Looking to Bluebell

Sunday was a lovely November day at our Peak District cottages near Bakewell (see here).  One departure but no arrivals. Got the paper from Ashford to avoid the Remembrance Service in Bakewell.  Mark and Karen from the Garden Tearoom in Over Haddon joined us for coffee and with a few vacant cottages we showed them around.  By the time we had finished coffee and a tour it was nearly lunchtime!  Stocked up on logs in the afternoon and then some jobs around the house.  An early dinner for the dogs so we could go to Buxton where we took advantage of the tapas meal deal at the Flamenco Restaurant.  We then walked to the Opera House as we had tickets for a performance of ‘Never Forget’ with the Tideswell Male Voice Choir and Corus Brass Ensemble plus soloists.  The performance saw a selection of songs and music with links to conflicts over the last couple of hundred years with the highlight being a solo

Watching the wagtail

performance by one of our neighbour’s (Green Cowden) sons who sings with the Tideswell choir.  His performance was very good and well received by the audience.  Monday also stayed fine.  No arrivals or departures but one cleaner here to keep up with cleaning and another to help with painting furniture.  They will also be helping with some maintenance work during our quieter spells.  Chris had some jobs in vacant cottages.  For me a day of planning as we will be busier later in the week but with a couple of quiet weeks ahead I took to walking around vacant cottages with pen, pad and tape measure. Chris worries when I do this because he knows I end up giving him lists of things to do!

Sorry!

Thursday was a cooler day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see link) and by the afternoon we had some rain.  At least the guests here this week have had a good run of dry weather.  No departures or arrivals so on with jobs.  Chris went and got some plumbing supplies from Bakewell and I washed some curtains from vacant cottages.  Also did some accounts.  Friday 7th November was a wet day, by the time we got up we had had almost half inch of rain.  The milk cows are now in for the winter as the grass is not growing and with all the rain the ground is quite boggy.  No departures but one arrival and one cleaner here.  It turned much wetter in the afternoon so by the end of the day we had had nearly an inch of rain.  Seemed to be continually wiping the dogs dry!  A day of odd jobs in the house and vacant cottages.  Cottage arrived about 9.30 pm,

paying the price of getting muddy!

they have been before.  Saturday got off to a wet start but dried up during the afternoon. Four departures and one arrival and two cleaners here to keep up with cleaning.  I like to have a couple of prepared cottages just in case of a last minute booking.   Did some more work on next years prices and finally ordered the spring bulbs as well as a new cooker hood for one of the cottages.  Cottage arrived at 4pm.  A good clear evening for firework displays, could see some from here, but Chris took the dogs out on leads for their evening walk  just to be safe as they do not like the sound of fireworks.

Monday saw one departure with no arrivals at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here) and one cleaner  to keep up with cleaning.   Another lovely day so nice to see all guests going off for walks.  Would love to have gone off with them but our turn will come again.  With guests in for the week a chance to catch breath and think about work to be done over the next couple of weeks leading up to Christmas.  In the evening Chris went to the photographic society and I caught up on watching videos.  Woke up Tuesday morning to one of those inversion days where the mist and murk were in the dales and we were in the glorious sunshine.  Popped out a couple of times to take photos.  No departures or arrivals so various jobs round the cottages and some items ordered on line.  Handyman here to help Chris with more general tidying up and pruning outside whilst it was dry albeit a little colder than previous days.  Even at this time of year we get prospective guests calling in to have a look round and pick up a brochure while they are passing.  Dark clouds highlighted a colourful sunset so out again for some photos.  Wednesday 5th November had a nip in the air but was still another dry day.  Chris had some jobs to do in the vacant cottages and in the morning I did some WI work as we had our monthly committee meeting at Joanna’s in the afternoon. The afternoon went quickly as when I got back we had a visitor so the next thing I knew it was tea time.  Chris took the dogs out after their tea so he could be with them as although there were no fireworks in the near vicinity there were some in the distance.

Thursday was another mild day although overcast at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see link).  Three departures but no arrivals and one cleaner here. Time for jobs in the cottages and a trip to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend.  The latest Bakewell news is that there is a rival supermarket proposal for the site adjacent to the one proposed by Aldi so watch this space.  Also there had been a question mark as to whether the Bakewell Christmas Market would go ahead but a company has stepped in at the last minute to make sure it goes ahead.  Friday 31st October was a warm day hitting 16.5C degrees.  Three departures and three arrivals and two cleaners here.  Time for some jobs like hanging up new curtains.  Two cottages here between 4and 5pm with final arrival here just before 7pm.  One is here for a photography course.  A couple of bookings too.  Saturday was another sunny, mild day despite being the first of November.  Two departures and four arrivals and one cleaner up.  Some cottages already prepared.  A few more jobs in cottages before guests arrived.  Three arrived between 3 and 3.30 and final one just before 5pm, all have been before and all are in for the week which is nice for the time of year.  It was quite breezy in the evening.  Sunday was a fine day with two departures but no arrivals.  A day of chatting to guests and odd jobs after getting the paper from Bakewell.  A dry, clear evening and managed to catch a glimpse of the fireworks at Chatsworth from the office.

October’s weather statistics:

Highest temp 17.5C on 1st with 18th warmest day and 17th warmest night.  Lowest temp 3.4C on 7th with coldest day 7th and coldest night 4th.  Wettest day 6th with 0.6 inches rain with total for month 2.72 inches (Oct 2013 5.4 inches).

Smudge gives pheasant collie stare from lounge window

Monday 27th October didn’t feel like the end of October at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here). One departure and four arrivals and two cleaners here.  It was very mild but breezy as we all went about our duties and everything ready for guests arrivals.   Some of the cows went back over the road to Andrews’ fields and the milk cows are allowed in earlier in the day if weather is iffy.  Grass is not growing so much now.  Three cottages arrived around 3pm, two have been before.  Final cottage not here until 9pm, they have been before, so time for other jobs.  Must order the spring bulbs for the troughs.  Tuesday was even milder, almost spring like.  Two departures and two arrivals and one cleaner here.  With the mild weather Chris and handyman took advantage of the day to do outside jobs including some pruning.  Chris also cleared the lawns of leaves and took down the hanging baskets.  Shame.  I noticed we have a couple of squirrels living in the copse, they are getting very bold, one even sat and watched me in reception the other day, as did our resident pheasant that seems to have returned for winter.  First cottage here just before 4pm, by which time it started raining, they have been before, and final cottage arrived about 7pm. Wednesday was a bit cooler.  No departures or arrivals so we took advantage of a quiet day to got to Bookers.  We set off for an early lunch stopping at  Marsh Green Farm shop for lunch and some provisions before heading to Bookers.  Overdue a trip to as just on the verge of running out of toilet rolls!  From here we went to Dunelm to pick up a few bits before heading home for a quiet evening.

Blue at the ready

Monday was a fair day with a few drizzly showers at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here). One departure and two arrivals and one cleaner here.  Time is approaching when we will be starting our winter maintenance programme and already we have identified some items that needed replacement so I ordered a new oven and two dishwashers.  Chris also ordered a number of electrical items.  Whilst at it I also did an internet supermarket shop for later in the week.  First cottage arrived at 3.30 and second one at 5.30, both have been before.  Chris went down to Bakewell for the photographic club meeting.  Tuesday 21st October saw the tail of hurricane Gonzalo hit the UK.  After a wet night Tuesday morning saw the better of the weather.  Two departures and one arrival and one cleaner here.  Chris cleared a leaf from the rain gauge again as it was showing hardly any rainfall.  The afternoon turned a lot more stormy.  Hail, squally showers, even a rumble of thunder that upset the dogs.

waiting for action

New oven arrived in the middle of a down pour.  A brief respite mid afternoon when luckily the cottage arrived, they have been before.  By the end of the day the trees were looking quite bereft of leaves and the courtyard quite untidy.  The hanging baskets had survived though one came down bringing the bracket with it.  At least by Wednesday it had calmed down so Chris was able to get out and clear the courtyard of leaves.  A quiet day so time to catch up with odd jobs and WI work but took some bookings.  Often get emailed questions from potential bookings which result in research.  Today I looked into hiring mobility aids.  More deliveries so Chris now has two dishwashers and an oven to install this weekend!

trees in leaf

Friday started fine and it matured into a lovely October day at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here).  Four departures and one arrival and two cleaners here to keep up with cleaning.  Down to Bakewell in the morning to get provisions for the weekend.  I considered having lunch outside it felt so nice but it clouded up temporarily at the wrong time, never mind, at least it was nice walking around the courtyard as I went from cottage to cottage.  Chris cleared leaves from the courtyard and car park, think our leaves will disappear from the trees before they change colour.  Arrival here just after 3pm, they have been before so it left me the afternoon to do bits and pieces including some preparations for Saturday.  Saturday 18 October was a fine and mild day but it clouded up later in the day.  Two departures and four arrivals but one cleaner here as some cottages already prepared. Chris went to collect a sofa for one of the cottages with Andrew.  Two arrivals here between 3and 3.30, one has been before with remaining two here just after 4.30, both have been before.  Time for paperwork before sitting down in the evening.  Sunday saw another fine day with a little more breeze about.  A quiet day for us with paperwork the priority for the day with the main focus completing the VAT return and paying the bill!

Bolehill in its autumnal setting

Tuesday was a cooler overcast day with some showers at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here). Aim of the day was to complete the WI accounts and get them signed off before posting them to the auditor.  This was achieved by 4.30 which included a trip into Bakewell to see the President.  During the day there was one departure and one arrival at about 4pm.  Cottage already cleaned.  The Bakewell Photographic Society used the games room in the afternoon to select photos for a competition so Chris spent some time with them.  Wednesday 15 October got off to a murky start but brightened up and felt a bit milder.  In the morning I went down to Bakewell to post the WI accounts and tax returns and get some provisions for the next few days.  The afternoon went on paperwork, mainly Bolehill accounts so I can finish last quarters accounts to complete the VAT return.  One arrival here just after 3pm.  Cottage already prepared.  Thursday was a lovely mild day.  One departure and one arrival and one cleaner up.  As we hadn’t been out for a while I suggested lunch out. We headed over to Hassop but it was busy so we drove round to Edensor where we were able to sit at a table outside in the sun. We had taken the dogs with us too. After lunch we walked up to the churchyard and went to find the Dowager Duchesses grave. Hard to believe it was two weeks ago that I was here for the funeral.  Home via the farm shop and back in time for guests arrival.  They have been before.  Reconciled the last of the accounts from the last quarter and checked figures so we can finalise the vat return over the weekend.  Some preparations for the weekend which looks as if it could be quite mild.