A busy day with both B&B out and one back in and one cottage in. Also today Andrew, Ian and Joanna moved the cows around. Sounds simple but it was a lot more complicated as some needed to be moved through fields where some cows were already so some had to be put in other fields temporarily. Chris got a call to put up the electric fence in the paddock so a few mature, responsible cows could graze a little. One group had to be moved from the left hand field, around the back and into our front field. A group of youngsters in the middle field were running back and forwards mirroring the movements of the tractors and other cows. It was quite comical at times. Eventually they were all where they were supposed to be. After guests departed we went down and got the paper and did a bottle bank run. Came back and turned the room round. Although a bit threatening at times, the weather held and we managed to find an hour to relax on the patio with the Sunday paper. Could get used to this! Cottage guests arrived about 4pm and B&B guests about 5pm after which checked bookings/ brochure requests to send out tomorrow. After dinner sat down about 9pm.

So here we are back into the swing of Saturday changeovers. Today six cottages out and six back in with one changing to another cottage. Three cleaners up and good progress made as no problems encountered. I was able to make good progress with my chores which also included defrosting two fridges. Chris did his circuit of lawn cutting and strimming. Everything ready for first guest who arrived just before three. Out of the six cottages coming in three have been cottage guests before and one has been a B&B guest. Most arrived between 3&4pm. Just after 4pm a Tesco delivery van arrived with delivery for a guest who had not yet arrived! We put everything in the cottage and fridge for them. They arrived about 5pm with the final guests about 6.30. Had a Chinese take away then sat down about 8pm.

Both B&B out with both back in so one cleaner up to do both rooms and the vacated cottage – this will help tomorrow. After lunch went down to Bakewell to get bits for the weekend and aimed to be back before the first B&B arrived. As I was driving up the drive I could see Chris walk them round so they were a little early and got here before I got back. Second set of guests arrived a little later. Spent some time preparing for tomorrow and sat down about 8.30.

A quieter day so a chance to catch up and get some things done. Chris went to his Photo Workshop in the afternoon. I did some housework and paper work. Our couple from New Zealand who have been staying in the cottages for nearly two weeks left today to fly home. I have decided he must be the oldest guest we have had at a sprightly 93! With another active couple here this week in their eighties the average age of our guests this week is high. Someone said recently that 70 is the new 60! Later in the evening sat down to watch the drama about Margaret Thatcher.

A cooler day and woken by Andrew in the field on the tractor. Realised that he was checking on the cows early so that they could complete the silaging at the Mycocks today. Just started breakfast when the phone rang. It was Joanna saying Shirley (my name sake cow) had given birth. This was about a week early and as she was still in the back field Chris rushed up with his camera to find not just one calf but two! Shirley had had twins! Unfortunately this was not good news for Andrew as she had one of both sexes and in most cases a heifer born with a bull is sterile, so it looks like there wont be a Shirley III in the fields in the years to come. Shirley II should be here next year. So without my usual assistance breakfast was a little late, just as well the two couples were chatting away. After serving breakfast took dogs for a walk and hung up laundry. Then went shopping with one of the cleaners. She occasionally goes shopping to the charity shops at Alderley Edge and Wilmslow and I thought it would be interesting to go too. First we stopped to check on the foal that had just been born to her mare then we went to Buxton to get some petrol. As there was a queue at Morrisons went to the Esso station where she filled up with no problems. We went over the Cat & Fiddle to Macclesfiled but did a detour to Teggs Nose Country Park as I had asked about it. You get lovely views across the Chesire Plain and Jodrell Bank was clearly visible. From Macclesfield we went across country to Alderley Edge. Legend has it that Merlin is buried here, hence a lot of pubs/restaurants are named ‘Merlin’. This part of Cheshire is also home to many wealthy residents as well as a lot of footballers so the charity shops can be filled with some pretty good stuff. A couple are more like ‘designer outlets’. I joked that I had never been to a charity shop where all the coat hangers were wooden! Still I did buy a couple of T shirts. We had to be back for end of school and when I got back Chris was not here. He turned up later having been to buy a leaf sucker. After dinner I went to pick up Joanna for WI. Ian and Andrew were on there way to help finish ‘sheeting up’ or covering the silage. So now all the silaging is done and its back to normal. Tonight’s speaker was a local farmers wife who gave us an entertaining insight into her life. I learnt a few new things but knowing Joanna’s life much was familiar to me. Tonight’s competition was an animal ornament and one of my hippo ornaments won a mug!

Not as warm but a pleasant enough day Two B&B in today and with the rooms done yesterday I had the day to do things. Did some tidying up and some gardening – planted out the first of the geraniums – and also did some extra washing as I seem to be falling behind. Guests arrived about 4pm, quite close together and they sat out on the patio with tea/coffee chatting to each other. We sometimes get guests who really get on and these two couples did. One are here to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary. Its also one of those week when guests in the cottages also get on well with each other and I always like it when I see them talking to each other. During dinner the doorbell rang and someone had driven up to say a cow was on the road. Chris went to find Andrew but when they got to the spot the cow had gone back into the field. Andrew has opened the gates to most of the fields so the cows will go round and munch any bits left after silaging. After dinner phoned my sister and we have agreed on the excursions we would like to pre book when we are in St Petersburg.

Another hot day forecast so with one B&B departing and none coming in we decided to have a BBQ with the couple we are friendly with who are in one of the cottages. This is the last day for the foreseeable future that we have nobody in for B&B and the first Monday for a long time that I have no cottages in or out so I decided to go to the market in the afternoon. One cleaner up in the morning to do both rooms. After lunch went down to Bakewell and Chris came too. Had a look around the market and got a few bits for the BBQ. Made a detour on the way back to Monyash to buy an ice cream from The Smithy Cafe in Monyash. They are very nice. Perhaps I should also mention at this point that in a recent edition of the Sunday Times it had 50 things you should do this summer. One was to visit Blaze Farm at Wildboarclough on the edge of the Peak District. (www.blazefarm.com) They make ice cream (Hilly Billy ice cream) which is really scrumptious. Had an early evening BBQ to take advantage of the warmth and light. A very enjoyable evening.

A nice sunny start. After breakfasts took the dogs out and came across Ian in the back fields. They are on the final stretch of silaging and all being well they will finish their fields today so they can start on their neighbours, the Mycocks tomorrow. One B&B out and one cottage in (husbands back well enough to travel) so we prepared for our walk but kept being interrupted so it was about 11.30 before we set off. We drove to Gratton near Elton where we started a five mile walk down Gratton Dale and Long Dale and back to Gratton. Nothing strenuous but a lovely walk through some rolling countryside. Met a few groups of Duke of Edinburgh doing their walk, but in the opposite direction. We found a shady spot for lunch as it was quite hot. Back mid afternoon and really was quite lazy for the rest of the day. Cottage guests arrived about 7m. Had a light dinner on the patio before sitting down.

First Saturday with full change over. Today seven cottages out and six back in with one swapping to stay a second week. One cottage had phoned worried that as her husband had hurt his back he was not well enough to travel so they may have to cancel. They will wait until tomorrow or Monday before making a final decision. Also one B&B out and back in. So three cleaners up and luckily no problems encountered although first guests arrived before I was completely finished. Out of the seven cottages three have been here before and one has stayed in the B&B. Most arrived between 3&4 pm with the final cottage arriving just before 5pm at the same time as the B&B. They also run a B&B and are here for the Chatsworth car rally. Had fish and chips for dinner. Sillaging is going well. They were collecting from the fields around us today so it was a bit noisey at times. Tomorrow the weather forecast is good so I have planned a walk.

A quieter day and time to catch up. Another pleasant day for the guests. One B&B in and one cleaner up to do the room. All the hanging baskets out and some work done in the garden and home. Our vista is becoming more patchwork like as fields round and about continue to be sillaged. B&B guest arrive about 4.30. Time to prepare for tomorrow and as a treat sat down at 8pm.