The trouble with being away for a day is that it takes me a day to catch up. There was a few phone messages and emails waiting for us when we got back so I worked my way through them. One call included a B&B cancellation for next week which has left me with a gap to fill so I’m hoping for good weather for some last minute enquiries! Both B&B’s out today with one back in. Went to Bakewell late morning to get some bits for the weekend and for a WI lunch I am helping at on Monday. After lunch one cleaner up to do both rooms. I did some housework and other bits around the house and have started some planning for my holiday. I know I can rely on the cleaners while I am away and I have printed off a chart of in/outs so they know what is happening. In holiday mood I also phoned my sister. Guest arrived about 8pm and after finishing a few bits sat down just after 9pm to watch Heroes.

Another mixed day. A fine start weather wise, and noticed Andrew had moved some cows to another field. After usual bits went to Buxton to get some picnic bits to take to Chris’s parents tomorrow. Chris decided to come with me. In M&S bumped into Geoff and Margaret from Chelmorton. They had just come back from a few days in Paris and Bruges. Sigh. The Baslow Choir are performing on Friday and she had some tickets for us. After we had got the provisions and a few other bits we came back via Chelmorton to pick up the tickets. All I need to do now is check the guests will arrive before we need to leave! Spent a little time planting out some more geraniums. Although it had clouded up it was sill mild. One B&B out and back in and also one cottage in so one cleaner up today. As usual everyone arrived at once just before 6pm. After dinner checked everything was OK for tomorrow and todays paper work was completed before sitting down just after 9pm. No blog tomorrow.

A mixed day. An early breakfast with one B&B out. Morning went by in usual jobs, laundry, rubbish, servicing rooms etc. The electricity board came to replace a meter so we had no power for about an hour. The breezy weather had brought a lot of leaves down as well as blown over a few pots. After lunch went down town to get a few bits from Bakewell and a quick look around the market. Chris came with the two dogs and they were rewarded with a trip to the card shop where they got a couple of biscuits. Stopped for a cup of tea at the Tiroler Stuberl, my little bit of Austria in Bakewell. Stopped at the jewellers as I have been having trouble with my wedding ring as it has been getting very tight. Bad news was the only way to take it off was to cut it off, not uncommon apparently but strange all the same. The worst case scenario would be that I could have lost my finger to gangrene if the blood flow had continued to be restricted! Now I have to wait for a few weeks for my finger to return to its normal shape. When I get back from holiday he will enlarge both my wedding and engagement rings. As soon as I got home I put a ring on, albeit on the other hand! As it was well dressing week in Over Haddon we drove down to the village and had a wander and admired the dressings. Stopped for a drink at the Lathkill Hotel as it was a pleasant evening. Came back to find a cow in the car park munching on the leaves of a bush! Shooed it out and Blue stayed on guard for a while. He paced up and down the garden until he was worn out. The trouble with collies is they dont know when to stop! After a bite to eat sorted out emails and sat down about 9.30.

A brighter but very breezy day. No eggs from the hens today, the variations in weather can affect their laying. One B&B in later today. After breakfast went and got paper and checked room was ready for later on. Spent time today tidying up the office and getting some things ready for my holiday. After lunch planted the trough at the bottom of the drive with geraniums. Followed back up the drive by a group of inquisitive cows. Guests arrived about 5pm, they have been here before. Cooked a roast dinner and sat down for Top Gear. The feature on police cars really made me laugh. Had a few phone calls during the evening, mainly about B&B. While I am away Chris will be providing a continental breakfast for B&B guests and it is understandable in this day and age when so few of us have a cooked breakfast that this does not appeal to everyone. A lot of the B&B experience today is the cooked breakfast aspect.

So far June has been really dry and the farmers now need some rain. So today obliged by drizzling most of the day. Welcome summer! A busy day today. Six cottages and both B&B out with six cottages and one B&B back in (and one cottage staying on for another week). Two cottages have been here before. Three cleaners up today and good progress made and two fridges defrosted, although one cottage was left a little untidy. Cleaning finished by 1.15 so had a slice of toast and did my bits plus some other jobs. Most guests in between 3&4pm, with B&B in about 5.30 and last cottage in about 6pm. Cooked a simple dinner and sat down about 8pm.

One cottage out with no -on back in. One cleaner up to do cottage and public areas. Had dental appointment for filling late morning down in Bakewell so stocked up for weekend. After a late lunch spent the afternoon defrosting a fridge, doing some gardening and also preparing for tomorrow. After dinner popped up to see a couple who were staying for another week to check on what they needed for the second week. On the way back I chatted to a couple of other guests so was away almost an hour. Sat down just after 9pm and watched Heroes. At least will see final episode before I go away.

After doing breakfast packed the bags and off we went. It was sunny but very breezy when we got to the Surprise View car park just outside Hathersage. The story goes that when Queen Victoria came along the road and turned the bend she was surprised to see such a view, and it is a lovely view in good weather. I had planned a figure of eight walk taking in some landmarks this side of Hathersage. From the car park we walked along Millstone edge then headed towards Carl Wark. This is an ancient fortified hill the age of which has not been determined but it is considered to be either late Roman or Bronze Age with Roman additions. We stayed on the footpath that skirted Carl Wark but headed to Burbage Rocks where we picked up the Sheffield Country Walk towards Upper Burbage Bridge. We found a spot for lunch with views back to Higger Tor and Carl Wark. There were a number of school climbing groups about, I assumed from Sheffield. As I watched them there was a part of me that wished I had had opportunities like this when I was at school. At the bridge we turned onto the next loop which took us up onto Higger Tor. From here, like at Millstone Edge, we could see Win and Lose Hill and Mam Tor and of course the cement works. From Higger Tor we carried on along the path that took us onto Carl Wark. From here we headed towards Burbage Bridge but crossed the main road just short of the bridge and walked the final stretch along the brook. A long walk but without much upping and downing although the path was a little indistinct at time. We popped into Hathersage for a quick look around the outdoor shops. Back home caught up with the few emails and phone calls. We decided to eat out this evening and went to Fellicinis by the river. I enjoyed my meal but Chris was less keen on his. (He is not really a pizza and pasta man).

Without Chris around I managed breakfast on my own but doing his and my tasks took the rest of the morning. The forecast for today was wet but it turned out showery rather than wet.

Managed to find a few hours in the afternoon to do some work on curtains in the house despite a few interruptions. New B&B guests in about 5pm. Carried on working through the evening and Chris arrived just as I was mopping the floor at 10pm.

A busier day with the B&B out and one back in. A new cleaner up today. She cannot manage Saturdays for the moment but it is helpful to have another cleaner on the team now as I will be losing one in September. So it was handy she could could come today and learn about the B&Bs. Guests arrived about 4pm and as it was still pleasant enough they were able to have tea on the patio. After an early dinner Chris set off for London for a meeting tomorrow in connection with his IT business. I went to Morrisons in Buxton and by the time I got back and put away the items I didn’t have time for much else. So took the dogs for their final walk, laid the table and went to bed.

Nobody in and out so a chance to keep on top of daily tasks and pop down town after lunch. Needed bits for B&B for next few days but had a chance for a quick dash around the market. With only a few weeks to the end of this VAT quarter have got most accounts up straight. Rubbish wasn’t collected today (dustcart broke down) so hope it gets collected tomorrow. Sat down about 9pm.