Festive building work, house moving and fledglings flying. Gotta be the December thread.

[CantSee4Looking]

Morning

It's December. Are you ready for this?
festive cleaning, decluttering and then the required throwing about of sparkly stuff in the name of the holidays? No? Yeah neither are the rest of us. But let's do this.

So we sorta follow the Fat fairy and her fly lady system. We have adapted to suit lifestyles and sometimes roll our eyes at the fluffiness of the website but we do:
1. 15mins decluttering
2. Missions and Zones
3. have a naughty corner bar but someone else can decorate it this year

All the links can be found from the launch pad

But as it is the 1st of December It is babystep 1. This one looks easy. Shine your sink.

missions are here

The zone is zone 1 which is the porch, dining room and hallway. 15minutes folks, 15 minutes. get that decluttering done.

Tuesday is planning day

And just for the crazy people Christmas missions are here

the 1st Christmas mission

Oh yeah, the disclaimers:
long running thread, regulars been here years so can seem clicky, we're not. Newbies are always welcome we just as you to be respectful

Agree Can"'t that all the tweeness is sick bucket worthy. Will check out the new baby-steps when I have a mo (yes, I know I should be following them anyway ) hope they haven't changed too drastically; they are now an inextricable part of daily routines at SC ruins towers.

DD and dh have just helped me do a 15 min tidy-up in the boudoir The difference 15 mins of effort makes when three people work flat out is incredible to behold!

In fact I think I might faint ... .

Keep going everyone!

Christmas tree has arrived btw - its scent is delicious!

Well done to your dd Fuzzpig! It's lovely that she can join the group in Jan! She has caught up really quickly bless her!

Do you mind me asking how you find a private dance tutor?

(DD is currently "between two groups" as she dropped out for nine months when she was 9yrs when she was having some "ishews" at school. When she returned to ballet classes she joined the class below her own. But she has now definitely outgrown that but needs more hours practice yet to re-join original group ifyswim. So one suggestion has been that she has a private tutor an hour or so a wk but none of her dance teachers have any spare time... .)

Thanks SC :) sorry I can't be more helpful as the private dance tutor was accidental really, basically the club have loads of teachers and everyone kind of pitches in. It was their suggestion that she have some lessons on her own (well, there was supposed to be another girl who was coming for a trial, but she never turned up) at a time when they had a teacher spare.

I'm so pleased she's got on well and is joining the group already, but the sad thing is that the group teacher is different. She seems nice but DD is really upset that the teacher she's got to know (who really is absolutely lovely) won't be her teacher in the group! She will be around though when DD has her class, so that's something. :)

No worries Figgyfuzz, thanks anyway!

The individual teacher does indeed make such a difference doesn't it?

Yes I think so! There have been a few issues with her rock climbing teacher too, he was really unbelievably grumpy for a couple of weeks and that definitely made it harder for her and her friends to learn (apparently this week was better though). It's been really nice seeing DD have a nice teacher-student bond, especially as she is no longer at school. It seems like a really close community though, all the teachers and students seem to know each other well. I'd like to learn myself if my health improves :)

Think any sort of dance is a great skill to have for life! And it's always fab to be able to exercise to music I think!

DD had one of those grumpy teachers (for badminton). Being here, of course the course was assessed and each child had to receive a "brevet" in order to pass on the next level. His last words in true continental direct style (at the end of the course were) "you have all failed". He then turned away and started to pack up. Nothing else was said (literally!) No clue as to why (ie what they had done wrong or how they could improve). DD came home in tears and didn't continue the course after that ... she would have just had to repeat exactly the same course week after week for an entire year anyway. So demoralising ... .

[Leaves mulled wine and mini mince pies (left over from office do yesterday) on naughty corner counter for all to share!]

"Office do" was lovely, thanks SC and Cant.

A few more bits sorted out around the house today. Took the boys to crib service rehearsal followed by Christmas party this afternoon, which was fun.

Now watching the Strictly final, which always makes me want to be able to dance properly! Will have to find some classes after Christmas, even if only Zumba.

• me too on wanting to dance, well, I made a start with my ballet and tap classes this year. We watched the Strictly final too, just me and the DCs, DD and I were a little disappointed with the result but DS picked the winner. DH is out overnight at his work Christmas do, no partners invited (thank goodness).

Anyway I think my Christmas prep is almost done. It was my works do last night, with partners, we drove and left the car there, taxiing back, so DH drove me back to get it this morning (next town, bigger than ours and lots of nice independent shops) and I spent an enjoyable couple of hours pottering round the shops and picking up stocking fillers before driving back. Then more card writing, more wrapping, and pizza on the sofa in front of Strictly. Christmas put aside for a couple of days now as I head off to the funeral tomorrow.

Today's Links
no missions
babystep
launch pad
Sunday is renew your spirit day

Whilst I am here, here is <strong>Monday's Links.</strong>
New zone <a class="break-all" href="http://www.flylady.net/d/zones/zone-4/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">zone 4</a> - Master Bedroom
<a class="break-all" href="http://www.flylady.net/c/sp.php#missions" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Missions</a>
<a class="break-all" href="http://www.flylady.net/d/daily-focus/daily-focus-monday/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Monday is home bleurgh day</a>
<a class="break-all" href="http://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-21/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">babystep</a>
<a class="break-all" href="http://www.flylady.net/c/lp.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Launch pad</a>
<a class="break-all" href="http://www.flylady.net/c/holidaycruise.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Christmas missions</a> - links for missed ones at the bottom

Ha fat fairy seems to have forgotten that friday is Christmas day. You all have a get out of Jail free card for Christmas day. And I will personally have words with those crazy enough to do Friday's mission on Friday! I do expect you all to avoid anything other than essential flying type stuff. Dishes are unfortunately unavoided unless the paper plate route is taken

[creaks in]

Thanks for links Can't! (My spirit is feeling far from "renewed" today I'm afraid.)

Whoknows well done on kicking the Christmas prep in to touch! Safe travelling. We will be thinking of you tomorrow x

Blue and Whoknows we had dd's godfather over last night to share a take away (eaten on laps on sofa) and watch Strictly (he is the sort of friend who doesn't mind mess thankfully!). What was hilarious though was that dh did some "Latin moves" while carrying plates through from sitting room to kitchen and split his trousers from middle back waist right through to lower back crotch (if that makes sense) ie down the back of his bum. (Yes was implicated.] Dh always wears his clothes until they (literally) fall apart despite having perfectly good replacements in the cupboard and I'm always warning him this might happen in the middle of a meeting or something!

Not so hilarious this morning is that dh has taken it upon himself to cook beef broth using every pan in the -kitchen and about four colanders-- and has made a huge huge mess. I am seething because (a) we had a perfectly good amount of beef in Thai takeaway last night (b) we will be entertaining friends tomorrow eve with a shoulder of pulled pork (already bought and marinading in fridge).

So why we need more meat using up budget/fridge space/time we don't have I do not ruddy well know! I was hoping dh would help me carry a load of "stuff" from sitting upstairs so that we can put up decorations.

Don't get me wrong, he works phenomenally hard at his job, but I am really fed up with the way that, when he is with us, he disappears in to the play room and turns on the telly and "absents" himself, or is deep in to his phone messages and doesn't reply when spoken to, and it's basically just such hard work to get him to "engage" with anything related to domesticity (except when it is related to his stomach).

I'm afraid I have just shouted at him and called his actions "deeply unhelpful" and said that "if you spent as much time and money on this house as you do cooking and eating, then this place would be renovated by now"!!!!

[anger] [anger] [anger]

And he shouted back "having bought 48 jars of Marmite, albeit by mistake, you are in no position to talk!"

Which I have to admit is a good point

Damn!

Reckon the Fat Fairy is on the vodka as well as the sloe gin now Can't

It's having to stare at all of those lace up shoes and tan tights when she opens her wardrobe in the morning. It sends her over the edge.

Actually, a snifter of the hard stuff right now would not go amiss ... .

SC

right I am going to move and throw some more toys out the pram at ds. I still really really want to cancel christmas. Really can't be arsed with it and seriously not feeling christmas spirit in any shape or form. I am at the point where I want to take the half naked, tipping over, badly decorated tree and throw it out the window it is offending my eyes so much.

Oh poor you Can't that does sound extremely hard indeed xxx

Building works and Christmas are an exceedingly tough, almost impossible, combination.

Could you change plans dramatically and, I don't know, go out and visit the zoo and have a Christmas picnic instead (ie change the focus from home)?

Our local zoo is open on Christmas day (I have checked for the same reason as I stil don't know which arseing guests are coming when if at all - and thought it might be a good diversionary tactic if they decide to come 2 days after Christmas ie I am only going to cook one Christmas dinner once!!)

(Er, I'm sure it will be lovely to see them when they do arrive . Just don't know whether to order a sodding turkey or not, or what size or um, anything really.)

Oh but SC traditions. think of the traditions

Tbh I am sick of Christmas. Sick of the whole fucking thing and am really looking forward to being on my own next year. No baking, no tree, less stress. So much stress and fuss for one week yes I do mean week of celebrations. I would settle for a clean and tidy house and no stress. It sounds positively lovely atm.

Building work is done. But ds is being an arse with an attitude. Fingers crossed things are a little better this afternoon.

Great that the building work is finished Can't! Hope things a little calmer for you this afternoon.

And yes, agree about the millstone of traditions. On the one hand, lovely. On the other hand, a complete pain in the bum.

I was speaking to my cousin on the phone yesterday (whose dc are virtually grown up; they are all at uni or working) who was saying (humorously) that his wife still does the "full works" and goes completely mad at Christmas when all the dc come home. He said he tried to suggest that they changed a few traditions (for example not doing stockings for 18 yr olds) so they had less work to do, but it didn't go down well, and apparently when he tried to move the tree 5cm to the left from where it usually goes (or some such thing) there was a complete outcry, so he gave up!

I don't know why we all do it to ourselves tbh!!

I said done not finished SC Starts up again next month. 2 week break

Oh crikey Can't

. I have arrived Up North, it was a long drive (thank goodness for cruise control) but uneventful.

SC, you have made me laugh with your Marmite and trouser splitting tales. We eat a lot of Marmite but 48 jars! Maybe you could sell them to other expat Brits? Sympathies re DH. I had "words" with mine a while ago and pointed out that were anything to happen to me he'd be completely fucked on the organisation/child rearing front whereas if anything happened to him we would just carry on as usual and it seems to have made an impact, he is definitely more pro-active now. Was a bit mean of me but I was very frustrated at the time.

Can't, I feel for you, although struggle to offer any useful advice, I agree that getting out of the house does sound like a good bet though.

Glad you made it up there safely Whoknows hope you can have a bit of a relaxing evening before your demanding day tomorrow.

I have been "having words" with dh for over 20 yrs now but it never has much of an effect. He does help when specifically asked (for example he has been carrying "stuff" up and down stairs for a solid 40 mins or so this evening). I don't think he is disengaging deliberately - he genuinely has a lot on his plate - and is very hands on with dd and cooking when he is here. I just don't think he has that sort of imagination that allows him to see it from someone else's p of v ifyswim - not that that makes this situation any less infuriating of course .

Things have not gone well today. I have made progress ie have got through a whole second swathe of Christmas cards (finished them all - yay!) packed a mountain of yet more presents (godchildren this time) , tidied up the sitting room, stripped and made four beds and carried a load of "stuff" up and down stairs (with help from dh and dd). But my stomach has started playing up (it always does this at the worst possible time) and I took the meds that the doc has prescribed, but now my stomach has ballooned to about X3 it's normal size and I feel horribly nauseous (sorry for gory details). I don't feel well [sob] Sod it though, I don't have time to be ill!

Oh dear, SC, hope you feel better soon.

DH is slightly bemusedly watching the Sound of Music live thing...

We have made more progress towards being habitable by Christmas, and I have made mince pies. Lots on in the next couple of days (no surprise there!) but I do have to remember a couple of bits of work/admin that need doing too.

All the best for tomorrow, WhoKnows.

Morning!

Just a quick list dump, I've spent my morning cuddling DS and playing with DD so have a fair bit to catch up on before we go attempt some ice skating this afternoon!

To do:
Dress myself and DC
Stables X 5
Home bleugh
Laundry
Sweep floors
Sort presents we brought back from the outlaws last night
Hang DS curtains

Good morning!

Whoknows thinking of you today.

Blue well done re mince pies (hope you are enjoying all of the "first Christmas" prep in your new home)

Lauren have fun ice skating!

Very very slow start here: all Christmas prep has ceased temporarily. Keeping close to bed and bathroom. Feel a bit better but very very tired and very much have urge to lie down.

Have very sadly cancelled tonight's dinner with friends as I just don't feel up to it. As it happens one of their party is ill too. And now dog has started puking again, so dh is taking him back to the vet.

I'm sure things will get better though!

DD is being really good and keeping herself occupied decorating her room.

Hope things going well for everyone else!