ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 44TH OF 2025

 Good Afternoon tis Friday time for

So last week we headed to Stratford for a couple of days and to enjoy some excellent Shakespeare plays. 

We travelled down on the Thursday, we hit a lot of roadworks all I can say is HS2 is definitely making that journey harder at the moment, I really feel for the people directly affected by the same. 

We had a matinee show to enjoy on Thursday a 'first encounters' (aka as abridge) version of King Lear in the Swan theatre. 

It was very good, but we believe we have only seen this play twice now and both have been abridged which is a shame I think I'd like to see it done in all its glory.  

Stage at the end of the play. 

The promo poster

We had a quick change and shower at the hotel and then hot footed it to Zizzis before heading to the RST for 'Measure for Measure' 

As a play this is complex and one where the ending leaves the female with no words, we did wonder with how it started how they were going to finish it and we were not disappointed.

Then Friday we had the day to ourselves, we enjoyed exploring Stratford as usual and given how epic Measure for Measure was were doubtful that it could be matched or surpassed.

This time we were at 'The Other Place' and an hour before we set off I realised we had 'pub type' seating, which basically meant that we were incredibly close to the actors, pretty much in the pub. 

This photo I took when we were in our seats, like I said close. 

The whole run of Macbeth set in the Glaswegian bar is sold out and I genuinely had no idea why, but the lead actor was apparently the lead in the series Outlander, which I think was the main reason. 

The play was bloody and grimy and all things Macbeth, but I don't think I've ever cried to Macbeth before if I'm honest, but then I've never seen Lady Macbeth's death scene played out on the stage (ever) which was startling enough but then for Macbeth to lay her down on the stage and do his 'tomorrow and tomorrow' speech with such emotion was enough to get the tears flowing. 

There was a standing ovation as it finished and I can honestly say it was the best Macbeth I've seen in quite some time, in fact for a non-traditional version this is definitely my favourite. 

On Saturday we were heading home and decided to pop to Kedleston on our way back, we were hoping to see Helios (a Luke Jerram installation of the 'sun') which was there but when we arrived it said it was sold out.  Disappointed as we were we need a comfort break and a cuppa so headed in to get our cards scanned and the amazing man behind the counter provided us with two tickets and said to hurry as the slot was 12.15pm as it was already 12.40pm.  

We hurried into the house which not only housed the sun installation but was also celebrating Diwali 

Helios was stunning and the surface had movement on it like the real sun

Seeing it from the other side of the marble room hanging was amazing

Kedleston hall is lovely anyway, the glass chandelier still designed for candles was amazing

The outside view gives you some perspective, it had a feel of both Wentworth Woodhouse and Nostell priory. 

Then we had a wander around the very old church, the stained glass windows were stunning. 

We were glad to finally land at home and after we'd unpacked enjoyed relaxing after our busy couple of days. 

We caught up with our son and daughter-in-law and soaked up all information to do with our grandson and then we were back at Monday (already). 

Although this week was short (only two days) because on Wednesday we had been invited to my cousins wedding which was amazing.  She looked stunning and as she is into her metal music and all things gothic we knew it would be different. 

Here is a photo of her on her way to get married, the most beautiful black wedding dress you ever did see. 

I hope you've had a wonderful week too.  

Hugs

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 11TH OF 2022

 Morning lovely people tis Friday time for 

Well last Thursday night me and hubby had a date night which consisted of a meal out at a restaurant attached to the local college, we had a lovely meal and a lovely evening in there, so relaxed, great food and good company, nothing finer. 

Then we headed over the road to the local theatre to watch a local theatre company perform Curtains (a musical who dunnit), it was really well done and we thoroughly enjoyed it despite the slightly uncomfortable seats. 

Friday we popped to Ikea and had a lovely wander around, as the weather wasn't that brilliant 

In the evening we went to Wentworth Woodhouse for WE Wonder Noir, an evening consisting of art installations in the house, this was the first outside

One that had used ash die back trees to create an immersive experience of light and sound in the chapel 

before heading to the star of the show, Museum of the Moon by Luke Jerram (I've now seen all three of these amazing installations, his Earth (Gaia), Mars and now the Moon)

We even laid down on the floor in the marble room and took in the sight above us - utterly stunning

Other artworks included a few performance art pieces to video, but some were light installations, this one in the room renowned for the original artwork depicting a similar stance for a horse owned by the family. 

This room had an installation where the fans ran and then slowed so the copper tubes rang, it was lovely

and then this was a piece of digital art in the library again we ended up laid on the floor taking it in, but it was really amazing, apart from the moon this was our second favourite piece. 

I also loved the shot from outside the room of the moon hanging inside (I took a similar shot of Gaia a few years ago). 

On Saturday we had a bit of a slow day, but we did pop to see my Mum for a few hours and also managed to catch up with my sister which was lovely. 

On Sunday we headed to YSP a new exhibition by Robert Indiana had opened in the underground gallery and so we were immersed in lots of new art (nothing finer)

Inside there were lit pieces

and those made from recycled materials, definitely of the 'pop art' era, I loved all of the work 

back outside we found a few more pieces

which hubby made me pose in front of so you could see the size of the pieces

then we had a good walk around the park before heading back up the hillside to find this piece of art from the same exhibition. 

A weekend full of art, people and a little bit of downtime - my kind of weekend. 

The rest of the week has tripped along, Monday I worked from home which allowed me to catch up in a way that I haven't been able to catch up for some time which was excellent and then I was in work Tuesday through to Thursday so apart from making tea, the days tripped along at a merry old pace. 

I hope you've had a lovely week too. 

Hugs