Mad Fledglings March through the Spring cleaning

[BitchytheGreat]

So here we are, March already.

So for those who don't know the fledglings is a long running thread. Some of us seem clicky but that is because we have been chatting on these threads for nearly half a decade makes everyone feel old we quite like fresh blood though so feel free to jump in and join us.

Three key 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.

If you are new then trying to spend 15mins decluttering and the babysteps is the most. Some of us Bitchy can have scary looking lists. One word of advice ignore them. Do what you can, anything is better then nothing, and don't judge yourself against others.

WhoKnows - well done to your DS! I'm not surprised you're proud .

Had a nice evening out with friends, though also had to chat to lots of people I didn't know. It's exhausting, isn't it? Quite glad to come home and fall into bed.

Please excuse brevity, am on a mission, but wanted to say Bitchy chin up, he clearly doesn’t know you come equipped with a built in Twonkometer.

It’s a well known fact that people who don’t actually deal with the long term development and day in day out responsibilities of child rearing, could always do a better job than the LP’s who actually do.

Who Knows congratulations! Enjoy, something about the fruit that has taken longer to ripen is all the sweeter for it.

Toffee great news.

Swan and SC I hope you’re feeling better or can stay in bed (my left eye/s coming out in sympathy with yours SC!)

I never made it back with that list, but ta da and to do almost all boil down to renovate house, more renovate house, and even more renovate house.

Hi everyone.
Sorry you are having ex issues Bitchy. It must be v difficult.

On a positive note, the sun is shining! Have an appointment later but plan to work through a few jobs...

• repot some plants
• replace cat flap
• kids homework
• look for a holiday

A bit hungover this morning, but DH let me have a lie in .

Just - your message to Bitchy made me laugh - and you are spot on.

Eustacia - I like your list, especially the holiday bit.

Have some time off household duties this morning, as I have a hair appointment (colour and cut). I always tell my hairdresser to take as long as she likes - sometimes it takes three hours !

Hope you all have a lovely day.

So this morning I woke up feeling absolutely frozen, wondering if the heating was broken. Turns out Ds decided he needed some fresh air and had had his window open more then an hour.

Loads to do including a trip out to the shops. Ds is the usual in kid enthusiasm for this and on a go slow. but it if doesn't get done he aint doing the fun stuff. Cos i iz mean like that

Anyhow I need a to do and a ta list today. So look away if you are prone to being shocked:

ta da
cooked breakfasts x2 - taught ds how to do
played a could of games of games with ds
collect washing up from lounge that someone abandoned their last night
put load of washing in dryer
put load of washing in machine
Consider what ds can wear that doesn't matter if it gets paint on it
Put ds' bath toys in to soak in dis-infectant
ds negoiated a babysitter with Dm who asked for me to pick up her few bits from tesco in return (well it makes no sense we both go suffer sat shopping)

To do
tesco shop
B&Q shop
apply masking tape to a canvas
folding
ironing
clothes away
get ds to paint remaining easter salt dough creations
read chapters 3 & 4 of book with ds
Print out and get ds to fill in a worksheet that is needed for his file
PLay another game of car top trumps
trackle ds' room
clear up after the painting.

Beautiful day here, really warm and sunny. Just got back from hockey training with DS, end of season for that too, no trophies this time but he was mentioned in the speeches for his contribution to the team which was nice.

Just pressed Submit on my last OU assignment for the time being (will start back in October). I will miss it, but it will be nice to have a bit of time to relax in the evenings again.

Warm? warm? what is this warm of which you speak whoknows ?
We do have that strange glowing orb thing in the sky but the trees are moving horizontally so I think that might be a bit of an issue...

psst vat of special brew on the naughty corner bar. tis a strong batch this morning and i am on my fourth cup

It is an extremely beautiful blowy day down South. I sat in my garden briefly enjoying the bamboos and the smell of skimmias (not the most romantic name though for a plant though is it?) First tulips opening, the bright orange ones which grow in windswept rocky mountains in turkey probably

Catechism went well, I enjoyed showing the children ds1's Sponge Bob plate he painted when he was 7 (don't ask in what context)

Dh has taken the boys out so I can buy some food, or alternatively lie in bed (which is what I chosen to do

Quiz night went well too. A bit too late an evening for me, but good company and ds1 found a friend who we shared a table with. We came third last but that was only because we lost 8 points at the end over the background of the Kosovan flag Ds1 went last year and loved it, so I was delighted he wanted to go back. I really don't know any parents, it is quite alarming, I may need to help more just to put some names to faces. I was brave enough to strike up a conversation with one mum though over Options and we ended up talking about apostrophes....

ooh it is so much more peaceful without dd...am I allowed to admit that? A third less sibling rivalry She'll be back this evening - and tomorrow will be grumpy day I can forsee...Currently on a boat trip down the Mersey, which I hope will make up for the cockroaches.

No wind to speak of here, 18C and just a little breeze.

Do you know how hard it is to actually put paint into a water balloon?

Probably not swan it will have been cold and wet and choppy and miserable

links for sunday:
renew your spirits = do somethig for you

No missions it is the weekend

Babystep 30

Don't forget the clocks go FORWARDS in the UK tonight

Been a bit MIA this week. Apart from the basics, not much flying has happened at all

Ta Da's This Week

• Mother's day card sent and flowers ordered
• Easter Science Day booked for DD
• Meal planning and ingredients buying (DD is cooking a 3 course meal tomorrow!)
• Laundry loads in and hung to dry
• Potatoes planted out
• Cucumbers planted on - still got to do sunflowers and tomatoes
• Cakes baked for PTA sale

Bitchy - my twonky ex thought he could bring up our DS better than me and despite them now living 1 mile apart (whilst I am 4 hours away), it's me that has the better relationship with our boy! And in a really bizarre twist, twonk has sent me a friend request on F/B today despite us not having seen or spoken to each other in over 4 years

Wow, can't believe nobody's posted here today. Hope you are all too busy being treated to flowers, cards and meals out on Mother's Day. Nothing like that here, as DH didn't remind the children, so they both forgot. I tried not to mind, but did find myself shouting at DS1, after an argument over him not taking his meds, "Happy Bloody Mother's Day!" . This went right over his head .

DS2 is poorly, so he's been in bed all day and we've been taking turns dosing him up with Calpol, reading to him and mopping his fevered brow. I was up with him at 5 or 6, then spent the morning looking after him, tidying up the house and getting the washing up done, whilst DH went to work.

MIL came to lunch and we gave her flowers and cards. And my mother rang to thank me for her card and flowers. And I'm not jealous, oh no!

Have spent the afternoon working on my OU assignment. Going back to it now...

Toffee - ((hugs)) and !

We've got to the end of a manic weekend's gardening, but it's looking pretty good! :) Have been wanting to do this for the last 8 years...

Toffee Happy mothers day, from one mother to another.

if it's any consolation I've spent today collecting freecycle timber, wood, unwanted repairable furniture, etc, (driving past so many flower bearing families) and scrubbing s*e and bleaching everything to death in order to create a home out of this disaster zone.

Ds did offer to buy me a curry as a well meant gesture, when it dawned on him why there where so many flower bearers out there, but didn’t manage to wish me a good day.
He got thanked for the thought but told he’s on is on lock down over overdue coursework, so that blew out my best offer. Lass doesn’t know what mother’s day means, and the rest of them are too busy with their own I suspect.

I've another three hours of finishing wallpaper, making dinner, and listening to friend, (telling me how awful today is as she hates her mother.) but I'm going to take some time out to quietly plant some seeds, and hopefully they will germinate, and they are going to be my mother’s day present to myself, and if that sounds martyred, it isn't, because I’m hoping some of the unsold celebratory hyacinths etc in the supermarkets may go on sale prices, in which case everyone’s on starvation rations while I look guilt free buying them up!

Sorry ds2 is poorly, hope he recovers fast.

Sorry Blue didn't see you there, well done!

Thank you, Blue and Just. Flowers, wine and kind thoughts much appreciated. And well done both of you on your hard work this weekend.

Blue - your garden looks amazing! Fancy tackling mine?

Just - sorry to hear you were forgotten too . Have , and (hyacinths, maybe) for Mother's Day from me.

DS2 woke up from his long, feverish sleep and said he wanted steak for dinner ! We didn't have steak and the shops were shut, so he has had to make do with ham. He has come downstairs now and is watching telly with DH. These are good signs. As is the fact that his temperature is almost back to normal.

Still ploughing through OU assignment this evening. Am forgoing telly tonight so that I can get most of the essays done, as I know that I won't have much time in the week.

I'll be back again in a little while. Bitchy has got a few IT issues at the moment so I will be posting links.

You wouldn't like to write my OU essay for me after you've done the linkies, would you, Who? Seeing as you're an old hand and all that .

.

Well, another lovely warm day here, not quite as sunny as yesterday but with the benefit of a longer, lighter evening. Had a lazy morning around the house, then over to my parents after lunch, we took a cake that DS made yesterday for Mother's Day, it was lovely. A couple of hours relaxing in their garden and back in time for DD's swimming lesson, dinner and a bit of seed planting. Yes, it's time to concentrate on the allotment at last.

Links for Monday.

Sneak Peek for the Week. We are in Zone 1, Entrance, Porch and Dining Room. Monday's mission is to sweep the porch, shake out the door mat and wipe down the front door.

Babystep - review your routines.

Daily Focus. As it's Monday, that's Home Blessing.

Ellie has promised to take over for April

That sounds like such an idyllic day, WhoKnows.

DS2 lasted half an hour on the sofa, then took himself off to bed again. DS1 came downstairs shortly afterwards complaining of a headache, took some Calpol and also fell into bed. Was asleep within minutes.

Looks like I'll have two patients tomorrow.

Had a broken night's sleeping, trudging from bed to bed. DS2 feels a bit better this morning and his temperature is down, although he doesn't want breakfast. No sign of DS1 yet.

Really lovely not to have a school run to worry about this morning .