It’s behind you!

Sunday 18th October was a dull day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here).  No departures but one arrival with cottage already cleaned.  Friends went to car boot sale in Bakewell in the morning before setting off for home.  A quiet day with cottage arriving just after 3pm.  In the evening we went to the village hall for this months film which was Pride.  It was an enjoyable film. Monday was a sunny day.  One departure but no arrivals so we went down to the market in Bakewell and I got some provisions for the next few days.  After lunch it was nice enough to go outside and do some tidying up jobs.  Chris cleared the gardens and courtyard of leaves and I did some potting on jobs.  We also chatted to guests as they came back.  It was such a nice day we wondered afterwards why we didn’t think about going out for the day.  In the evening Chris to Bakewell to the Photographic Society and I had a quiet night in.  Tuesday turned into another fine day.  Two departures and one cleaner here with one arrival expected later in the day.  Tuesday handyman here and with the fine weather he and Chris did some more outside jobs and stocked up on logs for me.  Gave Chris and Smudge an early tea then collected Joanna and we went down to Bakewell as it was the monthly WI meeting and this time it was the turn of Bakewell WI to host the twice yearly group meeting of some other local WI’s.  After a supper of Shepherds Pie and cakes Joanna and I were on washing up duties which meant we missed the main speaker but apparently his talk was not that inspiring!

Saturday got off to a misty start at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here).  Seven departures and six arrivals and back to a full complement of three cleaners which made for an easier day for cleaning.  All departed by 10am so cleaning quickly underway and with cottages left in a good condition all cleaning completed by lunchtime and final checks completed after lunch.  Chris cut the grass to tidy the lawns.  A delay before cottages arrived with first one here just before 4pm, they have been before, with four more by 5pm, one has been before.  Final arrival here just before 6pm, they are from Australia and it is their third stay with us.  Made the most of a quiet night in. Sunday was a better day than forecast.  No departures or arrivals so a day of housework and time for ourselves.  A wonderful sunset but didn’t have time to photograph it.  In the evening we went to the Buxton Opera House to see the Tideswell Male Voice Choir which included a couple of solo performances by our neighbour’s son from Little Cowden Farm.  It was a lovely show.  On the way home we came across a deer crossing one of the lanes.  Knew they were around here but first time we have come across one on the road.  Monday was dry but cool.  No departures but two arrivals and one cleaner here.  Usual Monday routines and also spent time on Village Hall Committee work.  First cottage here by 4pm and second one by 5pm, both have been many times before. Headed out to the fields to see if the sunset would be as spectacular as Sunday but it was not to be. Tuesday started fine but clouded up in the afternoon.  One departure and one arrival and one cleaner.  The morning went in various jobs including some gardening work and the afternoon in computer work.  Cottage arrived at 3pm.  Tuesday handyman also here and he and Chris did some tree pruning.

Finally the first dry and sunny day of the week at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here) arrived on Thursday.  So with no arrivals or departures we opted for a walk in Padley Gorge in the hope of catching the autumn colours.  Usually we park in Grindleford and walk up the gorge and back down but this time we parked at the top of the road from Grindleford to Fox House (where there are a number of free parking spaces) and walked down the gorge before walking back up.  We set off late morning with the sun still out. T he colours weren’t as far as advanced as we thought but as usual Padley Gorge made for a stunning walk for the time of year even allowing for scrambling over rocks and tree roots to get some good photos.  At the bottom of the gorge we stopped at the cafe at the Grindleford Station for a bacon bap.  Yum.  As it was so nice we sat outside with Smudge eyeing our lunch.  Then the walk back up the gorge on the opposite path with different perspectives of the gorge.  We even found some late flowering heather and at the top had views across to Higger Tor and Carl Wark where we had walked a couple of months ago.  We then drove round to Ladybower Reservoir to see how the autumn colours were developing.  Probably still a few weeks away from their best.  Later in the evening we went out with one of our guests for a meal at Piedaniels in Bakewell which we all enjoyed.  Friday was a quieter day with no departures or  arrivals.  Down to Bakewell later in the morning to get provisions for the weekend.  Afternoon spent on preparations for Saturday and house jobs and in the evening one of the cottages joined us for a Chinese takeaway. Enjoy the photos.

Saturday 3rd October started misty at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here) and although it lifted it stayed a cloudy day on the whole.  Six departures and five arrivals (one a very last minute booking) and only two cleaners here so Chris and I helped out again.  With prompt departures and clean cottages all cleaning and checks completed by 2.30. Leaves are starting to fall so Chris cut the grass to tidy it up as the grass is not growing so fast now.  A rush of arrivals just after 3pm, one has been before.  Next arrival at 4pm with final arrival here just before 5pm.  Sunday was a sunny day after a misty start.  No departures but two arrivals with cottages already cleaned.  Finished the final checks in the morning along with some gardening jobs and housework in the afternoon.  First cottage arrived about 4.30, they have been a few times before so we had a long chat.  Second cottage arrived about 6.30.  Monday was a quieter day but weatherwise it was wet and murky.  One departure with one cottage changing cottages but no arrivals and one cleaner here to keep up with cleaning.  For me mainly paperwork and normal Monday routines and for Chris ordering gardening chemicals and preparations for the photography club competition.  After dinner I went to Over Haddon for the Village Hall committee meeting which took longer than I thought, and Chris took one of the guests down to the Photographic Society for the evening.  Tuesday was a mixed day weather wise so it was an ideal day to finish last quarters accounts.  Tuesday handyman here.  In the evening we joined one of the cottages in their cottage for a glass (or two!) of wine.

The first day of October started foggy at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here) and it took longer to clear than recent days.  One departure but no arrivals and we had planned a visit to Chatsworth once the fog lifted.  Just after midday the fog quickly started to lift so we set off with Smudge for our annual visit to the house and gardens including the Beyond Limits Exhibition.  After lunch we we were greeted by bright blue skies and warm sunshine as we made our way around the gardens with our usual debate on certain pieces as to whether they constituted art!  The trees were starting to change colour so we were glad we had waited an extra week.  By the time we visited the house the the crowds were dispersing and we had most of the rooms to ourselves which also meant we could try a lot of the chairs which were placed as a part of the ‘Make Yourself Comfortable exhibition.   Great Fun!  Afterwards there was still time for another short stroll around the gardens with probably the last ice cream of the year.  We called in at the farm shop to pick up some tea on the way home.  Another lovely evening sunset.  Despite the forecast of early fog we woke up to glorious sunshine on Friday morning.  The fog was down in the dales and I came across it when I went down to Bakewell first thing.  No departures but one arrival and one cleaner here.  Chris was out and about doing jobs including stocking up on logs and I had a list of jobs around the house and vacant cottages as well as preparations for Saturday.  It was warm enough to eat lunch on the patio and later have another final ice cream of the year!  Cottage arrived at 3pm, they have been before.  Some quarter end accounts later in the afternoon before taking Smudge out after dinner to admire the sunset colours.  Enjoy the photos from Chatsworth.

At least Friday was a quiet day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here).  One departure but no arrivals and one cleaner here.  A day of odd jobs including housework and gardening.  Some of the guests here booked for next year as well.  Also did some preparations for Saturday as one of the cleaners is on holiday and the cleaner with the broken wrist is still signed off so Chris and I will be mucking in. So no Farmers Market for me either.  Friday was a pleasant day weatherwise as was Saturday.  Six departures and five arrivals and two cleaners here.  With prompt departures and cottages left in good condition the four of us (Chris and I were on beds and bedrooms) made good progress and all cleaning and checks were completed by the time guests arrived.  Chris was able to cut the grass.  Four cottages here by 4pm, two have been before, with final cottage here at 5.30.  In the evening we went to Over Haddon to spend the evening with Lynne and others for a celebratory buffet.  Sunday got off to a misty start but it cleared during the morning to end in a fine late summer day.  No departures but one cottage changing cottages (already prepared) and one arrival later in the day (again cottage already prepared).   Spent time dealing with a cancellation in the morning and housework in the afternoon.  One of our regular guests called in during the afternoon and guests arrived about 5pm.  After an early tea we went to Buxton to the Opera House to listen to a lecture by Doug Scott who climbed Everest 40 years ago.  The lecture was accompanied by some very good photos.  A clear evening ideal for the Supermoon and eclipse but it was an orange mist that I saw when I looked out of the window at 3am!

Thursday 24th September was another fine sunny day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here) so we decided to go for a walk.  We had been comtemplating a trip to Chatsworth to the Beyond Limits but after a drive to Chatsworth we decided to wait a couple more weeks for the autumn colours to get more established.  Plan B was a walk along Monsal Dale to Monsal Head and back.  We hadn’t done this walk since the tunnels were opened.  The forecast hinted at a risk of showers from midday but luckily we never saw any.  We parked at White Lodge car park on the A6 and crossed the road to walk beside the River Wye.  At the footbridge just before the weir we we crossed the bridge to take the path that ended up at Monsal Head.  When we reached Monsal Head we bumped into a couple of our guests whose walk crossed ours.  We all had lunch outside at Hobbs Cafe (they also had a dog) before going our separate ways.  We took the path down to the viaduct which we crossed then took the path down to Netherdale.  This wended its way around the bend in the river to go under the viaduct and then we followed the River Wye back to the car park.  About 3 miles in distance so we were back mid afternoon.  Later I popped down to Bakewell to get provisions for the next few days.  Another lovely sunset.  Enjoy the photos.