First morning this week it has been raining to start with. So much for our day off! After breakfasts and usual tasks set off about 10.30 am – early for a day off! I put our walking boots in the car just in case. Our first stop was the Goyt Valley. We had heard it was looking good for the heather but it was past its best. It was still raining so no walk here. We drove back to Buxton and onto Chapel en le Frith, which is a town we have driven past but never stopped at. It was still raining so we had a coffee stop and drove on. As we were driving through the Hope Valley the sky started to lift so we made a detour to Ladybower Reservoir where we manged to squeeze a short walk in before it started raining again. We then went on to Hathersage to look for a new walking jacket for me. My current one is eight years old and serves as a walking and everyday rain jacket so is starting to show signs of wear. Having tried on a number a decision was made and then we decided to have a late lunch. It was 3.30. By now the sun had come out and we stopped at a cafe where we could eat outside with the dogs. Another stop before we got home, this time a quick look around the Chatsworth Farm Shop. Back home about a dozen phone calls and as many emails, although with a wet weekend forecast none were about this weekend. The sun stayed out for a couple of hours – was beginning to forget just how much more beautiful the area looks with the sun! Sat down at 9pm.

Another bright start which lasted until midday. Dry enough for a few hours to put some washing out. One B&B out with one back in and one cleaner up to urn room round. Now I have my new linen I have the process of ironing it for its first use. This I will do in batches as to iron 45 duvet covers, 45 fitted sheets and 120 pillow cases in one go will take time! After lunch went down to Bakewell to get some bits for the next few days. By now the rain had set in. I then went on to the Peak Outlet Village at Rowsley to indulge in a little retail therapy which I haven’t done since before I went on holiday! Came back with a couple of pairs of sandals and a few other items of clothing. When got back the B&B guests had arrived. After dinner we went over to Biggin to have a look at the video clips taken last week. It was interesting to see the recording studio and how the clips are and can be put together. At the end of the evening we had selected the shots we wanted and had put together a video lasting about four minutes. There are still a few clips that need to be added and we will go over again next week to see the final draft and decide if any more editing is required.

Four breakfasts at 8.30 after which walked the dogs. Another nice start but showers developed later. Another one of those morning that disappeared. My new washing machine is devouring the laundry. I have worked out I might be able to have one morning a week laundry free! New linen arrived too. Six boxes of duvet covers, fitted sheets and 120 pillow cases! Viking order arrived too so there is a bit of congestion in the office at the moment! After lunch went to Buxton and Morrison’s and on way back called into friends in Chelmorton. Lovely rainbow in sky when driving home. after speaking to a friend on phone had dinner then sat down at 8.30. (PS saw a repeated program on Sunday night which showed toe wrestling in the Peak District. We also have hen racing too!)

One of my guests had once commented on how much work there is to do so here is today’s diary.

7.30 up and ablutions

8.00 down to kitchen. have our own breakfast. Empty first load washing from machine. Prepare and cook and serve breakfast for guests.

9.00 Take dogs for walk. Tidy up after breakfast, load dishwasher etc. Man comes and fixes new washing machine. Put next load washing on. Deal with departing B&B guests. Chat to some of cottage guests.

10.00 Check bedrooms, remove towels for washing. Put dry laundry from yesterday away. Tumble dry and hang up today’s washing. Put back bits in laundry room now machine fixed.

11.00 Check emails, put out post for collection today. Put out rubbish for collection today.
Have coffee. Iron bedding for today. Put dirty cups etc from B&B in dishwasher.

12.00 Chat to cleaner when she arrives, discuss any issues or problems from weekend. Deal with emails/phone calls – these increase between 12 & 2pm. Prepare Laundry for collection.

1.00 make and have lunch, interrupted 4 times, 2 were phone calls, once to bring washing in when a shower passes over, and once when postman arrives. Tidy up from lunch. Put on dishwasher.

2.00 have a cup of tea with cleaner before she goes. check rooms ready for guests. laundry collected. A string of phone calls and one resulted in a booking. Bit of tidying up. Put washing out again but brought in again and decided to leave in as rain looked set in for rest of afternoon.

3.00 Both sets of B&B guests arrive a few minutes apart. Chris had gone out to get some bits so saw all guests in and made one set a pot of tea. Deal with emails and today’s paper work so far from bookings, brochure requests etc. Chatted to some cottage guests coming back.

4.00 made a pot of tea for us. Chris dropped handyman back in town and picked up some bits from the builders merchants. chased my linen order only to discover the courier has gone into liquidation, linen should arrive in the next few days.

5.00 Did our next Viking order with Chris, who also had to empty a u bend to retrieve an earring

6.00 cooked and ate tea and tidied up including emptying dishwasher. Put home made yoghurt in fridge.

7.00 fed dogs and after Chris had gone to the Bakewell Photographic Society meeting went to put chickens away with the dogs so they could have a little walk. Panicked as could only find duck in shed so went to check they were not in the fields. This is the worst time of year for foxes getting chickens. Couldn’t find them so went back to shed and found they were hiding in the rafters!

8.00 after finding paying in book finished August accounts which took longer than I thought. A couple of phone calls and emails dealt with and post prepared for tomorrow.

10.00 finished accounts. wrote shopping list for tomorrow and made a pot of tea.

10.30 Turned of office light. loaded up washing machine with overnight wash. Seeped porridge overnight for breakfast. Chris came back, and after putting a loaf of bread on in the bread maker took the dogs out for their final walk before we retired to bed.

It was a very misty start with the sun trying to break through. Took dogs out after doing breakfasts. At last some eggs! After today’s B&B guests (one out none back in) departed went down to Ashford to get a paper. We called into the couple moved there a year ago and had a coffee with them. A house for sale nearby was having a contents sale so I had a little browse and came back with a few pieces. By the time we got back for lunch it had started to rain. We had hoped to go to the Goyt Valley to see the heather but the weather had closed in sooner than I hoped. Still an opportunity to do some personal tidying up.

A busy day today with eight cottages out and back in as well as one of the B&B’s out and in. Also I managed to squeeze a trip to the Farmers Market and got back just in time to see the last guests depart. Finally the road to town is open, this is the first time I have driven down to Bakewell on this road since before I went to the Baltic. The traffic was really noticeable today, I am guessing most of it was going to the Chatsworth Country Fair. Three cleaners and Fay up today. Luckily no major problems encountered but with all cottages fully occupied there were a lot of beds to be made… a lot of ovens to clean…and nine empty win bottles to clear from one cottage! Cleaning didn’t finish until nearer 2pm. Additionally the video man was here again today mainly to concentrate on indoor shots. A warmer sunnier day was forecast and although it was a little brighter and warmer it was not particularly sunny. It was too hazy for outdoor shots. Was just on the verge of finishing when the first cottage arrived at about 2.45 followed by the second cottage just before 3pm. Grabbed a quick lunch as did Chris but it was 4pm before the next cottage arrived and all but one were in by 5pm. Four cottages have been here before. Final cottage arrived just before 6pm. They have four collies with them, although they are not staying in the cottage but in their specially converted van. The B&B guests arrived just before 7pm, they had been at the Chatsworth Fair. I had bought some bits for a BBQ but we decided it was not warm enough but we still had tea outside. Saw some hot air balloons, there were some last night taking off from the Fair and weather permitting should be some tomorrow. Gave something for the dogs to woof at – they always woof at hot air balloons.

Woken at 5am by the phone ringing. As phone is not in bedroom did not answer it but found no message left on answer phone. Still no sun, still no eggs and still warm and dry. One B&B out and back in today. Today was the first day of the Chatsworth Country Fair. I think most of the cottage guests went there today as did one of our B&B guests. Main event today was the filming for the new video which will be on the web site in due course. We had a lot of exterior shots done today and I was filmed in the office. Some of it will be used for voice overs. One cleaner up and her children helped with the filming and also washed the car! Finished today’s session about 2.30 and had a bit of lunch. B&B guests arrived about 4pm. They have been here before both in the B&B and cottages. At about 6pm we saw a number of hot air balloons set off from Chatsworth. When I watched the local evening news about the Chatsworth Show they were interviewing one of our guests! After dinner did some preparation for tomorrow before sitting down at 9pm and watching The Tudors.

The sun made a brief appearance first thing but it didn’t last. No eggs again today and worked out that because it has been so dull they have not been laying. Will have to go and but some eggs for breakfasts! I will have use my own washing machine to keep on top of the laundry for the next few days. The service engineer will come on Monday to look at the new one. As I thought the weather was going to improve I did an extra load of washing just as it started to rain! One B&B out with another due back in with one cleaner up to turn room round. Went down to Bakewell to get bits for weekend. Guests arrived just before 6pm. Like yesterday I had made a list but unlike yesterday most are still on there. After dinner did a few odd jobs then sat down about 8.30.

Had my list and managed to cross off most of it! After breakfasts took dogs for walk. Still dull but still mild but more sun forecast for today. Washing done and out and now I just need to wait for delivery of new washing machine. Checked on cottage for this afternoons guests and also did some general tidying up. Chris and the handyman had hoped to do some work on one of the cottage roofs but the guests are late risers so they will probably wait until next week now but they did some work around the garden. I spent some time trying to organise a courier for one of the guests who had left something behind. New guests arrived about 3pm. Did a little more of this months accounts before new washing machine arrived at about 5.30. Got Chris to install it so I could try it out but unfortunately found that it had a leak. Determined the problem and fixed it but after the rinse and spin programmes found another problem so will have to make a phone call tomorrow. After hanging up washing sat down about 9.30 and watched a programme I had recorded on Sunday – A Man and His Dogs which was very interesting and enjoyable. Blue enjoyed it too, will have some nose marks to wipe off the TV tomorrow! With good weather forecast for the weekend have started to get phone calls about availability for this weekend. Pity the sun hadn’t shown its face today!

One of those days where I didn’t get things done as planned still there is tomorrow. Had hoped for a day like yesterday weather wise but the sun never materialised although it remained warm. An early breakfast and B&B guest departed with both rooms back in later. Chores out way early so time to catch up from weekend. Went down to Bakewell. Road still not open. Back for lunch and one cleaner up to turn rooms round and also cottage vacated early. Have taken a booking for it from tomorrow and Chris and handyman put new oven and hob in today. We have replaced most ovens and hobs in last year or so. On the reverse side have had two cancellations for a few weeks time although ever optimistic I am sure they will be filled. Understand The Hairy Bikers program last night featured Bakewell and Chatsworth. First guests arrived about 4.30 and second guest arrive about 7pm. Know the end of the school holidays are in sight as most B&B guests this week are teachers having a last minute break! Took a couple of bookings and finally sat down at 9.30 having made a list of things to do tomorrow!