For the second Friday running ice was a problem, in fact it was black ice.  After the cold weather of the last few days it started to rain on Friday morning and then it froze on the cold surface.  Luckily our departing cottage got away safely and our cleaner made it up without problems.   Went down to Bakewell late morning to get provisions for the weekend.  Postman was very late and I assumed it was due to volume of post, but apparently they weren’t allowed out until 11am due to the road conditions.  Two cottages due in at our peak district cottages, one arrived just after 3 pm, they have been before , and second cottage was here by 4 pm.  An early tea then I picked up Joanna and we went to Monyash Church for the local WI Group Carol Service.  It was well attended and Joanna did the reading on behalf of Over Haddon WI.  On the way there we had come across a part of the road under water, the rain had just been running of the hard ground and with nearly an inch of rain there was a lot of water around.  I had planned to turn the car round by the pub but the access was under water so we had to drive back almost via Sheldon.   On Saturday we started the day by going out for breakfast, something we rarely do on a Saturday.  This got me fortified so I could start decorating the cottages for Christmas.  Later in the afternoon we went over to Sheldon.  For a small village they make an evening of switching on their Christmas lights.  There were stalls along the Main Street and displays of traction engines and Santa gave sleigh rides pulled by a tractor.  Sunday was a quiet day with one departure.  Again most of the day went on Christmas preparations, mainly in the house, so slowly but surely they are getting done.