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.

Forgot to say

Hope your ds can sleep btw and that your night is not too disturbed

Bean bags/large triangular pillows in bed good for sleeping semi-upright

Pain tends to diminish after first 3 wks.

OK... I'm back! Hi all!

I've been away a while. We started homeschooling and we got swept up in this massive, thriving local community and we are suddenly so... busy! I haven't been on MN much.

The HE is going pretty well - lots of wobbles with DD for a while but they are so much happier now. And the seriously amazing thing is that within a few months of coming out of school, DS - who has been having SLT intervention since he was a toddler and was virtually unintelligible to most other people - was DISCHARGED from speech therapy! :o So we definitely made the right choice.

We are gradually finding our feet anyway. They seem to crave a little structure so we are going to be getting into more of a routine. We actually have a family support worker (referred while still at school, but we decided to accept the help anyway) coming to help with this next week. I think we will really get more into it after summer though, and kind of wing it a bit til then.

Anyway... House is still an utter tip obviously :o

Hi everyone...

Thanks SC, I propped him up in a nest of extra pillows and he slept well. Fortunately it is his left arm and he is right handed. It hasn't affected his ability to use the x-box, phew!

Welcome back Fuzzpig, sounds as though things are going well, apart from the housework. The thread is taking an even more relaxed approach to Flying than usual this summer, but I think we are still making a token effort.

Morning all!

Was up half the night coughing and spluttering owing to summer cold/hay fever (do you get a sore throat and headache with hayfever I wonder?) and then early woken by fighting cats, so decided to get up with the sparrows. Sorted animals, been to early Mass on my own across the road which was beautifully calming, done two loads washing, walked dog to butcher and baker (his sort of walk ) and sorted kitchen.

Welcome back Fuzzpig Good to 'see' you! Brilliant to hear that home edding has had such a positive effect on your dd's happiness and on your ds's speech - I remember how you were so worried by it all before - so hats off to you for making the leap!

Whoknows glad to hear you both had a good night in the end! And phew to it being his left arm! Known 3 horsey adults with broken collar bones and they were through the worst within 6 to 8 weeks, but happily dc much more bendier/mend sooner I think!

Off to prep a cooked breakfast for the late risers ...

hi Fuzzpig it is a big life change to homeschool and has all sorts of unforeseen benefits that one would never have thought.
Whoknows at least there won't be a broken bone at the end of the holidays now to disrupt beginning of new term..gosh one really clutches at small mercies collar bones are really sore your brave ds.

Feeling crap this morning - dh has gone off on business outing (genuinely business not fun and although it is a relief he is out of house and not being grumpy and asking what's for lunch I can forsee the boys are brewing up a row over computer and dd and I have to go to a party today [nooo not another party) miles away when dh comes back - cue more anxious feelings about getting ready/smartly dressed.

Still not feeling 100 percent after horrid gynae op - I HATE being ill just cannot think straight..and unless you are actually bedridden it is difficult to explain to people that you are struggling to do normal cheery things. Want to cancel but feel I would be wimping out..

AAAAGH there got scream out and now will probably feel better.

WhoKnows - oh, poor DS . That sounds really painful and he sounds very brave.

Fuzzpig - so glad to hear home edding is going so well. We are gradually coming out of our home-ed journey, as both boys are returning to school in September, but it has had lots of benefits. Fantastic news about your DS's SLT.

SC - oh dear, sorry you're suffering from hayfever. DH's hayfever was triggered by a walk in the country with DS2 yesterday and he had an awful time with it. Hope today is a better day for you.

Managed to get the holiday washing done yesterday, which is just as well as it's raining today. Also got both boys out to play frisbee in a nearby park. Am determined to keep getting Ds1 outside, so he doesn't fall back into old habits.

Off to work shortly.

Thanks Toffee it may not be hayfever (don't usually get it), it might just be a cold (have sore throat/headache) but certainly seems better today now the temp has dropped (actually need to put on a jumper to go outside). Hope the rain holds off enough where you are for a spot of frisbee in the park!

Swan Sorry you are feeling so wretched. Are you sure you should still be feeling awful this long after gynae procedure ie should you get it checked out perhaps? Hope you feel better soon anyway. And [stern looks] don't go to party if you are feeling ill; take the time to recover properly.

I'm feeling a bit snippy with dh at the moment because he is focused solely on holiday (which admittedly is long-overdue for him and he needs desperately because he works so hard) but I am focused on the hordes of guests arriving when we get back and state of house and how he always finds something else that's "urgent" to do when the subject of clearing the basement comes up.

I'm only asking for help with the stuff I can't physically lift (he is 6ft 3" and has physique of second row forward) not any of the detailed decluttering. It gets a bit demoralising because he won't carry anything up and downstairs either unless he is asked either and I am feeling stressed about it all because there is only perhaps 12 wks tops and it will start getting cold and dark again down there and no-one will want to do anything about it for another year. Harrumph.

Sorry, meant to say, hope your dh is feeling better today Toffee

DD still in her pjs and dressing gown (which is generally not allowed for meals) but I am deliberately overlooking it this time as I think she has earned herself a total 'flop' today.

Swan - so sorry you're feeling unwell after your op. Hope you decided to miss the party, stay at home and look after yourself.

SC - glad you're feeling a bit better. I get frustrated too when Dh won't get round to doing jobs I can't manage, but noticed recently that I just would NOT get round to doing something he'd asked me to do. I realised that I really resented having extra jobs given to me and my way of dealing with it (passive agressive, I suppose) was just not to do any of them. It gave me an insight into how my DH may feel when I ask him to do jobs I think are important. Maybe your DH feels like that too. Am not sure what the answer is, though .

Still raining here, so no frisbee today. We have been to work and dropped DS2 off at MIL's, then called round for a cup of tea and a chat with her when we picked him up.

Determined to finish my book now: 'Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont' by Elizabeth Taylor. Can't put it down. Luckily, DS2 is absorbed in a 'Dr Who' book, so I can read without interruption.

Thanks for the welcome everyone :)

I'm glad the approach is more relaxed! I am really struggling to find the motivation to sort the house out. But I do want to be more organised, for the sake of easier HEing if nothing else. Also some of my potential piano pupils (that was the other news! I bit the bullet and started offering lessons!) may have to come here instead of me going to them. Ulp.

We were supposed to move and reorganise a bookcase yesterday but ended up having a lovely spontaneous picnic with some old friends we bumped into. Most unlike me. That surely counts for the whole 'renew your spirit' thing doesn't it? (See I do remember some Flying jargon :o)

Anyway, must get a wash on as it's ironing night for DH he won't let me iron because I am rubbish at it... Fine by me

SC there is nothing wrong with saying no to stuff if you don't feel up to it! Please don't force yourself.

< Sneaks back into the thread with , sits in naughty corner with Fuzzpig >

I've just finished a long run of shifts working at the hospital and that coupled with DSs 4:30am wake up times every day has pretty much finished me off! Have spent today catching up on six pages of the thread and have achieved the following:
A lie in!
Dishwasher x2
Folding of dry laundry
S&S x2
Weeding the front path and driveway
Major haircut for the tree in the back garden
Taken DS to the park for 90mins with DH

SC and DEM the Internet safety stuff scares e shit out of me. My DS is only 2.5 so it's a while off yet for us, but even so

WhoKnows hope your DS is on the mend

Big waves to everyone else, I've missed you all xoxoxo

Hi grey :o [slacker solidarity emoticon]

I took lots of codradrymol (well recommended amount) and went to party which as a quiet affair really so no problem and felt much cheered by it all (some faces from my secondary school) and sight of other 50 year olds (who seem in the same sort of nick as me so that stops me worrying about my appearance quite so much ) dd came too and was my lucky mascot (boring being a mascot poor childl) but I think she gained some insight into the world of other people's houses = this one was quite cluttered and arty

have read up on reaction to op and it does seem that some people suffer a few cramps for many days after but still...they should have warned me!

Gardener to start laying turf and electrican for shed connection tomorrow..will it ever be done that is the question..

Greymalkin sorry that ds is continuing to be an early bird
Fuzzpig full of admiration that you can teach piano

done
lots of washing hung out
dd and I went to Sainsbury's
I decluttered a philosophy book to a student
social life
cooked shepherd's pie and plenty for tomorrow
nice time with dd!

SC I've now taken to booking dh for specific jobs which he shows no sign of ever doing spontaneously. Several days in advance.
feel your pain on that one. Or, you may be back to burly student helper, like last year if I recall? Don't think he will ever in a 1000 years help me with the loft contents - he just is not interested. until he is looking for the xmas decs

My sister's son is doing a unpaid intern job between terms at uni and I said to her - why can't he do all the heavy stuff our mother and I need help with and we'll PAY him. Oh no, it won't look good on his CV. I see her point but it is frustrating that job experience in the family doesn't count for anything.

Good morning fledglings!

Another early start. Helicopters overhead! Everyone very excited about Grimbo (Greek limbo) which, after an all-nighter, is soon to be resolved (still not certain but Belgian PM has said they have resolution). Delayed by the police escort of limos yesterday afternoon (on way back from walking furry one in countryside) and lots of whey-faced simultaneous translators making their way home after an all-nighter through the park this morning, again when walking dog.

Fuzzpig oh lovely summer picnics definitely count towards Flying and well done re: piano lessons!

Swan well done on getting to the party in customary stalwart style and glad you had a good time! Hope gardening goes well today and cramps diminish!

Toffee passive aggression is one of the thing I can't deal with and where dh and I clash a bit. I'm a bit like my late mother (Irish/loud/Northern) when it comes to disputes and it's all over in 30 seconds but a bit scary at the time but dh (Southern/English) is much more civilised, never raises his voice, hates confrontation. And that gets me even more wound up because he will do irritating things like whistle in a "pretending everything is ok way" when he knows things patently aren't ok (Winds me up something rotten!) So instead of saying to me "no I'm bloody tired and the last thing I want to do is lift old furniture around this weekend" which I could respond to, he will just avoid/not do it/not mention it. Or sulk. Then I feel I am nagging if I raise issue etc.

But what I real resent is that the entire tenor of our lives is lived around his schedule and adapted to it, yet that is not necessarily the case when I want something done to my schedule for once.

But I know I should stop whinging and should feel lucky that he does as much as he does do at home (shopping and cooking), and with dd, given his schedule.

Swan burly student helper was good at the time but have been cursing him ever since as he stacked things in such a illogical way and in a way that makes them inaccessible! Yes, will have to take to booking dh in advance too [sigh]

As I said, I am not asking dh to spend an entire afternoon clearing out the basement even though most of the clutter is his, I'm just asking him to lift strategic things at strategic moments. Heigh ho and arrgggghhh!!

Bluntly, I am bothering him with less and less in the house because it just causes arguments and resentments on both sides and I've finally come to the conclusion after years and years that "he's not really interested" (like yours Swan in anything remotely related to domesticity (except the kitchen!)

Rant over, had better get on!!

Have a good start to the week everyone

Morning folks :)

We are out most of the day so I'm determined to get some laundry sorted this morning, and get the DCs to put their clothes away once they've done their maths/English/reading before we leave. I must have a shower too.
Have a good day everyone :)

Ta da:
animals fed
bowls all washed
kitchen tidied
cake tins lined
wm emptied and over-night load hung up
new load on
list written
dog walked
popped out to buy a few baking ingreds and walnuts halves, Euros 5 for a tiny packet

To do:
such a lot I daren't write it down but will be back with another ta da list this eve!

Big encouraging wing flaps to all!

x post

waves to Fuzzpig have a good day out!

Morning SC and fuzzpig.

So far today, I have sorted another cupboard of doom. I have found various test pieces of embroidery that had too much effort put into them to want to throw them out, but are too small and on too scrappy bits of linen to do anything much with them. And a cross-stitch that has been pinned to a piece of backing to be turned into a cushion cover for about 10 years - lacking pleasure or confidence in plain sewing to finish the job. Oh dear, there's no hope!

anyone?

well we've reached rock bottom here.
ds2 is doing nothing
I'm doing nothing (except get upset on the Sports Day thread)
dh is working
electrician working (drilling)
gardener spreading mud around - out of every window there are distractions and confusions

and the codeine has worn off

done
drove dd to school this morning in the rain and she gave me a big hug

shall I attempt some ironing - might be something positive..

Am halfway through what is likely to be my one and only child-free day in nine weeks. DD2 still at scout camp, DS at school holiday club this week and DD1 at ILs (but due back late afternoon). Have ironed and put away two loads of washing and paid three bills, but it doesn't seem like a huge amount to have got done in over four hours. Oh, and I drank some coffee and wrote a letter.

Still to do:
Have lunch
Continue decluttering office
Take DS to paed (he's been very wheezy again recently, esp. after swimming - not great timing before scout camp and holiday)

SC All sounds very exciting with the helicopters etc.; I also loved the image of the whey-faced interpreters walking home through the park after their all-nighter - not a job I would want to do! I've worked late to meet deadlines in the past, but at least as a translator you don't have to "perform" and can fall straight into bed afterwards.

Blue Well done on sorting the cupboard; it's very hard to get rid of half-finished things that you've put effort into, isn't it?

fuzzpig Enjoy your day out.

swan I always found sports day very traumatic; my mother equally so, as she always refused to come and watch me. One thing I don't miss about the UK.

Oh boy, I did bugger all today. DD was in an utterly foul mood (I keep explaining that the reason for this is because she refuses to sleep, but hey...) so the morning was a bit of a stressy faff but actually she cheered up when she got to the book club. Hung about at the library and in town, then had work, nothing exciting :o although seeing DD participate in the book club (her first session, she had been very reluctant this morning) made me happy :). Just ordered tesco for tomorrow, that's about it! Must go and actually switch the washing machine on, that might help...

Oh, sports day. Have to admit I am quite glad not to have to face that now. DCs are quite active, especially DD, but they both seem to prefer activities that aren't competitive other than competing against yourself IYSWIM. Rock climbing, gymnastics etc.

Parents coming up tomorrow, think we will go to a national trust place or something.

Oh crap I just realised I was planning to start my GET (graded exercise therapy - sometimes recommended for people with ME, but you have to be very careful) today - I've got a little exercise pedal thingy as we can't fit a bike in. I am literally starting with like a minute per day. You then increase it by about 20% every week or so.

I had a treadmill test the other week and it really freaked me out how quickly I had to stop! I can walk at normal pace reasonably well without too much dizziness but anything that would class as cardio seems impossible. I hope I can improve.

I haven't actually got rid of anything (yet!) Linzer. I have a bag of rags and another bag of sellable stuff for the charity shop. And a friend coming over tomorrow who can hopefully help me on the way to finishing some projects!

Also did a bit of a house bleugh this morning as we have lots of removal firms doing quotes in the next few days.

Got boys' end of term reports today and very pleased that they're both described as polite, helpful, friendly etc.

Evening all

Disappointed. I haven't got on as well as I had hoped today. Was on the the go from 6.00 am but loads of people around/interruptions/unexpected errands/phone calls/last minute unexpected things. Heigh ho.

Ta da con'td/
made two of Nigella's banana and walnut cakes
picked blackcurrants
found jam jars
cut out dog bag fabric (don't ask)
4 loads of washing done and dusted
bit of ironing
dd off to play date and picked up (and bought tart on way)
long telephone conversation re: visitor logistics for when we get back
Walked dog X 2 (and dh did another quick one)
Dog trainer session
Brushed dog
Fed animals again
Bought presents for holiday hosts
Prepped and cooked melon for starter and veal escalopes for main tonight with tom sauce and pasta and cleared up
Emptied and re-filled dw seemingly unendingly

And that was it really.

Blue congrats on sorting yet another cupboard of doom!!!
Can't tell you how happy I feel knowing I am not the only one with half-finished sewing projects over a decade old !!
How about a compromise: could you poss (a) finish cross-stitch cushion (if you think you will use it or give it to someone else if not) and (b) take photos of rest and chuck?

Fuzzpig¨good luck with the GET exercises and great that your dd enjoyed the book club!

Linzer Hope your ds is OK and paed could help. One child-free day in nine weeks does sound rather tough going (I am spoiled because when dd goes out like today I get time to myself). Could you not engineer a bit of child-free time for yourself (a long weekend perhaps?) at the end of the holiday to give yourself something to look forward to?

Re: simultaneous translators - agree - not a job I would want to do either and don't have mental agility even if I did have that level of fluency which I don't. Know two who work for European Parliament and they are monitored incredibly closely for mental health issues and can't go over logged hours because the job can literally drive you insane: combo of high fatigue, high-pressure stress and kind of "losing" yourself in two many languages (because at that level your thought processes are slightly different in each) and you sort of "forget" who you were orginally ifyswim. You have to be incredibly grounded to do it successfully and for any sustained period of time.

Hope your day improved Swan and you are feeling a bit stronger (and mud-fest not too demoralising)

Waves to Grey (and Honu Mercury DEM Toffee and everyone else I have missed