Author: Shirley Swaap

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Buxton again…and again Sunday 7 and Monday 8 February

Sunday was another dreary but dry day.  No guests in or out of our peak district cottages so a chance to catch up on bits around the house and personal bits.  Also did some WI preparation work for my formal debut as Treasurer next week.  Went down to Bakewell to get the paper and whilst in the Spa got involved in a group conversation about the future of the Bakewell Post Office.  Currently located in the Spa the contract will not be renewed in September.  The Post Office is looking for an alternative location in Bakewell but the question is where.  In the evening we went to Buxton to see a performance of Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers which has one of opera’s loveliest duets (in my opinion).  It was a beautiful performance by the Swansea City Opera.  Discovered on Monday that one of our departing guests had also been.  A bit brighter on Monday but with a biting wind.  Five cottages out but only one back in today but the forecast is not too promising for this week.  Two cleaners up to keep up with cleaning as we are busy next weekend.  Usual Monday chores with laundry and rubbish collections.  Chris and the handyman started some work in one of the cottages and I found some time to get some chores done.  Another trip to Buxton but this time to see a local photographer who was talking about and displaying some of his nature, travel and adventure photographs. There were some very good shots.  Arrived in Buxton just as a heavy snow shower did so left the car at the market place and walked down to the Opera House just in case the road got so bad that we could not drive back up! Luckily there wasn’t any more snow by the end of the perfomance.

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A quiet Saturday 6 February

A misty start which never really cleared.  One cleaner up this morning and we had a go at spring cleaning one of the cottages.  Ended up with a list of things to replace and a list of things to do for Chris!  Later in the afternoon persuaded Chris to take me out and we went to the Peak Village Outlet at Rowsley.  I think he came away with more bits than me!  On the way back we called in at one of the cleaners and had a cup of tea.  As we were back later than planned picked up some fish & chips and had a quiet evening in.

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A busy Friday 5 February

Thursday was a quiet day. Woke up to a white landscape yet again but the snow was quite slushy and it was quite foggy.  Went down to Bakewell at lunchtime to get provisions for weekend and also get some WI cheques signed.  The afternoon went in a lot of ‘5 minute jobs’, I made an effort to clear up a lot of odd jobs.  Chris was doing bits in the cottages and I had a few jobs, like putting up new curtains in one, to do too.  Friday was the first real busy day for a long time with four cottages out and five back into our pet friendly cottages.  Three cottages have been here before and four of the cottages have pets with them so our two will have some friends this weekend.  All guests made a timely departure and no major housekeeping problems encountered but we did have a problem with the other wood burning stove we have in the cottages so that kept Chris busy.  With two cleaners up cleaning finished before guests arrivals.  All guests arrived between 3.30 and 6pm.  Also our long term guests left later today.  A number of bookings today too but after a hectic day sat down for 8pm.

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Deja Vue Tuesday/Wednesday 2/3 February

Up early and down to Bakewell to get hair cut first thing on Tuesday.  Back and then after an early lunch off to Buxton for a trip around the supermarket and other bits.  Still surprised at how much snow around on the roadsides and in the car park!  Back before dark which was just as well as a brief snow shower left an unexpected covering!  One cleaner up on Wednesday and we did a bit of spring cleaning and inventory checking.  No guests in or out of our peak district cottages.  With snow forecast for later in the day kept an eye on the weather.  Also spent a little time on WI bits as committee meeting in evening.  Light snow started falling about 3pm but within an hour it was much heavier.  One car had problems getting up the drive so Chris went down to help.  We heard that it was bad getting up from Bakewell  as the gritters had not been through yet. Joanna phoned and said the committee meeting was cancelled as the others couldn’t get there – probably I wouldn’t have been able to either.  Phoned my sister and wished her a happy birthday.  So with an unexpected free evening we watched a film.

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Another Monday February 1

Another bright day.  No departures from our peak district cottages but two cottages in later today.  One has been before. A busy morning with laundry, rubbish collection and oil delivery.  One cleaner up and also the handyman to do some maintenance in one of the cottages.  A brief snow shower in the afternoon but nothing settled.  Both guests in before dark.  After dinner Chris went to Bakewell for the Photographic Socity and I caught up with accounts and paperwork not finishing until nearly 10pm.

Weather stats for January.  Highest temp 6.2 deg C on 27/1, lowest temp -5.8 deg C on 7/1.  Coldest day was 3/1 with night of 6/1 the coldest.  Warmest day 22/1 with night of 18/1 warmest. Wettest day was 16/1 with  .49 in and total for Jan 1.50 in compared with 3.58 in Jan last year.

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Curbar Edge! Sunday 1 February.

Another dry sunny start but not as clear as the last few days. Two cottages out of our pet friendly cottages, (both had dogs) and with one due back in later in the day we decided we had enough of a window to go for a walk collecting the Sunday paper on the way. I had planned two walks and our first choice was Curbar Edge if we could get a parking spot. It was looking ominous as we approached the car park as there was also a running race on but someone was just leaving so we got a space. It was a three mile walk firstly along Curbar Edge itself. Plenty of other walkers and dogs and also climbers. We stopped for lunch before the path headed down below the edge and watched some climbers preparing for their climb. As usual my view included Smudge’s face as he waited patiently for any offerings. The path was initially a little rocky before leveling back out to a track below the edge and back up to the car park. Will post some pictures. Back home just as our guests arrived. They have been a number of times before. Time to sort out a few bookings and cook tea before Joanna and Andrew picked us up to go down to Over Haddon for this months film club. Tonight we had ‘Changeling’ directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Angelina Jolie which was good. Another sub zero night followed.

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Guests! Friday 29 January

After a couple of quiet days at our peak district cottages I had a busier day. One cottage out and a couple of last minute bookings for the weekend on Thursday meant extra work on Friday but with a couple of cottages already prepared there wasn’t a lot of cleaning to do on Friday. So the cleaner up today and I also spent some time looking at jobs to be done in the cottages and started planning a schedule of things to do. Two cottages arrived between 3 & 4 pm and the final cottage arrived about 6.30 pm. A cold weekend is forecast and today it was crystal clear with lovely colours at sunset and the brightest moon I have seen for a long time.

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A couple of varied days 25/26 January

A misty Monday with one cottage into our peak district cottages later in the day. One cleaner up this morning to turn a cottage round. Usual Monday chores. A busy day with phone calls and emails, so much so that I didn’t sit down until nearly 10 pm. Wont complain though! Tuesday saw a sunny day and took friend to Chesterfield. Went to Booker’s and Dunelm (at last!) Back later in the afternoon and again busy with phone calls and emails but sat down in time to watch CSI!