Sunday 15/3 saw five departures at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here) so it felt quite empty.  A day to catch up and get ready to go away for a few days to my sisters.  A pleasant day was forecast but the breeze took the edge of the temperatures.  Lambing has started at Green Cowden Farm with the majority of lambing taking place over the next fortnight.  Could have gone to the film night at the village hall but having been out two nights running and out again Monday night I decided to have an evening in!  Monday saw one departure and arrival with one cleaner up.  A cool and overcast day.  Chris and handyman continued in Derwent.  Cottage arrived just after 3pm.  In the evening we went to the Lathkill Hotel to help Joanna celebrate her birthday along with a number of her friends.  A lovely evening was had by all.  Tuesday saw three arrivals.  One cleaner here but a number of cottages were already prepared.  With Chris still working in Derwent I decided to wait until later in the day before heading to my sisters, this also gave time for the guests to arrive and for me to do my final packing.  All guests here by 4pm, two have been before.  Just after 5pm we set off to Chesterfield where I caught the 18.02 cross country train to Birmingham, here I changed trains and arrived in Watford at 20.41 where my sister collected me for the short drive to her place.

With a busy weekend ahead at our Bolehill cottages (see here) I decided not to go to Bakewell on Friday but defer it to Saturday. Two departures and five arrivals and one cleaner up so a busy morning although a couple of cottages were already prepared.  More crockery in cottages and Chris continued in Derwent.  Matters complicated by the fact that some cottages were not going to arrive until much later and for once we were out for the evening.  Three guests arrived by 6pm with remaining ones later in the evening, we had left instructions although one had been before.  After dinner we headed to the village hall for the latest offering from the Live and Local circuit performers. Tonight we had a one man show entitled Man with Foot in his Mouth (written by Saul Bellow) which was quite entertaining.  All guests in by time we got back.  A disturbed nights sleep with Blue waking me up so I could take them out at Smudge had diarrhoea, at least I was able to get him out in time.  Unfortunately by the time we got up Smudge was obviously not well and we decided to take him to the vets.  Here he was given some antibiotics and other items to help with fluid loss.  Chris left me in Bakewell to get provisions while he went home with the dogs.  In instances like these I walk up to Yeld Road by the church and he picks me up but I couldn’t get a mobile signal so I had to  walk back down to town and popped into the builders merchants to phone home as no one there could get a mobile signal either.   So I had to walk back up the hill for the second time for Chris to pick me up.  We came back via one of a cleaners to drop off some DIY tools.  Back home and final checks and last of crockery into cottages with cottage arrival just after 3pm, he has been before giving us a full house bar Derwent.  In the evening we shared a Chinese take away with one of the cottages who come regularly and had a good natter as well!

Monday 10th March saw two departures and two arrivals at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here).  A misty start but it cleared by mid morning and it was a much clearer day than Sunday.  One cleaner up and both cottages here just after 3pm, one has been before.  Chris went to Buxton to pick up some items for work in Derwent and in the evening I went to Over Haddon for indoor bowls.  Tuesday saw two more departures and with Derwent now vacant I helped clear the kitchen so Chris and handyman could start work on the kitchen refurbishment.  They removed the work top and tiles in the kitchen and some electrical work was also undertaken including adding some power points (we had the electrician here).  In the afternoon the High Peak Hunt came across the fields for the final ride out of the season but I didn’t have time to get some good photos. Wednesday saw another misty start and again it cleared during the morning.  I went down to Bakewell to get my hair cut and pick up some provisions for the next few days. In Derwent Chris put up some new lights in the kitchen and dining area which meant climbing into the loft.  I had some work to do for the WI meeting in the evening and later in the afternoon the builder who did work in Dove came over to prepare the new work top for Derwent.  Our speaker for the WI meeting was a local young farmer who had spent some time working in Canada and Australia on farming work placements so it was interesting hearing about the difference in farming practises. Thursday was a lovely day – ideal for a walk if we hadn’t been doing work in Derwent.  Builder up to fit work top and cut hole for extractor fan.  Late morning Chris and I headed to Buxton as it was the local tourism conference.  Although we weren’t going to the conference there was the opportunity to start picking up leaflets for the year and do a bit of networking.  After a late lunch we came back via the nursery where we have put our order in for hanging baskets for the summer.  A quiet evening in and with a couple of late bookings we are now full for the weekend!

Blue decided to go AWOL again from our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here) first thing on Thursday morning, he must have heard us talk about going shopping.  Chris had to drive out and luckily found him at the Magpie Mine, we assumed he followed some walkers in that direction.  We had decided to go to the Trafford Centre not far from Manchester Airport.  It’s about an hours drive from here and a lot of locals go there (as a change to Meadowhall in Sheffield) so we thought it was about time we did too.  We have a shopping trip every now and again to ‘proper shops’ as I call them and we have a good mooch about.  Bought a new camera so we will have to see if the pictures on the blog are any better!  Back late afternoon and a few jobs in the cottages in advance of Fridays arrivals.  Friday started damp but by mid morning the sun was out and it felt quite spring like.  One cleaner up and three cottages due to arrive later in the day so the morning and early afternoon went in cottage jobs.  Went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend but also called at Chatsworth Farm Shop to get a few provisions.  First guests arrived at 3pm with second ones at 5pm.  Time for some paperwork before dinner with final guests here by 10pm.  Saturday saw one departure and one arrival with one cleaner here.  A day of accounts with a few bookings.  The forecast had been for a fine day but it stayed more overcast here than expected although guests that went walking all talked of a fine day. Guests arrived just after 3pm, they have been before so it was nice to have a chat with them.  With another fine day forecast for Sunday thoughts turned to a walk.

The first weekend of meteorological spring was one of two halves at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here).  Saturday started foggy but it cleared a lot quicker than Friday and I had a lovely walk with the dogs (at least I could see where Blue was). I was taking photos  and I could feel the warmth of the sun on my hands (couldn’t photo that) and I noticed buds on some shrubs too.  Still time for winter to bite remembering what happened last year.  One departure and one arrival and one cleaner up.  Time for chatting with guests and jobs around the house as well as some accounts.  Guests arrived just after 4pm, they have been before.  Also had a busy day for bookings, unusual for a Saturday.  In the evening we went out with a former work colleague of Chris who was passing through the area.  We went to the Packhorse Inn at Crowdecote, somewhere we haven’t been for a while.  It was busy but we enjoyed our meal.  It’s not often we eat out on a Saturday night.  It was nice to catch up and reminisce.  Sunday saw one departures and in contrast to Saturday, Sunday was dull dreary and it rained in the afternoon. Time for more accounts and house work. A quiet evening in ahead of a busy week.  Enjoy the photos.

Weather stats for February.  Highest temp of 9.8 deg C on 23rd which was warmest day and night.  Lowest temp of -0.7 deg C on 11th which was coldest day and night.  The 8th was the wettest day with .83 in rain and we had 6.27 in rain for the month compared to 1.63 in for Feb 2013.

It was quite a surprise to wake up to fog on Friday morning at our Bolehill cottages (see here    ) as it had not been predicted.   At least there was no snow on the last day of meteorological winter.  Took the dogs for their morning walk but headed in the opposite direction to avoid the slurried field.  As it was so foggy I didn’t see the walkers on the footpath and only heard them at the last moment.  Of course our two went over to say hello to them so I blew the whistle for them to return.  Smudge soon came back but in the fog I couldn’t see where Blue was so dashed to catch up with the walkers who were walking at quite a pace.  They had got to the mine rake stile by the time I caught up with them but I still couldn’t see Blue.  The walkers at the back shouted forward and finally Blue emerged having been leading the group.  I was not happy with him.  After coffee I did the final checks in the cottages and Chris helped me finish of Bluebell as he had finished in the shower room.  The fog lifted mid morning and it turned into a nice sunny afternoon but it was still cool.  After lunch I put some more new crockery in a cottage.  It takes time as I give the new crockery a rinse before putting it in the cupboards and I need to box up the old crockery. Four cottages due in, three arriving between 4and 4.30, one has been before. With the prospect of a photogenic sunset I took the dogs for a late afternoon walk before getting back in time for the final cottage arrival at 6pm.  A quiet evening to end a busy day.  Enjoy the sunset photos.

With the alert still in place at our Bolehill cottages (see here) on Thursday morning contingency plans swung into action.  The cleaner came up to get as much done as she could and I planned my weekend shopping trip for Thursday rather than Friday. The morning just seem to whiz z by, not helped by both dogs being sick after their morning walk.  This was due to them exploring the field that had been slurried the evening before and sampling the delights!  Chris had started a small job in Bluebell that had expanded into repainting the shower room so while he was waiting for the paint to dry we went down to Bakewell for lunch and to get the weekend’s provisions.  The subject of holidays came up but seemed to get lost in other discussions.  If I haven’t already mentioned it I am going to spend a few days with my sister soon.  Back at the cottages I stocked up on logs again and did some preparations for Fridays arrivals.  By now the alert had gone as the weather system was going further south.  Apart from a few sharp showers it had been a sunny day albeit a bit cooler than of late.  The late evening forecast still hinted of the possibility of snow first thing Friday morning but also mentioned that the Northern Lights were visible in our region. For once I took the dogs for their late night comfort break and confused Blue by going in the wrong direction.  I headed for the highest point of our land but wasn’t sure if what I could see on the horizon was a faint glow from the  Northern Lights or not.  Mind you it was a good night for star gazing.