September 2015 fledglings shine their sink and their lace up shoes and prepare for the new academic year ahead

[standclear]

Welcome to the September 2015 Fledgling Flying thread! Hang up your microfibre cloths and park your buckets here!!

[Sorry - I've namechanged again - but remain SC]

This is where from the 1st of the month, we attempt to declutter and follow the 30-step wisdom of Flylady (minus cutesy language and a surfeit of e-mails) with lots of chat and support and mutual motivation (and of course) along the way. (More info available here and here ) and here.

Humungous thanks to our previous thread leaders (nns relating to a planet and to a colour) for guiding us through the summer and keeping us sane throughout the holidays!

As usual we will be following a three-pronged approach - and don't worry - we are all at different stages. Some of us (SC stares at feet) -are stuck at the decluttering stage after an embarrassingly long number of years :

• repeat or start baby steps (again!)

• repeat baby steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone

or

• reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.

And those of you who have decluttered and are really enthusiastic can throw some detailed cleaning in to the mix as well!

This is a very long-running thread so we may appear cliquey but we really aren't! All newcomers, long-termers, lurkers and intermittent returnees not only welcome to join in but positively encouraged to do so!

Any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Good luck!

I forgot about Downton! I hardly ever watch telly at the moment, when the DCs go to bed there seems to always still be a pile of things that needs doing, then a bit of MNing on the computer, then its bedtime.

Anyway, largely an at home day today. DH put his donestic hat on and did a really thorough hoovering session downstairs (furniture moved). I washed sheets and towels. Had a couple of hours at the allotment too. It's been a nice weekend. Yesterday a minor miracle occurred, DS volunteered togo for a walk with me, there is a stunningly pretty village a couple of miles from here so we had a nice potter round, found a geocache, followed by a ginger beer in the pub, was a really lovely afternoon despite having to listen to a two hour monologue on the ins and outs of the Spanish football league.

Ooh, I've recorded Downton as I was in bed by the it started looking forward to watching that today now You've reminded me, have also recorded Dr Who, just need Meerkitten to play ball and let me watch them now

Time your walk sounded so lovely that I felt quite envious until you mentioned the football monologue your must have the patience of a saint to listen for two hours!

Baby Massage seemed to go pretty well, although Meerkitten was sick at one point. To be honest she seemed to completely ignore the leg massage but she did seem to enjoy watching the baby next to her who was a month older and made lots of entertaining noises

There were also a couple of other mums there who really made me laugh so I enjoyed it and will definitely go again, it's only five weeks anyway.

I'm not sure how this week will go though as she has her jabs on Tuesday including that new meningitis one and the health Visitor said it is common to get a fever after it and baby Massage is on Wednesday, so we'll see what happens

I had a couple of friends round for lunch on Friday and had a lovely time. The three of us rotate lunch between our houses every few months and we each make a course.

We weren't sure how it would go now that Meerkitten is part of the group but to be honest it went about as smoothly as is possible with a small baby. Having two other people to hold her was definitely useful.

I really enjoyed myself and the next one is just before Christmas so she might be sitting up and/or eating by then so it should be fun!

By smoothly I do of course mean small baby smoothly, not genuine smoothly

Meerkitten demanded feeding just as I finished cooking the main, so I ate my main cold once Meerkitten had finished her lunch

Luckily I'd made a dish that is good cold as well

Droitwich I have studied your yarnbombing image closely and I am still clueless as to what is going on

Have just googled yarnbombing and now I get it Suddenly it seems obvious I'm definitely losing it!

Apologies for all the typos

Between auto correct and this blooming phone it is a wonder I make any sense ignores likely impact of sleep deprivation

Blue fingers crossed your sale is sorted soon, it sounds very stressful.

Sorry to hear about everyone's fussy eating children, that gives me something to dread look forward to

I'll have to hope that Meerkitten inherits her grandfather's healthy appetite fat knacker who'll eat anything in sight

Good morning all!!

Lovely to hear that Meerkitten [sort of] enjoyed baby massage Dogsbum and that she is enjoying your meet ups with friends!

Astimegoesby >"I hardly ever watch telly at the moment"

• thus demonstrating the difference between a successful high Flyer [you] and one cruising at lower altitudes [me]. I'm afraid, even though there is a stack of things to do, I watch the telly anyway

Sounds like you had a lovely weekend - a good balance between productivity and relaxation - and yay to a dh who (a) hoovers and (b) moves furniture when he does so!

Knitting Oh Mrs Patmore is my very favourite character, think the actress is wonderful. And love her interaction with Daisy. Love the embroidery too (and am constantly eyeing up their curtains and rugs).
[But gosh how hard it must have been in reality.]

DD had a lovely time with friends yesterday but went off to school this morning saying she hates it and doesn't want to go (in a worryingly non-hysterical and rational way).

[Well at least it took until week four before she started hating it]

I've told her it is very early days, gave the spiel about dc in some parts of Kenya walking 10 miles in bare feet at 5 am in the morning to have the privilege of good schooling, and to give it her very best and we will review in 6 months (which must seem like 6 yrs for a child). I also gave her a large hug.

I am loving the kitchen now dh is back on his travels. It is so clean and orderly, and stays that way between meals, and the counter tops are so relatively for our house clear and well-scrubbed that I almost had the urge to run my cheek along their surfaces yesterday [Yes, I am losing it too Can'tsee ]

Dh is very good really but it does get me down the way the kitchen is never shut, he is always making a sandwich or there is something always bubbling or festering, - constant mess really. I never feel like it is my own. And he was obviously never taught what I call "sink management" as a child, even though I have tried to teach him over the years. I am rather particular about my bin and sink and and dish cloth and sponges (have a strict system) and well, he isn't. A small thing I know but there we are.

Why can't men adapt when women are constantly required to?

Also taking advantage of dh's absence to eat not alot. Have to tie myself in knots to fasten my bra and do up my trousers atm I am so very porky Sorry for tmi but I hate it!!

Right, I am all set this morning to continue the downstair's home bleugh. But first must herd all of the dirty laundry that is secluding itself in various corners of the boudoir and chase it downstairs.

So today = dog-walking, supper prep, home bleugh, laundry, start tackling boudoir, paperwork, school run, hwk supervision, supper, evening routine, early night.

Have a good start to the week everyone!

Morning! Had a lovely day with my sister on Saturday looking at crafty stuff then blindsided by a headache yesterday so nothing other than the basics done over the weekend. DH cleaned the cooker last week so I am waiting to find out what he has been up to!
Need to do a long day at work today but I will do 15 mins decluttering in the bedroom if nothing else.
Have a good day everyone

SC, I wish it were so, my lack of TV time is more down to the fact that I procrastinate MN too much during the day and end up trying to catch up in the evenings. I know what you mean about DHs and sinks, I'm forever picking a soggy sponge out of a bowl of used soapy water .

There is such a thing as death by cooking. My motivation took one look at the kitchen this morning, stuck two fingers up and me and swanned out the door saying so long suckers..

Have not read the thread - apologies.

Am finally beginning to see a small difference in the state of the house now that I have blocks of time to tidy it. I'm trying to do one cupboard or area a day. Took a bag of stuff to the charity shop last week, which made me feel much happier and 'lighter'.

Also spent a couple of hours on Saturday morning tidying up and cleaning the kitchen and doing laundry, so am feeling more on top of things at the moment.

DS1 spent the weekend in the doldrums because he'd broken his brand new phone by fiddling with it. However, DH managed to reboot it successfully this morning, so DS1 will have very good news after school.

Had a friend staying at the weekend. We spent most of Sunday in Brighton, enjoying fabulous sunshine. It felt like the last day of summer .

Both boys did their homework yesterday. DS1 left it too late, so I ended up helping him because I didn't want him to go to bed late again. I really don't want to make a habit of that, though. DS2 was impossible - complained and whinged all the way through a pitiful page of easy sums and some spelling. He is very inspired by the textiles topic at his new school, though, and has started sewing on his own. Lovely to see him so happy.

Have a very dull 'to do' list this morning, which involves lots of paperwork.

Back to work today... don't really feel up to it but I didn't phone up sick this morning. Too late now so I have to go in!

Good luck, fuzz.

Still ploughing through the boring paper stuff. I hate filling in forms.

did some home ed this morning, properties of materials with practical demo
ds2 and I then went to buy a new Hornby train with money he has saved..a Pendolino..way more than we planned but he had so much dosh stashed away that it was perfect.. I am pleased that this is helping his fine motor skills fitting train track together is very fiddly

now I have to take dd to her new Spanish tutor, consumed with anxiety not about the tutor but the journey and les arrangements, will dd wimp out, complain refuse to go next time etc. Tutor is a friend acquaintance who has been terribly kind so more at stake.

Two texts recently people inviting ds over (home ed acquaintances)to various events; this is really such a supportive community. A pity I don't feel up to following through this week; just too much on top of everything else but it is still nice to know he is in demand and the other children don't find him too annoying. Sometimes things go wrong and he gets cross and difficult and I feel so responsible. Funny thing about school is of course you don't know or see what is going on, so you get a break from all of that.

SC six months sounds about right. Dd will say she hates school on average about every three months, and it is very casual really..more to do with particular teachers or suddenly falling out with some friends or not wanting to get up at 6.30am anymore. On other hand, another friend was told by her daughter school wasn;t so good and has now after two years moved her..perhaps that is a bit too long. So difficult if school seems to be a "good" school and there is no particular alternative.

Morning! Owing to site probs, couldn't get on here last night to post links, so doing so now while it is possible. Back later to catch up properly!

*

The baby-step for today, Tues 22 Sept, is here , banning perfectionism and building a control journal in 15 steps here.

We are in Zone 4 this week: The Master Bedroom (September 20 – 26) : here.

If you have finished decluttering in Zone 4, is the detailed cleaning list for the master bedroom.

Tuesday's mission is here. Spend 15 mins tossing out old socks and tights.

The daily focus for Tuesday is : planning. Menus, outings, hair appts, med, holidays etc.

The habit for September is developing a before-bed routine here: www.flylady.net/d/habits-of-the-month/september/ .

A summary of the above (which should update itself daily) can be found here: www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=-120.

Keep going everyone! We can do it!

*

Thanks for the links, SC. I actually have a whole school day to myself today and Flying is high on the agenda after I've caught up on MN.

Boys have been packed off to school, cats have been fed, washing is on. Will be back later to report on Flying progress.

Right, looks as if it is safe to post again!

Droitwichmummy sorry you have been suffering! Hope headache has receded now and that your boudoir decluttering session went better than mine!

Waves to Astimegoesby you don't strike me as a procrastinator - you ought to come and see a true professional at work here !!

Hope your motivation has decided to turn around and is on its way back Cantsee

Toffee congrats on the focused bits of decluttering! And on the paperwork! And fab that your ds2 is interested in sewing! [Wish dd could study textiles at school! She would love it!] Do you know this site? which has some good sewing kits for dc (although possibly a bit girly). I don't know what level your ds2 is at but can send you loads of sewing project links if you would like. Easy blanket stitch ghost for Halloween?

Hope you are OK Fuzzpig and survived work ok.

Knitting brilliant to hear that your ds2 is making lovely friends in home ed community!!

Hope Spanish tutoring went well!

Thanks for schooling advice. There are other alternatives but in the state system, the same problems would still exist (very dry old fashioned curriculum). And we can't really afford the £££££££ fees of the international schools. We'll see. We'll give it a good go. I fear my negativity about staying here for another 7/8 yrs or so may be adversely influencing dd so have to check myself and be more upbeat!

Must dash! Window cleaner has arrived a day early I still haven't cleared a trail for him in the boudoir and god knows what horrors await in dd's room, but I can guess ... !

Big waves to all other fledglings and lurkers!

Have a good day everyone!

x post

whoo-hoo Toffee hope you can profit from your child-free day!

And spend an hour doing something for yourself too other than choring!
[By order of thread leader ]

I am following your orders to the letter, SC still sitting on my arse, browsing MN.

Thank you so much for that sewing website link. Am off to have a look right now.

I didn't manage the whole shift. :(

Horrible weather today, going to hopefully get lots of home ed work done with the DCs - I think we are starting to really get into the swing of it now, with topic work as well - and need to do laundry, and phone the Dr.

It's terrible, normally I have to persuade the DCs to come in/downstairs from playing in order to work, but I'm faffing about on the laptop and giving them several lots of '5 more minutes' :o really must get off the laptop now!