ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 27TH OF 2025

 Morning all tis Friday time for 

So last week we headed to our old home town of Stafford for a couple of days away, we stayed at the hotel where we had our first official date and had a lovely room with a view over St Chad's Church at the front.  The journey down we went over the hills as we wanted to enjoy our annual visit to Trentham Gardens to visit the fairies, the weather looked changeable but thankfully it stayed dry during our visit.

The first one Bridget greets you on the bridge 

then Spidey under the Arbour

This one is always stunning and with the sun catching it it was even better. 

To say they've been there a number of years they still look amazing

And I love the feeling of motion in them

There is even a new set of wings for people to try out when they visit. 

These are giant and along the path by the lake

Fledglings up on the hillside

And we stopped for another cuppa at the bottom of the lake to say hello to this one

Then onwards to our destination, we had booked a package deal which meant tea and cake on arrival.  Hubby didn't fancy tea after all his driving but I definitely fancied both cups of tea and we shared the cakes

I love the eclectic items hanging over head

We wandered the town, areas of which are mighty pretty

Then got ready for our evening meal 

Which was lovely and finished with a beautiful cheese board

We went for a wander around the town the following day and saw the advert for the play we were due to see that night. 

We also wandered into the Picture House which is now a Wetherspoon's pub but still retaining a lot of its original features, we sat up at the top where many moons ago we took my sister and brother to watch Jurassic Park. 

We found this sculpture of Isaac Walton on the River Sow leisure walk

and this one of a bowler next to the bowling green

After an early evening meal which was lovely, we headed to the theatre, a far cry from the complex Cornish stage design last year, this was very much pared back and with a hint of RSC about it, the book cases moved at certain points during the play.  Hubby felt that they represented the educated mind of Hamlet and the dust was representative of the blinkered view of all those around him. 

The play was exceptionally good and we both really enjoyed it. 

I'd booked Chatsworth to break the journey up on the way back, this is the leather room with the famous trompe l'oiel of the violin and it is the leather room because that is what the wallpaper is made from.

The rose garden looks lovely at the moment and the smell of the roses was well worth the wander. 

We got back home and on Sunday we had book club, unfortunately my sister has been poorly and so she couldn't make it and my daughter-in-law hadn't finished the book so it made for an awkward conversation to be honest.  The book we were reading was The Handmaid, my niece has gone on to read the further two books all of which she said are quite different.  I then had a play with some scrapbook layouts that are still not completed if I'm honest, but it was nice to have a catch up. 

The working week was busy and I'm gearing up for the annual audit so a definite focus on the year end file which thankfully is almost there. 

Thursday and time to enjoy some fresh air, we had time out in the garden, hubby cleaned the plastic on the extension, then he cut the neighbour's tree that overhangs our arbour and was starting to cause issues, he hoovered the top of the arbour off as there were a load of catkins on it from spring that had got stuck and then cleared the side of the house where a few weeds had sprung up.  In the meantime I worked my way around all the pots that we have and planted this lot out to try and bring a bit more colour to the garden. 

A very productive day but rather tiring, we then had showers and then tea and then settled down outside for a few hours of reading under the arbour which was bliss. 

Life is made up of the moments that we remember, the memories that we make, anchoring yourself in the moment, definitely makes the memories stronger and more positive and I'm very grateful for all that I have and all the blessings I have. 

I hope your week has been as blessed. 

Hugs

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 26TH OF 2025

 Morning all we are at the mid point of the year and it is Friday time for 

Well I haven't got any photos this week, I has just been one of those weeks if I'm honest.  Last weekend despite the high temperatures we were making headway on one of our bedrooms which we are turning into a reading/meditation/yoga room.  I'd bought various items for the room including a wall mural, so me and hubby set to on the papering, there were only 6 pieces to hang, but it had to be precise so we took our time, we had 1 piece left over and decided just to turn the corner with it, because it was pretty. 

Sunday and I was off with my niece (who is getting married next year) and my daughter-in-law to a wedding fayre.  We had a lovely time wandering around talking to all the different businesses.  She got lots of ideas (and business cards) which is always a positive and we thoroughly enjoyed spending time together. 

Monday and I was busy with work again, I've got the audit looming so I'm trying to prepare for that, but it is proving difficult to fit in between my normal day to day work, hopefully I can make some headway next week. 

That my lovely people is that, I hope you've had a grand week. 

Hugs

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 25TH OF 2025

 Good evening lovely people tis Friday time for 

So time to clock the silver linings and positive moments from the week, first up was the wonderful day we had on Saturday over at my daughter-in-laws parent's home for the gender reveal of our grandchild.  Thankfully the weather forecast had improved and we had a few lovely few hours catching up with family and friends and the news is that our grandchild is a boy, we are very excited to meet him. 

They had decorated all the garden

and gone with a green and yellow colour theme, which was very summery

there was a lovely spread of food

Photo of the future parents. 

Hubby made a layer cake which was gorgeous, every layer a different colour and flavour. 

Sunday was Father's day and son and d-i-law popped to see hubby and wish him a happy Father's day bringing, cards and gifts which was lovely.  I then took hubby to the pub so he could enjoy a pint or two (which he did).  

The working week was busy, but I finished early on Wednesday and we headed to Chatsworth and wandered the garden for a few hours. 

The maze area was looking beautiful 

as was the grotto garden

I loved the lichen on this, I thought it made it look like a globe

Selfie time

Then in the evening we settled down to watch The Lord Chamberlain's Men, perform Twelfth Night, we've seen this theatre group perform so many times and they never disappoint, always a fantastic show. 

The stage set and my view

Yellow stockings and cross garters it can only be Malvolio. 

and that my lovely people were my positives from the week.  

I hope yours has been grand too. 

Hugs

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 24TH OF 2025

 Afternoon all tis Friday time for 

So last Friday we had a very busy day baking, as we eat limited amounts of UPF these days, this meant not only baking orange drizzle, lemon drizzle, cinnamon cake and a chocolate birthday cake but also hubby made the bread for the get together and cooked a ham. 

Then Saturday morning we brought everything together and put on a tea party for my sister's birthday that had been on the Thursday.  It was lovely to get together and catch up and there was little left in the way of leftovers which is always a good sign. 

Here is my sister getting ready to blow her candles out

A photo at the end of the afternoon as we nearly forgot to grab a photo

The cake up close

On Sunday I went to a local church hall to do a hand tied bouquet class.  My sister, daughter-in-law and niece all went as well.  We had a fun few hours getting our heads around creating this with the expert help of a friend who is a florist.  My hand was mighty tired when I had completed it as it was so heavy. 

 Me and my sister fighting with the wrappings

My niece was a natural when it came to the bouquet but my daughter-in-law had more of a fight to create it. 

And here is the full class

And the flowers are still going strong as you can see. 

Monday and back into work mode, another very busy week but I got a number of items ticked off my to do list and had a good couple of meetings which was great. 

On Thursday we had a trip to Ikea, we are working on one of our spare bedrooms to turn it into another reading room/yoga/meditation room and we had stalled as we weren't sure which way to go, but thankfully we are off and running again, so an expensive trip there. 

In the evening we went for pre-theatre dining, the last one of the college year, we had a prawn cocktail starter and chicken chasseur main and then hubby had the crumble dessert and I went with the cheesecake which was sublime! 

Then we headed to theatre to watch 

Which was a fun one man show explaining 5 mistakes in history, all of which I genuinely didn't know about. 

I hope you've had a good week. 

Hugs

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 23RD OF 2025

 Good afternoon tis Friday time to clock the silver linings 

Last Friday we had a funeral, always a sad occasion and for as hard as it is that a person is no longer here, it is always the hole they leave behind and the sadness of the family that genuinely hurts.  So how can it make my rocking post this week, because the daughters who read something during the service were amazing, knowing how hard that is to do having done that at my Mum's funeral with my sister last year I know it takes a lot of courage to see it through. 

It was also nice to catch up with family after the service, some we haven't seen in quite some time, unfortunately it seems there are more funerals that christenings or weddings these days. 

Sunday and hubby picked up his new glasses, he is still getting used to them, varifocals are never easy to acclimatise to. 

It was Monday soon enough and lots of work on this week, although I had a good couple of meetings and some positive feedback so definitely popping that in the rocking post, it was nice to feel genuinely appreciated for the work I've been doing. 

Wednesday night and we went out to the local college restaurant for pre-theatre dining and then we headed to the theatre to watch Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night time.  I wasn't sure if we would enjoy it, but it was genuinely incredibly well done. 

Beef teriyaki starter with cous cous

Chicken chausseur

Summer fruits crumble with sorbet

This was the stage set for the play

Thursday was my sisters birthday, we had a slow day overall if I'm honest and then went out for a meal in the evening which was grand, there were 7 of us in total. 

Here is a photo of her, she has had a new hairstyle recently 

I loved this shot, she looked like she was peeping out of the gift bag. 

so a good week overall, I hope yours has been good too. 

Hugs