Bank Holiday Monday at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here) started dry and was quite sunny and mild in the afternoon with a few passing showers at lunchtime.  No departures but one arrival with cottage already prepared.  Spent the morning on jobs around the house and concentrated on paperwork in the afternoon after final check on cottage which arrived at 4.30, they have been before.  We also helped bring the first of the cows over the road to our fields for the summer.  Took my camera but discovered the memory card was full so didn’t get any pictures.  They were no problem except for one who has been given an ASBO as she would not go with the others and it took five of us to coral her into the right field.  Still Smudge is happy because he can cow watch.  Also saw the first swallow on this side of the road.  Tuesday was brighter and warmer than Monday and dry too.  One departure but no arrivals with one cleaner here.  Jobs around the house in the morning then after lunch got a call to help bring the next set of cows over but at least my camera was working.  Went to Morrisons in Buxton after that.  A busy day for emails and bookings too.  Braved putting winter wardrobe away and getting the summer wardrobe out. Wednesday dawned sunny and mild but with a little breeze.  One departure but no arrivals.  Down to Bakewell first thing for my dancercise and afterwards got a few provisions before back mid morning.  Made the most of the quiet day to catch up on paperwork and some accounts.  It was a lovely day and it felt like spring had finally arrived.

April’s weather stats.  Highest temp 13.5C on 21st with warmest day 13th and night 3rd.  Lowest temp -1.1C on 28th with coldest day 26th and night 27th.  Wettest day 6th with .37 inches rain with total for April 2.36 inches (April 2015 0.9 inches)

Friday 22 April saw one departure and one arrival with one cleaner here at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here).  A cooler day and a bit more overcast but at least it stayed dry.  A lot of the day went on preparations for Friday’s and Saturday’s arrivals and also as it is likely to be cool for a little longer, we stocked up on logs.  Cottage arrived at 3.30.  Finalised last quarter’s accounts and completed the VAT return.  Dry, sunny and cool on Saturday.  It’s as if winter just doesn’t want to let go.  One departure and two arrivals with one cleaner here.  After completing checks in cottages I made the most of the day by doing some more decluttering in the house.  It will be the last chance on a Saturday for a while.  Chris also did some jobs in the house.  First cottage here just after 3pm with second one here about half an hour later, both have been before.  When I took Smudge out I noticed just how dry it has been recently as the ground is already starting to crack in places.  Sunday felt cooler and although mainly cloudy it stayed dry until late in the afternoon when we had a few showers.  One departure but no arrivals and the day went on jobs around the house and preparations for the week ahead. Monday was a busy day and felt quite cold.  Down to Bakewell first thing to go to the market and get provisions for the next few days.  Three departures and three arrivals and one cleaner here.  All three cottages arrived around 4pm, two have been before.  Time to prepare for the evening and an early dinner before heading to Over Haddon for the Village Hall Committee meeting.  The temperature was showing below zero when I returned home.

Thursday 21st April was the last of the spring like days at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here) so with no departures or arrivals we headed off to Hathersage for a walk on Stanage Edge.  When we looked we realised we had last done this walk in 2007. We parked at Dennis Knoll where there is free parking beside a track leading up to the Edge which we took.  It was a steady climb with great views along the Hope Valley the higher we got even if it was a little hazy. We walked a little way along the Edge then picked up the track to Redmires Reservoirs so that we could see the new Stanage Pole that had been erected the previous weekend to mark the 65th anniversary of the Peak District National Park.  There are many thoughts about the point of the original pole and it is generally accepted that it was erected as a boundary marker between Derbyshire and Yorkshire or the old kingdoms of Mercia and Northumbria.  From here we could make out the Redmires Reservoirs and Sheffield beyond. Retracing our steps back to the Edge we paused for a break before we picked up the track down to the a car park and picnic area.  From here we crossed the lane and picked up the path that skirted North Lees Hall (reputedly the inspiration for Thornfield Hall in Jane Eyre) and headed on a path to Greens House before taking the path back to Dennis Knoll.  A short drive back to Hathersage for a late lunch at Cintras which has a garden so Smudge was able to sit with us.  After a wander round the outdoor shops I took the opportunity to pick up some provisions for the weekend from the Hathersage shops saving me a trip to Bakewell on Friday morning.

Enjoy the photos.

Thursday 14 April was not as nice as Wednesday at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here).  At least it stayed dry. One departure and one arrival with one cleaner here.  Made the most of the day with jobs in vacant cottages.  Cottage here at 3.30, they have been before.  Later in the afternoon we went to the Chatsworth farm shop to get some cheese as by the time we got to Hartington on Wednesday the cheese shop had closed.  In the end I also got some other bits for the weekend saving me a trip to Bakewell on Friday.  Friday saw one arrival with one cleaner here.  Again time spent on jobs in vacant cottages and cottage arrived just before 4pm by which time it had started to drizzle and this eventually turned into rain.  Snow had been forecast overnight into Saturday but when we woke up luckily there was none.  No departures but one arrival with cottage already cleaned.  Made the most of the quiet day and spent time ‘decluttering’ our house.  The morning was sunny but cold and the expected showers didn’t materialise until later in the afternoon when we had a number of hail and snow showers.  Cottage arrived about 5.30, they have been before.  After an early frost a glorious blue sky greeted us on Sunday morning as did an early telephone call from Joanna to say the cows were coming out!  So we went down to watch them leave the barns and taste the first fresh grass of the season. Always a lovely sight to see.  Chris said there was still some snow on the distant hills from Saturday when he took Smudge out for his walk.  A quiet day with one arrival, with cottage already prepared. Some housework for me and Chris did some painting.  Collected Andrew and Joanna early for the film night at Over Haddon as Chris was in charge of the projector and I was on the door.  The film was The Invisible Woman about Charles Dickens which I enjoyed.

Smudge enjoying the sun at Viators Bridge Milldale

Sunday 10th April was a fine day at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here).  A little breezy but warm in the sun.  Has Spring finally arrived?  Two departures but no arrivals so after lunch I spent a few hours pottering around the gardens.  A pleasant way to spend Sunday afternoon.  Monday was also a pleasant day and although there wasn’t as much sun as Sunday it was still mild.  One departure with one arrival and one cleaner here.  The afternoon went on odd jobs and cottage arrived just after 4pm, they have been before.  Tuesday started dull but brightened up in the afternoon.  No arrivals or departures so down to Bakewell first thing to get provisions for the next couple of days. Handyman here and he and Chris did some work in vacated cottages.  Out for lunch at the Bulls Head Monyash with the former owner of Haddon Grove Holiday Cottages then spent the afternoon completing the last quarters accounts.  Wednesday looked like being the best day of the week after a misty start and as we had no arrivals (but one departure) we decided to go for a walk.  I went down to Bakewell for my fitness session first thing which was very energetic.  Back home did a few jobs before heading to Dove Dale at lunchtime.  As most schools are back we thought it would be quiet but with the nice weather it was busier than we thought but as usual once we passed the Stepping Stones it was less busy.  We walked all the way from the Dove Dale car park to Milldale where we stopped for a cup of tea and my first ice cream of the year.  Then we walked all the way back, about six miles in total and as it was later in the afternoon I even got the chance to cross the stepping stones!   Enjoy the photos.

With a poor forecast for Wednesday 6th April at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here) we opted for a shopping day and went to Meadowhall at Sheffield.  We reckoned the last time we were there was about ten years ago.  It was quite sunny whilst we were there although there were a few heavy showers and we got back later in the evening just ahead of another heavy shower.  Found out from Joanna that the weather had been worse at home than Sheffield.  Thursday was a better day weather wise.  Two departures and two arrivals with two cleaners here.  One of those mornings that seemed to go too quickly but all cleaning finished by lunchtime.  First cottage here at 3.30 with second one here an hour later, they have been before.  Did some paper work and more laundry before dinner and took Smudge out before sitting down for the evening.  Friday was another busy day with four departures and two arrivals.  Down to Bakewell first thing and back before final guests departed.  Two cleaners here hard at work, over the last two weeks some cottages have had up to four sets of guests.  No wonder I have had so much laundry.  Everything ready by lunchtime.  First cottage here just after 3pm with second arriving about 5pm.  At least Saturday was better than forecast.  Quite sunny but with a cool breeze.  One departure and one arrival, with cottage already cleaned.  Went down to the Garden Tea Room so Chris could take more photos of the cakes for their business and stayed for a coffee and cake.  After lunch spent some time on jobs around the house and cottage arrived just after 4pm, they have been before.  Showers later in the afternoon were followed by a nice sunset except I forgot to take my camera when I took Smudge for our evening walk.

Sunday 3rd April was a much better day at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here) with plenty of sunshine and it felt milder too.  No departures but two arrivals with one cleaner here.  Normally we don’t ask cleaners to be here on Sunday but it suited her better to come on Sunday this weekend.  After lunch spent some time in the garden.  Both cottages here by 3.30, both have been before.  As it was such a pleasant afternoon we went down to Over Haddon to see how they were getting on at the Garden Tea Room.  We enjoyed a piece of cake before walking round to the Lathkil for a quick drink.  Nice to relax for a few hours.  Monday started fine but there were a few showers around in the afternoon, some with hail and thunder.  Two departures and three arrivals and one cleaner here.  Another batch of linen off to the laundry and rubbish collected as well. All cleaning and checks completed by lunchtime and first two cottages arrived just after 3pm with final cottage just after 4pm, they have been before.  An early dinner so Chris could get down to Bakewell for the Photographic Society while I stayed at home with Smudge.  Tuesday was forecast to be fine again and after a dull start it brightened up by lunchtime.  Down to Bakewell first thing.  No departures but one arrival with cottage already prepared.  They arrived about 7pm, they have been before.  Handyman and Chris did some outside jobs and I had thought about doing some gardening but as there was a cool wind I did accounts instead.  Andrew was out chain harrowing our fields, it will still be a couple of weeks before the cows start coming out which is later than last year.