ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 40TH OF 2026

 Morning all tis Friday time for 

Well last Friday my sister had invited me to join her to watch Sense and Sensibility.  We met up at a Starbucks formerly a hall, which is reportedly haunted.  It really is a beautiful building and had a proper catch up prior to our film. Hubby came too but he went to see a different film and our films finished around the same time so a win win. 

I've never read nor seen Sense and Sensibility so had no expectations, comparisons or plot and found it to be a lovely watch.  Apparently the one done in the early 90's is magical also, so I may have to treat myself to a copy of that for a watch. 

Saturday and we decided to head north to York for most of the day.  Around this year they host the 'Ghosts in the Garden' which are always fun to track down.  Some are really difficult to find and unlike other trails around York you are only given vague information as to where they are, which is fine except when you are trying to spot a lifesized bat, cat or mouse.  Weirdly we managed both the bats and mouse but the cat proved elusive.  Weirdly York has a permanent cat trail for people to follow and we saw a large number of those on our travels it felt as though the ghost cat was tormenting us if I'm honest. 

Around 2pm and 15,000 steps later we'd gathered 53 out of the 70 (albeit that there were at least 4 not accessible) and decided that as it was getting mighty busy (not helped by a huge food festival) that we would head home.

Here are some of our favourites from the day

The lamp lighter was new

The astronomer

The mouse we found

The beekeeper in the church yard

The first of two bats

and the second

The kneeling knight is our favourite

Plague mask 

The prisoner we nearly didn't find, you can see hubby peering in from the other side

and the builder on top of York dungeon against the sunny sky. 

Sunday and we went to my sisters so hubby could hang some ornaments and pictures for her.  I enjoyed the catch up and the cuppa if I'm honest.

Then we popped to see our son, daughter-in-law and grandson in their home surroundings, we haven't been for an age and watching him now crawling and getting more confident being stood is fantastic.  Watching the temper tantrum on a 1 year old however not so much but he really did make us laugh and is such a character.

Monday was a busy work day as was Tuesday.  On Tuesday evening we ventured to the local theatre for a touring show of Jane Eyre which we really enjoyed.  Hubby didn't know the story and whilst I had the basics it is some time since I read it.

Wednesday and I had a very busy day in work, but it was productive.  Then on Thursday I had a hospital appointment, where I'm now officially on the waiting list for a small operation, the wait is around 6 months so for now I'm going to put it down.  I'm grateful that they are now at least dealing with the issue.

We came home after the appointment to learn that Microsoft are shelving the publisher programme which left me rather grumpy, I've had to download an alternative for now but it isn't ideal if I'm honest, although I can at least still access the files. 

Then we spent the rest of the day in the garden prepping for the winter months.  We took down the arbour roof to give it some longevity as it doesn't get used in winter.  The tree stump in the house behind us is still growing, so hubby treated it.  I did lots of weeding, hubby put down some new slate and weeded the side of the house before we set too on the front garden.  We were going to trim the little conifers at the top of the garden but they had got to be anything but little if we are honest, so we took the brave or rather mad decision to take them out.  That will obviously be the royal we as the work was done by hubby.  It has let a little more light into the house and it looks a bit unsightly at the moment but at least we can make progress.

I also completed some layouts this week, the first in an age, I'm going to attempt to catch up (only 2 years behind). 

First up a trip to Brodsworth

Glimpses of our son and daughter-in-laws life (pre-grandson)

YSP trip

Stafford break

Stratford break and theatre

Flowers from a friend after my Mum passed away

Meal out 2024 style

Track day for son

Nostell summer visit

Sister's birthday

YSP with family

Chatsworth visit

Canon hall visit

Snooks in York - these were really fun to find and not a huge trail so most managed in day

Pandemic diaries at Millennium gallery

Robert Plant and Saving Grace

Chatsworth visit

I hope you've had a good week. 

Hugs 

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 39TH OF 2026

Good morning lovely people tis time to clock the positive moments and silver linings from the last seven days. 

So last Friday we decided to swap out the summer flowers on the outdoor wreath and make it more autumnal I was fairly happy with it when it was done

Then on Saturday we went out to our Grandson's first birthday party, his actual birthday has fallen midweek so my d-in-law organised a meet up at a pub with a soft play centre.  It was lovely to see everyone and everyone enjoyed it. 

He enjoyed the balloon and got lots of presents

Sunday and we headed out for a bit of a nature walk to clock all the changes in the season, from the hawthorn berries

to the second harvest of blackberries that still aren't quite ready

the sky was a beautiful blue with the odd wispy cloud

some of the trees are already on the turn

and we found other berries, some quite poisonous in the arboretum in the next village

These strands of seeds were amazing

and this tree seemed to change colour according to how the sunlight was catching it

At the end of the walk this was our foraged goodies, apples from a tree in the arboretum, we took what we will use.  I found some beautiful autumn leaves including 3 oaks leaves and 3 holly leaves

Wednesday was the autumn equinox and we were up early due to me being at work and hubby volunteering so we got a photo of the sunrise, albeit that the clouds were covering most of it. 

It was also our grandson's first birthday and I got this photo to cheer me on through the day

On Thursday for good measure I got another photo of the sunrise on Thursday as I was up and about early. 

I've noticed the nights starting to draw in now and we are officially past the equinox in the UK so the nights are now longer than the days.  We've made some plans of things we want to do over the autumn and winter months and I'm ready to embrace the seasons. 

I hope you are all well hopefully back to fighting fit Kate and Helen. 

Hugs

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 38TH OF 2026

     Evening all, apologies for my lateness time to clock the positives of the last 7 days

As you will recall I was midway through my week away last week so I will finish off our week away

We had a day out at Cragside, a little bit further afield but somewhere we've visited before and always a joy to go. 

We got pictures in the garden, the whole site is on a hillside so lots of walking up and down the hillside

The valley at the bottom had a distinct feel of Puzzlewood with all its moss. 

We found another fallen tree piece of art which we assume is the same artist. 

Wandered up to the clock tower near the formal garden. 

Spotted creatures in trees, can you see its face and arms and antlers?  

Glorious views of the building, currently undergoing work on the roof so it has a lot of scaffold around it, but we still managed a reasonable shot of the place. 

Inside the 14 tonnes Italian marble fireplace really is a sight to behold. 

The final full day we decide to stay relatively close, we managed to go to Dilston Physic Garden, a garden full of medicinal plants, sculptures and a place to enjoy a beautiful garden. 

We spotted this fabulous tree

Sculptures amongst the plants

Ratty and Moley from the Wind in the Willows

Celtic Knotwork

This beautiful dragon

Who was just as impressive behind. 

This person in the hedge

The rain started just was we were getting a hot drink from the cabin, but there was a covered seating area to enjoy so we headed there.  

After we had finished at the garden we decided to go to Corbridge Roman Town 

and then into Corbridge where we bought a very expensive slice of carrot cake to share in the evening.  

Overall it was a lovely week away, a mix of relaxing time, reading and enjoying the hot tub as well as day trips out and on the last evening we were treated to this beautiful sky.  

We came home on Friday, got everything away and washing sorted.  Picked food up in readiness for birthday celebrations on the Sunday. 

Sunday came around and my wonderful daughter in law had gone to town with her baking. 

I can confirm that they were all utterly delicious the main cake was lemon flavoured and so very pretty in its autumnal colours. 

My grandson looking very pleased with himself. 

Monday arrived and our son's 26th birthday, however with it being a Monday we were all working, thankfully we'd celebrated on the Sunday. 

Tuesday, said 26 year old, his lovely wife and our Grandson all came for tea, so that was a nice catch up.  Our Grandson is now officially crawling and it has become very apparent that our home is definitely not designed for a toddler.  He'd been to nursery so was rather tired so they headed home around 8 o'clock. 

Wednesday I was in the office, I'd had a very busy working week as I'd been away and no one picks my work up when I'm off but it meant the working week whizzed by. 

Thursday and we had a very busy day, I deep cleaned the utility room, hubby popped the fans and some things into the loft.  We then sorted the freezers out updating the list and sorting the contents out so I knew what was where.  In the afternoon we went out and picked up some items we needed.

Thursday evening we went to the local theatre to watch Hound of the Baskervilles but nothing like I expected and it was laugh out loud funny which I doubt was the original intention when the book was written.

And that my lovely people is my week (and a bit).  I hope you've all had a good week, the autumn 'switch' seems to have occurred this week, not sure if it is the same where you are. 

Hugs