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.

SO the sleep thing was kinda going well. And then I had a thing tonight, which got diversified and changed a bit. And then I came home to a wet bed and child curl up in a tiny corner trying hard to sleep. Bed stripped the duvet that didn't get washed this morning is almost finished washing and I am about to put on a load of bedding to wash before I crash. needless to say that it is going to be a long night and a short sleep.

Fuck it, anything after midnight counts on today's ta da list:
wash ds' duvet
put ds' duvet through dryer
wash favourite teddy and some bedding/blankets
put teddy and above in dryer
wash the plastice undersheets for ds' bed

about to grab a coffee and get some bacon for a sunday morning fry, do more laundry and probably tackle the lego mountain gotta love being a parent and the fun it brings as payback for having fun without the kids.

waves can I join in? I am terminally lazy forgetful

So far today I have:
*washed the dishes
*emptied the pulley/hi-dry/tumble dryer and taken everything upstairs to be folded
*filled the ironing basket
*written a shopping list

Aims for this week so far:
*get dds x2 hair cut
*declutter

ta da list:
wash ds' duvet
put ds' duvet through dryer
wash favourite teddy and some bedding/blankets
put teddy and above in dryer
wash the plastice undersheets for ds' bed

hand plastic undersheets to dry
put on load of blankets
go out and buy bacon and icing sugar
cook breakfast fy up
put blankets on to dry
put yesterdays mucky clothes on to wash with added stain remover
fold washing
make microwave meringues
make rhubarb crumble
boil up hand warmers
deal with fractious ds
find iron
clear ironing board
do the ironing
put another load of clothes on to wash
make 2 batches of Jelly
send ds to get dressed and then admire all of the lovely lego models he made instead

currently considering a nap. ds is off doing stuff in the garden

Just checking in to make it a habit, not a productive day in terms of flying but was a proper family fun day. Went for lunch with my parents and then spent afternoon with paddling pool and planting in the garden. Very lovely. And, uncharacteristic ally, I have just tidied the gardening stuff up so it's not messy to look at this evening.

And here's me, always late to the party. It's been a bit chaotic here, and it's been all about damage control with the DCs home.

Anyway, local beekeeper getting a handle on some of the bees, and a huge group of them mass migrated/swarmed off today down the street (literally had house covered in bees - front and back - for about 5 minutes while they were moving, was quite unnerving to see them swirling about from every window!!). Hopefully we won't have any more showing up for awhile!

I'm slowly clearing out the garden shed. I've gone through some tool boxes and am little by little pulling things out of there and either binning them or cleaning them up and finding a place to put each thing (when I'm not dodging bees, that is!). It doesn't hurt that SonIL borrowed my ladder, so that's out of the way and I don't need to move it each time I've gone out there. I may have him hold onto it for a week or two while I finish up clearing it all out!

Indoors, it's just same old, same old. Washing up, vacuuming, tidying, laundry, dusting, sweeping, and so on.

Links for Monday 5th May

Babystep 5 is to take any negative voices in your head and write down positive things to cancel them out.

Daily Focus for Monday is the Weekly Blessing or bleugh as we call it . Remember it's not a deep clean and should take around an hour. You can do it all at once or split it up to different days if you prefer.

This week we're in Zone 2, the Kitchen. IF you are decluttered, here is the Deep Cleaning List

This week's missions Today is to clean the kitchen trash bin. (YAY!) If you have a lid, don't forget to clean the underside.

SUMMARY

Blue laid down the law in her house re tidying up. I think we all have to do it to stop the lazy gits backsliders. Hope your rally went well today,

Swan choc cake and tinned peaches sounds lovely. I think the homework/funfair sounds like a good bargain.

Mercury was busy and sounds like she's on top of the garden.

Bitchy had to cope with a bed wetting incident, such a lovely end of the day and then posted one of her uber-lists.

iamdivergent has joined us.

Birthday checked in. Sounds like you had a good Sunday, remember we're not expected to Fly everyday.

Alice is fashionably late to this month's thread
Bees swarms are amazing if unnerving, we had one a couple of years ago. The noise is unbelievable.

We also went to a May Day rally today. It was DD's first march, I think she enjoyed it she blagged lots of freebies off the stalls. Then we went to Hamleys where they were doing a Star Wars day? She got her photo taken with Boba Fett , but the Stormtrooper did say "close the blast doors" for me

Thanks Goth - yes, it went well. Was a great atmosphere and got lots of support.

Big waves to everyone else. Night all.

Great to hear your rally went well today, Blue. And you too, Goth.

ta da

Woken too early by wriggly DS2
Breakfast - pancakes
Dress etc.
Swish & swipe
Coaxed DS2 to come swimming
Swimming with DS2 (lesson) and BF
Walked to cafe for tea and chat
Waved off BF at midday
Home for lunch
DH to work
Put swim stuff and sheets in w/m
Washing up
Caught up on OU work
Made chicken, sweet potato and coconut curry for dinner
Long phone call with relative about DS1's diagnosis
DS2's bathtime
Remade DS2's bed
Bedtime routine
Fell asleep
Woken up by DH to watch 'Sopranos' with him and DS1
Made popcorn
Dh - washing up
MN time

Hi!

Please can I come back (again)?

Welcome back Trazzle How are you Joe and the rest of the family?

I've just had a bank holiday lay in. Time to get some more school work done before I crack on with the house.

Bbl

All good thanks - definitely can't complain! We had a holiday last month (a holiday!) c/o Make A Wish which was amaaaaaaaaaaazing. We are very lucky. Joe's Hickman line is OUT so we have been swimming (swimming!) a couple of times. He loves going to the pool so it has been wonderful to see. Another hospital check up next week but he's getting stronger all the time and no symptoms so I'm not too worried at the moment.

He does have some kind of mystery illness though - a handful of spots across his body, like pimples, itchy, the bigger ones have gone scabby... Dr says not chicken pox but no idea what! Poss insect bites but they are literally head to toe and none of the rest of us have them... Very odd!

Suffice to say house is a shit tip as usual. DH and I are doing the Insanity workout - it's working v well but leaves us with little time/energy in the evening to clean. We have a huge desk in our hallway that's elbow deep in clutter... Just bought a Welsh dresser to replace it and so spent last night clearing ALL the stuff in to boxes which will now sit around for ages no doubt!!! Still... Good opportunity to declutter... I also have a new craft table so am looking forward to filling the drawers in that with yarn and fabric.

How are you all?

Welcome back, Trazzle! Am so happy to hear how well Joe is doing these days. Could the mystery spots be molluscum? Both my DC had them. They look like pimples and irritate the skin, often causing eczema around the spots. Mind you, I'd expect the dr to recognise them. Hope they clear up soon, anyway.

The news in the Toffee household is that DS1 has finally received his ASD diagnosis and we are in the midst of his assessment for a statement. We're hoping he gets into a specialist school. It has taken 14 years, countless appointments with various professionals and a lot of dogged determination to get to this point. Also, a lot of help from the very knowledgeable and helpful people on the Mumsnet special needs' board. I finally feel hopeful for DS1's future.

Another beautiful sunny day here. We have to go in to work (no Bank Holiday for the self-employed ), but I expect we'll take the opportunity to go for a walk in the countryside as well.

DS2 managed to let us have a lie in! DH had a long talk with him yesterday about the importance of not waking us up as soon as he woke up especially if it's 6am or earlier. So this morning he waited until 8am and only came in to us when he heard a robot voice on our stairs which scared him .

Once DS1 starts on the melatonin, I might actually start having proper sleeps .

Hope you all have a lovely day.

[SC crawls in and collapses in front of keyboard]

Good morning! Hope you are all enjoying the long weekend! We had a lovely time away: beautiful countryside, fab horses; so much so it was a serious wrench to have to come home [dd was crying as she had enjoyed it so much!] But lawd I ache ...will be eating supper off the mantelpiece for at least a week

Thanks for fab round-ups Goth! ]brew]

Brilliant to have you back Trazzles

And a warm welcome to Iamdivergent!

Good to see you too Feetheart!

And Honu and Just if you happen to be lurking - hope you are both OK!

Toffee really great that ds1 was able to get to his assessment and so glad you got the diagnosis that will put you in a stronger position when it comes to getting the right support! (Not an easy process though I know from reading on here.)

Whoknows good luck with ongoing tribunal process and may pm you about the steam cleaner when I get a minute - have been contemplating buy the Karcher one ...just got a few boring qs to ask about it ...

Blue good to hear the rally went well and good luck tomorrow being filmed chez Blue!

Bitchy Crikey, you have a very good memory!!! Yes, I am approaching a half-century very shortly [sob] When is yours? [Sorry, brain like a sieve] Was very down and depressed about it but through that now and getting quite excited (can't resist birthday celebrations!!) I've posted on here before that dh opted to have root canal work/an extraction on his 50th birthday so no-one could celebrate, and my sil was even worse - would hardly allow us to even mention it - but I have two older sisters who are very active and inspiring so that helps a lot! Also read on Mumsnet once "you will never be as young as you are today" sorry that was sickeningly chipper wasn't it, fetches sick bucket for Bitchy ?.

Having said all of that - was riding this weekend and I am so wobbly and unfit it is embarrassing - needed a winch to get me up and was ambling cantering along and every time I stopped I nearly fell off (the lactic acid gets to your thighs if you are unfit). And having been in the saddle for longer than I am accustomed on a rather wide armchair weight bearing cob, I am now experiencing serious aches in one buttock Seriously need to get a grip re: health and fitness as I am good for nothing now... tis quite depressing!

Young sapling-like dd on the other hand was diving about like a greyhound on speed; I'd chosen a very solid/reliable mount for her (much to her disgust) which I pray is having a well-deserved rest and extra hay today!

Bigbirthdaygloom getting 3 dc under eight dressed and fed IS serious Flying in my book so don't be too hard on yourself!

Have a lovely w/e away Jacks

Dizzy glad your dd enjoyed her trip in the end!

Swan enjoy the liberation from homework today! [Believe me, I do understand that feeling!!!] DD of course left her homework until the last minute yesterday despite my constant nagging reminders, which meant the weekend ended on a less than cheerful note... .

And hope that you are liberated from bees Alice (was once lying on a sunbed when a swarm of bees flew overhead - it was seriously scary - no exaggeration to say the sky went black and the sound was deafening (like a helicopter flying over head]

Hope the shows went well Newlark

V. impressed by all your gardening Mercury

Peanut arf at boozy tiramisu

Big waves to Ellie Engels Castle Honu Just Pushme and anyone else I have forgotten!

Right, cleaner (swapped from Friday) is downstairs trying to make sense of the shambles that we created last night - total chaos - managed to clear the hall of suitcases, back protectors, dirty boots but that was about it. Now just have to clean them all [groan] and get on with the laundry ... .

[SC clasps right buttock, gingerly limps across floor and lurches in direction of doorway ...]

Sorry for essay! Have a lovely Bank Holiday everyone!!

[loads up naughty corner bar with heaps of freshly baked croissants, gaufres, waffles and speculoos with a vat of strong coffee for everyone to help themselves!!]

x posts

Trazzles Brilliant that you have been away and J has been swimming!!! [Daren't ask what Insanity work out is though ...] Good luck with the decluttering!

Toffee oh so wonderful that you feel hopeful after all this time!! Enjoy the sunshine!

Dizzy forgot to say - good luck with training for the C25k - am seriously impressed... .

Trazzles welcome back! Glad you're all able to enjoy the swimming!

Toffee oooh DS1 is on melatonin. I would be sectioned if he didn't - he doesn't sleep at all at night without it!! (which, as we all know, means that I don't sleep at all!)

SC glad you enjoyed your time away!

So... I think most of the bees are gone, I may just venture out into the back garden. Hoping to do some garden work this week - mowing the grass (front and back) and pulling out weeds as well as more sorting in the shed.

I'll be doing some more decluttering inside the house today. I'm trying to downsize the amount of "stuff" in the house, so making a stab at being brutal with what I throw away. I am a packrat at heart, you know.

Saturday night show was very good- thanks for asking sc - dcs were extremely tired afterwards as the second performance didn't finish until 9pm - adrenaline got them home but dd then burst into tears on the stairs as she was too tired to walk up them... Ds was a bit erratic on stage but he was one of the youngest in his group and hasn't been in the class as long as the others. The younger classes were all very cute - I'm hoping there will be a dvd as dh is away. We had a bit of an unproductive day yesterday apart from church (family service which is quite hard work with ds who likes to wander) and lunch in the Waitrose cafe for a treat.

I've just opened the dcs book bags for the first time this weekend and hooray - no "weekend challenge" for ds . We usually only have a half hearted attempt at them - he doesn't like reading or writing and I don't want to push on those if he isn't ready (he is in year R). Last weekend was about weighing which was right up his street - we made Rocky Road and he was in charge of the scales.

I like the kitchen week on flylady - this is the room i appreciate being tidy most so I will attack the bin and the hot spots at the ends of the worktop too today...

I am going to be horrible and mean and just suggest that melatonin doesn't solve all the sleep problems and it can be over-ridden by stubborness. runs away But it does help improve things greatly for some kids. Others need sedatives to ensure they sleep. So it is dependant on the child but definitely worth a go!!!!

Ds got up and came in at 6:50am this morning. FFS 6:50! He definitely doesn't do that on a school day when he lets me sleep until 8:20am when he then shouts at me for making him late Anyway one hug later and I went back to sleep. I got a coffee at 10am and told i was being allowed a lie in. Going to get up and go deal with the wet bed and make a proper fry up brunch. I think the plan is to go do some clearing in the garden. I will admit that I am already looking forward to tomo's rest day as everything hurts and it will be a strong pain killers kinda day to do anything.

SC it is easy to remember when it is as close as I seem to recall to mine, I am not in the habbit of forgetting my own delibertely trying to ignore it is another matter Mine is this week, and I vaguely recall at least one more fledgling born this month although I have forgotten which After the debarkle last year when my best friend discovered I was not telling anyone it was my birthday and then plastered it all over fb I have given up and hope that she accepts that I have just given fb permission to tell people without all the drama of last year I have no real plans but will be making a cake and home made pizza. Hoping the weather is nice next weekend as want to take a day trip so need to rest up this week as it will be an early start with a long day and I need to be well enough to do it. You got plans in progress for your birthday? ponders suggesting a big fledgling invasion

Hope you all have lovely days!! it appears to be nice out there but i need to give my eyes to work properly yet more coffee needed

done
three bits of homework tackled, although I shall have to go back and type two up afterwards . But at least we went through the topics thoroughly.
Quick rescue of front room which is frighteningly awful but I cannot be bothered to either scream at the children or properly sort out the cds and books.

Feeling a bit down again. Ds2 has a horrifying short attention span. He was shaking and crying when he sat down to work and had to be reassured that it would be over in 10 minutes before he would even start. Ds1s hair is absolutely disgusting and he won't wash it (or himself) so I will have to think laterally and take him swimming later. Dd is being flouncy, which could either translate into downright rudeness/obstructiveness later, or alternatively could mean she is extremely motivated and gets down to something.

Oh and worst of all I found dd's school ends two days after I booked the holiday for Seriously stupid mistake. Dh said I should just pretend she is sick for last two days. I wonder whether I should just ask for authorised absence and be prepared to pay the £120 fine as it is much less than changing flights etc. Boys end on the 18th and I assumed she would end on a Friday, why oh why did I not write it on the calendar? In the meantime I need to keep her absence right down to nil to up the attendance percentage.

Otherwise a beautiful day and I am hoping to go to the Funfair with ds2 (when he has attempted all the homework. Geography (a journey through Africa and History (don't even know what but something to do with Princes in Tower possibly I really am not interested) So far we've done Caliban, Outer Space and Hinduism..

Shhh swan don't let ellie hear you. history is supposed to be interesting i'm with you though tbh

Today is going very lazily. I have no motivation and everything hurts and i have put the pain killers somewhere safe ds is flitting from one activity to another and I suspect that this means that there is a lot of mess to be dealt with later.

Anyone fancy finding a way to motivate me?

Um... hello again!

Haven't been here for AGES... and I need to get back to it, so can I join again?

Can't promise to post loads, but I do need a kick up the arse which I know you ladies can administer!

Please? I'll bring calorie free

Hello and welcome back carpe !

I have instructions from PA to say hello, SC and Toffee She is a bit busy with RL atm :(