A bright start although we had some rain later.  One cottage out with two back in and with two more into our peak district cottages tomorrow three cleaners were up at various stages to turn cottages round.  A kitchen planner came and measured the kitchen which we will refurbish after we have built the extension.  Laundry and rubbish collected today, which reminds me I have the forms to fill out so we can get the rubbish collected from April.  Time to do a few more bits in the cottages before first guests arrived about 3pm.  Left Chris to meet second cottage whilst I went to Morrisons as starting to run out of bits!  Back in time to cook dinner and said hello to second cottage.  Made sure I sat down for Flashforward.

Well we need the rain, but the forecast is better for the next few days.  Green Cowden Farm are about half way through lambing so will have to go and see the cades (orphans and lambs rejected by mothers) in the next week or so.  No departures today but two cottages in to our peak district cottages with one cleaner up to turn round cottages.  A chance to do some odd jobs too.  We are starting to get this years leaflets in so I am removing all old leaflets from the cottages.  We shall be going to the ‘leaflet swap’ in just over a weeks time. Both cottages arrived within minutes of each other not long after 3pm.  One has been before. A busier day today with bookings and enquiries but still have some vacancies over Easter following some cancellations.  With a nice day forecast tomorrow have planned a walk so looking forward to that.

A nice bright day with sunny spells but a little breezy.  Two cottages out of our peak district cottages.  Went down for the paper and took the dogs for a late walk.  We usually let the dogs out later in the morning and they usually wander back after a stroll but this morning Blue went AWOL again but we guessed where he was heading and luckily Chris found him just where the footpath crosses the Sheldon Road with some walkers who were just about to phone us.  He was a bit subdued for the rest of the day. I spent a little time in the garden and greenhouse, and later in the day I ordered my bedding and hanging basket plants.  Easter is approaching and the daffs aren’t out and by then the snowdrops will have gone.  With winter only just fading away the grass is looking more like it does in a summer drought.  Checking the rainfall we have only had three inches of rain this year, although the figure is distorted by the snow.  The ground is already cracking up in places.  This wont help the farmers who need the grass to be growing for grazing.  So no blog for a few days  Back at the end of the week.

Friday and Saturday were relatively quiet with two cottages out on Friday with two back into our peak district cottages later.  One cleaner up today who was delighted that one of the comments on her cleaning was that it was ‘immaculate’.  I went down to Bakewell to get provisions for weekend and to be back before lunch so I could finish any last minute jobs before guests arrived.  Having discovered that I can successfully wash single duvets in my washing machine I will do the rest, but the doubles are just too big so I will have to get them done elsewhere.  First cottage arrived just before 4pm and second one about 5pm, they have been here before.  Cooked a roast dinner before sitting down.  I felt better on Friday but by Saturday Chris had the cold bug.  Looked like it could have been a nice day for a walk, but the forecast is also fine for Sunday.  With no cottages in or out on Saturday I took the opportunity to get up to date with accounts (its the end of the VAT quarter at the end of the month) and bits around the house.  Bar any unforeseen events (like 5 inches of snow) I shall be going to my sisters on Monday for a few days so I want to make sure there is nothing for Chris to have to worry about.  I’ll be leaving him and the cleaners a list of what needs doing while I’m away.  Sat down to watch Blue’s favourite programme – Crufts!

Life at Bolehill means you always have to be prepared to change your plans for the day and Wednesday and Thursday were a good example.  Had planned to go to Macclesfield on Wednesday with one of the cleaners but she couldn’t make it.  So having ruled the day out meant I suddenly had some hours back.  So I washed some curtains, headed down to Bakewell for some provisions and prepared for the WI. Ian was harrowing in the fields, the first sign of preparing the fields for the cows, but when he came in for a cup of tea he said it would be at least a month before they come out.  (Our lawn is also looking in a sorry state).  I asked about my namesake cow and discovered that she had died from mastitis so I will have to adopt another.  One cottage out of our peak district cottages and one arrived in the afternoon, they have been here before.  In the evening went to WI with Joanna.  Our speaker was a local gentleman who did his own version of ‘Desert Island Discs’ which we all enjoyed.  By the time I got back I was starting to feel a little poorly so by the time I woke up in the morning I decided I was not well enough to go to Macclesfield so we will have to decide on another day again!  One cottage in this afternoon and one cleaner up this morning to prepare some cottages.  Chris went to Over Haddon in the afternoon for the digital photography and I did some WI bits and some housework.  Sat down for Country House rescue.  This reminds me that Chatsworth House opens again this weekend.  This year more of the House is open and with some new lifts more of the House is accessible.  Also the Dowager Duchess, the last of the Mitford sisters, is 90 this year so there is a special exhibition in her honour.  I also spotted that the Antiques Roadshow is being fimes there in July.  I am sure we will go, especially with it being so close to us.  (www.bolehillfarm.co.uk/photo/chatsworthhouse/index.html)

Despite the forecast we had a wonderful sunny morning and after the peak district cottage guests had departed we set off for Hopton Hall near Carsington Water.  The grounds are open every year for their snowdrop display but this year they extended their opening dates because of the snowdrops late arrival.  I think we timed it right because I thought they were at their peak.  They also open their grounds in the summer and although we have been before a number of years ago, it is a nice location and worth visiting again.  I took a number of pictures and will post some.  One of the unusual features is their ‘crinkle crankle’ wall; a wavy wall in other words!  From here it was just a short journey across to Carsington Water where we took the dogs for a walk after lunch.  Back home and a busy afternoon of emails and phone calls before our guests arrived at our peak district cottages just before 4pm.  I had forgotten to get some dinner out of the freezer so Chris took me out for dinner.  We thought we ought to go somewhere we hadn’t been for a long time and in the end settled for the White Lion at Great Longstone.  It has been six years since we were last here and it has recently been taken over by new owners.  We had a nice meal and will add it to our recommended list.