No departures or arrivals at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here) on Tuesday 9 September but my sister arrived to stay.  I went mid morning to collect her from Chesterfield station.  I went via Chatsworth Farm shop and after leaving the shop and travelling through Baslow the traffic came to halt.  A very large load was negotiating the roundabout from the Sheffield road to the Chesterfield road so the first part of my drive up the Chesterfield road was very slow.  Luckily I could turn off at the Robin Hood pub and I got to the station just as my sister’s train pulled in.  On the way back home we met the heavy load making its way through Chesterfield.  After lunch we went to Buxton as Chris’s glasses had broke and we needed some bulbs from the electrical wholesalers.  We had an enjoyable stroll around Buxton in the warm sunshine and stopped for afternoon tea at Number 6 near the Opera House. Wednesday was our WI outing in the afternoon and after a morning of chatting with sister and an early lunch we picked up Joanna and one of the Over Haddon members and avoiding Bakewell and the traffic problems we drove via Youlgrave and Matlock to Clay Cross.  Here we were visiting the private museum of the master farrier who came to talk to us a couple of months ago.  We had an enjoyable couple of hours at the museum before returning home.  Thursday was our retail therapy day and sister and I enjoyed a couple of hours wandering around Bakewell followed by lunch at the Upstairs Cafe.  I also drove round to the Chatsworth Farm shop before returning home where it was still warm enough for a cup of tea on the patio.  In the evening we went down to Bakewell and had a nice meal at Le Mistral. Everywhere we went on Thursday there was talk of the problems the traffic lights were causing and there are still five more weeks to go!

Saturday 6 September started cool and damp but the forecast was for an improvement at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here).  Three departures and five arrivals and two cleaners here.  One of those mornings where Chris was needed quite a bit for minor repairs, just as well we have spares of almost everything!   Glad Chris had cut the grass on Friday.  Cleaning and checks finished by lunchtime.  Some cow movement took place, we now have three fields with heifers on this side of the road.  Two cottage arrivals here by 3.30 with two more by 4.30 and final one by5.30.  Four have been before.  Sun finally came out when taking dogs for their evening walk so another nice sunset.  At least Sunday was a pleasant day.  No departures but one arrival (cottage already prepared).  A day of relaxing and jobs round the house and Chris did some outside jobs.  Cottage arrived about 4pm.  In the evening we went to the Buxton Opera House to see Elkie Brooks.  We saw her there a couple of years ago but she was much better this time. Up early Monday to go to the market and took some photos of the sunrise for a change!  Only got half way down the hill to Bakewell when got caught in traffic so after 20minutes I turned round and came home.  Apparently there were four way traffic lights in the centre of Bakewell and traffic was queuing as far back as Haddon Hall down the A6 at one point.  They had started the gas mains repairs near the main roundabout a couple of days early, and on a market day.  At least I was able to warn other guests of the problems.  Two departures and one arrival and one cleaner here. Everything ready in time for guests arrival at 3pm.  With a nice day again Chris was outside strimming, pruning and weed killing.  In the afternoon I got a room ready for my sister who was coming to stay and later spoke to our friends in Yorkshire.  Nice to chat with guests too.

Monday 1st September started a bit wet but brightened up mid morning at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here).  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.  Down to Bakewell first thing on Tuesday then jobs around the house until our friends arrived in the afternoon.  No departures but one arrival here later in the day.  Another pleasant day and after a few hours of chatting to friends we went down to Piedaniels in Bakewell and enjoyed their excellent value set meal.  We had planned a walk for Wednesday but it started quite misty.  Good thing about our friends staying is that we try and get out walking.  Undeterred by the mist we drove over to Ashford and had coffee at the tea rooms before setting off along the river towards Bakewell.  By then the murk had lifted and it got quite humid.  We did this walk last year and I thought it would be a nice one to get back into walking mode as it had been so long since we did a walk.  Just before Bakewell we crossed the packhorse bridge and picked up the bridleway beside Holme Hall.   From the top of the only climb we got nice views back to Bakewell.  We headed across the fields to Great Longstone where we stopped for lunch at The Crispin.  Afterwards we walked to Monsal Head and then took the path back to Ashford from here rather than walk back to Ashford from Little Longstone so it made for a longer walk than I had planned.  Although it never really brightened up it stayed warm.  In the evening we went to Carriages at Newhaven where we enjoyed another lovely meal.