ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 52ND OF 2025

 Morning all the downside of being off is that I genuinely didn't realise yesterday was Friday, so apologies for the tardiness. 

So Thursday 18 December 2025, myself hubby and my sister went to the local college restaurant for a Christmas meal which was lovely. 

We all had a soup starter served in teacups 

Then I opted for goats cheese tart - which looked like a cake when it arrived

and hubby and sister went for the Ham hock terrine with brioche and caramelised onion relish

We all opted for the turkey main which also came with seasonal vegetables 

then dessert my sister and I had the chocolate cheesecake

and hubby had the Christmas pudding

We had a really lovely night out. 

On the Friday me and hubby went to Nostell, we were hoping our d-in-law could come but Doctor's appointments meant she had to cry off. 

We saw the gingerbread room done out in the theme of Narnia

the beautiful Christmas trees

and the dolls house

Whilst it was lovely I was glad it was part of our membership because it really didn't take very long to walk around it I'm honest. 

Saturday and I'd organised for a few of us girls to come together to make indoors wreaths for the home.  We had a lovely time making the wreaths, me, my sister and niece, my d-in-law and her Mum and we roped said 25 year old and hubby in when the lights proved beyond entertaining.  

We also combined it with a belated baby shower and renamed it a 'Hello Baby' party

Here we are all busy

My niece and my grandson

and one of the finished wreaths

Sunday and we headed to YSP we knew there were three new installations.  

The first on the hillside replaces the Robert Indiana 'LOVE' sculpture which I still miss

The second Helen will know well and has been placed in the chapel, we sat for ages, in fact I could have stayed to watch it all day

Back out in the park we wandered to the other side of the lake to be amongst the trees

We spotted the 'Oak King' and the 'Holly King' flourishing side by side

the holly was so vibrant

then the Camellia house was open for a Damian Hirst piece, very similar to the one that used to reside in Chatsworth but slightly different. 

Then we stopped for a latte and a crumble topped mince pie, we sat outside under the big umbrella and it was joyous. 

Suddenly Christmas was upon us 

My sister wanted some advice on icing a cake, she face timed me and had me in hysterics when neither the marzipan or icing fitted the cake, she ended up going and buying more icing and this cake weighed in at 11lb 2oz when completed (I kid you not), I'll show the subtle screenshot I took as opposed to the sweary fingers one that will eventually make a scrapbook page. 

Then Christmas day was upon us, the table was set for 9 people (although I kept setting a 10th place, hubby said it was for my Mum and I almost kept it). 

A photo of us before everyone descended. 

My d-in-law and grandson, look at that smile

And here she is feeding him in the other room. 

then the Christmas day photos my brother's fiancée, my step-Dad and my sister

The rest of us 

and another photo from when we were all eating lunch

the best Christmas present any of us could ask for

Unfortunately my brother wasn't feeling 100% so him and his other half didn't stay too long and headed off late afternoon, then we had a mass present unwrapping, I sorted puddings and hubby flamed my homemade Christmas pudding 

and then everyone headed home around the 8.30pm mark, it had been a very long day, said 25 year old, d-in-law and grandson stayed as my grandson was due another bottle they were here until around 9.30pm then they headed off and we headed to bed, absolutely shattered but my cup runneth over and I feel immensely grateful for such a wonderful family filled day. 

And that is the week that was. 

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 51ST OF 2025

Good morning lovely people tis Friday time for

Well last Friday saw our second trip to Chatsworth, if I'm honest it was definitely touch and go on the Thursday as to whether we actually went, but my d-in-law inspired me to just take hold of each day and enjoy the season so we did. 

We headed off to Chatsworth got there just before our house entry and decided to enjoy the house rather than take photos, in fact we only took this a couple in the house (to prove we had been again). 

The first was a sentiment that someone had left which I loved

the second was a selfie of the two of us

We really enjoyed the second visit embracing all the beautiful things in the house.

Afterwards we enjoyed some food and a cuppa before heading out into the Christmas market.  The sun set and the market really came alive, it was lovely. 

Then we headed back inside for the lights trail around the garden. 

The fairies in the conservatory

the beautifully lit trees

The 'root' lights which I loved

and the gorgeous digital light display on the house

Flora's temple was also lit up and looked beautiful

It was so hard to capture how pretty the trees looked

We didn't get home until late but we didn't mind, plus it meant we didn't get caught in the crazy traffic so win win.  

We had a quiet weekend tootling doing a few jobs, getting final gifts sorted, wrapping a few presents and some reading. 

Soon it was Monday and back to work, but a short week of just Monday and Tuesday and achieved all I'd set out to do which was good.  Found a glitch at the last minute, so came home started with fresh eyes and a calmer mind and resolved within a short space of time. 

Wednesday was my first official day off work, we were very busy.  First thing I sorted a wreath design for a family get together this weekend, it had been playing on my mind and I've spent a fortune on 'bits' to make it but I'm fairly happy with the finished design and hope everyone enjoys it. 

Then me and hubby spent the afternoon cutting and then putting marzipan and icing on the cakes.  We are definite amateurs on this but were pleased once we had completed it, albeit that it took all afternoon. 

Then I started to do a 12 days of Christmas, I don't know why but at the moment, we have very little booked into our diary for the time I'm off.  This isn't necessarily going out and 'doing' things but embracing the season, I'll let you know how I get on with it.  What do you do over the festive break?  

Thursday we went to the cinema to see Fackham Hall a typical British farce which we thoroughly enjoyed, lighthearted good humoured and just what we needed. 

And finally my lovely daughter-in-law has now announced officially the birth of our grandson back in September.  Her post on Facebook made me very emotional and she has given me permission to share photos, so be prepared for this becoming a regular feature. 

There are soooooooooo many photos of him but this is by far my favourite so far, he just looks so happy and content and definitely as though he knows something we don't. 

I hope you've had a wonderful week.

Hugs

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 52ND OF 2024

 And here we are at the last Rocking post of 2024 and for a change (rolls eyes) I'm late again! 

Well it has been a mighty busy week, Christmas eve we went over to my son and daughter-in-laws flat for a Christmas gathering with family and friends, it was a lovely afternoon and the few hours of stopping were very much appreciated. 

Christmas day and the table was all prepared

Said 24 year old and his wife came over in the morning for gift unwrapping, this was a gem art that my Mum had done that we framed for them as a gift which was well received

and this is my daughter in law opening some silver earrings that hubby had made that had a sentimental link

We had a full house, but there was a noticeable hole in the day that my Mum has left, I missed her so very much, Christmas was one of her favourite times of the year and I know how much she loved being surrounded by family, it seemed so very strange. 

But we did her proud, had a good day, there was laughter as well as a few tears. 

My sister's melt down first thing Christmas morning, will stay with me as one of the funniest things I ever did see when she realised the mix up of the meats.  Thankfully she cooked both joints and they were both perfect. 

We didn't make place cards this year, we made gonks (that became gnomes as they had eyes). 

This was my scrapbook paper holding one

Niece and her fiance's gnomes, she is holding board games and dice and her fiance's one is holding a record player and LP, it even had a pull out button insert. 

My sister's gothic stories and crystal holding one

My step-dad's united one complete with programme, chip butty and football

My brother's fiancee's gonk held a passport and travel guide to Mauritius as she travels a lot with her job. 

my brother's one holds Audrey 2 from Little Shop of Horrors as he made me one a few years ago

Son and d-i-law, Steelers one and the Twinkl diary kindle holding yellow one

Finally hubby's blowtorch silver smithing one. 

they were all well received and everyone took them home with them

My sister helped to recover the house between courses on Christmas day which meant the great Christmas clean up was not quite as monumental as previous days. 

More items made for Christmas, me and hubby enjoyed decorating his Christmas cake, one went to my sister and the other to my brother. 

And this was ours using my Mum's holly leaf punch

I also made this Care bear, using the same pattern as the ones my Mum used in the eighties with an image of a Swallow on the same.  The brown fur being made from a top of my Mum and still holds the smell of her perfume, I made it for my little brother who was over the moon with the same. 

Boxing day and I hurriedly made up the cookie jar to take to my step-Dads.  Here is a picture to show how giant the coffee jar is. 

The cookies were lovely. 

and a lovely afternoon was had by all.

Another Christmas gift, these were made for my sister who has leaned towards a very gothic feel to her house recently. 

 

And finally the silver earrings that my hubby made for the girls in the family. 

The rest of the week has tripped along and I'm enjoying having some down time, I'm now definitely starting to plot and plan for 2025. 

I hope you all had a beautiful and blessed Christmas and that you know how much you mean to those that know you, I for one love to see parts of your life through your blog. 

May the close of 2024 be calm and happy and may 2025 bless you with wonderful memories and opportunities. 

Hugs