Just when I was beginning to think we wouldn’t see any more snow this side of summer we woke up to five inches of the white stuff.  This is the most we have had in one go this winter.  With three cottages due to depart from our peak cottages we were out asap clearing the drive and paths and we were out there for a couple of hours.  Let guests leave at their leisure especially as the gritter didn’t go past until 11am.  Handyman came up and said the road into Bakewell wasn’t good. All guest departed by midday.  Watched the lunchtime weather and the forecast for the week ahead isn’t promising.  Winter isn’t over yet.  Had planned to go down to my sisters for a few days but decided had better not take the risk.  Rest of day went in checking cottages and planning the week ahead.  Cooked a roast dinner.  Will have some more pics to add.

A couple of day with arrivals and departures.  Thursday woke up to a covering of snow so Chris went first thing and made sure the drive was safe enough.  Two cottages out of our peak cottages today with three back in, one has been before.  Two cleaners up to prepare a number of cottages and no problems encountered.  After lunch Chris went to Over Haddon for his digital photography.  The three cottages were all in by 5pm by which time the flurrying that had been on and off during the afternoon was starting to settle.  By the time we woke up on Friday there was about an inch. At least the sun was shining after the last couple of gloomy days.  Out again to clear the drive but the sun and salt helped.  One cottage out this morning with three back in.  One cleaner up this morning.  A quick trip down to Bakewell before lunch. Everything ready for first guests who arrived just after 3pm.  All arrivals today have been here before.  Second cottage arrived about 4.30 and final cottage about 6.30.  Have noticed that the days are getting longer.  Signs of spring such as birdsong in the morning and snowdrops peeping through.  All we need is the weather to go with it!

A bright day Tuesday and one cottage out.  Planned to go to Matlock but with no one due back in Chris suggested we went to Macclesfield, and in particular the furniture store, Arighi Bianchi.  There was still a lot of snow on the road sides on the Cat & Fiddle.  We went into Macclesfield and had lunch at the Cheshire Gap, a deli/cafe before I dragged him to T J Hughes.  One of the items due for replacement this year is our crockery, and although we hadn’t planned on buying any today as it happened we saw something we decided would be nice so we bought 15 sets (to include some spares) of crockery!  I now have to ind time to go round all the cottages and replace the crockery, bearing in mind I have just spent time checking and replacing existing crockery with spares.  We stopped at Arighi Bianchi and had a good look round and also had a coffee and shared a ginormous slab of cake before heading home.  We stopped at Chelmorton to say hello to Geoff and Margaret and although it was Pancake Day the effects of the cake meant we were not hungry! Wednesday was misty with possibility of snow later in the day.  One cottage out and none back into our peak cottages and after coffee went to Sainsbury’s at Matlock and stopped at Bakewell on the way back by which time it was already flurrying.  Back home we had a chimney sweep in to look at the problem with the log burning stove in Shippon, and having finally got to the root of the problem, hopefully we have now found the solution!

The forecast on the Internet had said sleety showers but we woke up to glorious sunshine.  No cottages in or out of our peak cottages today.  After getting the paper it was sill sunny.  The plan had been to catch up on bits around the house but with the sun still shining we felt the day could be better used on a walk.  With nothing planned and knowing the main spots would be busy, so we opted for a walk from Monyash along the top of Lathkill Dale.  Just before we ascended to the ridge we met the Finneys from nearby Mandale House who were making the most of the good weather to check some of their land.  Mrs Finney has now given up B&B so another one bites the dust.  The sun disappeared but it stayed dry and we found a spot for lunch.  It did not take long to reach the drovers path so we carried on along the path beside the river until we reached the lane back up to Over Haddon which we took and then the usual path back home.  A nice walk and a quiet evening in.  Will post some pictures in the next few days.

A bright start to the day and for the first time since they arrived the sheep were settled in our drive field so I made sure the dogs did not disturb them when we went for our walk.  No cottages out of our peak cottages today but one due in.  At midday the farmer came who owned the sheep and the next thing we knew they were gone!  We saw them being rounded up by quad bike and taken into the eight acre field and apparently (so Chris found out from Andrew) they were walked out onto the Sheldon road and a few fields along for new pasture.  Spent some time in the cottage checking the inventory before they arrived just before 3pm.  Thought we would go out for a couple of hours so went to the Craft Centre and Coffee Shop at Longnor.  On the way back we stopped at Wheeldon Trees Farm and were amazed at the amount of snow still along the lane to their cottages.  Had a chat with Martin and Deborah, the owners, before coming home.