ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 48TH OF 2025

 Good Morning I know it is not Friday but hey let's pretend 

So what have been the positive moments and silver linings from the last seven days. 

So last Thursday we met up with said 25 year old and his lovely wife and our beautiful grandson for a wander around the local garden centre and all their Christmas decorations.  Honestly it was so lovely to spend time together and just enjoy him being home. 

Friday we had a busy day around the house and then we headed to Barnsley for their Bright Nights light switch on, we never go for the actual switch on and the traffic was fairly heavy but we do go to have a wander.  Said 25 year old, his lovely wife and our grandson came too, I was worried it would be too cold for him, but he was toasty in his pram and I always think the fresh air is good for little ones.  He was as good as gold and slept throughout our wander.

The water display at the college was reacting to the music  

The Cooper gallery had some metal artwork outside that cast stunning shadows. 

The town hall was lit up with its trees in front. 

Over by the civic were lanterns in the shape of animals

Giant stars in the Glass Works square were stunning, although the sound effects were so loud that we didn't hang about as definitely didn't want to wake the baby. 

On Saturday we had a wood order delivered but it was just one bag to top up so didn't take us long to shift. 

We also started putting up the Christmas decorations, I know it is early but because we put up a lot it takes quite a lot of time to sort. 

This is the dining room tree, I've added more gold baubles since we finished it so it looks better. 

This is the first tree in the TV room 

and this is the other tree in the TV room 

On Sunday it was stir it up Sunday, this year I prepared two puddings 

and my sister and niece had popped over, so they were able to have a stir and put in some wishes. 

as did we

Monday through to Wednesday work as usual, I did finish a little earlier on Tuesday which was nice and we went out for a game and fish night at the local college which was lovely. 

Then on Thursday we headed for our first Christmas visit to Chatsworth, this year's theme being Enchanted Woods.  The house is as always very pretty. 

The house seemed quite dark which was actually quite cosy

All the trees are so beautifully decorated

Hubby managed to capture a couple of photos of me as we wandered around despite how busy it was

I loved the interaction with artists, this copper mistletoe really was beautiful

and the wire fairy guy had done some giant dandelion clocks in the sculpture hall

and that my lovely people was my week, I hope yours was grand too. 

Hugs

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 48TH OF 2024

 Morning lovely people tis Friday time for

Well last Thursday we travelled down to Stratford upon Avon for our annual festive trip to the theatre.  It was technically bought by my husband for my birthday and we had booked a different hotel than normal.  We travelled down up hill and down dale the scene very wintry looking as you can see, but the roads were clear

The first play was the matinee performance of Othello, it was incredibly well done and very sad but I enjoyed it nonetheless

Then we checked into the hotel, a quick spruce up and we headed to Zizzis for tea followed by a return visit to the RSC

Part of the Red Shoe display in the RSC

and the opening set in readiness in the Swan theatre

It is based on the Hans Christian Andersen story and is very very dark and definitely not Christmassy but we enjoyed it nonetheless. 

On Friday we travelled back up and in the evening headed to Barnsley for their 'Bright Nights' technically their light switch on but lots of places to visit and things to see. 

There was a fabulous exhibition in the Town Hall Archives by a local illustrator called Brian Wildsmith, his body of work over his lifetime was amazing. 

Outside we saw the steel nativity 

And the lights around the Town Hall

I loved the living dress in the church, it was so atmospheric, a nod to Barnsley's textile industry

The college had lots of family activities on including a silent disco and the Cooper gallery had further work by Brian Wildsmith

As well as holographic art in the garden, you put your hand in and the holographic butterfly landed on your hand, it was weird because I could 'feel' the butterfly even though it was technically not there. 

Glassworks had an animated display, a nod to a rediscovered Christmas carol called 'Christmas Eve' which was sung live by a local choir. 

And a giant slinky outside the shopping centre.

Saturday and we had a lazy start to the day, before heading to Nostell Priory to watch A Christmas Carol in the afternoon, it was incredibly well done and we really enjoyed this festive delight. 

Sunday and said 24 year old and his lovely wife popped over, it happened to be Stir it Up Sunday, so wishes were dutifully added to the mix before it was cooked

We also got the decorations sorted, I know they are early but given that I had a week off it seemed sensible to sort to leave us free time at weekends. 

I enjoyed reading in front of the fire earlier in the week

Thursday we had a return visit to Chatsworth, I'd booked these in advance and it seemed silly not to use the time. 

This is one of my favourite views

Chatsworth was looking wintry and the deer could easily be seen in the distance.

We stopped and had a cuppa in the stables

We spotted mice that we hadn't seen previously 

I got a few different quirky shots, which I think are lovely

We got the stair shot for a change which is usually full of people

We found this musical mouse

hubby posed in front of one of the trees

And we enjoyed a wander around the garden. 

A fun filled week which I've really enjoyed as hopefully you can see, I hope your week has been grand too. 

Hugs