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...

I have to admit that the noise stopped when they had said it would. Makes it more bareable in some respects.

Toffee Fingers crossed for a good result from the interview.

SC it is hard the teachers have to stick to a one size fits all policy, but I am glad that she admitted she would probably have been kept off school in the same circumstances. Which suggests to me that she was having to pass on the official line but there is understanding about your decision. Good luck with ploughing through chores

Blue good luck with the house hunting and selling process

Congrats to the fledgling who has kicked CHAOS in the butt It really is an achievement!

Not sleeping enough so got the beginning of a migraine. Hoping breakfast and a good drink of water will help. I have a lot that i could be doing, but i think it is going to have to be a day for resting and perhaps reading a book or two.

the good news is that:
we've been to Mass (including very skittish ds2)
dd returned safely from her music video trip (it turned out friend's father told them it was too dodgy to record it in a public park - now if I had said that, I would never have heard the last of it but I am very relieved her friends' parents are so strict )

She has been playing Guitar and singing to us beautifully Ed Sheerin and that sort of thing

ds1 has managed to find a clipboard for his geography field trip from a neighbour having forgotten to buy one when I sent him to buy that and some tracksuit trousers

bag is packed for Bournemouth (ds1)
I have downloaded tickets for York (ds2 and I)

bad news is that I haven't packed
house is tip (still)
and I feel as if I am floating on several layers of different chaos

Good luck with dd's exams tomorrow SC - next year you will never have to talk to the Directrice ever again - think what joy! I was just discussing this with someone in Mass (after Mass) how the final days of school term when you know primary days are over you bury all hatchets and just hope to slink out quietly and have a GOOD FEELING about primary for ever after.

oh dear some sort of row erupting better go

Evening all!

Just diving in to say that I will be absent from the thread this week [curled up in a foetal position in a darkened room ] but thank you very much for all the 'good lucks' for dd for the days ahead which are much appreciated!

Swan I doubt that a headmistress is doing her job properly if she is all sweetness and light, despite everything, we are really going to miss the primary school. To be totally fair, I doubt dd will ever be at a school again where the staff put in so much effort and commitment on behalf of their pupils, and we have made some very good friends there. It has also been a very supportive 'enclave' for us expats. I won't however miss the constant feeling of not being 'motherly' enough or holy enough . Or being talked down to. And dd is ready to move on. It will be very bitter sweet at the end of term.

How lovely about your dd's singing!!!
And safe travelling tomorrow!

DEM yy to deadlines wrt loudness helping enormously! Hope you were able to nip migraine in the bud!

Huge wing flaps to all fledglings for the week ahead! Back some time early next week!

G'night all!

Mountwashmore has been tamed to molehill status, folding has been tames to sock basket only levels, ironing mountain is extensive and growing daily though Managed to get some but not all of what was on my list done today. In theory could do the rest but am giving up and trying to grab an early night to help curb brewing migraines

Just wanted to say good luck Sawn York is a lovely place. Do like a day trip there when opportunity arises. Thoroughly enjoyed the open top bus tour (educationally heavy), and would definitely recommend the train museum (free) and the Jorvik centre. Have fun no matter what you end up doing!

will catch up properly when i get 5 mins hope you are all well.

Morning all,

Just a quick post as I should be working, but need a short break from legalese. DD1 is at home today as she picked up a nasty cold on her residential; one of the boys was apparently already ill before they left, but his parents still sent him - grr.

DEM Well done on the your mount-to-molehill achievement.

SC Really hope the week goes well for you and your DD.

swan Enjoy York - it's somewhere I'd like to revisit.

Mercury Well done on classroom flying!

Blue Exciting news on the house; keep us posted (had to look that up as could only think of auf dem Laufenden ).

Maggie Hope you had a lovely time with your guest.

Toffee Glad the interview seemed to go well; do you have any idea about when you might hear?

WhoKnows Ah, that was we had - the mango stoner, I mean, but a cheaper version (from Lidl); it never really seemed to work properly and then I managed to break it. Yes, am very impressed by Fitbit but am particularly annoyed to be without it when I've been doing so much walking - went for a long walk at the weekend with other parents from DD2's class and all I could think about (slight overexaggeration ) was how many steps I would be missing out on.

Linzer - sorry your DD is poorly. Hope you can still get your work done. No, no idea when I'll hear about the job. Am on tenterhooks today, hoping the phone rings. I suppose they'll email me if I haven't got it.

DS1 was in a bad way this morning, as he's doubling his hours. However, he still went into school and said he was looking forward to Maths. I don't know where that gene comes from (certainly not me).

Need to get dressed now and then do some work with DS2. Also have to go into town to buy some birthday cards, although I don't want to leave the phone (no answerphone since the kittens ate their way through the connection).

It's great that your DS still went into school despite not feeling happy about it, Toffee - and equally great that he had something to look forward to. I've just been listening an interview on Woman's Hour with a woman who made maths sound really quite interesting. Tbf I did enjoy maths at school and would have liked to do it at A level if it hadn't clashed with my other subjects, but feel quite overwhelmed by the maths that the DDs are doing (can still just about cope with DS's level!).

I can imagine it must be a very nerve-wracking wait, especially if it means you worry about leaving the house. Fingers crossed you hear asap.

DD1 has been in or at least on her bed most of the morning, so I've been able to get on with work as usual. I might even manage to get some more done this afternoon as DS has a friend over (and DD2's homework usually keeps her occupied for a good while); I'm well on schedule for the deadline, but just never know when more work will arrive so would like to get it finished as early as possible.

Didn't have to wait at home after all, Linzer, as DH has stayed at home today. I managed to get Ds2 out for a runaround in the local park. No phone call yet. Am pretty sure I would have heard by now if it was good news .

Good to hear you've been able to get on with work in spite of having DD at home. Hope the afternoon is as productive.

ta da

Fed cats, DH and children
Cleared litter trays and changed water
Put rubbish out
Took DS2 to the park
Unloaded and reloaded d/w
Wiped down kitchen surfaces
Home ed with DS2: handwriting and Maths (very unwilling pupil this morning)

Right, off to collect DS1 now. Amazing that he has survived four hours - it's the longest he's been at school for years!

Oh, that's good you were able to get out after all Toffee. Sorry you still haven't heard, but I wouldn't necessarily assume it's bad news - they may still need to sort out a few things, have a meeting, etc. before they make an offer. It's years since I last applied for a job but I'm sure that with both jobs I've had, I had to wait several days before hearing back after the interview.

DD1 is complaining that her throat is getting worse so I'm expecting her to stay home tomorrow as well. It's so long since she was last ill (she didn't/doesn't feel ill with the diabetes) that she's finding it all a bit hard to cope with, keeps asking when exactly she'll be better, what she can take to make it go away, etc. I now have a sore throat too (although am feeling fine otherwise) - another reason while I really must try to get on with some work while I have the chance just in case it does develop into anything.

Still no news . DH heard the phone ringing once - great excitement in our household. I was upstairs with DS1 and, by the time I reached the phone, it had stopped ringing. DS2 - who was sitting on the computer right next to it - said he'd 'forgotten to answer it' . Anyway, it was probably just as well because it turned out to be a nuisance caller.

Linzer - if DD's throat gets really sore (think broken-glass sore) take her to the doc in case it's tonsilitus. DS1 was in tears of pain when he had it a few years ago. But I hope it's just part of the cold. Sorry you have a sore throat too.

Thanks for your comforting words about waiting not necessarily being a bad thing. I can't help thinking it must mean bad news, though, and am preparing myself for the worst.

Good news though: DS1 completed his first full morning at school . He enjoyed the lessons, especially Maths and Science (gave us a lecture about the dangers of 'legal drugs' such as over-the-counter painkillers. Luckily, he didn't get onto alcohol ). I was worried about how he'd cope at breaktime, but he said he'd been fine: he'd sat on his own and refused to buy anything at the tuck shop, but he said other pupils chatted to him and were kind and he didn't want to get to know anyone anyway! I hope he makes at least one friend there in time, but at the moment he says they're all 'nice, but weird'!

Right, need to cobble together something for us all to eat. Nothing in the fridge, so this means a quick run to the local shop for eggs to make an omelette.

('Nothing in the fridge' is not strictly true, of course. Just no meals).

That's disappointing, Toffee - but no news is good news and all that. I know that waiting is just awful, though. I also usually prepare myself for the worst so that I'm pleasantly surprised if things do work out (but did have someone tell me off for doing so as it means you go through life with a negative attitude, which is very true - not that I'm accusing you of doing so, I hasten to add). Great news on DS completing his first full morning at school, anyway; at his lecture on legal drugs rather than alcohol!

DD2 is still complaining of a sore throat so I'll definitely take her to the doctor if it's not better within a day or two or if it gets worse. I've dosed her up with Calpol for the time being and will leave her to lie in tomorrow, which I hope will help; she's already said she wants to stay at home tomorrow, and going by the way she was today I don't think she's ready for school yet either. Fortunately my sore throat hasn't got any worse; I just need to make sure I get enough sleep, as I always tend to catch things when I'm feeling run down.

Talking of which, must get to bed now. Very quiet on here today; where is everyone?

Just pottering about today, bits of work, swimming lessons, viewing a house that won't quite do...

Glad to hear about DS1's morning at school, Toffee.

[rocks in corner]

I've got so much to do I am not supposed to be on here

Just waving! Not drowning

Ta DEM!

[snaffles special brew gratefully and sneaks away again]

I shouldn't really be here either - I have a deadline today and another one at the end of the week. DH is away for the rest of the week and DD1 is still off sick, but on the mend.

Keep going SC! and stay off MN (not that I'm one to talk)

Good luck with all you have to do, SC. And with meeting the deadline, Linzer.

Still no word from the job interview. Feel as if I must have dreamt the whole thing.

ta da

Fed cats, DC, DH
DS1 went to school again
Swish and swipe in bathroom
Unloaded and reloaded d/w
Emptied kitchen bin
Home ed with DS2 (maths and handwriting - better today)
Took in delivery of cat food and fresh litter
3 loads of washing (one done by DH)
Hung up washing on line
Collected DS1 from school
Quick trip to Aldi for budget food shop
DH nipped into Tesco for Pimms and lemonade to drink in the sunshine later
Room rescue in sitting room
Hoovering (DH did this)
Made pasta and reheated homemade sauce for lunch
Started new DLA form
Meeting with DS1's therapist
Made jelly at the request of DC
Emailed DS1's school

Still to do:

Bring in some washing and hang up another load
Clean and change cat litter
Tidy kitchen (more washing up to do )
DLA form
Put clean sheets on beds

DH has taken DS2 out for a walk in the sunshine. DS2 begged DS1 to come, but he's too tired after school. He was so anxious again this morning, but made himself go in. Then it turned out to be a 'leavers' day', so there was a marquee up and lunch was going to be an hour early. DS1 doesn't stay for lunch, so he panicked at first, then took himself off to the office to say that he needed to go home early because he wasn't ready to have lunch there yet. The receptionist was lovely to him and rang us to ask us to pick him up an hour early.

I feel a bit annoyed that the school didn't think about this having an impact on DS and prepare him for it (and not just him, by the sound of it - the receptionist said she'd had several children asking to go home because they couldn't cope with the change in their normal routine). Luckily, DS1 dealt with it really well and I think it's been good for him to know that he can get himself out of sticky situations.

Right, have to haul myself off the computer now and start working my way through my 'to do' list.

Arghhhhh, just when you think it is safe to go back in the water. Ds is demanding to be removed from school.

Oh no, DEM. Grr for you.

Toffee of your Pimms and lemonade - and sunshine (don't know where the sun has disappeared to here). Sounds like your DS coped well with the unexpected early finish for him at school, but it must be annoying that the school didn't think to prepare him or the other children.

My ta da list is very unimpressive, but I may as well post it and feel like I've done something.

Made appointment for allergy test for DD1
Met work deadline no. 1 (but customer promptly sent me another two jobs to do this week on top of job no. 2 from another client)
Sorted out train tickets for summer - although my parents actually bought them for me (was quite impressed that, for two journeys amounting to 10 hours of travelling time, I've only had to pay £18 for the four of us - although the compensation vouchers from Virgin that I had left over from last summer's delay helped quite a bit)
Took DS to guitar lesson

Still to do:
Put DC to bed
Proofread job no. 2
Early night with book (miracles may happen)

Toffee sorry to hear about the disruption at school but glad DS1 dealt with it well. Aldi do excellent fake Pimms which is indistinguishable from the real stuff and a fraction of the price, by the way, for future reference!

for DEM

I have done a bit of gardening, a bit of work and survived a governors' meeting so that's something.

York trip didn't go that well - although in a technical sense it did (ds2 enjoyed it all and walked around a lot/photographed trains) I felt a bit annoyed that I had thrown so much money at an overnight trip which was designed for me to talk to an old friend and I didn't really get a moment to talk to her because ds2 was being quite controlling and demanding. Ah well, tis obviously a mistake to multitask with ds2 and I think he has outgrown those sort of trips or had too many this year Back to camping then! Our next challenge... Ds2 is keen! But I am only going with other children as I think ds needs the company now.

Did talk to my friend for an hour and a half which was something though. She went home yesterday afternoon (only there for 5 hours) so it was really was annoying ds2 didn't give us that 2.5 hour slot to exchange gossip grrr...kept interurrupting us etc..and unable to entertain himself with telly or dsi

My new theory is possibly that it is better to get slightly more expensive tickets (with 1/3 off for railcard) which mean we can hop on any train according to whim rather than be locked into particular times of day. Ds2 really needs the flexibility because he himself is pretty inflexible We could have done with a little more time in York this morning as yesterday we missed a few sights but I couldn't have predicted this when I booked as it seemed quite a long visit as it was..(and we had been when he was 8 years old already so seen Yorvik/Train museum/ramparts etc)

Anyway a good plan in theory but it didn't work out - I will know for next time - leave ds2 behind if I want to gossip [sigh] and if necessary pay dh for looking after him... it would be cheaper in the long run...

Toffee gosh nailbiting days - every little rumble is really unnerving. It will get better the more he gets used to it - he is older and just wanting to be there will make the difference. Ds1's school in Year 7 had this incredibly annoying system of making them write how the day had gone at the end of every day (a sort of Traffic Light Diary) - it drove us mad at the time but I see it was a sort of way of getting them to engage with their fears and difficulties and move forward to the next day. (although admittedly it didn't work at all with ds2 who couldn't write well enough to fill it in ) I hope he can get some confidence from seeing the other children aren't all alpha perfect.

Job sounds very irritating - by the time you hear you will be phlegmatic either way but still...

Gardeners have put up the gravel boards finally.
Shed people have inevitably cancelled at the last minute till next week but at least it gives me time to tackle some other cr*p like parking vouchers

House hideous. Dh really is not someone who tidies or cleans... At least he washes the clothes though. There was a great heap to be sorted on my return. And he has put ds2 to bed which is a relief after the intensive parenting of the last few days..stuffs halo into cupboard under the stairs and hopes never to see it again

Sorry your trip did not go as planned Swan

Ds is pondering the fact that I told him that if he ended up homeschooling he would end up working at least twice as hard as he did at school. He is pondering whether the kafuffle in school is worth having to work

Evening all,

just checked and I haven't posted since Friday, how remiss of me! Anyway, Saturday morning consisted of DD's ballet show photoshoot, so lots of sequins, make-up, hairnets and chatting. Then off to the races to meet my friends, the photoshoot overran so I only got there 5 mins before the first race, luckily we go to the same track every summer so I know my way around now. We had a lovely afternoon, followed by a nice meal out and back to the hotel some of them were staying at for late drinks on the terrace (unfortunately I was driving, so the FB pictures show me sitting there with my teapot middle age has kicked in).

On Siunday DS went out to his friend's house and I took DD strawberry picking, which was lovely.

So, today, all the signed paperwork for the statement arrived, my solicitor has cancelled the tribunal and it's finally starting to sink in. Such a relief.

Linzer - hope DD1 feels better soon. I'm sure you are checking, but please be careful with over the counter cold remedies and read the packaging, some are not suitable for people with diabetes, as I realised after DH dosed himself up with them last year - it did him no harm, but he is a lot further on with his condition and very good at coping with adjustments to his insulin. Having worked in pharmaceuticals for many years I'm an avid reader of pack leaflets, DH is not. As for the A level maths, I did it (got an E!) but still struggle with some of what the DCs come home with. It's all changed!

Swan - sorry York wasn't a complete success. Our new shed is due next week too. I'm looking forward to being able to clear all the stuff off what remains of the lawn into it.

Toffee - I've just been to a talk by the local police about drugs and alcohol, it was very interesting if a bit depressing . I now know where all the best places are in town for underage alcohol purchase and which public toilets to not let my DCs go to on their own.

DEM - very wise! Hope DS considers his options very carefully!

Ta-da!

Cleaned bathroom and steam cleaned floor.
Two loads of washing
A bit of tidying not much
Quick trip to town for more bun nets
Work (at home)
Lots of emails, statement loose ends etc
Ballet
Drug/alcohol meeting. Was running a bit late for this, so I served up dinner to DH and the DCs, some lovely chicken and salad, told them to leave me some. When I got home a rather DH told me they'd left it on the kitchen table and the cats had eaten all my chicken. So toast for me tonight.
Allotment to water seedlings, all coming along nicely

ta da

Bring in some washing and hang up another load done
Clean and change cat litter done
Tidy kitchen (more washing up to do ) done
DLA form started
Put clean sheets on beds done

Also drank Pimms in the garden, made dinner with DH (team effort tonight) and watched 'The Good Wife' (we are way behind everyone else, so no spoilers, please).

Ds1 fell asleep on his bed after dinner. It was only 8pm.

DEM - good luck with the home-ed discussions with your DS.

Linzer - well done on meeting your deadline. And for getting such cheap train tickets . (I never seem to manage this).

Blue - thanks for the tip. We briefly considered the Aldi fake Pimms, but assumed it wouldn't taste as good. We'll give it a go next time.

Swan - sorry your York trip didn't go as well as you'd hoped. It must have been very frustrating not being able to catch up with your friend. Thanks for your comforting words about Ds's school and the job.

WhoKnows - that slow dawning of relief about the statement sounds very familiar. Sounds like you had a busy, happy weekend. Glad to hear you are now up to speed on drugs and alcohol .

Sorry you lost your dinner to the cats.

Night all.