Thursday was quite wet and dull during the morning at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see link). Problems with my washing machine again but hopefully Chris has finally sorted it out. Two departures and one arrival with one cleaner up. After lunch we headed to Chesterfield to Bookers to stock up on goods and called in at one of the farm shops on the way. By now it was brightening up and the sun came out. We also called in at Screwfix and Dunelm (of course) before heading home. Guests arrived just after 7pm. They have been before. Friday was as promised a fine day. Down to Bakewell first thing leaving Chris to say goodbye to our departing cottage. One cleaner up. At lunch time we met up with our friends from Yorkshire who were passing through en route to a weekend in the Wirral. We met up at Hassop Station for lunch. It was very busy. Spent the rest of the afternoon preparing for Saturday as well as some sewing jobs. Andrew came up and helped Chris put the hanging baskets back up. Cottage arrived just after 8 pm but had a busy evening for bookings. Although Saturday started dull it soon brightened and warmed up. Four departures and three arrivals and two cleaners up. One cottage booked again for next year. Everything ready by lunchtime and Chris cut the grass before guests arrived. Two cottages arrived between 3.30 and 4pm and the final one by 5pm and for once all are new guests. By mid afternoon it was really quite warm, almost warm enough for an ice cream. I did not wear a jacket when we headed to Over Haddon Village hall in the evening. I may not have had front row seats at the Albert Hall for the Last Night of the Proms but I had a front row seats at the Village Hall for the annual Bakewell Silver Band proms night at Over Haddon! After the excellent concert we stayed behind to help clear up and caught up on some village gossip!
Bakewell
Bakewell Secret Gardens
If it’s Bank Holiday Sunday then it must be Bakewell Secret Gardens. Sunday started dull but brightened and warmed up in the afternoon at our cottages near Bakewell (see link). First thing down to Bakewell to get paper then with one departure and one arrival later in the day Chris and I turned the cottage round. 
After lunch we drove down to Bakewell and was surprised to be able to park in one of the main car parks. This year the open gardens were mainly in the centre of Bakewell and the Milford area but we also came across the Alpacas below the Monsal Trail. We had time to make a cake stop at the Nice and Naughty Coffee shop next to Costa Coffee. Whilst wandering around I overheard a conversation that indicated I wasn’t the only one caught out by the Farmers Market being next Saturday, that made me feel better! Back home and guests arrived just before 7pm. At least more good weather is forecast in the days ahead.
Bakewell Well Dressings
The last day of June was actually disappointing after all the hype. Yes it may have been the hottest day in the south of the country but at Bolehill Cottages (see here) the breeze kept the edge of the temperature and by the evening it was to breezy for a picnic. Never mind. In the morning one cottage departed and we turned it round in time for the arrivals later in the day. Otherwise we had a quiet day, but at least it was mainly sunny and dry. Andrew moved the cows from one side of our drive field to the other side so Chris helped move them and the electric fence to the other side. Monday was a fresher day. Two departures and two arrivals and one cleaner up. First cottage arrived at 3pm and second one at 4pm. After I had my weekly chat with my friend in Yorkshire we headed down to Bakewell to see the well dressings. They were still clearing up from the street market when we got there. We first went to Bath Gardens where there were two of the wells and of course the gardens 
themselves were looking good as usual. Then we walked up to the Church to see the Wells there before heading home. Tuesday was quite a dull day with rain arriving later in the day. No departures or arrivals but we needed a new hanging bracket and some other gardening sundries so we headed off to Chatsworth Garden Centre where we also had lunch. We came back via the Peak Shopping Village (formerly known as the Peak Outlet Centre) so I had a shopping fix. A few quiet days ahead so I hope to get a number of jobs done. There are rumours of more good weather to come so here are the stats for June:
Highest temp 20.7 deg C on 19th lowest 6 deg C on 1st, warmest day 19th and night 18th, coldest day 10th and night 1st. Wettest day 22nd, during the night, about .5 inches, with total 1.32 inches compared to 6.3 inches in June 2012. highest UV 9.6 on 22nd.
Here are a couple more well dressing photos:
Bits and Chatsworth Monday/Tuesday 14/15 December
A quiet Monday with no guests in or out and the chance to go to Bakewell market, but with a lot to do this week I decided not to. Two cleaners up today to keep up with cleaning. Work progressing well on Bluebell bedroom and with no handyman here today we took the opportunity to go to Chatsworth House later in the day. With the House decorated for Christmas and still open for another week it was busy. I felt the theme worked better this year. On Tuesday we had one cottage out of our Bakewell cottages. I went to Bakewell in the morning to get some provisions and in the afternoon I put up another two trees in cottages. In the evenings I have started to do Christmas cards hence no blogging.
Bakewell and bits Sunday 6 December
Another bright day. Two cottages out of our peak district cottages with none back in. First Sunday for a while with no arrivals. With a Sunday Market on in Bakewell we went to Ashford to get a paper. With good reports of the Tree Festival at Bakewell Church we decided to visit the market and the Church. Bakewell was very busy but we found a spot in the long stay car park by the river. This was as high as we had seen it and very fast flowing but none of the flood defences were in place. We went up to the Church first. The tree festival was a display of Christmas Trees staged and decorated by various organisations in and around Bakewell. There were about 70 trees altogether and the decorations of some reflected the organisations, eg the croquet club had croquet hammers. Refreshments were also available but we headed back into Bakewell and stopped for a late lunch at the Lavender Tea rooms in Hebden Court. We then walked around the market which was an abbreviated version of the normal Monday Market. Back home an article in the Sunday Times (property section) focused on the legislation expected to be passed in this weeks Budget affecting furnished holiday lets which is likely to see a number of owners give up the running of holiday homes. We will be affected as we will no longer be considered a trade as according to the new rules we do not provide a service. I had to smile at one part of the article which focused on a holiday home owner who has four cottages to decorate for Christmas, whereas I have double that! Which reminds me I had better start planning when I am going to put up those trees…
And the next installment.. Saturday 12 September
A little bit of mist hung in the valleys this morning as four peak district cottages got ready to leave. One has booked again for this time next year. Two cleaners up with four cottages to turn around. Six cottages due in later today of which three have been before. No problems encountered and again time to check contents and with a warm day the cottages also got a good airing. Three cottages arrived between 3 and 3.30 and then three cottages arrived between 4.30 and 5.30. Warm enough to have an ice cream on the patio. Content that guests were settled switched off office lights at 8pm and watched the Last Night of the Proms.
Chatsworth House 10 September
With a nice day forecast Chris suggested a day off from our Peak district cottages although as usual I protested that I had too much to do but having been persuaded had to decide where to go. In the end we decided to go to Chatsworth House, particularly the gardens as from next week the Sothebys ‘Beyond the Limits’ Sculpture Exhibition will be open although the sculptures are already in place so I was informed by one of the guests. So sandwiches packed and dogs in car off we went! Decided to do the gardens first and if we had time we would do a trip around the house. The gardens cover x acres and together with its water features (as seen on the recent ‘Rivers’ series) can take the best part of the day to explore. Every time we go we find something we haven’t seen before and with new features being added continually there is always something new to see. (Chatsworth has been voted one of the best ‘dog friendly’ places to visit too). The exhibition consists of two dozen or so sculptures dotted around the gardens, including one by Henry Moore, which can be purchased but we have to admit though that this year we were not as impressed with the sculptures as last year. Still I will add some photos for you to decide. http://www.bolehillfarm.co.uk/photo/chatsworth09/index.html One bonus was that we got to photograph the Duke and Duchess doing their press call for the exhibition. I had overheard when it was going to take place so apart from the press we were the only visitors to witness this take place! We found a nice sunny spot for lunch and found time to wander round the house. As usual the room guides were a source of information and humour. One of the rooms had an exhibition on recent films which had been shot at Chatsworth which includes ‘The Duchess’ and ‘Wolfman‘ which is to be released soon. We had been to Chatsworth for a tourism seminar and saw them set off the fog making machine for a scene in Wolfman which was quite strange as it was a bright sunny spring day! Home via the Chatsworth Farm shop then catching up with phone calls and emails before dinner and for the third evening this week we saw a balloon drift by.
York & WI Tuesday/Wednesday 8/9 September
A couple of days with no cottage movements. Chris went to York on Tuesday and as I haven’t seen Chris’s mum for a few weeks I went too. She is still in hospital but seems to be stabilising. It turned out to be a warm day. Wednesday was a day of catch up and a trip down to Bakewell. It was still busy -perhaps the nice weather had brought more day trippers into town. Phoned a friend and after dinner picked up Joanna and went to Over Haddon village hall for the first WI meeting of the season. I was confirmed as the new treasurer and I will take up the post after the AGM. Our arranged speaker had to cancel but luckily one of the Bakewell WI members came along to give us a talk on pearls. We all enjoyed this as we did not know there were so many types of pearls around. She also hosts beading parties for girls so we also had the chance to make our our bracelets. We all had great fun with these!
More comings and goings Saturday 5 September
Anther bright start and five cottages out of our Bakewell cottages today with four back in. Two cleaners here today and no problems encountered. Enough time to do some odd jobs around the cottages including changing some sofas over. Three of the cottages have bee here before ad they all arrived between 3 & 4 pm so time to do some jobs and sit down after dinner.
Que Sera Sera Sunday 30 August
A wonderful warm sunny start…which did not last! Had planned a walk in Lathkill Dale but Smudge had been limping a little last night and there was still a bit of a hobble there this morning so we decided we would postpone it until tomorrow. As it did rain from mid afternoon perhaps it was just as well. Plan B was tax returns so the ‘probate office’ became the ‘tax office’. Firstly though we did a quick trip down to Bakewell for the Sunday paper and two dustbins of bottles for he bottle bank. Also today one cottage out and two back in to our Derbyshire cottages. Took the dogs out in the fields for a walk before the rain set in. Autumn seems to be in the air and the forecast for later in the week sounds more autumnal so fingers crossed that next weekend will be OK as it is the Chatsworth Country Fair and that always brings a lot of visitors to the area. Still they say we will have a nice day tomorrow…