A pleasant day weather wise which was good for the four cottages due to arrive today. Two cottages departed from our peak district cottages and two cleaners up to turn cottages round. No problems encountered and cleaning completed on time. Time for a number of odd jobs and usual Monday tasks. First two cottages arrived about 3pm and remaining two cottages arrived about 4pm, one of which has been before. Lots of phone calls and a number of bookings kept me occupied in the afternoon and after dinner Chris went down to Bakewell for the Bakewell Photographic Circle.
Author: Shirley Swaap
A walk at Ladybower 18 October
With a nice day forecast we got up early and headed up to Ladybower Reservoir from our Peak district cottages after picking up a paper in Bakewell. Parked by 9.45 and you need to be as there were hardly any spaces left at Fairholmes car park. I was surprised at how low the water was. We walked along the base of the Derwent Dam before taking the lane along Ladybower reservoir before heading up to the moors near Wellhead.
By now it had clouded over and disappointingly we didn’t see much more sun for the rest of the day. This was a shame as the sun would have highlighted some of the lovely colours. We decided we were probably still about a week too early to see them at their best but with some stormy weather forecast in the week ahead it is possible a lot of the leaves will have gone by this time next week. We have done this walk before, I reckon about four or five years ago, but we did it in reverse. Up on the moors we could see a number of fires burning and realised there was some controlled burning of heather. We had some nice views back down Ladybower Reservoir and then gradually up Derwent Reservoir to Howden Dam and beyond. We took the path down towards Abbey Bank, stopping for lunch looking towards Howden Dam. We then reached the shore of Derwent Reservoir and headed back to the car park. At the dam we made a detour to the West Tower where there was a display about the Dambusters. This is run by volunteers and only ope Sundays. It was an interesting display and here was a life size version of the bouncing bomb. Bought a DVD about the history of the Dambusters and some of the recent reunions. Set off for home but stopped at the Riverside Herb Center for a cup of tea and piece of cake! A quiet evening catching up with phone calls and emails. Enjoy the pictures.
A quiet Saturday 17 October
A bright sunny day albeit on the cool side. Three cottages out with three back into our Peak District cottages. All have been before so a ‘quiet’ day for me. Two cleaners up and no problems encountered just a nice handbag (with a packed lunch) left behind. The owner phoned up when she got home and I will keep it for her when she returns again next year. With cleaning finished well on time had a chance to do a few odd jobs around the place. Chris cleared leaves and cut the grass. All cottages arrived between 3 & 4 pm. Time for some paper work and paid the VAT bill. A quiet evening in and planned a walk for tomorrow as it will probably be the only opportunity for the next week or so. We have a busy week ahead with multiple changes and our annual inspection so plenty to do!
Life goes on 15/16 October
Thursday was quite dismal although it did brighten up occasionally. A day of bits and pieces with Chris going to Over Haddon in the afternoon for the digital camera workshop. Friday was a bit busier with three cottages out and two back into our peak district cottages. One cleaner up to do two cottages and apart from some spilt water no problems encountered. Went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend. Both cottages, who have been before, arrived between 5 & 6 pm. A quiet evening in after preparing for tomorrow which will be a quiet Saturday.
Chesterfield and Bakewell Puddings 13 & 14 October
Tuesday dawned sunny bright but cold, but it was colder in Bakewell than here! Went to Chesterfield with one of the cleaners with a long shopping list and we went to Bookers and Dunelm and came back with lots of bits! Chris had popped down to the farm and mentioned the stag and apparently Joanna had seen it on Sunday in the field behind us so I must keep an eye out for it. Spoke to my sister in the evening who has just had a break in Barcelona, lucky her. Wednesday was a lot cloudier but still dry and mild. One cottage out of our Derbyshire cottages with one back in so one cleaner up today. A busy morning with lots of calls and some bookings for next year. A chance to put up some new curtains in the vacated cottage. After lunch spent some time on accounts and new guests arrived just after 3pm. They have been here before. About 4pm a car arrived with some people looking for accommodation from tonight but I was not able to help. Saw a balloon later in the afternoon which had take off from Bakewell. There have been plenty of balloon sightings In the last few days and another set of guests said they had seen a Hercules fly along Lathkill Dale. This evening was a WI outing instead of our normal meeting and we had an evening booked at the Original Bakewell Pudding Parlour. Too make up numbers other halves were ale to come so Chris and I picked up Joanna. Andrew did not come as he was still milking. They are also in the middle of a spate of calving and Joanna said they have had a good run of heifer births – good news for them including a set of heifer twins which is unusual. They are running out of room in the nursery pens! Our evening at the Pudding Parlour included a meal but first of all we were able to make our own Bakewell Pudding. First we had to flatten our pastry ring to make sure there were no air bubbles. Then we added a small dollop of jam and a generous spoonful of the pudding mixture. We still were not told the secret ingredient but having assemble our puddings they cooked whilst we eat our meals which was very tasty. We then were able to see the results of our handy work. Chris’s was better than mine as I had put a little too much filling in and it had overflowed! Guess you can see which is mine!
Lots going on 11/12 October
Another couple of days with arrivals and departures at our Bakewell cottages. It was a bit showery on Sunday morning and after a cottage had departed we went and got the paper. One cleaner up to turn round the cottage for today’s arrivals. Two cottages in overall today. First cottage arrived just after 5pm with the second one about 7pm. In the meantime I did some odd jobs in the cottages and some accounts. One of our guests who arrived yesterday is having problems with their car so I have given them the number of the garage at Sheldon where we take our cars and who are very helpful. I also gave them the details of the buses into Bakewell tomorrow. On Monday we had one cottage out with two back in. One cleaner up today and no problems encountered apart from a broken bin lid. Usual Monday bits with laundry and rubbish collected. Chris went off to York as his mum has finally been discharged from hospital into a care home. Jobs today included putting up some new curtains in one of the cottages. It was a lovely warm day. Both guests arrived about 4pm, both have been here before, one cottage are regular guests and one are here for the first time since we took over. Did some odd jobs and spoke to a friend on the phone. Went to put chicken away and noticed the nice evening colours so took the camera and got a few shots. Hope you like them. Took some recycling down to Bakewell and popped into the Co-Op. Had tea and just sat down to do some paper work when the phone went. Someone had spotted a stag at the bottom of the drive on the road and wondered if it was ours! Nearest deer I could think of were at Chatsworth so this one was definitely not at home! Conscious of the fact that deer can cause a lot of damage to cars I phoned the police who dispatched a car but later when Chris returned he said he could not see it so we shall have to see if it is in the fields in the morning!
Comings and goings 9/10 October
There were no departures from our peak district cottages on Friday. The only goings are the in calf heifers gradually going back across the road as their date of confinement approaches. The young cows are already back across the road and some of the milk cows are not coming out any more. So the number of cows roaming the fields is getting less. Soon there wont be any out at all. Popped down to Bakwell to get bits for the weekend and in the afternoon we worked on next years prices. Saturday turned into a beautiful day. We had five departures with three cottages coming back in of which two have been here before. A chance to do a number of jobs before the first guests arrived. Two cottages arrived between 3&4 pm and the final cottage just after 5pm. Cooked a roast dinner before sitting down or the evening.
A walk from High Peak Junction Thursday 8 October
With the forecast being good for today and no one in or out of our peak district cottages we opted for a walk. I chose the walk I had planned last week which started from High Peak Junction on the Cromford Canal. This was a five mile walk around Cromford Moor to Black Rock and back to the start via the High Peak Trail. It was a gentle five mile walk with just a couple of short climbs. For the first part of the walk we had some nice views back towards the villages of Lea, Holloway and Crich with Crich Stand prominent on the hillside. We stopped for lunch just before the TV mast with our views now towards Wirksworth and the village of Bolehill! In a few years time the view could include a wind farm. This is just outside the Peak Park. By the time we reached the TV mast the view included Carsington Water and the quarry at Wirksworth. We headed down to Black Rock which is an impressive rock formation and much bigger than I thought. Here we picked up the High Peak Tail. As we walked along the views changed again and this time we could see along the Derwent Valley towards Matlock and could make out the Heights of Abraham and Riber Castle. The leaves were quite autumnal and I was thinking we will have to go up to Ladybower to see if we can catch the changing colours there. The last 3/4 mile of the walk was from Sheep Pasture Top down a 1 in 9 incline to the High Peak Junction. We stopped and looked at the defunct engine house at the top where winches used to pull up laden wagons until the line closed in 1967. At the bottom of the incline was a pit to catch any runaway wagons! We then drove round to Cromford Wharf and walked into Cromford. We stopped at Scarthins Bookshop and had a look at the books, I bought one from the many thousands hidden over three floors, and had a cup of tea in the little cafe we never found on our first visit many years ago! To round off the day we went to Buxton for a meal in the evening and enjoyed a Thai at ‘Simply Thai’.
Chesterfield Wednesday 7th October
Planned to go to Chesterfield with my big shopping list for our peak district cottages today.
Chris volunteered to come too but we had to change our plans slightly when one of the cottages reported a problem with a dishwasher. Chris had a look at it and declared it dead so our trip now included a mission to find a new dishwasher! The trouble is most places have them on show but can only deliver within a few days. Luckily the Co Op had one we could take away. We also called at my favourite furniture store where we bought a table and chair set for one of the cottages. We tried a cafe just off the market place for lunch, The Peacock, which we had walked past many times and where we enjoyed our lunch. Got most of the bits on my list before we headed back and installed the new dishwasher before the guests returned. In the evening I went with Joanna to the monthly WI committee meeting.
Bits and pieces Monday/Tuesday 5/6 October
Monday saw two cottages depart from our Bakewell cottages with one return and one cleaner here to turn the cottage around. A misty morning turned into a fine day and guests arrived just after 3pm. Popped down to Bakewell for a few bits and called into the dentist to make an appointment as I lost a part of a tooth when down at my dads a few weeks ago. As it happened they had a spare appointment a few minutes later so I was able to be seen without coming back. Bad news was that the tooth will need crowning. Chris went down to the Bakewell Photographic Circle in the evening in his capacity as projectionist for the society. Tuesday was a quieter day with me taking a trip to Sainsbury’s in Matlock while Chris made the weekly trip to York. One cleaner up to turn round the remaining cottage which is empty for a few days. I spent the afternoon working on next years price list which should be published in the next few days.