Woke up Monday to find another layer of snow at our Derbyshire cottages, about an inch and during the day the constant flurries added about another inch yet by the end of the day it had started to rain.  The worrying thing was that they had forecast more snow for Monday night, Sunday night snow had not been forecast.  Our friends went back to Yoksire today.  Two cottages out and two back in with one cleaner up eventually.  She had found the roads icy so went back and came up in her daughters car which she felt safer in.  Still no problems encountered and both cottages in by 3pm.  One is a returning guest, a friend who I worked with many years ago in London! Rest of afternoon spent catching up with accounts.  I seem to be behind with entering accounts for this month and this week is the end of month, quarter and year for the accounts so I have a lot to do.  Sure I will get there in the end!

With my sister here for a few days at our Derbyshire cottages I wanted to spend some time with her but still the business goes on.  No cottages out on Monday but one back in so one cleaner up to prepare it for today plus another cleaner to keep the cleaning in other cottages up to date.  Cottage arrived just before 3pm.  On Tuesday the forecast had initially been for a good day but it never materialised.  If it had we would have taken the full day off and gone to Chatsworth but in the end I took my sister and her partner to Buxton and showed them the sights and did a bit of shopping coming back via Ashford.  The forecast for Wednesday was awful but the rain didn’t arrive until the afternoon.  One cottage in which Chris saw to in the afternoon whilst I took my sister and partner to the Chatsworth Farm Shop via Monsal Head and the Longstones  We then went onto the Peak Outlet Center.  On Thursday the weather finally improved and one cottage in and one cleaner up.  Sister and partner went to Bakewell and later in the afternoon I went for a short walk along Lathkill Dale with sister and the dogs.  Guests arrived just after 7pm after wich we went with my sister and partner for a meal at the Royal Oak at Hurdlow.  With all the major external work for the laundry now completed work has been taken place inside.  During the week some more of the electrics and plumbing have been going on as well as some insulation and the windows also went in. The builder did find time when the better weather was here to repair and replace some of the cottages steps and stonework damaged by the winter frosts.  Lathkill has had a complete set of new steps which look really smart.

Up early with five cottages due in today.  One cottage departed from our Derbyshire cottages and two cleaners up to prepare cottages for today and tomorrow. No problems encountered and cleaning finished ahead of schedule including the cottage where Chris had been working.  We still had to put the furniture back and rehang curtains etc.  I still had three cottages to finish off too.  So it was nice that everything was ready for the first guests.  Two cottages in by 3.30pm and with the remaining three not due until at least 9pm I thought I could get on with some other work.  From the office I saw an elderly lady walking up from the car park and went down to meet her.  Talking to her I realised she was due to stay at Haddon Grove just along the road, but she also mentioned she had been involved in a car accident on her way here and seeing she was a little shaky I offered her a cup of tea but she preferred to carry on her way.  As she turned to go back to her car she lost her balance and fell over.  Luckily another guest was in the car park and we got her up and put her in her car.  Chris came out and I suggested he drove her round to Haddon Grove and I would follow.  He phoned them to let them know what was happening then he took her there.  When I got there Louise and Chris were helping her into her cottage so between the three of us we unpacked her luggage, walked her dog and made her a cup of tea.  How’s that for service!  (Bear in mind that according to the new Inland Revenue rules we do not provide a service).  Stayed and had a cup of tea with Louise and a chat too before heading back.  Chris went back to Over Haddon and I did some accounts before preparing tea.  Final three cottages arrived between 7 & 10pm so no time for blogging.

Another bright start and after our guests had departed we thought we’d go out for a few hours. Went down to Cromford Wharf for coffee then had a wander round Arkwrights Mill before heading round to Masson Mill for a bit of retail therapy. Back home at our derbyshire cottages for a bit of admin work (paying VAT, paying tax bills) before heading to Buxton. Amazed at how much snow there was still on the side of the roads and also on the pavements in Buxton. Had a meal at the Lone Star (a TexMex restaurant) before crossing the road to the Opera House. Tonight we came to see Kit and the Widow who have been described as Victor Borge, Flanders & Swann, Hinge and Brackett all rolled into one. They were very funny and I will never be able to listen to Nessum Dorma without thinking of the rendition performed tonight!

A misty start to the day which lifted but never cleared. Wastebin emptied by 9am. With snow forecast later in the day went down to Bakewell just before lunch. It was really busy and managed to get one of the last parking spaces in the short stay car park. With a few days until the end of the month, end of the quarter and end of the year there is a bit to do to finish accounts etc. A busier evening with a number of phone calls and emails so didn’t sit down until 9pm. Not complaining though. Snow flurries started early afternoon but it wasn’t until it was late evening that it started to settle. Have to wait to see how much there is in the morning especially as we have last two cottages arriving tomorrow into our derbyshire cottages. At least the gritter lorry has been past twice.

A brighter day with better visibility. One cleaner up to clean two cottages as two cottages due in to our Derbyshire cottages today. One has been before. Time to start with cottage Christmas trees and two put up this afternoon. First cottage arrived just after 4pm and second one just after 6.30pm An early dinner then off to Curbar church for the Baslow Choir Christmas concert. No hand bells this year but a wonderful bass who will be singing at the spring concert in Sheffield. A quick drink afterwards finished off the evening. Had planned to spend Sunday writing Xmas cards but mentioned there was a craft fair in the Dome at Buxton so we made an excursion there. Over coffee we planned some work that needed to be done over the next few weeks, sometimes it is a good idea to get away so you can have uninterrupted conversations! One of the exhibitors at the Dome was the Cheese Shop at Hartington that has been saved by a local couple who plan to sell local cheeses and other locally produced foods. Made some purchases for Christmas. Back home and after lunch I had three gift vouchers to prepare. We used to offer gift vouchers for the B&B but have been asked to provide them for some cottage breaks so happy to oblige.

A nice sunny December day. Just the ideal day for the handyman to come over and help Chris fetch the Xmas lights down from the loft and start putting the outside ones up. His favourite job of the year! They do look nice when they are on. We just need to buy a few more to finish the courtyard as each year we have been replacing standard outside lights with professional ones. Two cottages due back in to our Derbyshire cottages later today and two cleaners up. No problems encountered today. One cottage arrived just after 3pm and the second one just after 5pm. Both have been here before. In the evening one of the cleaners came round with her son’s computer which is not well and Chris tried to fix it.

On Tuesday we went to York to sort out the last administrative bits before handing Chris’s parents bungalow back to the housing trust and we had enough time for a little walk around York. Wednesday saw two more cottages arrive at our Derbyshire cottages, both of which have been before. One cleaner up this morning. One cottage arrived just after 4pm and one just after 7pm. A busy evening with a number of phone calls whilst trying to cook and eat dinner. Thursday saw the first time in over a month where we had a window of opportunity for some time off. Deciding the fields were too wet for a walk we opted for a trip to Ashbourne. Got usual chores out of the way first and in the end it was gone midday before we left. We headed first to Fairways Garden Centre just to the south of Ashbourne. The cafe has a good reputation but not only was it busy there was a young mums meeting which meant it was very noisy so we opted for lunch back in town. Not before we had a browse around the garden centre though. On the way back to Ashbourne we stopped at Homebase and had a quick look around the M&S Food that has opened since we were last here many months ago. In town we headed for Patrick & Brookbanks for a belated lunch. After that I made some purchases from their deli including one of their own Xmas puddings which we think are the best we have ever tasted. A wander around town then back home for a roast dinner!