Saturday dawned bright and warm and luckily showers held off until later in the day.  Five cottages out with one staying for a second week.  Three cleaners up and with all guests departed by 10 am a good start was made to the cleaning. Chris carried on doing some work with the boiler and to our delight we now have central heating back!  Chris also cut the grass and ‘hoovered’ up some leaves which are now starting to fall from the trees.  Time for me to do some extra tasks in the cottages as well.  Of the five cottages in today four have been here before, although one phoned during the day to say they were delaying their arrival until Sunday or Monday due to illness.  Two cottages arrived between 3&4 pm with the remaining two cottages arriving between 5&6 pm.  Both have dogs so our two have some more friends (two are collies) again this week in our dog friendly cottages.  Sat down and watched the ‘Great British Bake Off’ that was filmed in Bakewell a couple of months ago and aired this week.  Actually enjoyed the program as well as keeping an eye out to see if we had appeared in the crowd scenes.  Then of course it was the Last Night of the Proms, a ceremony that marks the passing of summer.  Can I get another ice cream in before next year?

It was a little bit misty on Wednesday morning, it looked quite autumnal and I noticed one of the trees had started to turn yellow.  Wednesday was supposed to be wet but it stayed further south with the rain not arriving until dinner time. One cottage out with two back into our dog friendly cottages, one has been before.  One cleaner up to turn one cottage round.  Went down to Bakewell to get provisions for next few days.  In the afternoon the architect came up to see how my laundry was progressing.  First cottage arrived just after 3pm and second cottage just before 5pm.  Thursday was quite a miserable day despite the pleasant forecast.  One cottage out and one cleaner up.  With the forecast of a nice weekend (but its a Bank Holiday weekend – that cant be right!) went to Buxton to get some provisions for the weekend.  In the afternoon did some bits around the house and put the log burning stove on.  Although the cottages have heating as our boiler is out of action whilst the laundry is being built it was cool enough to put it on to keep the chill out of the house.  Hope they’re right about it getting warmer over the next few days.  Before I forget have added some pictures of the heather and amended entry for last Thursday.

With work resuming on my new laundry had to put up with some noise whilst the foundations were dug out.  Two cottages out on Monday morning with two returning into our dog friendly cottages and one cleaner up.  Usual Monday events and one cottage arrived just after 3pm, they also have a collie called Blue!  Second cottage arrived about 5pm.   A lady came to collect some bits I had put on Freecycle and she turned out to be a granddaughter of a previous owner.  She found it quite emotional seeing all the changes but has said she will search out some old pictures and bring them round.  She was also able to fill in some gaps in our knowledge.  Tuesday was forecast wet but like last week it seemed to pass us by.  Spent some time in the morning tidying up and WI Treasurers bits.  After lunch went to Bakewell and onto the outlet village at Rowsley and bought a few bits.  The foundations had been dug by Tuesday afternoon and if the building inspector passes the work on Wednesday morning then the concrete will arrive in the afternoon!  The dogs are coping with the noise and upheaval, for Smudge a chance to cadge lunch of the men but they have been a bit confused by the fact we do not let them out the back door for their walks at the moment.  

Another fine Saturday and another changeover day arrives.  Six cottages out today with two staying for a second week but for the first time in ages no dogs at our peak district cottages.  Three cleaners up and cleaning progressed well.  Interviewed another potential cleaner today with one more to see before I make any decisions.  The arrivals include a Dutch couple here for two weeks and one couple who have been here before.  Chris cut the grass to keep it looking tidy even though it hasn’t grown a lot.  Guests arrived in a steady flow from 3 – 5 pm with one late arrival near 8pm.  It was the Bakewell Carnival today so I always let guests know as the roads are always shut for a few hours to let the parade pass.  Luckily another fine day for the Carnival.

Just looking through my pictures reminded me that I didn’t mention that the hay was collected on Friday afternoon.  A few hours and it was all gone. So took a couple of pictures.  As you know cow watching is a very popular pastime with our two dogs and with the dry weather one of the water troughs is empty.  Smudge has taken to sitting in it to watch the cows.  He wont thank me for it but here are a couple of pictures of him.

A wet start to Sunday but despite the poor forecast it had dried up by mid morning.  A quick trip down to Bakewell for paper and recycling first thing.  Fay called in for coffee on her way home to the farm, she has nearly finished her year’s industrial placement and will soon be back at university.  A bit of housework before lunch and then as the weather seemed to have settled we walked down to Over Haddon.  They were having an open afternoon at the village hall as everything is now in place for the demolition of the existing hall and building of the new hall.  The final plans were available for inspection as was samples of tiles, paint, carpet etc. The WI will need to find a temporary home whilst the rebuilding goes on.  By the time we left it had clouded over so we walked round the corner to the Lathkill Hotel and had a drink in the beer garden.  It started to rain lightly but we set of back and soon it dried up again.  Blue didn’t enjoy his walk back as there were too many cows around.  Monday was a bit cooler and cloudier with a few showers.  One cottage out with two back in to our dog friendly cottages peak district, both have been before.  One cleaner up.  First cottage here by 3pm and the second one about 5pm.  Spent some time on accounts and paid this months bills.

Sunday was supposed to consist of heavy showers but we did not see a drop all day, doesn’t help when Chris has put some weed killer down that needs watering in.  Did a recycling run down to Bakewell when getting the paper but the rest of the day went in working through a list of things to around the house.  Monday was another beautiful day although we did have a shower at 3.30 am.  May has been dry, only .22 in rain so far this month and only 7.56 in rain this year, not much more than we had for the whole of November 2009!  Three cottages out of our dog friendly cottages with four back in later, one has been before.  Two cleaners up and no problems encountered. First guests arrived just before 3pm but then the remaining three cottages all arrived at 4.30pm!  As it was still so nice we drove to Over Haddon and had a walk along Lathkill Dale and back stopping at the Lathkill Hotel for a drink.  We dropped the dogs back home then went down to Bakewell and tried out the new bistro, Le Mistral.  We had a nice meal so we hope the business succeeds.

We have had a run of plumbing related problems over the last few days, some of which have come to light from our guest questionnaires.  Nothing major, a faulty radiator thermostat, a loose tap but on Sunday Chris  had the one he was dreading.  A dripping overflow pipe spotted by Chris meant a possible afternoon walk had to be put on hold and Chris had to don his overalls and climb into a loft.  The worry was would he have, or be able to get the replacement bits on a Sunday bearing in mind it was already lunchtime. Having no spares here Chris set off for Buxton but decided to call in at Andrews who luckily had a spare Chris could use. Again luckily he was able to make the repair without a problem.  I spent some time potting up the remaining plants and later some accounts.  With Ian having to do the milking on his own Chris had volunteered to help round up the cows aided by Smudge.  With it having been a fine day the cows were being quite stubborn about going in so it took the pair about an hour to get them in! After Sunday being so pleasant Monday was more like Saturday, mostly cold and dreary.  No cottages out but two back in later in the day.  One cleaner up to prepare cottages and for the first time this year I managed to get to Bakewell market.  Both cottages arrived between 3&4pm into our dog friendly peak district cottages.  Some more friends or Smudge and Blue.  Spent some time paying this months bills.

A wet start although it brightened up before it deteriorated mid afternoon and then brightened up again.  Two cottages out and four back into our dog friendly cottages in the peak district.  Two cleaners up this morning and no problems encountered. Everything ready on time and all cottages arrived between 3&4 pm.  B now it was raining quite heavily so I got wet four times!  Also we said goodbye to the Discovery that has gone to a local farm for parts.  A brief excursion to collect some home made Hot Cross Buns from Joanna and fill up with petrol in Bakewell.  Highlight of the evening was the new seres of Ashes to Ashes.

Monday was a deary day, quite misty at times.  No cottages out but one cottage back in to our dog friendly cottages later in the day.  They have been here before.  Two cleaners up today to prepare cottages required for the next few days.  In the evening Chris went to the Bakewell Photographic Society and with the end of the financial quarter looming I got as much up straight as I could.  Tuesday was cooler with the serious rain hanging off until later in the day.  In the morning we went to Bakewell for the Tourism Leaflet Swap.  Apart from picking up some more leaflets it was a chance to chat to other accommodation providers and service providers. Got some provisions in Bakewell before coming back home for lunch.  After lunch spent a little time concluding our review of business so far this year and one cottage arrived just after 4pm.  Finished putting out the leaflets.  In the evening went over to the Church Inn at Chelmorton for a meal and it was trying to sleet on the way back!