Sunday was forecast to be a showery day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here).  No departures and down to Bakewell to get the paper.  As we found a parking space we had a walk around the food festival. They were filming an episode of a new TV programme called Antique Map of Britain.  If you hear a dog bark in the background that was Blue woofing! Otherwise it was a quiet day at home with Chris and Smudge helping to bring in the cows for milking.  No showers so the weekend’s weather had been much better than forecast.  Monday was a fine day and off to a warm start.  Three departures and two arrivals and one cleaner here.  It was nearly 11am before we stopped chatting to guests on their way out for the day. Chris took advantage of the nice day to do some weed killing.  I took advantage of the nice weather to wash some curtains. First cottage here by 3.30 with second ones arriving just before 8pm when I was off to the Village Hall Committee Meeting. They are from New Zealand.  It had been a pleasantly warm day and Tuesday was the same.  No departures or arrivals but one cleaner and handyman here too.  He and Chris did some more logging and I had planned to spend the day doing accounts but I decided to potter around the garden and repot some plants.  Later in the afternoon I went down to Bakewell to collect one of the New Zealand guests and as they only have a few days I took her round to Ashford so she could see another side to the area.  The grass is really growing fast now and this year our fields are full of dandelions, apparently because of the mild wet winter we have been told.

Thursday 24 April was another pleasant spring day at our cottages near Bakewell (see here).  No departures or arrivals but cleaner here to keep up with cleaning.  Had one of those days where I couldn’t decide what to do.  Chris decided to do some painting in a vacant cottages.  I went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the next couple of days.  After lunch I decided to wash the car but I took a break to watch some of the dry cows come over to our fields.In the last week the grass has really started to grow and the cows are over here a couple of weeks earlier than usual.  I have noticed that our cherry blossom is not far off blossoming and the trees are just coming into leaf.  Friday was a contrast weather wise.  Cold dismal and damp. No departures but three arrivals and one cleaner.  With no arrivals until later in the day I spent some time getting this months accounts up straight.  First cottage here at 6.30 with second one at 8.30 and final one at 10 pm, two have been before. Saturday started overcast but it had brightened up by mid morning. I was down to Bakewell early leaving Chris to deal with three departures.  First to the farmers market and then I had a wander around the streets where the Bakewell Food Festival was taking place.  Over two days Saturday and Sunday it is now an established weekend event on the Bakewell calendar. Made a couple of food purchase and also bumped into the people we know from Ashford so had a chat with them before returning home.  Cleaning well under way and Chris took advantage of the fine weather to cut the lawns.  Four cottages arrived between 3and 4pm, all have been before so by the time we had a chat with them all and a cup of tea and piece of cake with one (thank you) it was almost tea time.  A nice sunset led to some interesting colours for photographs.

Monday 14/4 saw two departures and one arrival at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here).  One cleaner up and handyman here too.  He and Chris concentrated on the tree that blew over in the paddock in the winter storms.  As most of it landed in one of the fields that the cows use in summer, now that the ground is firm enough, Chris thought it time to remove it.  They spent most of the day logging up the big branches and trunk.  Cleaner and I spent some time doing jobs including more carpet cleaning as it was so mild.  Guests arrived about 4pm.   As it was a nice evening I took the dogs out for a walk.  Tuesday saw one departure and two arrivals and one cleaner up.  It was nice enough to put some washing out to dry.  Down to Bakewell in the morning to get some provisions for the next few days as well as items for the WI supper we are hosting on Wednesday. Back to find Andrew and his apprentice repairing our stone walls in readiness for the cows coming over.  Chris and handyman were still working on the tree and also transported all the logs round to the log store.  Found time for some more jobs in cottages before first guests arrived at 3pm.  Then I spent some time finalising the quiz I had devised for the WI supper.  Second cottage arrived just after 5.30, they have been before and are from Australia.  We are still having cold nights so I have still been covering up some tender shrubs in the evenings to be safe.

Friday 11/4 was a lovely day at our cottages near Bakewell (see here).  Two departures and two arrivals and one cleaner up.  Handyman up again and they carried on with cleaning of outside furniture .  I went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend and felt it was noticeably busier. If you have been to Bakewell lately you will have noticed they have been revamping the Co-Op and Friday was the official opening of the new look store.  having known where everything was for ten years it will probably take ages to find things now.  Guests delayed by motorway accidents and heavy traffic and arrived at 5pm and 7pm.  I had time to catch up with paper work and do some preparations for Saturday.  With a  frost forecast I covered my camellia with fleece as it is about to flower for the first time in two years.  Saturday was disappointing weather wise feeling a lot cooler with a bit of brightness in the afternoon before light rain set in for a while in the evening.  Four departures and three arrivals and two cleaners here. Chris cut the grass late morning. First arrival at 3.30 with next two both just after 4.30, all have been before. We were down at the farm at 9am on Sunday morning to see the milk cows come out for the first time this year. While we were watching them frolicking around we saw the first swallows of the year too.  Chris went to get the paper leaving me to get the hanging baskets ready to take to the nursery for filling.  We did this after a late coffee, so with hanging baskets safely delivered to Buxton we thought we would head over to the cafe at the Cat and Fiddle for lunch.  When we got there though the cafe was already full and there were a group of cyclists too so there was no where for us to sit. With it being such a nice day I guess a lot more people had come out for a drive. We headed home via Flagg where the cafe was closed but luckily we must have timed it right at Monyash as there was a spare table outside. So we sat in the sun and ate our bacon baps before a group of motor cyclists arrived.  Back home we spent some time in the afternoon going round the grounds making a note of what other jobs need to be done. A breeze took the edge of the temperature but on the whole it was a lovely day.

Thursday was forecast to be a pleasant day and with no arrivals but one departure from our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here) we decided to go for a walk.  I had planned a six mile figure of eight walk from Wetton by joining two shorter walks. It was almost midday by the time we got to Wetton and by now it had clouded up. Typical. We set off from the free car park through the village to pick up the footpath down to the Manifold valley.  This one has a spur so you can go up and explore Thors Cave although we didn’t.  We must do that one day.  Beyond the first field the path was very muddy and as we went through the wood we were taken in by the carpet of wood and anemones ( we had to ask what they were).  The path emerged at the bottom of the valley by the Manifold trail where we could look up to Thors Cave.  We walked along the trail for a bit before picking up the path beside Wetton Hill before we got to the mill.  I had planned to have lunch along here but we spotted an obstacle.   There were a group of people with a para glider and of course para gliders send the dogs barking mad literally!  So we thought we would walk further on.  We passed a hare that managed to hide from the dogs for a while but before the dogs spotted it we got a few photos. By now the breeze had picked up and we suddenly found ourselves back in Wetton without having eaten lunch.  We decided not to continue but head down (by car) to the cafe at Wetton Mill.  We ate outside with the dogs then went for a drive.  I’ve always wanted to look at Butterton which we could see from some points on the walk.  It is a small village with a nice church and it’s most interesting feature is the ford running across the main street.   I would have liked to have walked around the village but we couldn’t find somewhere convenient to park.  We came back via Hartington where we bought some cheese.  Later in the evening it brightened up again. Typical.  Enjoy the photos.

Sunday was forecast to be a wet day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here)  but in the end the rain held off until later in the afternoon.  No departures or arrivals and on the way back from Bakewell called in Green Cowden Farm for a tea and a chat and to see the lambs!   Unfortunately they don’t sit still to have their photos taken!  Only one more to lamb then they have finished.  It was midday before we got back.  A quiet afternoon catching up on housework. Monday was another mild day with showers in the morning giving way to a heavier spell of rain in the afternoon and a clear evening with a cooler feel.  One departure and one arrival with one cleaner up and time for some more jobs in the cottages including carpet cleaning and inventory checking.  Time in the afternoon to finish the quarterly accounts at last.  Guests in by 4pm.  Chris out to the Photographic Society in the evening and I took the dogs for a walk and played around with the camera before settling down for the evening.  Tuesday was a sunnier but cooler day and dry enough for some of our guests to go for a walk.  One departure and two arrivals and one cleaner here.  After coffee I went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the next couple of days. Chris and handyman spent some time sorting out the garage come workshop and I can get to the freezer again!  They also did some tidying up and pruning in the courtyard.  Both cottages arrived between 3.30 and 4pm so had time for some other jobs. Even though it has only been a couple of weeks since the clocks changed I have noticed how much later it is before it starts getting dark.

Thursday was another disappointing day weather wise at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see link).  It was still cold and foggy, although it did lift a little later in the day. More accounts in the morning and Chris did some painting in Bluebell.  After an early lunch we  headed to Chesterfield so Chris could get some more paint and take me to do a Bookers shop.  We came back via The Range and of course Dunelm.  The sound of the dawn chorus on Friday morning was a hopeful sign and it was nice to open the curtains and see the scenery.  Two departures and one arrival and one cleaner up. Down to Bakewell after coffee to get provisions for the weekend.  Passing Green Cowden Farm there were lots of lambs in the fields.   In the busy two weeks of lambing they had over two hundred lambs.  Chris did some more painting in Bluebell and while waiting for the paint to dry he gave the lawn it’s first cut.  A much milder day with some sunshine.  Cottage arrived about 3pm after which I stocked up with another wheel barrow of logs.  I also got some of the cottages ready for Saturday’s arrivals.  Saw the first hot air balloon in the distance later in the day, luckily the dogs couldn’t see it.  Saturday started dull and it was a mild day with drizzle and showers.  Three cottages out and four back in with one cleaner up as a couple of the cottages were already prepared.  Chris did a number of jobs in the cottages before arrivals and I finished my checks in plenty of time. Whilst waiting for the arrivals I started on a quiz needed for a WI evening later in the month.  A rush of guests with three arriving between 3amd 3.30.  One has been before and one was here last before we arrived.  Final cottage arrived just before 4pm. Noticed the leaves starting to come out on shrubs so perhaps spring is on its way but winter can still bite in April!