ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 32ND OF 2026

 Morning all, I'm sure these weeks are speeding up, let's pretend it's 24 hours ago time to clock the silver linings and positive moments for 

So last weekend we had quite a relaxed weekend, I couldn't believe we were in the eighth month of the year already but August has arrived and the weather has remained with very little in the way of rain up to now. 

On Saturday we decided to revamp the door wreath again, I've now got a good collection of artificial flowers, so as well as the new sunflower additions I managed to locate the purple roses amongst my own stash and this was the finished product. 

I also added some ribbons to the bottom

and it is a lovely sight to come home to, very much a joint effort as the wires are taxing on my hands, but hubby was there to assist and we had it done in super quick time. 

I've also been reading some very different reads that I've found on my travels or picked up second hand.

This was one that hubby read that he found interesting, so I had a read, it proved an enlightening read, I've enjoyed clocking the seasons this year and really noticing the differences in our world outside so that definitely resonated but other elements, not so much, but hubby expected that. 

This was one I picked up in a National Trust second hand bookshop a few years ago, it is a children's book and I have to say I purely bought it for the way it looked, however, thought I'd give it a whirl as a lighter read and it really is a splendid story, so very detailed, I can imagine the author mapping the story for the set of 7 books that she has written for the series and yes having read book 1 I went off in search of the remaining 6, which weren't quite as cheap as the original. 

Then this absolute gem of a book, short stories and another by Gervase Phinn and written with such wonderful humour. 

I've read 62 books this year so far and still counting, I read 77 last year so not sure if I will read more or less than that, but I'm just enjoying reading which I think is the main thing if I'm honest. 

Hubby also had a baking day, he made the 50/50 granary rolls which were light and fluffy as always and a first for him a proper loaf in his new loaf tin which creates bread fit for a toaster (totalling square), which again was a roaring success.  I'm very lucky to have a hubby who enjoys embracing a non-UPF diet in the way he does including baking our own bread. 

and with the warm whether we've been enjoying some beautiful salads, this a watermelon and radish salad with rice noodles was mighty tasty. 

The rest of the week has tripped along, work was busy as always but I'm feeling better prepared for the audit which is good. 

I also enjoyed a wonderful catch up with my sister and niece with hubby at Ikea which was delightful. 

I hope you've had a wonderful week. 

Hugs

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 10TH OF 2026

Good morning lovely people tis Friday time to clock the silver linings and positive moments from the last 7 days as it is time for 

First up we went to Ikea last Friday for breakfast and to catch up with our daughter-in-law, grandson and my sister.  Here is a fab shot of our grandson enjoying looking at the cars with his Grandad.

I've been off this week and had a 'could do' list, so I decided a spring refresh on the sofa with a change of cushions to help it feel more springlike. 

I also got my sewing machine out for a repair and to make some new waterproof cushions for some new seat pads for outside.

The sky one evening was stunning and I had to take a photograph. 

I had a potter around the garden on one of the dry days and spruced up the pots. 

I'd bought some new violas and planted those out at the same time. 

I also bought a new bedding set for the bedroom as the one we have in winter is quite dark, it has made a nice change for it to be brighter in our room as a result. 

The moon was stunning one of the evenings and I captured this on my phone. 

I ordered a new kit to learn how to crochet after the success of the knitting kit, I haven't started it yet but will let you know how I get on. 

We had a very spooky moon on the full moon night

I refreshed my outdoor artificial wreath, well actually hubby did as I was fighting with the wires, but it looks a bit brighter and happier for the update. 

I finished the Lego Cornish Pixie that hubby had bought me for Valentine's day, he said it should remind me of him, which confused a little until he mentioned mischievous then it all made sense.

I've also been doing some scrapbooking recently.  

I'm still working on 2023 photos, but they have proved fun, these were from the Cotswold Sculpture Park

then Grayson Perry's tapestries at Wentworth Woodhouse

Heading out to see Shakespeare when we were on holiday

more from the sculpture park

and YSP 

back to sculpture park

decorating at our son and daughter-in-law's home when they first moved in

and a layout from when they went with my niece and her fiancé to a tufting workshop. 

when we redid the stairs

and my sister trying to look angelic after purchasing 15 books at a second hand booksale. 

We've also deep cleaned the craft room this week and I've photographed the front of every paper stack I own, 247 in total - gulp that doesn't include the single sheets of paper which took another day to put back into some order, hubby helping me with both tasks because he is a star. 

I also finished this excellent poetry book which I bought when we were last at Wentworth Woodhouse, written in a Yorkshire accent and using some amazing rhyming language it was a literary feast. 

We went to see Wuthering Heights at the cinema on Monday, I've recently finished reading the book having never having read it before.  I loved the book so much depth to the language.  The film is very different, but I had been warned about this.  Nevertheless, I still loved it and the emblem on the book above is the Needle's Eye a local folly belonging to the original Wentworth Woodhouse estate.  It appears in the film in two major scenes, one when the key character is a child and again in adulthood.  It is also the place that said 25 year old proposed to his now wife a few years ago.  

Then on Wednesday we went to see Othello at the cinema which had been filmed in London, it was excellent, I don't think I've ever disliked Iago in other versions quite so much, played by Toby Jones it really was an amazing watch. 

Then on Thursday despite the early morning fog, the sun eventually burnt off the same and we were able to spend several hours sat out on the back enjoying the sunshine, reading and for me knitting.  

I hope you've had a splendid week too. 

Hugs

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 36TH OF 2025

Morning all tis not Friday (I genuinely missed this yesterday - big apologies) time for 

 

So last week on Friday we headed to Chatsworth for the country fayre, it is an annual event for us and the weather had looked changeable all week, but we took our chances and headed over and genuinely got away with it, feeling only a couple of spots of rain during the day. 

This year it was me and hubby, which was strange, we usually have at least my sister with us but she has been ultra busy working so she couldn't make it either. 

My favourite view was a little cloudy and misty first thing. 

Unusually we saw the balloons at the beginning of the day, they've usually set off by 6.30am but this year with the cloud there were still some lingering about. 

I love these photos of the helter skelter

We headed to the main arena first thing for the mounted games and this year on the Friday Yorkshire won, which was a grand start to the day. 

We saw the parachutists coming in as we headed to the food village. 

You can see the cloud cover

We also watched the stunt motorbike show from the opposite side for a while

and grabbed a shot of the ferris wheel 

we went back to the car for lunch, I packed a perfect picnic, genuinely just the right amount of food for lunch and dinner.  We watched this crazy acrobatic plane as we had lunch. 

The skies started to clear

I spotted this succulents display which I thought was fun. 

Then we headed back to the main arena for the Knights of Middle England jousting. 

As you can see the skies were getting clearer

and clearer. 

We had an amazing day which we genuinely really enjoyed and headed home in the evening absolutely shattered and with 14000 steps on my fitbit. 

Saturday and Sunday we kicked back (as we were both really tired). 

I managed to complete two gifts (mini books) for a friend's daughters birthdays which I was pleased at. 

I also finished this awesome book.  As you may recall we'd been to see 'A Winter's Tale' at the RSC recently, this was on the display in the shop and is a retelling of the original tale (updated and modern).  I remember reading one of my self help books that mentions enhancing experiences by planning and enjoying the build up/aftermath of an activity and this is exactly what this book provided.  It was utterly amazing to read such a stunning book.  I was genuinely sad to finish it.  She is one of the most accomplished authors that I've read. 

Monday through to Wednesday I was working and I'm in the middle of the audit so with that, sorting normal day to day items, finishing the month end I have had a busy week, so busy in fact that Thursday I spent working from home to 'catch up' which I thankfully did so the time was well spent.  But then I wanted to do something autumnal, so we popped out to get some bits picked up and I took down my rather sad looking summer wreath, removed the flowers

and created this which I'm genuinely over the moon with.  It cost me about £12 to revamp it but buying one of this calibre would cost me a lot more and my normal wreath making class this autumn isn't on a day that I can do. 

and that my lovely people was my week. 

I hope yours were grand too

Hugs

XX