December stats: warmest day was 9th with the night before being the warmest and with 8.4 being the highest temp on that day. Lowest temp was -7.6 on 22nd with 18th being the overall coldest day (that was the really foggy day). Coldest night was 21st with a wind chill of -11.4! The wettest day was 6th with .43 in with a total for 12/09 2.3 in compared to 3.11 for 12/08.

2009 stats. Warmest day & night with the highest temperature of 26.6 recorded was 1 July. Lowest temp was -7.6 on 22/12 with the night of 21/12 being the coldest and coldest day was 6th Jan. Total rain was 37.16. This compares to 44.16 in in 2008.

We both wish you a Merry Christmas and all the best for 2010. Chris has started a blog too so you can read life at Bolehill Farm from his perspective. Hopefully we have some friends coming to stay for a few days weather permitting so will start blogging again next week. I do have some pictures of the snow to add. Don’t forget others who will be working on Christmas Day like farmers such as Andrew and NHS workers like my sister. Enjoy yourselves!

Sorry very busy at the peak district cottages! Will catch up with events very soon!

A quiet few days ahead. Two cottages out this morning, one has booked a break already for new year, with one due back into our peak district cottages today. They have been here before. One cleaner up to prepare a couple of cottages – just in case – and bed stripping. Laundry and rubbish collected as usual. Handyman up today to start work on one of the cottage bedrooms. Rain arrived by lunchtime and I popped down to Bakewell to post some bits mid afternoon. With the weather deteriorating the market was closing down by the time I got there. Had to queue in the post office – that time of year – and in the bank too. Chris dealt with the guests when they arrived as I had expected to be back by then. Chris went to the Bakewell Photographic Circle in the evening. On Tuesday I went to Buxton to get some bits and also went to Morrisons.

With the forecast of a wet weekend a time to catch up with various matters. For Chris it was probate matters and for me various bits around the house. Also time to catch up on a few episodes of Spooks. On Saturday there was one departure but no returning guests but one cleaner up as guests are arriving on Sunday. The guests arrived late on Sunday, they have been here before.

For the first time in ages we had no guest in on a Saturday. With two cottages out of our peak cottages one cleaner came up as we have a number of arrivals on Monday and it was best to keep up to date with cleaning. The handyman came up and helped move the new mattresses into the cottages. Also with two cottages to be taken out of use for a couple of weeks for maintenance there was time for them to plan the work – weather permitting. I made use of some free time to catch up with jobs and having offered some items on ‘Freecycle‘ some were collected this afternoon. A pleasant day – could have gone for a walk if we had thought about it – and the evening also stayed dry for the many firework displays in the evening albeit a bit breezy. Had thought about getting tickets for the display at Chatsworth House but with the initial forecast for Saturday being wet, tickets had sold by the time I was happy with the forecast. This year we went to Eyam (the plague village). Here their display was different. It started with a torchlit parade through the villae with an effigy of a rat. This was placed on the bonfire which literally went off with a bang. Whether this was because bangers were in the rat or the bonfire we don’t know. This was followed by a firework display. Some thought the fireworks were disappointing but I enjoyed it anyway.

Two quieter days. One cottage out on Tuesday with no cottages in. A trip to Buxton to the recycling center and more boxes for a charity shop. Time to stop for lunch then a trip round Morrisons. A quiet evening in – actually sat down for 8pm! Wednesday was busier with two cottages back in to our Bakewell cottages and one cleaner up. Both arrived just after 3pm. Time to clear the garage for the next bath of stuff to to come back from York before the WI committee meeting held at our place amidst all the boxes and bits!

November got off to a really wet start but unfortunately I cannot say how wet the day was because the rain gauge got clogged up with leaves. No guests out today but one cottage in later in the day. A chance to catch up with bits and also sort out some stuff brought back from York. Monday was brighter and busier. Two cottages out with three back into our Peak District Cottages. One cleaner up and no problems encountered. In the evening Chris went to the Bakewell Photographic Circle and I caught up with accounts.