Fledgling Flyers - Mad as March Hares

[MiniMarmite]

Welcome to the spring(ish) edition of the fledgling flyers.

Some of us will be flapping falteringly and others flying faultlessly towards making our homes look perennially spring cleaned!

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 March 1st, but you are welcome to dive in at any point in the month.

Hop along to reserve your place...

Morning all! Sorry to post and run on Monday but real life took over in the form of parents' evenings last night. I've got another 14 tonight - eek - but at least I'm not teaching today too!!
PMPY - so sorry to hear your news. Look after yourself won't you? I'll be thinking of you....

Right today:

cancel dentist - and grovel so he doesn't charge me!!
pick up school kids from station - long and involved but my bit for community today!!
PAY BILLS/PAPERWORK
pick up contact lenses for DS2
Room rescue doing
Kitchen missions after homebless??
TESCO - we officially have no food in the house!!
Don't forget to go to school for said parents' eves!!

That will have to do for now. Wish me luck I'm off to phone the dentist!!

OM 14 more...do you find there are any surprises when you meet the parents of the pupils..are they always as you expect? Sorry just being nosey no need to answer if you don't want to.
I have too much food, just can't face turning it into meals

MrsG impressive list of organisational feats

Today lots of boring tasks I have been avoiding.
Put out recycling in 6 sep piles
cheque to brother
ring Beavers leader
fill in Brownies form
finish last three invites for dd
Takestufftotip v important
wash sheets and remake dd's wet bed

nice stuff
piano practice
look up Star Wars cakes and how to make them
think of party games
possibly watch film of Star Wars whilst doing paperwork
shop for party food
shop for ds1 black trousers and new trainers

so I'd better get cracking
BB after pickup

Hello All

Thought I'd pop in quickly before I see my next client.

Swept under dining table after breakfast done
Washing hung on dryer done
School run done
Client 1 & 2 done
Beauty treatment for myself done
Parent teacher meeting done

Client 3 about to see
15 minute hot spot medicine cabinet
Ironing
School pick up
Visit new house
Dinner
Washing up
Evening routine

Hope you all manage to get your lists done

Hello all

Just dropping in to say hello

In particular to PushmePullyou - I'm so sorry to hear your sad news - that's tough - do go steady x

Also wanted to apologise to everyone for not getting back to you on Tuesday when you had all left me such lovely encouraging essages on Monday. DD was really ill yesterday - the bronchitis went to her stomach and every time she coughed she threw up as well - so I didn't get to come on here at all. She's through the worst though today I think and the antibiotics seem to be kicking in ....so apologies for being absent.

Hope you are all OK. There are some very impressive lists here. Keep flying high eveyrone!!

Thank you Mini-M for the links. Waves to everyone...

Swanriver - not nosy at all.Parents are largely as you would expect for good or not so good!!I teach Y3/4 so have ongoing dialogue with parents. Not usually any surprises from either point of view. I would feel v. uprofessional if parents were to find things out for the first time at parents' eves!!

cancel dentist - and grovel so he doesn't charge me!!donewasveryniceaboutit
pick up school kids from station - long and involved but my bit for community today!!done
PAY BILLS/PAPERWORKarghhstillnotdone
pick up contact lenses for DS2done
Room rescue doingdone
Kitchen missions after homebless??done
TESCO - we officially have no food in the house!!Done-yippee
Don't forget to go to school for said parents' eves!!

SC - your poor DD! I hope you're having a better day. I had bronchitis as a teenager and it was not nice! It may take a good while for her stamina to come back. I remember doing part-time school for a while. Hopefully as a younger child she will be able to recover quickly but don't be surprised if she is not fully herself for a few weeks!
Hope everyone is having a good day....

Evening!

Feel like I've fallen badly off my perch with no real excuse BUT am determined to do something tonight.

First though - pmpy I was really sorry to read your post. Lots of (((hugs))) for you.

Been working from home today and done no flying so that must mean I have actually done some work . Need to finish something off but am going to do a short list as well.
cook tea doing
empty DW
reload DW
clear airer
reload WM
finish resume & e-mail it
DS shower
DS reading
DS bed
bring down red unit
put work stuff in red unit in tidy fashion!
bed by 10.30

Feel free to nag! Back later to 'fess up...

Another stressful afternoon, and it was going so well [sob]

Done
casserole this mornng and mash
paperwork re: Brownies and invites
party research, organising etc
rearranged Beavers to get someone to do drop off
successful piano lessons x 2
found black trousers for ds1
children skipped home from cafe and piano, fresh air exercise etc..
washing, dw etc etc

unfortunately then couldn't quite fit in emergency Brownies research of Alpha Centauri for dd (Stargazer badge , ds2's 10 mins of homework (the others didn't even have any and ds1 talking non-stop about his party in April, getting two into their Scouting outfits, AND getting everyone to eat supper at breakneck speed.
Next week I'll try supper at 5.00 perhaps -

I'll sort Wednesdays in the end

Is there any one who has successfully tackled a certain BAD day of the week? Let me know your tips.

Red Unit sounds Official Droitwich
I have a lot of red boxes, but all of them say "V important stuff" which is useless really.

Now I really must do something useful whilst twins are out of the house. Ds1 is being lovely and calm, I must seize the moment.

Evening all,

Not much Flying today, out and about all morning with DD, then home this afternoon with friends visiting. Got the woodburner going nice and early and have felt more inclined to sit in front of it than do anything.

SC - best wishes for a speedy recovery for DD

SR - DS went to a Star Wars party recently, they had a stormtrooper cake, round with white (glad I previewed this post, I accidentally typed shite!) icing and the stormtrooper mask made of cutouts of black and white icing paste. My bad day is Monday (not as bad as yours by the sounds of it), my best solution to a fast supper between ballet and Beavers is shop bought pizza with a few extras chucked on eaten in front of the telly (pretty well guarantees DCs cooperation all round, and as they don't get any other time for telly that day I don't mind really). I also get 15 mins peace while they eat to round up uniforms, unpack lunchboxes, book bags etc.

Waves at everyone else. Might pop back later.

swanriver please don't imagine anything grand at the thought of my red unit! It's a v old plastic affair which is just the right size to fit under my dining table. The idea is that my working from home stuff will be in it rather than in a very untidy heap There is also the added bonus that it will be 1 thing successfully removed from the tip I call a spare room

Anyway - as good a time as any for an update:
cook tea done
empty DW done
reload DW done
clear airer too wet still
reload WM
finish resume & e-mail it
DS shower bathed
DS reading
DS bed
bring down red unit done
put work stuff in red unit in tidy fashion! done
bed by 10.30

DS bedtime next - onwards and upwards!

Evening everyone,

Another manic day here. Work was slightly better and managed to just about resolve the issues another member of my department had. No flying to speak of but DH finished his job yesterday so by the time i got back from the swimming run he had tidied downstairs and i have done washing up.

No time to individually post as am going to turn off laptop and put feet up but pmpy hope you are ok and taking it easy

Evening All!

I am very well thank you SR, especially as I have just returned from having a much needed massage! My toaster is also shiny but largely on account of DH arriving home with a new one a few days ago rather than me actually achieving the mission today (maybe I shouldnÂ?t be admitting this)!

People with veg boxes Â? the one that we use has an option where you can exclude items you donÂ?t like or temporarily exclude items of which you already have too many Â? celery for me this week!

MrsD Chinese food made quickly sounds great. Is that Ching-He Huang? Just googled as I donÂ?t have C5 here.

Swan78 you are a braver woman than me, I donÂ?t think I could give up brown tea. Well, not if people wanted me to function Â?normallyÂ? anyway!

Ellie what a shame about mock the week man. IÂ?m trying to remember which one he is...will have to google!

MissB your new cleaning product did make me smile, youÂ?ll have to let us know if it does what it says on the tin .

YouÂ?re sounding on from MrsGok - you must have been going through your house like a whirlwind!

I hope DD2Â?s enrolment day goes well aberita, let us know how she gets on.

OM having no food in the house is great motivation for a shop! Parents evening sounds pretty full on, no wonder you havenÂ?t had time to go shopping.

SR - how about cooking double quantities of an evening meal earlier in the work so you don't have to prepare a meal on Wednesdays?

SC so sorry to hear DD is so unwell, glad she seems to be through the worst of it. Glad the antibiotics are doing the trick. Take it easy x

Hi DWM, I have an untidy heap that is my working from home 'filing'. Red unit sounds good .

PMPY, weÂ?re all thinking of you and hope you are as well as you can be today x.

SR's feeling like there was lots of food but not inspired to cook lead me to google meals in under 10 minutes because I imagine most of us have days where we feel that way (I do anyway): meals in under 10 minutes and bbc quick meals Â? disclaimer Â? I havenÂ?t actually tried any of them! I was suffering from no food in the house and no time to cook anything yesterday so I ended up doing a crispy tofu and avocado with rice thing that I found on tÂ?interweb which was surprisingly tasty.

Waves to Jas, LPP and anyone I have missed.

Morning Ladies,

IÂ?m always surprised when I get to Thursday, where does the week go!?

Here is our babystep for today. I seem to remember this bringing some offerings of Camus and other quotes from philosophy greats a few months back so feel free to share your if you want to!

For those that are decluttering and/or doing the missions, weÂ?re in the kitchen this week.

Have a good day .

sorry about odd characters - posted that from a Word document

Hi MM - yes, Ching He-Huang. Have tried lots of stuff from her first book Chinese Food Made Easy and just bought the second Chinese Food in Minutes, not tried these yet. Everything I have tried from the first one has been yummy! I have had my first proper lapse on the cheese tonight, it was driving me crazy and it is restricting our family meal choices somewhat, I'm wavering. I need to find something else I can give up instead.

evening! SC hope DD feeling better soon.

swan - our bad day is Tuesday so I try and cook something the day before that can be warmed up in individual portions as the need requires, as we're not all there at the same time. Soup is very successful for this - and easy to chuck together on Monday. But have also done shepherd's pie, risotto, pasta sauce (so only the pasta has to be cooked) and curry - to eat with naan bread and no worries about rice!

DWM sounds like you have got through loads. I must remember to add some admin tasks to my lists so they might get done!

mrsd I think if I had a wood burner I would be sitting in front of it

Well, another manic day at work but made a point of getting out lunchtime to do a couple of errands and indulged in books from the charity shop!

And since work I have:

• taken DD2 to GP - very bad headaches and diagnosed muscle strain in back of neck - so DD very relieved I think and seems much better just for having been!

-weighwatchers - lost 2lbs - -tea -read panel papers for tomorrow -tidy up of DD2's bedroom - much improved now and I think we might find space for Granny -tried to decide if DD1 is uncommunicative because she is unhappy/p'd off/unwell/I've done something wrong/friend problems but failed and she's not talking much. Oh the joys! -load of washing in. Why does tidying bedrooms = lots of washing?

Am going to toddle off to bed now - once the machine has done its job and I've hung everything up. Haven't tried the shiny sink stuff yet - but it's not looking too bad at the moment

Night all, see you tomorrow.

Finished for tonight - only a few minutes later than planned.

cook tea done
empty DW done
reload DW done
clear airer too wet still
reload WM done
finish resume & e-mail it finished but can't e-mail it as work system down - will send it tomorrow
DS shower bathed
DS reading done
DS bed done
bring down red unit done
put work stuff in red unit in tidy fashion! done
bed by 10.30 not quite but I have managed to squeeze a bath in!

Going to bed. I WILL be back in the morning!

Bedtime went smoothly,
clothes laid out
bedrooms seem quite orderly for once

just need to do last minute tidy, put stew away etc, and hang out washing again
and GO TO BED (no dh to get up early tomorrow I have been throwing clean clothes into our bedroom all day, will have to resist trying to put everything away as it is too late now.

Thanks for tips about making life easier, yes, I will try and make everything reheatable, no last min preps, and possibly cut out Wed homework completely unless they beg to do it

Evening ladies, sorry I do not have time to read your posts and hope everyone is well and if not I hope things pick up soon.

Today I have

morning routine DONE
babystep DONE
mission DONE
washing up X3 DONE nearly caught up again
washing x3 DONE again getting caught up.
15 min hotspots X3 floor in the dining room. I wo't describe it to you but it is hellish. So I am going to do a few of these to sort it.
evening routine DONE

Tomorrow is going to be
morning routine
babystep
mission
washing up
washing
15 min hotspots
evening routine

I also need to ring the Dr. and get an emergancy appointment for DC3. He has had D&V for over a week. It's not affecting him, he is as bright and cheery as usual, eating and drinking as normal and then will suddenly vomit and then will carry on. His nappy's are revolting and quite sick making.

Off to bed now. Not as early as yesterday, never mind.

Good morning.

PMPY - so sorry to hear your news, do make sure you take care of yourself in it all.

Far too busy here this week but don't seem to have achieved much! Have just about kept up with routines but not much else, haven't even managed to post for last few days!

So today I need a list!

• Morning routine
• 2 mins Hotspot
• Work - catch up after first bout of CP and before DD gets it!
• Minutes from School Assoc meeting
• Stuff for Boot Sale - clean and mend posters, price an ad in local paper, print off posters, charge phone so people can contact me re pitches
• 15 mins sorting paperwork to find agent's number
• Ring agent to set up meeting tomorrow re letting flat (have had to succumb as can't find anyone myself for first time in 4 years )
• Tumble Tots with DS
• Afternoon routine
• Parents evening for DD
• Evening routine
• Collapse in a heap and watch Masterchef before an early night

Hope everyone has a productive day

Good morning.

Sorry I have not been around for a while. Been a totally manic week. Not had much of a chance to catch up with everyone yet, but hugs to PMPY. I will try and catch up more later on.

Off to collect DD2s AS level results today, - so will either being picking up pieces, or celebrating later!

Off to start some flying! First job, shake a few lazy lumps out of bed!!!

I will return..........

MrsGok hope all goes well with your lo,
PA fingers crossed
Feetheart that's a good deal of work, you should be proud to have organised it

Dcs almost ready for school, calm here so far, and we've all had a good night's sleep (heating on? is that the answer?)

Today
School assembly for ds1
remember to take violin and new grade book in later
library work am
afternoon - I WILL deal with decluttering (as dh in Italy - it makes things a whole lot easier to spirit things away)

Party will be small, so I am going to concentrate on nice cake, and a play-friendly environment

Morning all!

Well, parents'evenings were fine if full on but I then came home and WW3 erupted out of nothing with DS2 clunking DS1 on the nose with the TV remote! DS1 is very tolerant of DS2 who can be very awkward to say the least and unfortunately erupted back. DS2s glasses ended up on the floor with a lens out - as you say MissB the joys! We are now at an impasse and I'm going to need lots of will power to enforce my 'no screens' sanction with DS2 until he apologises which is looking unlikely for now! I am determined....
Family harmony is suspended in the optimistic household

Anyway:
SR - I would cut out homework and music practice on a Weds,do pizza or have something 'plated up' ready to sling in microwave to warm up, have uniforms ready and try to share lifts (probably doing this already!!)- good luck!
PA - nice to see you. Hope results are good!
MM - I thought my laptop had a virus so glad it's your word doc!
Hi to PMPY, Ellie, Sc, DWM , Feetheart, Mrs D etc etc!!

Someone please boot me up the bum if I haven't done my......

PAPERWORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's all I'm putting for today!

See you all later, be good...

Morning!

Coffee brewing by the bucketful here today.

DS successfully dispatched to school
Been to docs to take in repeat prescription request (WHY does it take them 3 days to print it off the computer? It's ONE button fgs! Rant over)
Emptied WM
Trying to do some paid work but laptop playing up

Today I need to
clean fish tank
prepare presentation for interview tomorrow
decide what I am wearing for said interview
Do Some Work!
E-mail off the resume I did yesterday when laptop stopped sulking
Ironing
WM
DW
Pick up DS & DNeice
Think about tea
Definitely bed on time even if nothing else done (apart from school run that is )

Back at lunch time for catch up

Hi everyone

PMPY I hope you are taking things very steady - thinking of you x

Optimistic 'bon courage' with paperwork and staying strong re screens. Respect to you re parents evening btw. Meeting with 14 sets of parents after a full day's teaching must be absolutely cream-crackering.

Thanks for your concern re dd yesterday btw. She is still very washed out and looks like a little ghost ...and is still feeling sick from time to time ... think you are right... her recovery is going to take longer than anticipated.

PA fingers and toes crossed for your dd2 today

Hope today is much less stressful than yesterday for you Swanriver. Good luck with clandestine decluttering too - fortunately my dh has no interest/memory whatsover for what is in any of the drawers in the house, including his own things (save for a few dreadful indescribably awful cds and his golf clubs)!

Good luck with your list today Feetheart and hope ds was OK back at pre-school yesterday

Well done with your very impressive completed list yesterday MummyD

Sorry you're DC3 is still suffering MrsGok a week is a long time to have d&v, hope he feels better soon

MissBennett Hope you get to the bottom of whatever is troubling dd1, glad DD2 feels better/reassured and WELL DONE on your weight loss. Wish I could report the same success!!

Hang strong re the cheese MrsDinky

Aberita - hope your DD2's enrolment day went well

Thanks for links Mini-M. We cancelled our veg box after 2 yrs because I was throwing too much of it away and I found it difficult to incorporate/combine with meal planning. It also contained far too many pears in the autumn that went straight from rock hard to rotten without passing 'ripe'! I came to the conclusion I could buy those from the supermarket !! Much better to be able to have options like your system provides.

How's the mouse-hunt TeamCullen?? Elliepac sounds as if it is all-go with your work atm, hope you find a minute for yourself

Hello to Swan78, DEM, QofDreams and everyone else I have inevitably missed

Is Mmmango no longer around?

Did load of laundry yesterday and not much else except nursing dd and a bit of newspaper recycling.

Was up with lark today to prepare for fortnightly ironing lady and have made a few phone calls and need to tidy up first floor.

That's it really - dd lying in bed looking pale again - saying her tummy hurts so had better stop typing!!

Take care one and all!