Sunday started wet but by mid morning it was drier at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here) and we saw plenty of sun during the day. One arrival due later in the day but cottage already cleaned. After getting the paper we had a relaxing morning but later drove to Over Haddon to see one of Chris’s photography friends who had a new camera and needed a model so I obliged! Waiting to see the end results! A quiet afternoon and guests arrived about 4.30. Monday started grey but soon brightened up. One early departure and with no arrivals or cleaners we both 
went down to Bakewell market for a little stroll and coffee. Cannot remember the last time we went together! By the time we got home it had clouded up again and we had some rain and drizzle into the afternoon. I spent some time cleaning and tidying up in the office. In the evening I should have gone to the Over Haddon Committee meeting but it was rearranged at the last moment for the following Monday. Initially the forecast for Tuesday was fine but the forecast deteriorated as did the weather on 
Tuesday. Handyman here and one cleaner here to turn a cottage round for arriving guests. I spent time on housework and accounts. Guests arrived 4.30. In the evening I collected Joanna and we went to Bakewell for this months WI meeting. Our speaker talked about understanding abstract art and I learnt quite a bit and will view it differently now. Always learning something new at the WI! Hope you have watched the programme about the WI ‘Cake Bakers and Troublemakers’. Here are some photos taken on my evening walks with the dogs.
bakewell cottages
A short walk at Eyam
Eyam Church
Thursday was another fine day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here). No departures or arrivals and the morning went in odd jobs. Chris spent some time phoning for quotes as our electricity price plan is due for renewal. After lunch we went to Eyam with the dogs primarily to pick up a pair of glasses that a guest had left behind last week. After we collected the glasses we did the short walk down to Cucklet Delph which was featured in last Sunday’s Countryfile programme. The Delph is a natural amphitheatre where they held church services during the
Cucklet Delph
plague. I had been meaning to do this walk for a while. It didn’t take long but at least we have seen it. We then went back to the hall where we had tea and cake and the dogs were given dog biscuits. It got humid during the afternoon and clouded up but it stayed dry. Back home via Calver Garden Centre. Friday was fine again but with more of a breeze. Two departures and one arrival and one cleaner here. Chris spent time strimming verges and after lunch I caught up with some paper work and chatting with guests. It’s been nice to hear guests
Cucklet Delph
chatting to each other out in the courtyard during the week. Cottage arrived at 5.30. Keeping up with the recent run of fine weather days Saturday was sunny and warm. Five departures and five arrivals and three cleaners here. Cleaning finished by lunchtime and checks completed by time of guests arrival. Chris watered and fed the hanging baskets and cut the grass. Four arrivals here between 3.15 and 3.45, all have been before with final cottage here at 4.30, also a previous guest. Felt quite tired so had a relaxing evening and a take
keeping a watchful eye
away pizza from Riccis in Bakewell. Birchover carnival took place on Saturday and that always finishes with a great fireworks display which we can see from here.
Another Picnic!
Sunday was a pleasant day weather wise at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here). One departure and one arrival but cottage already prepared. A quiet day chatting to guests and jobs around the house. By the time the cottage arrived at 5.30, they have been before, it meant all the seven occupied cottages were previous guests. Monday by contrast was quite a dismal day. Drizzle and rain peppered the day and it turned quite humid. No arrivals or departures and our friends from Yorkshire were calling in for lunch on their way to a stay in a local hotel for a few nights so I popped over to the Chatsworth farm shop to get some lunch. In the afternoon we went to Buxton to do a Morrisons shop and on the way back we called in at our friends at Chelmorton. Tuesday was a better day weather wise with a sunny morning but a bit more cloud in the afternoon. One departure and one arrival and one cleaner here. Tuesday handyman here too. I gathered most of the information and figures for the Valuation return, that took all afternoon and guests arrived at 4.30. In the evening we drove over to the Izaak Walton Hotel and met up with our friends for a very nice meal. Wednesday was a fine sunny day with the temperature tempered by the breeze. Cleaner with broken wrist called in for coffee and then Chris went back to her place to do some odd jobs and I followed behind making a detour to the recycling centre and then the Outlet Village before picking him up. It was too busy for lunch at Edensor so we picked up some rolls from Chatsworth farm shop. One arrival here at 3.30. Later in the afternoon it was nice enough for a picnic so we parked at Over Haddon and walked the Dale to Conksbury Bridge. There were sheep along the Dale and Blue disgraced himself again (see separate dog’s blog) then on to our picnic stop for a couple of hours with a lovely blue sky and warm evening sunshine. Evening rounded off with a drink at the Lathkil. Enjoy the photos.
A fine weekend
Thursday was a fine day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here). One departure and one arrival with one cleaner here. Andrew came up and fixed our garden post and Chris put in a new garden gate, I must make sure I close it properly next time there are cows in the fields! Chris also spent some time doing some pruning around the gardens. Cottage arrived just after 3pm leaving me with the rest of the afternoon to do some paperwork. It was a pleasantly warm day with more good weather expected. Ideal weather for the hot air balloons that were up in the evening sky. Friday was a warm sunny day but breezy at times. Four departures and three arrivals and two cleaners here. Tuesday handyman here as well as Chris and he spent most of the day logging. After coffee I went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend. As it was almost lunchtime it was busy.
Completed checks after lunch and two cottages arrived here just after 3pm, both have been before. A few hours were spent on odd jobs and also preparing salads for tea. Had hoped to eat al fresco but it clouded over earlier than expected and it was too breezy. Final cottage arrived at 8pm, they have also been before. Saturday started dull but but soon brightened up. Three departures and four arrivals and two cleaners here. All cleaning and checks completed by lunchtime. Chris cut the grass. All cottages here by 3.45 and all have been before so we had a chance to chat with them as well. Had time for some paperwork before dinner. It did cloud over during the afternoon but had been a fine day overall.
Always something to do
Monday was a dull day at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here) with some drizzle and rain in the afternoon. One departure and two arrivals and two cleaners here to keep up with cleaning. All cleaning and checks completed by lunchtime. Both cottages here by 3.15, one has been before. This gave us the afternoon to start emptying Chris’s study and other jobs. At least it was drier by the evening. Tuesday was not as bad a day as forecast. There were some long sunny spells in the afternoon and somehow we missed the showers. A last minute booking in the morning for the evening saw me scurrying around to finish cleaning a cottage and do final checks on another. First cottage here just after 3pm, they have been before, after which I went to Bakewell to get some provisions for the 
next few days. Second cottage arrived at 8pm. I noticed that there is some hay making taking place in the distance when I took the dogs out. Wednesday was a fair day, cool with some drizzle and we even saw some sunshine later in the afternoon. No departures but one arrival later in the day so I only had the final checks to do. The rest of the morning went on accounts and I finalised last quarters accounts. A surprising number of bookings for a Wednesday which was nice. I also spent some time looking at the Valuation Office Agency form that we have to complete for business rates for the cottages every few years. I think it will take some time to complete as it is asking for a lot more information than last time. Chris has almost completed emptying his study. Cottage arrived 10pm. Here are the photos of the Over Haddon well dressing.
Bakewell Carnival
So it was a misty start to Saturday at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell see here, but by 10am the sun was starting to shine through. Two departures and two arrivals, both have been before, and one cleaner here. All cleaning and checks finished by lunchtime. With the roads in Bakewell being closed from 3pm for the carnival we had allowed the guests early arrival and one had arrived before we set off to Bakewell ourselves. We parked by the school and walked down to the centre in time to find a good spot to see the carnival procession on a sunny warm afternoon. Bakewell was very busy and we watched the Carnival on Matlock Street as it headed to Bath Street and made its way back along Bridge Street before returning along Matlock Street to the recreation ground. After the carnival had passed back we walked back to the car and drove round to Over Haddon stopping first at the Garden Tea room for tea and cake and a natter with Karen and Mark. Then we stopped at the well dressings and I was relieved to see the rain had not damaged them. Final stop the pub for a beer tapas and by the time we got home the second cottage had arrived so we went and said hello. Sunday was fine for most of the day with warm sunny spells. Four departures and one arrival and Chris and I turned a cottage round. A quiet afternoon with Chris doing some preparation work so he can redecorate his study. A couple of heavy passing showers broke the afternoon sunshine but it was a fine evening in the end. Cottage arrived just after 4pm. Enjoy some carnival photos.
Talking about the weather
Thursday was a cloudy but warm day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here). The lightening storm was a real talking point around here as it had been seen all over north Derbyshire and South Yorkshire and we think it was mainly over the Manchester area as planes for Manchester airport were apparently being stacked. No departures but two arrivals and one cleaner here. Down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend. A day of cow moving for Andrew and for a change we have no cows in our fields, at least for a few days. Blue is happy! After lunch I went back to Over Haddon to help with a little more petaling, this time I was putting in silver leaf. Again the lightening was a topic of conversation. More storms were forecast for Friday night and as the well dressings would be up by then I was more worried they could be damaged by heavy rain. Back just after 4.30 when both cottages, both of which have been before, had arrived so I had a chat with them. By then it was raining and a couple of hours rain cleared the air and the temperature dropped but some more 
warm weather is forecast. When I took the dogs out in the evening I could see they were hay making towards Monyash. Friday was another warm day but it was sunnier than Thursday. Three departures and two arrivals and one cleaner here. Chris fed plants and hanging baskets and cut the grass and I did some paperwork and accounts. All cleaning and checks completed before lunch. First cottage here at 3.30, they were here last before we arrived, and second cottage at 6pm. Luckily the overnight storm kept a safe distance although it did wake us up, but it did really rain hard.
A hot start to July
Having enjoyed a warm end to June, July got off to a hot start on Wednesday at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here). No arrivals or departures and a quiet start to the day. Our cleaner with the broken wrist came up for coffee and we sat in the shade on the patio and it wasn’t until we went through to the courtyard that we could feel the real heat and humidity. In the end our weather station recorded a high of 29.8 deg c, the highest temperature since we had the weather station. At lunchtime a brief passing storm wet the ground but it was just as hot and humid afterwards. After lunch we had a short ride out to Calver Garden Centre to pick up some plant food and slug killer then had a nice drive back via Monyash where I picked up an ice cream. We left the dogs behind. When we got back Chris watered the plants and I dealt with some bookings and payments. Still also need to finish off last quarters accounts. As the temperature held we had dinner on the patio and stayed out until 9pm when it was still 22degrees. It looked like being a nice sunset so I went up to the back field to take some photos. Just before we went to bed I went out to close the door to the leisure area and spotted some lightening. Although not overhead there was an amazing lightening display going on in what must have been a huge cloud formation, but there was no thunder. Chris went out to look at it too and contemplated taking photos and afterwards wished he had.
June’s weather stats. Highest temp 25.6 deg C on 30th which was warmest day and night. Until then highest temp had been 20.9 deg C on 16th with warmest day 27th and night 25th. Lowest temp 3.4 deg C on 1st which was coldest day and night and wettest day with .83 inches rain. Total rain for month 2.12 inches (2014 1.39 inches).
Bakewell well dressings
Sunday started dull and drizzly at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here) but it brightened up in the afternoon. A quiet day for us with two departures but no arrivals. One cottage here for a second week. Did some housework and later in the day we went down to Bakewell to have a look at the well dressings while they were still fresh particularly with some warm weather being predicted. Monday was a fine day with one departure and two arrivals. One cleaner here. A busy afternoon for phone calls and emails and both cottages here by 3.30, one had been before. Later in the afternoon Fay, Andrew and Joanna’s daughter called in for a couple of hours and it was nice to have a chat. The right weather conditions meant a number of hot air balloons in the sky in the evening so that kept the dogs occupied. Tuesday was a fine warm day with a beautiful blue sky all day. One departure but no arrivals. Tuesday handyman here and Chris and he did some more odd jobs outside and some logging despite the heat. A morning of odd jobs for me and as we had planned a picnic in the evening I also made up various salads. Due to the heat we kept the dogs in most of the day. After lunch I went down to Over Haddon and helped with the well dressing for a while. I put in some peppercorns, coffee beans and pine cones. Chris helped get the cows in, they were very reluctant to go in and after he got back we packed the ruck sacks and with the dogs headed out towards Sheldon. We had our picnic at the top of Kirk Dale, it was such a lovely evening. Enjoy all the photos!
A little relaxation
Thursday was a lazy day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here). Well I guess we can have a lazy day sometimes. Having said that I took advantage of the nice weather to do some extra washing. One departure. My sister called in about midday with her partner, they have just had a break in Scarborough and were on their way home. Sister and I popped to Chatsworth Farm Shop where we got some lunch then spent a relaxing few hours having lunch and a natter on the patio. They left late afternoon and we had an early tea as Joanna and I were collected by one of the ex Over Haddon WI ladies and together with Lynne we went to Tideswell. We had arranged to meet up with some of the other ex Over Haddon WI ladies so we could have a look at the well dressings. It had turned into a nice evening so after our stroll we had a drink at the George. Friday morning was a bit dull and drizzly but it was still mild and it felt warmer in the afternoon when the sun finally came out. Two departures and three arrivals and two cleaners here. First arrival here at 3.30 with second at 7pm and final one at 8.30pm. Chris watered the plants and hanging baskets and I did a number of odd jobs. Saturday was another fine warm day. Two departures and two arrivals and one cleaner here. Down to Bakewell first thing as it was the Farmers Market. Bakewell was very busy as it was also the beginning of Carnival Week and Saturday was International Dance day, although it hadn’t started by the time I left. Additionally Dogs Unleashed was at the show ground so there were a lot of dogs around too. Back home and cleaning and checks finished by lunchtime. Both cottages here by 3.30. Some odd jobs during the afternoon and Chris cut the grass. Made the most of the pleasant evening by relaxing for a change. Relaxing twice in three days, whatever next!