Saturday night into Sunday was very windy at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here).  Three departures but no arrivals. Due to the forecasted high winds the Chatsworth Christmas market was cancelled.  A quiet day after getting the paper from Bakewell.  The strongest of the winds never materialised during the day but they did pick up again in the evening.  The River Wye was temporarily on flood alert.  After dinner we headed to the Opera House at Buxton where we saw the Illegal Eagles. They were very good.  Monday 16th November was a lot cooler than of late.  No departures but one arrival and one cleaner here to keep up with cleaning.  Cottage arrived just after 4pm.  A social evening for the two of us with me heading to Over Haddon for the first of the indoor bowls evenings where we were able to use the new bowls mat.  Chris went off to Bakewell to the Photographic Society.  Tuesday was another wet and windy day.  A misty start with drizzle on and off during the morning.  Took Smudge for his morning walk.  Tuesday handyman here and he and Chris did some work in one of the vacant cottages.  I had a day of odd jobs, it’s good to cross them off the list.  In the afternoon I went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the next couple of days.  As I got back the winds were picking up again and we had a very windy evening.  The Chatswrth Christmas Market was closed early.  Wednesday got off to a fine start and Chris did a check for fallen branches etc when he took Smudge out.  One departure.  Chris needed to go to Buxton for some maintenance bits so I went with him and had a little walk around town.  Back in time for lunch and cleaner.  Stocked up on logs and a cottage arrived just after 3pm.  Blogging and emails in the afternoon.

Thursday 12 November was a fine sunny day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here) and with no arrivals or departures had a day off. We had been planning to go to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park the next time there was a fine day as they are displaying ‘The Wave’ there which is on tour after being at the Tower of London.  It is only just over an hour away and is reasonably dog friendly (some of the parkland is off limits to dogs) but overall you can see enough if you have a dog.  The place was very busy with couples and coach parties including school children.  We managed to get up to the installation, pity they had partially drained the lake for some work.  We were there until mid afternoon.  There are a number of sculptures by Henry Moore and an interesting tree by Ai Weiwei.  Additionally there are a number of smaller galleries dotted around the park and a number of places to get food.  The weather held until we left but by the time we got home it was drizzling and later in the evening we had some heavy rain.  Friday was a lot colder and despite the forecast stayed sunny and breezy with a few showers.  Two departures and three arrivals and one cleaner here.  Down to Bakewell first thing to get provisions for the weekend.  All cleaning and checks completed by the time the first guests arrived.  Two in quick succession just after 3pm, one has been before with final cottage here just after 10pm.  Saturday started dry but the rain arrived by lunchtime.  Four departures and two arrivals with two cleaners here to keep up with cleaning.  Everything ready by lunchtime and both cottages here just after 3pm.  Housework occupied the afternoon and in the evening a couple of guests joined us for a glass of wine and they showed us their holiday photos from a celebratory cruise.  I was very jealous!  Enjoy the photos from Thursday.

Monday 9th November was a very windy and wet day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here) but still mild for the time of year.  Three departure but no arrivals and two cleaners here to keep up with cleaning.  It was a nuisance to keep on battling the wind and rain as we made our way around the cottages but we had no choice.  Usual Monday routines with laundry and rubbish collections.  The afternoon went on cottage preparations and I made some time to do some cooking.  In the evening I went to the Village Hall committee meeting.  A lot of debris on the roads.  Finally on Tuesday we saw some brighter weather.  It was still remarkably mild with temperatures remaining in double figures both by day and night.  One departure and three arrivals and one cleaner here.  Plenty of time to do final checks for arriving cottages and preparations for Wednesday’s arrivals. Even found time for a quick trip down to Bakewell.  All three cottages arrived in quick succession after 3pm, one has been before so had a bit of time to myself in the afternoon.  Wednesday stayed mainly dry and mild.  No departures but two arrivals with cottages already prepared.  A quiet morning catching up on personal work and final checks in cottages.  In the afternoon I did some baking including a Christmas cake!  First cottage here about 4pm, second one about 6pm, both have been before.  One is here to visit the Chatsworth Christmas Fair and the other is here as he is exhibiting there and will be here for a couple of weeks.  In the evening we went to Piedaniels in Bakewell for a lovely meal, after all we have been at Bolehill for twelve years so a reason to celebrate.

Friday was a wet and breezy day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here).  The first busy Friday with two departures and four arrivals and two cleaners here.  Down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend.  All cleaning and checks completed before first arrival at 3pm.  Gap until 4pm with three arrivals in quick succession, two have been before.  It was very mild again with temperature reaching 14C but it stayed breezy with passing showers.  Chris did another round of leaf clearing, not that many leaves left on trees now.  Saturday got off to a very wet start.  Two departures and two arrivals and one cleaner here.  Felt very strange as it was the first Saturday for a while where we weren’t very busy.  Cleaning and checks completed by lunchtime so the afternoon went on emails and approving the draft for the 2016 Peak District Visitor Guide.  We also reviewed what maintenance work was required in the vacated cottages.  We are getting quite a list of things to do now.  It brightened up during the day with the odd shower and the wind eased but it was very mild again.  First cottage here just after 3pm with second one just before 4pm, both have been before.  An early tea then we collected Andrew and Joanna and went to Over Haddon for the firework display.  Swift half in the Lathkil afterwards before coming home.  Sunday stayed dull and breezy with showers, some heavy, in the afternoon.  One departure.  A quiet day for us but in the evening we went to Buxton Opera House to see Lesley Garrett in Conversation (with some singing too).  A very enjoyable evening.

Monday 2nd November started misty at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here) but it started to lift so I hoped it would turn into another sunny day. By lunchtime the fog started to roll back in and it was quite patchy during the afternoon.  One departure and three arrivals, should have been four but one had to cancel at the last minute as they had been in an accident over the weekend.  One cleaner here and all required cottages cleaned and checked by lunchtime. Two arrivals here between 3amd 4pm, one has been before with final cottage here just after 5pm, he has been before.  The afternoon went in chatting to guests, blogging and housework.  An early tea so Chris could get off to Bakewell for the Photography Society meeting.  Tuesday got off to a gloomy start but unlike the last couple of days it stayed gloomy.  One departure but no arrivals with one cleaner here to keep up with cleaning.  Tuesday handyman here too and he and Chris took down the hanging baskets and also the climbing frame.  We won’t be replacing this due to ever increasing insurance and health and safety implications.  I spent a lot of the day on jobs in vacant cottages or around the house.  Wednesday was similar to Tuesday with a misty start but during the day the mist lifted.  Two departures and one arrival with one cleaner here at lunchtime.  Chris and I did a survey of the empty cottages and started making a list of jobs to do over the winter.  Another day of jobs in cottages and the house.  Cottage arrived at 3pm and it was nice to see a little bit of blue sky later in the day.

Saturday got off to a misty start at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here).  Down to Bakewell early to the Farmers Market and was even back before the two cottages departed.  Two cleaners here to keep up with cleaning and all cleaning and checks completed by lunch time.  Stocked up on logs before guests arrivals.  At least it did brighten up for a while in the afternoon.  Three arrivals, all here between 3.30 and 4pm, all have been before.  Spent some time finishing Octobers accounts before a quiet evening in.  Woke up to a glorious sunrise on Sunday and despite the initial forecast of a misty day we had a sunny warm day.  The temperature hit 16C .  Couldn’t believe it was the first of November and I even felt it was warm enough for an ice cream!  Two departures and a quiet morning.  In the afternoon Ian and Nicci were here for a couple of hours while Chris sorted out their computers.  After tea I went out and listened/watched  the fireworks at Chatsworth.  There was a beautiful clear sky and it was nice to do a bit of star gazing and listen to the sheep,cows and pheasants interrupted by the fireworks in the distance.

October weather stats: highest temp 16.4C on 2nd with warmest day 6th and night 5th.  Lowest temp 3.6C on 25th with coldest day 25th and night 24th.  Wettest day 28th with .36 in rain with 1.75 in for month (Oct 14 saw 2.72 in).

View our weather at our website weather page

Thursday 29th October was a disappointing day weather wise at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here). Two departures but no arrivals.  Chris laid some new lino in the leisure area toilet and we hoped the weather would brighten up by lunchtime, it was forecast to.  It did look a bit more promising when we left for the reservoirs.  We stopped at the Riverside Cafe just outside Hathersage for lunch then drove up to the top of Howden Reservoir. We were surprised at how low the levels of water were but the colours were stunning.  We were planning on doing a little walk but light showers kept passing over despite the forecast.  Slowly we made our way back down the reservoirs stopping for countless photo opportunities.  Between us hopefully we got some good photos.  I am sure a bit of sunshine would have added to the photos.  With it getting dark early it soon got too late for more photos but we might try and get back up there again next week. Friday got off to a wet and windy start and we had to take a couple of the hanging baskets down as they were swinging in the wind.  Four departures and four arrivals and two cleaners here.  By mid morning it had brightened up and the wind had eased.  All cleaning completed by lunchtime and checks completed by the time the first cottage arrived.  All arrived between 3and 4pm, two have been before.  Chris cleared some more leaves, again.  In the evening we went to Ian’s (Joanna and Andrew’s son) and his girlfriend’s, Nicci, house in Bakewell to have a look at their new kitchen and have tea and cake !

approaching rain

Monday 26th October saw one departure at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here).  Three arrivals and one cleaner here so a busy day in store.  A fine day enabling guests to get out and about.  Two arrivals here just after 3pm with final one, who have many times before, arriving just before 5pm.  Tuesday started quite foggy but that lifted during the day and there was some rain in the evening.  Two departures and one cleaner here to keep up with cleaning.  Tuesday handyman here and he did some more tidying up outside.  Chris also spent time clearing more leaves out of the car park and courtyard.  For me a day of emails and also did the preparations for cottages arriving on Wednesday.  Heavy rain overnight Tuesday into Wednesday and it rained on and off during Wednesday morning.  The afternoon turned quite sunny and it was a mild day overall.  No departures but three arrivals in the afternoon.  Morning went in admin work.  First cottage here just after 3pm after which I went down to Bakewell to get some provisions for the next couple of days. Next cottage arrived before I got back and final cottage here just after 7pm.  There is less black and white in the fields now.  The cows have been in overnight for a couple of weeks, not that I would have noticed as it has been getting dark early.  They have also been out less during the day, more out for a little exercise than food as the grass is not growing and in the next few days they will start to stay in all day until spring.

Fuschias are still doing well

Friday was mainly dull at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here) but at least it stayed dry. No departures but two arrivals and one cleaner here.  Plenty to do in the morning and Chris seemed to spend most of the day clearing the leaves that had been raining down from the trees in the last couple of days.  First cottage here at 4pm with second one here after we had gone to bed due to volume and speed of traffic on M1 due to continuing roadworks, they have been before.  Time in the afternoon for admin work and preparations for Saturday.  Prince Charles was in the area, one of our guests actually shook hands with him when they were walking through Chatsworth.  Saturday saw four departures in the rain and thee arrivals in the dry.  Two cleaners here and all cleaning and checks completed by lunchtime. This gave me the chance to catch up on some odd jobs in between guests arrivals.  First cottage here at 3pm with second one at 4pm. They were here last when we had the bad snow at Easter a few years back.  Final cottage here at 7.30, they have been before. Chris went out with camera in the hope of getting a good sunset shot but the light faded and it wasn’t as good as it could have been.  We had an extra hour on Sunday which was nice.  A fine day for guests already here.  One departure and a quiet day overall after Chris had gone round and changed all the clocks in the cottages and house.  With so many to do we always find one that we forget during the week.