Have always wanted to go to the Hope Show since we moved here but being on a Bank Holiday Monday we are usually involved in changeovers but with no-one due in and a decent day forecast it seemed like a good idea. One B&B room departed and one of the guests from the other room also left so just one person in tonight. Did some bits and pieces before an early lunch. Set off towards Hope via Calver where we stopped at the garden centre and outdoor shop. Got as far as Brough before we encountered any traffic. Trouble is the road to Hope also goes to Castleton so being a Bank Holiday Monday the traffic was heavy. One of the few times we have sat in traffic jams in the Peak District. Got to the show about 2pm and having driven into the show ground Chris was more worried as to how we wolud get out as the ground was quite churned up already. So he parked in a spot that we could get away from easily. This is another dog friendly event so our two met lots of other dogs. We had a wander around the sheep pens and watched the sheepdog trials (there were lots of collies spectating too) and the gun dogs at work. Watched the parade of winners from the cattle section and was reminded that last August the outbreak of Foot and Mouth had meant no animals at the show. Had a look at the craft and show tents and also the trade stands and watched some of the horse judging in the main arena. A lovely few hours in warm sunshine. We decided to head off just before the ‘Dancing Diggers’ – the JCB’s display team which is literally a team of JCB’s showing what they can do set to music! Chris was glad he parked where he had as it was a short drive to the exit and we had noticed a few cars already stuck in the mud! Came back via Eyam where it is Well Dressing and Carnival Week. Had hope to visit the Museum but it had just closed. Still found the wells and the hall with the village show displays and found time for an ice cream before coming home. Realised it was the first time we had been to the Eyam well dressings so a day of firsts. A few emails and phone calls when we got back but sat down just after 8pm.

Another nice morning and a good day forecast. One B&B out with one back in later. Got the paper from shop in Ashford then turned the room around for the incoming guests. Had a early lunch so we could squeeze a short walk into Sheldon in before the next guests arrived. We always comment that no matter how many times we walk to Sheldon we always end up on a different path and today was no exception. We took our usual route out the back of Bolehill and headed towards Sheldon past our picnic stop. On the way we came across a field of barley that had not been harvested and it was looking pretty sorry. The forecast is fair for the week so I imagine there will be some late harvesting taking place. Near the Magpine Mine we veered off onto one of the paths heading towards Sheldon except the one we took led us to the bottom end of Sheldon rather than arriving in the middle of the village. Still it was a good opportunity to have a look at the village. http://www.derbyshireuk.net/sheldon.html As usual on Bank Holiday Sundays the Village Hall was providing cream teas so we stopped and had one. Purchased a leaflet about the village which pointed out the village hall was once the the village school and the pub is less than fifteen years old. We came back a different way and came across a couple from Over Haddon. They remarked on how few people they had seen out walking which I had to agree with. Assume most day trippers will be either at Dovedale or Ladybower. Back by 4pm but B&B guests did not arrive until nearer 7pm. In the meantime one of our cottage guests who only arrived last night has had to go back home due to family problems so we have a vacancy we will put on the Internet and refund him what we can if we relet. Sat down and read the paper after a light dinner.

Forgot to mention woken on Friday morning by the sound of clapping. Turned out one of the hooligans had ventured into the car park and one of the guests was trying to shoo it back. It eventually decided to go through our garden leaving some hoof prints in its wake. Needless to say it has been issued with an ASBO!

A nice morning greeted departing guests, wonder if that was why no-one was in a hurry to leave! Most guests left about 10am with the final one about 10.30. Luckily most were left in a good condition. With only six left to do and three cleaners and Fay here good progress was made aided by good weather. Again a lot of phone calls looking for last minute availability. Finished cleaning by 1.30 and with an uninterrupted lunch able to finish my checks and do some extra jobs by 2.30. Chris cut the grass and we had a steady stream of arrivals from 3 – 5.30 pm. Three of the eight cottages arriving have been here before. Caught up with some accounts whilst waiting for guests. Had a take away pizza for tea. Final guest arrived just before 8pm after which fed the dogs and sat down.

One of those days that just goes. One B&B out with both back in and at least the weather was pleasant for the last day for those here for the week. One cleaner up to do the B&B rooms and as two cottages left in the afternoon she cleaned those two so that will make tomorrow easier. Did some extra washing whilst the weather held and also some preparation for tomorrow. Had a lot of phone calls for B&B for the weekend. First guests arrived just before 5pm and the second guests nearer 9pm. They have come up from London by train and cycled up from Bakewell. The road from Bakewell is still closed. This will be even more of a nuisance this weekend. Sat down once I had sorted the guests out.

A quiet day with plans to catch up on some household chores. One B&B guest out. The sun came out this morning so I did some extra washing only for it to rain when I put it out to dry. One reason for the new washing machine is that it takes a larger load so hopefully I can clear the washing before Fridays! The roof rack we bought yesterday had some fixing bolts missing so a phone call followed and hopefully the missing bits will be here in a few days. Chris had two other deliveries today so he was kept occupied with those. I was going to go to Bakewell tomorrow but in the end went this afternoon, particularly as the bottle bins needed emptying and I would prefer to avoid Bakewell on Sunday if I can. Chris came too. One thing we noticed yesterday was that the heather is not far off from being at its best so I had better plan a walk. In the end did not get as much done as I had planned but that’s the way it goes.

At least it was dry when I took dogs for a walk after doing breakfast. Andrew was engaged in a bit of cow moving and as a result we have the hooligans back in the front field. Chris went to help. After we had finished all the chores we set off for Sheffield for the ‘bog roll run’. First stop was Bookers which is not far from Makro. We registered with them although we did not buy anything today. When we got to Makro we had lunch the did our two rounds to get all our bits. We then went onto B&Q and the new Screwfix depot to check them out. We then stopped at Halfords and Comets where we ordered a new washing machine. Back home to unload and sort out phone calls an emails. Interesting to see that BMX is an Olympic sport so perhaps it is something to encourage youngsters to do. Sat down to watch the last episode of ‘The House of Saddam’.

Another wet start – heading for one of the wettest Augusts in recent years. After finished usual chores and dealt with a number of phone calls and emails went down to Bakewell for usual bits but forgot to go to the Bank! After lunch went to Buxton to look at some garden furniture in the sale as at least one set will need replacing at the end of the season. We also bought some other bits whilst there. Next set of B&B guests arrived mid afternoon. Also ordered a replacement set of linen for the cottages. This needs to be done every few years. Had a chat with a friend before dinner then watched the Olympic highlights. Haven’t Team GB done well so far! Watched the final program in the series Jimmy Doherty’s Farming Heros. Yes dairy farmers are more likely to have pictures of their cows on the wall than pictures of their families!

Up and with no B&B able to make a head start on the day. Set off for Buxton by 10.30. A quick zip around town then to Morrison’s for fortnightly shop before heading home. Noticed filling the car with petrol was cheaper this time. After lunch spent the afternoon catching up with chores not completed over the weekend as well as dealing with phone calls and emails of which there was a lot today. One cleaner up to turn rooms around. New B&B guests arrived mid afternoon. Lets hope the weather gets better! After an early dinner the guy who is going to produce a video for us came again and we chatted through the sequences he proposes to shoot. All will take place next week weather permitting.

How strange not to have a breakfast to cook on a Sunday morning. After breakfast with our friends we went down to Ashford to get a paper and go for a walk. We were there by 10.30. We had parked one car at White Ladies Car Park so we could do a semi circular walk from Ashford. We covered the same rout as we had on a previous walk. We walked up to Monsal Head where we stopped for a coffee at the cafe. We then walked down to the viaduct and down to the river and back to the car park. We then went back to Ashford where we stopped at the cafe for a late lunch. Back home and then our friends set off back to their home. Finally caught up with the guests that arrived last night. Had a light tea before sitting down for Britain From Above at 9pm. There were a couple of articles about the Peak District, one about Chelmorton and strip farming and one about erosion. I just love these type of programmes.

Another wet day forecast but it got off to a dry start enabling departing guests to leave without getting wet. Three cleaners and Fay up and with eight cottages out and back in plenty to do. B&B guests out too but no B&B guests back in as we have given ourselves the weekend off as we had some friends coming to stay. We have not seen them for two years and they were our neighbours at our former home for a number of years. They arrived as I was in the middle of defrosting a fridge and they settled themselves in front of the TV to watch some Olympics. Today was dubbed ‘Super Saturday‘ as it was hoped we would get a number of medals. Our former neighbours knew one of the coxless fours so wanted to follow his progress. I had hoped to see the men’s 100 metres at about 3.30pm but never did. Apart from a carpet that needed a quick clean no major problems encountered. Most cleaning finished by 1.30 so I started my final check then with cleaning finished altogether by 2.30, which is the latest for a long time. Chris made some toast for my lunch but I did not get to eat that until 3.15. From 2.30 to 3.15 five of the cottages arrived so at least I then had a chance to chat with our friends. The next guests arrived about 4.15. Two cottages to arrive later, one has been here before and the other a German family. We set off with our friends just after 5pm for Buxton. We had tickets for a performance of ‘The Gondoliers’ which was being staged during the annual Gilbert & Sullivan Festival at the Opera House. By now it was raining and we stopped for a meal at ‘The Lone Star’, a Mexican style restaurant, just round the corner from the Opera House. We all enjoyed our Fajitas! The performance was very good and there was a bit of a ‘sing a long’ to some G&S songs before the performance began. Still raining on way back and could see final guests were in but would catch up with them tomorrow.