No-one out with one cottage back into our Bakewell cottages. A trip down to Bakewell for provisions and banking etc. Bakewell moves on, my hairdresser is retiring and we are losing the fishmonger. After lunch a few odd jobs before cottage arrived and not longer after some friends arrived for a few days so will have a little bit of ‘us time’!

Just another Monday. Started bright and warm but clouded up later but at least stayed dry. Still waiting for a date for silaging to begin. Three cottages out of our peak district cottages with one back in and two cleaners up to turn them around. No problems encountered. Guests arrived just after 3.30 after which I spent some time up in the greenhouse. After an early dinner went to Buxton to see Clive James at the Opera House. He’s still very witty. Still light when we got back.

Up early and a lot of chores done before taking the dogs out. It was warm and although it clouded up occasionally it stayed a dry day, the first for about 10 days. Five cottages out of our Derbyshire cottages with five back in and one changing cottages. With the sun out nobody seemed to be in a rush to go! Three cleaners up and no major problems encountered. We go through phases of things being left behind and this week items included a hat and a towel. A couple of breakages, one plate and one cup. Some odd jobs done and Chris was finally able to cut the grass. Finished in time for the first guests arrival just after 3pm. Nearly an hour before the next guests arrived then two more in quick succession. One has been here before. The final guests had phoned to say they wouldn’t be arriving until later so we went to look at some well dressings. First stop was Tissington which lived up to its usual good reputation. Stopped off at Monyash on the way back to look at the dressings there. Photos to follow. Back home phoned a friend before diner. Final guests arrived just before 8pm after which we sat outside for a little while. Processed a couple of bookings before sitting down just after 9pm.

Another showery day. Two cottages out from our peak district cottages with two due back in later. One cleaner up and no problems encountered. Popped down to Bakewell for banking and bits. It was quite busy. Back and after lunch spent some time potting up the plants. Had hoped to go to Tissington to see the well dressings but it turned a bit drizzly so didn’t go. Spent some time chatting to guests too. After dinner did a final check on the cottages before guests arrived. Both arrived a few minutes apart about 9pm.

A brighter day with more showers than yesterday but overall better than of late. One cottage out with one back in and one cleaner up. No problems encountered. Final plants arrived today and did a bit of potting up along with some odd jobs. Guests, who have been here before, arrived about 3.30 and when Chris got back from his digital workshop we went to Buxton. With a nice weekend forecast got some provisions in before coming back and cooking dinner. Some more accounts and sat down about 9.00 and watched the last couple of episodes of Heroes. Now we have to wait for volume five.

It looked threatening a couple of times but until late afternoon we only had a couple of light showers so most of our guests stayed dry! Discovered that the Chatsworth Horse Trials on Sunday last were cancelled but there is the hint of a dry weekend ahead. None of our peak district cottages out but one back in and with two collies that meant there were five collies here at our dog friendly cottages but that does include our two! One cleaner up and a number of odd jobs and the inventory done. Chris also had to replace the hob in the cottage. Another six dozen plants arrived with the post so after the guests arrived at 3pm planted up remaining four hanging baskets. Remaining plants will go in troughs and tubs and there are six more dozen plants to arrive. These, together with the ones that arrived today that haven’t been put into baskets, will still need potting on. After dinner made some phone calls and Geoff called round. Sat down just after 9pm.

Met Andrew when taking the dogs for their morning walk. We have had 1.75 inches rain this month already and the grass in the silage field has been flattened. They were going to cut the grass next Monday but Andrew says it will be at least a week before they can – and they need some dry weather to do it. Two cottages out of our Derbyshire cottages with one back in. One cleaner up and we did a number of odd jobs and checked the inventory before she did the cleaning. Had an early lunch as we had an appointment at the accountants. Got back just before guests arrived. In our absence the postman had delivered four dozen hanging basket plants so I changed plans and planted up another four hanging baskets. Chatted to some of the guests before and after dinner and did some more accounts before sitting down for CSI.

One day my raincoat will get a chance to dry out. One cottage out today and one back in to our peak district cottages. One cleaner up to turn cottage round and a chance to do some odd jobs. Went down to Bakewell with Chris but the stall we wanted wasn’t there today. Typical. Stopped at the Bakewell Pudding Parlour for a coffee. This has recently been refurbished and is also now offering evening meals. The menu looks good and offers an alternative to the pubs so we will have to try it out. Back home and after lunch checked the cottage before the guests arrived. They have stayed in the B&B. In the meantime started planting up the hanging bakets and got two done before the guests arrived. Standing in my greenhouse with lovely far reaching views I watched as waves of showers went across the landscape. Two more baskets planted before going back inside. After dinner paid this months bills before sitting down for Ashes to Ashes.