September Fledglings: the new term has begun!

[Greymalkin]

Hello all, the new term has begun! So I'm taking the register; everyone please sign in...

I will set out the opening post curriculum once my home internet collection is restored

Ooh look --> teacher's pet!!

Helloooo Fledglings! [SC here]

Huge congratulations to Foxes!! Your baby is gorgeous! Take it steady and enjoy your little ones and only come back to Flying when you are good and ready! It will be great to 'see' you when you do though!

Thanks for all the links Greymalkin! Brill round-ups too! Hope you are not too rushed off your feet and that the academic reading is going well!

Oh and a big warm welcome to newcomers:

LiveLifeWithPassion
BiscuitBadger
mnistooaddictive
DontStopMovinToTheSClubBeat

Love all the furry feline photos! They are all gorgeous!

And it's great to have you back on the thread Pontification!!

And yay I see Carpe is back too!! And MrsMook!

Lovely to have everyone back "in the nest"!!

8FencingWire I have a great recipe for banana cake (but more cake than bread) if you are interested! It's not like a usual banana loaf - I'm not too keen on those either tbh -but this is a winner by Nigella. Can pm/post if you are interested! (Don't worry if not though!)

Just Flying through - speed reading thread- so hope I haven't missed anyone/anything important! Hope return to school/work/study has gone well for everyone!

We have had a bit of a tortuous start to the new term - too long and complicated to go in to - but combination of exam re-sits, very poor communication from school and general teenage bolshiness! Things slightly improved now though thankfully but, very very sadly, ballet has had to go 60% dd's decision and 40% forced on her by school's remedial study timetable [grrrrr] [sad

Just starting to get house back in to some vague sort of order now my back is a bit better (it was a complete tip after the holidays) and just starting to get on top of new term's paperwork too. Thankfully, we have a few quiet days + free weekend ahead in which I hope to make a bit of progress!

Huge changes ahead here in the next few months with corresponding amounts to do! Really excited but a bit daunted at the same time!

Sorry posted too soon and had a bit of an emboldening fail there

DontStopMovinToTheSClubBeat! Welcome anyway!

Hello to TooStressyForMyOwnGood too!

Huge waves to Whoknows Feetheart Toffee Celeste Cag Mercury Blue Stillliving Cotswold Honu Dogsbum and anyone I have inadvertently missed!

And to Knitting Einstein Ellie if you happen to be lurking!

Not having a good week flylady wise, Monday I did well and Tuesday did some. Yesterday I was out the house from 8.30am- 9.30 pm at which point I was too tired so nothing got done. Need to be better today.

Aw, what a gorgeous little Fox cub!

Waves back to SC

My parents are due at some point soon but don't know exactly when, which is making Beavers pick up and dinner cooking a bit interesting... Between that and yoga class being cancelled earlier, I have managed a bit of a house bleugh though, and gone from full-on chaos to normal family-and-cat-non-show-home level mess!

salutary, yes please, that would be lovely if you could! Thank you very much!
I managed to cook, clear up, load the DW in an hour. Currently chilling with the cat, a candle and a coffee.
The beauty of having just recently moved is that my drawers are tidy, so is the various foils and bag boxes etc.
I've gone all Ikea!
I've spent a lot of money. So I have taken extra shifts, I am working this weekend.
But hoping to catch up properly on my day off next week.

Evening all,

Whoknows My dh thinks i put too much down (every other day?) and then i stupidly mentioned a mn thread where some people were saying they only do it every fortnight hence the challenge was born. I'm a stubborn minx but its doing my head in now.

Foxes He's gorgeous. Congratulations again

Waves to Salutory

Todays ta das

made beds
washed dishes
dusted and polished living room
washed dishes (again)
tidied ds room
bathed ds

I haven't read the thread properly for a day or two now, been too absorbed in uni work. Will catch up properly tomorrow....

Links for Friday 9th September: Here is the flight plan for a summary

Baby step number nine: learn about the five minute room rescue technique

We are continuing in Zone 2, The Kitchen Spend 15 minutes decluttering here. If you have finished decluttering here is the detailed cleaning list

Today's mission is to check your cleaning supplies Chuck out old clothes, empty product bottles, add anything needed to your shopping list.This might also be a good time to clean/replace your hoover filters.

Our habit of the month is establishing a Before Bed Routine This is actually a really good habit to develop, as many of us can vouch for.

The focus for Fridays is to declutter your purse, handbag and car day

And a little bonus feature for this month: FlyLady's back to school tips

Thanks for the links Grey - is it you that's trying to move house? I was wondering how that was going. I'm struggling a little at the moment to remember who is doing what. Lovely to see so many returners and new Fledglings on the thread though.

Celeste - I see, that's tricky. Does he really think you should go a fortnight without using anything at all, or is it just bleach that's being boycotted. I don't do the bowl every single day (maybe 2 or 3 times a week), but I do wipe all the outside surfaces down as part of swish and swipe.

Well, I solved a mystery today, while doing one of the missions. WARNING - This is really gross. I was clearing out the drawer of plastic boxes, foil, cling film etc, when I noticed a cling film shaped box at the back of the drawer. I have a cling film dispenser and I tend to take foil out and just keep the roll so I was puzzled. Anyway, about 6 months ago I bought a box of ready rolled pastry, used half of it and the other half vanished, I remember quizzing DH as to its whereabouts. So, today I found my pastry . Box was intact, pastry was still inside it's plastic bag, but it was not a pretty sight. Use by 16th April.

EUWWWW!

Could easily happen in our house though

No Flying today. Anxiety high as DH's first sports class is tomorrow, and I have my smear test first thing, UGH

Ha Whoknows! I wouldn't worry, things like that regularly happen here! I've removed some honking "science experiments" from dd's school back-pack in my time. Abandoned sandwiches moulding in lunch box from three weeks previously anyone?

8FencingWire about to send you pm with banana cake recipe!

Back to square one with my back today because I spent too long sitting in front of a screen yesterday - had to do basic admin for dh - and some banking and school admin for myself. Sooo frustrating! But I haven't time to lie down so I am just hobbling about!

Hope sports class/appt go well today Cag

8fencingwire I speed read your post as "just chilling the cat"

Waves back to everyone!

Hi, Are there any similar threads on here about getting things done and setting small / daily goals that don't involve following particular systems like Flylady or Marie Kondo?

Thank you! Smear test was surprisingly easy (I will no longer need to be nervous or consider asking GP for sedatives!) and the sports club went really well! So glad we've got the first one done now. Loads of interest for next week already. :)

Hi Marwoods not sure about other threads but TBH we don't all follow the FlyLady system here, the links are there but often I'm just making my own way with stuff rather than following zones etc. :)

3 WEEKS sc? You're just not trying. One memorable summer they went to get their bags ready for school in September and found the leftover lunches from the middle of June. There was mild interest in trying to identify what once they were, but frankly it was impossible to tell. And then I had to buy new Tupperware.

I survived my first week at uni! Go me!
Friend is still in hospital, so watching that, but have lists!

To do:

Collect books from store
Drop off science textbook at school for dd2
Drop off certificate to youth member
Laundry x 2
Wipe kitchen surfaces
Ironing
Dance class run
Charge Fitbit for weekend!!

TA da:
Dishwasher unload, load, put on
Balanced budget
Banking
Found the damned text book that I remembered I had but didn't know where...

I might try the purse/ handbag car thing today... Possibly. I make no promises...

Ta da
Decluttered DD1's box of toy jewellery and comic free gift tat. Probably kept far too much clutter but did it while she was at school so only threw out the broken / completely rubbish stuff really as felt much more than that was unfair.
Started cleaning out my handbag! Hadn't meant to but it is so heavy and realised on the walk to school that I really need to carry less around, at least for the school run.

To do
Cook tea
Reboot laundry
Finish reorganising handbag
Check ballet stuff for tomorrow for both DDs

Pontification and yuck Why oh why do they do it?

Actually I think I know why - currently reading as many books about teenage brain development as I can - it's all down to a woolly frontal cortex apparently ... .

Have my 'How to talk' bk (teenage version) permanently on hand atm... .

Yes, it has been one of those weeks!

DD is very sad about having to give up ballet and keeps crying about it so we are going to approach the school and see what can be worked out. Communication very poor though and everyone assuming that because it is second year of secondary that we know what to do - and who to approach - but we don't (although all the native mothers seem to know what is happening by osmosis) harrumph.

And poor dd got approached by a bit of a wierdo bloke on the tube platform on the way back from school today. He sat too close to her on a bench and asked her which school she went to. Thankfully she just say "I go to a school near here, please excuse me" and moved away sharpish (and had the presence of mind to cover up the school logo on her jumper) and she did everything right and no harm done (a kind member of the public came and offered support) but she still came home shaking poor girl. Just so that this should happen on her first full week of going back and forth to school by herself [sad

Currently having a glass of to try and chill a bit [leaves more on naughty corner bar for everyone to enjoy ... help yourselves!

Well done Pontification on surviving your first week at uni! Hope it went really well and bet your bottom dollar you are not as behind everyone else as you thought you were!! (And age and experience count for a lot don't forget.)

And meant to say earlier - having read down thread - that I think you are being a truly wonderful friend

Hi Marwoods as Cag said, we all follow the Flylady system rather loosely here. Very loosely in my case . We all adapt it to suit ourselves and our indiv schedules/houses. Perhaps a house-keeping app would be more to your taste though? I'm sure others on here will advise! Good luck with it anyway!

And good luck to eveyrone on here who has started studying this Michaelmas term!

(I have started an on-line free OU Latin refresher course this week and things are vaguely filtering back through 40 years of fog .... )

Argh, pressed 'post' too soon again!

Flying-wise have:
fed and watered animals
emptied dw
filled wm and td
sorted on-line banking
ordered various birthday presents
finished admin tasks
sorted some social things
triaged washing
bit of ironing
cleared front of fridge of all bits of paper and blue tack and scrubbed it down with Ajax (ready for this year's timetable/notices etc)
read (translated) and signed loads and loads of forms for school and signed (each subject teacher presents you with a form outlining subject matter for the year ahead and their expectations/rules which both parents and teacher have to sign)
washed swimming kit
washed gym kit
washed dh's smalls
cooked salmon steaks , veg and new pots for supper

Hoping everyone else has survived the week OK!!

Have a good weekend everyone

Also:
cleared dining room table hot spot
brushed furry one
applied anti-flea/mite treatment
arranged next appt with trainer
tracked down second hand maths book required by dd

Links for Saturday 9th September: Here is the flight plan for a summary

Baby step number ten: learn about the power of 15 minutes This is another really good one to get the hang of.

We have technically finished in Zone two now, but if you are carrying on with zone work, continue in Zone 2, The Kitchen Spend 15 minutes decluttering here. If you have finished decluttering here is the detailed cleaning list

There are no missions as it is the weekend.

Our habit of the month is establishing a Before Bed Routine This is actually a really good habit to develop, as many of us can vouch for.

The focus for Saturdays is Family Fun Spend time together renewing relationships and having quality time together.

And a little bonus feature for this month: FlyLady's back to school tips

good luck with sorting out ballet, sc. That would be the end of the actual world here. That said, this will be dd1's last year dancing as she is in her final year of school. She's been TAing for the tap teacher for two years, and this year has been given her own class to run, so she gets to do all her own prep and choreo. It will be a lovely way to finish at the year-end show, but I'm feeling a little over-wrought at the prospect, already!! It's not even as if I'm going to save any money, as the dance class funds will just switch over to halls rent. Anyone else waving off kids next year?
in other news, we had snow overnight. I am not ready. i am not ready. i am not ready... it had all gone by the time I got out of bed, but they were showing pics on the local tv channel in a hearty 'ha ha, winter is here' tone.
Right, I'm off to spend 15 minutes decluttering in the kitchen. And then a 5 minute room rescue in the living room.

at snow Pontification it's a scorcher here today so I can't quite get my head around that!

And, gosh, very well done to your dd with her dancing. She must be v dedicated indeed to have carried on throughout school. Brilliant that she has her own class to run!

Can understand your wobble though. How fast time passes. DD only in second secondary but already I have this sense that childhood as such is over and she is now starting to become independent and learn all the skills to move away (which is just as it should be of course!!) but it's hard to watch them grow up isn't it?

I have just made a huge long "action" list of things that need doing (a) this weekend and (b) this week.

I rather wish I hadn't

You were stupidly busy yesterday Salutary huge list. Well deserved glass of wine or two

Rubbish weather here today. The forecast all week was for the weekend to be nice and then it seemed to change yesterday and we had rain overnight and its now just overcast. I was hoping for us to go to the beach one last time before end of summer Went to indoor play centre this morning instead. Hate those places.

Afternoon all, here is our first thread round up....

We have lots of new Fledglings to welcome this month: LiveLife Addictive Badger TooStressy DontStop Foxes and Marwoods

Toffee has been admiring all the cat pictures and wondering about continuing her DS’s swimming lessons

LiveLife has returned from holiday and has been getting back to normality

Blue has been getting cross with the student loans company, baking and getting her house back to normal

TooStressy has been rediscovering FlyLady this month and is establishing FlyLady habits, decluttering and trying to fine tune her before bed routine

8 has been getting ready for autumn and winter with wreaths and candle décor ideas

Shannara has been dealing with her sprouting offspring and getting back into the new term

Carpe has returned to the Fledgling nest and has recently got back into work

Foxes only went and had a baby!!!! Easily the most impressive ta-da so far!

Feetheart has been on a massive decluttering spree, kicking her house into shape and denuding her neighbours plum tree

Celeste continues to churn out enormously productive ta da lists; although she is missing her bleach terribly [ giggles at Jeremy Germ, Steve-Coli ]

Badger has been making good use of the thread and getting the hang on the FlyLady system

StillLiving has been doing some volunteering, reducing food waste and raising money for the community

Mercury is fighting body clutter (FlyLady speak for excess weight) and is looking for veggie recipes

Cag has started home ed term with her hyper DCs and also braved an essential medical appointment

MrsMook has come back to the Fledgling fold and has dealt with post camping chaos

Pont has begun her university course and in super Flylady style got organized with meal prep before hand. She is also supporting a friend in need.

Cotswold tried to sneak un-noticed back into the thread and has been getting fired up for house blitzing

WhoKnows has been getting back on the wagon after summer: achieving missions all over the place, working on establishing some good habits that are paying off and getting her family involved too.

SC rocked up to class a week late but her back is slowly getting better so will let her off detention. Big changes on the horizon, as always the Fledglings will be here to support

Addictive is also getting the hang of the FlyLady system and ?maybe? struggling with an all or nothing approach?

Marwoods has dipped a toe into the thread and been encouraged by other Fledglings to join.

Grey has been very lax at keeping up with the thread due to all her uni work and promises to be more present from now on…

< and breathe >

Unfortunately I haven't been flying as much as I would like, I have a cleaner for two hours a week so she effectively does my home bleugh and any ironing I have. However, I've let decluttering slide a bit and routines.

I will be the first to admit that I struggle with an all or nothing approach. At the moment, all my energy and thoughts are spent on my reading for uni. I'm going to try to get a bit more of a balance this coming week, maybe 40 minutes reading and then 20 minutes house stuff.

WhoKnows - yes it is me who is trying to move house atm. Its ben a roller coaster - we have finally found a place that we love where the moving process hasn't fallen through. So I'm trying to do lots of decluttering admittedly using the Kondo method (shhh!)
I also use a bullet journal too, love it, especially the habit trackers

SC Salve, quam vos? Good luck with your OU studies, I'd love to hear how you are getting on/what you are studying

Cag - I love the Freud museum! Its such a beautiful place that just feels so full of knowledge and discovery. A perfect place for a date in my opinion, so many things to talk about and to discover the attitudes of the person you visit with! Happy to talk to you about my studies