Well I was expecting to be back at Bolehill by now but the weather had other plans.   I came down by train on Monday afternoon to visit my sister in Watford and the plan was I ‘d go back Friday morning but it was obvious by Thursday morning I might have to rearrange my plans.  In fact I was expecting to be blogging by the fire with the dogs tonight but I’ll catch up with life at Bolehill when I get back.

Wednesday (13/3) was a pleasant day with a lot of sunshine in the morning at Bolehill.  This helped with the thaw here but my fiend in Yorkshire woke up to 3inches of snow.  First I went down to Bakewell to get some provisions then on to Chatsworth Farm Shop to get some bits and then prepared for the WI meeting in the evening.  Chris went to Buxton to finish the house before our tenants move in.  Despite having a last minute icing disaster I got to the WI meeting on time.  A good evening as we had a brooch making session with a craft lady who has been a couple of times before.  Another cold night but Thursday wasn’t too bad.  Handyman up and he spent the day moving logs from the tree felled last year and sawing them up.  At least I will have some logs next winter now, we have gone through quite a lot this winter as well as a lot of oil.  Washed last of the curtains for the time being and although we haven’t quite finished all the jobs we had wanted to do, the cleaners and I will finish them off as we get vacant days in the cottages.  Still no sign of spring.  Friday was wet and handyman was back up to carry on logging with Chris.  There was a lot of sawdust around at the end of the day.  Three departures and two arrivals and one cleaner up. Down town later to get provisions for the weekend. After lunch did final checks in the cottages and some accounts and also washing of overalls and jackets!  First cottage arrived about 3.30pm with second cottage here about 5pm, they have been before.  A couple of bookings during the evening.  Here are some pictures from Thursday.

Although Saturday started misty at Bolehill it had cleared by mid morning.  One departure and two arrivals and one cleaner up.  Kept an eye on the forecasts as a lot would depend on when the snow would arrive although later forecasts indicated we would be spared the worst.  This didn’t prevent one cottage from cancelling their arrival on Monday as they were concerned about the weather.  Both cottages arrived between 3and 3.30 pm, both have been before.  Did some accounts in the afternoon.  It started flurrying later in the afternoon but we did wake up to a covering of snow on Sunday morning.  We went out to check on the drive and the wind was blowing the snow across the drive at the top so we had to shovel that first before we could put salt down.  The wind was bitterly cold but my new jacket worked in keeping the wind out.  We then went down to get a paper, no snow in Bakewell but you could tell which cars weren’t from Bakewell!  We thought we would drive over to Hassop Station for coffee but when we got there it was busy.  Then we remembered it was Mothers Day so we drove onto Ashford and had coffee at the Aisseford Tearooms.  It brightened up in the afternoon despite the threat of snow showers.  We spent most of the afternoon dealing with the annual accounts as we have had the draft accounts back from the accountant.  What a weekend for Chatsworth House to open for the season.  No photos though as it was too cold but I did take a photo of the snowdrops on Saturday.

Monday started dull and cool at Bolehill but the sun came out later and it turned out to be quite pleasant. Down to Bakewell first thing for Smudge to have a check up after his minor procedure.  I was worried he might not want to go back into the vets but he was happy when the nurse gave him a couple of treats.  I had parked in town and walked along the mill stream to get to the vets, I haven’t walked along this way before and it was a much quicker way than walking along the main road.  Had a chance to walk around the market, first time this year and also went to the jumble sale to which I had donated some goods.  No arrivals or departures and no cleaner either!  We did have an electrician up to start work to update electrical certificates.  As I had offered to take some WI ladies to Chesterfield on Tuesday I thought I had better hoover the car out, I opened the doors then went to switch on the hoover only to find there was a dog sitting in the car.  He did not budge even when I hoovered him!  Obviously felt he needed to supervise the cleaning of his car!  As it was so nice I also washed the car, must be a year since I last did that!  In the evening I went to the Village Hall but this time for the Village Hall committee meeting. Tuesday started very misty and cold but the sun was trying to break through by the time I set off to collect Joanna.  (could have had some lovely photos of the mist settling in the valleys if I had taken the dogs for their morning walk). We then collected another WI lady from Over Haddon and headed to Bakewell avoiding the accident where a car was upside down on its roof.  We collected our final lady in Bakewell and headed to Chesterfield for the Spring Conference of the Derbyshire Federation of WI’s, I was the Over Haddon delegate.  It was -2 in Chesterfield when we arrived and still foggy.  A busy day with updates and speakers in the morning and at lunchtime I took advantage of being close to the shops to get some provisions for the cottages, saves me another trip to Chesterfield in the next couple of weeks.  The sun had come out by then and I thought it typical that I was probably spending the best day of the week indoors!  The main speaker was Edwina Currie, who lives in the High Peak and is now a WI member.  Her talk was about women politicians through the years after which she took questions from the floor.  A very interesting session.  On the way back I noticed Andrew was chain harrowing the fields, depending on the weather the cows could start to come out by the middle of next month.  When I got back home after dropping the others off I found Chris had washed the 4×4, Blue was sitting inside inside the car supervising the process.  Only thing that spoilt the day was the cancellation of two bookings for Easter later in the evening.

Friday was duller and cooler than the previous couple of days.  No departures at Bolehill but there should have been one arrival but they cancelled at the last minute due to ill health.  Up early to take Smudge down to the vets after which I went into Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend.  Spent the day doing odd jobs in the cottages including cleaning oven shelves.  Later in the afternoon we collected Smudge from the Vets.  Apparently he had been one of the noisiest dogs they have ever had as he had howled most of the afternoon.  He was very sleepy all evening (nothing new there) and only had a small tea but he started to perk up later in the evening.  Saturday was a sunny and milder day.  Smudge was still not quite with it during the morning but by lunch time seemed more his normal self.  One departure and one arrival and one cleaner up.  Spent a lot of the day getting cottages ready for arrivals on Saturday and Sunday.  As it was so nice Chris spent some time tidying up the courtyard.  I have a few broken pots to replace but I could see the green shoots of daffodils and other spring bulbs starting to peek above the ground.  It was nice enough to spot the first hot air balloon of the season, the dogs spotted them first!  Guests arrived about 8pm, they have been here before and are Smudges favourite guests.  I know outside which cottage to find him this week!  Sunday was duller and cooler but still dry.  One departure with two arrivals so some last minute checks.  First cottage arrived about 3.30pm, they have been before.  With a brief appearance of spring my thoughts have turned to the hanging baskets for summer.  This year we have decided to outsource the planting up of the baskets so I have to decide on what plants to use then take the baskets to a small nursery in Buxton.  Second cottage arrived about 7.30pm and then we sat down for the evening.    Here are two pictures a week apart of the snow.  Almost gone.

The handyman was supposed to come up to Bolehill on Wednesday but he was not well so that gave us a free day. As we haven’t been to Sheffield for a while and I haven’t had a ‘me’ shopping day for ages we headed to Sheffield.  First we did the out of town wholesalers as I had a list of things I needed for the cottages (can’t go to Sheffield and not go to the wholesalers!)  We then went back into Sheffield and had a look round John Lewis and a number of other shops.  As it has been almost a year since we last went we noticed some new openings and closures.  We had lunch at a ‘Patisserie Valerie’, we know the original one in London, it has a range of mouth watering cakes too but I resisted.  On the way home we called in at a camera shop as Chris’s camera is showing the signs of wear and tear.  We also called in at an outdoor shop as my dog walking coat is falling to pieces, I have had nine years wear out of it!  Typical though, every time we go to Sheffield it turns into a nice day.  Thursday was also a sunny and dry day but the cool breeze was still there.  A quiet day catching up on jobs in the cottages and paperwork.  Chris went to Over Haddon for the digital workshop and I did the final checks for the cottage that arrived at 8.30 pm.  They have been before.  Gave Smudge an early dinner in preparation for his visit to the vets as he couldn’t have any food after 5pm and I don’t think he could understand why he got no other treats after that.

Weather stats for February:  Highest temp 8.5 on 19/2 and lowest temp -2.8 on 13/2. Wettest day 14/2 with .53 in rain although most of that fell before dawn, with 1.63 in rain for the month (1.34 in 2/2012).
Warmest day 4/2 and night 3/2 with coldest day 13/2 and night 12/2.

Here are three pictures taken over the last three weeks to show how the snow has lingered by the walls.