winner bird carving

Sunday 14 September was a fair day. One departure and no arrivals at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here).  Decided to go down to Bakewell to have a look at the wood carving competition and didn’t have to queue long to get through the road works.  Found our guest had been awarded the British championship for one of her works.  We left about 11am and the traffic coming into Bakewell along the A6 was stationery as far as the entrance to the Agricultural Centre. We came back via Youlgrave and Over Haddon where we stopped for tea and cake at the Garden Tearoom.  It was almost lunchtime before we got home so a late lunch and jobs around the house in the afternoon.  In the evening we were back at Over Haddon for the first film of the season at the village hall.  The Grand Budapest Hotel was a comedy adventure film and very enjoyable.  Monday started dull and it brightened up a little but we had a few spots of rain during the day.  One departure and two arrivals and one cleaner here.  Chris watered and fed the plants again.  Both guests here by 3.30, one has been before.  Time for some catchup work before an early tea so Chris could go to the first night of the new season at the Photographic Society.  Tuesday was forecast fine but cloudier so it was nice to see the sun out by mid morning and blue skies until late afternoon.  Spent the morning on WI accounts.  After lunch I went down to Bakewell and got some provisions for the next few days.  As it was a bit quieter I was able to come back through Bakewell rather than drive round via Ashford.  I only queued for ten minutes to get through the traffic lights both ways.  It was very warm in Bakewell.  Back home prepared the advert for the 2015 Peak District Visitor Guide before chatting to my friend in Yorkshire.

Friday started dull at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here) and although it brightened up it wasn’t as warm as previous days.  Took my sister to Chesterfield Station first thing then came back via Bakewell where I was able to park without any problems.  Got the provisions for the weekend and drove the long way home (via Ashford) as the queue for traffic into Bakewell by mid morning was already past Newholme Hospital.  One departure and one arrival and one cleaner here.  Afternoon went in catch up work and chatting with guests and a couple of them made bookings for next year.  Chris went down to Bakewell to get some maintenance items and got caught in traffic which had been exacerbated by an accident.  Guests arrived about 5pm, they have been a few times before and were here for the National Bird Carving Competition being held in Bakewell.  Still managing to take the dogs out in the evening – just!  Saturday 13 September was a busy day with four departures and five arrivals and two cleaners.  With early departures cleaning was quickly under way and most was completed by midday.  After coffee I popped down to Over Haddon Village Hall as it was village show day and I had decided to enter the limerick category so took my entries down.  Wished I had taken camera to photograph the hall.  A number of minor maintenance jobs for Chris.  Elsewhere cow movement was going on and a late morning passing balloon got the dogs going.  Chris cut the grass after lunch and by 3.30 two cottages had arrived, both had been before.  A gap with next cottage here by 4.30 and final two around 5pm, one has been before. Had hoped to get back to the village hall for the auction of produce after the show, perhaps next year.  A late afternoon balloon got the dogs going again.  Last Night of the Proms so summer must be drawing to a close especially as I have noticed that the leaves are changing colour.

Down to the Farmers Market first thing on Saturday from our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here). Some of the usual stands were missing but there was a display of the proposed White Peak loop which would complete a cycle circuit around the the White Peak.  It is hoped that work on the link from Matlock to Rowsley will start next year. Plenty of traffic heading to Chatsworth with 60,000 visitors expected over the weekend!   Three departures and three arrivals and one cleaner here.   A bit drizzly at times in the morning but bright enough in the afternoon for Chris to cut the grass and feed the hanging baskets.  Cleaning and checks completed well before gusts arrived.  First arrived at 4pm, next at 5pm and final one at 6.30.  All have been before.  Time for paper work and chats with guests in between arrivals.  Sunday was a pleasant day.  One departure but no arrivals.  Invited one of the cottages for coffee and a chat in the morning and after an early lunch we did some bits around the house. took a break to go into the fields at the back to watch the display of the Hurricane and Spitfire over the Chatsworth Fair.  The Countryfile programme in the evening was from the Staffordshire Moorlands and featured Lud’s Church and the Roaches which we pass on the way to Leek.  Monday started a bit wet but brightened up mid morning.  Two departures and two arrivals and one cleaner here.  Usual Monday chores and everything ready by lunchtime.  Chris seemed to spend most of the day helping others with web site problems.  I spent the afternoon on accounts and  getting a room ready for our friends from Yorkshire who are coming to stay for a few days.  First guests here just after 3pm and second cottage here just after 4pm.  Catching some nice sunsets at the moment but soon it will be too dark to take the dogs for a walk after dinner.

August’s weather statistics.  Highest temp of 21 on 4th which was warmest day and 5th warmest night.  Lowest temp of 6.3 on 24th with 25th coldest day and 23rd coldest night.  8th was wettest day with .72 in rain with 3.57 in for August (2.73 in for Aug 2013).

A damp and dreary start to Tuesday at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see link) and began to think it would be a rerun of Monday but we saw some sunshine later in the day. With no departures but one arrival (cottage already prepared) decided to have a blitz on housework – it needs to be done.  Cottage arrived about 5pm, they have been before.  Chris did some decorating jobs around the house and despite yesterday’s weather, watered the hanging baskets.  Enjoyed another nice sunset when took dogs out. Wednesday started dull but soon brightened up and by lunchtime it was beginning to feel like summer again!  Bits and pieces in the morning and went to Buxton to do a supermarket shop in the afternoon. Thursday 28 August was a pleasant day.  Two departures and two arrivals and one cleaner here.  Later in the morning I went down to Bakewell taking two guests with me as their car had broken down and was being repaired. Got some provisions for the next few days.  A couple of times it clouded over but we didn’t see any showers and it felt much warmer than of late.  First guests arrived just after 4pm, they have been before, as have the second cottage that arrived just after 5pm.  Both are here to visit the Chatsworth Country Fair which starts Friday. In the evening spent some time chatting to one of the guests who had walked on Kinder Scout, they showed us the route they took.  My next challenge is to do that walk!  Friday saw three departures and three arrivals and one cleaner.  A busy morning with some bookings and final checks on cottages.  A fine but breezy start with a deterioration later in the afternoon.  First guests arrived at 3pm with further guests at 4and 5.30.  All are here for the first time.  Chris had to water plants again and in the evening I took the dogs out and got caught in a downpour!

Friday 22nd August was a busy day at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here).  Two departures and two arrivals and one cleaner here.  Down to Bakewell first thing to get provisions for the long weekend.  The day went in preparations for arriving guests, preparations for Saturday and chatting with guests.  Chris was doing jobs in the house and watered the baskets again.  Like most of the week just gone showers passed us by apart from a few light ones in the morning.  After a cold night  Saturday started fine.  Six departures and five arrivals and three cleaners here.  With some early departure we were able to get a good start on cleaning. Chris managed to cut the grass and I finished the checks with time before guests arrived.  Two here between 3and 3.30, one had been before, and three arrived just before 5pm , two have been before.  At least Sunday was a pleasant day.  Jobs around the house in the morning and in the afternoon we did our usual August Bank Holiday outing and visited the open gardens of Bakewell.  People come from quite a way to do the open gardens. Proceeds go to charity.  Took the dogs as usual, although we didn’t take them in all the gardens, but we enjoyed our stroll around Bakewell.  The trail passed the Old House Museum which is worth a visit so we promised ourselves we would do that again.   Finished at the Naughty and Nice cafe before heading home.  Monday was probably the worst August Bank Holiday Monday I have known.  Cold misty and wet.  Looked more like November than August.  Three departures and three arrivals and two cleaners here.  Managed to get everything done without getting too wet despite the rain. Guests, all new to Bolehill, arrived between 3and 4pm.  At least it wasn’t raining so hard when I took the dogs out in the evening.

Had planned a heather walk for Wednesday 20 August from our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here) but with the forecast showing showers from lunchtime we stayed at home and found other things to do.  Probably too late now to get any other heather walks in.  Chris is still working on the new website and I did some proof reading on what he has done so far.  Mid morning the rowing up machine started work on Andrews fields and after lunch the grass was collected so that is Andrew’s second silage done for this year.  This is the first time in three years he hasn’t had to supplement grass with extra feed.   Found time for housework and spent time chatting with guests.  A couple of times the sky clouded up or we could see showers in the distance but we didn’t see any rain here until late afternoon so we probably could have gone for a walk.  That’s the problem with showers.  One cottage braved a BBQ in the evening.  Another showery day was forecast for Thursday so we opted for a drive over to Macclesfield.  On the way over the Cat and Fiddle we were treated to some vistas of heather.  We stopped at the Peak View cafe for coffee then visited the Arighi Bianchi store which I always enjoy browsing around.  It has a nice cafe too.  We had some bits to get from town and ordered the bathroom flooring for Derwent as we are not likely to be back before Christmas. On the way back it drizzled a bit and it continued to do so during the evening.  Some of the heifers had been moved into the silaged fields to munch round the edges. It had been a cool day and I have noticed how quickly it is getting dark in the evening.

Mid August at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here) and it was much cooler on Sunday but despite the forecast we had very few showers although it was breezy.  No arrivals or departures so a day of jobs in vacant cottage and house.  Monday 18 August stayed mainly dry with a few showers at lunchtime.  No departures but one arrival and one cleaner here.  Thought Andrew might start silaging but there was no machinery in evidence.  Chris went out to prune some bushes and spent most of the day pruning shrubs and bushes around the gardens and courtyard.  I spent some time on paper work before cottage arrived about 5pm.  The forecast for Tuesday was showery but in fact it turned into a pleasant day although with a cool breeze.  No arrivals or departures  so took advantage  of the dry morning to do some outdoor work.  After lunch we went down to Bakewell to get some provisions for the next few days.  There will be some disruption to traffic over the next couple of months as new gas pipes are laid and certain roads are closed.  When we first moved here they were laying new sewage pipes and there were a couple of months diversions then.  On the way back home we popped into Green Cowden Farm and stayed for a cup of tea and a chat.  They had sold some sheep and got a reasonable price but prices are low at the moment with one of the reasons being Ramadan when less lamb is eaten.  By the time we got home silaging was under way so I took the dogs for a walk in the cut fields.  They are only cutting two fields this time so the mowing was finished by the evening.  Look at the difference in the height of grass in twenty four hours!  Another lovely sunset too.