It's the clutter shouting "Mayday" as the Fledglings spring into action

[GoingGoingGoth]

Copying last month's thread.

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.

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, we won't be judging you.

Morning all.

carpe glad you're feeling a bit better.

trazzles good luck with operation bookcase!

dizzy good luck with run

pushme family fun is what saturdays are for!

goth hope your dh has a good birthday

ta da list from yesterday!
pottered around garden while dh did the heavy work
took ds to playground to get out of dh's way while he shifted the sand (gate was open and ds is a bolter)
Tidied kitchen
2 loads of washing done, dry, away
washing up
started ironing

to do today
text friend who is running 10k today (I pulled out due to pg)
Washx2 (1st one already on)
Party later in afternoon
potter in garden (tomato plants need going in)
Potter in house (lots of tidying to do)

We've been enjoying our tidy dining room (decluttered for guests). DH said, "Why can't we keep it this way?" I reminded him that we use the table for work and home ed, so it's usually piled with books and papers. "Oh. Yes."

I wish we could keep it this way too.

Am going up to London to meet a friend for her birthday champagne tea this afternoon. Very much looking forward to seeing her, but in a tizz about what to wear. Only seem to have a winter dress to wear for smart events, but it's sunny outside. Might have to wear it and be too hot. I'm out of practice at dressing up.

Oh, and a chunk of tooth fell out last night, which, luckily, I was able to patch up with some temporary filling I had in the bathroom cabinet - but it's bloody painful, so will be dosing myself up with painkillers.

Hopefully, the champagne will help .

Hope you all enjoy the sunshine today.

yesterday, had last catechism class till FHCommunion Day so my Saturdays from now on are free free free.

Spent afternoon patronising local Arts and Crafts Fair where a few friends were exhibiting and bought two new pictures, one a present for a 50th next week. So that was fun.

Dd spent the whole afternoon at her friend's house. I did RE revision with Ds1 - I've discovered the nicest way to revise is lying on a beanbag with ds1 lying on his bed and I ask him questions..desks really are not user friendly. Dss played Monopoly but ds2 watched far too much telly one way or another (despite football session at 11am) and ended up in an extremely ratty mood by 9pm and had to be sent to bed screaming his head off. Telly is really not good for him in large doses.

This morning dh has gone to a bookfair in town, and so far I've done

breakfasts - assortment of baked goods on table for them to help themselves
watching Top Gear with ds2 and discussing it (rather than letting him veg out)
chatting with ds2
ds1 has been persuaded to have a shower and is going to church by himself
dd is still fast asleep, after lots of gymnastics in the corridor at 10pm (she is a very good mood atm..long may that last)

Do you have any option for storage/shelves in your dining room toffee - might be a way of keeping it clutter free she says looking at dining table that is constantly covered in stuff

Hope you find the right outfit Toffee everyone in London yesterday seemed to be wearing what I can only describe as frilly dresses, white floaty skirts etc, vest tops so not smart exactly more like beach outfits. I was wearing a maxi skirt from Fat Face and a pale blue denim shirt from the same place and dh commented that I looked so much nicer than usual, to which I replied, but this is what my mother wears, and he said, Oh Dear.. (my mother has a uniform of long skirts and white shirts with collars, to frame the face) My summer clothes are still stuck in the loft space which is now unrreachable because the bed has changed position.. I cannot even remember what there is in there.

Today we have revision hanging over us. I could just give up and not do it and take everyone for a long walk, but I fear that as ds1 is coming up to GSCE I may have to show a bit of interest..

swan I have fond memories of revising for my GCSEs at 6.30am on the mornings before my e ams with cue cards and a large mug of black coffee (I thought black coffee made me cool even though I didn't like the taste) sitting on the swings in my back garden.

And making revision notes for my A-levels at my desk on sunny afternoons with the window open.

And reading A-level texts on the lawn whilemy DM and dbro played badminton, with wimbledon on in the background.

Aah...perhaps I have my rose-tinted glasses on but life was much simpler, and I was more motivated then!

I'm still sitting on the sofa!

Engels I also have fond memories of revising in the garden on long, hot summer days.

Enjoy swimming Trazzles

Dh has been at work this morning. So I have fed, washed and dressed the dc, emptied the washing basket and done a big pile of ironing. Im now mnetting whilst ds plays on the ipad while we wait for dd to finish her swimming lesson.

I want to get the beds stripped, food shop done and the garden tidied before we go to dmums for a roast.

Engels - yes, keep saying to DH we need to get a bookcase to store home ed stuff. It's getting round to it that's the problem.

Swan - found a tea dress that I'd forgotten about, so I'm wearing that. It's not my colour (had my colours done and am a bit obsessive about that now), but it doesn't make me look fat, so that's a bonus.

Have taken Ibuprofen and Paracetamol to dull the toothache, so now I'm all set.

Bye for now, fledglings!

done
pricked out my lettuce seedlings
watered everything
hung out washing in garden x 3
made lunch including homemade pasta salad
had to spend a lot of this morning stopping ds2 watching telly, I really should have taken him out, but he has at least gone to park by himself and back
ds1 went to church and back (short walk in sunshine at least)
10 mins of revision with both sons
dd made french toast with my help
dd made chocolate syrup for a frappacino mix later with my help

so much washing up now

both dd and I have been wearing as little as possible in order to get a tan. Dd pointed out to me it is difficult to shift weight after having a baby (this was meant to console me) 12 years is a long time to keep up that excuse

engels funnily I had stopped associating May and Easter with exams, now it seems to be a very unfair combination.

I'm mid-declutter while re-stocking the bookcase - I don't need to keep my GCSE English Lit texts, do I?!

Depends on which texts...

I kept some because I liked them. I am afraid I culled the others. But i will be acquiring one which we were loaned by the school because I want to re-read it.

Ta da
sleep until 2 pm
clear up egg that got dropped when i distracted ds
eat scrammbled eggs ds made me for breakfast
fix ds' bow so the arrows now fire again
do some research ready for vote casting on thursday

I need to send a serious email. i am putting it off. but it needs to be done. :(

I could be outside enjoying the sunshine. Instead I am in bed enjoying the quiet

Bitchy No worries. I figure if it's a fire hazard at night, it's a fire hazard in the day. I have to be home tomorrow while I'm waiting for the windows company to stop by, and I think I'll take advantage of the time to turn off the breaker and look just a bit more closely at it. I think the plastic piece is broken off, but I'm not sure. If the front edge of the socket has just slipped over the piece and it's behind it, then I might be able to just pop it back into place, which is something I'm not willing to try (even with the breakers off) while the DCs are home running about. Don't worry, I'm not crazy - if it's not a simple straight forward thing, I'll simply wait until the electrician comes to swap out ceiling fans. (which I'll have to pick up in the afternoon)

ta da

• another load of clothing washed, dried, and put away
• picked up two chairs for the back garden
• had a lovely lunch with the DCs in the back garden
• trimmed weeds all along one side of fence (arms now feel as if they are falling off!)
• put rubbish bin, garden waste bin, and food waste bin out to for collection
• washing up
• tidied kitchen
• filled one carrier bad with rubbish from dining room - slowly winning over control!

to do

• menu plan for the week
• more decluttering
• review recipes to find something new to make this week

Am not used to wearing high heels anymore. Had to ring DH to collect me from the station because my feet hurt so much .

Had a lovely posh tea. Really loved catching up with my friend. Forgot all about my toothache.

Back in time to do bedtime routines.

Swan - that is very sweet of your DD to console you about baby weight . My DM cheekily asked me if I was expecting another one when she last stayed here!

Links for Monday 19th May

Babystep 19 is to read the Inspirations (I think)

Monday is Weekly bleugh day. So soon! Didn't't we have one only the other day?

This week we are in Zone 4, the Master Bedroom, if you are up to it here is the detailed cleaning list

Today's mission is to spend 15 minutes cleaning out under your bed.

SUMMARY

Bitchy got home to us online safe and sound and all partied out.

Carpe is starting to get better. Adjustable trousers are a godsend, DD gets taller but never seems to get any fatter

Pushme had lots of family fun so was back of the power of 3 (going to shorten it to PO3 as I seem to keep referring to it)

dizzy was a dirty stop out and didn't get home until 9 on Saturday but DD knocked 9 seconds of her 100m PB - that's incredible.

Mummy, Alice & Mercury all had massive lists

Trazzle has her new bookcase and went swimming.

Engels planned lots of gardening.

Toffee enjoyed her guests and decluttered dining room and went up to. London for a champagne tea, which will hopefully numb her broken tooth-ouch!

Swan went to an Arts and Craft fair, which sounds lovely.

And finally, hopefully DH had a good birthday we went out for lunch and had a relaxing day.

I did it! I RAN a whole 3.3k in 33.56 minutes . Not bad for a fat old bird and I can thoroughly recommend the Couch 2 5k programme as that's what I'm following (completed only 5 of the 9 weeks). DD was a couple of minutes faster but I don't think her technique of sprinting then walking was ideal!

Minimal flying this afternoon but Ta Da

• Emptied D/W
• Chivvied DD along to complete homework project due in tomorrow
• Ironed shirts & uniform for the week
• Watered veggies
• Laundry load on and hung to dry

Well done dizzy !!!
I spent most of yesterday re-filling the new bookcase and sorting through the books we have to get rid of some I have got rid of some English lit books (not the ones I'll read again) so farewell Wife of Bath, Silas Marner, Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry, The Crucible and Passage to India. Oh and War Poetry.

DH has reorganised the kitchen and our study area. It looks wonderful.

More clearing today and also a trip to a distant soft play with a friend who I haven't seen since J's diagnosis who has also had a horrible time so we can sit and turn our lives around while the children play

Congrats dizzy !

Starving and waiting for doctor surgery to open for my blood test.

lots of plans today...
shopping for summer
gardening planning and plant shopping
ironing
washing up
marking

Well done Dizzy! I had forgotten all about Roll Of Thunder Hear My Cry Trazzles I loved that book From today dm is looking after the dc at ours after school to save them going to after school club, which is great but means I have to leave the house tidy in the mornings. I have had to do the following this morning:
Stripped our bed
Hung out washing
Got kids to make their beds
Rr living room
Emptied and reloaded dw
Wiped kitchen sides
Packed lunches
Dc up, dressed and fed
Wm reloaded
Put away laundry

At least the house will be a lot tidier during the week

Well done dizzy

Hope you d$on't have too long to wait engels

That seems like a very cunning plan to ensure a tidy house Mercury

I am just pootling gently. Woke up far earlier than was needed and currently have 30mins to cull with a bit of crochet before I can get into the bathroom. Ds has been fed and will be convinced to put some uniform on in about 30mins and then it is just a case of throwing his lunch together and won't take long. Feeling remarkably calm, a feeling I am sure will evaporate the minute I get into work At least it is sunny ignores weather forecast for rain this afternoon

thanks bitchy !

right...off to the garden centre!

I need to sort a few things out, actually a lot of things. Anyone come across any mental decluttering tips by fly lady on her site?

dizzy I am in awe...
Bitchy pootling is good - and I'm with you on the work stress. I so need a new job! Mental decluttering; home done lobotomy?

Well, today I'm at work, and I don't want to be here. There's a bit of a backstory, but the upshot is that I need to get out asap before I do something I regret. Actually, quite a big thing that I regret; like punching someone. Still, the money is needed so hey ho.

Flying, I've done my morning routine (DW, up, dress, breakfast etc). I'm planning a washing when I get home as I'm hoping to get started on the Shred tonight as I have (count 'em!) 33 days until I'm on holiday and I can't get into my linen trousers. So it's shred or shop... Therefore if I do not post that I've shredded, please bollock me!

Right, off to do some of the work that I really CBA doing!

dizzy I am very impressed. And I've looked at that Couch 2 5k programme and think I may give it a go. I need to read through it a bit more, but I've been looking for something that I can do on my own, this looks to be good! Thanks!!

ta da
picked up new glasses
bought sofa and arranged delivery for later this week
arranged for old sofa set to be collected by charity shop later this week
washing up
tidied kitchen
decluttered a LOT in the dining room

to do
clean my room. really. MUST do tonight. eeek!