dog friendly peak district

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The first snow

Sunday 9th Feb was a mixed day weather wise at our Bolehill Cottages (see link).  Two departures and first arrival in Dove. There was a delivery of a hob for Magpie which means all our cottages will now have a ceramic hob.  We did a  number of jobs around the house and cottages with Dove arriving about 3.30.  Awaiting the feedback!  Monday was a pleasant day with Dove out for an early walk.  Handyman up and with Dove out of the way attention was turned back to other cottages. Magpie had the new hob installed.  Talk of the morning was the car accident in Bakewell where a car hit the bridge demolishing a part of it and ended up on its roof in the river.  The driver was able to walk away shocked but relatively unhurt but the bridge had to be closed to recover the car, something that is not wanted on a Monday on market day.  I turned my attention to jobs in other cottages including yet more curtains!  I also stocked up again on logs.  In the evening I went to Over Haddon for the indoor bowls.  Tuesday started fine with rain forecast in the morning and wintry showers to follow so we were quite surprised when it started snowing.  I kept reassuring the handyman and cleaner that it would turn to rain but by the time there were a couple of centimetres of snow on the ground even I was wondering why the forecast still said rain.  It had even taken the forecasters by surprise.  Early afternoon the sun came out and it started to melt in places.  I felt it was safe enough to drive to Bakewell to get provisions for the next few days.  Naturally there was no snow in Bakewell!  Back home I took the dogs out for a walk in the fields.  Enjoy the photos.

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Finishing Dove

IMG_4965There is always so much to do at our Bolehill cottages (see here). With a booking for Dove at the weekend this gave us a deadline to work to.  On Thursday 6th Feb Chris moved the fridge and dishwasher back into Dove so all the kitchen electrics were finally connected and working. I started putting all the equipment back into the kitchen cupboards along with other things that needed attention.  A busy day for bookings, unusual for a Thursday.  Friday saw one departure and two arrivals with one cleaner up.  A trip down to town to get provisions for the weekend.  Final clean in Dove and spent the afternoon hemming curtains for Dove.  First cottage arrived just after 4pm and second one about 5.30, they have been before.  As we worked until late Chris went down and got fish and chips for tea.  Saturday started fine but with a deteriorating forecast.  Put up the final curtains in Dove and finished off all the last minute jobs ready for first guests.  It was very windy later in the afternoon, I struggled walking back and forth across the courtyard but no damage done.

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Chesterfield again!

IMG_4962Monday was a fine day to start with at our Bolehill Cottages (see here).  One arrival and one cleaner up.  Handyman up and furniture moved back into Dove.  Plenty for me to do as well.  Cottage arrived just after 3pm.  In the evening I went to Over Haddon for indoor bowls and Chris went to Bakewell for the Photographic Society meeting.  Tuesday saw another trip to Chesterfield for me.  First I went to Bookers for the bi monthly stock up then round to Screwfix to pick up some more bits for Chris.  Then round to B&Q for some curtain poles followed by the Range (similar to Dunelm) to see what they had.   Next into town and to Argos followed by a stroll around Dunelm to finish the day.  Just as well there was only me in the car as it was very full.  When I got home there was also an order from Terry’s Fabrics waiting for me but I didn’t get much time to sort everything out that evening by the time I caught up with emails and bookings.  Wednesday was a busy day with Dove.  I got the first of the curtains up and the cleaner was able to have a good go now that Chris and handyman have finished most jobs.  Also had a busy day for bookings, unusual for a Wednesday. In the evening we had our monthly WI committee meeting at our house.

The weather stats for January are as follows:

Warmest day 5th with highest temp of 10.3 deg C.  Warmest night 15th.  Lowest temp of -0.8 on 12th with 29th coldest night and 30th coldest day.  Total rain 5.31 inches with 31st (.83) beating 1st (.76) at the last moment.  Rain total for Jan 13 was 2.17 inches.

 

 

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A day of two walks

IMG_4930Wow! Sunday (2/2) was a dry sunny day! One departure from our Bolehill cottages (see here) and with a good day forecast we decided on a walk.  Knowing how wet the fields were I thought it would be nice on Curbar Edge as we haven’t walked there for a while.  The car park was already full but we found a spot on the road to park.  It was breezy but clear so we had nice views of the area.  There were also some radio controlled gliders around so Chris had a chat with some of the operators.  One man had come all the way from Leicester as the conditions were so good.  We had walked about a mile, the plan was to walk to the end of Froggatt Edge and back, but it was getting so busy that Chris decided to turn back.  As we hadn’t done much of a walk we then decided to drive to Over Haddon car park and walk down to the dale and see the flooding.  On the way down the lane we stopped to have a chat with Karen from the tea room.  One of her Scottie dogs had been very ill with canine meningitis.  Down in the dale the water was very high and very fast and we set off toward Bateman’s cottage.  We found the path under water before we got to Bateman’s cottage. We have never seen the dale flooded so we took a number of photos then turned and walked.  When we got to the lodge (now vacated by the couple we know) we carried on to Conksbury bridge.  At the clapper bridge the water was almost as high as the bridge and at the weirs you could barely make them some of them out as the water was rushing over so fast.  We got to the pub and luckily they’re were still serving food so we had a late lunch (and dessert) before walking back to the car.  A quiet evening in rounded off with the first episode of one of the BBC’s best comedy programmes – Top Gear.  See here for today’s photos.

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Getting things done

IMG_4970Monday 27/1 saw one arrival but no departures at our Bolehill Cottages (see here).  Chris and handyman continued work in Dove with attention turning to finishing off and painting so furniture can go back in.  No cleaner but cottage ready for arrivals after I had done my checks. T hey arrived just after 3pm.  With accounts out of the way for the moment I can catch up on my annual checks in the cottages.  This includes checking the inventory in every cottage and replacing worn items.  An excuse for shopping!  In the evening I went to indoor bowls in Over Haddon.  On Tuesday we had one departure after which we went to Chesterfield with a list of items to buy for Dove and other cottages.  Our stops included B&Q, Screwfix, Dunelm and the Dulux paint shop.  Guess which one I enjoyed most!   We called into town and had lunch there.  Wednesday was a colder day with forecast of wintry showers although none materialised.   A busy morning with phone calls and emails and in the afternoon I went to Buxton to get more bits for Chris from one of the builders merchants.  I had a quick walk around town too.   The bathroom floor is now down in Dove and painting finished.   Fixtures can start going back up now.

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Goodbye to new year guests

IMG_4862Thursday 2/1/14 saw our friends depart.  No arrivals at our Bolehill Cottages (see link) but one cleaner here.  The first dry and bright day since Sunday.  Forgot to mention the River Wye was on flood alert Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. In the afternoon we went to Chesterfield to get some more paint and a little retail therapy although I only bought a jumper.  In the evening I went to Joanna’s for our monthly WI committee meeting, it should have on Wednesday. Friday saw two departures and no arrivals and one cleaner up.  Sometimes we do get bookings for the weekend after the New Year and although we had enquiries, the forecast of yet more rain and wind was not encouraging.  As cottages have been departing I have been taking down the trees and decorations.  Mind you it doesn’t take as long to get them down as to put them up. Despite the forecast Friday was not as bad as predicted so at least our remaining guests could get out and about.  Over the last few days Chris has been drafting our New Year email which was dispatched on the Friday.   Also spent some time boxing up contents of Dove in readiness for its emptying.   Saturday saw two more departures.   No cleaner but handyman up to help Chris empty Dove of furniture and contents.   Again another day where the weather wasn’t as bad as the forecast. Perhaps we were lucky.  In the afternoon Chris and I went down to Bakewell to get some provisions for the next few days and in the evening we went to Buxton Opera House.  This time it was to see a David Bowie tribute act. Interesting.

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A winter walk in Lathkill Dale

IMG_4821We waited until Boxing Day morning to decide what to do at our Bolehill Cottages (see here) as the forecast had been for a foggy morning. Luckily for us the fog and mist was in the dales and we decided on a walk in Lathkill Dale. As we set off the mist was rolling across the dale and I thought the weather would make for some interesting photos. We walked across our fields and the green lane down to Haddon Grove Farm then picked up the path to Mill Farm and down the old drovers track and into the dale. The sun hadn’t reached here so it was still frosty and mist was rising from the fast flowing river. We hardly met anyone until we got to Lathkill Lodge and after that it was a bit busier and by the time we got to Conksbury bridge we were back in the sun. We stopped at the Lathkil for a swift half before the final trek back to Bolehill. At the bottom of our drive a car was parked which we realised was with the hunt that had set of from Bakewell earlier. The hunt was expected to go through shortly. It was when we were upstairs that I saw the hounds run down the four acre field, then run into the drive field and then into the eight acre field. Only one horse and rider was with them and they stayed in the four acre field but they were soon joined by others and then they rode along the road towards Monyash. The hounds always seem to go where they want to go as about an hour later we saw some running across Andrew’s field. They must have been rounded up at some stage as the kennels are just down the road. Friday was a quiet day with friends and one cottage departing. One cleaner up and made time to prepare for Saturday. Enjoy the photos.

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Christmas arrivals

IMG_4802A cold start to Saturday (21/12) with the discovery that the tree that lost a major limb a few weeks ago at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here) is no more so later in the morning Chris had to go out and do a bit more chain sawing!  First though down to Bakewell for the Farmers Market (a week early due to Christmas) with Chris and afterwards we had a little wander round Bakewell stopping for coffee before returning home.  Final checks on cottages before arrivals of which there were three.  All were here by 4pm and one has been before.  After dinner one of the cottages came over for a drink and a chat so a nice way to end the day.  IMG_4803On Sunday morning went down to Bakewell to get paper and some recycling before back and final checks on cottage due in.  One final pre Xmas departure.  Chris stocked up on logs.  Cottage arrived just after 3 pm.  Rest of day went in our own preparations for Christmas including icing the cake and getting a room ready for our friends.  Monday was another very windy and wet day.  One cleaner up to turn round last cottage before Xmas and for me final checks on remaining cottages.  Chris went and collected our Christmas dinner and called in to see a number of locals before retuning home.  Four arrivals, two of which have been before, with all here by 5pm as were our friends.  By the time we went out in the evening the wind had died down and it had stopped raining.  We had a nice meal at the Devonshire Arms in Pilsley.  A great way to start our Christmas break.

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Final Xmas preparations

IMG_4782Thursday 19/12 was a quiet day with a cleaner up to help prepare cottages for the Christmas arrivals at our Bolehill cottages (see here).  Managed to get one more tree up in one of the cottages and we had a number of deliveries.  The crockery set I ordered had gone AWOL and checks showed it hadn’t been delivered to the couriers but as it is now out of stock I will have to look for a different set. IMG_4783 Later in the afternoon Chris came down with me to Bakewell to get some provisions and we went onto Chatsworth Farm shop to get a few bits.  It was raining quite heavily but when driving back they were saying on the radio that roads out of Buxton were closed due to snow and by the time we got up to Green Cowden Farm it was snowing heavily so we only had a short distance to cover.  Luckily our guests were all in so no need to worry.  IMG_4787Cancelled a visit from a friend because of the weather.  The snow fizzled out but the clear skies meant it froze so we woke up to a light covering of snow.  This started to go as soon as the sun got to it.  Two departures but no arrivals and with one cleaner up it was a day of getting the cottages ready for Saturdays arrivals. Final three trees put up.  Chris and handyman cut down the remaining part of the conifer that blew down and logged it.   All ready for Christmas.

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Trees up…and down

IMG_4770Well on Sunday (15/12) there were no Xmas preparations at home as I had a days baking course booked at the Tideswell school of food about fifteen minutes away from our Bolehill cottages (see here). A packed day for the twelve of us who baked a range of Christmas goodies including mini panettone and lebkuchen my favourite Xmas biscuits. I came home later in the afternoon with boxes of yummies to eat, so many that Chris took some down to Andrew and Joanna. Chris in my absence had seen two cottages depart. He had also managed to marzipan the Xmas cake and do some jobs in the cottages – I had left him a list! Monday saw two arrivals on a cool day. IMG_4773One cleaner up and checked Christmas arrangements with refuse collectors and laundry man. Both cottages arrived between 3and 4pm. Managed to get two Christmas trees up in the cottages. In the evening we went to Buxton to see Steeleye Span at the Opera house. Tuesday was a sunny but colder day. Chris and handyman finished off in Sheepfold in the morning and in the afternoon Chris and I went to Buxton for a few hours. He needs a new pair of overalls, his current ones are literally falling apart at the seams. It also gave us the chance to do some Xmas shopping and call in at B&Q for some new lights for Sheepfold. IMG_4778We bumped into one of our former cleaners in Buxton so found time for a coffee too. Wednesday was dull with rain arriving in the afternoon. No departures but one arrival just after 3pm. One cleaner up and time to get two more trees up in the cottages. Later in the afternoon the wind really picked up and we were battered about a bit for a few hours. Wind, rain and hail saw problems on the road with more trees down (including a part of one at the top of the guests garden) and some minor flooding. And snow was mentioned in Thursdays forecast!