ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 14TH OF 2023

Afternoon all tis Friday time for 

Well it has been another funny old week, last Friday was mighty stressful, said 22 year old's fiancee ended up in hospital having a lumbar puncture the results of which we are still awaiting.  Needless to say she felt a little battered and bruised over the weekend, not helped by the fact it took 7 attempts to get the needle into her back - ouch.  But it was lovely to catch up with her over the weekend, albeit that she was still very sore. 

Sunday we went to Yorkshire Sculpture Park for the first time in an age, the weather really hasn't been fit enough or we've had excess rain which means that it wasn't practical given the mud levels there, although we were still tiptoeing through mud it wasn't too bad. 

There was a new artist on display (Simon Palmer) in the centre itself, these are prints of watercolours, I would have liked to have seen originals if I'm honest but I liked them nonetheless. 

We also spotted the 'stitched stories' quilt hanging in the centre as well now it is complete. 

and a couple more Simon Palmer prints, this one reminded me of the bridge in Chatsworth - but the floating lady confused us somewhat. 

Then on to the chapel to see Leonardo Drew installation - all I can say is wow, it reminded us of a stationery tornado - if ever there was such a thing

He had a couple of framed pieces upstairs too

and the view from above in the chapel I thought was particularly spectacular

Then on with our walk, blue skies and reflections

woodland walks

We really enjoyed the walk and the blue skies and then we popped to see my Mum who has just had her second lot of chemo, this one has made her very poorly this week if I'm honest but she was fairing Ok when we saw her on Sunday. 

The week has been mad crazy, I would have been working from home on Monday, but we had a visitor at work (the Home Secretary), which isn't an every day occurrence for reference, so it was all hands on deck.

Tuesday was just as manic and with the year end procedure on me, it meant that I was crazy busy all day, not that I've made a dent in things (yet). 

Wednesday and Thursday me and hubby had taken two days off, to make for a very long weekend which meant more decorating if I'm honest.  

We've managed to complete said 22 year old's room which we are going to have as a joint craft room. 

Then on Thursday we managed to paint his old art room.  At the moment I think that is going to be end as an office for me when I'm working from home and a drying room in winter as it is a warm room.  

Which then leaves the remaining two bedrooms, we were going to attempt the old office first, but having had a think we have decided to do our room next as the old office needs a new floor, we are moving things around and getting rid of things as we go which is good the goal is to actually get the stairs done but they have to be done after the other rooms. 

It is said 22 year old's fiancée's birthday this week (Wednesday), so we've a little tea party planned today for her and we are just getting ready for that today. 

I hope you have had a good week. 

Hugs

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 13TH OF 2023

 Hello lovely people tis Friday time for 

Well it has been a funny old week if I'm honest, the weather hasn't been great, awesome for the gardens (April showers have arrived early), but not so great for wanting to get out and about if I'm honest. 

Thankfully I had a spring wreath class booked with my Mum, my sister, my niece, my future daughter in law and my future daughter in laws Mum.  There were three others in the class, one of which was an old school friend, one was her daughter and the other was a Mum I knew from my son's primary school so it was a lovely class. 

Future daughter in law and her Mum

My Mum and me, my Mum rocking the new hat as her hair was on its way out again with the chemo treatment, she has had her second lot today and she never ceases to amaze me.   

my niece

all of us including my sister with our finished wreaths

mine hung on the front door, I was so pleased with it, it is on a moss base which was harder to do but I loved the process. 

Sunday and the clocks went forward and to be honest I'm still missing the hour and then back to Monday again. 

We've all been pretty much holding our breath this week with said 22 year old's fiancee and her health. 

She had a meeting yesterday which confirmed that they didn't believe it was a brain tumour but there was a mass behind her eyes, but with a missing MRI report they were working a little in the dark, so they decided to admit her onto the emergency day care ward but she was presenting with no symptoms (she has been symptomless throughout), so they were stumped and said that the pictures they'd seen were clear (you can tell by now we were somewhat frustrated), so we were surprised for her to appear on family chat yesterday evening, albeit that it was a lovely surprise.  They told her to call them at 9am this morning when the MRI would be back. 

She rang and the MRI is clear - which is good news, but there is still pressure in her brain and they really don't know why.  So she's back on the emergency day care ward this afternoon for a lumbar puncture to see if they can fathom out what the hell is happening. 

Thank you for all your kind words and prayers (they are absolutely working in the right direction), if you can say a few more until we find out what is what that would be amazing. 

I hope you've had a lovely week.

Biggest hugs

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 12TH OF 2023

 Morning all, I hope you are well, it is Friday already so time to count the blessings and silver linings

Well last Thursday night we went for fine dining at the local college restaurant prior to heading off to see School of Rock at the local theatre.

Unfortunately, all didn't go according to plan, which meant that we were a wee bit late for the theatre as the dessert ran over (but you've got to expect this, they are learning after all). 

The show was fabulous, a youth theatre group who really were amazing. 

Over the weekend I had a table full of white pom poms that really needed using up so I created these for the cabinets at work

I also created a spring wreath which I really enjoyed making

and two further albeit smaller sheep wreaths, one of which I gave to my Mum on Mother's day

Said 22 year old and his fiancee bought me a plant, a lovely card and a tiramisu (which I didn't photograph).  I have two of these plants in my window in the TV room which they use as their own private greenhouse, so I'm guessing that is where this one will flourish.  

My sister also bought me some beautiful flowers, which was most unexpected and they have genuinely got better as the week has progressed and the irises have come into full bloom. 

The rest of the week has been wall to wall work, including a 14 hour day when I needed to complete a hefty funding bid, which genuinely didn't leave me with much room for anything else and resulted in a very sleepy evening the following day. 

Said 22 year old and his fiancee attended several medical appointments this week, please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as a Mum seeing your child and his fiancee going through such a tough time is proving incredibly difficult and I'm very teary at the moment about it all as you can imagine.  I just hope that it isn't anything or if it is that they can do something quickly and that it can be sorted, I'm sure you understand where I am on this one. 

I hope you've all had a beautiful and blessed week. 

biggest hugs 

xxx

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 11TH OF 2023

Afternoon all, I'm running late but let's be positive that this is a Friday.  Time to take stock look back and note the last 7 days.

Well it has been another hard week, but there have been glimpses of positivity in amongst the week. 

I managed a few catch ups with my Mum this week which has been good.  She had her first chemo last Friday and as is normal has felt more poorly as the week has worn on, so I've tried to keep in contact to keep her spirits up.  She now has additional pain relief which has made a small difference and I'm really hoping she starts to turn a corner soon.  This was the poor tete a tete daffodils in the garden this week.  

As I mentioned last week, we had snow on Thursday through to Friday, so our planned trip to the theatre was postponed until Saturday.  The weather was still 'dodgy' but we managed to get there albeit without my sister present as she was working.  It was Calendar Girls the Musical, I saw the film years ago and really enjoyed it, it felt a wee bit raw at the moment, but despite that it was really good, the ladies on the stage were incredibly brave and with some sensibly placed props they managed the calendar scenes with great professionalism.

I also did another Spring based wreath, Kate was complete correct last week in that it wasn't an Easter wreath, I'm sure I wrote the word 'egg' afterwards but my haste missed this as I think it is a more of an Easter Egg wreath with the bunnies and the decorated eggs, this one is definitely a spring based wreath and has raised a smile every night that I see it as I walk through the door. 

Last night we booked to see another show, this time with pre-theatre dining, it wasn't the most successful of nights as the pudding was that late, we were late to the show (don't ask you have to laugh).  This time a young theatre group doing School of Rock, they were very good and it was nice to catch up with my sister and my Mum, albeit that she was struggling somewhat. 

I hope you've had a good week and thank you so much for your kind words last week, they mean the world to me xxxxx

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - (AHEM SATURDAY THIS IS GETTING TO BE A HABIT) 10TH OF 2023

 Morning all tis Saturday (sorry) time for 

Well it hasn't been the easiest of weeks if truth be told, but lets focus on the positives.

Last Thursday proved a tough third day for hubby at work, so we decided to treat ourselves to a pub meal on the way home.  I was driving, which meant he could have a beer and we shared a lovely meal together in this fabulous pub in the next village along.  

The weekend arrived and I really wanted to make an Easter wreath, I'd browsed pinterest and found some interesting looking pattern pieces albeit written in a different language and with no instructions.  I went and bought some bits, but then went rummaging and got my sewing machine out 

and created this, I wool wrapped the wreath, sewed the body, feet and ears on my machine, created a pom pom and hand stitched the felt eggs

I also created this one, which is larger using the same pattern pieces but with more eggs.  I decided to keep this one and display the one above at work in the cabinet as we have some Easter bunny trips coming up soon. 

On Monday night the tutor we use for creative classes let us know she was poorly and wouldn't make it to the Tuesday class.  So Monday night was spent buying supplies and then creating this by hand.  I actually think the hand made one with blanket stitch is superior to the machine stitched one. 

and here are all three on my stairs to show the difference in size, I had to shrink the pattern pieces for the handmade one but that meant less materials needed to make it. 

As we are gearing up for Easter bunny trips at work, I had to giggle when I spotted said 22 year old at his desk with this (apologies for the yes closed it was either that or the back of his head). 

The rest of the week tripped along, we were due at the theatre on Thursday night but this happened, so we didn't manage to get anywhere. 

And then for the difficult part of the week said 22 year old's fiancee was referred urgently by the optician to the hospital before Christmas, urgent should have meant within 2 weeks, but alas Thursday was the first time she was seen, they aren't happy and have booked her in for a raft of further tests to rule out brain tumour, so if you are someone who prayers, please offer some up for this wonderful young woman, at a time when she should be focusing on finishing her teacher training and looking forward to her wedding in 4 months she now has this to deal with.   So why share it here, well because she is amazing, I love her to bits and I'm so grateful she is in our lives. 

The two of them, her and said 22 year old have been quite matter of fact about things, in a 'we will make the best of the time we have' make memories etc if things don't play in their favour, but honestly my heart absolutely breaks at the moment for the two of them. 

On top of that my Mum started her chemo yesterday, she woke to snow and really didn't think she would get to the hospital, we couldn't get off our estate and her appointment was at 9am and then like the two amazing people that they are, said 22 year old and his fiancee (who been at the hospital only the day before) managed to get close enough to walk my Mum to the car, one stood in front and one behind on the steps and then arm in arm down her very steep hill, long way around in the car and then finally to the hospital in time for her appointment.  They then stayed in the hospital, found a coffee shop, said 22 year old's fiancee did her online lectures and said 22 year old had his computer with him and then they got my Mum home safely.  I mean absolute stars the two of them. 

My sister has split recently from her long time on off relationship and life just feels tough at the moment.  So she's going through the trials and tribulations of life and then overnight I dreamt of my Dad.  I rarely dream of him these days, I struggle to visualise him and I struggle to hear him in my head, as we don't have any video of him with sound. 

In my dream he had jet black hair like he did when he was young, I kept hugging him and saying I couldn't believe he was here with us as we are going through such a tough time and he said he knew that and that he never left that he was always with us, he showed me ways that I could see him even when he wasn't visible, little things he did to let me know he was here and as I started to wake, he started to disappear and said he was off to see my Aunty who is also suffering illness wise and he told me to tell her that he sometimes phones her, but gives a name she doesn't know so she hangs up, but she mustn't hang up and to also keep an eye out for the signs he'd shown me.  I know it probably seems so mad to write this level of detail here, but it was so real and made me feel incredibly comforted at a time when life is feeling incredibly challenging. 

Much love. 

So if you can send some positive vibes, love etc that would be most helpful. 

I hope your week has been a positive one and sorry for my tardiness.

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 9TH OF 2023

 Good morning lovely people tis Friday time for

Ok so I know I touched on this last week but I thought I'd document it fully today.  So last Friday was the official moving day of said 22 year old, technically they'd had the keys

since Wednesday and slept on airbeds for two nights, but last Friday, me, hubby said 22 year old and from mid-morning my sister were available to move the items from the said family homes of son and fiancee to their new abode. 

Said 22 year old's fiancee hadn't actually seen the property in person before they moved in (work commitments simply did not allow), so I was concerned (because we had seen it), that she might not like it, however she sent me this picture post lots of tears of happiness, which genuinely made me smile

it didn't take long before they were cleaning

so on Friday we had a van booked for 11.30am (earliest they could do) and so we spent the first few hours at home moving furniture items and packing some more items.  One of the items was a Harley Davidson plastic toy, which his grandad had been given and which said 22 year old commandeered when his grandad passed away, it has buttons on it that play a revving engine and then the words 'ride to live, live to ride' which has been stuck in a cupboard for some time.  As he packed it he pressed the button and despite it not being used for years, the words came out and then the tears flowed.  I think it was like having a bit of his grandad here with him saying good luck on his moving day, so we all got a bit teary and as I was too far away (boxes in the way) hubby gave him a hug.  

Afterwards we continued moving the boxes downstairs, before the lads set off for the van, collecting ratchet straps on the way.  Once they'd got the van, they collected the bed settee they'd bought for the second bedroom (as a guest bed) from said fiancée's family home and dropped that at the flat before heading to us. 

We worked tirelessly stacking bed, headboard mattress, three bookcases and their doors, two sets of drawers and box after box until the van was full and then the three of us set off on our adventure to the start of said 22 year old's life as a fully fledged grown up. 

We then decanted the van and as there new place is up a flight of stairs this was hardwork, thankfully my sister came to help and soon the bed was in position, fastened back together with headboard and mattress on.   Chest of drawers in place and lots and lots of boxes in the flat.  

Then back to our place in the van and my sisters car for the next lot (we genuinely weren't sure how many trips it would take).   We were surprised that it actually only took one more load over to the flat and again my sister helped decant (we genuinely could not have managed without her).  

Now this sparked the second 'wobble' of the day by said 22 year old, in that the prepacked boxes filled the second bedroom and the living room which they'd made look quite homely when they'd got a sofa delivered now looked like a furniture shop.  I think if I was reading his mind correctly, he genuinely wanted it back to 'homely' state when his other half arrived home from uni, which alas that was not to be and I also think he thought he'd got too much stuff (which he might have) but the issue was that we had lots of empty furniture and full boxes and like I said to him, it wouldn't take long to make a dent. 

Then his other half arrived home having had a similarly difficult week at uni and I think she felt that the flat was full and a little overwhelmed.  She also said there were things at her family home still to collect.  So being the wise Mum that I am I sent them off in the van leaving me and my sister to have a 'fettle' a very strong Yorkshire term meaning to make things better through tidying and sorting. 

First of all, we managed to get fresh clean bedding on the bed, which meant we found lots of bags with pillows and duvets and sheets etc.  So that was the first positive, then we moved the clothes rail into the bedroom and made a walk way down the second bedroom which was great, because this meant that they could at least get in there.  This was purely down to restacking boxes rather than making a dent. 

Then we set to in the front room, we found a lamp, moved furniture laid out a rug etc and again we soon started to see it make a dent.  By the time they landed back with the remaining items it was looking homely and they were all smiles again. 

We headed home for a shower and hubby collected a Chinese, my sister had left but 30 minutes earlier, also picking up a Chinese and said 22 year old collected his all from the same Chinese 5 minutes after us, the man at the counter confused as their were two orders for the same surname, thankfully they didn't get the orders mixed up. 

Saturday we woke and our only goal was to return the van, which we did, but we were mighty broken, everything ached from head to toe and we were very sore and stiff.  We certainly aren't as young as we used to be and it definitely took it out of us, so you can imagine our giggle when we got the 'can you just' request on Saturday which was a firm 'no'.  We can Sunday but today we are staying put as we are broken.  So we enjoyed watching rugby and I got lots of much needed sleep and a slow day was had.  

In the meantime they had said 22 year old's future mum in law who came to help, you can see her sorting the cupboards in the background

they also completed the drinks trolley

Sunday we collected up a pile of things we'd found (I think this is going to go on for some time), collected my Mum (as she hadn't been over) and went to the flat.  Hubby fitted an additional front door lock and said 22 year old fitted a bathroom lock and we sat drinking tea and chatting. 

When they bought the flat, the boiler had zero pressure and they'd left a cooker, a fridge freezer and a washer. 

On Wednesday when they got in there they realised the cooker was no good, so when I was there on Sunday we pulled it out and I cleaned down the grease on the sides so they could transfer it next to the bin, I told said 22 year old that the scrap man would collect it (and low and behold I was right as it has now gone).  

On Thursday they discovered the light on the fridge freezer was the only thing that worked, so son's other half's step-Dad organised them a new fridge freezer and arranged for the old one to be taken. 

On Sunday morning said 22 year old discovered the washer had a major leak (all over the kitchen floor) and so they have a new washer being delivered tomorrow. 

Monday and they had a boiler man out who managed to get it up and running and remove the old gas fire, they also need one radiator replacing but apart from that all is good and they are now at least warm again. 

Whilst we were there on Sunday he also asked his Dad if he could help him break into the other door next to the front door.  Having walked the neighbourhood he had discovered that the cubby hole opposite the front door which he already knew was theirs was replicated in neighbouring properties but so too was the tall locked door for which he had no key.  So they managed to get into the space and what a space it was, well it will be when it is emptied as it is absolutely chock full of stuff.  Grumpy a little, but the joy of finding another space they didn't know they had and that it is sizeable that it can take things like lawnmowers and bikes and tools etc is going to make such a huge difference to their space. 

You can guess what our job is this weekend can't you - yep tomorrow is empty the cupboard day!

The rest of the week has flown by, lots of work if I'm honest and I suddenly find myself at Friday again, my beautiful niece sent me a photo of her world book day outfit from her going into school yesterday, as you can see she went as Cruella and the kids loved it!  

I hope you've had a grand week too, apologies for the length of the post, but genuinely wanted to document it in detail.