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

Indeed, you are both right. However I don't think I've mentioned housework in a single post on this thread yet this month

Happy Birthday ellie! Can't beat SC's fabulous party post, so will just offer you lots of . Thanks for great round up, by the way.

That seems really unfair about the wait for OT, Bitchy. DS1 had to wait two years for his NHS referral, but it was invaluable when it came and finally made the school accept that he needed a computer for his work.

Just - invaluable advice, as always.

Waves to Swan, Bitchy, SC, WhoKnows, Goth, Mercury, Lily and everyone else. Too sleepy and hayfevery to write anymore (did that falling-asleep-with-DS2 thing, then being awake till the small hours, so am all groggy today. And sneezy, which I assume is allergies). Am going to get on with work at home and ignore Flying, as at least I can sit down whilst I'm working.

Various things happening later, which involve going out and interacting with people. Maybe I'll feel more able to cope with that after coffee. Think I may need a Bitchy brew .

I'm cleaning this morning.

done
bathroom : washed loo, floor, basin, emptied bin
cleared kitchen for cleaner
big bag of rubbish collected
swept front path of petals
recycling
drove ds2 to school
laundry pile in one place
sheets off our bed
woollens wash
collected more loo rolls for sweet pea sowing
ds1 and 2 room rescue for cleaner

need to go and tackle dd's room. Disaster again. I think like me she seems to delight in the freedom to live in sea of rubbish. I hope it is a developmental stage, and unlike me she will work her way through it..

Bitchy have you read the OUT OF SYNC CHILD HAS FUN or the first one, it is full of brilliant activities for Sensory Processing problems. Like washing car! Or pushing wheelbarrows! I love it - I wish I had read it years ago. Some of it is second nature, like the fact that children like rolling down banks or snuggling down in tight sleeping bags or sitting in large cardboard boxes but it is so interesting to read it all in one place..

Ellie and hear hear about this thread!

Take care with allergies Toffee (and you too Bitchy) air quality so poor atm - have severe asthma sufferer in office who has had to go home two days running (one day via a&e)

swan you are on a roll!

for Whoknows

I am sneezing like anything and I don't usually get hayfever. Dh's eyes are red and swollen. Definitely something in the air...

done
hung up ironed shirts
hoovered our bedroom
dusted behind ds1's bed
remade ds1's bed
baggedup one bag of garden rubbish

had an argument with dh over something that happened when I was at the concert...He said I had no sense of humour and if I wanted to control everything I shouldn't leave the house. He was telling me a "funny" story about how dd came into the tv room and started shrieking that ds2 was sitting in her spot on the sofa (like Sheldon in Big Bang) and that he had to move, whereupon I immediately interrupted and said I thought the rule was that dd always sat on the sofa without ds2 (due to earlier ructions) and he had to sit on the chair. Dh said I was clearly a control freak! Maybe
I think all this trying to get the children to behave is getting to me and I have gone mad trying to enforce structures. That's what Family Therapy does to you, it sends you completely MAD!!! and you end up arguing over the Three Bears

Swan i hvaen't read that book it is on m wish list. Because this " like the fact that children like rolling down banks or snuggling down in tight sleeping bags or sitting in large cardboard boxes" is ds. he perpetually has to have a cardboard box to sit in with 2 double duvets around and on him. Boy in the box is a happier boy.

I have slept. sorted out a few things and am now late for the school run but i suspect clothes will be required for the school run? Best get moving then

Warning against FT duly noted, Swan .

Aw, I like 'boy in the box is a happier boy', Bitchy .

DS2 and I have just collected a friend of his from school for a playdate. Another school friend ran up, hugged DS2 and started chatting to me. He told me he would be using the treadmill to burn off the calories from the Easter eggs, then looked me up and down and said, "You could use a bit of that too!"

Bitchy and I wonder why when ds1 had a flimsy playhouse made of material he used to trash it - he obviously wanted a playhouse made of cardboard he could properly wrestle with and roll over in and jump on [aaargh] and there was I wanting him to play nicely...

I'm getting over my 3 Bear sulk now...dh bought some eclairs earlier, so I might go and look for them...

Dd is wandering round Hounslow with her friends (she just rang me from Nando's dses will return soon, so I suppose I had better do something useful now.

Fucking box takes up most the lounge though and is the bane of my existance. Ds HAS to make noise today and I have a thumping headache. we are in danger of falling out. Is it bedtime yet? Oh wait, long drive evening... One early night with nothing to do tomorrow to go please.

Right i am back, and tucked up in bed but have 101 things running through my head so going to write a list before crashing. Only the afternoon school run alarms are on as I need to be up by then otherwise i won't be sleeping in the night.

To do:
Ring sheffield (seems vague but has specific meaning to those in the know)
laundry
tame my room (huge job again)
finish blue crochet blanket?
Knitting?
folding

Will have to see after that what happens. Right need to sleep and feeling heavy eyed. so lets see if this resets my headache.

Done
Paperwork
Renewed domain name & changed hosting package (get me!)
Downloaded Netflix (could be a big mistake, already watched 2episodes of Chuck)
Cleaned/bleach washing machine
Dry laundry away
Litter tray
Bagged recycling (forgot to take it out, blame Chuck)
2 loads laundry
Collected DD & friend from school
2 hours in park (plus 1trip back home so DD could change her shoes)
Washed DD's trainers
Dinner
Washed up
Took DD 's friend home
Got DD bathed, hair washed & in bed (not too late)

Now thinking of whilst DH in bath and wondering diff he'd notice if I sneaked an episode of Games of Thrones, or maybe the David Tennant version of Fright Night

Can't be too late as we're supposed to be going on a CND rally tomorrow. I have turned back into my 17 year old self.

Evening all.

Happy birthday Ellie. So far I have enjoyed the interviews and have learnt a lot so I have my fingers firmly crossed that soon I will find the job for me. Thank you for your kind offer of advice.

I really liked the school I looked around this afternoon it was very friendly. The only drawback is initially it is a fixed one year contract, but I think I am going to apply.

Very little flying except for the basics have been achieved in the Mercury household today. But we did all snuggle down together and watch/doze through Frozen together - it was lovely to have some family time

Im off to the library tomorrow to start getting on with my coursework instead of worrying and moaning about it so I am off for an early night.

Evening all,

Nice, relaxing day here, INSET day for the DCs. We pottered around at home this morning, went to a country park with friends from school this afternoon, DCs had a great time climbing, running, balancing and rolling down hills, the other mum and I had a good chat, she's an old friend (luckily DS has stayed friends at school with the sons of the mums I was friends with when he was a baby).

Home again and DH appeared at 5.30 so I nipped off to the allotment for an hour, second visit this week, it's so peaceful there. Home again for fish and chips, a game of Top Trumps with the DCs and that's been about it. Flying consisted of a bit of tidying, two loads of washing and a load of clean clothes put away.

Ellie - hope you've had a great birthday despite recovery.

Good morning! A bit chaotic here as first day of term break begins.

ta da

usual morning routines
washing up done
tidied up kitchen
first load of laundry in dryer, second load in washer, last night's clothing from dryer folded and taken upstairs to be put away later

to do
check bank
check budget upcoming expenses and so on
baths for DCs, fingers crossed for the DCs to relax long enough for me to have a quick bath as well
one more load of laundry to do
put away clothing
do some paperwork
tidy my bedroom
bake something with DCs

Right now I'm taking a break with a . The DCs have already spent half the morning arguing and the other half kicking off because they want things they can't have.

The plan is to get as much housework done as I can over the weekend so that next week we can do more fun stuff out of the house. Fingers crossed. Nothing more depressing than coming home after being out all day and the house being a pit. I like to come home to a relatively tidy house. (Then I don't feel quite so guilty flopping on the sofa and saying "that's it I'm done for the day!!" )

Busy last few days here with end of term discos/violin assembly etc.

Yesterday Ta Da

• washing load in and hung out to dry (organised before school run!)
• food bits and pieces bought
• string of bunting made (order from teacher at school)
• school bags emptied and PE kit etc in wash
• listened to violin practice (DD got new piece to learn)
• DD to swim training

Today Ta Da

• pasta boiled
• gala check list printed off

DD has a gala both days this weekend, but today's is her first at a 50m pool [eek].

To Do

• gather swim bits together including spare hats, goggles and swimsuits
• pack lunch/tea/snacks/treats
• print off gala instructions/directions etc

Posted a long message this morning but I don't think it posted

Anyway, my lists for today:

Done:
Reload Laundry x 1
Fill dishwasher and put on
Clear dining table
10 mins pulling weeds out of patio

To do:
Tidy living room
Clean kitchen sides
Hoover downstairs
Bath/shower all DC and myself
Go out for dinner with family at 5pm
Wrap up presents to bring tonight
POSSIBLY make cakes with the girls but depends what time DS sleeps and what time DH gets up as I can't do things like that with DS around, he is a nightmare.
Sort out stuff to pass onto my Mum for her carbooting and give to her tonight after meal.
Collect something from Facebook selling group.

Really sorry Ellie I didn't get back to wish you a Happy Birthday! (Excuse for more ) Hope you had a lovely day.

Ta da: renovating
To do: renovating

Afternoon! Hope everyone OK!

Slept really well - a full solid 7.5 hrs - and feel absolutely wretched now

But whey-hey, the Easter holidays have officially started and it's the Grand National today too (triple whey- hey) [sorry - I know it's controversial and not everyone's cup of tea but long-standing date for large crush of friends (partic Irish contingent) and excuse for a bit of in sc household]. So have spent the morning tidying up and getting prepped for that. Dh twiddling with large screen thing and cables from office and swearing a lot.

Entertaining tomorrow too (but have kept menu very simple) so just going to go off and shop for that before things get too hectic and take opportunity of placing a bet at the same time. Trouble is, betting shop is near dd's school which is open for activities on Sat (so parents and teachers in and out) and is also very religious, so may have to don dark glasses and large hat .... .

Hopefully getting about today will be a bit easier than past fortnight when traffic was dire in Bxls. First there was Obama visit, then the African summit (98 delegations each with their own motorcade + 28 EU Member States) then, to top it all, yesterday, there was a huge protest against austerity measures outside the Institutions when 900 coach loads came in to town; right by dd's school . Had to abandon the car in the end and walk home. What I hadn't bargained on though was dd bringing home the school goldfish for the holidays (no one else volunteered because they are travelling, as are we, but the difference is we have to have pet sitters anyway!). So anyway, there was dd and me, taking a short cut through the park - me trying to hold goldfish bowl as steady as possible without tripping or jolting it - and an old boy sitting on a bench called out "C'est ton diner Madame?"

Right, off to finalise shopping list and check odds

Big feathery waves to everyone - hope you all have a lovely weekend

Tot ziens/A bientot!

Hello Flyers! Can't believe it's April already.

We've had a few days away and within ten minutes of returning home there is mud all over the floors. MrPP blames the dogs but they weren't even here.

I'm easing myself back into it all gently.

Ta Da's
One load of holiday laundry done
Most in TD rest on line
Second load in WM
Minis exercised
Call to EDF

To do
Food shopping
Dogs walked

Long term to do
Gut the car
Attack airing cupboard / sort and chuck

BBL to catch up all on the gossip thread properly.

Oh and I meant to confess that I've chucked out all of MrPP's black socks. Having all black socks does not automatically mean that they all pair up as not all black socks are the same. Perhaps I am to OCD for my own good but it makes the laundry a fair bit easier. Plus he has not even noticed!!

PP very funny about the socks. I used to have to chuck out STBXH's socks and pants when they went through the laundry as they'd get all worn and full of holes and STILL he wouldn't get rid.

On my third load of laundry, managed to make chocolate crispies with the DCs, and now relaxing with another before I get back to cleaning some more. I've decluttered a bit in the dining room, so am hoping to get just a bit more done before the day is over.

I have a ta da list:
Lie in
2hours knitting.

I am now considering actually moving. This is encouraged by my bladder which has woken up and my stomach that is complaining. Otherwise I would happily stay put in bed

That's a pretty decent list, Bitchy. I'm jealous.

unfortunately i had to earn it and recoveirng from burn out is a bitch so would suggest perhaps avoided at all costs. However, have now added cookery lessons to that ta da. I am grabbing a shower and heading across the hills to speak to sheffield... hopefully will get some answers

Alice MrPP regularly sports socks with massive holes in them. I'm ashamed to say I even know him. How is it even comfortable to wear socks when your big toe is completely exposed? Some of his undercrackers have seen better decades times. I might make a start on those soon. At this rate he will have no choice but to go commando.

Ta da
Cleaned two shelves in the fridge because they were empty and I could see the GROT
Fed minis
One mini napping
Other mini on my lap so having to ignore the finished WM screaming at me