ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 25TH OF 2017

Good Afternoon lovely people, many apologies for the delay in posting today but you'll see below the reason for the delay. 

We decided very late in the day, to book a Center Parc break for said 16 year old following his final exam, quite literally we picked him up after the science exam last Friday and drove straight down there.  He even got changed under a blanket in the car.  So within 2 hours of leaving school here he was with hubby - ready to chill out and down tools with no more revision.

Look how relaxed he looks (as does hubby)

We had lots of visitors during the week (yes we went for a week rather than a weekend, which is why I'm late posting). 

Look how cute these are.

I spotted a blackbird in the trees on my way up to the villa we were staying in

And enjoyed how green it was, we often manage a break in winter when the forest is somewhat bare. 

Look green everywhere - it was lovely.  Although we did suffer with the heatwave, far too hot for any of us if I'm honest. 

We did the quiz on Friday night which we've never done before and had a fabulous time, although i wasn't keen on the cider - yuck!

We had some company for the week, my Mum came along as did my sister, I'd already booked a spa day with my sister as Center Parcs for her birthday, so she would have been down with us anyway, so we manage to coincide the two.  

You can tell we were very giddy for the quiz

and picked a crazy name (don't ask). 

We came joint third which we were pleased about as there were a good few questions that we really had no idea about.

We had a few activities booked, we managed a game of badminton - hubby was really competitive! 

My Mum kept disappearing off in front, we renamed her Dora!

We even managed a barbecue there, a first for our Center Parc breaks as we don't normally manage anything like that. 

Eating outside on a rather warm day was lovely.

More young visitors

A game of squash with bent rackets on a stifling hot day!

My Mum and sister did soft ball instead, which is crazy as it just bounces everywhere and is even harder to deal with than a squash ball. 

We had an impromptu lunch 

And I grabbed a selfie with said 16 year old.

It was incredibly warm, but lovely to have some blue skies. 

Me and hubby snook and grabbed a beer at Forresters. 

And we spotted these gorgeous little birds on the way out, in the bay tree next to the entrance to Forresters, they were ready to fledge with their flapping wings and were gone by the following day.   They had even avoided pruning the tree to give them the best chance of survival.  My Mum thought they were some sort of thrush. 

The lake was beautiful 

My sister learnt some new card games. 

And we enjoyed the sun setting around 9.30 one night. 

These two watching a moorhen on her nest the same evening

And I loved the silhouette on this photo

The calm evening meant I felt very reflective. 

as you can tell from the following photo

another moor hen had decided the main pond in the centre was a great place for a nest, despite the all night mood lighting!

The evening really was very warm 

This cheeky chap, got very comfortable during the week, eventually he started to come in and help himself to peanuts!

Little goslings visited again

We managed a game of tennis - it was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo hot (and I was rubbish - actually most of us were rubbish- husband wasn't but the rest of us struggled). 

How many of my craft friends could make use of these giant pencils!

Hubby and said 16 year old took a kayak out on the lake

Although hubby said there was no back support which made it hard work

We spotted a jay visiting

Hubby and said 16 year old did tree trekking and aerial tree adventures.  I was impressed as said 16 year old has never been a big fan of heights - however, he seems to have conquered this issue. 

Hubby on the other hand has never had height issues

We played a ferocious game of table tennis

and my sister and hubby ended up really competitive. 

We saw the tiny mouse in the nature centre. 

I spotted a beautiful flower on our way back 

And spotted this little guy out on his own on the water. 

Said 16 year old and hubby had a go at the climbing walls - I loved this see through one. 

Hubby finally got to try aperol 

And we had a meal out which was lovely if a little warm. 

Me and hubby shared an anti-pasta platter

And hubby enjoyed his very bitter cocktail. 

They enjoyed checking out the bar. 

And me and hubby had a walk on our final evening

Sad to be leaving again but having made some significant memories. 

I miss the forest already...

but brought home a new friend 

I hope you've all had a fabulous week, if you fancy joining in, pop back and link up and we shall come and visit. 

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 24th of 2017

Good Morning/Atternoon/Evening lovely people

'tis Friday 

First up, a visit to the theatre, last Friday with hubby, we'd bought the tickets ages ago to see the Shakespeare play - Julius Caesar.  I'll be honest we weren't expecting to enjoy it quite as much as we did, predominantly because we thought it would be wall to wall political speeches (not that we haven't heard enough of those recently), anyway it was far from it, a fast action play set in modern day and as relevant today as ever before!

Hubby sneaked a photo of the set before the play began.  By the time we came back from the interval there were hanging 'bodies' and rubbish everywhere following what was in effect a revolution!

As it was a date night out - we enjoyed a beverage - you can see the Julius Caesar poster in the background

We had a fabulous night, thoroughly enjoyed it, we even bumped into one of hubby's cousins and his missus - which was lovely! 

The sky was beautiful when we got out, a shot of the Cathedral shows the beautiful sky

And the other end of the Cathedral with its modern rebuild following the bombing in the second World War, it is a beautiful Cathedral

Next amazing happy of the weekend, lil bro asked lil soon to be sister in law - to marry him!  We were all bowled over as it wasn't expected and yes she said yes!  So pleased for the two of them

Next up a painty workshop with my Mum at the local Craft shop with Tracy Scott, it was lovely Mum and daughter time. 

We finger painted

And then I did some in my journal

and then I did a bit more

Here is my Mum showing that she too is very good at finger painting!

We got to use the new Tracy Scott PaperArtsy stamps

We continued adding layers of paint and stamps and gold paint and dribbles and well you get the drift

and then we masked over - although I only masked one side

I learnt the art of scribbling - who new something so simple could be so effective!

whilst I was enjoying the painty day - said 16 year old had managed to get himself a day's work - together with a pay packet at the end of it, hopefully this will turn into more days later in the summer! 

Whilst hubby was on with building this

The week has fair tripped along, we had a rather cross teenager on our hands after the maths exam on Tuesday - actually cross doesn't come close, the new 9-1 exam in higher tier left him highly frustrated, we are just praying he gets the grade he needs for college - keep your fingers and toes crossed.  

I had the joys of watching him come in each day and cross through his exams

I enjoyed beans on toast in the middle of the week - it's the simple things in life, with HP brown sauce - nom

As well as all of the above, I've worked and worked and a bit more work, but today I'm going to put work down and try and enjoy some of the simpler things in life.  I hope you've all had a truly beautiful and blessed week. 

If you fancy joining in then pop a post together, pop back and link up and we can come and visit. 

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 23RD OF 2017

Morning all, time to take stock and identify the positives/silver linings etc.

Well I'm going to apologise in advance, the photos aren't thin on the ground this week they are quite frankly non existent, blame long work hours, poor weather and a blink and miss it type week.  However, I have a few positives to remind myself of

Said 16 year old and his work ethic, he has quite literally just been getting on with things, which is lovely, taking time to revise, attending classes where necessary, clearing his room so it looks less hazardous, going out on his bike to get fresh air and exercise, having a tidy one of the days to make the house more manageable - so that's all a big positive.

Next up school responding efficiently and effectively to an issue I had, said 16 year old rolled his eyes, but I was mighty cross at the time.  Thankfully it has now been dealt with and the effect should be positive for the entire year.

A catch up with family on Monday albeit brief for my little sister's birthday - and yes I know that was the golden opportunity for a photo and yes I missed it.  However, it was fab touching base with her, my Mum, my niece, my brother and his girlfriend.  My Mum fed us which was grand and we had a lovely couple of hours catching up.

A catch up on facebook with school friends as well, always a blessing, we are hoping to have a get together soon!

And that my lovely people will have to be my lot this week I'm afraid.  I promise to take more photos this week to share with you.  Hopefully you will have had an awesome week with loads to share with us, if you fancy joining in, pop a post together, pop back and link up!

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 22ND OF 2017

Welcome to the first post of June and the 22nd of 2017 when we celebrate what is 

First up a fabulous celebratory mass and award ceremony at school for said 16 year old, who has now been officially stood down for study leave.  I must admit to feeling a little emotional during the service.  

Next up is a big thank you to one of his friends for his invite on Friday night, it was a fabulous way to wind down after the leavers' celebrations! 

Here he is before we set off. 

Next up is the journey home, having collected him at 11.45pm - we decided a trip to McD's on the way home was called for - this was just gone midnight and it was still 15 degrees as you can tell from the clock!

Saturday morning and he was treated to breakfast in bed, I did tell him not to get used to it! 

I managed some scrapbooking - yay!  I mean YAY!  

A long time coming, all layouts from said 16 year old's trip to New York in February 2016 (yes I am that far behind on the scrapbooking front). 

So first up a group shot in Grand Central station

Then views off the top of the Empire State building

Then shots of Time Square

And finally the half face selfie in Time Square

We enjoyed some blue sky days, in fact a little too much, I managed to get my shoulders burnt on Saturday, I honestly hadn't realised, I did early evening I can tell you!

We enjoyed a glass of white out on the decking after a very busy day working in the garden, which feels like it is taking forever to sort!

We even managed an impromptu barbecue Saturday evening, nothing major, a pack of burgers and some baps

Sunday and we enjoyed a bottle of red, the garden looking more like Steptoe & son at the moment! 

The cloud coverage was welcome on Sunday when it finally arrived

Bank holiday Monday and a day of rest as it rained which resulted in some of the aforementioned scrapbook layouts. 

Tuesday and Wednesday were very busy days at work as usual and then Thursday I headed to the other job which is by the canal, this is a view from one of my colleague's desk, isn't it lovely, although it is a little warm in the boat house at the moment.

And here we are on Friday morning again, I'm trying to do this really early and schedule it to post at 8am, so it is a little more timely than previous posts over the last couple of weeks.

I hope you've had a grand week, if you fancy joining in then pop a post together, pop back and link up and we can come and visit. 

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 21st of 2017

Evening all - apologies - it has been a rather busy day I'm afraid - too much work and no play! 

Means your Rocking post is late

So first up - weekend walks by the dam - proved very fruitful on the nature spotting front.  Can you see him? 

I also found this little guy on our jaunt, enjoying the sunshine and the walk along the wooden bridge!

Me and hubby managed a selfie, but I look tired, I know I do - 45 hour weeks working at maximum speed means I look absolutely wrecked - but I did enjoy the walk! 

This is at the end of the walk, an old water mill, which still works producing flour that you can buy and take home to use.  It's such a lovely building and not far from where we live.

It was gorgeous to walk through the woods, they were much cooler under the tree canopy

Next up a class with my Mum, she said she fancied having a go as neither of us have done structured class before, despite me wanting to do one for a while.  So we headed over to do the class.  It was really good, I don't think I've ever done such a precise class, or turned out such a good piece of sewing.  I must admit I'm a bit of a 'it'll do' kind of sewer, so it was good for someone to slow me down and show me that undoing and sorting, results in a better piece!

Here is a sneaky shot of my Mum in the midst of sewing.

I was very apprehensive as we set off, but I needn't have worried!

And this is the bag I did the following day all on my own!  I was really pleased with the finished item!

Sunday morning sandwiches were nom!

A morning walk treated us to this view

and more flowers from hubby!

I managed to do a scrapbook layout - that is 2 in two weeks, sigh, - I really need to sort this! 

The working week has been stressful and fraught, but I'm at Friday with a bank holiday in front of me.  Said 16 year old had shirt signing day on Thursday.  The end of his uniformed education at the least and the closing of one chapter.  

He has 10 more exams after half term, but has now been officially stood down for study leave and as I'm late posting, I can confirm that we had a fab mass this afternoon and an Oscar style ceremony afterwards with the kids.  

And that my lovely people is the week that was, I hope you had a fab one, if you fancy joining in pop a post together pop back and link up and we shall come and visit.