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

Evening!

Survived the day but dd and I have had words because (a) it is my fault she has lost her revision file apparently because I was out (b) because she had to make herself a sandwich for lunch when she got back from exams (unfair this one as I had offered to make up a lunch box as usual before school and offer was rejected - should have done it anyway as I know she gets shaky/starving after exams) but know that baby-sitter would have offered to help too (c) because I was five minutes late picking her up from ballet (which she spent sitting chatting to friends in warm changing room) and (d) because I had the temerity to question why she hadn't washed her hair as agreed [sigh sigh again] or filled up the dog's water bowl (again as agreed) in my absence.

Oh and dh has texted to say he will be travelling for a day and a bit longer than planned!! Which apparently is my fault as well

[Oh joy]

[fconfused

That should have been

Fuzzpig that home ed party sounds totally fab! I have to say I quite liked the Lemony Snicket film too (lots of fish eye camera work as I recall) but I did fall asleep for part of it and I've only read bits of the books

Knitting soon you may have twinkly lights on your greenhouse too

So sorry you are finding sleep such hard going Nicknacks that is really debilitating. You always sound so busy; can you take yourself away anywhere for an hour or two to de-stress?

Waves to Can't¨and everyone else

Wish me luck, going to go and approach dd with caution and suggest she has quick shower before bed [dons hard hat]

tiptoes in quietly

Hello, can I rejoin please? I used to be here a long time ago and recognise a few people- hello sc and blue! I did attempt a rejoin back in March but a prem baby and crippling postnatal depression and anxiety put a stop to being social about my house work!

After a house move and a round of therapy I think I'm ready for a return! Off to read the thread and will post lists etc from tomorrow!

Good to see you, sorry you've had a tough time

Love the sound of the twinkly shed, Knitting.

I did enjoy the Lemony Snicket film, but haven't read the books so nothing to compare it to. I wondered about getting them for DS1 but thought the blurb would put him off, even though he'd probably enjoy them if he got past it.

We have spent the evening rearranging the sitting room, after a disagreement about what to do with a massive Billy bookcase... it all looks rather fab now though, so worth it in the end.

Tomorrow is going to be massively busy with lots of driving and things to remember so must kick self off here and go to bed. Night!

Launch pad

Babystep

Missions

decluttering in the kitchen

Thursday is errand day

Up early again but not quite so bad, I woke at 4.40 but had gone to bed and asleep by 930pm so feeling a bit more decent.

Waves to Lauren I remember you, welcome back.

sc I am a busy person but isn't everyone? I do have a Friday off and now all the dc are in full time school, it's a decent few hours to catch up and do things child free. Sometimes that involves catching up on the soaps! It's my errands day too so i feel accomplished! I need a holiday though

I'm starting something controversial in the new year, the Cambridge diet. Extreme but necessary and I'm hoping to use my decluttering as a distraction from food so I might become a first class fledgling flyer. In fact has anyone every finished the decluttering stage and moved on to the detail clean. Once or twice I've got that far with a room or two but never the whole house.

To do
Get teas and coffees for toddler group
Receive new sofas!!!!!
Move Christmas tree back and reposition presents under it
15 mins decluttering in the kitchen
The Mission! which I need to read
Reboot laundry
Bins out to the road
Call Vodafone (grr)

Happy Thursday everyone

Good morning all!

All this talk of new sofas and Billy bookcases is making me a bit . Great that you will have them all before Christmas though!

Lauren Welcome back! Brill to see you! (Although I am somewhat embarrassed by the fact that you have probably found me whinging on about the very same things as when you left ) Definitely no need to tiptoe! So sorry to hear that you have had such a difficult time of late. What a huge amount you have been through. Looking after a prem baby and having postnatal depression is hard enough to cope with without moving house too How is your baby doing now? (And how is the horse?)

Thanks for brew Blue. And best of luck with your demanding day! Really really recommend the Lemony Snicket books. I bought dd the first seven and dd's godmother very kindly bought her the rest (13 in the series) and dd has absolutely loved reading them and is still addicted to them in fact. And, they are really useful for her in that some of the vocabulary is quite unusual/advanced which is brill for dd who has never had a formal English lesson in her life!

Glad you have caught up with a bit of sleep Nicknacks and relieved to hear you can make the most of child-free Fridays! Hope you get that holiday you need too! I'm the same as you wrt decluttering. Finished one room or another but never completed whole house and it's a bit like the Forth Bridge, once one bit is decluttered, the rest fills up with something else. I was looking at baby/toddler pictures of dd the other day and saw how beautifully clutter-free the house was in all of the backgrounds of the shots. Really gave me food for thought ... .

Speaking of food, good luck with Cambridge diet in the NY (you certainly sound v organised about it!) I have been attempting the no S regime and although I lost a bit of a weight at the beginning, I have put it back on. Starting again in Jan too

Thanks for links Can't!

Big waves to eveyrone else!

House is in a dreadfully untidy state and a have a child-free morning to get it straight which will mean lots of carrying of things up and down stairs (grown). Unfortunately, had mahoosive gynae probs in night (something that is meant to be controlled by meds) so feeling a bit rough, but we'll see how much I get done.

Off to do dog walk/school run now with slight dread as I gather all the traffic tunnels have been shut here this morning ... loads of sirens ... will probably be safest to walk ... .

Have a good errand day everyone!

grown???!!!

that should have read, "groan!"

Woke up half an hour early this morning, which gave me time to have a bowl of cereal and browse online. Feel nostalgic seeing you all chatting here, as I just don't get the chance to join in anymore. Work is going well and I'm enjoying the buzz of working and the social side, not to mention the joy of leaving home life behind for eight hours a day. Am working right up to, and including, Christmas Eve, then I get 10 days off which is filled with the usual Christmas madness. DH is still struggling with school runs and domesticity. It has been a steep learning curve for him and I think he's been shocked at the emotional impact, more than anything. He feels the loss of a 'role' in life, even though he's still running his business part time. However, he's doing a good job at presenting me with a glass of wine every evening when I walk through the front door .

DC are fine. DS1 has had ups and downs at school and I'm very cross with something a teacher said recently and considering making a complaint (calling a bunch of SNs children "dim and dense" is something to be angry about, right?). DS2 is very happy at his new school and with his new best friend, a girl who enjoys making things, knitting and sewing as much as he does.

SC - sorry you're struggling with DH being away again, not to mention DD going through more exams. You are doing a fabulous job supporting both of them and I just hope they appreciate it. And I hope that, in spite of the time constraints, volunteering is giving you valuable space away from the demands of home life.

Blue - I agree with SC about the Lemony Snicket books. I read them all to DS1 when he was younger. I also love the film of 'A Series of Unfortunate Events'.

lauren - really sorry you've had such a rough time.

Oh dear, it's past the time to get the children (and DH) up and about. Hope you all have a happy day, lovely fledglings.

Yes toffee i do think that comment needs addressing. It is nice to see you.

Welcome back Lauren

SC hope you can get everything sorted. Gynae issues are no fun.

I also have a child free builder free day. After a horrific very fried temper kinda day here yesterday, there has been a higher level of help going on so I am not being left everything to do. Another week of builders is looking likely :(

To do
laundry
folding
ironing
clothes away
pack ds' stuff for weekend
tackle my hell hole of a room

ds was up really late again last night. I suspect that he will be very fragile this morning.

of the extra strong variety on the naughty corner bar!

Quick list dump! I'll be back to catch up after I've been riding

To do:
Muck out X 5
Ride X 2
Random phone calls to change address
Mission...and swap plates and pan cupboard round
Hoover stairs
Dismantle DS swing crib

Back later!

To do:
Muck out X 5
Ride X 2
Random phone calls to change address
Mission...and swap plates and pan cupboard round
Hoover stairs
Dismantle DS swing crib
Food shop

Are the builders doing anything exciting cantsee?

toffee should I be providing DP with wine when he gets in? I often wonder about how much I should do for DP, being the "stay at home" person...I'm a childminder so work from home but the household stuff does fall to me

sc DS is fine now, he's developmentally delayed as to be expected and he is partially deaf so I'm learning to sign but he's perfect and he's happy the horses are great too! My DM has bought a horse too now so there's 5 of them between us. All nice and lively for winter!

I can't remember who mentioned dieting but I'm also back to dieting and taking it seriously from today! Laurenamium on my fitness pal if anyone is on there!

Destroying the house in the name of fixing it?
Tbh the whole sorry situation is enough to make you hide in a corner rocking hoping the whole thing goes away and the house is magically functional and operational. As it stands we will not be having christmas as there is no where to cook, no were to eat or sit. And forget christmas decorations and doing laundry just the once. Can anyone say plaster dust.

Wasted the morning on the internet. Lost the will to live. Struggling with the whole situation atm. Need to find some motivation and get up and go if there is a chance in hell of things improving though. :(

Oh no about Christmas Cant! That sounds so stressful. Do you all have somewhere else to go?

Lauren Lovely to hear about your ds is doing well and fab that you are learning sign language bless him! Very happy to hear that horses are still on the scene too - at five though!! (That's a full-time job on it's own never mind caring for your lo and others los!!!)

Toffee it's so lovely to see you back on here! We miss you! Thanks for your kind words (and to Knitting also) - I was on the verge of giving up the volunteering yesterday - it all seemed so difficult - but definitely going to carry on and hide- baby-sitting bill from dh.

In return I want to say how impressively you have negotiated this huge transition in your life! You've done amazingly well to make such a huge change (which can't have been easy)! How have you found working full-time energy-wise, if you don't mind me asking? (I have this fantasy of getting a full-time job but then worry that I wouldn't be able to hack it because I've got so unfit!)

And it's truly brilliant to hear that you are enjoying it so much! I bet you can't wait for your 10 day (much deserved!) break though can you? V. interesting to hear about your dh and the emotional impact being the main sahp has had on him; I hope he is feeling a little happier with it all now. Brill that the boys are happy and that your ds2 has a lovely friend! Well done one and all!

But at teacher's comment - that definitely needs flagging up!

I'm still in flak jacket mode here and we are deep in to the ablative and vocative this afternoon. DD very spiky (exam pressure). Just this afternoon of torture revision left thank heavens and then it will all be over until end of next term! From tomorrow afternoon onwards, I will be able to focus on house and Christmas.

And dd will undoubtedly want lots of friends to visit next week (and I'm sure many parents will be grateful for an offer of "baby-sitting" - how one is meant to hold down a job here with the dc home so much I do not know) - so going to try and find gingerbread house baking kit so I can stage a bit of a decorating competition. One of the upsides of living in a wreck is that you don't mind teens dripping icing sugar all over the floor and icing sugar looks not much different from fallen plaster anyway

Sils x 2 Christmas saga still ongoing. One is hinting about a possible strategic withdrawal. One is applying emotional blackmail (but very understandable in circs). I can't see them getting on terribly well tbh but I've told them they are both welcome and that's that. I am trying to maintain a , fair, unbiaised and neutral stance but am not particularly enjoying my role as pig-in-the-middle.

Right, back to the revision bunker ... .

Feathery waves to one and all!

Do you all have somewhere else to go? Nope There is still a hope that things will get sorted in time. Well other people have hope

Christmas will happen in some form or other still 2 weeks away yet not counting, not counting, soooo not counting

Oh dear, that does sound rather stressful Can't but knowing you, I'm sure you'll be able to come up with an imaginative solution

with any luck ds, might enjoy a "camping Christmas" indoors

Congratulations on your new baby Lauren, even if not so new now! It is lovely to think of the difference a year or two can mean with a baby changing everything; so sorry you had such a rough time dealing with prematurity and PND, it is a shadow that remains for a long time.

Fuzz now I agree on Golden Compass, such a profound series (do I sound very twee?) reduced to a plotline. I went back to my Latin Teacher at a school reunion and said, Oh Now I understand about the Epicureanism and the souls..She looked a bit bewildered, I must have been a rubbish student.

done
bought meat
bought a present or two
took ds to Judo
took ds to tuition for two hours
drove a lot
talked to friend who said her 13/14 teenager was being spoitl and demanding and Princess and Peaish about mattresses and dogwalking, very cheering. Does dd take the dog for walks SC my friend seemed to think this was a daughter responsibility after school as she had wanted the dog in the first place, daughter always said, I'm too tired and then missed the remaining slot of daylight, mum getting irritated by this and was talking about children on farms doing chores whether they wanted to or not. I said, knowing my children the response to that would be, but we DON'T live on a farm..

Toffee how lovely about the sewing and knitting [pines] Tbh the teacher thing might depend on age of teacher, young teachers tend to do more banter and are less "respectful". Still annoying though, and demoralising and just inappropriate as you say in the situation.

cantsee that sounds terrible! Did they give you a time limit when they started with the job or is it one of those that just runs on forever?

at gingerbread house sc! I keep meaning to get one to do with DD and Christmas comes round so quick it never gets done!

Thank you for congratulations knitting PND does seem to lurk a bit. I just seem to get myself on track positive and focused and then the next day I can be in a pit of anxiety and making everything seem like its the world end! The good thing now though is that I can feel myself doing it and I have the coping mechanisms to fix it.

To do:
Muck out X 5
Ride X 2
Random phone calls to change address
Mission...and swap plates and pan cupboard round
Hoover stairs
Dismantle DS swing crib
Food shop

Not bad really. Currently sat on the sofa with a blanket on...no more jobs until tomorrow now! DS is at hospital in the morning to see a consultant before his MRI scan. He's too small for anaesthetic

It is one of those where the fix the original problem but in the process find something else that needs urgently fixing

We have been into the city to do christmassy things. Ds is firmly hidden away on his tablet since we got back as he has finally got a game update that he has been waiting for for ages and the developers kept putting back and back. So now to do laundry and sort out clothes etc for tomo as it is a busy day tomo. Was a lovely trip out though.

done
drove dd to school
had nice breakfast with ds2
persuaded him into shower and football clothes
dealt with dh who is being tense about party arrangments (ie wants me to drive and pick up wine, but hadn't reckoned on ds2 having friend round later which means I cannot leave house )
dealt with cleaning lady (house is mess but I am going to just give up worrying about her take on this, gave her a large pile of ironing whilst I survey the chaos)

my sister is going round this morning
ds2 friend this afternoon
football friend here now, need to despatch ds2 by bus with bus pass (if he can find one/I can find one) and water bottlel as he still won't organise this himself
need to wrap sister's present
remind ds to write his xmas cards for football friends>>> I've reminded him 3 times already he seems keen then he forgets again

Hope MRI scan goes alright Lauren. You've achieved so much this morning with a small child in tow - yes to blankets v important part of the day. Dd has several, and I know they keep the world on an even keel for oher; I need to find my ideal one [ponders]

done
bin
washed up several saucepans
decluttered about five bits of rubbish from upstairs bathroom
s & s one loo
put all clothes upstairs
ds2 wrote his Christmas cards happily and went off on the bus with his friend

I am now checking emails from specialist school in case they will consider ds2, although I doubt it (long shot emoticon]

Blah. Exceedingly knackered today. Haven't moved off the sofa yet. Blah.

Another exceedingly knackered one checking in! Found this wk a bit gruelling tbh (it's the 6am starts mainly).

This morning dropped dd off to school for 7.50 am, then just about back in time to welcome "Bobby the Roof", handyman and cleaner at 8.30am, then did 'old' volunteering for three hrs, then home to pick up dog, over to school to pick up dd after last exam (yay!) in the pouring rain, and then home for bacon and egg sandwiches (dd always starving during exam season!) and will be heading back out to school soon to drop off administrative letters which dd forgot to deliver to secretariat [sigh]

Roof checked and declared safe save for any really terribly wet and blustery weather and wind which will blow rain between tiles apparently Work has been booked in for early in the NY. Handyman has put up dog lead rack and another coat rack finally (yippee!) but one of them is about three inches lower than I'd asked (and I'd marked position with pencil) which is really irritating and he has left dark marks on paint work, and cleaner seems to have done the absolute minimum in my absence which is also irritating because I deliberately leave very realistic list with generous timings (because this house is a bugger to clean) grrrr. Still, at least coats are now not draped all over hall banister and leads not in a tangle in outer hall and the downstairs floors are hoovered and cleaned minus a few damp dog paw marks even though surfaces still cluttered thanks to my inefficiency.

Should be using time between now and ballet to dclutter/do more parcels and prep fish pie but feel befuddled/tired.

Also: have made two Christmas related phone calls, sent one Christmas related e-mail and yay - have ordered Christmas tree (although seems an extortionate price) but dh can't really complain (I hope) because he never has time or shows the slightest interest in fetching one himself!

Have also been on receiving end of another (difficult) strategic move from one of the Christmas visitor saga participants ... oh dear ... .

Have also been offered editing job but it is for an 'honorarium' not proper pay so not sure ... they want a lot doing for very little... but could stimulate the brain cells a bit.

To do:
ballet runs between which:
dog walk no. 3
quick visit to pet shop for hay supplies

supper
collapse!

And must tackle Mt Washmore - laundry routine has gone to pot today!

Note to self: order dog coat - to stop furry one shivering in rain!!

Another note to self: change beds tomorrow! Somehow forgot to do this last Sat and didn't notice (losing my marbles obviously!)

Will be glad when dh is back tomorrow, although he'll probably be so tired (his schedule this week was gruesome in the extreme) that he will spend most of the day asleep.

Big wing flaps to all!

[Tucks fleece over Fuzzpig and proffers squishy cushion for feet

Yargh, posted too soon, will try that again!

[Tucks fleece over Fuzzpig and proffers squishy cushion for under feet]

Yes Lauren I hope all went well at the hospital this morning.

Btw - re gingerbread house - as Toffee will testify - I threaten to make them every year and it never gets done somehow. But really, really determined this year! Toffee made a lovely one last year!

Hope specialist school have a place for ds2 Knitting and that you have a lovely time with your sister today.

Need to re-address subject of pre-teen chores:
DD accompanies us on long country dog walks at weekends but she doesn't take dog out by herself yet as (a) dog a bit of a handful and unpredictable/nervy owing to early lack of training and despite his size, very 'strong' (b) she was rather terrified by dog attack which took place day after we acquired furry one (c) I have given her a "free pass" from most chores during first term of secondary which has been a bit gruelling.

Do need to start gently re-introducing some regular tasks though!

Glad to hear you and ds had a bit of a break away from building dust Can't

Wing-flap flurries to all fledglings!