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.

[Steadycampaign]

Hey Swan and Linzer great to have you both back!

Sorry to hear you've been feeling so rotten Linzer ; that virus (or whatever it was) sounds really nasty. Hope you can take the time to recover properly. Bet your dd2 will have a great time camping in mud

Swan your garden room sounds lovely (and goodness you have been as busy as ever). Building works + end-of-term things + appeal against refusal to assess + school applications + social events = sounds all far too stressful all at once. (I hope your garden will be ready to repose in once all the main activities for the academic year are done and dusted!!)

Whoknows well done to your ds being Cub of the Year!!

All this talk of Scouts (or 'Scoots') as they pronounce it here, sounds wonderful. DD's directrice was always trying to get her to join (to combat the 'only' child thing ) but I could never persuade dd to give it a go. Shame because I think guides and scouts are great organisations for 'knocking the corners off' as it were.

I've just been out for a spontaneous haircut which is never a good idea. Hairdresser took me a little too literally when I said my hair was getting a bit heavy/flat on top ... I am now sporting a bouff-let [bouffant-mullet combo]

Should have done a load of Flying in preparation for cleaner's appearance tomorrow but CBA. Also, following intensive cooking of 'healthy' dishes during exam period, I have now given up and am cooking things like sausages and chips and pizza ... oh dear.

[BlueEyeshadow]

I phoned the admissions dept this morning and was told that the boys have got places at the relevant schools. Phew! Now we just need the move to go through in time for them to start in Sept!!

Very hacked off with the estate agents though, who have got us in a complete muddle about something vital. DH planning to go in and give them hell tomorrow.

Good to see you swan and Linzer. Hope everything's on the mend.

Hope the hair calms down, SC, or will you be plastering it down for a while?! Sausages and chips for a few days as part of winding down probably won't do too much damage. I do sympathise because it's very hard to find any non-processed meat that DS1 will eat, and neither of them likes sauces apart from white/cheese sauce. Sigh.

DS1 really enjoys Cubs, so that's another thing we need to see about transferring when we move. DS2 is looking forward to starting Beavers in a few months too.

Flying is really hard work at the moment because we keep piling the place up with stuff that's in the process of being decluttered. Also, paperwork from estate agents and solicitors etc keeps flooding in!

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

That's great news Blue.

Welcome back Swan and Linzer.

I was worried I'd put you off appealing Swan with all my tales of our statement appeals. Garden room sounds lovely.

Not much Flying today, .

[Swanhildapirouetting]

let me see SC this week we have had
baguette
mayonnaise
pizza
fried meat (in various permutations)
cherry tomatoes
boring broccoli

and nothing exciting whatsoever or very healthy..cannot even be bothered to toss a proper salad I boiled some new potatoes this evening so that tomorrow's slump might include moussaka

Blue gosh that was fortuitous with the school places...if only our secondary places were that easy. I have to apply for non-existent places on the basis that Year 9 is a year of considerable flux. And. The. References. O M Goodness..You would think that having been through it two years ago they would let me off..but no..

waves to Toffee hope you are relaxing a bit now that term is over. It is wonderful that ds1 got so much out of it - for ds2 it must be quite an encouraging example too (although I know you said he liked his new school very much)

Dd is back from her concert and announced it is Sports Day at her school tomorrow first thing and she needed to wash her PE Kit (luckily it seems v skimpy ) cue another weary vigil at the washing machine (we have no drier alas) so it needs to be hung out overnight..

DH hacked a lot of plants this evening and there is a big pile of branches now. I tidied the kitchen and found a few essential things in among the clutter
wiped table and worktops
dw on
wash on x 2

otherwise pretty hopeless. Not to say revolting in parts. My bedroom desperately needs hoovering. And we need days of sorting out drawers. Home ed stuff in good order though. Ds2 has done very little recently - just history from a Galore Park textbook and today we forced him to read some Odysseus aloud. He has really fallen by the wayside with all the EHCP paperwork and assessments clogging up our days or shall I say I have fallen by the wayside. Feeling really quite cross about it but not sure how to reverse the rot especially as he is aware we have applied for school next year and now determined to do v little..Suppose I will just keep pushing the reading and writing for now.

[Swanhildapirouetting]

The other thing that amazes me is that the gynaecologist told me that the "very minor procedure" would cause just I hour of cramps afterwards. And I have been suffering the entire day I dread to think what a more serious procedure would make me feel like... I think I am completely going to stay away from all doctors and specialists for a long time after this - my body does not like investigations..Blood tests are fine but otherwise I am feeling more and more squeamish.

Meerkitten hope you are looking after your mum and persuading her to have a babymoon, snuggle up close and let feeding times be a servant not a master. On the serious side I really do recommend a babymoon - it made the world of difference to my milk supply when my first was about 8 weeks old and I was having a lot of trouble coping with all sorts of officious advice not quite full up baby and feeling like I should be walking long distances and being superefficient washing cleaning expressing and so so much worrying about routines. Babymoon is perfect antidote and took so much pressure off. and many many congratulations

[Steadycampaign]

Good morning!

Oh that is good news about the schools Blue! And good luck with the attendant moving process! It's certainly a lot to handle all at once.

And yes, I have "watered and rolled" my Barnet Fair this morning just like a Wimbledon court

[Would your dc eat a home made spag bol/chilli or chicken goujons or some such? If they don't like the sauce bit of a spag bol, I have a good recipe for baby pork burgers that is fine without a sauce because it uses grated apple to keep 'em moist? [Says the woman who has fed her child out of the freezer and the microwave this week ]

at babymoon; yes Dogsbum, Engels and Castle hope your offspring are treating you well!

Hope you are feeling considerably better today Swan and try and take it steady if not! Good luck with school application too.

Glad I am not the only one running out of chefly enthusiasm ... ! Although today's "slump" sounds delicious!! (I love moussaka!) (And at least your kinder have had tomatoes and broccoli! Managed to feed dd melon and frozen peas this week, but that's about it)

Ditto about needing days of sorting out drawers!!

Speaking of which, lovely cleaner is here and I should go and sort first floor (boudoir is horrific!) while she is doing downstairs.

[groan but needs must]

Enjoy your Friday's everyone!

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

I need your advice Fledglings. DD(9) has been doing group music lessons at school for the last year (cost to me £60/term). Until Christmas it was great and she was doing really well, then they changed teacher and it has been rubbish, just working on one piece of music since Feb (a single side of A4, not a long piece, but technically very complicated for a near-beginner). No feedback from teacher, no exercises given, just keep practising this tune, which luckily DD likes, but has been way too hard for her. I will scream if I ever hear it again. So, we have to decide whether to continue next year or not. I have found a highly recommended private teacher locally who could take her. The problem is DD loves her group lessons and wants to carry on with those, not go private. I'm worried if I pull her out of the group ones she'll refuse to go private and that will be the end of that. On top of this my parents forced me to carry on with piano lessons for years after I had realised I hated it and had no natural talent. I don't want to do the same, but I resent paying for the school lessons when she is hardly learning anything (and is not having things like hand position corrected). What would you do? I have to decide by Monday.

[Steadycampaign]

Whoknows Could you possibly (and discreetly) find another "little friend" or two (if not too difficult logistically) to accompany your dd to private lessons (and you could then all split the cost?) It sounds quite likely, given the woeful teaching, that other parents of dc in the group might be equally unhappy and looking for alternatives.

Private teacher would have to be accommodating of this though (or a similar arrangement where she teaches them individually and then does little group session at the end). I'm sure she would understand if you explained the situation.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Problem is, most of the other DC in the group are in the year below DD, I only know two of the parents. Other problem is that the letter asking us to confirm whether we wanted to continue went out 6 weeks ago so they will have all replied by now, I only realised this morning that I hadn't had a letter so the school have given me till Mon to decide. Will talk to the other two mums this afternoon though, good idea.

[Steadycampaign]

Good luck with it Whoknows and they should give you a bit more flexibility given that you didn't receive a letter which wasn't your fault.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Thanks. The problem is they need a minimum number to make the classes viable, if DD drops out and makes it unviable they've only got a few days to fill the slot so unless they have got a waiting list it could mean the whole class being cancelled, which if new starters have bought instruments in anticipation of is unacceptable too. The claases are bought in, not taught by school staff. Given all this though, they should not be using a system of "if we don't hear from you we'll assume you're carrying on". The original letter makes it clear you have to commit to paying for the year but doesn't say what happens after that.

[LinzerTorte]

That's a tricky one, WhoKnows. Will it definitely be the same teacher in September? It must be very frustrating when you're forking out all that money, but OTOH you don't want to put your DD off the instrument entirely by switching to lessons that she doesn't enjoy (or she may love them and you find yourself wondering what you were worried about...). Good idea to talk to the other mums, anyway.

SC I had to laugh at your bouff-let (sorry!) - glad to hear you have it under control now - and at "scoots"; they're called pathfinders here, although in German obviously. I'm another one who has let the healthy cooking slide and am reverting to the freezer most of the time.

Good news on the school places, Blue.

Hope you're feeling better today, Swan.

House is a tip, but I'm lacking in energy and motivation. Need to finish current job before I tackle it, really. I'm finding it virtually impossible to get anything done with the DC around, although at least washing up is slightly quicker again since our new dishwasher arrived yesterday. It's quite a novelty to be able to open it up afterwards and find that almost everything inside (rather than about a third) is actually clean.

[DarkEvilMoon]

whoknows it is not your responsibility whether or not the run the class next year! What is your responsibility is the choices for your dd. Is she improving on the piece, is she enjoying it. Could you perhaps arrange a taster with a private tutor. What does the class mean she gets out of in school sometimes far more motivating than enjoying the lessons

We are fairly healthy eating by default due to allergies but are currently eating too much bread based foods.

to much to do, too little time. And meh. give me 15mins than help yourselves.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

No, I know it's not, but it does mean they need an answer right away on Monday as the letters originally went out about 6 weeks ago, so no time for a tryout with the new teacher before deciding. DD is adamant she wants to continue with the group lessons. I'm hoping to bump into the private piano teacher over the weekend and introduce DD to her, see if thst helps.

[DarkEvilMoon]

I think in the situation you are I would suck up another term if you only commit to the term and not the whole year. If you commit to the year than it is more problematic. WOuld buy a bit more time for the long term decision. Impossible though. Good luck.

I am mulling over the change of reporting progress I think the changes they have made to the education system and the reports this year are nonsensical. it has given me more of the rages than I have been suffering from. I suspect it is pmt or exhaustion or a mixture of both. I am not fit to be around company. Not sure what the solution is though.

[Swanhildapirouetting]

guest has arrived (teenage nephew) and house feels quite peaceful -
we went to football this morning so ds2 is comparatively calm

I've hoovered behind his bed
changed sheets for guest
cleaning lady has cleaned kitchen so that it looks like an oasis
piano tuner has been so I've cleaned the piano
telly room floor has been washed

upstairs still horrid though - ds1 room terribly depressing and as for dd's...clothes everywhere..

dh and I have been staring mournfully at the garden trying to work out what needs to be planted and moving pots around to little avail to give us some impression of scale. What is as big as a bamboo and fountain like in appearance but not a bamboo ifysim.? no-brainer as dh suggested is some form of tall flowering grass miscanthus thingy

post script two hours later -picked dd up halfway from school and took her and her friend back to friend's house for five mins stop off. Knackered now from so much hot driving. Boys are enjoying cousin's company (although he has now sloped off for a nap)

[Swanhildapirouetting]

Whoknows as a veteran of piano lessons and every kind of music lesson..I would do both. It really does no harm to have two teachers (ds1 thrived on it and got a distinction at Grade 2) and often makes it clear whether it is teaching style or talent that is issue.

Think of her group piano lessons as an orchestra or ensemble and it won't seem so irritating. Ds1 was in several ensembles and they often played music which was technically more difficult and he had not any individual feedback for but it kept the flame alive which after all for piano can be problem due to lack of performing outlets/ensemble work.

Dd gave up private piano lessons at end of primary but she has absolutely thrived on that background now that she is using keyboard in her secondary lessons and loving doing group work, and it has given her a lot of skills with which to improvise. She is a flibbergibitt in one sense gives up easily and needs social input when doing music. It sounds like your dd is really musical and likes performing which may make a difference in her commitment to lessons.

[ToffeeWhirl]

Just back from a spontaneous trip to Dorset, based on the good weather forecast. It was a bit of an experiment, as our last holiday (apart from trips to my Mum's house) ended badly because DS1 couldn't cope with the change. It was his suggestion that we try again, but we decided on a short break so only booked for two nights. Turned out this was just right. We all loved the hotel, spent a very hot morning on the beach looking for fossils yesterday and ate fish and chips in Lyme Regis two nights' running. Haven't been to Lyme Regis for several years and was astonished, all over again, at how attractive it is.

Came home via the New Forest and stopped to see the horses wandering around the streets and heathland. Both boys were very amused at the horses blocking the roads.

Luckily, I did a crisis clean before we left (the horror of our next-door neighbours seeing the state of the house when they fed our cats spurred me on), so came home to a relatively tidy house.

Have done dinner, but am not going to unpack or tackle the holiday washing until tomorrow. DH has promised me Pimms round about now .

Hope you are all ok. Will catch up with the thread later.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Thanks for all the comments about piano lessons. DEM - it's all year or nothing, the school have to pay the county music service for the whole year up front so we have to commit to it too, although we pay termly. Swan - I had wondered about doing both, but worried it might put her out of step with the rest of the group in school. I will email the private teacher again and see what she thinks of that idea.

Toffee, I love Lyme Regis, we haven't been since before the DCs were born and we are looking for somewhere not too far away for a long weekend in August, could you let me know the hotel name please? Glad it went well for you. We never go to the New Forest either, which is silly considering it's only about 45 mins drive from us.

School summer fair today, helping set up this afternoon and then running it this evening, it was lovely. I am pretty weary of much about primary school now, but I really enjoyed tonight and so did the DCs.

[DarkEvilMoon]

Glad you had such a lovely trip toffee The forest is a lovely place and I have really missed it since my annual trips stopped :(

[Steadycampaign]

Quick dive in and out! Hope everyone enjoying tennis and or sunshine!

Toffee totally brill that ds1 was able to enjoy a trip away - how lovely for all of you!

Whoknows glad to hear your school fete went well and good luck with music lesson decision this weekend!

Whey hey to new dw Linzer

Hope you are not too exhausted this weekend Swan and visitor proves distracting (in a good way) for dc

DEM hope you are not too exhausted either. Was just browsing party supply shop sites for dd's mini-birthday party end July and saw these and thought of you/your ds!!

Although he may be a bit too old for that sort of thing now of course - I am a bit that I no longer have to buy tat for party bags - I love a bit of party tat I do ... .

Cheery wing flaps to Blue and everyone else!!

DD's end of workshop dance 'spectacle' was really good yesterday - it was amazing how much they had learnt in only one week - we watched dd perform in three set pieces: jazz dance, contemporary dance and classical ballet and she was fab (if you will forgive me saying so myself) in all of them.

(Don't get me wrong - I am not averse to a bit of 'culture' wot breaks a few barriers/turns things on their head/makes one think - but I do find the movements in contemporary dance a bit, well, limited. Perhaps it's my ignorance speaking as usual but there is always "cradle an imaginary egg", "pick up an imaginary feather and swing it behind you", "the pretend to fall over and get up again move" and the "let one arm fall loose like a puppet and then stand up straight again on tiptoes maneouvre" ad nauseam ... .)

Quote of the week from dd: "Mummy, why do dance teachers only roll up one trouser leg?"

House still a pit and boudoir still in desperate need of sorting but I am feeling chipper because I thought we were entertaining this weekend and have just heard that guests can't now come - although they are lovely - I am so happy to be freeeeeeeeeeeeeeee and to be able to make jam and potter and wear scruffy clothes - and to be able to defrost fridge/freezer at long last before we go away (although that admittedly doesn't sound very exciting!)

Also feeling chipper because dog finally, finally, finally has put on a bit of weight now his nashers are in good order (phew!!)

Off to buy dd a new suitcase now in prep for travels mid-week... have a good w/e everyone!

[Swanhildapirouetting]

SC we had a song and dance performance today - lots of Westside Story. (just excerpts) Ds1 was as melodious as ever and dd actually seemed to be able to dance although I had to avert my eyes for fear of catching ds1 at it as I think he would have had a fit of hysterics. Drama group. A bit of ballet does set you up for all the other sorts of dance certainly..SC
feel for you on the joy of cancellation!
Toffee sounds blissful. All still at school here drat it..

Today I have felt a bit cross (bar drama performance) done lots of driving, made a shepherd's pie base, wiped kitchen down, washed clothes, had a nap

and taken ds2 swimming and for a gym Ikm run - he was very cheery BUT we have had a lot of trouble with early waking and screens today, not helped by teen visitor not emerging from his bed till 11am which sent ds2 into a frenzy of impatience and shoutiness..

Visitor now gone (possibly a good thing) as ds2 seemed unable to cope

Dh and I are feeling really low and depressed this weekend - dh has perpetual migraine atm, ds2 is really shouting much too much and ds1 has developed a disastrous phobic reaction to Spanish oral which culminated in him insisting he wasn't going to do Spanish GSCE at all..nothing we could say would budge him from this position. Eventually he agreed to take the oral on the understanding that he would fail which was one better than refusing to attend it at all..I don't know. How could a child be SOO bad at languages? Denouncing school is his new tactic.. And I've never heard anyone use the excuse that you don't need languages cos everyone can speak English..Maths perhaps but not something as fun as Spanish..

Anyway he seemed calmer this evening and I will hope it is all a bit of a teen tantrum. and he was wonderful in drama this morning and actually seemed to be talking to one of the girls there praise be

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Just diving in to report a very mixed day here. Open Day at DS's new school today, which was lovely, DS is feeling very positive about going there now after a bit of apprehension when it was first decided. Then home for a lazy afternoon and out again for an open air concert in the local park. All settled down on a picnic blanket, chatting with friends, classical music floating through the air, when an ashen DS appears from the back of the park where he's been playing with friends, clutching his shoulder ominously. Yes, that's right, spent the rest of the evening in A&E and have just put to bed a boy with a broken collarbone. Luckily I had only had a tiny amount to drink so was able to drive him there, he has been incredibly patient and very positive about the whole thing, it is far less serious than the broken wrist he incurred a couple of years ago. No sport for 4 weeks though and a dampener on his final weeks at school, though he'll probably get a lot of fuss made of him.

Swan - sorry to hear you and DH are having a tough time, thank goodness for small mercies re drama and girls.

SC - glad the performance went well yesterday. I tend to agree on dance styles, DD's show last week was a mixture of ballet, tap, street and modern, the modern tends to leave me a bit cold. I found myself thinking "if they appear on stage in black clothing with rips in it then I know I'm not going to enjoy that one very much".

Thanks for the pm Toffee - it does look lovely, might ring up to enquire tomorrow.

[Steadycampaign]

Oops, did I really spell gnashers without a g?

All you need now Swan is a lovely Spanish girl for your ds1 to talk to!

Well done to him for his splendid performance today!

Sorry to hear you and your dh tired/under the weather though. Completely understandable given everything you are tackling. Hope Sunday is a day of rest.

[Steadycampaign]

Oh no Whoknows what a stressful day you've had! Your poor ds!! Broken collar bones can be quite painful so well done to him for being so brave. Shame about sport restrictions but good that he is looking forward to new school.

[Proffers soothing alchoholic bed-time snifter]

Arf at ripped black dance outfits btw