Tuesday saw the start of personal preparations for Christmas at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell  (see here).  Next week I will concentrate on the cottages. In the morning I went down to Bakewell and ordered our Christmas dinner and got provisions for the next few days. In the afternoon I did a trip to Matlock stopping first at the recycling centre then one of the Builders Merchants.   In Matlock I went to Wilkinsons then did a big non perishable shop at Sainsbury’s. Needed a rest in the evening!  Wednesday morning got off to a misty start but the sun broke through later in the morning.  Stocked up on some logs.  Time for some jobs around the house before preparing all the bits (including a quiz) for the evenings WI meeting.  Also did a few more Xmas cards and drafted my Xmas letter. Later in the afternoon I watched as Andrew took some more cows inside for the winter.  In the evening I collected Joanna and we headed to the hall for the WI Xmas party.  We all bought or made food to bring and Santa left a sack of presses.  I had a nice tree decoration.  An enjoyable evening had by all.  Thursday was a drizzly day.  In the morning I ordered any last supplies I needed on-line and also ordered a new dinner service set for one of the cottages.  If it is as good as it looks on-line then I will be ordering more sets for the rest of the cottages.  One cleaner up and one arrival here just after 3pm.

It was a little breezy when we got up at our Bolehill cottages (see link) and it got worse during the morning. No departures but two arrivals and one cleaner up.  By late morning it was very windy and all Chris’s work of the last few days was undone as what remaining leaves had been on the lawn were being blown into the courtyard with a lot of small branches and twigs.  Over lunch time one of the limbs of a tree in the paddock came down, it fell on the other side of the wall, missing the wall and luckily Andrew had on Wednesday moved the cows from that field into the next one. Our cleaner phoned to let us know that there were a number of trees down in the area causing traffic problems.  Roads affected included the A6 at Ashford and the A515 in a couple of places.  At Dove holes a lorry was blown over and the marquee set up at Matlock for the Christmas Market had collapsed. (luckily they got it back up in time for the weekends festivities).  By the time our guests arrived between 3 and 4 pm the wind had eased but it was colder and flurries of snow were in the air.  We had already been out and cleared some debris from the courtyard.  Time for some accounts before tea.  Friday was a much brighter but colder day.  One cleaner up and one cottage due in later in the day.  Went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend after coffee.  A quiet afternoon starting on Xmas cards and guests arrived about 5pm, they have been before.  The last of the cows on this side of the road went back across to the farm.  This means cow free walks for the dogs so Blue will have a few months before he needs to worry about them coming back.

Monday saw three departures and one arrival at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here).  Chris and handyman finished guttering and roof work for the time being.  Originally we weren’t expecting any arrivals but we had a last minute booking. Luckily the cleaner has been keeping up with the cleaning.  I finally got round to making my Christmas Cake,  the fruit had been soaking in brandy for three days!  In the evening we abandoned the dogs again as I went to Over Haddon for bowls and Chris went to the Photographic Society in Bakewell.  Tuesday was another dry day so Chris and the handyman started the final tidy up and leaf clearing of the season.  In the afternoon we headed to Chesterfield stopping for lunch at the farm shop in Kelstedge.  After Bookers and Dunelm (of course) we visited a paint shop and carpet shop in our continuing pursuit of the right paint and flooring for Dove.  The sun finally came out on Wednesday and the lads carried on with their outside jobs including some pruning.  One departure and one arrival and after final checks on cottage I took advantage of the pleasant weather to plant out the final 50 or so bulbs!  After lunch did my preparations for the evening’s WI committee meeting before guests arrived about 4pm.  They have been here already this year.  A short committee meeting where we discussed our party next week, I am compiling a quiz, and the resolutions for the National AGM.

The weather statistics for November are:

Warmest day and night 11th with highest temperature of 11.8C, coldest day and night 19th with lowest temperature -1C.  Wettest day 20th with .6in rain with 2.49 in for month (2.19 in Nov 2012).

Wednesday was a fine day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here).  No departures but one arrival and friend and I turned a cottage round in the morning for them.  Handyman spent day with Chris clearing gutters from leaves and putting up the Xmas lights – his favourite two jobs!  After lunch friend and I set off to the Peak Shopping Village for a spot of retail therapy and then onto Chatsworth House arriving about 4pm. This meant we missed the crowds and as it was starting to get dark  the display inside looked even better.   The theme for the decorations this year is the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.   There were only two other couples arriving at the same time as us and we only overtook or caught up by a few other visitors so we got a real close up look at the displays which I reckon is one of the best yet.  Chris had suggested I took his camera to get better shots and I took mine too but the ones with his camera were better.  We stopped at the farm shop on the way back and as we approached home we were treated to the Christmas lights being on.  I popped over to say hello to the guests as they have been before. Our friend left on Thursday morning and the morning went in cottage jobs.  One cleaner up to catch up with cleaning.  After lunch Chris went to the village hall to lead a session at the digital camera club.  As it was so mild I planted more bulbs and did some tidying up jobs. Only fifty bulbs to go!  All the hanging baskets are down now. Friday was a bit disappointing weather wise.  Chris and handyman had hoped to do more roofing and guttering work but got fed up of the showers.  One departure and three arrivals and one cleaner up.  One guest has booked for next year too.  All three cottages here by 3.30 so rest of afternoon was mine. Later in the afternoon went down to Hattersley wines in Bakewell as they were having their annual wine tasting event.  After this I popped into the Co-Op to get a few bits as Saturday will be busy a busy day in Bakewell.

Sunday 23/11 was a quiet day with time to catch my breath! Two departures at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see link). The rest of the day went in jobs around the house. Monday was a fine day with one departure but no arrivals. In the morning we went down to Bakewell to chose more fittings for Dove and as we had no arrivals we headed into Bakewell for coffee and a wander round the market.  After lunch we headed over to one of the cleaners as she was having trouble with a computer.  After dinner we abandoned the dogs and I headed to Over Haddon for bowls and Chris was off to Bakewell for the Photographic Society.  Tuesday saw me head down to Bakewell for a hair cut in the morning and get some provisions.  Chris and the handyman did the annual check on the roof tiles and after lunch did some housework and made up a room for our friend who was here a few weeks ago as she is back for a few nights. We have planned to go to Chatsworth to see the Christmas Decorations. She arrived later in the afternoon and in the evening we went to the Pointing Dog and Duck (formerly Felicinis) in Bakewell as I had a voucher. The menu is very similar (less choice of drinks/cocktails) but the décor has changed. We all enjoyed our meals. Andrew has decided he will not have sheep grazing this year to let the land rest amongst other reasons so it will be strange to have empty fields over the winter.  We still have the maternity wing as the hooligans have now gone back across the road.

Thursday 21/11 was another cold but sunny day at our cottages near Bakewell (see link).  One departure, who we had a long chat with before they left.  An early lunch then I accompanied one of our cleaners to Calow Hospital for an appointment.  Got back to Bakewell before the shops closed so I could get the provisions for the weekend. Cooked Chris tea then Chris took me, Joanna and another WI member to Youlgrave for our WI group meeting.  Here we met up with members from Bakewell, Longstone, Monyash Ashford and Youlgrave for a quiche and salad supper followed by fruit crumble.  The guest speaker was the Duke of Devonshire who gave us an interesting insight to the art, furniture, and ceramic collections accumulated over the years by his ancestors.  After his talk he asked for questions and comments about visiting Chatsworth.  Nobody seemed to want to ask anything so I raised the issue of car park charges.  At least one other person came up to me afterwards and thanked me for asking the question. Andrew collected us and took us home.  Parking is a problem at Youlgrave so it was easier to give lifts.  Friday again was sunny but cold.  One departure and three arrivals and one cleaner here.  Plenty to keep me occupied and first two cottages arrived between 3and 4pm, one has been before.  Time to catch up with personal emails and post from the last few days before tea after which we popped over to one of the cottages for a drink and some nibbles with a couple of our regular guests.  Final cottage arrived about 10.30pm.  Saturday saw three departures and one arrival. Cottage already cleaned and with cleaner not here for a few days I stripped the beds and Chris and I took the opportunity to start thinking about the jobs we need to do in the cottages this winter.  Guests arrived just after 4pm, they have been a few times before.  They had come via Chatsworth which was very busy due to the Christmas market.

Monday 18/11 saw no departures and one arrival and one cleaner here at our Bolehill cottages (see link).  A day of odd jobs and preparing myself for the WI AGM on Wednesday.  Cottage arrived just after 3pm, he has been before. Should have gone to the indoor bowls in the evening but there wasn’t enough of us so I had an evening in.  Tuesday was a sunny but cold day with a dusting of snow first thing.   Most had gone by the time I took the dogs for their walk.  No departures or arrivals and later in the morning after dropping my car off for its MOT we went down to Bakewell to order the kitchen and bathroom furniture for Dove.  Back for lunch then we went to Chatsworth to visit the Christmas market.  We had heard that over 5000 cars (plus coaches) were there on Sunday.  Luckily it was much quieter than that when we went or Chris would have turned back.  Still we enjoyed visiting the stalls, chatting to the still holder who is staying here and buying some bits, including a pie from Shirley’s Pies!   Home again and picked up the car and had an early dinner then off to Buxton to the Opera House to see The Mousetrap.  In all the years I worked in London I never went to see it.  I enjoyed it.  There was still a little snow on the ground at Buxton but this had gone by Wednesday morning when we went to Buxton to do some bits at our property.  I was back early afternoon as I had some baking to do for the WI meeting in the evening.  Picked up Joanna early as I had the keys and after the business side of the meeting (no-one volunteered to be treasurer so I was elected again for another year) we had an evening of Poems and Puddings.  As we left it was snowing quite heavily but it wasn’t until I got home that it was settling.  I thought I might have to get Chris out to salt the drive but the forecast showed it turning to rain over night and luckily it did.