derbyshire cottages

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September’s weather stats

IMG_2906Monday was a bit cooler but dry until later in the day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here). Down to the market first thing and surprised at how quiet the car park was.  It was quiet at the market but numbers were building up by the time I left.  A map in one of the shops showed that the traffic lights would be moved again from the Tuesday and in an effort to reduce queueing in Bakewell at the roundabout traffic around the one way system will have a greater priory than the traffic coming over the bridge. At least this is the last IMG_2992week of the road works in Bakewell.  One departure and one arrival and one cleaner here.  With arrival not here until 5pm was able to spend time in the afternoon catching up with accounts.  Tuesday was a much warmer and sunnier day, probably the last this year looking at the forecast.  Made the most of it with an al fresco lunch. One departure and one cleaner here.  Another potential cleaner came to see us so now I have a decision to make.  We had a lot of enquiries despite the fact there were a number of other cleaning jobs also advertised.   Also spent time during the day chatting to guests as they came and went and also more WI accounts work.

We have reached the end of the third quarter already and here are the weather stats for September:

Highest temperature was 19.3 on the 10th with 5th being warmest day and night.  Lowest temperature was 6.9 on 27th with 21st being coldest day and night.  A mere 0.34 inch rain with the wettest day the 6th with 0.06 inch of rain!  (September 2013 had 1.97 inches rain).

 

 

 

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A fine end to the weekend

IMG_0378The forecast for Easter Sunday was cool and overcast at our Bolehill cottages (see here) which it was with a bit of rain in the morning.  It did brighten up in the afternoon but it remained cool.  One departure but no arrivals and a day of odd jobs as well as doing the VAT returns and reviewing the annual accounts as prepared by the accountant.  Monday was a complete contrast.  A misty start which soon cleared.  Three departures but no arrivals which is unusual for an Easter Monday but many schools are back on Tuesday or Wednesday.  IMG_0383We decided to go down to Bakewell market in the morning and have coffee.  We were expecting it to be busy but we managed to park without difficulty. After a wander round the market stalls and the shops we went to Naughty and Nice for a coffee and piece of cake. They recently won the Derbyshire Cafe  of the Year award and are almost next door to Costa Coffee.   On the way home we went via Over Haddon to drop some bits from the WI supper off at Lynne’s.  IMG_0385They had just let the cows out for the first time.  Back home we had lunch al fresco as it was warm enough.  A couple of hours work in the afternoon before heading out again as it was so nice.  We drove down to Over Haddon and called in The Garden Tea Room which has just opened for the season.  We had a cup of tea and another piece of cake and even when we left just after 5pm they were still accepting customers. IMG_0389We opted to walk down to the dale where the river was still fast flowing and we followed our usual route along to Conksbury Bridge passing a swan who was nest building.  From here we walked up to the pub and had just sat down with a drink outside when we felt some raindrops so we went inside. We were joined by Ian who had just finished a shift behind the bar.  A nice relaxing day before getting back into the swing of things.

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The Easter weekend begins

IMG_0321Thursday was a bit cooler and overcast than previous days at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see link).  No departures and one arrival and after a busy Wednesday it gave me time to catch up with myself.  ‘Rescued’ a group of Duke of Edinburgh walkers on our drive and pointed them in the direction of the proper footpath.  It’s that time of year again!  Early in the afternoon I went down to Bakewell calling in at Joanna’s first to take some bits back to her from Wednesday.  I was braced for a busy Bakewell and had resigned myself to queues and traffic but it wasn’t as bad as I thought.  Once back I stocked up on some more logs as there are still a few cold nights forecast.   Joanna said there had been a frost most mornings this week.  The cows are still in overnight.  Guests arrived just after 6 pm.  Friday was a much more pleasant day.  IMG_0323One departure and three arrivals and one cleaner here.  Chris cut the grass and after a late lunch we were joined by Joanna for a cup of tea.  She had walked up as Andrew and apprentice were continuing with walling.  With it being so nice many guests were taking advantage of the sheltered courtyard and were sitting outside so we chatted with them.  First guests arrived after 4pm they have been before with second one about 4.30pm.  Final cottage arrived about 5pm, they had already dropped off bikes earlier on, we have a lot of bikes here this weekend! Saturday was cooler but after a dull start brightened up in the afternoon and the good news was the forecast rain for Sunday would not materialise until later on in the day. One departure with one arrival and one cleaner here. Everything completed very quickly so it was nice to have some time to catch up with some paper work and personal finances. Guests arrived about 4pm, they have been before. A quiet evening but the dogs and I are enjoying our evening walks.

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Getting things done

IMG_5117Monday 24/2 saw two departures at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here). Although it got off to a damp start the day brightened up.  No cleaner today as no arrivals but it gave me a chance to catch up on jobs as well as deal with usual Monday routines.  Chris took advantage of the better weather to do some work on windows and doors.  I also stocked up again on logs. I had noticed earlier in the day when I took the dogs out that the ground seemed to be firming up.  It was obviously firm enough for Andrew to do some slurrying.  It has been hard this winter to do slurrying as the ground has been too soft for tractors.  In the evening I went to the village hall for indoor bowls.  Tuesday was a fine day so Chris continued with work outdoors.  IMG_5121In the morning we went down Bakewell to the kitchen and bathroom warehouse to chose some items for Derwent. We have pencilled some work in Derwent over the next few weeks.  One cleaner up to carry on with cleaning.  In the afternoon I went to Buxton, mainly to stock up our store cupboard but also to source some more products for the cottages.  Wednesday was another pleasant spring like day.  Chris carried on with jobs both inside cottages and outside.  I spent some time in the morning moving plant pots around and stocked up Shippon’s log store.  The ground could be hard enough to bring a trailer load of logs down, that would save me having to keep wheelbarrowing logs around.  Andrew was taking advantage of the firmer ground to do some more slurrying and carried on until gone 8pm. In the afternoon I did some jobs around the cottages and sorted out some more new crockery in the cottages.  This is taking longer than I expected.  After such a nice day you could almost think winter was over … until you see a yellow alert for snow had been issued!

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Finishing Dove

IMG_4965There is always so much to do at our Bolehill cottages (see here). With a booking for Dove at the weekend this gave us a deadline to work to.  On Thursday 6th Feb Chris moved the fridge and dishwasher back into Dove so all the kitchen electrics were finally connected and working. I started putting all the equipment back into the kitchen cupboards along with other things that needed attention.  A busy day for bookings, unusual for a Thursday.  Friday saw one departure and two arrivals with one cleaner up.  A trip down to town to get provisions for the weekend.  Final clean in Dove and spent the afternoon hemming curtains for Dove.  First cottage arrived just after 4pm and second one about 5.30, they have been before.  As we worked until late Chris went down and got fish and chips for tea.  Saturday started fine but with a deteriorating forecast.  Put up the final curtains in Dove and finished off all the last minute jobs ready for first guests.  It was very windy later in the afternoon, I struggled walking back and forth across the courtyard but no damage done.

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A mixed weekend

IMG_4913Woke up Friday (24/1) to a covering of snow but it was no hindrance to life at Bolehill Cottages (see link).  Another nice sunrise and the snow had gone by mid morning.  One arrival and one cleaner up.  Guests arrived just after three pm by which time the rain had returned.  Time to finish accounts during the afternoon so I treated myself to some research time on my favourite websites Dunelm and Terry’s Fabrics.  I do need to get some more soft furnishings.  Another dry morning on Saturday.  Down to the Farmers Market and back to prepare cottage for days arrival.  Chris spent some more time in Dove laying the kitchen floor and the cracked sink was replaced.  It clouded up by lunchtime and as I was going round the cottages I could hear some thunder.  Suddenly there was a flash and the power went off for a few seconds.  Went back to the house to find two traumatised dogs.  The storm with hail rumbled on for a while and guests arrived just after 4pm.  Sunday was a cold wet day.  One departure and called into Green Cowden Farm after collecting the paper.  Didn’t stay long as they were about to bring in the sheep.  The ground is too wet and there is very little grass for them so it will be easier to feed them inside. Lambing should start in six weeks time although some early lambs are imminent.  Chris spent some more time in Dove and I did some housework and personal paper work.  Later in the day we completed the VAT return and paid our VAT and tax bills.  It has been a funny week for weather having had sun, fog, rain, wind, snow, hail and thunder and lightening.

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Winter sunrises

IMG_4865Friday saw a lovely sunrise at our Bolehill cottages (see link).  One departure and two arrivals and one cleaner up. Handyman up for a few hours to help tidy up all the bits taken out of Dove.  By the time cottages were ready it was time for an early lunch then down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend.  Plastering finished in Dove and first of the kitchen units in.  Cottages arrived at 3.30 and 6pm. IMG_4875 One has been before.  Made time to sit down for a few hours in the evening.  On Saturday morning watched an orange globe rise up from behind the distant hills.  One departure but no arrivals.  Did some housework in the morning and in the afternoon dealt with some bookings and emails and stocked up on logs again.  The ground is so wet I IMG_4873am bringing them down a wheelbarrow load at a time. Fitter up again and Chris acted as fitters apprentice for the day to keep work on target. Sunday saw another lovely sunrise enhanced by the frosty conditions.  No departures but fitter here again and Chris spent most of day as fitters apprentice and doing some lagging in the loft of Dove. I kept busy around the house and took some more bookings. By early afternoon the weather had deteriorated so it was back to square one. Rain.

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Final Xmas preparations

IMG_4782Thursday 19/12 was a quiet day with a cleaner up to help prepare cottages for the Christmas arrivals at our Bolehill cottages (see here).  Managed to get one more tree up in one of the cottages and we had a number of deliveries.  The crockery set I ordered had gone AWOL and checks showed it hadn’t been delivered to the couriers but as it is now out of stock I will have to look for a different set. IMG_4783 Later in the afternoon Chris came down with me to Bakewell to get some provisions and we went onto Chatsworth Farm shop to get a few bits.  It was raining quite heavily but when driving back they were saying on the radio that roads out of Buxton were closed due to snow and by the time we got up to Green Cowden Farm it was snowing heavily so we only had a short distance to cover.  Luckily our guests were all in so no need to worry.  IMG_4787Cancelled a visit from a friend because of the weather.  The snow fizzled out but the clear skies meant it froze so we woke up to a light covering of snow.  This started to go as soon as the sun got to it.  Two departures but no arrivals and with one cleaner up it was a day of getting the cottages ready for Saturdays arrivals. Final three trees put up.  Chris and handyman cut down the remaining part of the conifer that blew down and logged it.   All ready for Christmas.

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A quiet weekend

IMG_4702 IMG_4734Saturday saw two departures but no arrivals at our cottages near Bakewell (see here).  A bright quiet day mainly catching up on housework and personal paper work.  Chris spent some time clearing the leaves from the courtyard and twigs/branches from the guests garden.  Thought he had already done this for the last time!   Sunday was a little cloudier.  Two departures and for the first time this year we have no guests!  We had arranged to have lunch with Andrew and Joanna at the Lathkill as we haven’t had a meal out together for a while.   A nice lingering lunch and time to chat.  As usual the pub was quite busy with diners and walkers.  Later in the afternoon there was another wonderful sunset, but it was more spectacular further to the south judging by the photos on the local news.  Monday was a pleasant dry day.  One cleaner up to keep up with cleaning and one arrival later in the day.  Chris and handyman started on the kitchen in Sheepfold where we are replacing the kitchen tiles as well as a few other jobs in the kitchen. Usual Monday jobs and an oil delivery which will keep us going over the festive season.  Guests were delayed by accidents on the motorway and subsequent roads resulting in an eight hour journey rather than four hours. They eventually arrived at 9pm when I was at the Village Hall Committee Meeting.  They have been a few times before.

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A Sunday walk

IMG_4590Remembrance Sunday was forecast to be a dry but cold day. Two departures from our Bolehill cottages (see link) with one arrival and cottage already cleaned.  The autumn colours have been good this year so we headed to Ladybower reservoir where we were expecting to find them at their best.  We arrived late morning, avoiding the Remembrance Service parades,  but still found a parking spot.  At this point we discovered we had forgotten the dogs’ harnesses and leads and usually I have a spare set in the car.  Unfortunately Chris had taken the bag out which had them in but luckily we had some bungee leads so we improvised!  We set off passed the dam and headed down the lane to Wellhead where we took the track up to Pike Low stopping many times to take photos. We were surprised at how few people there were up on the moors and we found a spot out of the breeze to eat lunch. My screen saver has a picture of me with the dogs the last time we sat there for lunch about eighteen months ago on a warm sunny spring day. From our lunch spot we started the gradual descent passed the ruins of Bamford House to Abbey Bank then the waterside track back to the car park. There were more people out walking and cycling at this stage despite the fact the sun was starting to go down. Back home by 4pm, guests had already arrived and I went and said hello. A quiet night in and pleased to say my knee survived the six mile walk although I think Blue’s joints creaked more than mine.  Enjoy the autumnal colours in the photos.