Rocking Your World Friday - 39th of 2018

Good Morning lovely people 

tis Friday 

Well I had a lovely weekend down at the Craft Box at Elsecar, enjoying an art journalling weekend with Kate Crane, there was me, my Mum and said 18 year old on the Saturday and the same again on Sunday plus said 18 year old's girlfriend. 

Here he is at the beginning of the weekend

And again on Sunday having fun and being mischievous as usual! 

It was great fun and fast paced but we all enjoyed playing with paint and gelli plates

My Mum enjoyed getting very painty

Hubby on the other hand had a very quiet weekend, he took himself off to the cinema and caught up with a few house jobs but nothing major. 

I came home with some blank gelli plates at the end of the weekend and I used this one at the beginning of the week on my Instagram feed to write how I was feeling at the time.

Unfortunately, I started with a weird back pain on Monday which resulted in a Doctor's appointment Tuesday, it was gallbladder like pain, which is weird since I've recently had that removed, I'm also suffering with excessive tiredness.  So a blood test on Wednesday morning was called for and I had the joy of enjoying this sky on my walk around to the Doctors, as they say there is always a silver lining. 

I've been busy at work and have done the deep clean on the bathroom, I've now started the craft room just a bit at a time and hubby and said 18 year old are helping but I may well get lost in there and never return, so if I go missing send a search party care of my craft room. 

The blood results have come back and there is nothing on them showing as problematic currently, the Doctor (and I know you are all there now as I say this rolling your eyes and saying I told you so), believes I have returned to work too early and this is why I'm suffering with chronic fatigue.  

He has suggested time off, but I won't get paid if I have any more time off so I'm going to have to strike a happy medium somehow and try and actually do a phased return to work rather than what I'm currently doing which is phased return but still working a full week's hours.   So the silver lining in this one, is the blood tests are good and I just need some more rest and relaxation. 

And that my lovely people is your lot. 

I hope you've had a grand week, if you fancy joining in come back and link up and we can come and visit. 

Rocking Your World Friday - 38th of 2018

Good Morning - tis Friday so time for 

Well I didn't manage to share many photos from our day trip on my birthday to Chatsworth last week, so I though I'd share them this week. 

First up one of the rooms you can look into but not enter (if that makes sense), all those beautiful books, the library is always a little bit special.  

Then the fantastic model of the Joseph Paxton conservatory that originally stood at Chatsworth, it was built in the mid 1800s but was demolished after the first World War due to the cost of running it, the footprint (the dwarf walls it stood on) is still visible and contains the Chatsworth maze. 

On our way out tip toeing past the sleeping lion.  Chatsworth have just announced their Christmas theme of fairy tale scenes, so we are all looking forward to that. 

The Belvedere had a lovely area of blue sky behind it when we ventured out of the house. 

There were a few of Chatsworth own sculptures around the gardens as there is no Beyond Limits Sotherby's Sale this year - note very sad face as it is one of our annual jaunts. 

We haven't actually seen this statue before, but he seemed very sad. 

We managed a selfie on a bench as we headed up to the Grotto garden.

And managed to find this tree that Mick Brown whose Instagram feed I follow as he is the head gardener at Chatsworth promised had the smell of burnt sugar - he wasn't wrong it was like sitting underneath a giant toffee apple. 

And it is such a pretty tree

They've made some changes to the quarry part of the garden, removing a bridge and extending the stone work, it is starting to look lovely now. 

We found another statue on our way around, it reminds me of an Anthony Gormley but I'm not positive it is.

And the seated horse had a great view of the house.

The garden at the far end of the maze was filled with Autumn colour

And the Grotto garden has these gorgeous Acer trees in full colour

The light levels have certainly dropped, it is feeling like we've definitely hit Autumn (even more so since these last two Autumn storms the last couple of days, at this rate we won't get to enjoy the Autumn colours as they will all have been blown off the trees). 

Grotto garden

And another moved piece, although still don't think it is in an ideal place

Red hot pokers were in full colour

And the last of the summer petunias

Friday night brought us together celebrating said 18 year old's birthday

We had a lovely evening

Sharing time with family

We even sang him Happy Birthday

Even though he was a little unimpressed with the cake

I've started my usual deep clean of the house, which included some new bedding

And I returned to work, albeit that it's phased, although it doesn't feel phased with the number of hours I've done, must try harder next week. 

I'm definitely glad I've got the day off as I'm feeling shattered.  I am still sleeping for England, but trying not to over think that side of things at the moment and appreciate that it is only a few weeks since I had major abdominal surgery. 

I hope you've all had a grand week and looking forward to your weekend and week ahead, if you fancy joining in then pop a post together, come back link up and we can come and visit. 

Rocking Your World Friday - 37th of 2018

Good Morning lovely people, tis Friday time for 

First up a trip to the Cinema to see Mission Impossible with hubby, said 18 year old (yes it's his 18th birthday today) and his girlfriend

I managed to capture this photo when me and hubby were out this week, a lovely sunset

Last Saturday I'd registered said 18 year old and hubby on the local Photomarathon, six prompts, six hours, photos had to be taken in order, no filters etc.  Whilst I was with them I didn't manage all the running about they did, but was happy to sit minding the bags, the recovery from surgery is proving even slower than I expected!

Here they are in the queue

I captured the logo 

And enjoyed the mobile above me whilst they were racing around! 

I did manage a little wander, capturing a little of the urban landscape.

I much prefer the more ornate older buildings though

Whilst they were looking for prompts I spotted this gorgeous verdigris finish

And a strange sculpture on the top of the library/gallery

I enjoyed playing with filters on my photos when I got home (that wasn't allowed on the photomarathon for obvious reasons). 

And I loved this one, capturing a piece of art in a window and said 18 year old's reflection

Me and hubby were out and about one evening and spotted this in the Lego shop window - I love all things Harry Potter

Another weird evening sky

On Sunday we had a mini shindig (aka a mindig) for my niece who is off to University tomorrow - gulp! 

Said 18 year old had been staying over at his girlfriends the night before, when he arrived back with her, they had spent the morning making this!  My Mum had also been mighty busy baking cakes!

It was a lovely catch up as she commences the next chapter of her life! 

Now yesterday was my birthday, hubby had taken the day off but said 18 year old was at college, so I unwrapped presents before he went. 

To say I was surprised by this gift from said 18 year old is an understatement, this is what he bought me for my birthday!

I also received this gorgeous handmade book from a fabulous friend, another item that blew me away as well as lots of other gifts, scrapbook papers, albums I've wanted and some films. 

Look at all that depth! 

Another friend bought me a new top and for anyone that knows me, they know what an absolute pain I am when it comes to clothes buying!  Not only did I love it, but I wore it out on my jaunt to Chatsworth with hubby! 

My favourite view on the way to Chatsworth made even more special with the amazing clouds! 

I had a cream tea for brunch (well it was my birthday)

And we enjoyed a wander around the house

As we haven't been around it for a bit.

We also enjoyed a fabulous walk around the garden but I'll share more photos next week as I'm a little busy today. 

I hope you've all had a fabulous week, if you fancy joining in pop back and link up so we can come and visit.