Another Saturday and another wet one forecast. Started off dry enough to take dogs for walk after breakfasts. Four cottages out and five back in with two cleaners up. No problems encountered and all finished by 1.30. Cottages arrived between 2.45 and 3.30, two have been a few times before and one couple are already looking at dates for next year. One departing guest has booked for same time next year so I already have bookings as far ahead as a year. It is nice but also a worry as there is more time for things to go wrong and I often the more forward the booking is the more likely it is to be cancelled. The rain set in during the afternoon with a strong wind but overall the temperature rose during the day. Chris paid a flying visit to his parents departing mid afternoon and not due back until nearer midnight. Spent the rest of the afternoon and evening doing paper work, both personal and business, and planned my spring bulb order. Had a light dinner and laid table for morning. Put the chickens away and got wet taking Smudge for a walk. Blue had gone with Chris. Hopefully a better day weather wise tomorrow.

A sunny day but with a chill in the air. A lot of emails this morning but will need to wait to see if any turn into bookings. One B&B and one cottage out with two B&B back in. After usual chores had planned to go down to Bakewell late morning but as it was so nice I spent a little time tidying up in the greenhouse and garden. One cleaner up to clean B&B and cottage. Went to Bakewell after lunch. Both B&B guests have been here before, in fact it is the third time for both. First B&B arrived just before 5pm and the next an hour later. After dinner sorted out a few things for tomorrow before sitting down at 9pm to watch The Tudors.

A quiet day at home for me. A cold night so wrapped up to take dogs for their walk. Better day today weather wise. Overall yesterday had over an inch & quarter of rain here, could be wettest day of year. In fact almost had as much rain yesterday as last October! One cottage out a day early as not feeling well so cleaner came up and did that as well as public areas. After usual chores spent some time tidying up and after lunch doing some personal paper work. Chris went to the digital workshop at Over Haddon. Got the fire going for the first time this autumn. A couple of phone calls and emails this evening so by time sorted them out and got things ready for tomorrow it was almost 9pm so sat down and watched the final part of Silent Witness.

Weather stats for September. Warmest day was 20th with highest temp 19 deg on 13/9. 10/11th was warmest night. Coldest day was 29th with lowest temp 5.9 deg. 28/29th was coldest night. Wettest day was 5/9 with 1.11 in rain followed closely by 6/9 with 1.04 in. Total for September was 4.19 in compared with 1.94 in last September. Highest UV 5.5

So welcome to the fourth quarter of 2008. With no breakfast could have a lie in! Up and took dogs for their walk avoiding Andrew who was moving some cows around. With guests not due in until later this afternoon I had hoped we might go for a walk but with a 50/50 sun/rain forecast we decided the better of it. We had an old freezer that we needed to dispose of so we took that down to the recycling centre at Ashbourne before having a quick walk around the town. First stop was coffee at one of the deli’s – Ashbourne is quite a foody place. We had a look in some of the deli’s but didn’t buy much as we still have bits from the weekend. We then went and had a look at St Oswald’s Church at the end of the High St as we never have been inside. It was well worth a look. We went back to the car where the dogs had been waiting patiently and drove on to Carsington Water where we planned to have a short walk. It was suddenly looking very ominous again as we had seemed to have dodged the showers so far so we popped into the restaurant for a light bite, which was just as well as there was a heavy downpour. Looking out across the water I tried to imagine the skyline with some wind turbines as planning permission (locally opposed) has been granted for the installation of some nearby. With the shower over we took the dogs for a short walk although we did get caught in another shower but they had had a walk even if they did have an encounter a noisy group of school children! Back home I noticed that we had had over 1 inch of rain in our absence so I reckon it rained more here than where we were. Finalised last quarter’s accounts. B&B guests arrived about 4.30pm and after an early dinner I went down to Joanna’s for the monthly WI committee meeting. Got back in time to watch Silent Witness with the first episode of Heroes being recorded.

Up and after breakfast said goodbye to both B&B guests. No-one booked back in today. One cleaner up to turn both rooms around. Morning went in usual way and after lunch went to Matlock. Main reason was to go to Sainsbury’s but popped into town for some bits anyway. After diner we took delivery of the final version (hopefully) of the video. Watch this space! Sat down at 9pm.

A busy Monday. Two cottages out with three back in. Two cleaners up today to turn four cottages round. Usual Monday after doing breakfast with laundry and rubbish collections. Andrew moved the hooligans from the front field to our eight acre field and we now have a more mature bunch munching in the front field. All cleaning finished without any problems and a little time to spare. With some cottages likely to be having vacancies between now and Xmas we are starting to plan work that needs to be done over the next few months. Guests arrived between 3 & 4.15pm after which I did a few bits and pieces before roasting a couple of joints to eat over the next few days. A little bit of paper work after dinner before sitting down at 9pm.

Not as bright or as warm as yesterday but so be it. Both B&B out with both back in later. One cleaner up to turn rooms round at lunch time. Also two cottages out later in the day. Went to Bakewell on bottle bank run and get a paper. Spent the afternoon finishing of the accounts for the quarter. Had an early dinner so I could go to Buxton with one of the cleaners to see the singalong version of The Sound of Music at the Opera House at 7pm. As we approached we could see a lot of the others had come in costume. When we arrived we were given a ‘props bag’ the explanation of which was given before the film started. Also prizes were given for costumes so it was 30 minutes before the film began and then with an interval it was 10.45pm before we left the Opera House. It was a very enjoyable performance and made me want to go to Austria again soon!

Said goodbye to two cottages with three due back in today. It was a lovely start to the day so I decided to go to the Farmers Market without a jacket but it was one of those temperature inversion days as it was 10 deg and sunny here but still a bit misty and only 6 deg in Bakewell. Just as well most of it was indoors. Came back via the Bakewell Auction Center but it was very busy so I didn’t stop. Only one cleaner up and no problems encountered. As it was so nice did some extra washing to dry in the sun. It was the lowest humidity I had seen for a long time. This is when the weather station proves useful! Had time to eat lunch (with no disturbances) out on the patio in the sun! Each time we sit outside I think it will be the last time. With a bit of time to spare Chris did dome steam cleaning in showers and I did some more leaflet and lampshade checks. First guests arrived just before 3pm with the second ones about an hour later and the final guests about 6m. In the meantime we spent some time finishing this quarters accounts. Cooked a dinner and sat down about 8pm. Two days in a row sat down at 8pm. Whatever next!

First big Friday changeover. Today one B&B out with two back in and three cottages out with three back in. Two cleaners up and no problems encountered. A misty start and the sun finally came through about midday. Again used time to do some checks in the cottages, including leaflets and lampshades. Also washed a couple of doormats and left them to dry in the sun. First cottage in about 4.30 with the B&B just before 6pm. The final two cottages, who were together and came for a long weekend this time last year arrived between 8 and 9 pm, but I sat down just after 8pm.

Another bright day. Two cottages and one B&B out with one cottage back in. The B&B guests bought 479 sheep yesterday (one missing) but they were transported direct back to their farm. We did joke about waking up to all these sheep on our front field. The dogs wouldn’t have been happy as they are scared of sheep! Blue has been getting braver with the cows in the front field. He will even go into the same field as them rather than just look at them from this side of the fence. He still keeps a safe distance from them though. One cleaner up today. Went down to Bakewell today as I have a busier day tomorrow. When Chris went to Over Haddon I spent the afternoon catching up on some personal bits. Guests arrived about 5.30. after which I did some ironing in preparation for tomorrow . After dinner sat down by 8.30.