Friday was a nice day and with less of a wind it felt quite pleasant.  A complete contrast to Thursday.  With a number of cottages in for short breaks we had seven cottages out with just two back in to our peak district cottages later on in the day.  Two cleaners up to prepare those required for today and for tomorrow.  No problems encountered. A trip down town with Smudge and back for lunch.  Final touches completed just before both cottages arrived about 3pm.  So I potted on about 5 dozen geranium plug plants.  In the evening we went and watched the sunset again but too hazy for any good photos.  Saturday was a real lovely day and for the first time since last summer I forsook my usual walking coat for a fleece jacket.  It was hazy but the sound of birds singing away made it feel like spring was truly here.  One cottage out this morning with four back in.  Two have been here before.  Two cleaners up and only problem was a missing bin lid.  I put on my rubber gloves and went through rubbish bags to check it hadn’t been thrown out accidentally, this has happened before, but could not find it.  Luckily I had a spare bin.  A number of bookings this morning, perhaps the nice weather helped.  Chris cut the grass for the first time today as well.  Still no sign of the cows but Ian and Andrew have been out checking and repairing walls.  Another sign of spring is the groups of D of E walkers about.  I was amused by the group standing in the field adjacent to us ‘looking lost’.  Three cottages in between 3&4 pm with final cottage in about 5pm and a quiet evening in.

Sunday was bright and breezy but a little cooler.  One cottage departed today and with none returning I was able to spend some time in the garden as planned.  After walking the dogs we went down to Bakewell to pick up the paper and do the recycling.  Chris spent some time painting benches and planters whilst I relined my hanging baskets, tidied up the greenhouse, repotted a few plants and made a list of what needs replacing.  Now I need a trip to a garden center!  Monday was disappointing  weather wise.  Having been able to hang washing out for the last few days it was back to indoor drying.  Three cottages out with five back in to our peak district cottages and two cleaners up.  No problems encountered and all done before first guests arrived just before 3pm.  An hour later the remaining  four cottages all turned up within a few minutes of each other so got Chris involved in showing guests in!  One cottage has been here before.  Combined with emails and bookings and usual Monday events it was a busy day.

Friday was a pleasant day but no time to enjoy it! Four cottages out with four back in later in the day and a trip down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend.  Still busy in town with holiday makers.  Two cleaners up this morning and no major problems encountered  Three cottages arrived between 3&4 pm, two have been before.  The final cottage arrived about 4.30pm.  Chris has been doing some work on updating the web site so I had a quick run through to see if I could find any problems.Saturday was warm and sunny and two cottages out with one back in to our peak district cottages.  They have been here before.  After cleaner arrived we went down to Torne Valley in Bakewell, one of our local farm and country stores.  They have some potting compost on special offer and I got some other gardening bits including a new pair of wellies.  The trouble with Chris taking me is that he had a look at their special offers and we also came away with a new power washer.  Well we do need one, so he put it to good use when we got back by cleaning various benches, cartwheels, stonework.  I on the other hand washed another double duvet and at least it could dry outside.  It was so nice and I wanted to spend some time in the garden but plan to do so tomorrow.  Guests arrived just before 3pm.  Was so nice had an ice cream but should mention had my first one of the season on Thursday – bought one at Smithy’s cafe in Monyash.  They are really nice from there.  Roll on summer!

The Limestone Way is a 46 mile trail through the Peak District from Castleton to Rocester (home of JCB just to the south of Ashbourne).  When I was looking for ideas for a walk on Thursday I found a booklet I had picked up at the Leaflet Swap.  The Limestone Way passes through Monyash and we have walked on most of the section from Monyash to Youlgreave so that gave me the idea that this year we could walk the Limestone Way – not all in one go – but use it to base a number of circular walks on. So on Thursday after a cottage had departed from our Bakewell cottages we set off for Youlgreave to walk the section from Youlgreave to Elton.  We parked in the little car park at the top end of the village and made our way down to Bradford Dale to pick up the Limestone Way.  Despite the fact it was mid morning we hardly met anyone else along this stretch.  Where the Elton Road crosses the dale we carried on with the path up the hill.  As we rose above Youlgreave we were able to look back down on Youlgreave and across to Over Haddon and eventually we could make out Bolehill Farm on the horizon. As the climbed steepened we passed an old iron age fort before we emerged at the top at Harthill Moor.  The area contains a number of iron age relics including a stone circle. At the top is Robin Hood’s Stride, an impressive gritstone tor.  We took a minor diversion to climb it. It takes it name from a story that Robin Hood strode between the two rocks at either end of the tor but the distance makes this unlikely.  Back on the path we passed Cratcliffe Rocks and just before the path reached Elton we left it to take a parallel path following the line of the village.  By now it was lunchtime so we stopped for lunch with a vista of Robin Hoods Stride and the local countryside.  We walked into Elton and along its main street for a brief while before we then picked up the footpath back to Youlgreave glimpsing Bolehill once we were adjacent to Bleakley Plantation.  Down to Bradford Dale via Mawstone Farm and back to the car.  Pictures to follow.  A last minute booking for the weekend and preparations for a busy day ahead concluded the day.

Tuesday started a lot brighter but breezy.  Had planned to spend some time in the gardens and greenhouse later but that never happened.  One cottage out with two back into our peak district cottages later in the day.  One cleaner up to clean two cottages.  A quick trip down to Bakewell to stock up post holiday weekend. Was noticeably busier.  Today was also the day of Flagg races and although we were offered tickets we could not go.  At least it was dry.  I was also contacted by the Tourist Office who were able to fill my remaining vacancy for the next few days.  More signs of spring as I noticed some sheep and lambs have been let out into the fields and a few fields away towards Monyash a local farmer let his cattle out of the winter barn for the first time and it was nice to see them gallop about and get used to being outside again.  The three cottage arrived between 3&4pm.  Wednesday was the first day for a while with no-one in or out but with a better forecast for tomorrow a walk will have to wait until then.  A bit showery in the morning so a chance to catch up on some outstanding paperwork.  Its amazing how many returns we have to fill out for different organisations.  With the election having been called we learnt today that the Conservatives have done Holiday Cottage Owners a favour (without being in power yet) by getting the proposed Furnished Holiday Lets tax changes dropped as a part of ‘bill bargaining’.  Some good news for a change.  In the afternoon we went to Buxton.  We called in at Markowitz before a quick walk around the town centre and then down to Morrison’s.  After dinner it was my turn to host the WI committee after which I sat down and planned tomorrows walk.