ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 30TH OF 2026

     Evening can you believe we are on the 30th Rocking post of the year already, time to clock the silver linings and positive moments from the last 7 days as it is time for

I know I mentioned my d-in-law making a cake for my niece but there were no photos of the cake, so I've managed to get one albeit taken from the side, it was a lemon cake and was beautiful. 

So last Friday we had a very busy day, the house that backs onto ours had had a tree poorly cut recently, he'd mentioned he wanted to get it resolved and so hubby had offered to sort.  So on Thursday he chopped the tree and on Friday we cut up the piece and got them taken to the tip, leaving some of the trunk that we can season and use on the outdoor fire, the light levels in the house have improved dramatically so I'm glad that is finally sorted, our gardens are simply not big enough to cope with trees if I'm honest, shrubs yes but trees absolutely not, so now when I'm stood at the kitchen I can see the blue skies, so that is definitely a positive.  

Saturday was supposed to be a day where we went in search of some of the lions that are dotted around the area to raise money for Sheffield Children's Hospital.  

We found the final two at the Meadowhall this was the first

and this was the second which was actually a lioness

then we headed to the arena and found these two 

this one was called Puck and was in the ice hockey team colours (hence his boots at the back)

We were hoping to carry on and find a few more near Ice Sheffield and the Institute of Sport but there was a music festival called Bassfest on and we didn't fancy fighting through the crowds. 

On Sunday I went to catch up with school friends.  We worked out that we all met in 1984 so that means we've been friends for 42 years and none of us could work out how that had happened if I'm absolutely honest.  We are spread far and wide throughout the UK, so opportunities to catch up are few and far between, but genuinely when we get together it is like we were on the school bus yesterday, we laughed, had a good catch up, talked all things menopause and put the world to rights it was a wonderful afternoon. 

I've also been on with some crochet.  I bought this pattern an age ago and to be honest I didn't have a clue how to 'read' it, I've persevered with other beginners patterns and all of a sudden the gobble-de-gook that I was reading suddenly became more understandable.  So I set too having a go however the squares are making up larger due to the size of the wool but as it isn't a garment it doesn't really matter. 

I know they could have done with being put on a board to get them square, but the one hubby has bought me is 13 inches square and these are bigger and I was too giddy trying to get them crocheted together, it is a join as you go pattern which is proving interesting. 

This is just to show the size of them, they should have been 12" x 12".  

Now the hassle I've had this week is that I've run out of the outer colour and I'm only 14 squares in (of 20), so a big silver lining was after 4 attempts at getting another ball of this wool is that I've finally managed to get hold of one. 

Monday and I was having to attend a court case in Sheffield as a witness, which I wasn't looking forward to, so why make my rocking post you may ask, firstly I got to find a few more lions. 

this is the one for the Sheffield band 'Bring me the Horizon' 

and the other reason for clocking this is that my evidence was agreed and I was stood down as a witness so no need to go in the witness box which was definitely a win win. 

I had my first harvest of tomatoes, these were a cherry tomato and very flavoursome they were too, I'm very proud of them as they've been grown from seed.  

This beautiful moon on Wednesday night, the photo doesn't do it justice. 

Thursday we had a wood order delivered.  It might seem like a strange time of year for this because we definitely don't need the wood burner at the moment, but there is something therapeutic knowing that we have stores in in readiness. 

So that my lovely people is my silver linings for the week, I hope yours has been similarly awesome too. 

Hugs

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 29TH OF 2026

 Morning all second instalment from our week away time to clock the positives and silver linings

So our second day out and the main reason for visiting the area was to go to the Cotswold Sculpture park, it is only open for 6 months of the year and all the sculptures are for sale. 

There was only one mouse sculpture this year 

but he was still very cute

there were several wirework pieces around the park, this barn owl looks so very tired

The deer was made of recycled tools and up close some of the tools were still clearly visible. 

The cutest couple however, they were for sale separately, I mean surely you couldn't part them. 

This was my one of my two favourite artists this year, I love this type of sculptural statue

I had to get a selfie with her. 

Then this cute fellow

I loved the stance on this one

and this was named Helios and was hidden from view

A cute aeroplane sculpture

and it's pilot

There were a few by this artist around the park and I loved their whimsical nature. 

Another of these pieces that I loved

then my other favourite artist Ed Elliott and I could tell it was his piece a mile off. 

Another of the characters in the park. 

Then another Ed Elliott piece and oh my how stunning is this

there were so many stunning pieces throughout the park

I managed to grab a photo of hubby next to this carved piece

and this was probably my favourite from that artist, I loved the balloons. 

Another cute bird this time a wren made out of cutlery. 

This piece was effective and reminded me of Heligan gardens. 

Then we stopped for a cuppa before we ventured around the park for a look without taking millions of photos.  We did however like how this piece was now in the shade so grabbed a selfie, so you can see the size of the piece. 

I finished another book, I've read all of this set up to now. 

The following day we went to Baddesley Clinton a moated house, again a repeat visit so I was looking for the unusual. 

This piece just looks cross don't you think?

The gardens are well looked after by volunteers. 

The bridge across the moat

A couple volunteered to take a photo of us, which was sweet, it made a change from a selfie. 

Then the day after we finally got to see Packwood Hall, two minutes from Baddesley Clinton, but with reduced house opening hours we've never managed the two in one day.  This is a home that was renovated by a Victorian who wanted a Jacobean mansion. 

We found this amazing chest inside the house with its intricate lock. 

Some beautiful glasswork 

The hallway

and this stunning embroidery which they had little information on, which is a shame because it was amazing. 

Packwood was an absolute delight to wander so I'm glad we've finally visited. 

Our final full day we headed into Stratford for a play.  We grabbed tea and cake at the RSC cafe.

Spotted these sculptures in the park. 

Before heading to 'The Other Place' to see a Midsummer Night's dream, we loved the costumes on display (and the air conditioning)

The theatre was set as a normal stage which is strange as we've only ever seen it done in the round before.  However the captioned performance was excellent and an air-conditioned theatre, what more could we ask for. 

Friday and we packed up and headed home, I'm immensely grateful that the woman who made a crazy manoeuvre in front of our car on the way back didn't actually write us off, it was a heart in mouth moment and we are fairly sure she burst a tyre due to her silly manoeuvre as we saw her slow just after and put her hazards on. 

Thankful for the drying weather for the washing and grateful that it started to cool somewhat on Saturday. 

Saturday night we were out for a birthday tea with family which was lovely and my daughter-in-law had made an amazing cake for the birthday girl as a surprise and the staff brought it out and we all sang Happy Birthday which was great. 

Sunday we had a chilled day at home in readiness for what I knew was going to be a busy work week. 

Our son, d-i-law and Grandson came for tea on Tuesday which was lovely and the working week raced away.  

I hope you've had a good week too. 

Hugs