ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 35TH OF 2023

 Good morning lovely people tis Friday time for

Well it has been another very very busy week it has to be said, last Thursday hubby had a day off from work and spent the day (over 12 hours) at my Mum's house creating a 'catio' - cat patio.  We both returned when I was off on Friday to complete the task.  We opened the catio officially on Friday afternoon and Murphy (my Mum's cat) obliged by having a wander around it.  He has subsequently enjoyed wandering in and out since it was opened.  It now provides my Mum with more fresh air in the kitchen (because she can have the window wide open).  Murphy still goes out on reins (my Mum lives on a stupidly busy main road) to enjoy the garden but is thoroughly thriving going in and out of the house and having his own outdoor space, so the time and effort were definitely worth it. 

Here he is at the bottom

and here he is wandering down the ramps. 

On Saturday we headed over to said 23 year old and d-i-law to continue stripping the staircase and start the repapering. 

As you can see it is a particularly high staircase space but hubby and said 23 year old managed to get some paper on the walls whilst me and d-i-law managed to complete the stripping of the wallpaper at the top of the stairs.  We didn't get it completed (unsurprisingly) but we definitely made some good headway. 

Sunday and we had a day to stop, utterly shattered from the previous two days, well stop - erm I did catch up on washing and clean through the house and hubby put away lots of the tools he had had out. 

Monday was another 'rest' day, we went food shopping and I treated myself to some flowers I love the colourway

then I spent a couple of hours putting some new bedding plants in the back garden in readiness for autumn.  

We enjoyed watching a few programmes in the evening and then we were suddenly back at work as tuesday had arrived. 

The rest of the work was very very busy (as usual), but I made headway on some long term things that needed sorting so that is always a positive. 

I hope you've all had a grand week as well. 

Hugs

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

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 33RD OF 2023

 Good morning lovely people tis Friday time for 

Well last Friday we had a busy day which included a trip to Ikea for a few much needed items as you know we've been moving the universe around the house since said 22 year old moved out but I came to realise recently that I definitely needed another chair downstairs to craft at my original table.  Whilst it isn't my main crafting space, there is time when I want to craft downstairs and our dining chairs are simply not up to the job. 

Hubby also managed to sort some of his silversmithing items as well so we had a productive day and I finished off some more Christmas cards, I have 22 cards to go at the moment to meet the required 100 cards, I must admit they are not up to my usual standard, but do you know what they will do. 

Saturday we went over to son and d-i-laws place, hubby and son spent several hours cutting down the oversized privet around the property whilst me and d-i-law set too stripping wall paper off the stairs.  We managed to get the entrance and staircase stripped, we need to do the hallway next. 

Sunday was definitely a day of recovery and we had a tootly day not doing a huge amount if I'm honest, I did make a banana loaf in the slow cooker which was a first - 3 ingredients, a tin of evaporating milk, 3 mashed bananas and 250g of self raising flour.  

It came out OK, I think it was overcooked if I'm honest and have discovered a 'hot spot' on my slow cooker, so that looks like something I will need to replace soon, but the banana loaf was tasty. 

The rest of the week has been mighty busy with work as usual I'm hoping things might ease off from next week a little.

I hope you've had a fab week. 

Hugs

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 32ND OF 2023

 Good morning lovely people tis Friday time for 

so last Friday was the 33rd anniversary of when me and hubby met and being  a Friday meant we weren't working which meant a day for the two of us which was lovely. 

We headed out to Ikea first thing for a wander, I had a few items that I needed to pick up and then we popped to Tapas Revolution for a lunch, which was lovely.

Then we headed to purchase goodies for a picnic for Friday evening we had tickets to see Twelfth Night with the Dukes Theatre company. 

We had thought we might have to cry off with the forecast, but come Friday morning it looked like we might get away with it.

We had a leisurely afternoon book reading and then packed the car with hiking chairs, picnic and blankets and set off for NT Nostell. 

There were already quite a few people there when we set up and they'd spun the set around this year so we were on a slight slope which meant excellent views. 

The play was great and we had a lovely evening together watching all things Shakespeare and the forecast dry spell (for the evening) was completely correct. 

Hubby bought me flowers for our anniversary 

and we grabbed a selfie at the end of the night. 

Saturday we had a chilled day, we did a bit of sorting in the morning, then did some crafting (silversmithing for hubby) in the afternoon and then settled down to an evening of rugby. 

Sunday and I definitely needed a decent walk and we were aware there were several things at YSP that we hadn't seen. 

A new exhibition in the upper space, a collaboration between a turner/carver and a printer, we both liked this bowl

and the work in this was extreme

We walked down to the Weston to see a new exhibition which was an art installation based on the short story 'A Tell Tale Heart' by Edgar Allen Poe and the 1990's storyline in Brookside digging up the body under the patio.  There was a huge amount of art that had been created for the installation, from large stained glass, to 3 dimensional ceramic and stained glass pieces and everything in between, which is unusual as often installations we've seen have been staging of everyday objects.  The installation was rather gruesome but we enjoyed it nevertheless. 

The rest of the week has been busy busy busy but on Wednesday and Thursday I attended a boat training course at work (I've only been there almost 10 years) and am now a qualified Community Crew member which means I can technically help out on trips.  I'm not sure I found it enjoyable, it is a lot to do in such a short period of time, but I survived it (the back not so much).  

Overall a fine week, I hope yours has been good too. 

Hugs

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 31ST OF 2023

 Good morning lovely people, tis Friday time for 

Well it has been a fairly quiet week overall, hindered a little by excessive work and rainy days, so we haven't really fancied venturing anywhere if I'm honest. 

Last Friday we had a day with son and d-i-law painting doors and planning their next home project which was fun. 

Saturday we headed to Wentworth Woodhouse, they have a Grayson Perry exhibition on at the moment and whilst I've seen odd pieces of his work I haven't seen a series.  These pieces were all large embroideries, which have to be seen up close to appreciate the detail. 

 There was lots of hidden elements too which thankfully the guides were able to point out, I hadn't appreciated just how many hidden words there were among the squiggles of detail.  In fact I enjoyed it so much that I bought the book that accompanies the series of embroideries.  

We stopped for a bite to eat, we were spoilt for choice and bumped into my cousin who I haven't seen in an age, so we had a little catch up which was fab.

My sister also had great fun (my Mum and sister came too) as she enjoyed the second hand book sale, she is an avid reader and 15 books later she was a happy individual. 

Sunday was more of a kickback day and we enjoyed book reading and watched the film Kinky Boots and the Full Monty both of which we really enjoyed. 

Monday arrived and I was in work, busy busy with no young people in we are making the most of getting things sorted, which meant scanning and soft filing for me, as well as sorting out the stationery cupboard.  I'm planning on sorting the activity cupboards this next week.  

And I find myself on Friday officially 33 years to the day since I met hubby, time really does fly but my world changed forever that day and 33 years later we still live an incredibly happy life, we have similar interests, have an amazing son who has already achieved so much, a wonderful daughter in law.  I'm blessed to have a wonderful family so for today I will sit in my bubble of contentment taking in all the things in my life that enrich it, that make me happy and that I genuinely love so much. 

I hope you've had a grand week too 

Hugs

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 30TH OF 2023

 Good morning lovely people

tis Friday time for

Can you believe we are already on the 30th post of the year, my news feed this week has been full of all things autumn, but surely summer isn't done with yet?

Needless to say after the excitement of a couple of weeks run up and post wedding, this week has been decidedly work orientated.

Last weekend we set about completing the stairs, they have been something of an epic task because we've made some seriously big changes, but the task has taken much longer than we expected if I'm honest.  So last weekend was the big push to get it finished (nearly almost).

We installed the bannister, filled holes and repainted it, touched up paintwork, decided where the pictures were going, reassembled my heart wall. 

We worked tirelessly on Friday and again on Saturday, leaving only one job to do on Sunday - fit the stairs carpet.  Something we have never done and to be honest something I never thought we'd do, but we've done everything else on the stairs ourselves so we thought we would finish it off in style. 

To say I'm pleased is an understatement. I've ordered stair rods to finish it off which arrived yesterday (so another job to do).  I've also got a quote to put on the wall and a little bit of quadrant needed and then we will be at the 100% mark. 

I've already had the "and how are you going to hang your stair garland" question but to be honest, the original bannister was not a favourite of mine and I'm sure we will find a work round nearer Christmas. 

As for the rest of the week it has been very much focused on work, with lazy evenings at the end of mentally busy days. 

I had a catch up with my Mum at the weekend and the honeymooners returned late on Sunday and we had a good catch up on Tuesday.

We were in Morrisons last night and I spied some bargain flowers which had to come home with me, the sunflowers a definite throwback to the wedding a few weeks ago.  

I hope you've had a lovely week.

Hugs

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 29TH OF 2023

 Good morning lovely people tis Friday time for 

Well I'm sure you will have caught up on our escapades at the weekend as said 22 year old married the love of his life in the most beautiful of ceremonies. 

But let's start with last Friday, both me and hubby were off so we headed to the venue to assist and help on the preparation.  

We sorted table decorations and aisle decorations and sorted a giant flower ring and worked diligently until the whole room was sorted, it took us some hours.  

We then headed home and sorted out the sweets for the sweet table, initially with pretty papers on boxes before I changed my mind and started sterilising jars instead and then in the early evening we headed back to the venue to get things sorted. 

My now daughter in law arrived (as she'd been working all day) and was very emotional to see everything ready, she was really pleased and hadn't really been able to visualise it. 

The day of the wedding said 22 year old had stayed overnight with us, the first time he had since officially moving out when they got their flat back in February. 

We had an incredibly leisurely morning, he went shopping for a few things, collected his best man, visited both his Grandad's graves, dropped things at the venue and was still all ready for 1.15pm when the videographer turned up. 

We headed to the venue not long after, caught up with lots of family and then the ceremony itself. 

At this point, the nerves hadn't kicked in.  They had a violinist play their favourite music (Linkin Park, Bring me the Horizon etc) and then the bride arrived. 

I don't think I've ever been to such an emotional wedding, we genuinely were all crying tears of joy, the whole service was beautiful and soon they were posing as man and wife for their wedding photos. 

Here they are with my niece (the chief bridesmaid/maid of honour) and my niece's other half who was the best man. 

The weather was appalling but we had photographers and videographers who were used to fighting with the British weather and genuinely just made the most of the gaps in the clouds. 

Photo of my first cousin on the right, her daughter on my left and my Mum

The happy couple

Me and the hubster, we polished up OK

My fascinator genuinely didn't last very long

and the wedding cake

My sister, my Mum and me

My niece and my sister

We had the very best of days, so much love and laughter. 

We enjoyed a cream tea, then in the evening their was a hot buffet and a DJ with my sister and my new daughter in law dancing the night away with my niece and her other half. 

We finally headed home early into Sunday morning, got home, changed and ate warmed up pizza in bed as we genuinely couldn't remember eating that much during the day. 

Sunday my niece and sister came over for a pancake breakfast. 

We saw the newlyweds a couple of times before they headed off for their honeymoon in Cornwall.  

And we've been recovering from it all week, I hadn't realised just how stressed out I'd got before the big day, but it really was the very best of days. 

I hope you've all had a lovely week. 

Hugs