The fledglings try something new for June

[DarkEvilMoon]

Hello, welcome back and jump on board for June.

As the thread title say we are mixing things up a bit this month, it might work. Then again it might not. It is still a long running thread and newbies will always be welcome. Usual disclaimer still applies "Don’t let it put you off if we appear a bit cliquey, we really aren’t! Some of us have been on here for years – but all lurkers, intermittent returnees, oldies and newcomers very, very welcome"

But here is where this thread is mixing it up. No more daily links. The Big link you will need is the launch pad from here you can get the daily reminders/missions/zones etc...

The first link for the babysteps is the particularly waffly introduction to and first babystep here, through it you can get to all of the other links

Not sure this will work or the lack of daily posts will be a problem. So fingers crossed for a month of nattering and flying success...

Your poor DD, SC; she must be absolutely exhausted, it's hardly surprising she's come down with something. Hopefully the sleep now and rest over the weekend will do her good; children do seem to recover amazingly quickly sometimes. Would she be able to sit the exams at a later date if she's still ill next week?

And poor you as well. It never rains but it pours, doesn't it? If it's any consolation, our cleaner hasn't been for three weeks (she normally comes once a fortnight but we were away last Thursday) and the house is definitely starting to look a little grubby, not to mention the utter chaos reigning in the DC's bedrooms. I've given up nagging/helping them to tidy as it just feels like a Sisyphean task; what they really need is a proper declutter but I'm concentrating on the rest of the house first!

Thanks for checking your Squeezebox; I'm still considering whether I really need one or whether I can get by with my phone (considering I'm trying to bring less stuff into the house, the latter option would be more sensible).

Whatever you do, don't google Eagle Creek if you don't want to get sucked in! I was introduced to them on the kondo thread and have bought sets in different colours for each of us apart from DH as they only come in four colours he's not convinced he needs them, but don't think I have quite enough... They do make our suitcases look amazingly tidy, though, and help to fit more in too I think. DD2 loves them and has already packed for our summer holiday - I just wish her organisational skills would rub off on the rest of the family, me included.

Work has finally arrived, which should keep me busy for most of next week, but I managed to get a few things crossed off my list before it came. Have also been in touch with Fitbit company and am being sent a replacement; I'm quite impressed with the customer service as it was over two years old. Fortunately I bought it on Amazon so was able to send a screenshot of my order history as proof of purchase; I wouldn't have kept a paper receipt for that long.

Thanks Linzer that's the problem, there are no concessions for illness, for anyone.

I told the headmistress my doubts and that dd was ill for a week after a simple sleep over when she stayed up until the early hours (she's generally well but as she is growing so fast and so thin etc anything out of the ordinary tends to knock her for six) and was basically told to stop making a fuss and to "have confidence in my daughter". Heigh ho. But it was ultimately our decision so have to live with that now whatever the outcome.

The good news is that dd has slept most of the morning and got up to eat at lunch (steak sandwich with tomatoes) so that's a good sign and she and the dog are watching cartoons on the sofa now. She's a bit like that plant in Little Shop of Horrors that shouts "feed me" every 2 hrs and "I want meat"!!

And thanks for the reassurance that I am not the only one with a grubby house (just slightly anxious now in case anyone from school drops around with materials for dd for the we) so supposed I had better continue to clean ... .

Funnily enough I need a new suitcase so may just quickly peruse Eagle Creek again for a few moments before getting back to it ... I'm rather drawn to the lime green ... .

Sod's law that your work arrives at lunch time on a Friday just in time for the weekend - but good luck with it!

Glad to hear your DD is a little brighter, SC. A healthy appetite is always good! It does sound like a demanding system; the DC are under so much more pressure here than I was at their age, although of course things have no doubt changed a great deal since I was at school in the UK anyway. Fingers crossed that your DD is back to her normal self by next week and feeling ready to cope with the next round of exams.

Sorry, I shouldn't really have called the Eagle Creek cubes "bags"; I meant their packing cubes, and forgot they do suitcases and backpacks too. Basically, they allow you to keep your clothes organised in your suitcase, e.g. for our last weekend away, the DC put underwear in a quarter cube, tops in a half cube and bottoms in another half cube. I bought one of each size for all of us, but the largest size is a bit too big - especially for the DC - and I could really do with some more half cubes.

Yes, work always tends to arrive late morning, just before I pick up DS from school... But at least I can work for a few hours this afternoon as I've just dropped him off at a birthday party (another uphill cycle ride in the heat; am exhausted now), DD2 is at a friend's, and DD1 and DH won't be back for another couple of hours. I'm not really sure whether I need to work at the weekend or not as it all depends on whether the other job I'm expecting materialises next week, but I'll probably do so just to be on the safe side.

Why do children chose to do something you struggle to get them to do normally at a point when you need them not to be doing it but leaving the house? Suppose to have left 10 minutes ago but ds is sat doing his homework.

Will have to ponder those Linzer I usually put rolled up socks and pants in my shoes and in packing 'crevices' ifyswim!! And have a homemade drawstring bag for dirty laundry that goes on the bottom (but that's usually because we are travelling by car and I like to be able to sling all the dirty laundry out of the boot and down in the laundry room without disturbing the cases too much). Can see the attraction for items that might bust out on to your clothing though ie cosmetics and tooth paste.

Hope the work is going well and good luck with cycling in the heat again! I'm very envious of you being able to go everywhere by bike!

All dc subscribe to the rulings of sod's law DEM

Blue How do you see yourself managing the next few years? If in doubt I wouldn't take on any more stress as any sort of building work with small children seems to take at least 6 months out of your life - literally - there is very little room for anything else and those months are GONE. All doer uppers are money pits unless you are very experienced (which you may be) I do know some people who have the capacity to see what needs doing straight away and go straight for the jugular. But even doing the garden in this house has driven me to despair - the effect of dust builders and the sheer instability - it has really affected my capacity to function (which was low anyway) You may be different - some people thrive on project management.

On the other hand I have yet to see a house which doesn't need yet more work doing to it even if it looks okay on the surface - wiring plumbing small extensions all have the power to wreak havoc on any nicely decorated house.

Actually both the houses sound very nice!! Wish we had that sort of choice - anything you might want to live in here is so fantastically overpriced that you recoil in horror.

SC my dd is a bit like that - one minute very capable and then collapses. Only another week to get through!!! She will manage. Steak sounds an excellent reviver.

Well finally the bags of earth have been taken away but for some reason gardener has decided to spend afternoon reassembling our shed on his allotment (we wanted him to recycle it but surely he would have had the tact not to mention that he was reassembling it whilst we were still waiting for him to do more work HERE!!)

Well I'm relieved to say that dd is feeling chirpier tonight after yet another large meal (fish pie)! [So fingers and toes crossed for next week.] She had the energy to try out the dog's new bed which arrived today and the box in- which it arrived It is ridiculously large for furry one (we could fit three of them in there) but dh insisted that he likes to sleep stretched out on his back and it therefore had to be long enough to enable him to do that [strange but true].

Dh totally wiped out and virtually incapable of speech but at least he has the w/e now. And was revived by a Leffe Blonde and watching a bit of the Belgium v Wales match.

Going to be bed now although it is stiflingling hot (waiting for storm) and next door are having a loud rowdy party so doubt much sleep will be had.

Crikey Swan that is a bit cheeky of your builder; how frustrating! I suspect he is relying a little too much on your good nature. My dsis is going through something similar -same old story - have had huge tranche of work done and are now waiting for them to come back and finish the twiddly bits ... and are waiting and waiting (fortunately have withheld a bit of the cash too). Hope you get your garden finished without much further delay.

I agree with you about despair and building work though. I am too old to live with it now. The one thing that dh and I are agreed upon in relation to this project is that we are going to move out entirely while it is done, and if we can possibly afford it, which is doubtful, have the whole thing done at once.

Also agree that it is usually the buyer who acquires the house after it has been done up (not the owners who do the work) that profit most.

Also think building projects are a real test of one's marriage (not kidding!) you have to have a very strong relationship to survive it!

[Hope we are not putting you off too much Blue! ]

G'night all!

Evening all,

Glad DD is feeling a bit more herself SC, what a worry for you with the exams.

Toffee - was your interview today? Hope it went well.

Linzer - that's impressive about the Fitbit. I had read somewhere that they are good at supplying replacements for lost chargers and holders too. WE have one of these mango stoner and it really is very good, I peel them before de-stoning.

Swan - cheeky bugger! The gardener that is.

Good news Chez WhoKnows - the statement wrangling is all over! The council have agreed to everything we wanted (finally!), it has all been confirmed by email, I just need to wait for the signed copy to appear next week and I can cancel the tribunal. Such a relief!

More good news, DS is back from his residential having a great time

Even more good news, I'm off for a day at the races with my oldest and dearest friends tomorrow.

Bad news however - our downstairs lighting circuit has just given up the ghost, so we have had to isolate it and I'm sat here typing away in the glow of a lava lamp. Luckily it's long days at the moment, not winter and we have quite a few floor and table lamps. I don't want to pay weekend emergency electrician charges, what do you think the etiquette is of possibly phoning a couple tomorrow to see if they could come out next week? Disturbed weekend for them or glad to have potential business?

Ta-da!

Cleared out one kitchen cupboard, wiped shelves, put it all back again.
One load of washing.
Shopping for DS's favourite foods
Tip / charity shop run.

Yay!! Congratulations Whoknows I'm so happy for you and your ds (and that you no longer have to go through the stress of a tribunal) and well done for ploughing on through in difficult times; I know the paperwork took ages and ages You must be so relieved!

Great that your ds enjoyed his trip too! What a lovely weekend you will all have together!

Think it is fine to ring tradesmen on Sat mornings - ours certainly take calls and ring us then anyway - good luck with getting electrics fixed.

Very about the races! HOpe you have a lovely day!!

Fabulous news, WhoKnows!

What an enormous relief. I had a strong sense of unreality when we received confirmation that the LA were going to pay for DS1's specialist school and still can't quite believe it.

Enjoy your day out at the races tomorrow.

I'm up at this silly hour thanks to drinking too much with friends last night. I haven't been drinking alcohol recently, so it probably hit me harder than usual.

Yesterday was one of those non-stop days. Had my interview in the morning. I was so nervous, but the interviewers were really lovely. I think it went ok, but no word yet about whether I've got the job.

DS1 had his first filling in the afternoon. He was astonishingly calm about it, but admitted afterwards that having his teeth cleaned had been really painful. I explained to him (yet again) that this wouldn't be the case if he looked after his teeth properly. The dentist went over the importance of brushing with him too, so I hope it has gone in this time. He does this maddening thing of refusing to brush his teeth when he's anxious - which is often.

Could happily have gone back to bed after that (having only had five hours' sleep the night before), but had to tidy the house ready for dinner with friends. It took me two hours, by which time I was utterly exhausted.

Had a lovely time with our friends, fell into bed with DS2 as soon as they'd gone and woke up gasping for water an hour ago. Am peckish now too, so about to go off and hunt for snacks in the kitchen cupboards (cue: confused cats, thinking it's breakfast time).

Weekend off woohoo! House is actually looking a lot better even though it doesn't feel like I've done a huge amount. Think it's down to the decluttering (which must continue) and keeping on top of the washing.
Have a house guest for two nights - not exactly unexpected but I had forgotten she was coming - and apart from changing beds and flying around with the Dyson I didn't have to do much...it would normally take a whole day to prepare the house for 'outside eyes'. So feeling quite chuffed actually.

Today's jobs;
Washing (again - does it never end?)
Walk dogs
Cook dinner for us and guest
Vacuum (again - see washing comment)

linzer DS is on the accuchek combo. We love it.

I crashed last night. Clearly needed the sleep. only just woke up and only considering moving as i appear to have cooked my brain and in desperate need of a very large drink of water and a cup of coffee.

Is anyone else finding tv signal very hit and miss with freeview atm? It is starting to annoy me. Mostly only in the daytime, i know we get problems when there are a lot of solar flares and sun spot but currently wondering if one of the neighbours technical equipment is causing interferrance.

whoknows fingers crossed that signed copy arrives without delay!

Waves to all fledglings!

Just dashing in and out to say:

Toffee I'm so sorry - what with everything I completely forgot to wish you well for your interview yesterday! I'm so glad it went well!! Fingers crossed for you!! And well done to ds1 for his courage at the dentist!! Hope you can catch up on sleep tonight!

Maggie many congratulations on your guest-readiness!! V. impressive after such a short time Flying!

Every room a complete shambles here. And dh still very stressed. And dd stressed again about other things. Oh dear.

Trying to crack on though ... .

Forgot to wave to DEM and proffer

Hope things go ok this week for you, sometimes it helps to focus on the de stress on the last few days before the exams if nerves are an issue. Good luck to dd!

Thanks DEM. VV important exams for dd this week (and dh will be travelling again [sigh] and his head is somewhere else because he has career defining day coming up on Wed) ie his stress is perculating down to us. Trying to keep it together but school not helping as they made it clear they were (understandably) not happy about dd's absence on Fri but she was genuinely over-tired and I did what I thought was best in consideration of wk ahead. She is now distressed again though and frankly so am I but trying not to let it show!!

Trying to get some paperwork sorted. Seem to have spent the whole afternoon not getting a lot done There is a bloody field full of people listening to music I hate at a volume that is impossible to ignore. It is not aiding concentration.
Am currently thinking that i need to do something else

whoknows enjoy your day out with friends
SC shambles doesn't matter clear a pathway that can wait till after exams - main thing is to remind yourself and dd that you will get through them even if it is just to pass them (presumably grades aren't so important just the passing?)

We've had a nice day listening to Mumford and Sons CD and reading (dh and I have a big stack of books - sadly mine were mostly self help books but one novel) Dcs have all been out for drama for some of the day and ds1 managed to assemble a few clothes for his Field Trip to Bournemouth next week.

Dh in a very sunny mood (now that he is steering clear of family meals)
Supper was pasta with butter and cheese, baked chicken with rosemary and raw carrots cherry tomatoes and lettuce. Followed by shop strawberry icecream. All very calm.

Going to York on Monday/Tues with ds2 - rather dreading it but still. Then only a day before they do the wretched base of the new garden house.

Dd has just begged me to hoover her room tomorrow. No. She can do it herself when she comes back from socialising. I think she is beginning to recognise the squalor and want to do something about it but still resistant to the actual labour involved

Have been reading a book called The Teenage Brain in which we are encouraged to help organise and structure teenage lives. NOT what I wanted to hear...

DEM loud music I have not put on myself is my nightmare. I dread festivals for that reason. Maybe they are not as bad as I envisage. However - having a field nearby must be pretty cool!

Ah, poor DD, that does sound gruelling, SC. Hope tomorrow can be a proper day of rest!

Glad the interview went well, Toffee. Fingers crossed.

Great news about the statement etc WhoKnows and hope you enjoyed your day out.

Developments here - the stuff going into storage has gone - woohoo! - and an estate agent has been instructed. Now need to get everything ready for a photographer at some point this week. Eek! At the moment I'm veering towards the doer-upper house, but it all depends on whether the vendors are serious and open to realistic offers...

Must get to bed at a sensible time, so about to kick self off the pooter.

Night all.

Hello all.

SC I think keeping your dd home on Friday was the right choice.

My week has been pretty busy. I have given my classroom the flylady treatment in the evenings and it is so much nicer to be in there now.

My house is a different story I did a charity run yesterday, then the food shop and then went to see my aunt and uncle with dd yesterday. Although I had a lovely day nothing got done around the house as dp was at work so I really need to get on top of things today.

To do
Put away ironing
Wash and dry uniforms
Clean bathrooms
Tidy
Hoover and dust throughout
Take dd to her swimming lesson
Supervise homework
Plan for tomorrow

SC - I agree that you did the right thing letting your DD stay at home on Friday. I don't know how you put up with that headmistress. Best of luck for next week.

DEM - sympathies on the too-loud music. Someone has moved in next door and keeps playing really loud music with all the doors and windows open. Twice now we've had to go round to complain, as we can't even sit in our garden when the music's on.

Mercury - glad to hear the Flylady treatment is working on your classroom.

Blue - sounds like you are making good progress. I remember how exhausting the whole process is. It has put us off ever doing it again, to be honest, but it's worth it when you move into your new home.

swan - sounds like a lovely, relaxing day for you yesterday. (And my DH would love to steer clear of family meals too.)

Maggie - great to hear you no longer suffer from CHAOS! Decluttering is definitely the key.

I woke up with a start this morning to hear DH saying, "We've got to get DS1 to school!" We both went into panic mode before realising it was Sunday .

Today we're dropping DS2 at MIL's whilst we go into work for a bit. I can't stop thinking about the job I applied for on Friday: I will be on tenterhooks next week, waiting to see if I got it or, at least, freelance work. But, if I don't get anything, at least I've had some practice at being interviewed and have brushed up my CV.

Thank you all - very much - for all the supportive words. I know I'm always saying this, but I really do not know what I would do without this thread sometimes!!!!

[Leaves virtual glasses of freshly squeezed fruit juices, piles of energising berries and stacks of thin English toast and butter and honey, or Marmite, or Marmalade, on the naughty corner bar for everyone.]

Tried to explain situation to dh (who is impatient and stressed about work) but he didn't 'get it'. I'm upset because dd is naturally quite anxious (this honestly isn't pfb talk - this was confirmed by ed psych) and she went through a really tough patch when she was nine and a bit, and came out of it brilliantly and her resilience has really, really improved and although the school have given her credit for that, it seems like it is "never enough".

And the teacher reprimanded me yesterday (in a very nice way) by saying that her mother would probably have let her stay at home in circs but not sure that it is doing dd "any good" by doing so. And she implied that we let the class down (which distressed dd again who was already very upset about not going in but physically couldn't hack it ifyswim). Normally I would totally agree with all she said but these are exceptional circumstances. She has to be fit for a long week of important exams this week.

So Mercury to have you as a teacher say that I did the right thing is really reassuring! Thank you! And for everyone else's kind comments!

I just wish dd's teacher could have let it lie for once for dd's sake on Monday morning. Hardly the best springboard for week ahead but never mind!

Right, I'll stop wittering on about it now

DEM hope it has quietened down a bit over your way!

Swan glad the landscaping people coming back this week! Are you going for educational purposes to York with ds2? OOhhh, I love the Shambles and all of that. Don't forget to point out St Margaret Clitheroe's chapel and tell ds2 the gruesome story of how she was squished by a door poor soul. Or are you going to the Railway Museum? Or following the Roman trails? Getting quite excited on your behalf!! Funnily enough, I have a few 'teenage brain' books in my Amazon shopping basket at the moment but now I am thinking of putting them back (just kidding!) (Can't organise my own brain never mind anyone else's!! )

OOOhh how exciting Blue about the house! Hope the vendors are open to sensible offers! Good luck with getting everything ship shape for photographers and potential buyers etc!!

Mercury I think you are being far too hard on yourself if I may say so - running for charity and visiting relatives - are both far more important than choring. (All fantastic parental role-model stuff!) And well done for giving your classroom the fat fairy treatment! Good luck with your list today!

Dh is grumpy and sullen so I am going to take advantage of the time saved talking to him by ploughing on through the chores single-mindedly. Need to impose a bit of order/calm and make healthy soup and keep battling on with the wretched laundry and ironing. And tackle on-line parcel returns and bailing up dd's old but lightly used clothes to send to my niece.

Have a lovely Sunday everybody

Have a lovely Sunday everyone!

x post Toffee

Thank you for your kind words too! (It was actually dd's teacher this time but no doubt she had conferred with directrice.) Heigh ho!

That sounds awful about the loud music next door. Some people have no consideration!

And yes, fingers crossed for outcome of interview! Whatever happens it is always good to 'get back in to the swing'!!