Thursday 2/1/14 saw our friends depart. No arrivals at our Bolehill Cottages (see link) but one cleaner here. The first dry and bright day since Sunday. Forgot to mention the River Wye was on flood alert Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. In the afternoon we went to Chesterfield to get some more paint and a little retail therapy although I only bought a jumper. In the evening I went to Joanna’s for our monthly WI committee meeting, it should have on Wednesday. Friday saw two departures and no arrivals and one cleaner up. Sometimes we do get bookings for the weekend after the New Year and although we had enquiries, the forecast of yet more rain and wind was not encouraging. As cottages have been departing I have been taking down the trees and decorations. Mind you it doesn’t take as long to get them down as to put them up. Despite the forecast Friday was not as bad as predicted so at least our remaining guests could get out and about. Over the last few days Chris has been drafting our New Year email which was dispatched on the Friday. Also spent some time boxing up contents of Dove in readiness for its emptying. Saturday saw two more departures. No cleaner but handyman up to help Chris empty Dove of furniture and contents. Again another day where the weather wasn’t as bad as the forecast. Perhaps we were lucky. In the afternoon Chris and I went down to Bakewell to get some provisions for the next few days and in the evening we went to Buxton Opera House. This time it was to see a David Bowie tribute act. Interesting.
Hello to 2014
New Year’s Eve was a dismal day at our Bolehill Cottages cottages (see here), wet and windy and cold. No arrivals or departures and if I had been feeling better we might have gone out so in the end we had a quiet day and an early night so at least I felt better on New Year’s Day. Two departures and one arrival and as I had given the cleaner the day off Chris and I cleaned the cottage. Keeps us in practice as well as the chance to check on the condition of equipment and discuss changes we could make. Guests arrived about 4pm, they have been before. In the evening my friend and her husband who were staying in one of the cottages came over for a new year drink so that was a nice way belatedly to see the New Year in.
Here are Decembers weather statistics
highest temp 11.6 deg C on 15th with warmest day 13th and night 15th. Lowest temp 0.1 deg C on 20th with coldest day 26th and night 19th. Wettest day 23rd with .88 in rain with a total of 5.02 in for Dec13 (5.76 Dec 12).
To complete the statistics here are the records for 2013
Highest temp of 27.4 deg Con 1st Aug with warmest day 13th July and 1st Aug warmest night. Lowest temp of -5.1 deg C on 11th March with coldest day 16th Jan and night 11th March. Wettest day 28th July with 1.09 in rain (though most of that fell in the early hours of the morning) with a total of 29.2 inches for the whole of the year. In 2012 we had 42.58 in and 2011 we had 30.75 in to put things into perspective.
A military operation
The change over between Christmas and New Year is always the one I worry about most at our Bolehill Cottages (see here). It is the week that the ovens get the most hammer with all those Christmas dinners being cooked. This year I had other things to consider as I had two cottages staying on but not in the cottages they were in for Christmas. Everything hinged on which cottage would be the first to depart as one of the cottages was moving into one of the other cottages who were staying for a second week. Luckily I had three cleaners to call on and thankfully the cottage I hoped would go first did so I could put my master plan into operation and the sequence of cleaning went how I planned. Also the morning was dry so that helped. Three departures, two cottages moving and two arrivals. No problems encountered but a few items left behind and a couple of oven gloves bit the dust! Cottages arrived between 3 and 5 pm, one of which was a friend I worked with many years ago. Needed a quiet evening in. Sunday was also a busy day, a bright sunny day with two departures and three arrivals. One cottage already cleaned so one cleaner up to turn round remaining two with some assistance from Team Swaap! Guests arrived between 4 and 6 pm. Found time to do some work on a jigsaw friend and I started over Christmas, one of our usual Christmas routines. Final cottage arrived on Monday. No departures and one cleaner up. A more dismal day with wind and rain and unfortunately I started to feel as if I was coming down with a cold. Typical after such a hectic few weeks.
A winter walk in Lathkill Dale
We waited until Boxing Day morning to decide what to do at our Bolehill Cottages (see here) as the forecast had been for a foggy morning. Luckily for us the fog and mist was in the dales and we decided on a walk in Lathkill Dale. As we set off the mist was rolling across the dale and I thought the weather would make for some interesting photos. We walked across our fields and the green lane down to Haddon Grove Farm then picked up the path to Mill Farm and down the old drovers track and into the dale. The sun hadn’t reached here so it was still frosty and mist was rising from the fast flowing river. We hardly met anyone until we got to Lathkill Lodge and after that it was a bit busier and by the time we got to Conksbury bridge we were back in the sun. We stopped at the Lathkil for a swift half before the final trek back to Bolehill. At the bottom of our drive a car was parked which we realised was with the hunt that had set of from Bakewell earlier. The hunt was expected to go through shortly. It was when we were upstairs that I saw the hounds run down the four acre field, then run into the drive field and then into the eight acre field. Only one horse and rider was with them and they stayed in the four acre field but they were soon joined by others and then they rode along the road towards Monyash. The hounds always seem to go where they want to go as about an hour later we saw some running across Andrew’s field. They must have been rounded up at some stage as the kennels are just down the road. Friday was a quiet day with friends and one cottage departing. One cleaner up and made time to prepare for Saturday. Enjoy the photos.
Christmas walks
Christmas Eve started bright breezy at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see link) and cool and after a little debate we decided to go for a walk at Howden Reservoir. With two cars we parked our friends one at the Fairholmes car park which was virtually empty. We then piled into the our car and drove along the road until it ended at King’s Tree. From here we walked along the track to 
Slippery Stones bridge. Our walk kept us on the track all the way back to the Fairholmes car park and with no stiles or slopes to negotiate we made the five miles in just under two hours. The dogs enjoyed being off the leads all the way. We hardly met any other walkers or cyclists and even when we got back to the car park it was still quite empty. As we got closer to the car park we let the men go ahead so they could drive to pick up our car and friend and I with dogs added a little extra to our walk so we would not have to wait so long. 
When they got back we headed to the Riverside Cafe for a late lunch but they had decided to close although the sign said they were open so we were disappointed. We had a snack when we got home and I did a final check on emails and chatted to some guests before we set off to Buxton. 
I had phoned a few places to see it I could get a table for the evening but everywhere seemed to be booked. In the end we went to Simply Thai in Buxton where we had a nice meal. So Christmas Day arrived bright and sunny but not breezy. The day followed our usual routine and after breakfast we prepared lunch before setting off for the walk down to the Lathkil Hotel for a drink. Wished Merry Xmas to the residents we knew before returning home. Enjoyed our late lunch of roast beef before opening our presents and a relaxing evening including watching Dr Who.
Now when our friends are here the dogs are not allowed into the living room. That’s not to say that they don’t try and sneak in!
Christmas arrivals
A cold start to Saturday (21/12) with the discovery that the tree that lost a major limb a few weeks ago at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here) is no more so later in the morning Chris had to go out and do a bit more chain sawing! First though down to Bakewell for the Farmers Market (a week early due to Christmas) with Chris and afterwards we had a little wander round Bakewell stopping for coffee before returning home. Final checks on cottages before arrivals of which there were three. All were here by 4pm and one has been before. After dinner one of the cottages came over for a drink and a chat so a nice way to end the day. 
On Sunday morning went down to Bakewell to get paper and some recycling before back and final checks on cottage due in. One final pre Xmas departure. Chris stocked up on logs. Cottage arrived just after 3 pm. Rest of day went in our own preparations for Christmas including icing the cake and getting a room ready for our friends. Monday was another very windy and wet day. One cleaner up to turn round last cottage before Xmas and for me final checks on remaining cottages. Chris went and collected our Christmas dinner and called in to see a number of locals before retuning home. Four arrivals, two of which have been before, with all here by 5pm as were our friends. By the time we went out in the evening the wind had died down and it had stopped raining. We had a nice meal at the Devonshire Arms in Pilsley. A great way to start our Christmas break.
Final Xmas preparations
Thursday 19/12 was a quiet day with a cleaner up to help prepare cottages for the Christmas arrivals at our Bolehill cottages (see here). Managed to get one more tree up in one of the cottages and we had a number of deliveries. The crockery set I ordered had gone AWOL and checks showed it hadn’t been delivered to the couriers but as it is now out of stock I will have to look for a different set. 
Later in the afternoon Chris came down with me to Bakewell to get some provisions and we went onto Chatsworth Farm shop to get a few bits. It was raining quite heavily but when driving back they were saying on the radio that roads out of Buxton were closed due to snow and by the time we got up to Green Cowden Farm it was snowing heavily so we only had a short distance to cover. Luckily our guests were all in so no need to worry. 
Cancelled a visit from a friend because of the weather. The snow fizzled out but the clear skies meant it froze so we woke up to a light covering of snow. This started to go as soon as the sun got to it. Two departures but no arrivals and with one cleaner up it was a day of getting the cottages ready for Saturdays arrivals. Final three trees put up. Chris and handyman cut down the remaining part of the conifer that blew down and logged it. All ready for Christmas.
Merry Xmas
Just a quick note from our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here) to wish you all a merry Xmas. Will be catching up on blogs after Boxing Day. Seen a few snow flurries today and may see more tomorrow but no white Christmas here. Phew! Have a good time everyone.
Trees up…and down
Well on Sunday (15/12) there were no Xmas preparations at home as I had a days baking course booked at the Tideswell school of food about fifteen minutes away from our Bolehill cottages (see here). A packed day for the twelve of us who baked a range of Christmas goodies including mini panettone and lebkuchen my favourite Xmas biscuits. I came home later in the afternoon with boxes of yummies to eat, so many that Chris took some down to Andrew and Joanna. Chris in my absence had seen two cottages depart. He had also managed to marzipan the Xmas cake and do some jobs in the cottages – I had left him a list! Monday saw two arrivals on a cool day. 
One cleaner up and checked Christmas arrangements with refuse collectors and laundry man. Both cottages arrived between 3and 4pm. Managed to get two Christmas trees up in the cottages. In the evening we went to Buxton to see Steeleye Span at the Opera house. Tuesday was a sunny but colder day. Chris and handyman finished off in Sheepfold in the morning and in the afternoon Chris and I went to Buxton for a few hours. He needs a new pair of overalls, his current ones are literally falling apart at the seams. It also gave us the chance to do some Xmas shopping and call in at B&Q for some new lights for Sheepfold. 
We bumped into one of our former cleaners in Buxton so found time for a coffee too. Wednesday was dull with rain arriving in the afternoon. No departures but one arrival just after 3pm. One cleaner up and time to get two more trees up in the cottages. Later in the afternoon the wind really picked up and we were battered about a bit for a few hours. Wind, rain and hail saw problems on the road with more trees down (including a part of one at the top of the guests garden) and some minor flooding. And snow was mentioned in Thursdays forecast!
More Christmas activities
Friday was forecast to be wet at our Bolehill cottages near bakewell (see here) but in the end it wasn’t to bad. It was also mild for the time of year. One departure and one arrival and one cleaner up. Chris and handyman still working on Sheepfold. Wall tiles on but need to be grouted and new extractor fan installed. A last minute decision to replace the sink entailed a couple of trips to Bakewell and the plumbers merchant. I went down to Bakewell early afternoon to get provisions for the weekend and also called in to one of the WI ladies to drop a diary off. Various jobs around the cottages and guests arrived about 6.30. Joanna collected me just before 7pm and we went off to Youlgreave for the Lathkill Group WI Carol Service. About fifty ladies from the various local WI’s enjoyed an evening of carols and readings rounded off by stollen and mulled wine. Saturday started sunny and dry with a deteriorating forecast. No arrivals or departures so we decided to go out for coffee with a short walk afterwards. We headed for Longnor to the coffee/craft shop but when we we emerged after coffee it had already clouded up and the wind had picked up. So we had a drive round to Hartington where we had a walk around the village and called in a couple of the shops. The cheese shop was too busy but I got some sweets from the sweet shop. They had just put up the village Christmas tree and there were some vintage machines about too. A quiet afternoon. Put up our Christmas tree but didn’t get round to decorating it and had planned to marzipan the cake but had forgotten to get some lemon curd for bonding. Stocked up on logs but it was too windy for the fire to get going. Had put a wreath on the front door earlier in the day but had to take it down as the wind was blowing it around too much. At least my cooking was OK!