With no guests in or out of our Bakewell cottages another day to do bits in cottages and sort some more items for charity.  Also went to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend.  One cleaner up to prepare cottage for tomorrow.  On Saturday we had one cottage out and one back in.  With cottage already cleaned we had a few hours to spare so we went to Buxton.  It’s not often we go out on a Saturday and Buxton was quite busy, we only just managed to get a table for lunch.  It’s times like this we remember why we don’t go shopping on a Saturday!  Talking to Green Cowden Farm they will be lambing in earnest from next weekend, they already have a few early lambs out in the fields. Their sons have part time work in local  pubs and hotels and they have gad a quiet start to the season too.  Also our snowdrops are looking very good and we are going to try to get to Hopton Hall near Carsington Water this week as they have extended their opening times for the snowdrop season.  Cottage guests arrived just after 5pm and with a sauna request and phone calls a busy evening before sitting down for CSI New York.

Here are some pictures from our peak cottages of  yesterday.  One was taken from Derwent lounge window, and another from Lathkill lounge window.

Just a few pics including a dog getting washed.  That’s the downside to their walks! We can show on a map  where the walk is from our Bakewell cottages.

A bright but cold Saturday.  One cottage out of our peak cottages with none back in but one cleaner up to clean cottage and help with some other housekeeping duties.After lunch I thought it would be nice to go out for a few hours.  As I did not have a chance t look around Matlock the other day I thought we could go there.  In particular my favourite place is the Matlock Antiques Centre where there is always something different on sale.  Its more like an antiques and collectibles centre with many rooms and display areas and today I bought a couple of old postcards.  We had a cup of tea in the cafe too.  On the way home we stopped of to say hello to the previous owners of Bolehill Farm.  This morning Sue from Green Cowden brought some eggs over – the hens have already started laying – and she mentioned she knew one of the previous occupants of Bolehill Farm who doesn’t live too far away and we have said we would be happy for him to come up and see how it is now.  I am sure he could help fill in some gaps on the history of Bolehill Farm

A misty start which never really cleared.  One cleaner up this morning and we had a go at spring cleaning one of the cottages.  Ended up with a list of things to replace and a list of things to do for Chris!  Later in the afternoon persuaded Chris to take me out and we went to the Peak Village Outlet at Rowsley.  I think he came away with more bits than me!  On the way back we called in at one of the cleaners and had a cup of tea.  As we were back later than planned picked up some fish & chips and had a quiet evening in.

Thursday was a quiet day. Woke up to a white landscape yet again but the snow was quite slushy and it was quite foggy.  Went down to Bakewell at lunchtime to get provisions for weekend and also get some WI cheques signed.  The afternoon went in a lot of ‘5 minute jobs’, I made an effort to clear up a lot of odd jobs.  Chris was doing bits in the cottages and I had a few jobs, like putting up new curtains in one, to do too.  Friday was the first real busy day for a long time with four cottages out and five back into our pet friendly cottages.  Three cottages have been here before and four of the cottages have pets with them so our two will have some friends this weekend.  All guests made a timely departure and no major housekeeping problems encountered but we did have a problem with the other wood burning stove we have in the cottages so that kept Chris busy.  With two cleaners up cleaning finished before guests arrivals.  All guests arrived between 3.30 and 6pm.  Also our long term guests left later today.  A number of bookings today too but after a hectic day sat down for 8pm.

Up early and down to Bakewell to get hair cut first thing on Tuesday.  Back and then after an early lunch off to Buxton for a trip around the supermarket and other bits.  Still surprised at how much snow around on the roadsides and in the car park!  Back before dark which was just as well as a brief snow shower left an unexpected covering!  One cleaner up on Wednesday and we did a bit of spring cleaning and inventory checking.  No guests in or out of our peak district cottages.  With snow forecast for later in the day kept an eye on the weather.  Also spent a little time on WI bits as committee meeting in evening.  Light snow started falling about 3pm but within an hour it was much heavier.  One car had problems getting up the drive so Chris went down to help.  We heard that it was bad getting up from Bakewell  as the gritters had not been through yet. Joanna phoned and said the committee meeting was cancelled as the others couldn’t get there – probably I wouldn’t have been able to either.  Phoned my sister and wished her a happy birthday.  So with an unexpected free evening we watched a film.

The snow was still there when we got up on Thursday but by mid morning we could the sound of dripping as the snow began to melt and drip of the rooves of our peak district cottages. More worrying for the handyman was the icicles falling of the trees and hitting the velux window. Chris put some cardboard over the widow on the outside to lessen the impact. With one cottage due in Chris and I cleaned the required cottage. I think we make a good cleaning team. Perhaps an alternative career option to fall back on if needed! The guests managed to get up the drive and into the car park. Chris went and collected tho post from Andrews and managed to get the car back into the car park. Hopeful signs.