I had been looking forward to Saturday at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here) as it was the Farmers Market and Bakewell Food Festival.  Two departures and two arrivals and cleaner here while I was down in Bakewell.  Had a wander around the Farmers Market after which I had a look around the food festival.  A lot more stalls than last year and it was getting busy by the time I left for home.  Cleaning finished by midday and after checks had an early lunch.  A few showers from lunchtime onwards and we stocked up on logs in between showers as we are expecting some cooler weather.  First guests here at 3pm and second ones here at 4.30, both have been before. Finally completed the VAT return so now I can think about starting this quarters accounts.  Initially the forecast for Sunday was wet and cold it turned out dry sunny and cold.  One departure after which we went down to Bakewell to get the paper.  We had a wander around the Food Festival with the dogs and there were a few different stalls and a few new ones compared with Saturday.  It was warm in the sun (but cool in the shade) so we came back via Over Haddon to have coffee at the Garden Tearoom but they were closed.  The rest of the day went in housework for me and Chris did some outside painting jobs.  Monday was another sunny day with blue skies and a cool breeze during the morning but it clouded up in the afternoon.  One departure and one arrival with one cleaner here.  A number of bookings and a disrupted lunch (three times) as laundry, rubbish and post all arrived within a few minutes of each other much later than usual.  Cottage arrived at 3.30.  Chris spent the day on various jobs around the vacant cottages and I spent time doing the first draft of the prices and dates for next year as we are already getting enquiries.

I had planned a walk from Linacre Reservoirs for Wednesday.  They are between Baslow and Chesterfield so not far from our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here) but are just outside the Peak District.  It was a gloriously sunny and warm day for April and the air quality was very good.  As we were driving to the reservoirs I thought we should have done a walk on the Edges.  We were following a walk by Sally Mosley who composes walks for Derbyshire Life and writes in the Peak Advertiser.  She lives in Over Haddon and had talked to our WI.  After parking at the reservoirs we picked up a path passing the lower reservoir and headed out to Old Brampton.  Here we stopped and looked in the church and also at the clock face that has 63 minutes on it!  From here we crossed the minor road that goes to Chesterfield via Ashgate (I sometimes drive this way to Chesterfield)  and headed cross country.  We enjoyed the rolling countryside views and could make out the crooked spire of Chesterfield parish church in the distance.  Picking up a quiet lane we passed a number of farms, mainly equestrian, before we headed back to the minor road.  From our lunch spot outside Hollins we could make out the reservoirs.  Soon we were on the banks of Birley Brook which led to the upper reservoir.  No longer supplying Chesterfield with water the Reservoirs are run by Derbyshire County Council and Severn Trent Water for recreation purposes.  The woodland was mainly deciduous so in autumn would be worth a visit for the colours.  Bluebells were starting to come through so in another couple of weeks will look very nice. After the middle reservoir we headed back to the car after a five and a half mile walk.  We came back via Chatsworth Farm Shop where we picked up some tea and bumped into our friends from Ashford.  Still had enough energy for a walk in the evening with the dogs and had a nice sunset as a reward . Enjoy the photos.

Monday saw a foggy start at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here) but the sun soon got to work on it and by mid morning we had wonderful sunshine.  Three departures (all had been here for a week) and one arrival with two cleaners here to keep up with cleaning.  A busy Monday though with rubbish and laundry collections and I did some more updating of guest guides.  Chris did some painting jobs in vacant cottages.  Guests arrived at 4pm.  In the evening I went to the village hall committee meeting and Chris set up the projector for the Photographic Society although he didn’t stay for the meeting.  A nice sunset as I drove to the hall.  Tuesday 21st April was a glorious sunny warm day.  Blue tried to join a couple of guests for breakfast and left a trail of wet footprints across their kitchen floor but that was soon sorted.  My plan had been to do WI accounts (I still have some to finish from the old WI) in the morning and go to Sainsbury’s in the afternoon.  Instead I opted for odd jobs in the morning including washing some door mats to dry in the nice weather and pottering in the garden in the afternoon.  I also went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the next couple of days.  Chris and handyman spent the day on outside jobs. The first hot air balloon of the season passed by the back of us early in the evening, luckily the dogs did not spot it.  Later I collected Joanna and we went to the Bakewell WI where the speaker was the Manager of the Bakewell Show so we learnt a bit about its history and what goes into putting on the show.

Thursday was a fine day but cooler than of late at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here).  A quiet catch up day spent on accounts and housework.  Chris went down to the Village Hall to install some computer equipment for them and I rounded off the day walking the dogs.  Although the cows are out during the day they are back in the sheds overnight for the moment.  The grass is most probably at its greenest but the ground is very dry and cracked in places so it won’t be long before farmers will be asking for rain. Friday 17 April was another fine day with a cool breeze.  Two departures but no arrivals and two cleaners here keeping up with cleaning.  Down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend. The rest of the day went on jobs in vacant cottages and I finally finished last quarter’s accounts.  Chris cut the grass.  Saturday saw almost wall to wall sunshine but the wind took the edge of the temperature. Three departures and two arrivals and two cleaners here to keep up with cleaning.  We spent some time updating the guest folders, particularly places to eat, but no sooner do we update it then something else changes.  A little bit of paper work for me before guests arrived, first one at 4.30 and second one at 5.15, both have been before.  Still nice and sunny when took the dogs out in the evening. Sunday was forecast to be cool and showery but it turned out brighter than forecast.  No departures or arrivals and Chris did some odd jobs in vacant cottages while I caught up on personal paperwork and planned the week ahead.

Last week it still felt like winter at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here) but suddenly on Easter Monday it was if summer had arrived.  There was mist in the dales first thing but that soon disappeared and the temperature peaked at 17 degrees.  It was a lovely sunny clear day.  So much for the cloudy and 12 degrees but who’s complaining.  Four departures and four arrivals and two cleaners here.  With it being so nice Chris got out the umbrellas for the patio tables.  It was nice enough to have coffee, lunch and afternoon tea on our patio.  Some guests had breakfast outside.  For the first time this year I put washing out to dry and also washed some door mats.  Everything ready by 3pm and two cottages arrived just after 3pm.  A gap with final arrivals at 5 and 5.30 so caught up with emails and house jobs.  Another nice evening so took the dogs for a walk.  Tuesday was not as warm or sunny but still better than expected for the time of year.  One guest was suffering from sunburn!  One departure and one arrival with cottage already cleaned.  A planned power outage for essential maintenance work was the main feature of the day so guests had been advised in advance of the situation.  We were prepared to lose power from 9am but when power was still on at 11.30 Chris phoned the power company only to be told the outage had been cancelled.  It would have been nice if someone had told us.  With it being so nice both of us spent time on outside jobs.  Accounts can wait for another day.  A quick trip down to Bakewell as I needed some compost and other gardening bits.  Cottage arrived just after 4pm.   In the evening we went to Piedaniels for a meal with Joanna and Andrew which we all enjoyed.  Here are the photos from Middleton Top on Sunday.