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...

Almost forgot to post today's list...

Morning routine doing
Babystep
Mission
Thank you cards
Send invoices to agency doing
Before bed routine

Morning everyone,

Just quickly passing through. DH put a blackout blind up in DD's room yesterday and it appears to have worked as she is stillin bed .

missb do you live in my house, I have a hole in my ceiling too that DH has also failed to notice/fix.

Managed to get tidied round last night but still feel as if I have fallen off wagon when I was doing so well at beginning of month however it has been very busy at work so i suppose that can't be helped.Talking of work I have Year 7 parent's evening tonight so little flying will be done here today. Won't be home until 7ish after talking to about 45 sets of parents..

Have a good day everyone!

Morning everyone.

I did not manage to get on and post here yesterday. Had every intention of doing so, but it never sort of happened, so I will try to catch up a bit.

Aberita - I am with you about stuff in hte bed. DS is the worst and sleeps with half a library sticking into him every night. He also hides a torch in his bed and if he wakes in the night he often will read by torchlight, then be exhausted in the morning for school!

LPP - welcome back. I seem to remember you being with us before. DOnt be scared off by us all, just jump in!

SC - Oh dear, oh dear,oh dear. Big hug to you and I hope today is better.
We have lived in our house for 9 years. We moved in with a 5 year plan of doing it all up. It needed totally sorting as it was an old people's home before we bought it. I think we have got as far as year 2 to date! It is really encouraging in a warped sort of way that you lot are the same! I always assume everyone elses husbands are up for all the decorating and odd jobs. Basically here, it is either me or we save up and pay someone to do it, or it doesn't get done. (Far more likely not to get done!!)

MM - Hope DS is ok. Chicken pox, or whatever ie turns out to be.

SR HAPPY BIRTHDAY to DTs for yesterday. Sorry I missed saying it on their day. Hope you all had a good day.

MissB - Oh dear, you have had sooooooo much going on recently. I hope you can get a bit of time for yourself and relax.

Feetheart I am also a storage box lover! Great for hiding all those bits and giving a false sense of tidiness I find!!! Right up my street!

MrsD - Had to read your post twice as I was concerned about the nocturnal dominoe playing with DH in bed and the fact that you were reading Little Red Riding Hood!!! Made far more sense on second reading. I think I am still half asleep.

Waves to everyone else. Hope you are all enjoying the sunshine.

Yesterday I had a fit of something first thing in the morning and striped all the covers off the sofas in our front lounge and had them all washed and on the line before work! Now they are all clean and dry and smelling lovely, but sat in a heap waiting to be put back on! I SHOULD do this before work this morning.......

Off to start the sandwich marathon.
Lots of clothes sorting needed today (Heap in back lounge!)
Meeting with education unit for DD3.
Need to hoover downstairs at least. - Mended the hoover. I phoned to ask for a new part, which I thought I had thrown away when emptying it, but ended up feeling like a right plonker because I had a filter upside down and had not thrown anything away at all!! So the fact that I had not hoovered for weeks and I had bought a carpet sweeper was all a bit embarrassing. Me and hoovers just do not get on!!!!
Need to get to work early, cram 4 hours work into 2 hours, then go to meeting with DD3!

Have a good day everyone. Sun is shining, spring is on the way. Daffodils on kitchen top. Life is good.....

Morning all! No sunshine here yet but my dafodils look lovely and cheery!
PA well done on your lovely cushion covers - always feels good to do a job like that!
Good luck with year 7 parents, elliepac, blackout blinds sound good!
And alberita enjoy your quieter day!

I have got up. And got dressed. I am now having second cup of coffee before I go to work as yesterday my second cup of coffee did not happen til lunchtime so I had headache by the time I got home,m not surprisingly! I've also done my morning routine and last night I swept the kitchen floor. So 'tis not all lost

DD1 still in bed but seemed a little better last night. Today, for her, I need to:
-ring school to ask about resit form as it's due in tomorrow but has to be signed by teachers and I don't think she'll be there tomorrow.....
-ring school and speak to Deputy XI form head, who is very balanced and was her tutor last year so will offer reasonable advice
-continue to encourage filling in of form for application for grant to buy instrument - she is now so discouraged by life this is an uphill battle
-generally be sympathetic but encouraging at the same time

DD2 has gone to school. LAst night she informed me that she wants to change forms and can I talk to her teacher? So I need to at least have a conversation with school and try to find out what the issue is. Also need to chase up Attendance Officer who haasn't returned my call yet.
She also told me that she'd lost the absence note I gave her last week. So, because I am clearly a witch from hell, I made her go through her bag in search! No sign, so had to write another one anyway.

So there is really only one way for today to go and it's got to be better!
Have a good day everyone and see you later.....

Worried about a out of blue sick hospitalized friend this morning who has three young kids - so just waiting to hear good news and feeling v. apprehensive.
Makes me feel v. lucky to be past ds1's leg accident and out the other side, and to be in good health myself.

MissB it is so difficult to stay patient - it is so difficult not to hassle but yet to help them.

Aberita I love just having one child at home -it feels so companionable instead of trying to coach a team

Todo
work this morning (need to rush)
afternoon - ppractise, hoover bedroom, buy this week's ingredients (not veg) menus?
after pickup - not sure - park?

Morning all,

SR our audiovisual facilities are all the things that sprout out of the telly, Sky box, DVD, video, CD player, amplifier, 2x pre-amplifier, analogue converter thing (?) Ipod docking thing, PC streaming thing. He's always tinkering and reorganising it all, I get home from school with two tired kids who want to listen to some music and find he's changed the way it's all set up, grrr.

MissB - oh dear, fingers crossed that you get all the school stuff sorted out.

Anyway, today;

Take car to garage - done
School run - done
Washing - in machine
Kitchen wiped and swept, need to clean floor
Hoover downstairs
Make DD packed lunch and take her to pre-school for pm session
Help with school gardening project again for an hour
Clean bathroom basin and bath and counters and declutter it.
Make some phone calls
School run
Get car back
Enchiladas for tea
Do some paperwork.

Morning all,

SR our audiovisual facilities are all the things that sprout out of the telly, Sky box, DVD, video, CD player, amplifier, 2x pre-amplifier, analogue converter thing (?) Ipod docking thing, PC streaming thing. He's always tinkering and reorganising it all, I get home from school with two tired kids who want to listen to some music and find he's changed the way it's all set up, grrr.

MissB - oh dear, fingers crossed that you get all the school stuff sorted out.

Anyway, today;

Take car to garage - done
School run - done
Washing - in machine
Kitchen wiped and swept, need to clean floor
Hoover downstairs
Make DD packed lunch and take her to pre-school for pm session
Help with school gardening project again for an hour
Clean bathroom basin and bath and counters and declutter it.
Make some phone calls
School run
Get car back
Enchiladas for tea
Do some paperwork.

Morning all

Haven't caught up on the thread yet, but need to post a list first to get my lazy self off the PC and doing something more constructive!

clean bathroom
declutter bathroom
put away lots of laundry!
change bed
clutter clear living room
5 minutes of car tidying
clutter clear DD's room
hoover stairs *2
clean kitchen sides
clean large applicances

Hi All
My internet has been down for weeks - did you miss me? Not sure how reliable it's going to be even now, tbh. And Im not even going to try to catch up with the thread, unless some lovelty person can summarise for me. Hope that all are well.

Have managed to keep morning routines just about going, but that's about all. So where are we? Bathrooms?

Morning All

Thanks for all your best wishes for DS. I am unexpectedly not working today as DS is not at the CMs - even though he got the all clear from the doc in terms of chicken pox (doc seemed to think it was some other spot-causing virus...doesn't look like impetigo but who knows!) he has vomited (all over me just after I got dressed) this morning. He's sitting in his ready bed watching a Baby Einstein DVD and cuddling his teddy now, poor little mite.

Ellie blackout blinds all round in this house, even for the grown ups!

aberita DH is from Australia - which is great except it is a very long journey to
see Nanna!

Have a good day All, back later.

Aww, Baby Einstein, I'd forgotton about those, we had one when DS was little, it was a lifesaver in times of illness. He still asks for it sometimes, but we've lost it . Hope DS feels better soon MM

Hi Mmango - yes, wondered where you'd been!

MM, your poor DS. Hope he's feeling better soon

Welcome back mmmango and a belated happy birthday to SR's DTs!

Made a start, but lacking the will a bit now!

clean bathroom - done
declutter bathroom - done
put away lots of laundry! - done, but more later
change bed
clutter clear living room
5 minutes of car tidying
clutter clear DD's room - done
hoover stairs *2
clean kitchen sides
clean large applicances

PMPY - lunch break for you I think, there's a lot on that list.

Mmmango - we did miss you, questions were asked

MM - hope DS gets better soon whatever is wrong with him. My DS is collapsed on the sofa atm though that is through tiredness, NOT illness (she says loudly to ward off any germs just in case)

MissB - hope you have sunshine now or that it is coming your way. Lovely here but still awaiting daffodils, might have to follow PA's lead and buy some.

swanriver - best wishes to your friend, it is very scary when that happens as you feel so helpless until you know more.
Almost can't believe we had broken-legged DS this time last year, not that a cast slowed him down that much

I can totally empathise with those with DH's who don't see things. My DH is good at all the DIY stuff but this is the house he grew up in and although I have been here for over 7 years I feel I have yet to make an impression. At least FLYing gives me some feeling of control which helps.

Have done so far today:
Car Boot Sale posters in various shops
Morning routine (including 2 loads of washing outside)
Work

To do:
Lunch (for me)
2 mins hotspot
15 mins paperwork - slipped up a bit so must get back on track
Pottering in garden
Make fish-fingers for tea
Afternoon routine
DD and friend to Brownies
Repair banners now I have got the bits
Evening routine
Bed before 10.30pm

That's plenty, let's see how much actually gets done

ooh, welcome back Mmmango we did indeed miss you!

Back from library work (as always filled with utmost admiration for teachers' multi-tasking abilities - I've mastered the firm but not raising the voice technique but not yet the frazzle-repellent mindset)

need to create order here now - it is such a beautiful day - all I would like to do is garden/dream garden, but need to get a few things out of way first or afternoon will deterioate.

MrsD LOL the sprouting cables! He is clearly a technical genius, mine gets v. flustered by wires.

Feetheart hope your ds legfully recovered, mine has still got an op (taking pins out)to go in summer but is almost running again after leg injury in Oct.
Banners sound like fun! I ws thinking of using some leftover paint from party to daub an envigorating banner for somewhere in house.

Hi to newbies too. Is lovely to be back.

MiniM - hope ds is feeling better soon.

Swan/ feetheart - am envious of creative banner-type talk. Colouring in is about my artistic limit.

Well, we have had milestones since i've been away - dd2 is rolling, so the days of sticking her in a bouncy chair while I clean up are numbered . Last sunday I left her with dp and a bottle of ebm for the first time while I went to a yoga class. All went well, so hopefully can become a regular thing.

Getting back on the thread seems to be the limit of my return to the fat fairy for today. Cba with the babystep, but will do a big mission catch-up tomorrow. Need to focus on before bed routine, especially getting the sink shiny, that's all gone a bit by the wayside.

Evening all,

Hello Mmango, yes, ease yourself back into the thread gently! I don't think anything too dramatic has happened, lots of birthday parties, poorly DCs and general chit chat, don't think it will take you long to pick it up again. There have been quite a lot of people dipping in and out as and when they can, so you are not the only one. Main difference is that Minimarmite is posting the missions now and doing them the night before so they are a bit further up the thread sometimes by the morning.

Take car to garage - done
School run - done
Washing - in machine
Kitchen wiped and swept, need to clean floor
Hoover downstairs
Make DD packed lunch and take her to pre-school for pm session
Help with school gardening project again for an hour
Clean bathroom basin and bath and counters and declutter it.
Make some phone calls
School run
Get car back
Enchiladas for tea
Do some paperwork

Done all except the paperwork, which can wait, and washing up which I will do now. Off to catch up with a bit of telly, as DH is out and I can watch what I like!

See you tomorrow

Done
work
p practise
emails
homemade quiche for supper
swept and tidied kitchen, about three times...
supervised homework to get ahead for Wed

Evening Ladies,

Looks like everyone has had a busy day. My day went quite well considering we had to stay at home all day. I even had a little (and much needed) nap!

Feetheart I hope you are in bed now as planned

MissB glad your dafodils are out. I made the mistake of only planting tulips so will have to wait a bit longer! DS and I planted some mini veg to start off indoors today. He seemed to understand the first bit of putting gravel in the bottom of the pot but then just kept bringing more and more gravel...so we'll have to see if anything actually grows!

MrsD - I think I will avoid the Red Riding Hood book for the time being but I must start reading something this week. My friend has loaned me a novel that she says will change my life so I will let you know!

SR - fingers crossed for your friend, I hope you hear some more positive news soon.

I hope you had a good day with DD1 Aberita.

I hope you had a manageable parents evening Ellie, 45 parents! I can't imagine being able to remember what to say about 45 children!

Love your hoover story PA, this is just what I would have done too! We have a hybrid hoover in our house - a hoover made from bits of about 3 different hoovers that have partially broken over the years!

Good to see you PMPY x

Waves to SC (hope you are having a better day), OM, LPP, DWM, DEM and, as always, the people I have missed.

Just going to post the links and then off to bed.

Good morning

Today's babystep is about bedtime. I am supposed to go to bed at 22:30...but as you can see it never happens! I am going to give this a serios go now though as I feel much better when I get more sleep.

We're still in the bathroom and one other room for the decluttering and missions.

Have a good day...and a good night when you get to it.

Evening! How did it get so late?

Hope everyone has had a good day - the sunshine seems to be helping Nice to see you back, mmango

I sat in the most tedious management meeting this afternoon - the only bright spot was - literally - having the door open so there was some fresh air! Looked up at one point to find one colleague eating crisps compulsively and another apparently chewing his hand It was a bit grim

Have made some progress for DD1 -- she has emailed her teachers who have been more sympathetic and also said she can do chemistry practical another time. I spoke to the exam office lady and arranged to drop form and cheque off tomorrow and she'll sort out teacher signatures. DD1 let music teacher know re grant application and I can drop his reference form in also to the office tomorrow for him to sort. So more positive all round and she's a little less sore Still need to speak to dep head but feels a little less urgent today.

Haven't progressed DD2's request to change forms but will try and do so by the end of the week one way or another. But she came to aqua aerobics with me as part of her D of E challenges and seemed to enjoy it.

No flying but routines done and washing in progress. And birthday presents for mammoth round of March birthdays (8 over the next 10days!) either obtained or on a list for tomorrow's shopping expedition! Which come to think of it is flying really as it's all about household and family management!

Anyone fancy a cup of Redbush tea? And then I'm off to bed!

OOoohhhh, hello, Flytastic, everyone is back!!

Meant to post earlier this morning but the day ran away with me (dd went back to school today so I made the most of my new found freedom and headed for the hills, well, the local park but better than nowt! Am feeling a lot better for it too - in fact I can't sleep - it must be because I actually saw daylight/sunshine today!)

House will take a bit of time to whack back in to shape and, since our friendly rodent man came and put poisoned traps everywhere, we now have the lovely fragrance of "eau de decomposing mice" wafting about in our sitting room. Lurrrrveeelly Dh came home to find me burning joss sticks I found in the back of a cupboard ... trouble is... they don't quite mask the smell and the scent combination is rather sickening

Thanks for all your encouraging words yesterday btw. I see I am not alone when it comes to "diy blind dh's"!! I'm just feeling sorry for myself because I have taken time off work between now and JUne primarily to sort out the house (plus sort out some (gyny) health issues) and I am now faced with the reality of actually HAVING TO GET STUCK IN - no more excuses!!! As usual 'talking' to eveyrone on here really helps so thanks again for encouragement/sympathy. I feel heaps better today.

How are all of you?

Mini-M so sorry to hear about your ds. Hope he feels much better soon. Will happily post the baby-steps if you are tied up.

Hope you enjoyed your "free go" with the remote this evening MrsDinky, yr enchiladas sound delicious too. Oh and am v. impressed by your hall storage arrangements (take notes).

Yay Mmango you are back. Great to 'see' you. Congrats to your dd2 for starting to roll! Has she recovered from her bad chest now?

Swanriver - I hope your friend is OK. Did you get any time to do some gardening today (very therapeutic when you are worried about something I find)? Sorry to hear about your forthcoming leg op btw and also, many apologies again for missing the fact that you had twins, don't know how I managed that!! ) Oh and lol re: "our lovely laid back dhs". You are quite right. Would hate to be married to someone who tut tutted about dust or started re-arranging the cushions so they were symmetrical - so shouldn't complain really

Feetheart yes, that must be difficult living in your dh's childhood home. Can really sympathise as I lived in my dh's old batchelor flat for 6 yrs when we were first married and I never felt as though it was "equally" mine if that makes sense. Agree about Flying providing a certain sense of control, tis v. important I think. Your home-made fish fingers sound lovely btw (hadn't thought of that for some reason - will add to my meal plan!.

Well done on your productive day PushmePullyou

Hope the school admin went OK MissBennett, glad your dd1 starts feeling better soon. Sorry to hear about yoru Mother Sunday (or lack of). Good decision about not going to the conference though. Hope you manage to get some time to yourself to recuperate a bit. It sounds as though you have been having a really tough time of it.

PA your daffs sound lovely!! What a difference a simple bunch of flowers can make. Agree, 'tis good to know I am not alone in the "DIY" wilderness but well done to getting to yr 2 at least!! And well done on the sofa covers! Hope the meeting went well.

Hello to Frazzled LittlePurplePrincess and everyone else

Keeping Flying everyone ... 15 mins at a time ...and try and get to bed early (unlike me tonight!!)

Oh Ellie - the thought of 45 sets of parents after a full day's work makes me want to wither and die - hats off to you - and if it wasn't Lent (am off the sauce), I'd offer you a huge glass of red, so here's a virtual foot spa instead ....

Hope your dh is feeling better today Aberita and many thanks for your kind words

Oops - x posts!! And apologies for all the typos/disorganised paras below - was typing too fast as usual.

Glad things turned out a little bit better for your ds2 today MissBennett and routines count as Flying remember so don't be too hard on yourself!! Good luck with the birthday present marathon.

Glad your ds is feeling a bit better MiniM. about today's baby step!!

Night all ...