ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 27TH OF 2025

 Morning all tis Friday time for 

So last week we headed to our old home town of Stafford for a couple of days away, we stayed at the hotel where we had our first official date and had a lovely room with a view over St Chad's Church at the front.  The journey down we went over the hills as we wanted to enjoy our annual visit to Trentham Gardens to visit the fairies, the weather looked changeable but thankfully it stayed dry during our visit.

The first one Bridget greets you on the bridge 

then Spidey under the Arbour

This one is always stunning and with the sun catching it it was even better. 

To say they've been there a number of years they still look amazing

And I love the feeling of motion in them

There is even a new set of wings for people to try out when they visit. 

These are giant and along the path by the lake

Fledglings up on the hillside

And we stopped for another cuppa at the bottom of the lake to say hello to this one

Then onwards to our destination, we had booked a package deal which meant tea and cake on arrival.  Hubby didn't fancy tea after all his driving but I definitely fancied both cups of tea and we shared the cakes

I love the eclectic items hanging over head

We wandered the town, areas of which are mighty pretty

Then got ready for our evening meal 

Which was lovely and finished with a beautiful cheese board

We went for a wander around the town the following day and saw the advert for the play we were due to see that night. 

We also wandered into the Picture House which is now a Wetherspoon's pub but still retaining a lot of its original features, we sat up at the top where many moons ago we took my sister and brother to watch Jurassic Park. 

We found this sculpture of Isaac Walton on the River Sow leisure walk

and this one of a bowler next to the bowling green

After an early evening meal which was lovely, we headed to the theatre, a far cry from the complex Cornish stage design last year, this was very much pared back and with a hint of RSC about it, the book cases moved at certain points during the play.  Hubby felt that they represented the educated mind of Hamlet and the dust was representative of the blinkered view of all those around him. 

The play was exceptionally good and we both really enjoyed it. 

I'd booked Chatsworth to break the journey up on the way back, this is the leather room with the famous trompe l'oiel of the violin and it is the leather room because that is what the wallpaper is made from.

The rose garden looks lovely at the moment and the smell of the roses was well worth the wander. 

We got back home and on Sunday we had book club, unfortunately my sister has been poorly and so she couldn't make it and my daughter-in-law hadn't finished the book so it made for an awkward conversation to be honest.  The book we were reading was The Handmaid, my niece has gone on to read the further two books all of which she said are quite different.  I then had a play with some scrapbook layouts that are still not completed if I'm honest, but it was nice to have a catch up. 

The working week was busy and I'm gearing up for the annual audit so a definite focus on the year end file which thankfully is almost there. 

Thursday and time to enjoy some fresh air, we had time out in the garden, hubby cleaned the plastic on the extension, then he cut the neighbour's tree that overhangs our arbour and was starting to cause issues, he hoovered the top of the arbour off as there were a load of catkins on it from spring that had got stuck and then cleared the side of the house where a few weeds had sprung up.  In the meantime I worked my way around all the pots that we have and planted this lot out to try and bring a bit more colour to the garden. 

A very productive day but rather tiring, we then had showers and then tea and then settled down outside for a few hours of reading under the arbour which was bliss. 

Life is made up of the moments that we remember, the memories that we make, anchoring yourself in the moment, definitely makes the memories stronger and more positive and I'm very grateful for all that I have and all the blessings I have. 

I hope your week has been as blessed. 

Hugs

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 18TH OF 2025

 Morning all tis Friday time for

Well I'm going to do a photo catch up because I couldn't share any last week which was very annoying. 

As I mentioned last week we had had book club and our art journal session which was fun. 

These were the layouts I did, I definitely felt like putting a spout and handle on this one

I'd already prepared the background page, so it was fun to play with the batty characters. 

Then I couldn't work out whether this was bat, spider or a cloaked man with a strange hair style. 

I definitely don't think any of the above are ready but I had fun playing in my art journal which is the main thing I'm sure you will agree. 

I also didn't mention these that hubby made can you guess what they are? 

Home made hot cross buns and genuinely the nicest I've ever had, light and fluffy and had some fresh apple in them as well. 

Now onto last week we had the fence put in for the section missing in the back garden, next door neighbours had fencing installed, but with their garden being higher than ours it looked pretty awful, we've attempted (and failed) to create something to cover but alas it didn't weather well, so I decided I wanted fencing putting in.

And then the day after we painted it in keeping with the rest of the garden, a big shout out to said 24 year old who popped over to allow us to swizzle one of the panels as the fencing company had put it in the wrong way around, it meant that it is now finished.  Hubby also found a bit of feather lap to add to the top so we don't see any of the other fence (only post tops) and it now brings the garden together. 

We then put down the slate we had bought in readiness and moved some of the pots around to a better position and it is starting to feel more 'done' now which is great. 

We enjoyed a day on the deck on Sunday which was lovely. 

On Wednesday (after a very busy work week) we went for pre-theatre dining, which was loving and then off to see Black Coffee an Agatha Christie 'who dunnit' which was very good done by a local theatre group we had a brilliant date night out which we both enjoyed. 

Thursday and we headed out to sort a few things, included some new footwear for both of us, sandals for me from Clarks if I'm honest, it is pointless me going anywhere else and hubby got some casual shoes as he was down to just trainers without other options if I'm honest. 

And that my lovely people is the week that was. 

I hope yours has been grand too. 

Hugs

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 34TH OF 2024

 Morning all tis Friday time for

the point in the week where I find the silver linings and the positive things that have occurred in the week. 

You may recall I mentioned an epic holiday clothes shopping trip with my sister on last week's post, I didn't strangely enough share the photo, so I thought I would as you can see the absolute joy in my sister's face helping me get sorted and before you ask, yes I did buy everything in the basket. 

So last Friday me and hubby were back working on the garden, to be honest when we did most of the hard landscaping about 8 years ago, I was not anticipating doing anything major moving forward, alas that was not to be and we find ourselves having a fairly major overhaul if I'm honest. 

That said the weather was kind to us, which allowed us to get on with jobs, mine was a little boring and mundane as I was emptying pots and sorting a few bedding plants out, hubby however was on with sorting the arbour roof.  When we first did the arbour some years ago, we put corrugated plastic sheeting on it which lasted a while but not long enough, one winter storm and we were back to square one and I attempted a material based arbour shade which moved back and forward, but the material doesn't last if I'm honest over winter.  So we were back to the drawing board, namely back to a plastic solution, but a better plastic and more rigid support, we ordered the wood and the plastic and hubby worked solidly over the weekend to reinstate the roof and we had a leisurely few hours sat out reading and drinking coffee on Sunday so we are definitely seeing improvements. 

This is an 'action' shot taken in the midst of all the work, you can also see the additional woodstore at the back now filled to the rafters in readiness for winter. 

The area to the left where you can see the trellis is our next area to resolve but progress is being made which is the key thing. 

Sunday was definitely a day of rest, sausage sandwich breakfast, sat out reading for a good proportion of the day and then prepping for the working week. 

This week has been a little stressful as it is the start of the audit, but things seem to be going OK at the moment which I'm pleased with and those on high seem to be happy with the work that I've done so that is definitely a win win. 

I've enjoyed reading books this week, I usually have a number on the go at any one point and then I can go from fiction, to factual, self help to magazine and back again, the current main read is one called 'The Power' technically a manifestation book but from a more practical medical application backed by research it has proved an interesting read and has definitely created a few interesting conversations with the hubby. 

I hope you've had a good week too.  

Hugs

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 29TH OF 2024

 Good afternoon lovely people tis Friday, a day where I clock the positive moments and silver linings in the week that help to keep me balanced.  I started Rocking posts years ago and find it is a lovely way to focus on the happy moments whilst knowing that sometimes life is a set of trials and tribulations, this stops them from overwhelming me, having said that I've had a good week overall (although there is a genuine lack of photos - so sorry). 

So last Friday we headed over to see my step-Dad, we haven't seen him for an age and I was feeling mighty guilty, but I think he was just happy for a bit of company.  Whilst we were there I managed to sort out what we hope is the last outstanding financial element in relation to my Mum for him, so that was definitely a positive.  

Whilst we were there we had a look at what there is still to sort upstairs, we had planned to have another fettle but to be honest my sister has been quite poorly recently and she genuinely was not well enough to do anything so we just took stock of what needed doing.  However, me and hubby did take a multitude of bags to the local Cancer Research Charity shop, which frees up some space and means that hopefully further funds will be raised for this worthy cause.

On Saturday we headed north to see my niece as she had invited people over as it was her birthday this week.  Her and her partner put on a lovely spread of food and we spent several hours catching up and chatting and putting the world to rights and she got to receive her presents early and open the same and we got to sing happy birthday to her, she had three birthday cakes to choose from, perhaps next time we need to remember to communicate more effectively, although I doubt they went to waste. 

Sunday was another miserable day weather wise and so our plans to go to YSP were scuppered, but we still enjoyed a sausage sandwich at home and I did some crafting and reading before I headed back into work. 

Monday came around and I was back at work, I'm still battling with the year end and getting to it is proving mighty difficult if I'm honest, but that I'm persevering and hopefully will start seeing the finish line soon (I hope). 

Tuesday hubby contacted the doctors he keeps getting a sweet taste in his mouth, we can't tell if it is post op or whether there is something else so he got booked in for blood tests and we had a discussion about health improvements because his blood pressure was bad again, however this has led to some sensible discussions and hopefully a way forward. 

Wednesday my last day in the office and I came home very tired and yesterday we set too making the most of the sunshine (which we have seen little of recently) to be in the garden making some headway on some projects that need sorting.  The heat has made the task much harder, but at least it has been dry enough to make some headway.  

Apart from that, conversations with family have kept me on an even keel particularly when I've been struggling with the grief side of things. 

And finally I will document it here because it means I have it somewhere.  Early this morning, as I was just lifting out of a dream which was mad and made little sense, did I find myself sat in a different room and my Mum literally suddenly appeared in front of me, she was radiant and looked so relaxed and happy, younger, healthy, lightly tanned skin and sparkly eyes and she was there in front of me.  I burst into tears and said we had all been so worried and asked if she was OK, she said that she was fine and that everyone needed to stop stressing.  I asked where she was and who was with her but she just shook her head as though to say that isn't for you to know at the moment.  

She was so incredibly vivid, so bright and so close to me that I'm struggling to accept this as purely a dream, I've had other such times when similar has happened on two other occasions, only 3 in my life but when they have happened they have left such a strong impression on me, that I genuinely feel like it was a message from my Mum where she is now and it has given me great solace today, although left me somewhat emotional, I hope you don't mind me sharing this with you. 

Have a lovely weekend where you are. 

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 34TH OF 2023

 Good morning all

Tis Friday time for

Well it has been a mighty busy week, last Friday unusually for us we were in work, preparing for our Summer Open Day on the Saturday and whilst we didn't rock up until around 10am, we left gone 4.30pm so it really was a full on work day, but we were as prepared as we could be. 

Saturday dawned and unusually for us this summer there were blue skies, which meant it was going to be a good day.  The open day kicked off at 10am and we had a steady flow of people throughout the day and managed to raise much needed funds.  I also got some additional information in the form of feedback which will help with future funding bids, so a win win. 

Sunday and as you can imagine we were all absolutely shattered so we had something of a kick back day. 

We enjoyed watching Heart of Stone on Netflix, a good old fashioned action movie. 

Monday arrived and we'd had the foresight to book 2 extra days off thus technically moving our weekend from Friday Saturday Sunday to Sunday Monday Tuesday. 

Never ones to shirk things that need doing we headed over to my Mum's house as her front garden needed some TLC.  We'd cleared it of rubbish a few weeks ago, but the weeds were now rampant so we got some pebbles picked up and set too.  Hubby trimmed the hedge with help of my Mum's hubby and then we tidied the trimmings up before weeding the garden.  Then we put down several layers of newspaper and then cardboard watering them as we went so they didn't fly away (the neighbours must have thought us completely crackers).  Then we put down weed suppressant fabric before finishing with what turned out to be 22 bags of Oxford grey stone. 

We didn't get any 'before' photos but the after photos look sooooooooooo much better 

My Mum's hubby picked up some fence paint in a rosemary colour which is a pale greeny grey which should look fabulous and since we've completed this job he has also pressure washed the paving 

Tuesday and we were gearing up for the working week again, however hubby collected some wood he needs for the next project at my Mum's house which is another job done. 

We also went to Ikea to return 4 table legs before having a browse, I bought a new step stool to aid me with my new indoor drying racks which hubby has installed, I also bought 2 white frames to 'disguise' the racks as well as the usual assorted items I always end up buying in Ikea.  

The rest of the week has tripped along at a merry old pace as normal, lots and lots of work and I find myself landing here on the 34th Friday of 2023, time really does fly.

I hope you've had a grand week.  

Hugs