June's Fledgling Flyers:"two flyers are "blooming marvellously" : here come the rest doing their flaming best"

[elliepac]

Welcome to the June edition of the Fledgling Flyers where we are going to attempt to restore order in our houses, chatting as we go.

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

For those who are curious, these are the Babysteps, which we all hope will restore order in our homes and make our lives a little bit easier with lots of support (and chat, and wine, and a little more chat )

So please come and join us, old and new, from June 1st.

I'm glad

I'm glad

I was aiming to have an early night tonight, but have been working so that I can go out for coffee with a friend tomorrow morning without feeling too guilty. But am now feeling guilty about neglecting DH, who is off to London tomorrow for three days...

I've finally managed to catch up on the thread; it sounds like everyone has been busy.

ellie I'm glad it's not just me who gets her MIL to sew on buttons. (In my defence, she used to be a seamstress so I tell myself the buttons will be sewn on to a far higher standard than I could manage!).

Chairmum I want an iPad too - there were huge billboards advertising them all over Berlin - but don't really feel I can justify the expense, as I've only just bought myself a mini laptop. Must stop trying to come up with a reason why I need one.

Nettie DS has been telling everyone he has a "new friend" and has decided we can come and visit you when we're back in the UK in the summer! (But don't worry, my parents live on the other side of the country to you so it's highly unlikely we'll be dropping in on you!)

Nick My routines in my control journal are in plastic covers so I can tick items off with an erasable marker once I've done them - strangely satisfying.

PA That's great news about the interviews. I must admit I would have succumbed to the temptation to peek at the e-mails; I am too nosey for my own good.

MissB I'd love to take the DC to London, but I don't think I'd be able to cope they would really appreciate it for another few years at least. Wish I could go with DH tomorrow, though...

MrsD Glad you had a good holiday despite the black eyes etc and look forward to the postcards! DD1 wrote to your DS last week so I'm now just waiting for DD2 to find time in her hectic social whirl to write her card and I'll then post them together.

OM Hope you and DS are both back to normal soon - a pulled back muscle sounds very painful.

Waves to everyone else - hope you've all had a good weekend.

Ohhhh whats going on. Do you think I'm glad about something??
flippin internet is being temperamental and doing odd things.

Was trying to say that I ma glad that everyone has had a good time away. Hope those with injuries and illness get better soon.

I am not going to type out all the personal messages again, I just may lose the will to live!!

Day on beach was thwarted yesterday by my bestest friend phoning and announcing that she was on the island and could she come over. I love her to bits and we have been best friends for 33 years, and she now lives abroad, but she does infuriate me by just turning up and sort of expecting me to drop everything to see her when she appears about twice a year. I have also never, in the 33 years known her to be on time, so like today when she said she would arrive at 2pm -ish and she eventually knocks at 4pm, I have wasted hours being frustrated by not actually being able to do anything.Sorry, shouldn't moan, really, or I should be used to it by now.

So weekend was not quite as I had expected, but lovely to see her.

Cant remember if I have told you all that I now have a dress for the wedding, which is a huge relief.

IRONING BASKET IS EMPTY!!!! Yay!!! with bells on!!!!! - Only because I had a slight disagreement flaming row with DH and took my frustration out on the ironing board! Angry energy ironing is good. Donme really quickly and I was even looking for more once I had finished as I still needed to calm down. Although I dont want to argue with DH every time I need to iron, we could be in the divorce court very quickly if I go down htat route.

Cant remember what else was in the original post, that I lost, so will sign off now and enjoy a large glass which DH is pouring for me - I must be forgiven...... or he has realised that I was not being an irrational, hormonal heap, after all!! Or perhaps he just wants to keep me quiet - most likely!!

Waves to everyone and hopefully internet will not lose this one aswell.

I finally AM GLAD, it worked. 4th time lucky!!!

PA that is always infuriating - the late arriving out of the bluer I mean. Try it on her!!!!

Ellie coin in the drain bit? at bottom of machine?

MrsDyes hols can be dangerous
Optimistic "

Communion party exhausting in preparation. But then great fun as parties are! Lovely to see old friends, and children had a great time too. I hope it meant something special to them. Did have a nasty moment in when I was meant to be taking two first communicants (8)(not my children) to take up gifts of bread and wine for the Eucharist, and couldn't actually find where the Bread and Wine were. So ran back to other catechists at opposite end of church - where's the bread and wine? On the table [you idiot] In the middle of a packed church felt a complete wreck after that. God probably understood is my only comfort on these occasions.

Three communion parties in our street alone, it's that time of year...I can hear the one down the street which is still going strong

Evening everyone,

Lovely sunny day on the old buses! We were all so tired we went for a nap at 3 and the dc slept till dinner! Both went to bed on time shattered even with nap!!

Have to get back to flying tomorrow, things are not too bad but I can't find my kitchen worktop for my dry laundry unfolded mess of a mountain. My sink is still clean and have managed to make bed.

pa is that ernest stealing your post! I know how you feel I hate hanging around for people to turn up!
linzer glad you had lovely time in Berlin. We have written your DS postcard and have bought one for next time (picture of London bus and big ben). Hope to post it tomorrow
ellie glad your DS feeling ok today and hope you got everything done for work tomorrow! You've done brill this half term!
om sorry about back ouch, hope it feels better soon.

Morning all,

Not the best start to the day here today - I was too busy shouting at the DC (DD1 seemingly incapable of getting dressed in less than half an hour, while DS was refusing to wear anything but his new football T-shirt - which was in the wash) to say goodbye to DH. Also feeling even more guilty about not spending any time with him yesterday evening now that coffee this morning has fallen through, so I didn't actually need to work yesterday after all.

PA I was wondering what you were glad about. Not about the unreliable friend, I'm sure - I get so annoyed about things like that too. Am v. annoyed this morning as both friends I was supposed to be meeting for coffee have now cancelled - the first (a bit of a serial canceller/postponer) yesterday evening after I'd virtually finished the work I was doing to allow myself to take time off this morning, and the second only about half an hour before we were due to meet (and only then because I phoned to ask her if we could change the location). Neither cancellations due to sudden illness. They're both lovely people, but still... grrr.

swan Glad you enjoyed the communion party. We just went out for lunch with the ILs afterwards, which was enough for me! That's just reminded me that I forgot to give DD1 the money for her first communion photos this morning so will have to make a special trip in to school at lunchtime.

Nettie DS has also chosen a postcard of Berlin to send to your DS next time.

List for today:

Work
15 min decluttering
Take money in to school for photos
Piano practice DDs (concert next week)

Morning everyone

my list today

Get up
dressed to shoes
dw
wm
s/s
prospective nursery visit
ring doctors
take car to garage to get fixed
go to post office send postcard to Austria
ring roofer
should have done months ago but with thundery rain last night rememberEd roof leaking still
go out with girls to dinner if not cancelled.

I think that's it feels like something major missing.

linzer sorry you had rubbish morning. Hope today is ok despite your cancelled coffee!
swan Glad communion party went well! I remember mine lotsa cakes mmm

right off to get up or sneak in some Reading

Morning all,

Had another short spurt of crazy nesting cleaning yesterday but still no baby

At least my house isn't such a tip today, and I'm feeling ok this morning, so a couple of extra jobs while DS is at nursery:

• change sheets
• mop kitchen floor
• deal with man coming to look at my broken oven!

My bump feels very low today, and I slept differently last night (I'm spending all my time looking for signs that this is coming!) so perhaps we'll get something today?

Morning ladies

Linzer - How annoying ot have your plans cancelled, enjoy your unexpected time by doing something just for you. Hope your day gets better.

Mrs D - hope the unpacking is all sorted, and that DCs are fully recovered. ANd OM's DSs ankle and your back, too. Holidays seem to be dangerous things .

SwanR - Lovely to hear about your communion party!

Nettie - Your day sounds lovely yesterday, especially that DCs were so tired and happily in bed after such a wonderful day. Dont blame ernest for my lost posts, I blame Robin the router!!! (Ernest can do no wrong in my eyes!!)

Ellie - Hope the washing machine is ok.

DD2 has an AS exam today and tomorrow and DS has a GCSE RE exam tomorrow (He's only taking the one, as he is only year 9) ALso DD3s 16th birthday tomorrow, so busy couple of days here. I have changed my jobs around this week so that I am off tomorrow afternoon to spend some time with DD3 and I ahve the bedroom furniture arriving Wednesday afternoon for DS. His bedroom is immaculate and he is so proud and happy about it all. Long may it last!! (I have a landing full of charity bags, though, and stuff he doesn't want to "clutter his space" ) I have to find homes for all that lot some time soon!!

RIght, off to work now. No list today as I am just going to be working and cooking tea and preparing for tomorrow.

Have a good day everyone.

Morning all,

thought I had step posted last night but clearly not!

This week we are in the kitchen and the mission is here.

The babystep today is, imo, a very important one which makes a huge difference to mornings in the ellipac household clothes.

Have a good day everyone!

Morning all

Things have been slightly hectic and haven't managed to get on here since Thurs ... not helped by computer going slow again ...

Glorious weekend weather but cooler with showers today

Hope everyone is OK

Today I have done:
morning routine including dw + wm, s&s, master swipe and sitting room recovery
dining room table hotspot

To do today:
3 hrs French study (1 hwk)
school meeting
laundry and more laundry
buy gp supplies
sewing for school fete
afternoon routine
kitchen basket hot-spot

Somehow this week I am going to have to set aside some more hours for serious decluttering in basement and office. It's taking ages and the more I do .. .the more there is to do ...

Thanks for steps Ellie and well done on your week of thorough cleaning ....

PA good luck to those of your dcs sitting exams and happy birthday to your dd3 for tomorrow!! Well done on the lad's bedroom!!! Good luck to your dh with his interviews too.

Fingers and toes crossed for you Chairmum Linzer sorry about your stressful morning and cancelled plans - hope your day improves

Swan Your communion party sounds lovely - well done you - it is a memory you really cherish ...still remember mine vividly (and the too short third-time hand-me-down dress I was forced to wear by my mother...grrr)

Lol at your lost wine and hosts ....don't worry...I'm always doing embarrassing things in church. A while back, I tried to wrestle the wine chalice out of the priest's hands to drink from it (as we had done previously) and thought he looked a bit miffed and was putting up a lot of resistance!! Afterwards I realised the rules had changed (owing to avian flu etc) and everyone else was now dipping the host in the wine instead of drinking directly from the chalice.... ..; gave dh a good cackle though ....who said "how could you possibly NOT have noticed and copied the 30 people in the queue in front of you ??"

Sorry got to leave this post mid-way - school have just rung - dd ill

aves to everyone ...

Morning all,

PA and Linzer - grrr at short notice / late / postponing friends, drives me nuts too. I have family members who do this to me (you know who you are if you're reading this).

SC - hope DD not too bad

SR - oh dear re communion embarrassment, as you say, God wouldn't mind.

Chairmum - take it easy!

Better go, lots to do. DD has her first settling session at big school this afternoon, can't believe my baby is nearly ready for school .

To do

DW
Washing
Take winter duvet to dry cleanerr
Gym
Sainsburys
Hoover downstairs
If time clean kitchen and bathroom floors
Take DD to school, then Ballet and Beavers

Hello everyone,

Quick post in break time!

Today is the start of the new ellie where I am going to try desperately hard to maintain the relatively clean and tidy state of the house that I have now. How long shall we give it ? .

This morning before work I managed to:-

make beds
DW on
WM on (I fixed it!)
S/S bathroom
general 5 min sweep round downstairs for pots/toys etc.

This evening I will:-

Make dinner
washing on line
wm on
DW unload/reload
DS to Beavers
Ring hotel
Washing away

That's enough for me! Will catch up with thread later.

Ellie LOL, and my house was looking quite clean after guests, until I remember sadly that I had stuffed lots of things in cupboards at the last moment!
Sink hs really sunk low though

linzer very annoying
SC that made me smile
Nettie roses cn be vicious - buses I love
Linzer thinking of those lovely Berlin lakes and ds2 fav the doubledecker train! They still remember the bombed church too, that has stayed with them.

Today babystep of shopping/mealplanning accomplished (not hard as fridge full of leftovers)
s & s
bedmaking - no
dressed - yes
what's for dinner - yes
laundry on - still have to take yest out

extras - recycling, hoovering, rubbish, yes
dentist - yes - recovering on sofa.

more project horrors ahead after pickup

I think I'm going to have to give up on decluttering for the next couple of weeks as work is just ridiculously busy. I'm determined to stick to the baby steps, however - today's is one of the few that I do without fail (probably the only one, actually).

swan The DC were also very struck by the "kaputte Kirche", as they called it. DS' absolute favourite was the TV Tower - they found it much more impressive than the one in Vienna.
If it's any consolation, my mobile phone went off during a particularly quiet part of DD1's first communion. I tried to turn it off without taking it out of my bag in the vain hope it would be slightly quieter, but couldn't work out which key to press so it went on for an eternity (getting progressively louder). It's only now that I can think about it without cringeing too much.

MrsD I can hardly believe that DD2 will be starting school soon either, although at almost 6 she's quite old by UK standards. Hope settling-in session went well, anyway.

SC Hope DD is OK.

PA You sound very busy (just for a change ) - hope the exams go well.

Back to work now as DD1 has just gone over to neighbours and other two also out.

Thanks for all your good wishes. I am fine-ish so long as I can do everything at eyelevel-!
So today I have:
Taken DS1 in for AS level
Made brownies
Done some ironing
Managed to get washing out of machine with my foot and then wrestle it onto the line!

That's it! Everything is taking an age and I have no appointment until tomorrow evening....oh well!

PA - I get annoyed with people like that and now always get them to text me when they are within striking distance so I can belt home!
Linzer - sorry about your coffee plans- it's so annoying when people do that esp as DH away too..
SC - hope DD is OK
Ellie - you are doing a great job - not long before the summer hols!
MrsD - it seems a long time since mine were starting school but I do remember feeling rather bereft! Make sure you do nice things for you when they are away not loads of jobs!
Hi to SR, Nettie, Chairmum and anyone i've missed...

Evening fellow fliers

my list wasn't extensive so think done ok!

Morning everyone

my list today

Get up-done after chapter of book
dressed to shoes-done
dw-dh did
wm-done
s/s-nope running late by then
prospective nursery visit-done I'm very excited it's a montesorri and just seems to hit what we want just right! Got to sort out work hours though if make it a full time move
ring doctors-done and seen
take car to garage to get fixed- done
go to post office send postcard to Austria- nope left at home. Will do tomorrow got huge card shop and send to do 10 cards
ring roofer-nope
should have done months ago but with thundery rain last night rememberEd roof leaking still
go out with girls to dinner if not cancelled- moone contacted so think I'm off to dinner.

linzer meant to say we have caravan park at bottom of garden. That's where all my family and friends stay when they come down from Scotland

sorry not to do individual mentions I've gotta run get ready. Have lovely night and I'll see you all tomorrow with my humungous list. Anniversary tomorrow and we away overnight so gotta sort out gp with dc clothes etc. And holiday on Sunday I feel a panic coming on!!!!!

X

Thanks for asking everyone ... dd is fine-ish. We couldn't understand why she's had stomach cramps every day for 3 wks and suddenly realised that was when she switched to having cereal with milk for breakfast rather than bread and jam or pancakes with compote etc. I have a milk intolerance so could be same for her ... will ban all milk consumption and see what happens ....

Right,er, where was I?

Nettie - hope you get your roof sorted

A big "aaahhh" to MrsDinky and Linzer and all the littlies who will be starting school soon ... [nostalgic sniffs]

Glad your dcs are feeling better MrsD Optimistic - ouch! Careful lifting that laundry basket! Good luck with the physio. Hope your ds recovers soon too.

MissB after a weekend of entertaining and eating too much of my home-made ice-cream, I have put half a pound ON so well done on your weight loss!!

Mummy glad Daisy on the mend

Nickoftime wow, very of your rancher experience

MiniM hope you are taking it steady

Today's list somewhat delayed by the fact that dd was at home. Hopefully back to school tomorrow and I can crack on ....

Happy Flying everyone ....

Have a good evening tomorrow Nettie

Waves to anyone I have missed ...

Hello everyone!

DS safely home. Had lovely time but pleased to be back. Back to school tomorrow. Bees removed from garage by DH (without stings) Daisy behaving herself. Tomatoes appeared on plants in hanging basket, lots of flowers on beans and peas. All is well in the DW household

Not doing loads tonight but in the interests of doing SOMETHING a short list is in order (with numbers just for sc)

1. empty DW & reload
2. WM
3. ironing (10 mins worth left)
4. put my clothes away
5. bath
6. shine sink
7. bed on time.

See you later with tea and buns!

Evening all

DW - done, needs doing again
Washing - done and bed remade with clean sheets
Take winter duvet to dry cleaner - done, now the weather's gone all yuck
Gym - done, half-heartedly
Sainsburys - done
Hoover downstairs - done
If time clean kitchen and bathroom floors - kitchen done
Take DD to school, then Ballet and Beavers - done, done, done.

DD was fine at school, she's going to be in the class that DS is in now (it's a mixed YrR/1 class, he is Yr 1) so she has been in that classroom lots of times and knows the teacher. Most of her friends will be in the other Yr R class though, which is a shame.

Today I have bought a new notebook for daily to do's etc. I was in Sainsbury's and stopped to talk to a friend, who despite having 3 DCs, a busy job and a smallish house like mine, always has the whole house spotless, not a bit of clutter anywhere and I am v. . On top of her trolley was a big notebook full of immaculate lists, notes, obviously key to her organisation skills, so I am going to try and emulate. Still need to sort out my control journal a bit too, it is a bit sparse

DWM - of your tomatoes. Mine are outside and hence will be later, and will probably get blight (again). My beans are lovely and flowery though, as are my blueberries and strawberries (note to self - find nets this week).

SC - yum, what flavour was your ice cream? I have a machine lurking somewhere but don't get round to using it v.often. Need a quick and easy recipe.

Nettie - happy anniversary. Ours was last week, and DH thoughtfully took notice of the fact that I had been talking about hair straighteners and bought me some GHDs. I still haven't got him anything .

OM - interesting image conjured up of you managing your laundry - be careful!

SR - my sink is hopeless, due to hard water, I wipe it over daily and give it a good clean every week or so, but it is always dull again as soon as a tap has been turned on.

Waves at Ellie,PA,Chairmum,MiniM,DEM,MissB,Nickof everyone else (brain has just gone blank). Going to go and write in my new notebook now while hopefully catching Corrie (if it started back again tonight)

Evening Ladies,

I had a sneaky peek at some of your posts while I was at work today so thanks for brightening and otherwise boring day .

Just FLYing in to check what I'm meant to be doing this week. I've not managed any decluttering today and won't tomorrow as I'm going out (yay) but have Wed-Fri booked for decluttering.

Other than that I'm still in shock as the house is still relatively clean AND tidy (surprising given that DS and DH have been here without supervision today)!

I made an application to the local council today to rent a garage so that we have somewhere to store things - so that should help.

Goodnight x

oh my - i go awol for two days and can't keep up with the posts! you've all been so busy!
branding was fun - dd1 got to brand a calf and earn her cowgirl credentials by eating a prairie oyster, and dd2 spent about a nanosecond being the 'nut pail girl' until she realised what she was carrying around in her bucket and decided it was all a bit noisy and bloody. (she then spent the whole afternoon moaning 'i can smell testicles' and holding her nose. no darling, you can smell cows.)
so now i need to get back on top of this flying lark... after dh's 'help' over the weekend, i'm feeling the urge to take back the control. why was it so much cleaner when he was away?!
not posting a list today, but thought i ought to jump back on and let you know i hadn't been trampled - just busy, it was one of those weekends, work today, and meetings tonight after swimming lessons
going to have a read back now and see what you've all been up to!