It was snowing at 7.30 on Tuesday morning at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here).  It didn’t last long on the ground but through the morning we had some wintry showers.  Apparently Snake Pass was only passable with care.  A busy day with one departure and one cleaner here to keep up with cleaning.  Tuesday handyman up here to do some more outside jobs and we had a posse of tree surgeons and workmen pruning or felling trees parallel to the power lines.  I know have a better view from my desk!  Odd jobs for me in the morning and in the afternoon I went to Sainsbury’s at Matlock.  Another lovely clear evening so great for photographs when I took the dogs out for their walk.  Another showery day was forecast for Wednesday so we opted for a trip to Sheffield.  It has been about a year since we last went and had a good mooch about the centre of Sheffield.  We managed to find the John Lewis car park for once, usually the back roads and one way systems defeat us but not this time.  The Snooker World Championships are taking place at The Crucible so there were lots of TV vans there.  We had lunch in one of the cafés behind the town hall and came back via Edensor Tea room for a late afternoon tea. Thursday 30th April was a cold day with showers in the morning but brighter in the afternoon.  No arrivals or departures.  In the morning we went to see the accountant who lives just outside Great Longstone for a chat about the accounts.  After lunch we did some odd jobs before helping bring the first of the cows over the road for summer.  They came across without any problems although Andrew has marked out one he reckons will have an ASBO before the week is out!  Went down to Bakewell to get food etc for the weekend.  Had an early tea then collected Joanna and we went to Buxton for the annual WI quiz representing Bakewell .  We came second by two points.

Another sunny warm April day on Thursday at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here).  A day to catch up with jobs around the house and cottages and one cleaner here to keep up with cleaning.  Chris spread some weed and feed over all the lawns as rain was forecast over the weekend but half way around the spreader broke (it also serves as the salt spreader) but luckily the agricultural merchants in Bakewell had one on offer so Chris had a new toy to play with!  Two arrivals, both been before and both arriving just after 3pm so we popped down to Monyash to get some fresh milk and an ice cream. They’re getting to know me at the cafe!  Another lovely sunset. Friday 24 April started fine and warm but clouded up from lunchtime onwards, still we have had another nice week.  Pity the forecast is deteriorating.  One departure and one arrival with cottage already prepared.  Chris did some outside painting of woodwork and I finally got my mind around some WI accounts.  Cottage arrived just after 3pm giving me the rest of the afternoon to plan the following weeks cleaning rota and get in touch and confirm the dates – I do check beforehand in case there are any days they cannot do.  I am temporarily losing one of my cleaners but luckily the cleaner who broke her wrist should be returning shortly.  A little bit of drizzle in the evening, the ground is so dry there are cracks everywhere, looks more like July than April, we have only had a half inch of rain so far this month! Oh, and the Pennine Way is 50 years old!

Tuesday 14 April was another a fine warm day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here).  With a full house and no departures or arrivals I had the day to catch up on other jobs in the morning as well as going down to Bakewell to get some provisions.  A new restaurant has opened where Le mistral was so will report back in due course.  I spent a few hours in the afternoon doing some gardening.  Not quite as warm as last Tuesday but still a lovely day for our guests.  Handyman up here today and he and Chris gave the outhouse a clean and repainted it.  Lovely sunset, pity I forgot to take camera with me when I took the dogs out.  Got that early morning call on Wednesday so by 9am we were down at the farm to see the cows come out for the summer.  As Wednesday was forecast to be a nice day I had chosen one of our regular walks (and one of my favourite ones) to start our walking season.  We headed to Longnor and set out along the River Manifold before heading up to the ridge via Over Boothlow.  Down the hill and across the River Dove to Crowdicote and despite the recent dry spell there were still some swampy bits around. Through Crowdicote via the path to the green lane down from High Wheeldon.  Along this part of the route we had views towards my favourite hills of Chrome and Parkhouse Hills.  Over the River Dove again and then we stopped for lunch.  From here it was just a short climb back up the ridge to Longnor.  Just under four miles with a couple of ascents and descents.  Too early for cake so we drove to Hartington where we picked up some cheese for tea.  We came back via Monyash where we called into Tagg Farm just off the A515 where they have started selling milk from their Jersey cows straight to the public.  As it was still nice we finished off with an ice cream from the Smithy!  Enjoy the photos of the day.

Saturday felt a lot fresher at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here). After a couple of hazy days the air quality was good again. One departure and one arrival and one cleaner here. With a busy day on Monday spent some time preparing cottages for Monday arrivals.  Cottage arrived at 3pm after which I did some accounts. A busy day for bookings which is unusual for a Saturday and it was nice to take the dogs for a walk around the fields in the evening. Despite the forecast of showers later in the day it stayed dry.  Sunday 12 April was a cool day and quite windy at times too.  Two departures but no arrivals.  A quiet morning and at lunchtime we thought we would go for a bacon butty at the Smithy Cafe in Monyash.  Compared to last Sunday it was a lot quieter at the cafe.  Jobs around the house in the afternoon and after an early dinner we went to the village hall for this months film which was Mr Turner. Monday was brighter and a bit milder.  One departure and seven arrivals with two cleaners here to clean three cottages so a busy day but everything was ready in time for arrivals. Four cottages here between 3 and 4pm, two by 4.30pm and final one by 7pm.  Five have been before, of which one was here last before we were here. More fine weather is forecast for the next couple of days and we are waiting for that all important phone call as the cows will be coming out any day now.

Wednesday 1st October was a fine day at Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see link).  We decided to visit the Brailsford and District Ploughing and Hedge Laying Match, an annual event, held on the first Wednesday of October at different venues around the area.  This year it was being held on the Kedleston Estate just outside Derby.  We drove over to Kedleston via Ashbourne with the dogs after coffee.  Joanna and Andrew had gone along earlier and despite the crowds we saw them a couple of times.  Have always wanted to go to a ploughing match but was not sure what to expect.  The event was like the Ashover Show minus animals but with a number of fields divided into strips and being ploughed with anything from a horse drawn plough to modern tractors with ploughs.  The whole event, which was much bigger than I thought, took a few hours to walk around and it is one of the premier matches in the Midlands Region.  Apart from the ploughing and hedge laying competitions there were various trade stands and craft and produce tents.  We left mid afternoon and by chance came across a garden centre with tea room as the navigator (me) had taken us down the wrong lane. The Meynall Langley Trial Gardens are open during the spring/summer months when the trial work they do is on display.   The attached garden centre and tea room are open most of the year.  By the time we reached Ashbourne the sky was looking very foreboding and by Monyash it was raining.  In the evening I collected Joanna for this months WI committee meeting. Enjoy the pictures.