The first day of the month, the first day of the quarter , the first hot air balloon and the first time we see a particular opera at Buxton. A nice morning at our Derbysire cottages and Chris took the dogs for their morning constitution while I got on with my usual tasks. Also made up the beds in the cottage where guests were due to arrive later on. Andrew came up just after 11am to help spread the gravel around the courtyard and car park. Took some pictures as the work progressed and it has made the courtyard look better. So long as we do not have heavy rain it will continue to look good! Just after midday one of the cleaners came over and we went to Macclesfield to get some supplies for the cottages and look for some ideas. Back just before 5pm. Went and said hello to the guests who had arrived. Chris found his keys which he ‘lost’ a couple of months ago. Went to Buxton Opera House and saw Turandot by Puccini with the famous ‘Nessum Dorma‘. Another fine performance put on by Ellen Kent productions.

This time for a different reason. First took dogs for a walk while Chris sorted out the computer which had decided to have a funny morning, just as well not April 1! Then set off for Buxton for the annual Tourism Leaflet swap which this year was being held at he Pavilion Gardens. Although we have already had a delivery of leaflets this was a chance to meet some of the hosts as well as pick up more leaflets. Also the opportunity to catch up with other accommodation providers and we bumped into James from Haddon Grove and Martin from Wheeldon Trees. We then had a light lunch in the Pavilion Cafe before coming back Via Brough where we called in at Eyres, the agricultural suppliers, to pick up some bits including some food for the hens. We also called in at Torne Valley in Bakewell to check their garden supplies. Back to our Peak District Cottages where there were a number of emails and phone calls including the news that the gusts who couldn’t make it yesterday were able to arrive today (about 5pm) to have a few days of their break. Also took a last minute booking for tomorrow which means a full house for the next few nights. Phoned the cleaner who had been in whilst we were out and having got all the cleaning up to date means everything ready for today’s and tomorrow’s guests! A few bits around the house and cottages before cooking dinner. Sat down for CSI. A good episode but miss Grissom.

Plenty planned for today n our Peak District Cottages. After taking dogs for walk (sheep still in field) one cottage out. Three cottages back in, should have been four but one had to cancel. Laundry and dustbins this morning as well as two fridges collected courtesy of the local freecycle network. Three cleaners up and no problems encountered. Chris and handyman tidied up guest garden and courtyard and gave grass first cut. Some garden benches cleaned and revarnished. I managed a few odd jobs in the cottages. Fifteen tonnes of gravel arrived at 2.45 pm followed shortly by the three cottages. One has been here before. A bit of time to do some accounts before an early dinner so that Chris could go to the Bakewell Photographic Society. I made some phone calls and sat down for Heroes with some filing! Interrupted though when lights went out in one cottage. Replaced bulb and reset fuse and back for end of Heroes!

A nice bright start with the sun melting any remnants of snow away from Peak District Cottages. Snow was not the only white in the fields, we were surprised to find some sheep mooching around. Weren’t sure if they belonged to Green Cowden or another farm so made some phone calls to let local farms know there were some stray sheep. Two cottages out this morning. Chris went round and changed clocks in the cottages for heating and water. Did most of the ones in the house but know will find some more over the next few days. It seemed a shame to waste a good day despite having plenty to do with the end of the quarter approaching. I picked a walk we had not done for a couple of years, a walk of just under four miles from Longnor to Crowdecote and back. The route out was along the infant River Manifold before climbing a ridge that separates the River Dove from the River Manifold. We stopped for lunch in the lee of the ridge before making our way down to Crowdecote then back to Longnor along the infant River Dove. For a lot of the way back we had views of my favourite hills, Parkhouse and Chrome, and Chris took a number of pictures so I will add some of them in the next day or so. Stopped for a cup of tea at the Craft Center in Longnor before getting back. One cottage departed this evening. Did a number of things around the house including re organising furniture and pictures in the lounge and dealt with the emails and phone calls from when we were out. After dinner sat down for Yellowstone but did have a phone call half way through.

A bright but cold start. One cottage out of our Peak District Cottages this morning, they have booked to come again later in the year and also bought me a present. Two cottages due back in and my regular Saturday cleaner up to do two cottages. Went down the Farmers Market and when got back had a coffee before doing my checks and bits in the cottages. Chris has moved the TV to the other end of the lounge so spent most of the afternoon moving wires and retuning it! I had planned to put the new curtains up in one of the cottages but only got as far as getting the sewing machine set up to turn up one of the hems. One day I am going to count the number of interruptions I have in a day! It is also the time of year for Duke of Edinburgh walks and during the course of the day we saw groups of walkers on the footpath. I did see one group walk up our drive and realising they were not on the right track went and pointed them in the right direction. Both cottages arrived between 3 & 4 pm. Had an early dinner so we could drive over to Ecclesall in Sheffield where the Baslow Choir had their Spring Concert. It was a good concert and included an organ recital and a performance of Zadok the Priest. On the way back it was trying to flurry and by the time we went to bed there was a very light dusting of snow.

Up and took dogs out for walk before it got too busy at our peak district cottages. Three cottages out this morning with five back in this afternoon. Two cleaners up today and no problems encountered. Handyman up to start annual clean/repainting of outside furniture. Four of the cottages arrived between 3 and 5 pm. One has been before and one is staying in the cottages for the first time having been B&B guests in the past. After dinner caught up with today’s paper work and emails before our last cottage arrived just after 8pm. Sat down and caught up with blogging!

One cottage out this morning with none back into our Derbyshire cottages. Went to Buxton in the morning to collect Chris’s new specs. Did a few bits whilst there and back for lunch so Chris could go to the final digital photography session at Over Haddon. One cleaner here to keep up with cleaning but whilst we had the time we rearranged the furniture in one cottage living area to see what it would look like and also moved a few pictures around. An early dinner as we both had engagements. Chris went off to Over Haddon Village Hall where the Bakewell Photographic Society were hosting a photographic competition amongst local photo societies. Bakewell came 2nd. I on the other hand went to Buxton (again) with Joanna as a part of the Over Haddon WI quiz team. It was a good evening and we improved our position on last year by coming 2nd by two points. Next year perhaps…

Up and after usual chores headed to Chesterfield with Chris. Two ports of call this morning. Firstly Bookers to stock up for Easter for our peak district cottages then Dunelm for some new curtains for a cottage. Back for lunch before doing some bits around the house, some accounts and paper work. Chris did some bits in the cottages with the handyman. It wont be long now before they cannot do work in the cottages and they are already planning the outside jobs. Had my Waitrose delivery which arrived at the same time as my laundry was returned. Phoned a friend and had dinner. Dealt with some emails and phone calls before sitting down at 9pm.

A very windy day. It was hard walking the dogs. Two of our peak district cottages out with one back in. Chris and the handyman had some work planned in the cottages but with a cleaning schedule in place I had to see how this would be affected and subsequently make changes. Laundry, dustbins and oil deliveries were a part of the morning. One cleaner up but with only one cottage to do we spent some time putting up new lampshades and curtains in some cottages. Whilst we were checking items I found a badly scratched frying pan. It was a new non stick one I had bought just after Xmas. It was not a cheap one either. I provide non scratch utensils so I can only assume they used the metal cutlery. Have decided to use only stainless steel frying pans now as I am getting fed up of buying non stick ones and throwing them away. Was having a late lunch (2.30pm) when cottage arrived but it meant I could pop down into Bakewell. The market was already closing although it was only just gone 3pm. When got back did some more bits in a cottage then an Internet shop from Waitrose as they kindly sent me some vouchers. Cooked dinner then caught up with emails and bookings for the day. No blog tomorrow as going to see Chris’s parents. Sat down for 9pm and watched both last weeks and this weeks episodes of Heroes.

Finally can see the edges and surrounding countryside again. Non of our peak district cottages out today but two back in. Down to Bakewell early and it was already quite busy. Back and some bits around the house before settling down to do paperwork for dad which is where most of the day went. Both cottages arrived between 4 & 5 pm. Phoned my sister too. Sat down for Yellowstone, which Blue enjoyed too judging by the nose marks on the TV!