Good Friday was a disappointing day weather wise at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here). Friday was a wet day although it was not cold. One departure and three arrivals and one cleaner here. Cleaning went smoothly so I was able to get everything done in plenty of time. Don’t know why but I kept thinking it was Saturday! With all three cottages here by 3.45, one has been before, I had time to do more accounts in the afternoon. Some glimpses of blue sky later in the evening but forecast for the rest of the weekend is more promising. Have noticed that the daffodils are starting to come out. Saturday was a fine day, still mild but a little breezy at times. Three departures and one arrival and two cleaners here to keep up with cleaning. The morning seemed to disappear and the next thing it was 3pm and our guests arrived, they have been before. A catch up afternoon even if I didn’t get any accounts done, but I did get to take the dogs for their evening walk. Sunday was a pleasant and warm day for the time of year, a contrast to the previous Sunday. No departures but one arrival. Decided to head to Crich Tramway Museum as it was one of their WW2 weekends and we spent a good couple of hours wandering around and had a ride on a tram. It was very busy but we still enjoyed it and the dogs got fussed as usual. A few new displays since last time and our ticket will give us unlimited entry for the rest of the year. From here we went to Middleton Top Engine House as it was one of the engine working weekends. The beam engine was used to haul and lower wagons on the very steep incline of the Cromford and High Peak Railway. Back in time for guests arrival and it was even nice enough to have a cup of tea on the patio. Could have had first ice cream of the season from Monyash but it was too busy! Enjoy the pictures from Crich.
dog friendly cottages peak district
Back to business
passing rain clouds
Arrived back at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here) on Thursday evening. Noticed a small patch of snow waiting to welcome me! Friday 27 March saw one departure and two arrivals and one cleaner here. Made time to bring myself up to speed with what had happened in my absence since last Friday afternoon. (I had been here for the eclipse and left mid afternoon.) First cottage here just after 3pm, they have been before after which I went down to Bakewell to get some provisions. Called in at Little Cowden Farm to see the lambs, they have nearly finished lambing. Second cottage arrived at 5pm, they have also been before. After dinner we joined one of the cottages for a drink and a chat. Saturday was very mild with passing showers. Four departures, all gone by 9.30, so I could head down to the Farmers Market. One departing cottage booked to come again later in the year. Two cleaners able to make an early start so cleaning finished by late morning. With five arrivals there was plenty of time for final checks. Spotted first Duke of Edinburgh group trekking across the fields in the afternoon. Two cottages here between 3and 4pm, one has been before, two here between 4.30 and 5pm, with final cottage here by 6.30pm. A quiet evening in.
Catching up with jobs
Up early on Monday at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here) to get to the market before it got to busy. I had ordered some replacement Hoover filters last Monday and needed to pick them up. I also had a wander round the market before the rain arrived. Two departures and two arrivals and one cleaner here. Chris did a number of small maintenance jobs in the morning and in the afternoon prepared the annual accounts for the accountant. For the rest of the morning I did some jobs in vacant cottages and in the afternoon I started on this quarters accounts. It felt cooler on Monday and it was a bit drizzly. Cottages arrived at 4pm, one has been before. In the evening I went to Over Haddon for indoor bowls and I didn’t bring the wooden spoon back with me! Tuesday 10th March was the best day of the week weather wise not that we could enjoy it. Sunny for the most and mild in the shade, definitely spring like! Two arrivals but cottages cleaned so just needed to do final checks. Nice to take the dogs for their early morning walk in the spring sunshine. Wonder when I will here the first curlew? Handyman here doing tidying up outside and cleaning patio furniture. Chris went off after lunch with Andrew to look at a local farm where they have introduced automatic milking. He was interested in the computerised aspect of the process. One farm in Over Haddon has automated milking installed. I spent a little time planting out some bulbs and primroses I bought at the market before guests arrived. First one here at 4pm, they have been before with second cottage here at 5pm. A nice sunset, starting to get too early to catch sunrises.
Winter’s last bite?
passing shower
We anticipated snow first thing on Monday but luckily none had fallen overnight at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here). Handyman here to carry on with work in Shippon. No arrivals or departures or cleaners so I headed down to Bakewell to the market. With a biting wind and snow showers forecast there were a number of empty stalls. I also called in at the Oxfam Jumble Sale. Back home I spent time working my way through outstanding jobs in the cottages. There were many snow and hail showers during the day but nothing settled. In the evening we abandoned the dogs and I headed to Over Haddon for indoor bowls and Chris went to Bakewell for the Photographic Society meeting. I went prepared as snow was forecast but again I was able to get home without a flake in sight. I really had hoped not to wake up to snow on Tuesday 3rd March but we did. Luckily it was only a dusting and luckily the sun soon melted it. I had planned to go to Chesterfield as I had to drop off a box of Over Haddon WI paperwork at the Derbyshire WI Spring Conference. If I had got a ticket I could have listened to the main speaker which this time was Peter Snow. I took the opportunity to have a wander around town as I haven’t done that for ages. Again a few passing wintry showers but nothing significant. I had a number of bits to buy for Chris for work in Shippon as well as returning some items back to The Range and Dunelm and making further purchases. In my absence two handyman were doing some re pointing of brickwork and a cleaner carrying on with the preparations for weekend’s arrivals.
Feb weather stats: highest temp 9.1 deg C on 26th and lowest -3.1 deg C on 1st. Warmest day 18th and night 25th, coldest day 2nd and night 1st. 2.08 inches rain (2/14 6.27 inches) with wettest day 22nd with .79 inches.
More work in the cottages
Irises in bloom
With a quiet week ahead at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here) work started in Shippon on Monday. One cleaner here to catch up with cleaning and one handyman here to help Chris in Shippon. The main aim is to retile the kitchen and upgrade the lighting in the bathroom. For me various jobs around the vacant cottages. A few wintry showers but nothing settled. One arrival here just after 3pm, they have been before. After tea I went down to the village hall for indoor bowls. Tuesday 24th February saw more work in Shippon and the cottages. A brighter day but a cold wind took the edge of the temperature. One cleaner here to carry on with cleaning. Wednesday was a mild but cloudy day and it stayed dry until the evening. Work in Shippon continued and I washed some curtains. A trip to the vets for the dogs for their annual check-up. Blue has lost weight but Smudge has put on yet more weight. Time to do final checks in the cottage where guests arrived just after 3pm, they have been before. In the evening we went with one of our guests out for a meal at Piedaniels in Bakewell which we all enjoyed. Thursday started mild but wet but as the day brightened up it got colder. A day on paper work for a change and also went down to Bakewell in the afternoon to get some provisions and do some banking. With a wet weekend ahead more bookings look unlikely, next week will be the last chance to do major work in the cottages before we really start to get busy.
A walk in the park
Woke up to a covering of snow again at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here) on Saturday 21 February. Didn’t last long but we did have a few more wintry showers during the morning. Two departures with no arrivals so we made the most of the nice afternoon. We parked at Baslow village hall and I popped into the hall first to have a quick look at the Baslow WI jumble sale. Haven’t been to a proper jumble sale for years! After we had booted up we headed into Chatsworth Park with the dogs and took one of the marked footpaths to Chatsworth House. We paused at the new WW1 commemorative stone wall and also climbed the Queen Mary Bower for a look at the views towards the Edges. Thought we would stop for tea and cake but due to a wedding the restaurants had been closed. Although it clouded up once or twice it stayed dry and it was pleasant albeit cold. It had been a long time since we had walked through the park from the Baslow end so it was nice to see the scenery from this angle. Back to Baslow via a different path and then we stopped at the Cafe on the Green for tea and cake. In the evening we drove to Over Haddon village hall with a couple of our guests for another visit by Breeze and Wilson (a folk/blues/jazz duo). A very enjoyable evening. Sunday saw four departures but no arrivals It started dry but clouded up and by lunchtime was snowing. The snow started to settle but being more like wet snow it soon disappeared once it turned to rain. So a good day to catch up on personal paper work. Luckily we stocked up on logs for the week before it starting snowing ! Enjoy the pictures from Saturday.
Some mixed weather
Wednesday was another mild day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here), but not as sunny as Tuesday. One departure and some time spent outside tidying up around the courtyard and gardens and stocking up on logs. Also sorted out some stuff for collection by one of the WI ladies for a jumble sale. Chris and handyman did some finishing jobs in Derwent. In the evening we were joined by my friend and her family for a meal. Thursday 19 February was a wet and cold day. Later in the morning we went down to Bakewell for a dental appointment and had lunch at the Tiroler Stuberl, the Austrian coffee and sausage place. Back in time to do final checks before cottage arrived at 3.30. Time for some jobs around the house and least there was a bit of sunshine later in the afternoon. Friday was a busy day with one departure and five arrivals and two cleaners here. A pleasant mild day with sunny spells. Would have done some gardening if we hadn’t been so busy. All the cleaning and checks completed by 3pm. First two cottages arrived just before 4pm, one has been before, the next two arrived just before 5pm, both have been before. Final cottage arrived just before 6pm. A quiet evening in after all that!
A hint of spring?
Wow! What a lovely start to Tuesday (17 Feb) at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here). Blue skies, sunshine, and birds tweeting away in the trees. Do they know something? It looked like a lovely spring day and it stayed that way for most of the day, some fair weather cloud appeared in the afternoon and their was a hint of winter still in the breeze but a lovely day nevertheless less. I had planned to get out and do some tidying up in the grounds but the morning went in emails and odd jobs. Plumbers here after Derwent departed to put new water tank in so Chris was involved with that. Found a little time in the afternoon to walk round the grounds and admire the snowdrops, not as spectacular as Hopton Hall, but they look nice and I had forgotten how many we have. I went down to Bakewell in the afternoon and had a bit of a shock. Being half term week it was very busy, it’s easy to forget what Bakewell can be like when it is busy. Noticed Green Cowden Farm had some of their early lambs in the fields. They looked so cute! When I got back I cleaned the car out as I would be taking some of the Over Haddon WI ladies down to Bakewell WI in the evening to see what their WI is like. The speaker gave us a talk on Leek Embroidery (the town not the vegetable) and it was interesting to learn about the silk industry in Leek. Think we may be going back and joining next month.
Here it is again!
Tuesday 27th January was a dull day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here), not that I saw much of it. It was my designated Bookers run to Chesterfield and armed with a shopping list of my own as well as one from Chris I went off in search of paint, furniture, toilet rolls and cushions! Left Chris with handyman doing odd jobs in Derwent and one cleaner doing more painting. A long day for both of us to opted for fish and chips in the evening. Wednesday was a day of sunshine and wintry showers. Some heavy with hail too. One cleaner here to carry on with cleaning and Chris and I spent time in jobs around the cottages. Down to Bakewell early afternoon to get provisions for the next few days. A covering of hail and snow was on the ground by the time we went to bed and by the time we woke up there was a good inch of snow on the ground. With handyman up early he and Chris cleared the drive. Our existing guests opted for a walk to Lathkill Dale where they said there was no snow. One cleaner up but by mid morning it was snowing heavily and left another two inches. Chris was down in Bakewell and phoned to say not to let the cleaner leave as the roads were not good. She waited for a while and before we let her go Chris drove down the road first to make sure it was safe. The sun came out in the afternoon so I took the dogs for a walk and took some photos. We had a total of three inches with Buxton having six, well they always get more, and Sheffield over a foot. Lorries couldn’t get up the hill out of Ashbourne so that caused temporary gridlock in the town. More cold weather is forecast so this snow ain’t going anywhere in a hurry!
The snow stays
Thursday stayed mainly foggy at out Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here). Hadn’t seen the far hillsides since Tuesday so assumed the snow was still there as well. Apparently most of the snow had gone from Bakewell. Handyman managed to get up and Andrew sent his apprentice over to clear the drive later in the morning as we had guests in for the weekend. Gave the cleaner the day off as her car would not have got up the drive in the morning. Had hoped to go to Chesterfield to do a Bookers run instead I did some WI accounts and when the sun did make an appearance I took the dogs out to get some photos. Later in the afternoon it looked like being a nice sunset so I took the dogs up to the top field and got some shots of the sunset with the mist. Friday 23 January was still misty but at least we could see as far as Youlgreave. Two arrivals and one cleaner here to prepare cottages for the weekend. Handyman here too. Derwent bathroom is getting there but taking longer than planned. Down to Bakewell late morning to get provisions for weekend. As I drove down the hill the amount of snow beside the road decreased and down in the car park you could look up to the snow covered hills with green fields below. At home a thaw was setting in but Chris created some paths in the snow in the courtyard and salted the car park and I spent some time breaking up compacted snow to make it easier to get into the car park and courtyard. First cottage arrived at 3.30 and second one at 5.30. At least some milder weather was forecast over the weekend. Enjoy the rest of the photos from Thursday.