It was one of those days when the weather made it miserable. It rained for most of the day, but not heavy rain, but drizzle, which I think is even worse. The two smaller cottages were cleaned today as one set left today and the other had left yesterday – two less for Saturday. I had also planned for the carpets to be cleaned. We invested in a carpet cleaner after we replaced the carpets a couple of years ago and it has been very useful not only for regular carpet cleaning but occasionally, even after a week – especially if the weather has been wet-for a bit of ‘spot’ cleaning. We wet ahead and cleaned them but as it was not warm or dry enough for them to dry naturally I used a dehumidifier to help the process. Chis went to Over Haddon after lunch and when he came back I went to Bakewell to have my hair cut.

Rain was forecast for today so I decided to sped as much time as I could putting out more plants after I had done my usual bits. Luckily it held off until the afternoon so I got more done outside than I hoped.

In the evening I collected Joanna and we went to the monthly meeting of the WI at Over Haddon village hall. We don’t sing Jerusalem and have a mix of ages although none under thirty. Still we are quite an active bunch, usually entering a couple of teams in the national quiz and usually entering for the Bakwell show. After the minutes there were items for discussion and one of the topics was how well the preparations of our entries for the Bakewell Show were going. There were some tasters for the cookery section for us to sample. Our guest speaker tonight was a local man who talked about bee keeping. More interesting than you would think. He did not bring along any bees but he did bring some honey to sample.

There are days when I wake up and think I will get this or that done today. This was one of those days and this was one of those days when nothing gets done! Both B&B rooms departed today and I had planned to go to Bakewell this morning while the rooms were being cleaned but by the time I had done my usual bits it was too late. So by the time I came back from Bakewell after lunch the first of my new B&B guests were arriving. Later in the afternoon the second set of guests arrived, an American couple form California. Even after tea, with Chris still busy, I did the chickens with the dogs and watched CSI.

Another warm day and with no-one arriving or leaving – in fact the first Monday this had been the case for a long time – I decided to go to Bakewell Market in the afternoon. I don’t often get the chance to go so was looking forward it. The laundry came and went. I did my shopping list and prepared the banking. Events elsewhere however put paid to my plans as Chris got involved in a crisis situation for a corporate client. In the end I ended up putting out more of my geraniums – can only have a 100 or so left by now!

In the evening we saw a balloon go by and as other guests were also out I ended up chatting to them.

A good day had been forecast but it started rather dull. After breakfast we decided to have a few hours off as we had no -one leaving or arriving. We could have done work (I never seem to be up to date with the paperwork) but we hadn’t had any real time off for over two weeks.

We decided to do a walk and chose a short three mile walk starting from Grindleford station. From Grindleford station we walked on good paths through Upper Padley through to the edge of Hathersage, stopping to have some sandwiches on a convenient boulder. The sun came out but the haze hid the best of the views down the Hope Valley. We had to walk a short bit on the Sheffield Road before turning to go down into the Derwent Valley crossing the rail track en route. There were a lot of other walkers along this stretch of the river. At a brook we then turned and walked back up to Grindleford station where we stopped for a cup of tea in what was the old ticket office. It was very busy and a very ‘interesting’ tea stop. The station is at one end of the Totley tunnel, which is the second longest rail tunnel in the UK.

We went home and after checking emails and telephone calls had a light tea. This evening we went to the Buxton Opera House to hear a talk from Sir Chris Bonington. A very interesting evening.

Woke to another lovely day and another 8am breakfast. Last morning for my two couples who have been undertaking a 90 mile circular walk in the Peak District. Today is the last leg and a shorter one as they have been able to complete more than planned each day mainly due to good weather and their stamina!

The courtyard is always a hive of activity by 9 am as cars are loaded and bins emptied and goodbyes said. By 10 am cleaning was well underway and luckily no problems to hinder us and as the cottages had been left in a good state good progress as made. I had to squeeze in a defrost too. We had two lots of returning guests in the cottages and one in the B&B who was also bringing his sister. One couple are more like friends and as soon as they arrived wanted to know if we could put them up for longer. We hope to have a BBQ or drink one evening depending on how things go. All guests were here by 6 pm. Another exhausting day and no cooking tonight so a pizza was collected from Ricci’s in Bakewell – they do the best pizzas in town – we think!

The morning seemed to pass with the usual bits that needed to be done. and catching up on emails and phone calls from yesterday as we did not get back until very late. In the afternoon Chris went to Over Haddon for a photography course which is led by a local man on an informal basis. Over Haddon I consider to be our ‘adopted village’. In theory we live in the parish of Bakewell, the last dwelling in Bakewell on the Monyash Road, but we are more involved with Over Haddon. I belong to the Over Haddon W.I, Chris goes to the photography course and we support other village events when we can. I write an article for the Over Haddon newsletter and we try and support the cinema club. Most villages around here have a monthly cinema club and the projector does the rounds but Over Haddon has successfully applied for a grant to purchase its own. Like many villages there is a ‘core’ of villagers that keep things going. The hot issue at the moment is the refurbishment or replacement of the village hall. It is 50 years old and has its problems due to its age. It must also be one of the village halls with the best views in the UK! Another day gone and much to do. Must catch up with he accounts.

A busy day but for different reasons. Tomorrow is Chris’s mums’80th birthday and we are going to York and having a picnic at Harewood House. So in the morning I went to Bakewell to do my usual bits and collect the cake. After lunch I went to Buxton to get some provisions. M&S had little food due to a fire at their Crewe depot so I got most bits from Waitrose. Waitrose opened a year ago in Buxton, for me it was a real event. I had missed their ice creams and Maple & Pecan cereal so the first thing I did was stock up on both! I usually got to Morrisons for everyday stuff but didn’t have time. The Co-op in Bakewell will have to do!

Later that evening one of our guests found us to tell us a cow was loose in the guest garden. Chris and I went up there fearing the worst. A rampaging cow can do a lot of damage to the lawn. Luckily with a bit of persuasion she went peacefully through the gate back to her friends We have given 350 an ASBO. We found 374 had also jumped the wall and she was hiding behind the shed. When she realised the game was over she jumped back over the wall I should add that a part of the wall had fallen down hence the ability to jump over into the garden.

Woke up to sunshine and first morning not having to do a porridge for breakfast! I am surprised at how popular porridge is all year round. The silaging was already underway by 9am. The sound of cutters and collectors would continue well into the night with the humidity being so low.

So today there was five cottages to turn around. As usual some had been left in a better state of tidiness than others. With so much to do before the first guests arrive at 3pm we were one cleaner short to start with so the last thing needed on Saturdays is a problem. The one today came in the form of the guests freezer self defrosting. The worst thing was I had most of my stock of recently purchased ice creams from Waitrose in it!

Still we did it! Finished at 2.15 just as the first guests arrived – they were early and apologised but I let them settle in while I did the final check. There was what I call the ‘three o’clock rush’ where most guests arrive between 3-4pm. This week all the guests were ‘first timers’ – none had been here before. Last guests were here by 5pm.

Chris disappreared over to the farm to see how things were going while I sorted out the laundry. Sometimes on a busy Saturday we have a take away and I hadn’t decided what to do. When Chris came back, as it was still quite warm, we went for a walk. Well we drove down to Over Haddon and then walked along Lathkill Dale t Conksbury Bridge then back up to Over Haddon. Here we stopped at the Lathkill Hotel and had a drink (good beer!)and sat out in the garden area and admired the views. The dogs came too! By now I was no longer hungry so came home, watched CSI New York and went to bed.