A beautiful cold and frosty start to the day. Wish all winter days were like this. Three cottages out with four back in of which three have been here before. Two cleaners up today and no major problems encountered although this week we have had a broken lampshade, a broken toilet roll holder and a damaged rug to sort out. Found time for a few more odd jobs. Looked like the last of the cows on this side of the road were being moved again early this afternoon and I assumed they would be taken back home with cold weather setting in but before I could see where they were going the fog descended. I understand they may be back in our fields as one of the guests said one was on the drive – unless one escaped! First guests arrived just after 3pm and the last ones at 8pm. In the meantime made sure all bookings etc were up to date, fully booked for the New Year with one cottage left for Xmas. Sat down for 9pm and watched the programme The Barristers.

A reasonable start but weather deteriorated later in the day. Felt mild too. One cottage out with two back in and one cleaner up today. Found time for many odd jobs in the cottages this week including defrosting some fridges and washing some curtains. Still have some bulbs to plant out and despite the drizzle spent half an hour planting out some bulbs. First guests arrived just after 3.30 pm, they have been here before. Spent some time going through dads paperwork and feel confident everything in order for me to do the probate. Second guests arrived about 5.30. Had tickets to see the Illegal Eagles at Buxton, but neither of us could remember who wanted to see them. Decided to grab a bite in Buxton. Stopped at Flamenco’s a little Spanish place off the market square. (www.flamenco-spanishrestaurantbuxton.com) As it was still early we were the only guests, but like a lot of restaurants November and January are quite months with the December rush in the middle. I would rather visit these restaurants in November and January! Got to the Opera House with plenty of time and really enjoyed the performance. There have been a number of very good ‘tribute bands’ at Buxton and I am sure we will get to see some more.

A bit milder today but dull. ground is starting to firm up again and the last remaining cows on this side of the road are no longer in our fields. Sheep will be arriving soon. One of the hens is looking a bit scrawny so it probably wont last much longer. No one in or out but one cleaner up to clean a cottage for the weekend. Chris and the handyman have been boxing in pipe work in bathrooms and tiling over it. Had an arrangement to meet a couple for lunch at the Riverside Hotel in Ashford for lunch. Chris has got to know the couple through his digital photography sessions and we had always wanted to try the Riverside for lunch as the set lunch has a good reputation and a good price. We had just sat down for lunch when his mobile phone went – the handyman had put a nail through a water pipe. So Chris had to rush back leaving me to enjoy a very nice lunch. He came back in time for coffee! www.riversidehousehotel.co.uk When we stayed in Ashford on our very first visit to the Peak District in 1993 we stayed in a holiday cottage owned by the then owners of the Riverside and had a very good meal there then. When got back spent the rest of the afternoon sorting out paperwork for dad and making a list of things still to be done. Geoff also called round but sat down in time to watch Heroes.

A bright but cold day. One cottage out and back in with one cleaner up. Went down to Bakewell to do banking and get some groceries. Strange not going into the butchers and asking for 2 dozen sausages, bacon etc. After lunch did a selection of paperwork, some for me, some for dad and some for the business. After dinner went to the Opera House at Buxton to see Ralph Mctell. Got caught behind a large load so we were short of time when we got to the Opera House but when we got there the performance had been delayed. A full house for a good performance.

A bright but cold day but a few sleet showers later in the day. Two cottages out with three due in later. One cleaner up today with no problems. Usual Monday chores with time for some extras. With only a few weeks to Xmas have to plan time for some extra pre Xmas checks and cleaning. Also in the next few weeks will need to put up Xmas trees in the cottages, Chris will have to sort out the external Xmas lights and we have to do the 2009 brochure run. Sometime in the next couple of weeks I will need to go to Herts again and also do our Xmas cards and put up our tree. Our friends who have stayed with us for the last few Xmas’s will be coming down for the New Year instead. All guests in between 3-4pm. After that sorted out some paper work for dad and phoned a friend. After dinner caught up with some personal bits before sitting down for Spooks.

Up to a light dusting of snow but it started to rain which quickly turned to ice as it hit the ground. Four cottages out with one back in. Would add that on Friday there were three cottages in with one out and yesterday just one cottage out. Chris had to spread some salt around but it started to go as soon as the sun got to work. Mainly dry but cold today. Went down to get the paper from Bakewell. One cleaner up to turn round two cottages and no problems encountered. A day getting back into the swing of things. Guests arrived about 3.30. After a roast dinner sat down for Top Gear and new series called Survivors.

A day of catch up followed by a day of getting ready to go down to Watford for the funeral. Got accounts and paperwork up straight. Left for Watford just after 6pm Thursday to spend a couple of nights with some friends. Our first time away together since we moved here. Next blog will be Sunday.

A nice day forecast and typically we have a prior engagement. One cottage out with two back in, both have been here before. One cleaner up after we departed for Buxton, later than I hoped. The annual Visit Peak District & Derbyshire Tourism Conference was taking place at the Palace Hotel. The main theme this year was green and sustainable tourism. We couldn’t park at the hotel so had to park a few roads away, the trouble was we thought we were walking the right way back to the hotel but weren’t! Hence we arrived just after the first speech had started. Most interesting was the new ‘themed’ advertising campaigns to bring new tourists to the area as well as a preview of the 2009 brochure. Like last year there were a number of workshops to attend and the first was about the relaunch of the Visit Peak District & Derbyshire web site which will happen in a couple of weeks time (www.visitpeakdistrict.com) Next was a follow on from one of the workshops last year and this gave us ideas to link places to form itineraries depending on what the guests were interested in. There were so many facts I learnt about the area that I could never remember them but luckily we will get email briefing sheets to remind us. Then a break for lunch during which we had a look at some of the display stands as well as meeting up with James from Haddon Grove and Sarah from Critchlows and Ashford Farm Cottages. The final workshop was about green practices, a lot of which we have already actioned. The final speaker talked about green tourism after which we made our way back to the car and managed to find it without any problems! Stopped off at Morrisons. When got back one cottage had already arrived, the other did not arrive until nearer 8pm. Phoned my sister and we finalised arrangements for the funeral on Friday. We will go down on Thursday evening and stay with friends. So plenty to do tomorrow. Sat down just after 9pm to watch the recorded episode of Spooks.