ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 22ND OF 2024

 Good morning lovely people tis Friday time for 

Well last weekend was a bank holiday, so we had 5 days off rather than my new normal 4 days, I've already mentioned our Thursday.   Friday we decided to go to Wentworth Woodhouse, we were going to venture further afield but we were waiting on a fencing company to come and look at the poor state of the fence after the spring storms, so we went only a couple of miles down the road and had a wander, we were just going to enjoy the garden, but decided to enjoy the house as well.

The house had a Rockingham Pottery exhibition on, Rockingham was made fairly local to us and made this amazing teapot known as a cadogan teapot, which was lidless, the teapot was filled upside down and then tipped the right way up, the brown glaze was popular back then and the gold design on the same, I would love to try to fill one to see how they actually work. 

We wandered into the garden afterwards and came across this stunning aquilegia, 

the underneath reminds me of the cloth made Yorkshire Daisies, also known in their heyday as Suffolk Puffs and sometimes fabric yoyos. 

As we headed back to the car we saw the deers grazing, it was fabulous to see them so close

 Saturday we ventured to National Trust property Nostell Priory, we normally go at Christmas when there are very few rooms open, but at this time of year there are a lot more open, there were some fabulous attentive volunteers in the house who provided lots of additional information and they have been researching Sabine Winn who was one of the wives of the owners way back when and her life story which really did bring the house alive. 

We had some blue skies

the dolls house is still stunning

we giggled when we finally spotted the mouse at the foot of the grandfather clock 

the beautiful Adams ceiling in all the pastel colours

We wandered around the garden and into the conservatory that had artwork by local artists inspired by Sabine's work. 

The garden is very pretty at Nostell

and the garden had some amazing flowering shrubbery. 

On Sunday we headed north to Leeds to see my niece, she recently got engaged and was having a get together with a few friends and family in her new abode. 

She had had a busy day the day before cooking biscuits which were delicious

and a stunning cake

It was a lovely afternoon which we really enjoyed

We had a quiet bank holiday Monday which was nice. 

Back to work Tuesday and Wednesday, I'm struggling a little bit at the moment with grief, it is proving hard not having my Mum there to provide me with some advice like she always did. 

Today (thursday), I've been to see the Doctor who'd called me back after a recent blood test, she informed me that I needed another blood test, but all signs at the moment are pointing towards chronic anaemia which is why I'm struggling with excessive tiredness and restless legs and having googled it this afternoon probably accounts for the hair loss I've had recently.  Hopefully once they get me on iron tablets things will start to improve. 

I've also purchased a new car, well new to me, it was actually daughter-in-laws car that she was getting rid of and she gave me first refusal.  So today I've said goodbye to my ancient (02 reg) micra and welcome my new car which is a Ford KA that has already been christened Betty, I've had a bit of a fettle and sort and I've been out for my first drive in her which was fab. 

I hope you've had a lovely week. 

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 21ST OF 2024

 Good Morning lovely people tis Friday time for 

Well we've had a good week, last Friday we travelled down to Stratford to watch Loves Labours Lost with Benedict (Luke) from Bridgerton and the Colonel out of Bluestone 42 amongst the cast. 

We arrived on a beautiful spring day and found our usual haunt under renovation so we headed to the boat yard for a drink and some rustic chips instead. 

As you can see the view was fabulous and we giggled at the romantic couples enjoying the rowing boats, not always as easy to manoeuvre as you might think

This was the promo leaflet of the play

Inside the theatre, I always love the architecture

The theatre looked very foreboding for what is quite a farcical play.

But the set soon changed and we were treated to a transportation of the imaginary country of Navarre originally near France now transported to part of Hawaii

We really enjoyed the play it was fun and funny and engaging everything you could want. 

We travelled back up on Saturday and the journey was OK on Sunday we went to YSP to enjoy a walk, said 23 year old and his wife and their dog called Poppy joined us

it was lovely to have some company 

and Poppy really enjoyed the walk

Monday and I was back in work and the week tripped along quite quick and I found that Wednesday is my new Friday. 

Thursday and we took some items to the tip and also got rid of some items from my son and his wife's garden, then we came home and showered and headed to the cinema to watch IF which was really good even if I did get quite emotional. 

I'm also enjoying series 3 of Bridgerton and unlike most that have binged on the first 4 episodes I'm treating myself to 1 a week so that I can really savour the series and really consider the episodes, like in the good old days when we would wait each week eagerly for a new episode of a series. 

I hope you've all had a grand week, sending hugs

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 20TH OF 2024

 Morning all tis Friday time for 

Well I have had a good week, last Friday we had a good day weather wise, so we made the most of it, hubby pressure washed decks and I sorted out the planters, we picked some plants up and I replanted the pots which look so much better for the change.  Hubby then made a start painting the deck and I joined him after I finished planting, we also had 2 trips to the tip to get rid of some of the rubble and bricks that we still had in the garden from when the wall was removed a couple of years ago, but we'd retained to help with the foundations on the extension to the decking. 

After the very tiring day on Friday we agreed to have a chilled and relaxed weekend, we headed up to bed around 10pm and I browsed my tablet to find lots of Northern Light pictures, we had a venture outside in pyjamas to see if we could see anything and whilst very faint due to the light pollution I did manage to capture this. 

On Saturday we headed to Brodsworth for the first time in a very long time.  We expected to only be there an hour or two, but we genuinely soaked up all the atmosphere and everything to see, it was a blissful day together. 

I love this life sized sculpture, a stark contrast to the stocata walls. 

The wall paper was supposed to emulate the fashionable leather (yes real leather) wallpaper of the era, but they couldn't afford, so this heavily gilded paper was the alternative. 

We spotted people outside enjoying a game or two of croquet, which made me smile as Bridgerton Series 3 is due out and the game of Pall Mall uses similar equipment, although I think it would be more floating dresses, rather than almost cricket whites. 

After we wandered the house we enjoyed a cuppa and shared a piece of rose battenburg cake, which didn't taste of rose, but did have a marzipan flavour. 

Outside the blue skies were glorious. 

The laburnum arch is almost in flower, but not quite

They've cleared the area in front of the temple, so you have a better view of the house, how it would have been when it was built and we discovered the ice house is below the temple. 

I still love the church at the bottom of the hill.

and English Heritage have spent money renovating the original game larder. 

We saw the horse chestnut in full flower, absolutely beautiful. 

Sunday and we headed to YSP for a walk again, it was a lovely day and we enjoyed the walk immensely. 

The bluebells are starting to die back now

The wisteria flowers smelt beautiful in front of the full visitors centre. 

Sunday afternoon and my sister popped to see us, which was lovely, we talked for hours, put the world to rights and then she stayed for tea. 

Monday and my first work day was mighty busy again, but I enjoyed it immensely. 

Tuesday and Wednesday were equally busy but enjoyable although I came home shattered.

Thursday and we've been to Ikea today and bought some under bed storage boxes and come home, cleared out under out bed and decanted the contents of the old ad-hoc boxes into the new boxes.  They fit really well and will be much easier to clean around when I clear under the bed. 

I then sorted my side of the wardrobe and the shoes at the bottom.  I've packed away winter clothes for now, then separated work clothes and home clothes and realised what few clothes I have for summer (which I'd suspected).  We then headed out in the afternoon to go looking for some v-neck t-shirts for hubby.  The scar tissue from his operation is being aggravated by normal t-shirts.  We managed to find a couple in Matalan, none in TK Maxx but came up trumps in H&M and then I spotted a few tops in H&M that I liked as well.  I've genuinely spent far too much topping up the wardrobe, but clothes buying is one of my pet hates so I will simply accept it and move on. 

I hope you've had a great week. 

Hugs

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 19TH OF 2024

 Good morning lovely people tis Friday time for

So what have I been up to the last 7 days, where I can clock the positives and the silver linings in life in general. 

Last Saturday we ventured to Wentworth Woodhouse for a few hours and enjoyed a wander around the garden.  There were some bluebells out and some of the rhododendrons were in full bloom, I genuinely hadn't realised that some rhododendrons were scented which is weird because I genuinely thought they were all for show. 

Photo of me and hubby enjoying the stunning flower display

we spotted what I think is known as a paper hanky tree

I smiled at the lottery logo woven sculpture in the forest of bewilderment

the bear has been moved to a more open place, hopefully it will suffer less damage that way

Sunday we decided to blow off the cobwebs and headed to YSP for breakfast and good walk, it was so much warmer than it has been. 

The lake view was lovely

We thought the boat house path was still blocked as they have been putting in new fencing, but it had reopened so we had a wander, enjoying the lime green leaves on the trees as they start to flourish

and the carpets of bluebells

Monday and an extra day off, which was bliss, I had a few hours with my sister sorting some more of my Mum's craft items, said 23 year old came over and gave us a hand for an hour or so, we are making good headway if I'm honest it is just taking time.  

Then it was back to work but only a 2 day week this week, which was lovely.  

Thursday I caught up with my cousin on the phone and we put the world to rights, which was great and that my lovely people is your lot this week.

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 18TH OF 2024

 Morning all tis Friday time for

Well last Friday I met up with a friend that I haven't seen in ages, it was lovely to have a proper catch up and put the world to rights and she provided me with this beautiful bunch of flowers.  They have genuinely raised a smile every day mainly because the tulips have continued to 'grow' and the white ones are genuinely still reaching for the sky. 

The rest of the weekend was quiet as hubby was still recovering from his operation.  We didn't really venture out anywhere, we caught up with said 23 year old and his wife on Sunday which was lovely. 

I spent some time over the weekend getting to grips with new software and whilst I didn't think I'd taken any of it in, it has proved this week that I did actually manage to take in quite a lot of the informatin. 

Monday was the first day of my new job, I was mighty nervous as you can imagine, but it was a good day and I really enjoyed it and everyone seems really lovely.  Tuesday I got to meet more of the team and then it was Wednesday and my last working day of the week, having reduced my days down to 3 per week. 

Thursday is now my new Friday, I had a good clean through, hubby had done bits but he is still struggling with some things as you can imagine.  

I've also got a few scrapbook layouts to share that I

 completed recently from 2022.

I love this one of my Mum, she so enjoyed the journey on the boat

and her love of Center Parcs was well known.

Me and my sister

My 50th birthday cake

Hubby messing about and two lovely photos of my Mum

A meal out for my 50th

Documenting the theatre

Said daughter in law's first graduation at Lincoln. 

Chatsworth country fayre

Thursday night this week we went to see Macbeth at the cinema with Ralph Fiennes in, it was spectacularly good, he really does engage you as Macbeth, it is a while since I have seen the part played so fierce, the whole cast were amazing and I envy those that managed to see it live.

And that my lovely people is my week, I hope yours have been grand, although I'm not sure who actually visits these days (if anyone).