A dreary start to a busy Saturday but it soon brightened up. Five cottages out and seven back in to our pet friendly cottages. Three cleaners commenced work while I zipped round the Farmers Market. A timely finish meant I got through some more jobs in the cottages. This week one of the things I was checking was casserole and flan dishes. May not sound exciting but it needs to be done. While I was doing my checks I was wondering what will happen when the tourist board review standards and recommended inventories next time. It was only at the last review that we were advised we no longer needed to provide rolling pins in every cottage! A steady stream of arrivals from 3pm with all in by 6pm. Two have been before. After dinner took the dogs for a walk and in the paddock they had a little run around with another collie. Sunday was disappointing weatherwise so it was an at home day catching up on jobs around the house and garden. In the evening we went to the village hall at Over Haddon. As we had to miss out on one of the film evenings when everything was being moved into the new hall they decided belatedly to have an impromptu film night and we saw The Kings Speech which is a lovely film. Best attended film night for a while too!
dog friendly cottages peak district
Lea Gardens and other bits
Monday saw another busy day with one cottage out and three back in. With one already prepared one cleaner up to turn round remaining two. All ready for guests arrival with all guests in by 5pm. Two have been before. For the first time in a long while we do not have any dogs at our dog friendly cottages! After dinner went down to the Over Haddon Village Hall with my new hat as WI rep for the annual Village Hall AGM. Tuesday was our designated day off and with no improvement in the weather I opted for Lea Gardens which we normally visit at this time of year. With everything out so early the rhododendrons were either at their best or just past their best but it was still a colourful experience on a dull day! Opted for an early lunch and as we had the dogs with us, they are welcome at Lea Gardens, we ate outside on the cafe terrace overlooking the gardens. From here we went onto the outlet centre at J28 of the M1. Even we need some new clothes sometimes! Oh, and there is a Cadbury’s shop there too!
Some more fine days
Sunday started a bit cloudy at our peak district cottages but not cold. We thought we would wait until it brightened up as forecast to go for a walk but that didn’t happen until later in the day so we had a quiet day at home. Still there is always some thing to do. Monday was much sunnier and warmer. Three cottages departed with two returning later in the day and two cleaners up. No problems encountered and a little time to start planting out some marigold seeds. Still waiting for my bedding plants to arrive. Both cottages arrived about 3pm, one of which has been before. After that I spent some more time on seeds and also accounts. With most schools back on Tuesday we have lost the families we nomally would have at Easter but we have more dogs arriving in the next few days as we have not had many during the last couple of weeks.
A walk at Padley Gorge – Pictures
Here are some pictures of the walk we did at Padley Gorge not far from our Peak District Cottages on Tuesday. Words to follow.
Spring has arrived?
The forecast was for a drizzly start on Sunday at our pet friendly cottages but it actually was quite sunny first thing. Three cottages out and after picking up the paper from Bakewell stopped off at Green Cowden Farm to see how lambing was getting along. Whilst we were there one arrived, they have had a busy week, usually the second week is busier, so they are getting little sleep at the moment. Enjoy the pictures. As no drizzle or rain materialised after lunch we walked over to Sheldon. The Village Historical Society was holding a display with old pictures, maps and artifacts found in the village. We always joke that each time we walk to Sheldon we find a different way and this was no exception. The path brought us out by the village hall and we had a look round the exhibition and a cup of tea before heading back. Forgot to take the camera but it was too cloudy for any decent pictures. Never mind it probably wont be long before we walk that way again (hopefully!)
Full House
On Thursday we had no arrivals or departures at our peak district cottages so had ‘a day off’. After coffee and loading up the car we headed for the recycling centre at Buxton. We then headed into town and went to the Pavilion Gardens where there was a Catering and Hospitality Trade Fair. Had a chat with some of the exhibitors then had some lunch before coming home. With a number of cottages due in on Friday did what I could to get as much done as possible in advance. Friday was another sunny but breezy day. A number of dogs in at the moment too so our two have had some friends to walk with in the morning. No departures but four cottages due in giving us a full house on Friday night. One cleaner up for final cleaning and I went down to Bakewell for last minute provisions. After final checks spent the afternoon starting on this months accounts in between arrivals. Staggered arrivals with cottages in at 3.30, 4.30, 5pm and 7.30pm. One I collected from Bakewell and one had been before. Evening dominated by Crufts and the terrible news from Japan.
Hopton Hall Snowdrops
We had designated Tuesday as a ‘day off’ although with guests arriving in the afternoon it was not a true day off, but with no cleaners or Handyman organised we took a few hours off and headed to Hopton Hall to marvel at the snowdrops. I think we caught them at their best, shame the weather was still so dreary. We may go back in the summer to see the gardens again then even though they don’t allow dogs. Ours stayed in the car. After our wander round the gardens we headed to Ashbourne and had a little wander there. I bought some provisions from some of their delis and we had lunch before heading back to our peak district cottages. Back just before 3pm and the first guests had arrived with the second cottage arriving about an hour later. Took the dogs for a walk around the grounds as they had not had much of a walk before a quiet evening in. Enjoy the pictures!
A busy Friday
Friday dawned bright and it was very hard under foot when I took the dogs for their walk. Two cottages out and four back in (one a late booking) to our peak district dog friendly cottages and two cleaners up during the day. For various reasons a late start was made to cleaning but nevertheless no problems encountered and all finished before guests arrived. While cleaning was taking place the carpet rep arrived and we chose some carpet for the cottages as we plan to replace most over the next couple of months. All being well the first couple of rolls will arrive Monday. First cottage arrived about 3pm, second one about 4 pm, they have been a few times before. The remaining two arrived between 5&6 pm. After dinner sat down for a change. Took some pictures of the cows in the paddock from Derwent lounge as it was a nice afternoon.
Thursday and Friday
Thursday was another disappointing day weather wise with low cloud obscuring the views. My throat was worse but with plenty to do I still got up although I would have been better off staying in bed. I think the problem when you work from home is you cannot ‘leave’ the work behind you. If I had had to go into an office I wouldn’t have done so but as I just pottered around I could rest when I wanted to. I had planned to go to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend and Buxton to pick up some items I had reserved at Argos. Bakewell could wait until Friday but later in the day after the handyman had gone and the cleaner had prepared a cottage and some of the public areas Chris took me to Buxton. Unlike many other high streets and shopping centres we noticed there there were hardly any empty units. Purchases made and a cup of tea later we headed back home. Friday was almost a repeat of Tuesday weather wise with some lovely views over the mist although it did keep rolling in. I stayed in bed a bit longer leaving Chris to deal with the guests departing from five of the cottages. With four back in later in the day into our pet friendly cottages two cleaners up to prepare those needed for today plus one spare just in case I got a last minute booking. I wandered around in ‘slow’ mode and early afternoon Chris walked the dogs over to Sheldon to pick up the car which has been in for a service. All four cottages arrived between 3&4pm leaving me to relax during the evening.
Autumn Colours
These were pictures of Saturdays sunset from our peak district cottages. We do have some lovely colours around at the moment. Pity we couldn’t see much of them on Sunday. We had hoped to go for a walk but it was too misty and it never really cleared. So what did we do with this extra hour? Mainly firm up on next years prices which will be published shortly. We also took delivery of the new 4×4. Chris took it for a spin around the fields – with Blue! Trust him to be the first passenger! I got to drive it round the fields too. In the evening we went to the Buxton Opera House to see a free climber who gave a talk on some of the climbs he had got up to. Rather him than me! Monday was busier day with four cottages out and two back in. With a busy week of arrivals and departures two cleaners up to keep on top of cleaning. Both cottages arrived between 3 and 4 pm, both have been before. At least it brightened up today. In the evening Chris went down to Bakewell for the Photographic Circle meeting and I caught up with the days paperwork.