ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 1ST OF 2026

Good morning, how are you, how is life are you still soaking up the festive season or is the tree down already and you've turned the page, welcome to the first Rocking your World post of 2026, time to clock the silver linings and positive moments from the last 7 days. 

So boxing day was a quiet affair we were genuinely recovering from Christmas day which is always fairly manic and tiring.  

We both ended up rather snuffly with cold which we were worried might turn into something else, but it is just a lingering cold so weirdly that has become a grateful for the week. 

On the Sunday we went to my sister home for pig table day (so named because the majority of the items on the table are pork related).  We had hot roast pork sandwiches, homemade sausage rolls, homemade roast potatoes, homemade cookies, it was a joy to spend some time together and it is the first time my sister has entertained since she got her new table, so it was nice for her to be able to put it through its paces.

On Monday we went to Wentworth Woodhouse to enjoy their Snow Queen exhibition with said 25 year old, d-in-law and grandson. 

As it isn't particularly accessible (although they have put a lift in since we last visited), they had my grandson in a baby carrier. 

We wandered the rooms and whilst there weren't many to venture to we took it slow, soaked up the story and enjoyed the visit. 

This was the marble ballroom

Me and hubby in a photo and not a selfie for a change. 

There was headwear to try on in the last room which made me smile

Hubby was misbehaving as normal

And on the final landing the lovely volunteer asked if we wanted a group shot which was lovely, she also confirmed they had used an outside company this year for the displays and what did we think.  We said we loved it, thought it was better this year than last (at this point we didn't know they had done things differently) and commented that we missed the outdoor light display, but she indicated that they had made a huge loss on that last year which is why it wasn't going ahead this year, if memory serves me correctly there were a number of nights in 2024 when the weather was poor and they had had to cancel it which probably made things worse. 

Afterwards we went for a cuppa and cake, by which time my son had the baby carrier and our grandson continued to be all snuggly and warm in there. 

Three generations of men in my lives. 

My daughter in law treated me whilst we were there to the Billy the Bat book and a Billy the Bat, there had been a trail around the house that we'd enjoyed and the book has been written specifically around Wentworth Woodhouse which is fantastic.  

New Year's Eve was another quiet affair, although we decided to have a final jaunt of 2025 up to YSP for a walk which was excellent. 

We had a cuppa and a sausage sandwich at the main centre, then headed down the hillside, the wind was bracing but I'd worn a big coat so it didn't matter. 

We spent far too long enjoying the Oak tree in the chapel, I genuinely could sit and watch it all day. 

Then off down towards the lake, going along the path to the right of the lake this week, which wasn't too bad. 

We enjoyed the sound of the ducks laughing, saw two different swan families out on the water and noted the number of empty nests on heron island.  We then went to the top lake, enjoying the view and the rustling leaves along our path, although many are now breaking down as leaf mulch.

Up through the park the spike was brightly lit, was stopped for a coffee and cake as a bit of a last hurrah for 2025 before walked the long path up to the Underground gallery and following the path up to the Bothy where we grabbed these shots. 

Home and we sat in front of the fire reading, but then got a call from our son, who said not to panic (which always makes you panic) but they'd ended up with an ambulance for my grandson as he'd been throwing up and coughing etc.  The reason for it being on here you might ask, is the speed at which things were sorted, the ambulance was upgraded because 111 did a video consultation and felt it was needed, he went straight to children's ward, they checked and confirmed it wasn't flu.  They believe it to be virus based and so just wanted him to keep a feed down, if he did he could go home, if not he was to stay in.  Thankfully he managed a feed and kept it down so they sent them home with a two day open door to return if things changed, so they were all home for New Year's Eve and hopefully now on the mend.  

Also another major grateful was my sister have a facetime with me, whilst we waited to see the outcome of the feed, she genuinely kept me focused whilst we were waiting on news and it was lovely to catch up. 

Hubby let the New Year in as always, he now carries a tray with all the things he needs, a piece of coal, money, a drop of rum, a piece of bread and salt.  Big Ben sounded out on the screen and in he walked letting in the new year as our first footer. 

We stayed up very late making a goals list, hubby drinking champagne and me on my 0% fizz, but the list is grand so it was definitely worthwhile. 

We were up very late on New Year's Day and we had a local walk which was bitterly cold but quite exhilarating.  We came home and sat in front of the log burner reading, a lovely leisurely day it was to be said. 

And that was my week that was, I hope yours was similarly positive and that you had some silver linings and positive moments to enjoy. 

Hugs