April's Fledgling Fliers: there's no fooling the Fat Fairy this month.

[elliepac]

In a blatant steal from last month's thread:

So here we are, April 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

Coffee break. I am currently hiding from the cleaner who is back following her three-week sojourn in Poland. Forgot she was coming today ...

God bless ye Goth!

Swan re: grotto - I only hope dd's tutor doesn't want to use the lav tonight - she might find the curtains made from duvet covers, loo paper streamers, and a glowing rabbit a bit much

Well done re: seeing through laborious passport process - is your ds coming to Ypres? Or is he attending big WW1 reconciliation service near Mons (St Symphorien military cemetery) beginning Aug? First major ceremony where German heads of state will be present. Wills, Kate & Harry attending apparently also.

Hope your dd feels better soon!

Engels Glad you had a good time in Blighty! Thanks - am feeling much better today and woo-hoo in return! I would wither and die without having access to R4! Dh recently bought me a new bewildering phone so that I can listen to it on the move/while Flying too!

Good luck with unpacking/decluttering!

Yes, it definitely counts Bitchy!! You are inspiring me to do the same - God knows it's overdue ...I'm far too sentimental when it comes to paperwork though - keep every ruddy card and letter - must be more ruthless!

Bitchy of course it counts, things will be easier to find, so it must be less cluttered. We can't go minimalist.

Done
S&S
Rubbish out
Laundry hung out
Tackled paperwork pile in lounge (& bedroom)

[shudders at 'm' word]

cleaner is lovely but is tutting a lot

Pretty busy day yesterday followed by nearly nothing today - not even the hovering which desperately needs doing

Sunday Ta Da

• Ironed and put away dry clothes mountain (not quite an empty basket yet!)
• Sorted out clothes for DD to take to residential on Wed.
• Laundry load on and hung to dry (DH has refilled the basket with fusty cricket whites!)
• Washed pots DH had left festering in the sink but studiously ignored [grr]
• Helped DD make a carrot cake
• Went for a run (and bumped into the neighbours [aarrgghh!)

Back with today's later

Eek fell asleep whilst DD was at Karate

Done
Post Office
Shopping
Collect DD from school
Dinner

To do
Washing up
Prep casserole for tomorrow

Just seen the awful news - thinking of all the teachers on this thread tonight x

Just flicked to the BBC to see the news SC my heart goes out to that poor lady's family and the school community

Hmmm...haven't seen the news. I will go look. Doesn't sound good.

Ill child back to school today, but appointments later for the other child. Hopefully can fit in some cleaning and a few errands between everything else!!

Just awful Made me cry last night and this morning reading about it.

Grey and rainy here. Child free day so should be getting school work done but off to a slow start and the house is an absolute pit. But, listening to radio 2 is cheering me up!

So very sad and absolutely horrific. What is our world coming to?

Struggled here yesterday. Mini2 kept changing the dial on the WM mid flipping cycle. I must have the cleanest clothes ever now. I think I restarted this particular load four times!

Planning on having a more productive morning today after preschool drop off but mini1 is saying his tummy hurts on the inside. I think he's pulling a fast one. He's not eaten much breakfast but that is not always unusual. I'm supposed to be somewhere this afternoon and someone else is relying on me which means mini1 is definitely going to be poorly right?

Hello to everyone and will catch up properly later!

Morning.

Sad news indeed. :(

Ok, why is it when you are waiting for something to happen it doesn't and you end up wasiting time? I am waiting for a phone call. Given up just waiting and currently trying to make this death trap safe. One of the bookcases has now been moved. Although if I am completely honest I have no idea how it is still holding the books because it has seen better days. understatement

Not sure what the master plan is for today. But it was to go back to bed and sleep a bit as a bit under par atm.

Morning, yes awful news, her poor family. The whole school/community must be devastated.

We had some bad news as well, a dad at the local school/karate club went missing Saturday morning without taking his epilepsy medicine and a body found in the river on Sunday. He's not been identified yet but it does seem conclusive. I didn't know him, but DH saw him at karate and his wife is friends with some of my friends. I just feel so sorry for his wife and 2 DCs.

How awful goth

Ta da
washing up
1 load washing away
1 load washing done and in td
swept kitchen floor

am now intending on lounging for the whole day. Fuck it, marking can wait!

ta da
Move bookshelf from landing to lounge
Clear top of wardrobe
put sewing table on top
swear a lot because it makes wardrobe too unstable
Play around in office to create some space on the shelves
Move some files into said new space.
Swear loudly and try to figure out how to get this all to work.
Drink more coffee and wonders if natural selection will work for culling?

Stupidly small rooms with modern furniture that appears to feel the need to be oversized. Never ever ever going to work. Also I appear to want a minamilist feel without reducing the amount of clutter. Something else which is never going to work.

Done
Beds
Packed lunch
Cleaned top of fridge freezer
S&S
Dd to school
Grocers
Washing up
Laundry on
Laundry out
Cleaned eye-level grill
Dismantle & clean grill pan
Clean & organise cupboard under the sink
Wrapped DD's birthday present for friend
Tidy wrapping paper bag.

It's another beautiful day, so just having a then off for a walk

I had a thought, if I was to up and leave. What would I take with me in my car, and what would i not miss without a second thought? Cos i think it is time to get rid of that second category of stuff.
Also anyone know how many years of financial records you are supposed to keep for tax purposes? Is it 7 or 5? I seem to have records that can be culled, just not sure how many atm.

Bitchy - I have actually done that but filled 2 cars!

Didn't get back on last night as DD was in tears for 2 hours at bedtime. She is off for a 3 day/2 night residential with school tomorrow, and after being really excited for weeks since she heard they would be abseiling and the like, the reality of sleeping away from us hit her like a ton of bricks. :(

I suppose it's our fault as parents somehow that she has had hardly any nights away from us staying with family never mind "strangers". I know lots of her classmates will probably be feeling just as vulnerable but it doesn't make trying to think of coping strategies for her any easier.

Oh, poor DD, dizzy . It's hard for both of you. I'm sure a lot of children on the trip won't have been away from their families either, so she won't be the only one. I imagine the teachers will keep the children very busy, so they hopefully won't have too much time to feel homesick. I hope it all turns out well in the end.

ta da

successfully ignored pile of clean washing on dining room table for the entire day
swished and swiped in bathroom
washing up
home ed with DS2 - handwriting and lots of Maths
cancelled online lessons for stressed DS1 (he's worrying about appointment on Friday, which will involve a journey)
put away online shopping
friend came round for lunch
DH drove DS2 and myself to work to unload stock from van (well, DS2 watched)
listened to DS2 chat non-stop all the way home - I swear he has become 100 times more chatty since leaving school
cooked dinner

DH had to drive very slowly behind an ornate male pheasant and his rather dowdy female companion on the way to work. No wonder so many of them end up getting killed on the road. These two were blissfully oblivious that there was a van right behind them and ambled slowly in front of us before eventually turning off into a field.

It is really really tempting right now. I have had enough and it would seem there is no limit to one person's ability to fuck up their life. So I think an early night is called for. so much that needs to be done and sorted and I am being impulsive. Which is not exactly the best thing in the world. Time to call an end to today.

Dizzy it is not your fault, it is very normal and just shows how much she loves you. The teachers will be on the look out for anyone feeling wobbly and I suspect they will be kept so busy there won't be time for being upset.

Goth - how terrible for your friend's family, what a shock.

Just listening again to the news about the teacher who was stabbed. I have a relative who is a teacher in Leeds, so my heart was in my mouth when I heard yesterday, but it was clear from the first report it was secondary and she is primary, so I knew she was OK, but what a dreadful thing to happen.

Bitchy - hang on in there.

Evening all. Sincere apologies for lack of links this morning. Had a beyond shite day yesterday culminating in massive row with DH and very mature non communication for 24 hours. Followed by stressful day today and parents evening which means i have only just walked through the door. Am beyond knackered and a little bit sore.

Will go and catch up with thread.

Moderately productive day for once...

Ta da:
Made packed lunches
Rebooked hair appointment that I now can't make
Finished current lot of marking
bought more printer paper
met other class reps re organising stall for summer fair
cooked proper meal for tea (fish pie) rather than doing pasta again

First day of jogging course tomorrow morning after school drop off! I had a practice run on Saturday with dd (age 7) who helped set the pace by suggesting lamp posts for me to run to before taking a walking break

Aside from regular duties today, I've managed to spray (with root killer) all the plants all around and in my patio area - so hopefully they will slowly die and can be ripped out. And I've painted my patio table. Another coat of paint should finish it - it's looking very nice! And then I'll paint the chairs. I started on one, but then had to stop halfway through when I realised it was almost time for school run.

done
lost post

Ellie to dungeons with Dh, I am sorry you are having to deal with him on top of everything else, hope tomorrow is better and he is the man he should be.

Done
booked holiday Yay! finally found a place near sun sea and shops with no car required. And available cheapy flights. So proud of ourselves, we feel almost grownup. Too many years visiting relatives instead of venturing out.

Toffee I always think of the foolish pheasants in Danny Champion of the world. Hope anxiety for journey on Friday can be defused. Journeys are so shocking for cranking up the tension aren't they

Evening all.

Sorry been a bit awol recently - trying to organise a public meeting at the moment which is leaving no brain space available for much else.

Glad you've got a holiday booked, Swan.

Big waves to everyone else.