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).

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.

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.

dogs in the breeze

Sunday 11 January saw a dusting of snow that quickly disappeared at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (See here) . One departure but no arrivals. On the way back from Bakewell we called in at Green Cowden farm for a cup of tea and a chat.  They have just brought the sheep in for lambing, early lambs will be here by end of month.  At home day went in odd jobs like stocking up on logs.  In the evening we went to Over Haddon for the film night.  We saw ‘The Book Thief’ which was quite a moving and profound film.  Monday saw work start on Derwent with the bathroom stripped out and channels dug for pipe work.  Two departures but no arrivals but one cleaner here for painting.  A damp start and it stayed cool, overcast and breezy for the day.  Kept busy during the day with emails and phone calls but found time to do some more accounts and chat to friend in Yorkshire.  Had planned to go to Sainsbury’s on Tuesday afternoon but after consulting the weather forecast decided to leave it until Wednesday as there was a risk of wintry showers.  Went down to Bakewell in the morning to get some provisions for the next few days.  Quiet in Bakewell but busy at Bolehill with two cleaners, one cleaning one painting, one handyman doing odd jobs.  Work in Derwent bathroom continued as well.  I made the right decision as by lunchtime we had some snow showers which left a dusting of snow.  I went out to take some photos but discovered I had a flat camera battery.  At least I managed to get some accounts done.  More wintry weather is expected over the next few days.