tomorrow is another day and all that . Can you build in some ring-fenced time just for yourself?

One slightly 'meh' thing happened today. Was at printers and had various urgent proof making decisions to sign off, but they were trying to get me to sign off stuff that won't be needed for weeks yet; so I said in a typically English way "oh that's really interesting but please can we look at x instead because that is the most urgent"; when behind me I heard someone say in Dutch "she is not interested, she is lying" (which they obviously thought I didn't hear/wouldn't understand but I did). And I was reminded yet again of being the outsider and as such, even when you think you are doing ok and your intentions are good, you can just unintentionally get things so very wrong. I was just trying to be polite and they take that as somehow being sneaky/insincere/underhand. And in a way they are right if you take English "politeness" at face value - it is lying in a way!!! Must remember to be rudely direct in future and then everyone will feel on safe ground !!

*

Baby-step no. 27 for Thurs 27th is is a useful one about thinking about dinner in advance of 6pm something I totally failed to do today .

We are in Zone 5: The Living Room (Feb 23 – 28) here.

Declutter for 15 mins a day in this zone!

Once you have decluttered, you can if you wish go on to detailed cleaning.

Thursday's mission can be found here : tackling fingerprints and smudges on walls and windows of sitting room.

The daily focus for Thursday is: errand day.

The monthly habit for February is still : decluttering 15 mins a day.

A summary of the above plus reminders can be found here in the flight plan which updates itself daily.

Big waves to everyone! BB tomorrow night!

**

Original to do list:
make up ds' kit
ds' lunch
take pictures and email
hoover lounge floor
sort out layout of squares
put a load of washing on
work
sort out ds' snacks/tea for training run
ds to training
put ds' washing away
folding except socks
iroing except 2 bandages that need de-knotting first
put my washing away
change shoe laces that are too short for correct size
kit in washing machine

PLus the ta da list from earlier:
spring clean shelves in fruitility room
ditch whole heap of suspect food from fridge and shelves
deal with collapsing unit
make plans for ds' art station thingy
sort through baking stuff
cull rusty cake tins and baking trays
put away replacement tins etc
tidy lounge floor
create a home in frutility storage for iron
physio walk in the sun
put a load of washing on
ds' lunch - he did most of it himself without being asked
collect tip stuff together
collect charity shop stuff today
investigate the laundry area as to what needs doing
Make jelly cups for the child who is growing again and needs constant feeding.
Look at calendar and try to get sorted for March
Make up ds' lunch, bag and sort clothes for tomo

All in all that is not bad considering. It really is amazing that once you start flying when you come to tackle things like ironing and folding that it takes you about half an hour to complete both just because you do it as you go along and there is never more then a load or two to deal with.

Thursday's list:
training
put my washing away
put ds' nearly folded washing
fold washing that will be newly dried
put a load of washing on
hoover lounge floor
sort out squares arrangement
pictures and email
make dentist appointment
Banking

Bitchy - phenomenal list!

Not a pick of flying done here today. Busy at building site and collecting horse to bring him home. Incidentally horse nearly killed both himself and DH before he finally sauntered into the horsebox.

This morning feels like a very long time ago.
SC that is a horrible experience at the printers.

Sorry about your experience at the printers, SC. Pity you didn't have a copy of this to hand .

Bitchy - thought you were supposed to be taking it easy?

Swan - yes, it was extraordinary that I met that particular mum today and very good to chat to her about why she'd taken her son out of current primary and what the new one was like.

WhoKnows - oh, that is a lovely memory.

(Didn't know so many people liked egg and chips!)

Goth - glad you got extra Flying and home time.

thinking - don't worry, we all have days like that weeks in my case sometimes.

Eustacia - sorry kids are tired and miserable .

Castle - scary incident with the horse! Hope he's on the mend now (and DH not too shaken).

Have spent this evening agonising over what to buy DH for his 50th birthday. Finally decided on a coffee machine because he loves his coffee first thing in the morning - but now I've ordered it, I'm wondering if that's a really crap present. I can't get him tickets or a holiday because of money/DS1 issues/babysitting issues, etc. Oh well, it's done now.

Still have to tidy up the dining-room table and kitchen before bed because of MIL calling round whilst we're out tomorrow - otherwise I would have left it and gone to bed. Ah well, I'll appreciate coming down to tidy rooms in the morning, I suppose.

toffee i wish someone had told that to the shelving unit that decided to tip itself over this morning... created a whole heap of work but it had to be dealt with. A lot of the planned stuff was lots of little jobs which is nice. I like little jobs. 25mins ironing, 10mins folding, 5mins to put washing on. Incidentally i was supposed to be having an early night. Didn't happen but much fun has been had catching up with a good friend. Tomo should be interesting. [deadbitchyemoticon]

Re dh's present could you not given him a voucher for some fuck fun type thing. Thus the practical coffee in morning (sounds lovely to me as a coffee addict) and a fun aspect too...

right am offskies... night night fledglings.

Toffee you have really cheered up my morning with that link. And I bought DH a pod coffee maker for Christmas - a really simple one as he just likes good black coffee and he doesn't get out much - and it's been the best present I've bought him in years.

SC don't get disheartened about being British - we're lovely really! Send your printers that link, implying that they can't actually 'do' English properly!

Must go - carer due in 5 and I'm not dressed yet

Oh good, nice to know I've cheered someone up, Honu. And you've cheered me up in turn by reassuring me about the coffee maker .

Bitchy - do you have a poltergeist ? Agree with you about fun present to complement the coffee maker .

Not a lot of sleep last night (maybe as much as five hours), as I was up late tidying up, then DS1 needed me again. Thank God for make up, I say.

Visiting the potential school this morning .

Thankfully not toffee. just user error - too much heavy stuff at top and light stuff at bottom.

I iz a Zombie....