Author: Shirley Swaap

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Update Monday/Tuesday 9/10 November

Monday was a sunny day with a misty start, ideal photo opportunity so here’s one I took. Two cottages out of our Bakewell cottages with three back in and two cleaners up. From today Bluebell and Honeysuckle are out of use for a couple of weeks so Chris and the handyman can do some repointing. It has meant that Chris has had to severely prune the Honeysuckle. Chris spent a lot of the day emptying leaves from the gutters. It stayed fine for the arriving guests, one of which a been a few times and one here for the first time since we took over. Two of the cottages arrived between 3&4 pm and the final one just before 6pm. Spoke to a friend on the phone and phoned my sister after dinner. Tuesday was a contrast being dull and drizzly but Chris and the handyman put up the scaffolding and prepared the walls for repointing I spent most of the day doing various bits and pieces and in the afternoon a friend arrived for a few days stay. It was very misty in the evening but we ventured out and went to the Red Lion at Litton. We had heard good reviews about the food and we all enjoyed our meal. Our friend will look after the dogs tomorrow a Chris and I are off to York, probably for the last time, to clear the remaining bits from his parents bungalow.
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A hectic Friday 6 November

In the dentist’s chair by 8.45am! By 9.30 was back at Bolehill having done the banking and provisions for the weekend. A busy morning with four cottages out and three back into our Peak District cottages, one of which has been here before. With three cottages and only one cleaner available I drafted myself in to help by doing the beds. With a batch of new mattresses also delivered (and one swapped in the rain) it was a relief to get everything done by 3pm! First guests arrived just after 3pm with second cottage just before 4pm with final guests just before 6pm. Time also to empty the car from yesterdays trip to York.

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Bits and pieces Tuesday/Wednesday 3/4 Nov

Two quieter days. One cottage out on Tuesday with no cottages in. A trip to Buxton to the recycling center and more boxes for a charity shop. Time to stop for lunch then a trip round Morrisons. A quiet evening in – actually sat down for 8pm! Wednesday was busier with two cottages back in to our Bakewell cottages and one cleaner up. Both arrived just after 3pm. Time to clear the garage for the next bath of stuff to to come back from York before the WI committee meeting held at our place amidst all the boxes and bits!

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Comings and goings 1/2 November

November got off to a really wet start but unfortunately I cannot say how wet the day was because the rain gauge got clogged up with leaves. No guests out today but one cottage in later in the day. A chance to catch up with bits and also sort out some stuff brought back from York. Monday was brighter and busier. Two cottages out with three back into our Peak District Cottages. One cleaner up and no problems encountered. In the evening Chris went to the Bakewell Photographic Circle and I caught up with accounts.

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Back to business Saturday 31 October

A quiet Friday with one cottage out and one back into our peak district cottages. Saturday was a bit more hectic with seven cottages out and three back in. I went down to the Farmers Market first thing. A number of cottages were reluctant to leave on time which hindered cleaning. Three cleaners up with the aim of cleaning as many cottages as possible. No major problems encountered luckily. The required cottages were ready for the arrival of the first cottage just after 3pm. Remaining cottages arrived about 4.30, one of which has been before. Looks like November will arrive wet and windy!

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A quick run through the week

Monday saw one cottage in with one cleaner up and usual Monday chores. Tuesday saw us pay Buxton a visit for some business and had lunch out. We came back via Bradwell where we picked up some packing boxes and Brough where we went to the Agricultural supplies shop and bought a few bits. Despite the fact it was a grey day the autumnal colours were very vivid. We reckon this years colours have been the best we have ever seen. Guests here this week have had the bonus of a mild week too. Wednesday I went down to Bakewell and with one cottage out and back into our Bakewell cottages one cleaner was up to turn it around. Plenty to do as wont be here tomorrow. Chris’s brother came up for the night as we will all be going to York tomorrow for the funeral.

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A long Sunday 25 October

Even with the benefit of an extra hour the day soon went. A trip down to the bottle bank and pick up the paper. Chris had to go and change all the clocks in the cottages and house and leisure area. Phew! A lot of the day went in clearing space for the bits we will be bringing back from York, we still haven’t sorted all the stuff from my dads yet. One cottage out of our Peak District Cottages later in the day. Cooked a roast dinner then picked up Andrew and Joanna to go for the film night at Over Haddon. A small group at the showing of ‘Sideways’. The brief write up had not sounded appealing but it was a warm and funny film and we all learnt a bit about the Californian wine business!

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A busy wet Saturday 24 October

I hate wet Saturdays but there is nothing I can do about them. Today we had four cottages out and seven cottages back into our pet friendly cottages as we have a number of dogs here this week. All in for the week. Two cleaners up and no problems encountered apart from the rain which always makes it harder, trying to keep the floor dry and leaves out! Even had a little time for a few odd jobs. At least the sun came out just before guests started to appear. Steady arrival of guests from 3 until 7 pm. Five of the cottages have been here before and one has been here but before our time. Fish and chips for dinner before sitting down.

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An inspector calls Friday 23 October

A busy day. To start with two cottages departed our Bakewell cottages with one due back in later. One cleaner up to turn round cottages. My inspector arrived just before 11am and the inspection took just over two hours. First the ‘paperwork’ side. I have to show our Public Liability Insurance certificate, our fire risk assessment and logs and our access statements. She checks all the details on file are correct and then I took her on a tour of the cottages. She looked for work we have carried out since the last inspection and does random checks on equipment, including pillows and mattresses. Despite the fact there was only one cleaned cottage to inspect she is able to asses our standards of cleanliness. Overall she was happy with what she saw and we should receive our written report and confirmation of grades in about a month or so. A spot of lunch then a check on the cottage needed for today. Chris brought a car load of belongings back from his parents so we spent a few hours sorting that out. Had dinner and finally sat down about 9pm. Guests were held up on motorway so didn’t arrive until after we went to bed.

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Update

An update on the last few days. On Tuesday Chris went to York as his mother’s health deteriorated again and unfortunately she passed away late in the afternoon. I had spent the day catching up on things and went to Morrisons in Buxton. One cottage departed and one cleaner up. Chris came back that night and Wednesday went in starting the ball rolling following his mum’s death. Chris’s brother brother arrived Wednesday evening and they went back up to York on Thursday morning. Also the duck finally passed away. On Thursday three cottages left our peak district cottages with two due to return. One cleaner up to do two cottages. I had to go to the dentist for an impression to be done for my crown and while I was in Bakewell I got my provisions for the weekend. First guests arrived just before 3pm and second cottage just before 5pm. I spent most of the afternoon preparing for tomorrow and catching up on accounts before Chris arrived back.