Monday was a horrible day weather wise at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here).  Two departures and four arrivals and one husband down with a heavy cold.  One cleaner here as a couple of cottages already prepared.  The wind in particular was strong in the morning and I seem to be continually picking up fallen plants.  With Chris not available I had to do a number of jobs he would normally do on a Monday.  At least by lunchtime the wind had died down and rain eased off and cottages were ready for guests arrival.  Two here by 3.30, one had been before, next arrival at 4pm and final cottage here by 5pm, they have been before.  Chris should have gone to the Photographic Club in the evening but as he was not well I took the projector to one of the other members.  Tuesday 7th October was the day of the Autumn Conference of the Derbyshire Federation of WI’s at Derby.  The meeting had been scheduled to take place at the Assembly Rooms in Derby but after the fire there earlier this year the conference was moved to the County Cricket Club in Derby.  I collected three other members and drove to Rowsley where we boarded a coach taking  other WI members to Derby.  The venue was perhaps not the best for the needs of a large group of women but the organising committee did well in the circumstances.  We were able to hear but not see the proceedings from our spot in the room.  After official business the morning’s speaker was one of the original Calendar Girls. She reminded us of the origins of the story and updated us of events since, at times it was quite emotional, but the result has been over £4million raised for Leukaemia Research.  Lunch time gave an opportunity to browse the stalls and get a book signed by our afternoon speaker, Michael Portillo and have a quick chat with him.  He gave us an amusing talk on his political life, the influence of his parents and more recently his TV series on railway journeys.  He fielded some very interesting questions too.  Back home Chris was still not well so we had to take a rain check on a meal we had arranged with some friends.  Never mind.