Fledglings chatter and try to FLY through July

[BlueEyeshadow]

Following June's chatty thread, welcome aboard another month of vaguely trying to follow FLY Lady's housekeeping system. There are still babysteps and missions for each day and the little and often system for decluttering and keeping chaos at bay.

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 for another month we'll try to fly without daily links. The Big link you will need is the launch pad which will take you to all the daily reminders/missions/zones etc...

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

So it only remains for me to thank DEM for setting up the last thread , and stock up the naughty corner bar for when it all gets a bit much. Plenty of and to see us through.

Fingers crossed for thd schools Blue, it's the same here, houses going up everywhere and schools oversubscribed.

SC, thank you for your kind words. One downside of the amount of extra-curricular stuff my DCs do is not enough free time for cooking together, I want to have a push on that over the summer.

Droitwich - welcome back, lovely to have you on here again.

I've had a lovely day. Day off work, just had to check in on emails etc. Made a load of cherry conserve with cherries from our tree, the crop is literally 10x any we've had previously. Been to the allotment and Pilates class. Nicest of all, after dinner DS asked if he could go and play frisbee on the nearby green, I followed him out, then DH and DD joined us, the DCs played happily for over an hour, which is pretty rare these days, usually one of them upsets the other pretty quickly.

Flying wise, vacuumed downstairs, tidied fridge, not much else, never mind.

It is a tricky balance making sure the kids have enough to keep them out of trouble, not so much that they burn out and us, and still have enough time to enough more freedom to chose activities!

I know Whoknow's DC's schedule would be no good for my ds as he would end up sick and run down, proving that he is just not as resilient as whoknow's DC who are clearly thriving and enjoying themselves. Not sure what the answer is though. But I did tell ds that when we move from here I am considering getting rid of the tv. He was and absolutely horrified that I could consider it. This bloody generation of don't miss the tv, rewind it, record it drive me crackers. It is just a tv program it is NOT the end of the world if you miss it, a bit annoying but not the end of the world

Anyhow, was supposed to be going training to day but feeling a bit too shocking for that so going to run some errands and do some more paperwork and generally potter. So basically flying. I will consider training another day depending on how I feel. Hopefully this potentially brewing migraine can be staved off with a solid breakfast, plenty of water and a good old fashion blow through the house. Weather got stuffy again

Hope you all have good days!

I have to be careful with DS and his schedule, he has always been ok with what he does but used to find it very stressful being dragged around to take DD to her activities, it has got so much easier since he has been old enough to stay at home alone for short periods while I take DD to her things. DD does more than DS does (5 things a week vs 3, although DS will go back to 4 when the hockey season resumes).

Agree it is a difficult balance.

My issue with extra-curricular stuff and dd is that all is fine when it is just the usual routine activities twice or three times a week and everything is normal at school; it is when all the extra end of term/end of year rehearsals and shows start piling in together with extra exam work that dd seems to get run down and has a tendency to succumb to every virus going (which then impacts on school work).

I've wondered whether it is an 'only' child thing - there being presumably less exposure to bugs at home - but I have no idea really/probably poppy-cock!

DD's directrice said at the end of the year that we had to push dd harder (and she certainly does seem to have developed more resilience of late despite my misgivings about all the pressure) but I still don't know what is best; esp as starting secondary school is presumably quite tiring (she's still going to be doing dual language immersion/submersion although not at a very hard level initially with one of the langs) and dd wants to go to hwk club at least two or three times a week after lessons as that is the 'done thing' apparently + ballet twice a week. Think choir and badminton (which have both been mooted) will be a bit much on top of all of that.

Wish there was more flexibility with all of these things and you could 'dip your toe in and try and see how it goes and have fun' but (a) you have to pay up front and none of the activities are cheap (b) nothing much seems to be done for 'fun' anymore and dc are continually tested and assessed in even the extra-curricular stuff [sigh]

I have done zero Flying today and intend to watch Wimbledon this pm

But think about it this way, homework club = less nagging for you do to about homework and she would only have to do it at home anyway.

Enjoy the [ball] SC

Oh bollocks did no one remind HQ to return us our tennis ball emoji?

Errands have been done, as has 5 mins decluttering my car, 1 load of washing and a bit of paperwork. will be hitting more paperwork in a bit.

Did I kill the thread?

Bugger :(

Morning all!

Oooh DEM where did you get the ball from??!! Hope migraine didn't develop!

Yes - absolutely love homework club as it stops all the arguments and stress at home - but do want dd to have time to have some fun outside of school too (the teaching and curriculum here being (a) incredibly dry and (b) like something out of the 1930s)

You sound very on top of your routines btw (and the never-ending paperwork)

Whoknows forgot to say that your day off work sounded really lovely (esp cherry conserve and frisbee)

MrsMook hope muscle in your back has recovered and arf at excavating the playroom floor

Sorry you are undergoing continuing school-place related anxiety Blue but hope you will be reassured after tour next week; the place allocation seems to be left very late indeed which must be v stressful indeed

DD, is finding dance workshop tough going but is thankfully, really enjoying it

Not exactly having the week I had imagined with dh (long lunches, looking at antique shops etc etc) as he is under the cosh at work, as ever. So have been going out on my own which isn't half as much fun, but better than nowt.

Trying to keep on top of laundry so that we don't have the usual mad scramble when going away.

Diet started on 1 July has already gone horribly wrong don't think I will ever get thin

Not a lot to report apart from that. Have a load of Flying related things to get done before travel next week. Can't quite find the motivation ... .

Big waves to all fledglings. Anyone seen ¨Swan?

x posts DEM

Don't worry, I've probably killed it now with one of the most boring posts known to man

[ tennis ] without the spaces SC

I think a lot of people are being really snowed in with end of term stuff tbh. A lot of schools in the UK are finishing this Friday. Some are not.

Arf at being on top of routines. I still have the contents of the understair cupboard in the lounge because i couldn't be arsed to put it back. I have only made a tiny dent in the paperwork and I have to get the office cleared for a weeks time. You can't even enter the room because there is so much stuff in there. :( but it HAS to happen as the builders need access. So it is going to have to be another day ploughing in and through it. [exhausted]

Sorry your week has not gone to plan. SC Good luck and how about a batch of special brew / reward of sitting with a coffee if you get 15mins done of that list you are avoiding?

I'm here, schools don't finish till the 22nd round here, but we are in full flow with Year 6 Leavers stuff, summer fair, school disco all in the next 10 days.

SC - I know what you mean about the routine extra-curricular stuff being OK, but the pressure ramping up at certain times. DS has fortunately settled for pastimes where this doesn't happen, he goes to Scouts, trampolining (which is just coaching, no competition, no grades), hockey club and a youth club. It is DD with her performing arts where there are big build-ups of extra activity (and expense), but again we've agreed that she will only do her dance classes for fun, no exams, so it is only the show every other year where there is extra work.

Must go, work beckons as does housework but that ain't going to happen

Waves to Whoknows and DEM

[ Bounces ball nonchalantly whilst necking special brew ]

Of course, I was forgetting that the whole of the UK is in the middle of end-of-term madness!!

Whoknows yes, now you say it, of course it is the performing type of extra-curric stuff that ramps up the activity levels most at the end - badminton might be a better choice for dd in that case! (I never, ever want to go through another year when we have five weekends of consecutive BIG events) And a dance show every other year sounds eminently sensible but daren't suggest it to our Madame X who makes a lot of money from the selling of the tickets/t-shirts/ DVDs etc

DEM Courage! You are probably doing a lot better than you think and even small in-roads make a huge difference!! Keep going!! Good luck to you too and I'll put the 15 min timer on if you will

WHoknows how does ds find cubs? Been thinking about this for my ds, was wondering if it might help build his confidence.

I lost my timer SC but today i need to deal with the big box of half finished project that is taking up 50% of my bedroom floor as simply too tired to contemplate anything else. Ds is away this weekend which means reating today will give me the energy to plough through stuff guilt free and with energy this weekend

Sounds like a plan DEM! Good luck with it!

[SC closes all screens in an attempt to finally get going ... ]

Annnnnnd there is cinnamon bread dough being made in the bread machine.

Scouting has been brilliant for DS, he started in Beavers, then Cubs, then onto Scouts last November. He was Cub of the Year last summer [proud]. They move up to Scouts between 10.5 and 11yo here. It's pretty inclusive and there have always been several boys there who have ASD or traits of it. The only problem has been where there have been last minute changes of plan, DS's first night at Cubs was awful as we got a phonecall half an hour beforehand telling us to meet at the local museum instead of the Scout Hut, but it hasn't happened very often. It has challenged him (12 mile bike ride the other week when he was late to learn to ride and has always found it hard for example) but the weekend stuff and camps are optional.

I was thinking that it might deal with ds' need for adventure survival type stuff. It is just the yet another thing in the schedule plus he hasn't been kinda enthusiastic about it. This is also on the list of things that i wish I had done much earlier.

Thanks whoknows!

Finally caught up with thread... haven't been on MN for a week or more as I haven't been feeling great, a kind of fluey thing that wouldn't go away and a cough that's been keeping me awake at night. Went to doctor, who prescribed antibiotics (not convinced they were what I really needed, but didn't have the energy to question her) and an inhaler for chronic breathing difficulties (ditto), and am finally starting to feel more human again - although I suspect it had very little to do with the medicine.

We're over halfway through the first week of the holidays here. DD2 left for scout camp yesterday, when we had torrential rain and thunderstorms all day so I hope they managed to put the tents up without getting absolutely soaked. Nice and sunny again today, however, and it's forecast to stay this way.

SC / DEM What a scare for both of you re your DC's Internet use. I must admit I'm still a bit head-in-the-sand at this stage, but as both DDs have smartphones and DS would be permanently attached to my iPod if he could, I really do need to start thinking about the issue.

Blue Hope all works out with the school places.

WhoKnows I think the scouts are great, all three of mine go - DD2 and DS love it, DD1 used to but is now saying she wants to stop going in September. It's the only afterschool activity she does and it would be a shame if she were to give up, but if she's not enjoying it then there's not much point I suppose. I'm hoping to persuade her to give it at least another few weeks in the autumn though, as she'll be moving up to the next age group and may find she enjoys it more (or less, of course) in a new group.

DD1 and DS are unusually quiet, must go and check what they're up to.

Forgot to say hope you're fully recovered now from your stomach upset, Toffee.

hi, I'm here. had to reset my password as have a new computer (due to kids breaking the screen by one simultaneously trying to switch off whilst another trying to switch it on )

Garden room looks fabulous (and a mysterious olivey green) but garden is still very much a building site with a few plants popping up here and there pathetically. Turfing should finally happen next week. Electricians have laid a cable along fence which we had to get them to move because it was halfway up the fence to start with and like living in a ICT suite They are very nice though and have now dug a trench.

Appeal against refusal to assess went off last week via solicitor. I think all that paperwork not to speak of the money has blighted what should have been a nice time home educating I really wonder whether I could have used my resources differently..but anyway...pressing on in the meantime..The shed didn't help either...[but still it IS done now which is lovely)

I have sent off applications to two schools for ds2 both nearish (and one he went to already) so that at least is done if we wish to send him back next term.

Ds1 did his violin Grade 4 yesterday which nearly killed me as I managed to lose him at the rendez vous point outside his school and he nearly went home in a sulk..(they don't allow mobiles at school so we both went round in circles looking for each other) However he has taken the exam now and he sounded good in the practice room even if he did worse in actual exam. So I shall carefully deposit the sound of "Alpine Tune" into my positive box of memories

DEM ds2 didn't get on with scouts or cubs but possibly it wasn't a big enough pool of children. He has enjoyed Judo though!!!

Had horrid 10 min gynae investigation this morning so recovering from that but off to pick up dd from a tube strike bus impasse later this afternoon. Then she is going to a Pop concert in Kew and picnic with her friend/friend's mother. So that is wonderful (ticks the live concert box which I absolutely hate and dd is always beseeching me to take her to)

Guest this weekend. Drama show x 2 (small showcase events luckily) And a 50 birthday do at Sunday lunch in distant place..Too much. I just want to be in a nice finished house and garden really with no-one to coordinate.

Beautiful day though And butterflies seem to like the rubble!