peak cottages

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Balloons

Monday started a bit damp and drizzly at our peak district cottages but it soon cheered up.  Three cottages out and three back in and two cleaners up.  A couple of minor repair jobs but the morning soon went.  The three cottages all arrived between 3 and 4pm.  After dinner we went to Over Haddon Village Hall where a meeting took place about closure of the public toilets (in the car park) in the village over winter.  A representative from the council was there to discuss the options and I’m sure you’ll here more about this.  Tuesday was another fine day but I spent most of it engrossed in WI work.  There were a lot of balloons around today, two first thing when I took the dogs out, one when I went down to Bakewell and one later in the afternoon. I thought this one was going to fly right overhead but it just seemed to go up then down again. Had a couple of visitors call in to enquire about staying and a took couple of bookings too.  Chris had taken Blue to Buxton so I took Smudge down to Bakewell with me when I went down to get some provisions for the next few days. Here are some photos of the balloons.

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The EU at Bolehill

Saturday was a fine day with a few light showers at our peak district cottages.  Three cottages out with two back in later in the day and two cleaners up.  First thing down to Bakewell for the Farmers Market, seemed quite busy too.  Back home and with cleaning well under way got on with some general tasks.  Both our arrivals are from Europe, one based in Belgium and one in France, so we have three cottages with European guests and a fourth to arrive on Monday so a number of cars in the car park have foreign number plates.  First one arrived about 3pm with second one about 7pm.  Getting to the time of year when Mondays and Fridays are busier days.  The forecast for Sunday was for it to be a wet day and although it was cloudy it didn’t really start raining until nearly 4pm.  Two cottages departed, including the Finnish guests, and one arrived, they have been before and arrived just after 3pm.  Cottage had already been cleaned.  It is the end of the financial quarter and I did some more work to get them as complete as I could.  We also checked the prices for next year so Chris can upload them onto the web.  On the whole a quiet sort of day but a few busy days lie ahead!

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The problem with sheep!

Wednesday was a quiet day so a chance to catch up on some jobs at our peak district cottages including watering and feeding potted plants and hanging baskets.  Amazing how long that takes.  In the evening it was our last WI meeting before the summer break.  Our speaker tonight was from the Fire and Rescue Service who gave us an informative and entertaining talk on safety in the home.  On the way home Joanna and I encountered a dozen sheep or so who were quite happily trotting down the lane.  I slowed down then stopped the car as I didn’t want them to turn round and head back to the main road especially as it was starting to get dark.  Joanna and I got out the car and couldn’t work out where they came from but we thought if we could get them into a field at least they would be safe.  Luckily about half of them jumped over a wall into a field but the other half turned round and as we feared headed towards the main road.  Although it would not be busy a car coming round the bend might not react quick enough to avoid hitting the sheep.  Luckily we were able to herd them onto the verge and after a few minutes they jumped into the field and joined their friends.  Phew!  And I thought cows could be a problem sometimes!

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February weather stats

Thursday was an ‘at home’ day catching up with jobs having been otherwise engaged in other activities the last few days.  Did pop down to Bakewell for weekend provisions.  Friday like the last few days started off dull at our peak district cottages and there was still that chilly wind.  One cottage out with three back in and three cleaners up to keep up with cleaning.  Two cottages arrived between 3 & 4 pm and final cottage arrived just after 5pm.  Hoping to get a walk in over the weekend so planned some walks just in case.  Saturday was dull and drizzly.  No arrivals and departures so another chance to catch up on things.  Went down to the auction rooms i Bakewell where one of the regular auctions was: taking place but there was nothing interesting.

February weather stats: there was 4.49 inches of rain with 5th being the wettest with 1.42 inches (2 inches in Feb 2010).  Most rain fell at the beginning of the month.  Coldest day and night was 19th with lowest temp of 0.1 deg on 1st.  Warmest day was 25th with highest temp of 11.7.  Warmest night was 4th.

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Dreary days

At least by Sunday morning most of the snow had gone at our peak district cottages but there was a cold wind.  The visibility was better too even though it wasn’t nice enough to go for a walk.  So we spent the morning finishing off last years accounts for the accountant.  In the afternoon I sorted out some items for a jumble sale and also for charity shops. After dinner we went with Joanna and Andrew to Over Haddon for this months film which was Eat Pray Love, which was enjoyable even though we couldn’t decide which category the film should be in.  Monday was dreary again with some snow falling first thing but soon disappearing.  It stayed cold and dreary for most of the day.  Two cottages out with three back in and with two more to arrive on Tuesday there was a lot to get ready.  Three cleaners up and no problems encountered.  First guests arrived just after 3pm with remaining two between 5 & 6 pm.  In the evening Chris went to the Bakewell Photographic Society and I had a number of emails and bookings to see to.

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The trouble with cows 2010 part 3

At least on Friday I managed to get a lot done.  One cottage out with one back into our peak district cottages and one cleaner up.  Went early down to Bakewell so it left me the rest of the day to get on with things.  The forecast was sunshine with showers and we had the sunshine, but we also had showers which seemed to merge to give us a prolonged downpour.  The previous night had been very windy and I was worried about damage to the hanging baskets, some looked a little worse for wear but hopefully they’ll recover. Just before lunch I could hear a lot of mooing and realised the youngsters had been moved into our front field.  Andrew called in to say a part of the wall in the field they had been in was falling down and they needed to make it safe.  Cottage arrived about 4pm and just as we were about to have dinner one of the guests rung the bell to say there were some cows in the garden  They had come over a breach in the wall and although we managed to get them back into the field we had to build up the wail again.  Later in the evening when I took the dogs out we found another cow in the garden.  Luckily one of the other guests was also taking a stroll and we managed to herd her out.  Sometimes on rainy days mist rises out of Lathkill Dale and it can look quite atmospheric.  As it started to rise I went out to take some pictures but it was getting dark.  One of our guests who had been at Monsal Head said it was very spectacular there and loads of people were taking pictures so we will have to go and look for ourselves one day.

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A girls night out

Wednesday stayed foggy but the temperature rose above freezing and the snow began to melt.  Another day spent on curtains and chores around the house and cottages.  Forgot to mention one cottage in to our peak cottages yesterday, a family from the Netherlands who are here for a few days.  In the evening Joanna came and collected me and we went to The Ashford Arms in Ashford for the annual WI dinner.  We had a good meal (they have an early bird menu of £8.95 for two courses) and I had the Chicken Hartington followed by the Raspberry and Whisky Gateaux.  Yum.  One of the nice things about these evenings is that I always find out a bit more about Bakewell.  Before I forget the new film The Wolfman was filmed at Chatsworth House, the film has not been well received by critics but the special effects used on the house are supposed to be good.  The Duke of Devonshire also had a ver interesting article n the Sunday Times Magazine.

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Time to catch up

Three cottages out of our peak cottages on Monday with two back in.  Dustcart got stuck on snow in the car park so Chris had to throw some grit down so it had traction.  We got the cleaner to move her car just to be safe!  Handyman up for a few hours too.  Both guests in by 3.30 pm so spent some time on accounts.  Tuesday was spent doing ‘running repairs’, pinning up curtain hems (most windows/doors are non standard sizes so most have to be adjusted), bits around the cottages and house.  As I blog it is snowing again so watch this pace….(Chris has bought another snow shovel so it could be christened tomorrow!)

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Not again

Just when I was beginning to think we wouldn’t see any more snow this side of summer we woke up to five inches of the white stuff.  This is the most we have had in one go this winter.  With three cottages due to depart from our peak cottages we were out asap clearing the drive and paths and we were out there for a couple of hours.  Let guests leave at their leisure especially as the gritter didn’t go past until 11am.  Handyman came up and said the road into Bakewell wasn’t good. All guest departed by midday.  Watched the lunchtime weather and the forecast for the week ahead isn’t promising.  Winter isn’t over yet.  Had planned to go down to my sisters for a few days but decided had better not take the risk.  Rest of day went in checking cottages and planning the week ahead.  Cooked a roast dinner.  Will have some more pics to add.