February's Fabulous Fledgling Flyers

[droitwichmummy]

Welcome one and all!

Here you can do any of the following:

• 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

This is what it's all about - Babysteps each day to try to get some order back into our home with LOADS of support from our regulars.

So join in! We start this thread on February 1st, but you are welcome to dive in at any point in the month.

Evening all,

My voice is now going ,but at least that doesn't stop me MNing!

Ironing (or lack of) - I don't do much because I get washing out of the machine and into the dryer and then out of the dryer and folded up/hung up as soon as it has finished, or at least within an hour or so. Admittedly this is easier at the moment because I do not work. Also, DH mostly wears casual clothes (rugby shirts) etc to work and I wear thin t-shirts/vests and chunky cardis/jeans all of which you can get away with. School polo shirts are OK if hung up straight away. Have to do more in summer when DH wears cotton shirts and I dispense with the cardis and switch to linen trousers / skirts. A good tip if you are line drying is to hold each item by the corners and give it a really hard flick in the air before you peg it, knocks a lot of the creases out. Also makes towels, nappies etc less crunchy.

HAG DWM - we have a few people at the school gate with full make-up every day, I keep lipsticks on a high shelf in the hall so I can bung a bit on before I leave the house, makes me feel better, and a hat sorts the hair out nicely! Mine is a right mess at the moment as I am growing out layers and every time I go out the door the wind and rain plays havoc, so a hat is a must. Not too cliquey at our school though, which is nice.

I love all the little chatty bits on this thread too, look forward to hearing what you've all been up to, just like in RL.

PA - a couple of weeks ago we discussed campsites on the IOW, one was the Orchards, you mentioned another, can you remember what it was to save me having to scroll right back through January's thread? Thanks.

Did some dusting today in the dining room, desk really needs hotspotting first will try and do that later. Have kept fairly on top of things, but big pile of washing up to do in the kitchen. Made rock cakes with DD this morning, ummmm.

Tomorrow looks like a busy day, so going to try for an early night (ha ha).
See you tomorrow.

Can i have a blanket to hide under please. One very over excited now cant cope with the world boy in the bath. Have also dosed him with his sleep meds so hopefully in about a hour he will be asleep. He has had a lovely day and this evening was nice. Eaten far too much but hey ho. Thanks for the wishes. I was late leaving this morning so had the delight of hearing him sing happy birthday to himself.

To do list.

Ice cake did half mum put the continents onto the sea from the dyed icing i left
fold laundry joke!
label files
put clothes away even bigger joke!
pack bag for weekend
make waffles for tea done and eaten
Play some games with birthday boy done
set up new printer done
make lunch and moring routine done
Review 3 form
print out documents done
Sort out timetable proforma thingy for submitting friday

Have a lie in tomo so going to crawl into bed when ds goes done and get up early enough to rattle off an updated cv and the proforma thingy.

Darn - computer disconnected itself from internet. ds now in bed - hopefully going to sleep. Have a nice evning...

Evening. Missed yesterday & haven't checked in today till now so am relieved to see the babystep is something I have no desire to do & the mission is already accomplished. Yay!

So have missed all the chat from the last couple of days but from quick scroll looks like everyone been very busy. Well done. I am in awe of all of you who manage to fit working in too.

My folks took all 3 DDs from teatime yesterday till this afternoon so I have been pretty busy.Helps that I actually got a full night's sleep for the first time in aaaaages & that whatever I tidied & cleaned stayed that way. Thanks for all the suggestions re baby mementoes - I have packed one (quite big) box & my mum is going to keep it for me. Next big job is to tackle the paperwork.

All organised for tomorrow. Clothes laid out & have even made DC's breakfast. So off to clean my teeth & have early night with my book

Have good evening everyone.

Evening ladies

Lemsip, port and brandy and hot toddies this way, take your pick .

I have finally managed to more or less finish my list, except for hoovering the living room floor, which has fallen by the wayside .

Made a delicious and very virtuous celery and onion soup for tea. Three portions of veg in one bowlful, so am feeling healthily smug!

I love the chat on here too SC and MrsD, and the act of catching up in itself inspires me to keep on top of the house in a way I don't think I would otherwise bother with!

SC i don't mind you asking at all, but I'm not an architect. I'm an environmental consultant/ecologist so I do a lot of green design and impact assessment and am generally to be found lurking somewhere around the planning process!

Chaos I'm glad your DS has had a lovely birthday. I am very impressed that you have managed any flying at all on such a momentous occassion! Hope he went to sleep OK...

PA very pleased for your DD, I have a good friend with ME and it is so hard for her to socialise atm. It is so easy to get marginalised unintentionally when you are not up to going out much. I am considering my slow cooker options, but am a bit put off by all the talk of browning things in the morning on the slow cooker threads. If i did this I would never get to work at all . As it is I am horrendously late most days!

Heavy day at paid work tomorrow, but a couple of hours to myself in the evening, so I might try to get myself off mn and into a nice relaxing bath and dye my eyelashes or something!

See you all tomorrow

Shattered this evening (I wake up far too early most mornings!) so short post then bed.
Those who were impressed by my list this morning may like to take note of just how much didn't get done, mainly because DS and I decided to collapse on the sofa this afternoon and watch Toy Story

Morning routine - done
School runs - done
Bank for School Assoc - done
Work - done
Pick up DS from pre-school then Tumble Tots - done
15mins declutter in DS's room - no
5mins room rescue in DS's room - no
Mission - might try windows one from yesterday - no
Sausage, chips and beans for tea - done
Try and find more Pamper night people - left lots of messages on ansaphones
Afternoon/evening routines - done
EARLY night - I'm going now!

Just a quick few messages:

MrsD - the other one was Adgestone. We have used this one in the past. nice and quiet, lovely in good weather, but no inside play area if English summer is its usual rainy self. Ask away if you need to know any more.

PMPY - The only meat that I bother to brown before putting in the slow cooker is mince, so things like Chicken I use raw, same with beef. When I add any fluid I add boiling water just to give it a bit of a .....Its too late, I can't think of the word, but it keeps the flavour in. So, for example chicken curry is raw chicken then dump onion through the blender add spices and tin of tomatoes, peppers (and any other randomm stuff I might fancy trying) give a whizz, then pour over chicken and add a little boiled water. Leave all day. Come home, rice in rice cooker, dish up. Simples!
Lovely steak pie too. Cut steak into small cubes (but this can be done when cooked, after work if you have no time in the morning) Onion and beef stock with a glug of red wine all whizzed in blender. Poured over steak, left all day. Then after work, roll our pastry lay over the top and shove in oven. DOne, Simples!!
Today - Stuffed chicken breasts, wrapped in bacon, put straight in Slow cooker with a very little chicken stock. Left all day, smells yummy, dish up when ready! simples!
Oh I could go on and on! (DH says I normally do!! )
Someone shut me up and send me to bed!

Night, night.

Seems to be universal tiredness tonight! Quick post from me then bed
empty DW done
empty WM done
breakfast done
dressed done
DS to school done loads of relief that despite various gloomy threads on MN I am finding other mums to talk to in the playground and no snooty-ness or dressing up to do the school
to shop on way home (potatoes, chicken and yoghurts) done also got cat & fish food, bread, mince and chicken were on offer in tesco so bought lots and put in freezer
finish work started yesterday and e-mail it off done hooray!
complete the form for work I completely forgot about yesterday and put it in bag to post from other job tomorrow no
look at job application form looked at it and I think I can tweak my previous one to fit
lunch done
clean patio windows done
wash down front door and shake mats done that door was filthy
collect DS and DNeice from school done
finish cottage pie done and was yummy
DW done
WM done
S&S next
shine sink no but DH will only mess it up when he comes in anyway
wine coffee instead

Happy with my day. Will be up before the birds in the morning (though not before chaos) with coffee/tea/lemsip/freshly squeezed juice

MrsDinky I remember you lipsticks lined up from another months's thread and I loved it then and love it now! A bit of lippy does make a huge difference.

THree of us just posted within 20 seconds. WOW!!

Night ladies

Evening all!

mrsd and neenook hope you are feeling better.

feetheart - sweetie clean sounds wonderful Might adapt to how much can be done whilst listening to Justin Bieber (who's he?!!)track or something. Though I might do the sweetie one myself

OM I find this whole going in cars with a friend very stressful. I know it has to be done but not good for my nerves. And when I ask do you feel safe with whoever it might be, I get looked at as if I am mad/very elderly/somewhat pathetic

Waves to everyone else and offers WeightWatchers hot chocolate round! Am very impressed with the extensive lists that are being completed

Generally on the subject of teenagers, I have to say that I was dreading it as I so enjoyed them being little. But actually, most of the time, it's OK! They can be quite good company and hugely entertaining at times. We've not suffered too much on the boyfried front, though DD1 has a 'friend' she says is just that. But they spend every waking minute in communication by some means or other, including last thing at night and first thing in the morning, are clearly very close and somehow I'm not convinced! We'll see what develops I suppose!

Anyway, not much else to report. I too enjoy the round ups and hearing how everyone is doing. Guides went well - they were VERY creative with their newspaper outfits! I have done my evening routine and the sandwiches are made. Bad news - my car has to have serious work done and will cost £600 So we will be living on beans on toast for the rest of the month!

Anyway, it's got late. Since I started this, my mum has rung to check my mobile number and details - she is going to be a recipient of Maundy money and meet the Queen and I am going with her so have to be vetted by the palace!! - and DD1 has been down to talk to me about a shopping trip to purchase said 'friend's' brithday present! And I need to go to bed because the Sink book has come and I want to wallow in the schmaltz

Evening all, just flapping in on my way to bed. Bit more organised tonight and planning for an early start in the morning.

Hope those of you who are ailing are now communing cosily with blankets ...

Awesome list Mummy - respect!

PA - wish you hadn't those mentioned recipes, I'm getting hungry again now ....

So pleased your dd 3 had a good time and that your dS1 returned to the fold unharmed Optimistic.

Give it ten years and I'll be needing advice from the both of you ...

Sleep well Feetheart

Your job sounds fascinating Pushme - deep, deep !!

Talulahbelle - I'm with you on the paperwork - mines a disaster and it keeps on coming!

Glad your ds had a great day WhereChaos

Hands MrsD a whisky with which to gargle

Well done on your productive day 1981

I spent far too much time avoiding the laundry room Mnsnettng today HavingaG

Waves microfibre cloth wearily at everyone else

Today:

Morning routine including s&s, dw on and wm on - done
Paid work for 2 hrs or so done - 4 hrs in fact
Post office done
Tidy and sort master bedroom including packing up some of dd's old clothes done (but not the clothes)
Tackle kitchen, dining room table and generaly put sitting room to rights done - looking good
Really sort laundry room properly NOPE
More washing did 2 loads
Try and do today's mission - Huh???
Office admin - tried and gave up
Order sewing pattern for dd's Carnaval costume done
Home office declutter START AGAIN - NOPE
Weekend arrangements by e-mail done
Tidy up control journal which is getting out of hand ¨half done
WALK!! does running to the post office with two small bags full of letters count?

G'night.

Good morning!

Before I forget, my internet provider is changing today so I might not get on tonight and if I haven't sorted it all out tonight I won't be on in the morning. If I haven't appeared by 8am could someone do the link please? It will just be the babystep as its the weekend - TIA

Today's babystep is a catch-up one.

Last day in the current zone so get those feather dusters out for the mission

We go into the kitchen next week

Friday, so time to catch my breath and perhaps do some things about the house...

to do
shower
packed lunch
school run

quick tidy of kitchen
hang w/m first load
get second load in
ironing
do something about the state of DS1's bedroom, with his help
schoolwork

Thank goodness it's Friday! Don't think much flying will get done as have to take DD2 to Brimingham for Guide weekend - about an hour and a half drive each way - this evening! And then collect her on Sunday, so will be spending much of the weekend in the car I guess! Never mind, she will have fun

Have done morning routine - mostly - just need to dry hair and slap a face on. Then work. Maybe get car later if fixed So train into work, but the walk up to the station is good for me

Will achieve an evening routine but that might be about it!

See you all later - have a good day everyone

Morning all - at work - so a short one. Loads to plough through today.

Home computer so old and slow it virtually needs starting up with a handle and I couldn't wait for it this morning.

Noted MummyD for tomorrow am!!

Hi to Pluto and MissBennett and all fellow fledgling flyers ..

Today

Before work Morning routine including s&s, dw on and wm on - done

After work
Post office again
Bank
Tidy up dd's old clothes in master bedroom
Laundry!
French study
WALK
Evening routine + dd piano

That's it today as not a lot of time and out again tonight.

Can't believe it's Friday already. Where did the week go?

Morning all

To do

School run - done
Washing - in dryer
Dishes - done
Swept floor - done
Swish and swipe - done
Hotspot front room - done
Make a couple of phone calls/emails
Go out for coffee at friend's house - just about to, hence the rush to do a few things first
Sweep cobwebs, have noticed a few at the top of the stairs in the high bit that is hard to reach even with long duster

See you later

hi everyone, slow start this morning-up with ds2 all night with a bad cold and he was just finally starting to sleep through the night again...

anyway list for today

to do-
ironing
s and s
declutter in living room
mission
shine sink

hope you all have a lovely day.

Morning all,
Normally love Fridays as no work, so can catch up with house/marking/planning etc. But still feel rubbish, so don't know how much I'll get done (would actually rather be in bed!). Ho hum...

DS1 woke up at 5.20 this am ready to start his day, so this morning was suprisingly productive; guinea pigs cleaned; recycling sorted; bins out - but have ground to a halt since school drop off!

I love all the snippets of home life too - feels like a very warm and cosy thread some evenings.

Have a good day everyone.

Morning ladies,

just needed to pop on before I forget to add something for MrsD - a third camp site, which is lovely, quiet, but good space and my DSs favourite (We've never stayed at this one, but DS does every year with his friend's family) is Appledurcombe. Well worth looking up too.

All good in the positive house this morning. Kitchen sparkley, hob bits in DW. Washing in and going round. Drying tumbling.

I think I am being allowed to meet DD3's new boyfirend today! I have been given strict instruction - like only teenagers can do!!! to have the place tidy (What the bloody hell does she think I have been doing for 5 months!!!!)
To not be embarrassing (ME??? - AS IF???)
I was told to smile nicely, say "hello", then leave them to it.......I demanded to know what she might think "It" might be, but then got the rolling eyes and "mummmmmm!" said as if I was an ancient grandmother who lost her marbles 20 years ago!

Mad panic this morning when I realised that DD2 and DS are going away for the weekend and I am totally unprepared and they have done nothing to get themselves sorted out! (A little embarrassing as my job is to organise this weekend and I have been doing all the admin for it for weeks, so no excuse not to be fully prepared. Mine will be the only DCs to turn up with wrong kit/no consent forms/no medical forms etc. etc....)So, after work and between looking serene and quiet and un-embarrassing for DD3 I have to pack them up and drive them to their residential weekend away this evening - MissB I sympathise with you! Tomorrow morning DD2 has to work, so I have to go and collect her, take her to work, then 3 hours later, collect her and drop her out there again. 3/4 hour drive each way, each time. Good job I enjoy driving. Nice peaceful weekend here though, after that. Collecting on Sunday PM.

Have a good day all.

I will let you know if i approve of this lad later on. Thing is, if I approve DD will suddenly think there must be something wrong with him for me to like him, if I don't approve she is guaranteed to be determined to like him even more! Perhaps I should say I don't approve, if I do, then win all round??? Or just keep quiet.......so not me!!!! AAARrrrgggghhhhh!!!

Am exhausted, so will catch up with thread properly tomorrow. But wanted to say I enjoy hearing about everybody's family life too (and positive, say as little as possible!).

And also, today I finished my first run through of all the zones, and the house looks so much better already, I almost wish I'd taken 'before' photos. (But not really, I'd have to keep them well hidden ) Even dp, who started off very about the sink, has had to admit that everything is looking much better, just through doing the routines and 15 minutes of throwing crap away decluttering every day. There's no way I'd be visiting the fat fairy site every day and keeping up with stuff on my own, so thanks, all of you.

(There's still at least another 6 months of decluttering to go, before any of you start thinking I now live in a showhome )

Already wine o'clock here, so let me open the first bottle of red and leave it out for you all.

Hi Ladies

I am still alive.

Hopefully that was the end of difficult weeks at work for the moment so I can get back into flying and enjoying life!

Not caught up with all your news yet but hope you are all well xxx

GP is kind and doing school run for me and taking DS2 with him for pick up time. He told me to go and get my head down for a bit.

Head down on the ironing board more likely...

Hooray! Internet works all is well with the world

Evening all.
well after being so organised for today I had an awful night of it with each of the 3 DDs ending up in my bed at one point or another through the night. So knackered this morning, have been chasing my tail all day & definitely no flying. All peaceful now & I have a lot to catch up on but am having a glass of wine & a night with my feet up instead!

Definite Friday feeling on here!
Thanks for wine Mmmango, I'll just take a glass to wash down the v yummy chicken curry I've eaten. A friend cooked it for DH and I as a 'thank you' for walking her DD to/from school in the snow, she is from Kerala and more used to 28C being the minimum temp, -4 was a bit of a

Safe driving to those who are ferrying children around this w/e

Hoping for quiet one here though have a christening on Sunday and need to get a present - all ideas welcome! Can't be religious as we aren't (though friends are) or very expensive.

Achieved quite a bit today:
Run
Morning routine
Mini-nastics with DS then watched men dig up road for nearly 20mins - I love 4 yr old boys
Washing hung up outside
Swept kitchen floor
Washed HUGE window in dining room and back door
Wrapped present for DD's friend
Played silly games with DS
Took DD to dancing then went to friend's with present, ate cake and chatted
Need to do some of evening routine then collapse into bed by 10pm

Hope we all get some decent sleep this w/e.