ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 6TH OF 2025

 Morning all tis Friday time to spot the positive moments, silver linings and the things that made us smile in the last 7 days, time for 

So last Friday, I had a lovely catch up with my friend that I hadn't seen in an absolute age it was good to touch base with her. 

Enjoyed book reading and with the six nations being on this meant I could do a little more scrapbooking. Layouts completed recently going back to early 2023. 

This one was a hard one to do, just before my Mum had her hair shaved off due to her second lot of chemo and her hair was coming out by the handful, but she was determined to be around for her grandson's wedding and so despite saying she wouldn't do chemo against she endured. 

What my Mum loved the most, family around her kitchen table

Mum when she got a new hair do

Family celebrations for birthdays. 

On Saturday we headed to York for their annual ice trail, me, hubby and my sister, we had a lovely day running around the city looking for the sculptures. 

Here are just a few of the 30 sculptures this year

I loved the bell with a bell on top

We stopped to look at the sculptures next to the Minster that are being made and had to giggle at the 'hidden' face on this one, my sister spotted it first and literally laughed out loud. 

This was my favourite, they always make a stunning job of this jeweller's shop

Photo in front of the neon sign

This one was fun

and a photo of me and my sister on the Paddington bench

We stopped twice for refreshments, the first time we had a pistachio mousse and chocolate cake which was lovely. 

and we had a second stop for a cuppa which was very much needed. 

We managed to find 29 of the 30 sculptures, one we think had been moved from its intended place.  We also enjoyed a wander around some of the shops.  A fun family trip out and 17000 steps on my Fitbit

Sunday was as you can imagine a day of rest, we enjoyed watching Maverick and I started to catch up on the Great Pottery throw down, I've loved all of the challenges up to now. 

Monday and back to work, but I was grateful I was working from home as it meant that I got a fair amount done.  I caught up with some of my family online in the evening and I booked a wreath class for me and my sister.  

Tuesday is the day I really struggle it is in effect my Wednesday but after a long working day on a Monday due to compressed hours, by the time I get home on a Tuesday there isn't a lot left, so I was grateful for a quick tasty tea.  We also managed to pop out and pick a few bits up from Ikea and stopped for a cuppa and a muffin.  

Wednesday was my last work day of the week, a very busy day and lots of deadlines, but achieved them all just in the nick of time so we will take that as a win. 

Thursday, slow start as no alarm clocks, caught up on the washing and the sun was shining, I know it is cold out but seeing a bit of sunshine in my books is good for the soul. 

I hope you've all had a lovely week. 

Hugs

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 42ND OF 2024

 Forgive me for my tardiness, work has been a little fraught this week and so Friday disappeared into a day of working from home and before I know it I'm on Sunday already, but I've been doing this post a very very long time, so despite it being very late I'm still clocking what is 

So last Sunday we had a belated birthday tea for my little brother, his birthday is at the end of September, but we were away so arranged for a meet up at ours last Sunday.  Given the autumn feel to the day, we decided warm food of the almost bonfire night type would be sufficient.  We made a chilli which we had in the slow cooker.  Cooked jacket potatoes in the oven like my Mum used to make them (directly on the rack and just cooked, no oil, no foil, no salt, just a jacket spud).  We had hot dogs and hot dog rolls, grated cheese and fried onions and it was very much a 'help yourself' spread if I'm honest. 

We also had two plate stands of cakes, a layer of cinnamon cake, a layer of lemon drizzle cake and a layer of orange cake, all homemade of course.  This was the table before everyone descended. 

Once everyone had arrived we had a rowdy afternoon (we Yorkshire people do like to chat) filled with stories and chats, we reminisced about Mum and most of us ended up quite teary, almost turning into a group therapy session but not quite.  My little bro received belated gifts and cards where he hadn't received them previously and it was a wonderful afternoon.  Everyone went home with a doggy bag of either savoury or sweet as there was still ample left and then the house was quiet once more.  Time with family nothing finer!

After work at the beginning of the week we went to the local shopping centre starting to browse for potential Christmas gifts, which helped to start to formulate a few plans on that front to take the stress off. 

Thursday and despite the roads being busy with mid-week traffic, we decided to venture to York to have a wander on their ghost trail.  We had a hiccup with our SD card for the main camera which meant a dash into the centre of York to find a WH Smiths before we could really start the trail.  We also only really had a 3 hour window as didn't want to get snarled up in rush hour traffic and had theatre tickets and dining booked for the evening, we didn't manage the whole trail but a good proportion of it. 

But before the main trail we found the Paddington bench which has recently been installed to celebrate the new film that is coming out and hubby insisted I have a photo with him, unfortunately I didn't have my marmalade sandwich to hand. 

Then onto the trail, this one is the highwayman

the chimney sweep

the Roman soldier

The groom

The bride

and my absolute favourite, the knight

this shot is my favourite as you can see the detail but also see straight through him, some amazing artwork I'm sure you will agree. 

I also loved the detail on the bear. 

and the painter

We headed home, got showered and went out for tea at the local college, pre-theatre dining.  The food was beautiful and to say they have only been there since September they did fantastic!   

Then on to the theatre for 'The Good Life' which for anyone who remembers the sitcom is the story of a couple who bail on the rat race and become self sufficient, Tom and Barbara I aspire to your lifestyle.  The woman who played Barbara was definitely channelling her inner Felicity Kendal and the lady who played Margot was fantastic.  A fun evening was had by all.

I hope you've had a good week, I've been on mass blog catch up over the last day or so, apologies for my tardiness recently. 

Hugs

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 14TH OF 2024

 Morning all tis Friday time for

As I continue to process my Mum passing away, it has been fairly essential to get out and about to stop me four walling life at the moment.  

We had an evening out to Cast in Doncaster to watch Frankenstein interpreted by Imitating the Dog, it was unusual that has to be said and we all enjoyed it, we even dragged my sister with us to get her out of her four walls. 

We had a jaunt out to see the Snooks in York last weekend, designed to raise money for a York Hospice we had great fun wandering the city in search of them.  There were 21 in total 19 within walking distance of the city centre and obviously that meant we found all 19. 

This one celebrating the Yorkshire pudding wrap was all gilded

One of our favourites the one documenting the book Dracula

We even grabbed a selfie with him

Daffodils by the city walls

I thought this one was strange, painting a woman on the Snook itself, not sure I was that keen

and this was one of my favourites, I loved the colour and the glasses!

This was the first one we found next to Clifford's Tower and will definitely be appearing on a scrapbook due to the colour co-ordination. 

Our weather has been decidedly changeable and so we've had to make the most of dry days. 

Sunday was relatively dry so we headed to YSP, there was some new artwork in the upper space in the main visitors centre, we've seen this artist before. 

These were seriously tiny, all the artwork made from a single block of wood. 

The Chapel also has a new exhibition from an artist who was in residence last year who upcycled lots of items and was a nod back to her own heritage, the artwork was amazing. 

We enjoyed the walk, although the circular route down past the boat house is still currently closed. 

The rest of the week has tripped along, we've been and sorted some of my Mum's items out for my step-Dad to try and make the house a bit easier to manage.  My Mum was a crafter like me so we expect this to take some time if truth be told, but we've made headway. 

As for the youngsters they've been enjoying a break away, including my niece and her other half who have announced their engagement whilst away, which has genuinely raised a smile.

Before my Mum passed away my niece's fiance asked her permission to marry her grand daughter and said 23 year old captured this on video, now they are engaged I've watched the video back and to say it raised a tear is an understatement, but is definitely something to cherish.  

I've also retrieved my Mum's Christmas journal from the Christmas just gone, she'd made little headway into it, but had made a few notes and between the notes, Facebook, Whatsapp and Messenger I've managed to pull together things relevant to Christmas and complete the book as best I can, whilst it makes me sad currently I know it is something I will wholly cherish moving forward and for that I am truly grateful. 

And that my lovely people is it for this week, hope yours has been grand. 

Hugs