Thursday 8 May was one of those cool damp spring days at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here). One departure and one arrival and one cleaner up. We had a visit to Haddon Hall planned for the morning which had been organised by the Tourist Board and we were there in time for coffee then a guided tour. Although we go most years a guided tour gave us information which we haven’t had before. With my new camera I was able to take some close up shots which I think have come out fine. Back for lunch and an afternoon of catching up on paper work with guests arriving about 4pm. Some heavy rain later in the afternoon left mist rising from Lathkill Dale and then the sun came out and it presented a nice photo opportunity. Friday was forecast to be showery but we saw very few. Two departures and one arrival and one cleaner here. Chris decided to cut the grass as the forecast for Saturday was not good, we probably will have a couple of empty cottages over the weekend as a result. Gave bluebell bedroom a new look. Went down to Bakewell in the afternoon to get provisions for the weekend and back in time for guests arrival at 5pm, they have been before. Took a number of photos on the evening walk with the dogs including a hare sitting on a wall! The grass is getting very long as you can see. Saturday started fair but deteriorated during the afternoon. Three departures with two arrivals. Had given the cleaners the day off so Chris and I turned one cottage round as one was already done. A busy day for bookings and emails which is unusual for a Saturday. Chris did some painting in a vacant cottage and I did some washing of throws from vacant cottages. Both cottages arrived between 3 and .3.30. A wet evening but prospects of better weather in the coming week. Enjoy the photos
Peak District cottages
Lea Gardens 7 May
Bank Holiday Monday was a fine day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here). Three departures and three arrivals and two cleaners here. First Chris had to deal with a knife jammed in a cutlery drawer but eventually a bit of wire coat hanger solved the problem. Everything ready by first guests arrivals, they were here last as B&B guests. Two more arrivals here by 4.30 one of which has been before. Tuesday was another fine day. Two departures, one of which has already booked for next year, and one arrival. A bit of cow movement in the morning and Chris and I helped out. Chris did some weed killing and I did some jobs in the vacant cottages. Spent some time on WI accounts in the afternoon and guests arrived about 4pm. Wednesday was forecast to be a bit more showery. One departure but no arrivals so I had planned a day off. With a poorer forecast I opted for Lea Gardens in the morning and shopping in the afternoon. Last spring with everything flowering so late we never made it to Lea Gardens but this year with the cherry blossom out at least a week early the Rhododendrons at Lea are usually at their best when our blossom is at its best. We weren’t disappointed and with bad weather forecast perhaps we have seen them at their best for this year. We started the tour with coffee and cake from the tea room that now remains open after the gardens close in July. We had the dogs with us as they allow well behaved dogs. From there we went to Junction 28 of the M1 to the outlet centre and had a stroll round. A few purchases then back home and after tea I went over to Joanna’s for this months WI committee meeting. A lot to discuss so it was nearly 10pm before I got back home. Enjoy the colourful photos
Another bank holiday weekend
Easter is barely history and the next Bank Holiday weekend arrives at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here). Friday was a much more pleasant day than Thursday. Two departures and four arrivals so a busy day not helped by me hurting my foot. Chris and handyman finally finished rounding up all the logs and putting them into the log store. We also took delivery of a replacement sofa for one of the cottages so there was some furniture to be moved. Usually I go down to Bakewell late morning but with a busy morning I went down about 4pm leaving Chris to deal with the first arrival just after 4pm, they have been before. 
Back in time for second arrival just after 4.30 who has been before as had the third arrival just before 6pm. Final guests arrived just before 8pm. With frost forecast I made sure my in bloom camellia was covered up. 
Saturday was another pleasant day, quite sunny but with a cool breeze.Two departures and three arrivals and one cleaner here. Was also the day of the annual plant auction in Bakewell but with some curtains to iron and hang up there was no time to go. Chris found time to cut the grass. Two cottages arrived between 3and 4pm, one has been before with the final one arriving just before 6pm, they have also been before. May Bank holiday Sunday usually sees us doing the Orchid walk in Deep Dale but with my foot still swollen it was felt not appropriate to go. So a quiet day at home. This was after calling in at Green Cowden Farm on the way back from Bakewell and stopping for a cup of tea and a chat then popping in to see the heifer born in our field on Thursday. Time for chats with guests and a pleasant evening stroll round the fields before facing Monday.
April’s Weather stats
Wednesday 30 April was another warm day, a little on the cloudy side but dry until later on at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here). One departure but no arrivals. Chris headed to Buxton so I took myself off to the Peak Shopping Village followed by a trip to the Chatsworth Farm Shop. Nice to see all the signs of spring like the first bluebells on the way home from Chatsworth. Various odd jobs in the afternoon and another 21 cows came across to the fields on this side of the road although they are in a different field to the 28who have now moved into our drive field. I had planned to do some preparations for the weekend on Thursday but we thought with no arrivals or departures we would have a day off. With a dismal forecast we decided to go to Sheffield for a bit of shopping. on the way down the drive I saw a cow lying down with others around it and thought it was an injured car so I got Chris to reverse then realised a calf had been born in the field so we phoned Andrew. 
We had a number of things we wanted to look at in Sheffield and of course there is a big Dunelm on the way out. For once we managed to find the car park at John Lewis, Sheffield is a maze of back streets and one way streets once you get off the inner ring road. We had lunch at one of the sandwich shops in the backs streets by the Town Hall and there was a street market very reminiscent of the Bakewell Food Festival taking place in the main pedestrian precinct. The world snooker championship was also taking place at the Crucible, not that we popped in. We also stopped for tea and cake at the Patisserie Valerie near John Lewis. Bought a number of items at Dunelm before an easy journey home.
Here are Aprils weather statistics
Highest temp on 21st of 16.4 deg C with warmest day 30th and warmest night 5th. Lowest temp of 1.0 deg C on 19th with 19th coldest day and 18th coldest night. 7th was wettest day with .48 in rain with total for month 1.83 (April 2013 0.65 in).
Some nice weather
Sunday was forecast to be a showery day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here). No departures and down to Bakewell to get the paper. As we found a parking space we had a walk around the food festival. They were filming an episode of a new TV programme called Antique Map of Britain. If you hear a dog bark in the background that was Blue woofing! Otherwise it was a quiet day at home with Chris and Smudge helping to bring in the cows for milking. No showers so the weekend’s weather had been much better than forecast. Monday was a fine day and off to a warm start. Three departures and two arrivals and one cleaner here. 
It was nearly 11am before we stopped chatting to guests on their way out for the day. Chris took advantage of the nice day to do some weed killing. I took advantage of the nice weather to wash some curtains. First cottage here by 3.30 with second ones arriving just before 8pm when I was off to the Village Hall Committee Meeting. They are from New Zealand. It had been a pleasantly warm day and Tuesday was the same. No departures or arrivals but one cleaner and handyman here too. He and Chris did some more logging and I had planned to spend the day doing accounts but I decided to potter around the garden and repot some plants. Later in the afternoon I went down to Bakewell to collect one of the New Zealand guests and as they only have a few days I took her round to Ashford so she could see another side to the area. The grass is really growing fast now and this year our fields are full of dandelions, apparently because of the mild wet winter we have been told.
Bakewell food festival
Thursday 24 April was another pleasant spring day at our cottages near Bakewell (see here). No departures or arrivals but cleaner here to keep up with cleaning. Had one of those days where I couldn’t decide what to do. Chris decided to do some painting in a vacant cottages. I went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the next couple of days. After lunch I decided to wash the car but I took a break to watch some of the dry cows come over to our fields.
In the last week the grass has really started to grow and the cows are over here a couple of weeks earlier than usual. I have noticed that our cherry blossom is not far off blossoming and the trees are just coming into leaf. Friday was a contrast weather wise. Cold dismal and damp. No departures but three arrivals and one cleaner. With no arrivals until later in the day I spent some time getting this months accounts up straight. 
First cottage here at 6.30 with second one at 8.30 and final one at 10 pm, two have been before. Saturday started overcast but it had brightened up by mid morning. I was down to Bakewell early leaving Chris to deal with three departures. First to the farmers market and then I had a wander around the streets where the Bakewell Food Festival was taking place. Over two days Saturday and Sunday it is now an established weekend event on the Bakewell calendar. 
Made a couple of food purchase and also bumped into the people we know from Ashford so had a chat with them before returning home. Cleaning well under way and Chris took advantage of the fine weather to cut the lawns. Four cottages arrived between 3and 4pm, all have been before so by the time we had a chat with them all and a cup of tea and piece of cake with one (thank you) it was almost tea time. A nice sunset led to some interesting colours for photographs.
A visit to Hope Construction 23 April
Tuesday was a day of changeovers at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see link). Two departures and two arrivals and one cleaner here. Rubbish collected but laundry will be collected on Wednesday. A cooler overcast day with some showers but brightening up in the afternoon. Both cottages arrived just after 3.30 and this gave me time to do some accounts for this month. Wednesday was a fine spring day. Said an early goodbye to the Australian couple who are heading to the Lake District but hope to visit us again in 2015. Just after 9am we set off to Hope as we had a visit to the Construction Works arranged by the tourist board. Hope Construction recently came on board as a Patron to Visit Peak Distinct. After signing in and being issued with all the protective equipment we were taken by bus to see the quarry. It is HUGE to say the least and although not visible from Hope there is a lane from Bradwell that passes around the quarry. The big trucks looked so minute against the quarry. We were lucky to have very knowledgeable guides with us. On the way back down to the main factory we passed the building where the process begins and the large boulders are emptied into a crusher. We were taken to the main office where we saw the control room and we learnt about the work they are doing to cut carbon emissions and also what they are doing to make their processes less environmentally damaging. Their power bills bought tears to our eyes! From here we were able to ride up in the external lift to the top of the Reheating Tower, which is the building we see from the road, with the chimney stack behind. I am not keen on heights but gritted my teeth to go up in the lift as from the roof we had wonderful views of the Hope Valley and we could make out Mam Tor and Lose and Win Hills. Safely back on solid ground we then had a walk along the gangways where you could feel the heat emitted from the furnaces. A short walk back to sports club where we assembled to hand back our hard hats etc and enjoy a lunch they had provided for us. Now we know what goes on at the plant. We then popped round to the agriculture merchants at Brough to get some weed killers then on to Hathersage to have a wander round the outdoor shops. I bought myself some new lightweight walking trousers. Back via Hassop Station where we had afternoon tea. The dogs were pleased to see us back but the handyman had been here so at least they had not been home alone! Enjoy the photos.
A fine end to the weekend
The forecast for Easter Sunday was cool and overcast at our Bolehill cottages (see here) which it was with a bit of rain in the morning. It did brighten up in the afternoon but it remained cool. One departure but no arrivals and a day of odd jobs as well as doing the VAT returns and reviewing the annual accounts as prepared by the accountant. Monday was a complete contrast. A misty start which soon cleared. Three departures but no arrivals which is unusual for an Easter Monday but many schools are back on Tuesday or Wednesday. 
We decided to go down to Bakewell market in the morning and have coffee. We were expecting it to be busy but we managed to park without difficulty. After a wander round the market stalls and the shops we went to Naughty and Nice for a coffee and piece of cake. They recently won the Derbyshire Cafe of the Year award and are almost next door to Costa Coffee. On the way home we went via Over Haddon to drop some bits from the WI supper off at Lynne’s. 
They had just let the cows out for the first time. Back home we had lunch al fresco as it was warm enough. A couple of hours work in the afternoon before heading out again as it was so nice. We drove down to Over Haddon and called in The Garden Tea Room which has just opened for the season. We had a cup of tea and another piece of cake and even when we left just after 5pm they were still accepting customers. 
We opted to walk down to the dale where the river was still fast flowing and we followed our usual route along to Conksbury Bridge passing a swan who was nest building. From here we walked up to the pub and had just sat down with a drink outside when we felt some raindrops so we went inside. We were joined by Ian who had just finished a shift behind the bar. A nice relaxing day before getting back into the swing of things.
The Easter weekend begins
Thursday was a bit cooler and overcast than previous days at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see link). No departures and one arrival and after a busy Wednesday it gave me time to catch up with myself. ‘Rescued’ a group of Duke of Edinburgh walkers on our drive and pointed them in the direction of the proper footpath. It’s that time of year again! Early in the afternoon I went down to Bakewell calling in at Joanna’s first to take some bits back to her from Wednesday. I was braced for a busy Bakewell and had resigned myself to queues and traffic but it wasn’t as bad as I thought. Once back I stocked up on some more logs as there are still a few cold nights forecast. Joanna said there had been a frost most mornings this week. The cows are still in overnight. Guests arrived just after 6 pm. Friday was a much more pleasant day. 
One departure and three arrivals and one cleaner here. Chris cut the grass and after a late lunch we were joined by Joanna for a cup of tea. She had walked up as Andrew and apprentice were continuing with walling. With it being so nice many guests were taking advantage of the sheltered courtyard and were sitting outside so we chatted with them. First guests arrived after 4pm they have been before with second one about 4.30pm. Final cottage arrived about 5pm, they had already dropped off bikes earlier on, we have a lot of bikes here this weekend! Saturday was cooler but after a dull start brightened up in the afternoon and the good news was the forecast rain for Sunday would not materialise until later on in the day. One departure with one arrival and one cleaner here. Everything completed very quickly so it was nice to have some time to catch up with some paper work and personal finances. Guests arrived about 4pm, they have been before. A quiet evening but the dogs and I are enjoying our evening walks.
A WI day
Wednesday 16/4 was another fine day not that I saw much of it at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here). One departure and one cleaner here. It was the day we were hosting the Lathkill Group WI Spring Meeting at the village hall so I had plenty to keep me occupied including making potato salad for fifty. Luckily Chris gave me a hand. With it being a fine day I decided to get the carpets in one of the cottages cleaned as it was vacant for a couple of nights and it would be the last one to be done. No sooner had we finished cleaning the carpet when someone phoned wishing to book it from that evening unfortunately I had to turn the booking down. Joanna collected me just before 5pm and we picked up Lynne as well and with four others set up the village hall for our meeting. We had a ham salad for main course and trifle for dessert. We had finished setting up by the time the first visitors arrived who were from Bakewell, Monyash, Youlgrave, Great Longstone and Ashford WI’s. We also had a representative from Derbyshire WI HQ who gave us an update on county affairs including new WI s and the WI Centenary Baton Run (more on that another time). One concern is that there was a fire at the Derby Assembly Rooms a few weeks ago which normally stages the Derbyshire WI Autumn Conference so a new venue will be needed as the Assembly rooms are going to be closed for the foreseeable future. I had a number of responsibilities during the evening. I collected the entrance money, sold raffle tickets and helped with serving tea. I also helped with the washing up and later in the evening I gave the answers to the quiz I had done and oversaw the raffle. Our main speaker was a local lady who runs a theatre group and she gave us a talk about all the things that can and do go wrong in productions. She was very amusing and we all enjoyed her talk. Everyone enjoyed the supper and the views over Lathkill Dale and by the time our visitors left and we had cleared up the hall it was 10. 30. It had been a long but enjoyable day. Pity I forgot the camera to take pictures of how the hall looked but here is a picture of my camellia to brighten up the blog.