There's no fooling an April fledgling flyer

[MiniMarmite]

Welcome to the April edition of the fledgling flyers where shower screens are shiny and rain never stops play.

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 April 1st (no joke), but you are welcome to dive in at any point in the month.

Splish, splash, swish and swash along to reserve your place...

Right here goes the list:

Pack away teacher training stuff.
Discover bedroom floor.

That'll take me all day so is plenty enough.

Afternoon all (well, it is here!)

I've finished my work for the day but have got very little done otherwise - I still haven't quite finished clearing away the breakfast things, in fact. I have sorted out some of the DDs' clothes, though; DS has a new friend at Kindergarten with two little sisters and I'm hoping their mother could do with some girls' clothes! (The nearest charity shop to us is almost an hour's drive away.) DD1 is due home in about 10 minutes so I'm not going to do a list today, just concentrate on getting as much as possible done of my routines.

DTG Good to hear it all went OK yesterday (or as OK as those kinds of things can be). A lovely reading - very moving; I'm sure I wouldn't have been able to get through it and admire you for doing so.

missbennett I feel the same as you about Starbucks - against it in principle, but they do make nice coffee! I rarely go there however, as the nearest one to us is in Vienna and I'd prefer to go to one of the traditional old coffee houses there even if the coffee isn't as nice.

Chairmum I initially read your post to mean you'd been clearing all the nuts out of your cupboards! Must get back to my kitchen cupboards today; DS is out at a friend's this afternoon so I might actually be able to get something done this afternoon. DD2 is always very keen to help me; she's particularly into folding washing! A fly baby in the making, I think.

AFternoon one and all,

Visit to museum was a hit! Only a small one but DC's enjoyed it and there was a finger puppet workshop which they really enjoyed. Quite proud of myself because this afternoon, I have finally got round to doing the kitchen clean out which i promised earlier in the week (pa don't panic, rest of house still a tip!)

Have:-

decluttered windowsills
decluttered worksurfaces
decluttered top of fridge
tidied pantry
thrown out lots of unused 'stuff'
Re-arranged cupboards so pantry used as pantry
Cleaned fronts of cupboards

Am in the zone now, so going to see what else Ican achieve, although I still have to find somewhere on DS's floor for DNiece to sleep!

Good evening ladies

to DTG. Good on you for doing that really moving reading.

Ellie - very pleased to hear you are doing well, but am glad also that you are not smashing my dreams of your home. Impressed with the museum visit and you have Dneice to help tonight! Well done you!

MissB - Hope starbucks treated you well and you didn't need a mortgage for DD2s shopping trip.

Linzer - Brilliant idea to pass on the childrens clothes. I always did that and was also so pleased when things came my way, too!

DEM - Has the floor been discovered?

Chairmum - doesn't it feel good to have OCD tidy kitchen cupoards. I still marvel when I open mine, even after a week!!

Shining my halo here today.
Washing has been done.
IRONING BASKET IS EMPTY - please dont faint everyone. I really did say that my ironing basket is empty!
Sock basket has been sorted and I was ruthless with the odds an sods and through a load out!
Roast gammon in coke (slow cooker) cooked, eaten and enjoyed.

Tomorrow is DS's 14th birthday. He is as excited as a duracell bunny overdosing on speed! I gave him free choice of what he wanted to do tomorrow. He has chosen a day of cooking his own birthday cake, but not a "normal" cake. He wants to make a strawberry roulade! and a nice walk along the beach and home for a family take-away of his choice. Sounds good to me! He has also threatened to wake up like "Kevin" from the Harry Enfield sketches in the morning! (I wonder if that is less tiring than the duracell bunny??) Way too talkative to be Kevin.

Right,darts is on and I am going to flick between that and the election debate. COuld be slightly surreal flicking between those two worlds!

"See" you all in the morning.

PA - I feel a bit OCD about it at the moment, but I'm telling myself its just nesting

I even did another cupboard and a drawer today. DS considered helping me clean it but gave it a little wipe then grabbed my hand and said "Mummy, come on" to try to get me to play instead! I'm sitting here trying not to go and do another before bed as DS seems to have decided to go to sleep half an hour early!

However, my routines are taking less and less time (even with mass washing of baby clothes) because I'm doing them (nearly) every day and that's very satisfying.

Evening Ladies,

I'm watching the three leaders debate. I wanted to watch it and know it is important but I was really wanting to watch Outnumbered, DH won!

How are things with you today DTG? I hope you managed a restful day.

DEM glad you got that sleep, sounds like you really needed it.

Ellie glad the museum visit went down well and well done on all the flying too. Fingerpuppet workshop sounds fab! We have a small museum near us with a clay representation of the head of neolithic man. DS shouts 'Daddy' ever time he sees it .

MissB I hope you enjoyed your shopping and coffee .

Chairmum sparkly house - very impressive, nut-free cupboards too .

Great to get the little ones in training early Linzertorte .

PA a big fanfare for the empty ironing basket! And gammon sounds wonderful. I hope DS enjoys his birthday - sounds like he has a perfect day planned.

Good to see you PurpleWednesday and MrsD - I hope you both had a good day today.

All for now, see you tomorrow.

Morning Ladies,

Well, yesterday I was wishing I actually had a laundry room (rather than my bedroom floor)...what will today bring?!

Another reading one today for those of you that have signed up for the FLYlady emails.

Today is also the last day in the current zone, the bathroom and another room for decluttering and missions.

Have a good day, happy Friday .

Right, I didnt find the floor, but reduced the clutter and mostly packed away the pgce stuff. Tons to sort through for keep/chuck though.

I also did a run to get ds' glasses fixed and new school shoes. And i have emptied the ironing basket. However i am currently doing laundry so it will be full again by tomo morning. Am shattered and want to go to bed up have to wait up another half hour so i can put the tumbler on and get ds' uniform washed for tomo morning.

Friday's list.
Washing
Sort through more paper work.
Put ironed and folded clothes away.

Being realistic the paperwork is going to take me most of the day. If not all so that is plenty.

Sorry too tired to catch up, hope all are well.

PA - I am very envious of your empty ironing basket

I have managed a couple of hotspots though.

Chairmum - its encouraging to read that the routines get shorter as they are done regularly, I must persevere...

Waves to all!

PS the hens have been eating the herb patch. Surely they must know that eating sage isn't a wise idea........!!

Testing...

DEM here not feeling myself needed a change using an old/another of my names for a while. Will sign for a bit if i remember. sorry.

Morning all,

Beautiful morning here . Today we are venturing into soft play, wish me luck . As far as flying is concerned, am planning on having an hour in the worst room in the house (our bedroom) before we go as the rest of the house is relatively tidy . If I get chance, I also plan to wash down all skirting et.c in the hall, a job I really hate doing and hence hasn't been done for ages and hence they are a disgrace. Have also got to pop into work to pick up some stuff to do over the weekend.

mm i too wanted to watch Outnumbered but ended up watching the debate. Will be catching up on iplayer.

pa empty ironing basket . I am very impressed and Happy BIrthday to DS

dem no need to apologise

pw lol at the chickens and sage

chairmum I wish I could get a bit OCD about stuff! Well DOne you!

linzer that is one job I really need to do, sort out DC's clother. My best friend has a daughter a year younger than DD so everything I have goes to her which makes things easier.

missb mooching around shopping centre on your own sounds like bliss, hope you enjoyed and the forbidden fruit that is Starbucks!

Better get moving, have a good day everyone!

I am very glad i got ds' hair cut yesterday. he looks much neater today, although he was covered in muck by the time he got to school.

So far today's done list has been:
1 load washing
Fall out with ds (5 going on 15)
Sort emails etc.
Change MN name again

Going for a coffee and will tackle a bag of paperwork, to be hopefully done before lunch.

DEM.

i like slugbrains describes me rather well at this point in time

Morning all, sorry to be awol yesterday...

dtg - am glad funeral went as well as could be expected and well done for doing the reading. My DH didn't do one for his sister's funeral 7 years ago and has regretted it ever since...Take it easy on yourself and give yourself plenty of time.

Well, poor old DS1 failed hi driving test which was a real shame as he is usually so good!He had an absolute mare of a time and the test took 1hr 15 mins instead of 40mins because of the traffic. Basically we live just near M25 and there was a bad crash which caused delays of 2 hours,. he was taken on the dual carriageway that links up to it which was chocablock! temporary traffic lights went up that morning at both ends of town on roundabouts and everytime he did a manouvre someone came out of a drive etc etc etc. Poor chap - we had to laugh really!!

Anyway, much of Wednesday was spent trying to lift him out of the mire!

Today I have so much to do... Please nag me about school planning...I have a nightmare on Monday and need to be organised as it is DDs birthday and DH is off for a fortnight in Asia

Plan lessons for Monday/Tuesday
Go to school and print off anything that needs doing/get resources out.
Get croissants etc for DDS birthday breccie tomorrow ( about 14 for a full English!)
Get token pressie for DD as her main pressie hasn't arrived yet {biscuit]
Do a quick whip round of the downstairs
Take DC to dentist at 5pm I MUST NOT FORGET!
Washing

Right, I know I'm in procrastination mode so I really must go and get on. Coffee first I think! Oh and MM/ELLIE I am also a big Outnumbered fan but also watched the debate I am trying to find 'Life of Riley' worth watching as DS1s schoolfriend plays the 16 year old son in it but it's rubbish isn't it?

See you all later....

Morning!
PA happy birthday to DS
OM shame about the driving test but sounds as though it wasn't going to be a good day for doing it!
linzertorte - ah Vienna! - blast from the past that one!!!(The song, I mean, I've never been there!) And a little coffee shop there sounds much more appealing than overpriced chain!
Having said that I had a lovely day pottering and finished up at Costa sitting in the sunshine with a pot of tea [self-indulgent symbol!}]

Today I need to do some sort of home blessing and get things straight before everybody goes back to school. Also the grocery shopping
Unfortunately my mum has been taken unwell and is in hospital - hopefully home today so I may need to make a trip north over the weekend to see her. Lovely to see her of course but hadn't planned for it! Never mind, sure it will all sort itself out.

Enjoy the sunshine ladies!

Afternoon all,

Not much flying going on here again today - by the time I'd finished my work for the day, it was time to pick up DD1. I'm now trying to work my way through my routines, but I'm making slow progress...

elliepac Hope you have fun at the soft play, my DC love going and DH and I usually get to enjoy a rare few minutes of peace in the cafe.

optimisticmumma Sorry to hear about the driving test. Apparently people who don't pass until second time round make better drivers as they don't end up over confident (at least that's what I was told when I failed my first test!). Hope your DD has a lovely birthday anyway, and that the breakfast goes well (I would struggle to do a full English for 4 let alone 14!).

missbennett Sorry to hear about your mum; I hope she's feeling better soon.
Vienna is my era too (am I showing my age?!) - I can't get the song out of my head now!

Waves to everyone - at the sunshine and you all being able to watch Outnumbered (though I think my parents are recording it so I will get to see it eventually).

Just flying by as I have been kicked out of my kitchen.

Having a wonderful day with DS today. He landed on my bed this morning like an overexuberant puppy dog, just like he has for the past 14 years!! Not quite the "Kevin" I remember from Harry Enfield! still my gorgeous, excitable boy, who has just grown hugely tall and looks so grown up!
I realise today that by the end of July I will be mum to 5 teenagers! YIKES!! Bring on the men in white coats!

No tea cooking tonight for me as DS has requested a take away.(A real treat for us as it is something we just never, ever do. I can count on one hand the times we have done this as a family!- that sounds really bad, its not meant to, just not on a top priority list for the family, it is just always me cooking!!!! He has just done the roulade and its looking good!

OM sorry to hear about driving test. Hope he has bounced back to normal today.

MissB - sorry to hear about your mum, hope she is ok.

Ellie - Have you survived the soft play area in one piece?

DEM/slugbrain - love the new name!

DS calling for me, so I will go and see what disaster has befallen my kitchen!

Have a good evening everyone.

PA - sounds like a lovely day with your DS. I hope mine learns to make strawberry roulade in 12 years

ellie - bet you've got some tired DCs now!

I've had a fairly busy day, spending over an hour in the doctors (just a pregnancy checkup) with an excitable but very well behaved little DS.

I also managed to get some more cupboards done in my kitchen! The place is looking ever so organised! Just 2 drawers, a shelf, the windowsills and a bookshelf to do and the kitchen declutter will be complete!

My routines are up to date, but with no DS tonight, those things don't take long so I'm going to have a long bath in a minute, and then set myself up on the sofa with some dinner and a beer, and do some paperwork for my (very) small business that I have been neglecting and now need figures for, for some benefits! Separating takes a lot of effort!

Well little flying here today.

Made a coffee cake
Sort out computer for backing up and removing PGCE stuff.
Plant up strawberry plants
Water up in garden.
School runs.
Post office.
And a semi truce with ds.

He had miss behaved so had to go straight to his room when we got home but he was behaving after school so we took the llooooooonnnng way home and got in for tea. i did a deal bath before tea and he could watch tv whilst he ate. Which he did and he fetched his own tea from the kitchen when it was cooked. portion size perfect. So all is calmer.

As for me I am going to eat coffee cake and go out tonight. I have negotiated a babysitter and going training. I am looking forward to belting round at speed. though will probabloy regret not having gotten a regrind on the boots first. Its going to have to wait til monday now. Which is a shame. but hey ho. feeling a bit more perky then this morning.

Roll on Monday night Will be glad when the degreg/transfer stuff is all over.

Evening Ladies,

I've had my Outnumbered fix now . DH claimed to not want to watch and then ended up in fits of laughter over it!

PurpleWednesday the hens sound like a bit of a handful! Have they laid many eggs yet?

Ellie interesting that you say your bedroom is the worst room in the house. It is that way here too. I always chuck everything in there when there is no where else for it to go...then I think maybe I would like to be a bit kinder to myself and have a more pleasant space to rest!

Hi Slugbrains, great name! I hope you had a good training evening. I hope you manage to enjoy some of the weekend while waiting for Monday.

Poor DS1 OM. All the best people pass second time round though .

Hope your Mum is ok MissB and that you have a safe journey if you need to travel up to see her this weekend.

Linzertorte - Outnumbered is worth the wait

PA glad your DS had a good day, he sounds lovely, you must be really proud of him.

Sounds like a very well deserved dinner, beer and feet up Chairmum

Hope you are ok DTG, as much as you can be anyway.

I'm off to bed soon, exhausted despite having spent most of the day eating ice cream in my friend's garden!

Morning All,

No decluttering or missions at the weekend, and today is meant to be sunny in the UK so we need to enjoy it while it lasts .

As for babysteps - all about being good to yourself and setting a sensible bedtime!

Have a good day.

Evening!
PA sounds like a lovely birthday! We hardly ever do take out so I agree, a real treat!
Chairmum very / impressed with your kitchen. Hope you enjoyed your bath!
Slugbrains - coffee cake is a solution to many things, I feel. Hope the dereg process goes smoothly and then you can move forwards.
minim yum to icecream!

My mum is much better and home - apparently a urine infection - have spoken to her and she sounds very much herself which is a bit of a relief Don't strictly need to do emergency dash now but possibly probably will go up tomorrow just to reassure myself - it's hard when you're not near to hand, though my DBs have clearly been fantastic

I managed a grocery shop today and some vague 'keeping on top of it all' sort of minimal housework. Very vague! Then DD1's concert this evening at which she performed as solo horn. [proud mummy symbol] Then took them out for pizza on the basis of Clubcard vouchers

off to bed now.....far too late!

it has been a fab evening. i have thoroughly enjoyed myself. my thighs and butt muscles are going to ache a lot tomo. But have had a laugh as well as put some effort in.

Lordy - sensible bedtime. what the hell is that?

night

Morning all,

Survived soft play but only just. DD was a nightmare, wanting to go in the bit for bigger children and slapping the smaller children. Ordered food, waited 45 mins then told they hadn't even put it on, cue tired hungry children meltdown and swift departure.
I knew there was a reason I hadn't been for a while.

Today is a beautiful day here. Am going to get moving early, go to Tesco and skip and then come back and enjoy the day in the garden I think.

mm my bedroom is more like a tip for everything in the house we want to die/have no space for. I would love to turn it into some kind of sanctuary, however, I am aiming just to see the floor by the end of the weekend. Babysteps and all that!

slugbrains glad you had a lovely evening. Good luck with the aching today

pa glad DS had a good birthday. Sounds like a lovely day, I hope my DS grows up like that

missb glad your mum is ok . I am lucky in that my mum only lives 5 mins down the road (a little too close sometimes if I'm honest )

chairmum i did a big declutter of my kitchen earlier on this week, it feels so nice to come down in the morning to a sparkly, organised kitchen.

om what a shame about the driving test for DS but loads of people don't pass first time. Am sure he will get there next time round. Would nag you about the planning but that would mean I would have to consider doing my coursework marking which rather upsets me so I won't mention it

Have a good day everyone, let's enjoy this beautiful weather while it lasts .

Morning all,

It's nice and sunny here too for a change, so DD1 and I are sitting outside in the garden reading (though it's not quite warm enough for ice cream yet - v. of your day MiniMarmite!). I'm so pleased she finally seems to be enjoying reading as she really struggled with it last year (her first year at school), but she'll now sit down with a book of her own accord. I managed to get halfway through my morning routine before everyone started getting up, but have decided that reading takes priority at the moment. I also need to fit in some work today and tomorrow so I doubt I'll get much flying done, but even if I only manage the morning routine it makes a huge difference.

missbennett Glad to hear your mum is better. I often wish I was closer to my parents, especially now they're getting older. They find travelling to us a bit of an upheaval so we usually only see them twice a year; it's a real shame they can't see their grandchildren more often.

Slugbrains Glad you had a good evening. No headache this morning, I hope!

elliepac Sorry to hear soft play was a bit of a nightmare; hope you have a more relaxing day today.

Right, must set a good example, switch the laptop off and get back to my book! Hope everyone has a lovely day.