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...

Feeling a lot more alert after going to bed at 9.15pm, mainly because I was falling asleep on the sofa!

Quick lunchtime update
Done:
Run
Morning routine
2 mins hotspot
15 mins in our bedroom (Pop Master tidy )
Mad charge around putting everything back in the room/area it belongs - DH and DS are terrible for scattering their belongings to the 4 corners of the house )
Out to buy few bits
Laminated signs for Car Boot

Still to do:
Rescue washing that is trying to escape into next door!
Kitchen floor - sweep and mop
Hoover living room
Put laminated signs up at school
Deliver fliers for Car Boot - will do with DC on way home from school
DS to swimming lesson

Am MUCH less stressed about Car Boot than I was for the Pamper Night - have 11 pitches booked already and more coming in every day. Just need the weather and the punters now (and a few more volunteers would be good )

Not having the best of days here - I've only managed to get my morning routine done so far, am feeling stressed about work and the DC are playing up even more than usual. I had to e-mail an agency with an estimate of how long a particular job would take me and couldn't think straight with DD2 crying because she wanted to go to a friend's house, so grossly overestimated the amount of time I'd need and as a result they gave the proofreading to someone else. In a way I was quite relieved not to have to do the job - I don't know why I'm feeling so stressed about work though, as I've been far more snowed under than I am at the moment. I think I've just had enough of working evenings and weekends and watching the house descend into chaos when I do have work (which isn't all the time, but I either seem to be inundated or have absolutely nothing to do) and am having real problems switching off from it. So no list today, but some thinking to be done!

aberita i feelyour pain. I am having a crappy day. Work was tough, DD is in full on toddler meltdown, and DS is mr attention seeking, oh and it's beavers night as well which means no relaxation until half 8. Grrrrrrr. Will come back later when in a better mood!

Oh Ellie and Aberita, sorry you have been having rubbish days.
Bottle of wine and a slice of choccy cake?

Update on this mornings list:

Phone Dr and get appointment for today for DS.- DONE
Pop into work at some point and pick up phone messages and post. DONE
Weekly shopping DONE
Attend emergency planning meeting for DD3s future plans >> DONE - Mega gulp needed!!
Contact Paediatrician for update DONE, but she's out of the country, so have to wait til net week.
Drive to DD3s old school and hand deliver a letter requesting all the records they have on her. DONE
Doing a jigsaw puzzle for relaxation at the moment DONE a little.

I have worked out how I can make my first million pounds. For a large fee I can be hired out to any drought ridden country and after my rain dance guaranteed to have torrential down pour within hours! Lovely bright sunshine this morning when I bleached my kitchen floor - Now re-covered in muddy boot prints from 7 teenagers and muddy paw prints from 2 cats who insist on dancing around the kitchen whenever they have muddy paws. If I hadn't bleached it I would not have noticed the mud, cos it would have all just blended in. Now looks awful and will need re-doing.

Feels like a bloomin sick house here. DD2 bad day with her glandular fever, DD3 CFS/ME, DS strained back muscle and cant move, DD4 kidney infection which we need to get rid of quickly before surgery planned for next Thursday, DH awaiting tests at hospital. Me ? Fit and healthy, but booking in an emotional breakdown any time soon.
We have seen the Drs more in the last 18 months than we have in the last 18 years!!

Oh I need a big glass of bubbly

MissB How did DD1 get on at school, and DD2 at the dentist?

Hello all,

I had a very lazy day for most of it. I seem to have a problem with mondays - made worse by the fact that DS wasn't at nursery cos I thought he would be miserable ill. However he seemed to perk up so I sent him off with his dad at 5 and got my arse in gear!

I've set out my morning and evening routines, and got my evening one all done, and I'm looking forward to a peaceful night. H can deal with the coughing toddler, I just hope he's ok without me!

aberita & ellie - hope your evenings have got better!

swanriver - I am very careful with the digging, only doing a few square feet at a time, although it has been easier than expected

Thanks positive attitude, i think i've finally got it!!

I think I will join in this game too. I would sit and write a long "to do" list but the baby keeps crying and I am desperate for a bath.

PS Am I allowed a small G&T while breastfeeding....?

Will start flying tomorrow!

Lovely to meet you all x

Evening Ladies,

I am watching Raymond cook a few mushrooms on the tv and generally having a bit of a tv night as DH is out for the evening.

Felt a bit sad today as my first day back in the office since DS was poorly (but he was ok as with DH all day). DH said DS cried when he saw a photo of me so he is obviously feeling a bit clingy still. He's back at the CM tomorrow so I really hope he will be ok.

Ellie and aberita sorry you are having bad days, hope you have a glass of something in your hand now, and/or .

SR well done on home blessing . I hope the various musical activities went well.

MrsD thanks so much for the ribs recipe, I'm definitely going to give that a try, sounds great . I use Ocado about once a month to do a really big shop and the service is generally excellent.

Thanks PA and SC for your great explanations for Purplewednesday about FLYing. I also came across this explanation on the website too (which I must say I hadn't seen before): Flyfishing FLYlady

Hi Purplewednesday are you joining us for a spot of FLYing? You'd be most welcome.

I hope your meeting re DD3 went well PA, keeping my fingers crossed.

Glad you managed to escape rotting rodents to the Ardennes for the weekend - I've only been once but remember staying a wonderful youth hostel in the middle of nowhere. Thanks for the body clutter tips although I seem to have just eaten 3 chocolate biscuits .

It sounds like you are having quite a day MissB, I hope DDs are both on the mend.

Poor you and DS Chairmum, I hope he is feeling a little better this evening.

I hope DP is a bit better too LPP. Feetheart that car boot sale seems to be keeping you busy! Sounds like you might need another early night!

PA I share your kitchen floor pain! Hope you got that bubbly .

Morning Ladies

Today's babystep is more work on your routines. The afternoon routine will depend on your individual household. I have 3 different afternoon routines - one for a working day, one for a non-working day and one for the weekend.

It is day 2 in the current zone, the Master Bedroom for decluttering (15 minutes at a time) and for missions.

Have a great day. I hope all poorly DCs and DPs are on the mend (seems to be a lot of it about at the moment).

Well I felt in a bad mood today too Ladies, and from the sound of your days I should have counted my blessings. Forced myself to fold clothes and clean up a bit, but somehow felt v unengaged with today.
The nicest bit was walking back with ds from Cubs (knowing my poor dh was putting the twins to bed) - I need to walk more, possibly five miles a day then I would be sooo much better tempered.
Pa you are amazing, I don't know how you have such boundless energy
Aberita and Ellie impossible to relax/concentrate when they are crying
Ellie I'm feeling overwhelmed by scout commitments recently - I know that feeling of it being the last straw in a disrupted evenng. As they get older it gets better, that's all I can say...
Mini-Marmte I'm sure he had a lovely day with his Dad, and will be fine tomorrow with CM

Morning all,

In a better mood this morning. Last night got better. It was actually DS's investiture at Beavers last night so that was lovely however i have now realised that my complete inability to even sew a button on, let alone badges, may be a problem . I know what you mean though sr. I love the fact that he goes to Beavers but it is a bit of a pita sometimes. Sunday is his first Church parade so that means up and about early etc.

Thanks for the wine pa much needed and much imbibed.

Am off to get sorted. Backlater.

Good morning all. Slept a bit better with no DS to wake me up!

Today I don't think I'm doing anything other than my routines. Today's baby step is good for me too, as I can see some evening stuff that would be better moved to the afternoon, being a SAHM.

I don't really even have to cook dinner tonight - reaping the rewards of my batch cooking so just have to reheat some bolognaise and cook a bit of spaghetti. Perhaps I'll get used to cooking for just me and DS soon (keep cooking too much!)

Now I had better get out of bed so I'm all dressed and made up by the time H brings DS back around 8.

Morning all!
Sounds like rubbish day yesterday for many!
alberita and ellie hope things got better and chairmum and minim hope your DCs are on the mend.
PA hope the floor has survived - another day and it won't look so bad!
Well, here we have survived but all feels a bit tenous
DD1 didn't make it into school. Said she felt a bit better by evening but I talked to her about how a lot of her symptoms might be about anxiety - and we had lots of tears and she did begin to talk about how low she is feeling - which would be a good thing except that some of the things she talked about have made me think that she needs some professional support for a little while, so I need to decide whether to make urgent GP appointment and take pot luck or wait a couple of weeks for the already-booked appt with the GP she likes. Got her to come with me on walk round the woods in the dark with Guides which helped a little but misery descended on return. She's getting dressed this am so might make it into school but I am very worried about her.
DD2 (aka hamster!) saw the dentist - she has a big abscess and her face is swollen and it is pretty horrible inside - but has antibiotics and is improving. Apparently the tooth has just died (?) and she will need root canal work to drill out the nerve. So although it sounds and no doubt will be grim it's fairly straightforward at least.
I fell asleep on the settee last night so feel a bit groggy this am but will revive I'm sure.
Better day today? I hope so - for all of us on the thread

oh dear - dd was refusing to go to school this morning too, said her "bones ached" - then she tripped up on the way, then had a rather awful scene where I had to hand over over to a teacher with the proviso that she could come and sit with me in library at school whilst I worked - I know it is emotional rather than physical post-trip-itis - but I only work in library Tues and Thurs and I have let them down with sick/semi-malingers once too often.

MissBennett (and PA and OM) you are being a lovely mother to your dds, I wish my mum had been a bit less distracted when I was that age (she had four kids, and youngest were v. difficult boys and I think she was tearing her hair out over them most of the time) - I know teenage life was v taxing for me at least - so up and down - sitting listening to music late into night, then not being able to get up in mornings - just feeling generally bleugh/shy and needing to focus.

Now need to get on - off to work

MissB I think it's also brilliant for your dd to talk to someone other than parents, it puts such a burden on you as a teenager when you know your parents are already up to the eyeballs - its a relief to talk to someone whose JOB is to listen.

Morning all,

Well, not a brilliant day for me either yesterday, just couldn't be bothered with anything, didn't go to the gym so now I have to go today. Did manage 3 loads of washing however.

Today

morning routine - done
school run - done
plant tomatoes with DD
make packed lunch with DD and take her to pre-school
gym
hoover
clean bath and basin

Hope everyone has a better day today!

Morning everyone

Sorry for the absence of the last week - RL taking over a bit here.

I've had a quick skim of the last couple of pages and see that quite a few of us have been having a less than brilliant time over the last few days, so unmumsnet hugs and/or get well soons to all that need them.

I will be back later but have 3 hours before I need to leave the house to pick up DD and have both paid work and housework to do. So my list for today is:

Unstack dishwasher
Hang out washing
Put on new washing
Hoover stairs
Tidy bedroom
Put out upstairs bin
Change bed
Organise finances
Amend report
Draft business plan
Clean worktops/table
Clean applicances
Mop kitchen floor
Write list for holiday

Oh forgot

tidy living room and
Buy nice things for holiday

Morning everyone,

Thanks for your kind words - after going to bed at 9.15 last night (I was tempted by wine and chocolate, but decided an early night would probably be better for me!) I'm feeling much more positive today. I've even managed to get most of my morning routine done despite having paid work to do as well - flying usually gets abandoned as soon as any work arrives, so I feel like I'm making progress!

Where are you off to on holiday, pushmepullyou? We've just booked a long weekend in Berlin in June, which I'm really looking forward to - just thinking about it improves my mood! (Coffee and a chocolate biscuit are helping too. )

I'll try and be back later with a list, depending on how work is going! Hope everyone has a good/better day today.

I feel so much better that everyone seemed to have a really rubbish day yesterday!!

I hope today improves for everyone.

SR thank you so much for your encouraging words. Teenagers can be lovely, but they are hard work and a whole new ball game from when they are younger.

After my flying start yesterday I had a brilliant plan this morning of cooking my biscuits and cakes for the group we have round on a Tuesday evening, before work, so that after a long day at work I have very little to do. Up bright and early, cooked delightful chocolate oaties, and a batch of plain small cakes for icing after work. Went upstairs to make the beds for 2 minutes, and on my return to the kitchen a hoard of vultures my little darlings had parcelled up more than half the oaties and cakes and packed them in their school bags. Apparently they are being kind and taking them in for friends who are always envious of their lunch boxes. So now I have to re-do them all again for this evening anyway.
While cooking I managed to drop an egg on my mobile phone. I think it has got into the speaker bit and everyone who phones sounds as if they are 3000feet under water (or, under egg yolk!!) I hope it sorts itself out!

DS back at school today. Hobbled off this morning with STRICT instructions not to kick ANY footballs, Swing ANY bats/rackets of ANY discription. I feel I was talking to a brick wall, but hopefully he will take note.

Hope everyone has a better day.

MissB I tried to CAT you, but you dont accept. Really feel for you with DD1 at the moment. Have been through this with my DD1. If you want to "talk" off board please feel free to contact me (directioneeded at aol dot com) Keep going you are doing really well - it WILL get better.

lol PA. Take it as a compliment to your cookery skills!!

Much respect to you for early morning batch baking in the first place, combined with skilfull handling of the adolescent psyche.

Hope none of your calls are scrambled [wince]

I hope everyone is having a much better day today and that all dps, dhs and dcs are recovering too. I think Swanriver hit the nail on the head with the word "disengaged". I feel exactly the same at the moment.

Do you know what, I think we all need a fortnight's holiday in a luxury hotel this Easter - meanwhile a FatFairy Godmother sneaks in to our homes and declutters, tidies, cleans, does all outstanding washing, ironing and paperwork, and fills our freezers with enough nourishing home-cooked meals to take us through to the end of May.

Heigh ho.... one can dream and all that.
I suppose we should be grateful that we have houses to clean and washing machines and freezers to fill (well, occasionally anyway

Anyway, I'd better get cracking or I'll be quoting Camus next ...

I only got through half my list yesterday, so I'm finishing that today, plus more laundry, paperwork, filing, shoe polishing, barnet fair dyeing and trying to make myself a necklace.

Keep going everyone.

A special hello to PushmePullyou (good luck with your list today) MrsDinky (hope you have a better day today) and MissBennett (hope you manage to get 10 mins repose for yourself today) and waves a microfibre cloth wildly at everyone else. Hope your ds is feeling better today too Mini-M

Trying to think of something positive and stirring to end on:

how about .... it has been a great winter for .......um .....bats (apparently they benefit from an extended hibernation period!)

LOL at scrambled calls!!!

Oh sorry, forgot to say "hope your week gets better" to Aberita and Elliepac too -

and hello to Feetheart, ChairmumM PurpleWednesday Optimistic and all best wishes to MissBennett's dd1 and Swanriver's dd too - sounds like you have both had a stressful morning

Excellent morning at "work", and dd was to be seen happily skipping in playground so think her bones are better (cross fingers she doesn't come out of school in reproachful fury)

Aberita Dh left Berlin at 14 (to live in Rome)but his parents and brother still live there on and off, we went in August with the dcs for only second time (for an 80th birthday party), it was GREAT. I read lots of German history while I was there (friend's flat had loads of English books)left feeling v. dazed with impressions.

Now need to buy ds some trainers as he's joining basketball club, and shoes are falling to bits
buy replacement ingredients for supper (which got snaffled on Sunday) - the Monday Faijitas [by mealplans]
Today they had a Mexican project and I sent them in with my El Paso tortillas (unfilled) - that was handy
laundry putaway
hoover playroom and rationalize

Pushmepullyou that's a whirlwind three hours
SC you sound cheery

Afternoon all - RL/work has taken over a bit here too so apologies for being awol for a few days.
I agree with SC and think we should book a virtual holiday - Maldives anyone?
I hope everyone is having a better day! MissB - try not to worry too much. Like PA my DD has had CFS/ME (we 'met' on that thread!' and for what it's worth I think you are doing the right thing getting her a bit of professional help. I often think teenagers need their parents more than toddlers! They have to negotiate an emotional nightmare!
I have done no flying today but am proud of keeping up with the laundry, the shiny sink and the hotspots!!

I have about my person: wine/chocolate/tea/flowers/log fire/lovely book/ travelbrochure witha sunkissed beach/sunshine/ etc etc etc. Enjoy!!

Big hugs all round!

Thank you all for very encouraging words - so nice I almost want to cry as of course I am also worrying that all the result of crappy parenting on my part Intellectually I know it's not but feelings are a different thing! PA thank you especially and will be in touch though I'm afriad I don't know what CAT is

DD1 survived day at school though has headache now. Is lying on bed doing nothing but plans on going to band shortly. A friend knows a counsellor she recommends and I might talk to her before we see the doctoR.
DD2 is feeling much better So back to school tomorrow.

Routines done - which helps - and will try and tidy bedroom later but am going to go swimminng as always feel better after that!

Be back later.......
PS The person who did the post about hopw rubbish mn is should come on here - warmth support and encouragement by the bucketful