Talk of a gradual thaw from the weekend. Have guests arriving Thursday and Friday so hope they are right. Car re booked (from last Tuesday) for its MOT and service and garage said it was fine to take it around to Sheldon on Tuesday morning. One of the long term guests went round with Chris to bring him back and Blue, not wishing to miss a journey in a car, went too. I helped clear a part of the drive with one of the other guests, but 24 hours later the wind had blown snow back over it. I think we will have to wait until the thaw starts. On both days spent some time doing housework. On Wednesday took some pictures of the icicles when took the dogs for their walk. Another couple of centimetres of snow fell during the day but the cold conditions of the previous night had meant the top layer of snow had frozen and made a strange crunchy noise as we walked through the fields of our peak district cottages. Handyman came up to start maintainance jobs in cottages. He said the road up from Bakewell was treacherous with black ice but it sounded like it was like that everywhere in the area. Spent some time starting to prepare cottages required for weekend. At least on Tuesday we had some visibility again but could do with some sun to melt the snow.

A dusting of snow but more surprisingly the wind had been whipping up the snow and the walls were hardly visible. Neither was the entrance to our peak district cottages. Took dogs for their morning walk for first time in ages and when I was standing in the field I realised a van had gone off the road and into Andrews wall. (It managed to get back and the driver – not hurt – did go and report the accident to Andrew). Ian came up and cleared the drive, their was about 3 foot of snow lying across the entrance. Went down and got the paper, the snow was blowing across the road and it was a bit scary but the snow plough came later and cleared it. When got back the farmers wife had just brought some hay for the sheep. She said the roads were quite bad in places. Chris has said that if they want to leave some extra hay at any time we can always check on the sheep. The lunch time weather forecast for the week ahead wasn’t encouraging. Carried on from yesterday with personal paper work. About 4pm it started to flurry and it flurried and snowed on and off for the rest of the evening. On the early evening and later news on the BBC they showed the A515 near Flagg with the drifts.

Another bright cold sunny day but for me I was feeling rough, I think the cold is finally coming out, so I stayed in bed for a few hours more. I got up at about 11am just as Andrew came and cleared the drive of snow. I was amazed at how much snow was moved. At least our guests arriving into their peak district cottage might be able to gt up the drive. Did last minute check in cottage. Phoned to cancel hair appointment but they were glad I phoned as they were going to have to cancel the appointment as the hairdresser had not been able to get in. Our WI committee meeting due tonight was also cancelled. Guests arrived just after 3pm. Two couples in two cars, one of which just made it to the car park and Chris towed the other up with the discovery. They have been here before and are staying for a month. They live on a mobile home site and have to be off the site for a specified month, January, every year. Chris found he could not get the discovery into reverse gear so had to call Andrew up to tow the car back to the field. A quiet evening and an early night.

Woke up to more of the white stuff and it was still snowing. Handyman reported 3 inches in Eyam already. Due to the snow we have not been able to start our maintenance jobs so hopefully this will not go on for much longer. One cottage out but none due back in to our peak district cottages today but it is required for tomorrow so Chris and I cleaned it. Have been taking down Christmas trees in the cottages as guests leave and the last one came down today as did the one in the house. It is not safe to take down the outside lights so they will be switched off and taken down when possible. Reckon another 3 or so inches fell today. Cooked a roast dinner this evening but did not feel too well again. Forgot to mention when in Bakewell yesterday we talked to the cafe owner where we had lunch. He was thanking the customers as they paid for coming out at eating at his place i this weather. He told us the weather had seen his December takings fall by over 50%. It just shows the impact of this weather. I also thought of other people who will be losing out like window cleaners.

No fresh snow this morning. Chris helped departing guests get on their way. A lot of roads around here are closed because of ice including parts of the A6. As a result Chris and I decided to clean the cottage needed for today as the cleaner due up cant get out of her village and I didn’t want to risk calling anybody else in. Postman made it by walking up most of drive but Waste collection didn’t, hopefully we can last another week. I had hoped to get out and about this week but with an ominous forecast Chris took me down to Bakewell to get some provisions for the next few days. The street market had been cancelled so for a Monday Bakewell as strangely quiet. Decided to have lunch in town and in the cafe found one of the WI ladies and her husband who Chris also knows. They invited us to join them for lunch and it was nice to have some company. Got back and managed to get the car up the drive and parked just before guests arrived at our peak district cottages. They could not get up the drive so left their car near the bottom and Chris ferried them up. Chris tried to get hold of more salt but with no joy so we are on a waiting list. The laundry wasn’t collected either and they will try again on Wednesday. Took a number of bookings today too. In the evening Chris went back down to Bakewell for the Photographic Society but was back earlier than usual as a number of members had not made it.