Friday felt a lot colder with a biting wind.  For the first time the snow felt more icy.  One cleaner up and after coffee we went to Buxton to check on the house and pick up our new glasses.  We were back mid afternoon as I wanted to be back before the snow arrived.  It was supposed to be here any time from 3pm but in the end the first flurries didn’t arrive until 5pm.  In the meantime we had to go out twice to the guest garden and round up sheep who have found a breach in the wall from the back field into the copse at the back of the garden.   A few found a way onto the lawn where they were scraping the ground to find grass.  The farmer had brought up hay again for them today but as the saying goes the grass is greener… This didn’t help the saplings in the copse or my Scots Pine I planted  a number of years ago but has now been more or less denuded. The snow took its time to arrive but when it did it came down relentlessly and in the morning there was another four inches of snow.  Confused the dogs by both of us taking them for their morning walk.  Tried to do a bit of sledging but just too much snow!  The road was clear so we thought we would try the Farmers Market so after coffee we took some guests down with us to Bakewell for the market.  There was snow down in Bakewell but on the whole it had been cleared.  Got to the Agricultural Centre only to find the market had been cancelled earlier that morning.  There were still a few stall holders selling outside as they decided having got there they were going to sell what they could as there was a steady stream of cars arriving in the car park.  We then went round to the Chatsworth Farm Shop as our guests hadn’t been there before so at least they could buy some food even if it was more expensive than the Farmers Market.  Back and had lunch and just happened to look out the front and realised the sheep seemed to be crossing the cattle grid into the car park.  Chris and I went outside and got them back into the field and found a barrier to discourage them from coming back again.  My poor plants and shrubs have really been decimated by the sheep over the last couple of days as we found that they had got into the area behind Bluebell and nibbled away at the bottom of the conifers too.  Later in the afternoon the farmer came to feed them and I had to shoo some out of the copse again so at least they could get some hay.  Chris popped down to Andrews and found himself helping out with a sick cow.  Lots of fun with the animals and they’re not even ours!  Later in the evening as the temperature rose there was a rumble and a swathe of snow fell off the roof at the back of the house, luckily no damage done. Then it started to rain and we even had some lightening and thunder at our peak district cottages. Enjoy the photos.

At least Tuesday started sunny with a hoar frost at our peak district cottages so took more photos.  With the deep snow we have we cannot use the tractor to top up the log supply so I am having to go and bag some up and bring them down daily and at the same time do my daily checks on the empty cottages.  Cleaner made it up and guests managed to get out in their own car.  Finally made a start on this weeks curtain jobs as I have had some curtains that I have been meaning to hang up since before Xmas and I also have started washing curtains as a part of the deep cleaning regime.  Wednesday was back to dull weather and in many was a repeat of Tuesday (curtains, logs, cottage checks) but the rubbish got collected and we saw the postman for the first time since last Thursday.  He would have been here yesterday had his van not broken down. Thursday was a brighter day although no sunshine.  Cleaner up to carry on with work and later in the morning Chris and I went down to Bakewell for our six monthly dental check up and also got provisions for the weekend.  Realised afterwards that the Farmers Market was on Saturday but after seeing the lunchtime forecast I wondered if I would make it anyway.  There is an amber warning for snow Friday night into Saturday and I have rearranged a booking because of this.  The weather the last couple of weeks hasn’t done our last minute bookings any favour.  Did a check of cottages and stocked up on logs by wheeling a barrow load through the snow! The afternoon just seemed to fly by.  Enjoy the photos from Tuesday

Tuesday was a busy day at our peak district cottages.  Cleaner up to carry on cleaning and I was kept busy in the morning with emails and telephone calls.  After lunch I popped down to Bakewell to get some provisions for the next few days.  It is a lot quieter now, even found a free parking space, many cafes are closed for a few weeks for winter breaks or redecorating.  Plenty of posters up about Costa Coffee who have won their planning application on appeal.  Late afternoon our relationship bank manager called in for a chat.  Wednesday was another busy day for many reasons.  One of our regular guests called in to make a booking (they don’t live too far away so often pass this way).  After coffee we went to Buxton for an eye test which we should have done last year.  Luckily there are no real changes but Chris needs a new pair of safety glasses so has ordered a pair.  After lunch we called in at Morrisons. It was quite foggy on the way back but it cleared later in the evening.  It was a much colder day and I had to scrape the ice off the car before collecting Joanna for the first WI meeting of the year.  it was a busy night for me as I had to collect subscriptions, collect money for our trip to the Youlgrave Pantomime, do the vote of thanks for the speaker and pay the speaker.  Our speaker tonight was a local solicitor who talked about wills and he raised a lot of interesting points.  I had spent some time in the afternoon preparing for the meeting as I had to hand out lots of receipts, not that I got time to hand them all out!  Thursday was a much quieter day.  Cleaner up again and Chris and I spent some time going round the cottages listing things to do over the next few weeks.  It was a cold day again with a veil of mist in the dales and the forecast of more cold weather over the weekend and beyond.  I spent some time in the afternoon catching up on accounts, I have the end of month, quarter and year accounts to finalise as well as pay this months bills that are now in.  Got the fire going too, haven’t had to do that for a few weeks.

New Year’s Eve was a dull and damp day although it brightened up later.  No departures but one arrival and one cleaner up to keep up with cleaning.  Later in the morning we took Chris’s brother to Buxton to see our project and Buxton’s highlights and had lunch at No 6, close to the Opera House.  Back in time for our guests who arrived at 6pm.  They have been before.  In the evening we thought we would get some fish and chips from Bakewell but when we got there just after 7pm, it had already closed.  The Chinese takeaway was busy so we thought we would pop into the Peacock for a drink.  They were serving food and there was a spare table so we ended up eating there and we all enjoyed our meals.  Will have to add that to our list of places to eat.  Saw the New Year in quietly as we usually do.  New Years Day was pleasant but cooler and there were two departures and Chris’s brother headed for home too leaving Chris and I to have a quiet afternoon and evening and have a few relaxing hours at our peak district cottages.

Friday saw another wet morning with it drying up a little in the afternoon.  One cleaner up and first guests for Christmas arrived about 7.30 in the evening.  They have been before.  During the day I spent time finishing bits in the cottages and late morning went down to Bakewell, where a part of the car park was closed as it was under water.  Chris was over at Buxton for a few hours in the morning after which we went over to Monsal Head to collect our goose for Christmas.  We stopped at the cafe there for a late lunch and dropped of a few Christmas cards on the way.  On Saturday I went down to Bakewell first thing taking my Singapore guests with me as they were off to Manchester.  A wander round the Farmers Market to pick up some last minute food before back to our Peak District cottages.  One cleaner up and after final checks for today’s arrivals I concentrated on cottages due in over the next couple of days and put up the final tree!  It was quite a wet morning and there’s nothing I hate more than trying to finish off cottages in the rain.  Also spent a few hours doing some Christmas preparations in the house.  Two cottages arrived about 4pm with final one arriving about 7.30, they have been before.  We also have a few dogs here for Christmas so Smudge will be happy.  After dinner we went down to Andrew and Joanna’s for a couple of hours.  All the cows are now in for the winter so no black and white objects on the landscape for a few months!

These are the best days in November when you wake up to a clear blue sky.  It was nice to take the dogs for a walk especially as I didn’t have to wash the dogs paws for the first time in ages.  Thursday was my planned day for making our Christmas cake.  One cottage out and none back in so I had no excuse not to do any baking!  So most of the afternoon went in baking with a result of two Christmas cakes, mince pies, biscuits and fridge cake and a roast dinner whilst the oven was on.  Friday was back to normal with one cottage out and one back in. One cleaner up.  Another cold crisp November day, pity the weather station has failed again so the statistics wont be accurate enough when I publish them.  Time for some jobs in the cottages. Chris came down to Bakewell with me in the afternoon as he needed to pick up some bits and on the way back we called into the wine warehouse where they were having a tasting session.  Guests arrived at our peak district cottages about 9pm.

Although Wednesday started wet it did stop raining by late morning and we even saw some glimpses of sunshine in the afternoon!  One cottage out with one back in and one cleaner up.  Chris and I went over to Buxton as with the bad weather of late nothing has been done for a number of days at the house and we just wanted to check everything was OK.  We stopped for lunch but was back in time for our guests arrival.  They are from Finland.  A number of emails to keep me busy. At last a sunny day at our peak district cottages.  Thursday was a lovely day so spent a few hours in the afternoon tidying up in the gardens. In the morning one guest departed and I went down to Bakewell to get some provisions for the next few days.  When I went up into the garden I spotted there were some cows in the area just behind the cottages where they shouldn’t be.  They had been let into the paddock for a few days to chomp the grass down but how they got into the other area I don’t know.  (Andrew’s suggestion was that the gate could have been left open then it closed behind them).  With Smudges help managed to get them back into the paddock.  Friday started a bit showery but brightened up.  One cottage out and one back in and one cleaner up.  A day of ‘five minute jobs’ as well as a number of other jobs including dead heading the hanging baskets and washing the windows the cows had been licking whilst in the paddock, I’ve locked them out again now.  Guests arrived about 5pm.  Smudge also said goodbye to his favourite guests in the evening so he will be a bit traumatised for a few day.