A damp start and although it brightened up it never really cleared up. Three cottages out this morning with one cottage due back in to our peak district cottages later. One cleaner up to prepare a couple of cottages. Found time to do a bit of tidying up before guests arrived about 4pm. A number of phone calls and emails resulting in some bookings and a quiet night in followed.
Author: Shirley Swaap
Easter Sunday
Supposed to be the best day of the weekend weather wise. One cottage out of our peak district cottages with one due back in later. A showery start to the morning and on the way back from Bakewell we called into Green Cowden Farm to see how the lambing was going. Only five cades (orphans/abandoned lambs) so far. Out in the sheds they were giving some of the lambs oral antibiotic shots against bacteria in the ground that they could pick up when they go out. Stopped for a cup of tea before coming back and cleaning the cottage needed for later. Had thought a bout squeezing a short walk in but with showers still passing over ended up finishing off quaterly accounts with a little time for me! Guests arrived about 4.30.
Easter Saturday
A bright day. Three cottages out and three back into our pet friendly cottages in the peak district later in the day. One cleaner up and no problems encountered. Two cottages in between 3&4 pm and one nearer to 5pm. After an early dinner headed to Youlgreave Village Hall for the Bakewell Young Farmers Annual Showcase. Every year they compete at County level with other Young Farmers groups in a series of events including Public Speaking, dancing and plays and tonight was the night they showed off some of their efforts to friends and families. Always a fun evening.
Good Friday
A wet start although it brightened up before it deteriorated mid afternoon and then brightened up again. Two cottages out and four back into our dog friendly cottages in the peak district. Two cleaners up this morning and no problems encountered. Everything ready on time and all cottages arrived between 3&4 pm. B now it was raining quite heavily so I got wet four times! Also we said goodbye to the Discovery that has gone to a local farm for parts. A brief excursion to collect some home made Hot Cross Buns from Joanna and fill up with petrol in Bakewell. Highlight of the evening was the new seres of Ashes to Ashes.
More of the white stuff
The forecast for Wednesday hinted at wintry showers and a few of them passed through during the course of the afternoon. In the morning Chris, myself and one of the cleaners went to Chesterfield. I wanted to get some cottage bits in time for Easter. Our main port of call was Dunelm where the cleaner and I had a good time and came away with a number of new pairs of curtains, mainly for Magpie cottage. After our success in revamping the twin bedroom i Magpie before Xmas we wanted to do the same with the double bedroom before Easter. We found what we were looking for and were delighted we found something that would carry the theme through into the living area. So after we got back I spent some time hanging up the new curtains and adding the finishing touches. One pair also needed re-hemming so out came the sewing machine. Finally finished about 8.30 (having had dinner earlier) but before sitting down finished off any admin for the day and phoned my niece to discover she had passed her driving test on her first attempt. When I went to sit down I noticed that it was snowing and settling. So when we woke up on Thursday morning there was 1/2 inch snow! Luckily not on the drive or gravel in the courtyard, it was disappearing as soon as the sun was catching it. No cottages out but one cottage into our dog friendly cottages in the Peak District. Went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend. After lunch Chris went to Over Haddon for the digital workshop and I did some housework before guests arrived. They have been here before. Spent some time putting bits from Dunelm in cottages before dinner and sitting down for 8pm.
Plenty going on
Monday was a deary day, quite misty at times. No cottages out but one cottage back in to our dog friendly cottages later in the day. They have been here before. Two cleaners up today to prepare cottages required for the next few days. In the evening Chris went to the Bakewell Photographic Society and with the end of the financial quarter looming I got as much up straight as I could. Tuesday was cooler with the serious rain hanging off until later in the day. In the morning we went to Bakewell for the Tourism Leaflet Swap. Apart from picking up some more leaflets it was a chance to chat to other accommodation providers and service providers. Got some provisions in Bakewell before coming back home for lunch. After lunch spent a little time concluding our review of business so far this year and one cottage arrived just after 4pm. Finished putting out the leaflets. In the evening went over to the Church Inn at Chelmorton for a meal and it was trying to sleet on the way back!
PS to Sunday
Sunday saw the clocks change which meant Chris had to do the ususal round of changing clocks and timers. Also the Peak District featured in Coutryfile in the evening.
Plenty to do
Saturday was a bright and breezy day. One cottage out of our cottages in the peak district with two back in later on. A trip down to the Farmers Market to get some provisions for the week. One cleaner up this morning and after she left found time to do some jobs like put new toaster and saucepans in cottages. Also sorted out leaflets that arrived yesterday. Discovered the bath has other uses like washing a double duvet in! They are very heavy when wet so I left it to drip dry bfore tumble drying it on Sunday. In the evening we went to Eccleshall Church for the Baslow Spring Concert which was good as usual. Sunday was another bright and breezy day and the rain luckily didn’t materialise. A day for catching up on jobs around the house and with the end of the first quarter approaching we also took the opportunity to review how the year had gone so far and think about what things need doing or to be looked at. After dinner we collected Joanna and went to Over Haddon for this months Film Club which was showing Valkyrie, a film based on true events and starring Tom Cruise. It was good film.
A varied couple of days
Thursday stayed dry for the daylight hours and I went with one of the cleaners to Macclesfield. I drove so I can tick off another town I have driven to and parked in. Most of the snow has gone from over the tops but there were still a few pockets of the stuff lurking in hollows. The road to Macclesfield, the A 537, is one of the worst roads in the UK for accidents (if you have driven on it you will understand why) and they are in the process of installing speed cameras along the length of the road from Buxton to Macclesfield. The main purpose at Macclesfield was to visit TJ Hughes. They have a good household department and I bought some saucepans, a toaster and a set of casserole dishes for the cottages. We had time to visit some of the other shops before heading home. In the evening I went to Buxton with Joanna and two others from Over Haddon WI to take part in the local heat of the Derbyshire WI annal quiz. We did very well finishing in third place. There were a few heavy showers over night which woke me up and Friday was more showery than expected. Three cottages out of our peak district cottages with one back later in the day so a chance to put the bits I bought yesterday into the cottages. Also took more curtains down for washing, these will be the last to be washed before the autumn. A box of leaflets were delivered and I will putting those out tomorrow. Guests arrived about 9.30pm.
Busy busy busy
Just how we prefer to be. A nice spring morning on Tuesday. Could hear a pheasant and a curlew when took the dogs for their walk. No cottages out but two back into our peak district cottages today. As they were already cleaned I just needed to do the final checks. Went down to Bakewell for a haircut and get some provisions and banking etc. By the afternoon it had clouded over and by 4pm it had started to rain. Cottages arrived between 3 & 4 pm. A busy day for enquiries and bookings. In the evening went to Buxton to see the Sopranos at the Opera House. It was a very enjoyable performance. Wednesday stayed mainly dry. Two cottages departed with one returning later in the day. One cleaner up to clean. A day of catching up and planning forward. Guests arrived just after 4 pm and later in the afternoon went down to Bakewell with the bottles for recycling. Finally sat down just before 9.30 having paid any remaining bills for this month and applied to have our rubbish collected again next financial year.