Winter does not want to leave our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell just yet, (see here). The wind was bitterly cold on Saturday and even though it brightened up it never warmed up. Three departures and three arrivals and two cleaners here. Time for some odd jobs too and everything ready for guests arrival in plenty of time. Two arrived at 3pm, one has been before and final one arrived just after 4pm, they have been before. Managed to get some accounts done and phoned my sister as I hope to go and stay with her soon. Sunday 15th March felt less cold and despite the forecast of a wet day it just stayed dull with some drizzle later in the day. So a quiet day at home catching up on accounts and housework and preparing for the week ahead. One departure. Monday started dull and wet and although it dried up it stayed quite murky through the day. One departure and one arrival and one cleaner here. The morning went in jobs around the cottages and afternoon in paperwork. Cottage arrived just after 4pm, they have been before. After dinner Chris went to the Photographic Society in Bakewell and I went to the Village Hall Committee meeting. Only a few more indoor bowls sessions remaining before the summer break.
dog friendly peak district
A trip to Matlock
Wednesday started dull at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here). It was our day off but with rain forecast from lunchtime we thought we would head to Matlock and one of the garden centres for a few hours. We haven’t been to Matlock for a couple of years and it was interesting to note the number of retro and vintage shops that have opened along Dale Road. We had lunch in the antiques centre and by the time we reached the garden centre it was raining. From here we went to the Peak Village and then popped in to see the cleaner with the broken wrist. On the way home we called into Little Cowden farm where the first of the lambs had not long been born. For the next couple of weeks they will be working and sleeping in shifts as the majority of lambs are born. As we were leaving the hunt passed along the road so they had been out our way again. Thursday was mild but cloudy and another catch up day. One departure and one arrival with one cleaner here. Spent some time on housework in the morning and early afternoon planted more bulbs and some shrubs I had bought yesterday. Paperwork later in the afternoon and guests arrived just after 9pm. Friday 13th March started wet but brightened and dried up in the afternoon. Two departures and one arrival and one cleaner here. Down to Bakewell after coffee to get hair cut and get provisions for weekend. Got the latest Bakewell gossip from the hairdresser. After lunch checked on cottage and as we have received the first of the 2015 attractions brochures I put them out in leisure area. Guests arrived just after 3pm leaving me the rest of the afternoon to catch up on paper work including the forms I have to fill out annually so we get our rubbish collected.
Milder weather
Wednesday was a sunny but cold day at our Bolehill Cottages near bakewell (see here). One cleaner and one handyman here. More jobs in the cottages during the morning before Joanna collected me and we had an Over Haddon WI lunch at the Ashford Arms in Ashford. We have arranged to meet again in May for a walk and afternoon tea. Guess who is sorting that out! Some time in the afternoon to do some more odd jobs and take the dogs out for a walk. A hint of more spring like weather is forecast for the weekend. Thursday 5th March still had a cold touch about it. No arrivals or departures but cleaning for the weekend arrivals continues. Work finished in Shippon and for me work revolved mainly round curtain washing. In the afternoon I went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the next couple of days. Later in the day we had a visit from the couple who live in Ashford and we showed them what we have been up to over the last couple of months. Friday was mainly sunny and felt milder. One cleaner here to give Shippon a final clean and Chris and I did a number of finishing touches. I spent a lot of the day hemming new kitchen curtains for Shippon as well as ironing and rehanging curtains washed over the previous days. Final checks on the two cottages due to arrive in the afternoon, both were here just after 3pm, one has been before. This gave me time to carry on with curtains and I didn’t finish until 7pm. Saturday was another mild day with long sunny spells, not that we had much of a chance to enjoy it. One departure with three arrivals and one cleaner. Staggered arrivals with first cottage here just after 3pm, next one at 5pm and final one at 6pm, all have been before. Busier Saturdays from now on!
A quiet weekend
Friday started sunny but cold at our Bolehill cottage near Bakewell (see here). Two departures and one arrival and one cleaner here. Chris and handyman carried on in Shippon and I carried on with jobs in the cottages and house. As it felt pleasant out of the wind I did some more tidying up of planters etc in the afternoon. Guests arrived at 8pm, they have been before. Saturday was milder with the threat of showers but it stayed dry until later in the day. Two departures but no arrivals. After saying goodbye to departing guests I went down to Bakewell to the Farmers Market which was quite busy. When I got back Chris told me that the hunt had been across our land, I had seen some of the hunt cars on the way back so I knew it was in the area. After coffee I did some checks on the vacated cottages as I do if they are not going to be cleaned immediately. Chris did some more jobs in Shippon and in the afternoon I did some WI work and prepared a shopping list for my next trip to Chesterfield. Green Cowden will start lambing in two weeks time. Sunday 1st March was a cold day with passing wintry showers. We invited the cottage over for coffee and also showed them what we had been doing in the other cottages as they have stayed in most of them. We stocked up on logs and the rest of the afternoon went in odd jobs. In the evening we went to Buxton to see a production of Madame Butterfly at the Opera House. A good show but we went in the 4×4 just in case there was snow, as it had been forecast for the evening in Buxton, but none materialised.
Hopton Hall
Saturday started quite misty at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here). One departure and three arrivals and one cleaner here. All cottages prepared by lunchtime as was those for Sunday. A mass arrival at 3pm, luckily all have been before so Chris and I were able to have a chat with them all as we showed them in. Gave me time in the afternoon to get some jobs done around the house. At least it did brighten up in the afternoon. Sunday started dull but brightened up a bit quicker than Saturday. Two departures and two arrivals with cottages already prepared. Got paper from Bakewell and later in the morning we headed over to Hopton Hall to have a look at the snowdrops. The place was busy but not to busy to have a wander round and stop for soup and cake at the cafe. They were just about at their best. We bumped into the former owners of Bolehill Farm too. Drove home via the wind turbines and back in time for arrival of guests, one is a friend with her family and they have been a few times before. Monday 16 Feb saw one departure and one arrival and two cleaners here to keep up with cleaning. A day of catching up with odd jobs and paper work. Guests arrived just after 3pm. In the evening we abandoned the dogs with me heading to the Village Hall for the Village Hall Committee meeting and Chris went to Bakewell for the Photographic Society meeting. At my meeting I relinquished my WI representative’s hat and took on the Indoor Bowls representative’s hat! Enjoy the photos from Sunday.
Chesterfield again
Smudge in front of the fire as usual!
Tuesday was disappointingly overcast at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here). There is hardly any snow left now and more snowdrops are starting to appear! A day to catch up from Monday with emails and jobs in cottages, mainly inventory work, and handyman here with he and Chris doing some painting in a cottage. A busy day for emails with a number of bookings as a result. Wednesday was similar weather wise but felt colder. Another busy morning for emails and preparing shopping lists for the afternoon. Chris was still busy with jobs in cottages. After lunch I set off for Chesterfield to do another round of shopping. Since the last shop a few weeks ago there was another load of things to get and some items to return so my stops today included B&Q, the Range, Dunelm and Morrisons (to do some food shopping!) Some more bookings too in the evening. Thursday 12 February was another cold day, mainly dull with a little brightness. One departure and one arrival and one cleaner here. The morning went in cleaning and cottage preparations for the weekend and the afternoon went in paperwork and paying bills. Cottage arrived just after 3pm. Not long after a new mattress arrived so we put that in Sheepfold and took the old one to one of our cleaners. Friday was wet on and off. Chris needed to go to Buxton in the morning leaving me to carry on getting cottages ready for the weekend. One arrival, not here until 10.30pm, they have been before so let themselves in.
A slow thaw
Thursday 5 February was a dull day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see link). At least it was mild enough during the day for a thaw to set in. The day went in jobs in Derwent, Chris finishing odd jobs and a cleaner here to give it a good clean. I was putting curtains and bits back as well as other jobs in other cottages. It turned quite murky in the afternoon and after an early tea we headed to Over Haddon to pick up one of the WI ladies then drive over to 
Youlgreave. It was Pantomime night and we all enjoyed the production of Mother Goose. Some of us ex Over Haddon WI ladies took our other halves along too. It had turned much colder by the time we left and the snow turned to ice where it had started to melt. Woke up to a frosty but sunny Friday morning. One departure and one arrival and one cleaner here. Handyman came 
up for an hour to help move some furniture around. Felt less cold during the day and the snow started to thaw again. More jobs in Derwent, feels like never ending list of jobs! Guests arrived just before 4pm, after which I went down to Bakewell to get some provisions for the weekend. A nice sunset on the way home but no opportunity to photo it. Saturday was more overcast but less cold and the snow continued its thaw. Finishing touches to Derwent in advance of guests arrivals, they were here by 3pm, they have been coming here for ten years. Time spent in housework and another nice sunset so we all went to take pictures.
The snow’s still here
Monday was another very cold day, the temperature barely got above freezing, at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here). No departures or arrivals but two cleaners here cleaning and handyman and Chris painting in Derwent, shower finally installed. I did a number of jobs in the cottages, mainly inventory checking. Stocked up on logs and took the dogs for a walk. Snow is very crunchy. Should have gone to bowls in the evening but some of the lanes are still a bit icy so kept the dogs company whilst Chris went to the Photographic Society in Bakewell. Tuesday 
was less cold and with almost wall to wall sunshine. Painting in and finishing touches to Derwent bathroom. Two handymen in Derwent with Chris painting and two cleaners deep cleaning. Had a delivery of a suite during the morning. I continued with curtain washing and in the afternoon I went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the next couple of days. I had to dig the car out of the snow first! There is still so much snow around. Brought some more logs in. Later in the afternoon I spotted the potential 
for a lovely sunset so took the dogs up to the back fields and got some nice photos. Wednesday 4 Feb was like Tuesday in that it was less cold and the sun helped soften some of the snow. I still cannot believe how much snow is still here but still keep finding photos to take. A busy day in the cottages doing inventories and hanging curtains back up. Chris and handyman finished last of bits in Derwent and did a bit of cleaning and tidying up so the cleaner can start the deep clean in advance of the weekends guests.
Weather stats for January. Highest temp 12.6 deg C on 9/1, lowest temp -2.8 on 23/1. warmest day 1st and night 9th, coldest day 20th and night 22nd. Wettest day 14/1 with .43 inches with total for month 3.1 inches (Jan 14 6.18 inches).
A white weekend
Woke up to a lovely sunrise at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see link) on Friday but also the shock of four more inches of snow!! I thought the weather had said flurries! Handyman had to dig himself out of Over Haddon, cleaner couldn’t dig her way out of Rowsley and yet some places such as Ripley have had hardly any snow at all. Chris and handyman cleared top and bottom of drive. One departure which left about midday after Andrew came up and cleared the drive. At least the day was milder and the sun helped start a thaw. Meanwhile with no cleaner I finished off what was needed for the days two arrivals. One here at 5pm and one here at 6pm. 
By the time I took dogs out for quick walk some of the early morning snow had gone but still took some photos. Been washing curtains, throws and cushion covers over the last few days so have some ironing to do. By Saturday morning we had had another inch of snow so Chris had to go out yet again and clear the drive. We headed down to Bakewell to the Farmers Market which was open even though not all the stall holders had made it. Then we called in at Lavenders tea room for coffee and cake. On the way home we called in at the 
agricultural merchants to get some items. Took the dogs for a walk after lunch, the wind had blown the snow around. The afternoon went in housework for me and Chris laid the lino in Derwent bathroom. Sunday saw the arrival of February. Two departures after which down to Bakewell to get the paper. A sunny but bitterly cold day. Jobs around the house and cottages for both of us and I took the dogs out in the afternoon to get some more pictures. Hopton Hall has opened for their snowdrop displays and apparently our snowdrops are coming through, it’s just that the snow is covering them! I have taken so many photos I will post them in a separate blog but in the mean time I have attached a few.
Before the next snow
Saturday 24 January was a brighter day at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here) and finally we had our views back. Overnight a lot of the snow had gone and it continued to thaw during the day. After doing final check in cottage needed for later we went to B&Q and an electrical retailer just outside Buxton to get some items for Derwent. As we were so close to Buxton we thought we would head there for lunch but as we couldn’t get a space in the car park we made a detour to Longnor and the craft centre where we had a light lunch. Snow was patchy in the area, the sun had thawed quite a bit of it. We then drove onto Hartington, spotting a buzzard sitting at the road side, where we picked up some cheeses from the cheese shop. Back home guests arrived at 3.30 after which I did some housework. Sunday was another sunny and cold day. One departure after which we collected the paper from Bakewell. Some jobs around the house and vacant cottages in the morning and in the afternoon after stocking up on logs. We completed and paid the VAT return and tax bills. Monday was a dull but not cold day. One departure. Two cleaners, one painting one cleaning and one handyman here continuing work in Derwent. I spent a lot of time doing jobs in cottages. Andrew did a round of the fields in the tractor checking for mole activity. There seems to be a lot of them around this year. In the evening I went to the village hall for the first session of indoor bowls this year. A very enjoyable evening even if I did come away with the wooden spoon.