Wednesday was a brighter day so took the opportunity of washing net curtains of the two cottages that were arriving today at our peak district cottages.  They were washed and hanging back up well before guests arrived.  One cleaner up this morning to keep up with cleaning. First cottage arrived about 3pm and second one about 5pm.  Caught up with some paper work and housework during the day too.  Thursday started damp and as I was taking the dogs out Andrew was moving some of the cows.  Chris came out and helped move the hooligans back to the other side of the road.  The in calf heifers in our front field have been moved to the side field and locked out of the front field so the builders could bring their machines up. It seemed to start brightening up by the time I left for Buxton.  Had some recycling to do as well as buy an airer and take some stuff to the charity shops.  I also took an item to hand over to a Freecycler.  Freecycling is an way of extending the life of goods which could end up in the tip.  In recent months I have donated small items of furniture, some electrical goods and recently a whole lot of plant pots to people to have asked for them.  You can ask for items or offer items.  The weather turned quite miserable and it stayed quite cool all day.  Back home I found that the first of the builders had arrived and work had started on the footings for the new extension.  In the evening a former colleague of mine from when I worked in London called in with his partner (who I also knew) and we went out for a meal at Great Longstone.  On the way we showed them Monsal Head and the well dressings at Little and Great Longstone.