ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 46TH OF 2025

Morning all tis Friday time for 

So time to clock the positive moments and silver linings for the last 7 days. 

Last Thursday after we'd been to see our grandson at the hospital we headed into town and had a meal at the local college's restaurant.  

We both opted for the same starter, which was pheasant breast on sourdough with pickled blackberries which we both enjoyed. 

For main I had the fresh made parpadelle pasta and a beef ragu with parmesan crisp

whilst hubby had chicken and leek pie on a root vegetable mash and braised greens

dessert we both went for the same lemon meringue pie with forest fruits and a sugar coated mint leaf that we both enjoyed

 

and then we headed over the road for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the theatre which was fabulous. 

Friday and we decided to have a crafting day, I was behind on the two homemade gifts that I make for an old schoolfriend's children and hubby hasn't done any metalwork for a while, so with Alexa blaring out tracks for company we had a fun creative day. 

My view from my desk as hubby was busy. 

and my desk view

In the evening we lit the woodburner and sat and read which was great.  Hubby has moved this lamp into the TV room recently, I love it when it is lit up, so very pretty

and the aforementioned woodburning stove

Saturday and I was determined to finish the two journals in readiness so this is the first

and this is the second

I think I'm safe to pop them on here as I don't think my friend reads my blog. 

Hubby had bought me some roses a couple of weeks ago and they are still going strong.  

I find that the mixed bunches simply don't last, is that just me or do others find that.  I had a bunch with carnations in recently and the roses didn't last the week. 

I also spent some considerable time over the weekend doing my Herald newsletter, it is something I've done for years and whilst 'round robin' letters are very much out of fashion I think I would have a stampede to the front door if people didn't receive it.  I've been told by quite a few that it is the mark of the start of Christmas for them, which I think is very sweet.  It takes a lot of time to pull together and I was going to shrink it back to the 4 sides of A4 but I've kept it at 6 sides (extended it last year after my Mum passed away as I wanted to add in extra stories of her). 

Sunday morning and we headed to YSP as it was dry-ish.  We had a breakfast sandwich and a cuppa and then a great walk.

We also spotted some new artwork on the walls a nudge to a new display coming soon. 

They'd put their Christmas decorations up in the main centre. 

We spotted these in the cafe

Outside the grey clouds were tumbling in but the walk remained dry although a little muddy under foot. 

We stopped at 11am and held a two minute silence by the lake given that it was remembrance Sunday. 

We walked down to the shell grotto which we haven't been to for a while and I grabbed a selfie. 

Then back along and up through the park we had a coffee at the learning centre before meandering up past this statue which was shining in the sunshine. 

Sunday afternoon was definitely a relaxed affair.  We watched a little TV, read a little and relaxed and had homemade minestrone soup and homemade granary rolls for tea which were lovely. 

Monday and I was working from home, hubby did the food shop and I worked until very late as I have some things that needed sorting. 

Tuesday and Wednesday I was in the office, I had a productive and positive meeting on Tuesday but it still left me with a 'to do' list. 

Another busy day on Wednesday with 3 meetings and then I headed home to try and resolve the spreadsheet.  It is almost there but at 5.30pm I decided I'd done enough and will pick it up again on Monday with fresh eyes. 

Thursday and we've been for a good walk, had a tasty breakfast and are off to the hospital this afternoon to see our grandson. 

I hope you've had a splendid week. 

Hugs

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 45TH OF 2025

 Morning tis Friday time for 

This is the point where I take stock of the last 7 days and note the positive moments and silver linings that existed in those days.

So we had a 'tootling' around the house day on Saturday and spent some time chilling and reading which was lovely.  I insisted on us not browsing our tablets as it seems to be eating time at the moment and the day genuinely lengthened so that was definitely a good call.  Hubby enjoyed watching the last Mission Impossible film and I was busy making birthday cards as my supplies had dwindled. 

Sunday we decided to blow the cobwebs off and go for a walk at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, we parked at the main centre and headed in for a cuppa and a sandwich for breakfast and before our walk.  Here is hubby with his aforementioned breakfast butty

and yours truly with my butty

then we set off down the park as you can see we had broken cloud and blue skies

we spotted some new sculptures that we hadn't seen before, similar to other work in the park so we suspect the same artist, although there was no signage yet of who the artist is as the artwork has only just gone in. 

We watched the geese flying overhead and then caught up with them as they had flown down to the water.

The intensity of the blue sky with the globe was amazing

Hubby found his only fly agaric mushroom of the season up to now all on its lonesome

the fungi in the trees was prolific

We grabbed a selfie whilst sat enjoying the view over the lake

loving the autumnal views

more fungi on a rotting trunk

and this spindly little thing

I couldn't believe the different varieties all in the same area. 

We enjoyed kicking through the rustling leaves

and spotted this in its new position. 

We enjoyed the rest of the afternoon, hubby watched the most recent Jurassic Park and I was making more birthday cards. 

Monday and back to work, I've had a week of working from home because I've had so much on, I only had 1 day off last week with the wedding and genuinely regretted it given how much I came back into doing on Monday. 

Thankfully by the time Wednesday hit I'd done as much as I could possible do on the tasks in hand which will hopefully reap rewards next week. 

We met up with my sister for a cuppa in Ikea on Thursday evening and put the world to rights, I genuine don't think I've caught up with her properly since our holiday, October has been something of a blur and it was good to chat, I miss her company. 

Thursday arrives and no alarm clock (which is always a blessing), we headed out for a good walk first thing which was lovely and blue skies and milder temperatures were definitely a win.  

I hope you've had a great week too, I'm off to visit my Grandson in hospital this afternoon so that's something to look forward to. 

Hugs

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 44TH OF 2025

 Good Afternoon tis Friday time for

So last week we headed to Stratford for a couple of days and to enjoy some excellent Shakespeare plays. 

We travelled down on the Thursday, we hit a lot of roadworks all I can say is HS2 is definitely making that journey harder at the moment, I really feel for the people directly affected by the same. 

We had a matinee show to enjoy on Thursday a 'first encounters' (aka as abridge) version of King Lear in the Swan theatre. 

It was very good, but we believe we have only seen this play twice now and both have been abridged which is a shame I think I'd like to see it done in all its glory.  

Stage at the end of the play. 

The promo poster

We had a quick change and shower at the hotel and then hot footed it to Zizzis before heading to the RST for 'Measure for Measure' 

As a play this is complex and one where the ending leaves the female with no words, we did wonder with how it started how they were going to finish it and we were not disappointed.

Then Friday we had the day to ourselves, we enjoyed exploring Stratford as usual and given how epic Measure for Measure was were doubtful that it could be matched or surpassed.

This time we were at 'The Other Place' and an hour before we set off I realised we had 'pub type' seating, which basically meant that we were incredibly close to the actors, pretty much in the pub. 

This photo I took when we were in our seats, like I said close. 

The whole run of Macbeth set in the Glaswegian bar is sold out and I genuinely had no idea why, but the lead actor was apparently the lead in the series Outlander, which I think was the main reason. 

The play was bloody and grimy and all things Macbeth, but I don't think I've ever cried to Macbeth before if I'm honest, but then I've never seen Lady Macbeth's death scene played out on the stage (ever) which was startling enough but then for Macbeth to lay her down on the stage and do his 'tomorrow and tomorrow' speech with such emotion was enough to get the tears flowing. 

There was a standing ovation as it finished and I can honestly say it was the best Macbeth I've seen in quite some time, in fact for a non-traditional version this is definitely my favourite. 

On Saturday we were heading home and decided to pop to Kedleston on our way back, we were hoping to see Helios (a Luke Jerram installation of the 'sun') which was there but when we arrived it said it was sold out.  Disappointed as we were we need a comfort break and a cuppa so headed in to get our cards scanned and the amazing man behind the counter provided us with two tickets and said to hurry as the slot was 12.15pm as it was already 12.40pm.  

We hurried into the house which not only housed the sun installation but was also celebrating Diwali 

Helios was stunning and the surface had movement on it like the real sun

Seeing it from the other side of the marble room hanging was amazing

Kedleston hall is lovely anyway, the glass chandelier still designed for candles was amazing

The outside view gives you some perspective, it had a feel of both Wentworth Woodhouse and Nostell priory. 

Then we had a wander around the very old church, the stained glass windows were stunning. 

We were glad to finally land at home and after we'd unpacked enjoyed relaxing after our busy couple of days. 

We caught up with our son and daughter-in-law and soaked up all information to do with our grandson and then we were back at Monday (already). 

Although this week was short (only two days) because on Wednesday we had been invited to my cousins wedding which was amazing.  She looked stunning and as she is into her metal music and all things gothic we knew it would be different. 

Here is a photo of her on her way to get married, the most beautiful black wedding dress you ever did see. 

I hope you've had a wonderful week too.  

Hugs