Still bright but visibility still poor. Two of our peak district cottages out with one back in. One cleaner up. A chance to get a few more bits done in the cottages but the morning just went. No problems in the cottages except for a vacuum cleaner which decided to give up the ghost. Luckily we have a spare so will have to buy a new spare. Guests arrived about 3.30, they have been here a few times before. Also another regular guest called in to say hello. She’s looking for somewhere to rent in the area. Attended to some paper work as well as jobs like planning next weeks cleaning rota then cooked a roast dinner and sat down for 8pm. On the local and possibly national news last night was the article about a driver who had bee clocked doing 173 mph but the speed could not be proved. The ‘country lane’ they talked about is the A515, a busy road from Ashbourne to Buxton. It is notorious for the number of fatal accidents.

A brighter start at our Peak District cottages but the Edges and Minninglow were still not fully visible. Spring equinox today so I can start asking Andrew when the cows are going to appear again. Unlikely to be for a few weeks but I can’t wait. Two cottages out, one before we were up with two back in. Two cleaners up to keep on top of cleaning and I spent some time with one doing some checks in the cottages. With it being nice today Chris and the handyman put up the scaffolding and checked the roof for leaks. Put some hanging baskets (with bulbs) out in the courtyard. Did some odd jobs in the cottages before guests arrived. Both arrived between 3-4 pm. Did some paper work for Dad before dinner. After dinner I dealt with a cancellation for Easter, completed the paper work to continue being an accredited member of VisitBritain and completed the paperwork so we will continue to have our rubbish collected from 1 April. How did you spend your Friday night? Retired to the lounge with a bar of chocolate and watched an episode of Dirty, Sexy Money to revive my spirits!

Still a bit misty today at our Derbyshire cottages, haven’t seen Baslow Edge or Minninglow since been back and these are my two indicators on weather. One cottage out today (and forgot one out yesterday) with one due back in. Down to Bakewell for banking, paying bills and getting bits in for the weekend. Chris went to Over Haddon for the final session for the moment for the digital photography. Back and one cleaner up to turn round the cottage and I caught up with some odd jobs in the cottages including changing some curtains and pictures, and some housework. Window cleaner also up this afternoon. Cottage arrived about 5pm and I did some accounts. After dinner did some more accounts heading for end of quater so plenty to do) and phone calls including my sister. Sat down for 9.15pm.

Back home at our Peak District Cottages. An update on the weekend. On Friday took a last minute booking for the weekend starting Friday and a short break starting Sunday so Chris had an even busier few days than I expected. So I decided he needed to have a few hours off today. It started misty and never really cleared up. In the morning he went to a local quarry as we need to top up the dressing in the courtyard and came back with a selection of stones for us to consider. Although it had brightened up visibility was still not good so we decided to go to Ashbourne. We thought we would stop at Hartington for lunch but the tea room I had in mind was closed so we drove over to Tissington and had lunch there. When we got to Ashbourne we found the traffic was heavy and we could not get to the tip to deposit a fridge so we had to come out of town and head to the tip cross country. Fridge deposited we stopped at Focus then found a parking place in town. We discovered the problem with the traffic was three sets of road works so after we had a wander we came back cross country again driving though the grounds of Oaker Hall. Very nice! (Bit like a miniature Chatsworth!) At home caught up with bits from the last few days and spoke to a friend. Sat down at 9pm to watch last nights CSI with Grissom’s departure. Unfortunately the last bit didn’t record so I missed the ending. Bit of deja vue as this happened with the episode where Sarah left. Thank heavens for the Internet!

A quiet day at our peak district cottages. As going down to my sisters for a few days tomorrow evening there will be no blog for a few days but can say in advance that two cottages out tomorrow with five back in and one in on Saturday. A busy day on Monday with five cottages out and four back in unless we get any more bookings. I’m back Tuesday evening. This morning went back to Buxton to pick up our new glasses. For me it is my ‘free pair’ and for Chris it is his first pair that have been replaced. Came back via Morrisons. Chris went to Over Haddon and as it was nice I took the dogs for a short walk around the fields. Did some housework and got ready for tomorrow as well as planned what needs doing over the next few days while I’m not here.

A pleasant day today. Joanna has heard the curlews so another sign of spring. Just puting second load of washing in the machine when at 8am the seasons leaflets for Chatsworth House and Haddon Hall arrived. Ten minutes later a new grill pan arrived to replace the deformed one in the oven where the thermostat needs replacing, and the engineer came a few hours later to replace the thermostat. In the mean time I did some accounts. James from Haddon Grove called in and had a look at the cottage where Chris and the handyman are dry lining one of the walls. He is considering using the same insulation technique in some of his cottages. After lunch some housework ad bits around the cottages before dinner. Then Joanna came and collected me and one of the guests to go to the WI meeting. Tonight we had a local speaker from Youlgreave who talked about her attempt at sustainable living. Very interesting and topical.

Various jobs around the house and our Peak District cottages this morning. One cleaner up to keep on top of cleaning. We also spent some time having a critical looking at soft furnishings and made a list of some items to replace this year. After lunch went down to Bakewell. First stop was the vets to get Smudge weighed. As I was walking round Bakewell Chris phoned and asked me to get some bits from the builders merchants, Midco. As it had been wet my shoes ended up covered in cement and so did Smudges paws! Had planned to go to the Peak Village Outlet Centre but had to go back with Chris’s bits. Did a bit of housework and spoke to a friend. Later drove over to Matlock to meet up with the previous owners, Tony and Jan, and try out the new Thai restaurant, Thailand 1. The meal was very good. Back to their place for coffee and a chat before coming back home.

Touch wood I am grateful we have not had any serious problems with guests so far at our Peak district cottages. We still subscribe to a B&B association and there is a section where we can have rants or exchange views and I am amazed at the number times that B&B owners talk about the mess or damage guests leave in their wake and don’t admit it or offer to pay for it. In the B&B the worst we had was a spilt cup of tea that left a stain in the carpet. In our peak district cottages we have had our fair share of minor damage and breakages and always dread the day we go to a cottage when guests leave and find real damage. A few weeks ago the police called here actually looking for a nearby complex. They had come after reports of damage by guests. We did once have a situation where a cottage had booked in as three adults and two children and technically they were, three eighteen year olds and two seventeen year olds. I kept an eye on them but apart from an untidy cottage (its amazing where we found crumbs) there was no damage. As for today it was a broken oven thermostat. Departing guests had said they weren’t sure if the oven was working (this is where the cottage questionnaire comes in handy) and trying the oven with a oven thermometer proved it was not working properly. With guests due in we decided the only option was to move them to another cottage. Chris made some phone calls to the supplier and they will come to replace the thermostat during the week. These are new ovens (we have three of them) and they are still under guarantee. Two of our peak district cottages out with two back in. One set of cleaners did some spring cleaning and one turned the required cottages around. Both cottages in between three and four pm. Chris and I then took a drive up to Ladybower to view some flats that were for sale. We were being nosey as it was open viewing but we couldn’t find anyone to show us around despite phoning the agents. Never mind, needed some petrol! By the time we got back it was time for dinner then a few pone calls and sitting down in time for Heroes.

One of our peak district cottages out this morning with none due back in. Down to collect the paper then time around the house and catching up with paper work. Weather was a bit iffy with hail sleet and snow although it did not settle. Took the dogs for a walk in between showers. After dinner went to Buxton to see Aida which was very good as Ellen Kent productions usually are.

Two cottages out of our Peak District cottages with one back in. One cleaner up. One more fridge installed in a cottage and again had to change door over. Went to Matlock after lunch and called in to see Tony & Jan the previous owners. Arrange to meet up for a meal this week. Back and a few bits and pieces before dinner. Guests arrived about 8.30. Sat down but about 9pm had to go to a cottage where the smoke alarm had gone off. Second time today an alarm has gone off!