Wednesday was bright with a breeze picking up from mid morning and squally showers in the afternoon. In the morning Chris went to Buxton and I caught up on some jobs round the cottages with a cleaner. Joanna collected me just after 1pm and together with Lynne we went to Markeaton Crematorium where the cremation of a husband of one of the WI members and a Over Haddon resident was to take place. We encountered some squally showers on the way back and as we drove to Over Haddon we saw a tractor bringing the beaters up from where the last shoot of the season in Lathkill Dale had just taken place. Now that the snow has gone I ordered some more items for the cottages to be delivered early next week. In the evening we went down to Bakewell to Felicinis as we had received an email with a discount for meals over the next few days. Many restaurants have special offers at this time of year. Was woken up at 5am on Thursday morning by a terrific hailstorm at our peak district cottages. Was so terrified the hail would break the windows that I woke Chris up. Heard that there was still hail left in Bakewell when people went down to work in the morning. Thursday was another mild day though. In the morning we did a number of jobs around the cottages and had planned an early lunch and then a trip to Chesterfield. We then decided to find somewhere on the way to Chesterfield for lunch and chose a cafe at Marsh Green Farm shop just outside Ashover. Always nice to try somewhere new as it meant only a small detour. We then went onto Bookers and after that I finally made it to Dunelm, even if the sale is over. Still we came back with a full car and after an early tea Chris took myself, Lynne and another WI member over to Youlgrave where Over Haddon WI had tickets for the Youlgrave Pantomime. This is their 51st year of pantomimes. We all enjoyed the evening, haven’t laughed so much in ages. Andrew collected us and brought me back home. Even thinking about going again next year. Oh yes we are!
Author: Shirley Swaap
A milder interlude
Woke up Sunday to a greener scene at our peak district cottages. A lot of snow had gone with the overnight rain so morning walks with the dogs now means muddy paws and dog washing! At least the temperature was above freezing. Spent some time in house jobs and some personal time on a jigsaw. Monday was back to business. A wetter day and feeling colder at first even if temperature was above freezing. Laundry and rubbish collected as usual and had some deliveries. One cleaner up to carry on with cleaning and one arrival, they have been here before. Also a number of phone calls and emails and in the evening went to the village hall for indoor bowls. Tuesday got off to a bright start and the forecast rain was not as bad as expected. Cleaner up in the morning and after lunch Chris came with me to Sainsbury’s in Matlock. On the way back we called in to see the previous owners of Bolehill. A busy evening with phone calls and a number of bookings.
Snow and Sheep
Friday felt a lot colder with a biting wind. For the first time the snow felt more icy. One cleaner up and after coffee we went to Buxton to check on the house and pick up our new glasses. We were back mid afternoon as I wanted to be back before the snow arrived. It was supposed to be here any time from 3pm but in the end the first flurries didn’t arrive until 5pm. In the meantime we had to go out twice to the guest garden and round up sheep who have found a breach in the wall from the back field into the copse at the back of the garden. A few found a way onto the lawn where they were scraping the ground to find grass. The farmer had brought up hay again for them today but as the saying goes the grass is greener… This didn’t help the saplings in the copse or my Scots Pine I planted a number of years ago but has now been more or less denuded. The snow took its time to arrive but when it did it came down relentlessly and in the morning there was another four inches of snow. Confused the dogs by both of us taking them for their morning walk. Tried to do a bit of sledging but just too much snow! The road was clear so we thought we would try the Farmers Market so after coffee we took some guests down with us to Bakewell for the market. There was snow down in Bakewell but on the whole it had been cleared. Got to the Agricultural Centre only to find the market had been cancelled earlier that morning. There were still a few stall holders selling outside as they decided having got there they were going to sell what they could as there was a steady stream of cars arriving in the car park. We then went round to the Chatsworth Farm Shop as our guests hadn’t been there before so at least they could buy some food even if it was more expensive than the Farmers Market. Back and had lunch and just happened to look out the front and realised the sheep seemed to be crossing the cattle grid into the car park. Chris and I went outside and got them back into the field and found a barrier to discourage them from coming back again. My poor plants and shrubs have really been decimated by the sheep over the last couple of days as we found that they had got into the area behind Bluebell and nibbled away at the bottom of the conifers too. Later in the afternoon the farmer came to feed them and I had to shoo some out of the copse again so at least they could get some hay. Chris popped down to Andrews and found himself helping out with a sick cow. Lots of fun with the animals and they’re not even ours! Later in the evening as the temperature rose there was a rumble and a swathe of snow fell off the roof at the back of the house, luckily no damage done. Then it started to rain and we even had some lightening and thunder at our peak district cottages. Enjoy the photos.
Staying cold
At least Tuesday started sunny with a hoar frost at our peak district cottages so took more photos. With the deep snow we have we cannot use the tractor to top up the log supply so I am having to go and bag some up and bring them down daily and at the same time do my daily checks on the empty cottages. Cleaner made it up and guests managed to get out in their own car. Finally made a start on this weeks curtain jobs as I have had some curtains that I have been meaning to hang up since before Xmas and I also have started washing curtains as a part of the deep cleaning regime. Wednesday was back to dull weather and in many was a repeat of Tuesday (curtains, logs, cottage checks) but the rubbish got collected and we saw the postman for the first time since last Thursday. He would have been here yesterday had his van not broken down. Thursday was a brighter day although no sunshine. Cleaner up to carry on with work and later in the morning Chris and I went down to Bakewell for our six monthly dental check up and also got provisions for the weekend. Realised afterwards that the Farmers Market was on Saturday but after seeing the lunchtime forecast I wondered if I would make it anyway. There is an amber warning for snow Friday night into Saturday and I have rearranged a booking because of this. The weather the last couple of weeks hasn’t done our last minute bookings any favour. Did a check of cottages and stocked up on logs by wheeling a barrow load through the snow! The afternoon just seemed to fly by. Enjoy the photos from Tuesday
Another snowy Monday!
Sunday was a cold wintry day at our peak district cottages. Beginning to forget what the sun looks like! After getting the paper the day was spent on house jobs and on the VAT return and paying taxes. Boo hoo. Had hoped to go to the village hall in the evening for this months film offering but with an uncertain forecast we did not go. There was already a covering of snow by the time we went to bed and by Monday morning there was a fresh fall of another 2-3 inches. Not what we wanted or expected. Had planned to start the winter maintenance jobs in the cottages but cancelled that along with the cleaner, laundry and rubbish collection. So day went in accounts, mainly getting this months up to date and WI accounts. After lunch Chris took a couple of guests down to Bakewell in the 4×4 to get some provisions and Ian came up to snowplough the drive. Chris put some more salt down afterwards. I went out with a broom and cleared snow off shrubs so hopefully we don’t get too many casualties. For the last week the temperature hasn’t been above freezing. In the evening Chris went to Bakewell for the Photographic Club but I offered my apologies for not going to the Village Hall Committee meeting. First one I’ve not attended for a while. Here are some more wintry photos.
our patio
Smudge sheep watching again
Smudge guiding Ian
view from Derwent lounge
guest garden
Derwent patio area
Here comes the snow
…or maybe not. Had a fresh covering by the morning at our peak district cottages. The wind was blowing the snow around when I took the dogs for their walk. One cleaner up for a few hours. From late morning and into the afternoon we had light snow showers on and off but the wind kept moving it around. Although I wanted to do some jobs in the cottages it was not easy moving around so as I have a list of items that I am looking to replace in the cottages I spent some time researching purchases on the Internet. But the earth did not move for me at 5.40am this morning when a small earthquake in Loughborough was felt in southern Derbyshire. Saturday stayed dull with snow flurries on and off during the day. One cottage out, they were going to stay for a few more days but heavy snow is forecast in their area on Sunday so they thought they had better leave. Took some photos when taking the dogs for a walk, the wind had made some interesting shapes with the snow. The farmer came up to feed the sheep too. We thought we would go for a drive to see the snowy landscape but stopped first at the Chatsworth Farm Shop for lunch. Did not have to queue! We then drove through Chatsworth park and stopped to take photos of the sledgers. We parked at Carlton Lees and had a short walk along the river back towards Chatsworth House. Called in at the Peak Outlet place before heading back home. Took plenty of photos so enjoy them!
One of Saturday’s photos
Three photos from Friday. Compare wall photos to same taken on Saturday.
Wintry days
Tuesday started with snow flurries at our peak district cottages but the sun soon came out but it was not warm enough for any significant melt. One cleaner up and guests managed to get out and back without any problem during the day. Rubbish was collected and managed to get some accounts done with Chris’s help. After lunch Chris took me down to Bakewell to get some provisions. Hardly any snow left down there. Chris was at Buxton most of Wednesday so I used it as a catch up day. Caught up with accounts, emails, housework and all sort of bits during the day. Also did a check on the empty cottages as I do during colder weather. Temperature didn’t go above freezing all day and on the whole we had milky sunshine as a mist hung in the dales for most of the day. Had a hoar frost first thing. More worrying was the amber warning for snow for Friday especially as we have arrivals and departures on Saturday. Thursday was overcast with that feel of snow in the air. One cottage left early as a precaution against being snowed in. Another cottage has asked to stay on a few days rather than risk leaving on Saturday. The forecast seemed to be constantly changing so we went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend. I had planned to do this on Friday but I think like most other Bakewellians I was playing safe by going Thursday! We had a couple of hectic hours after lunch. We decided we would stock up with logs just as our oil delivery arrived – phew – I thought it would not arrive before the snow did. Also Sue from next door brought us up some eggs as her new hens have just started laying and she stayed for a cup of tea. Even had a phone call enquiring about a booking for the weekend! After logs I checked on the vacant cottages again and Chris salted the drive. It started flurrying about 5pm and by the time the evening weather was shown our amber snow warning was downgraded to yellow. We will have to wait and watch.
Baslow Edge caught by the setting sun Tuesday evening
Smudge watching over the sheep
Three pictures above taken on Wednesday
A snowy Monday
dogs playing in the snow
Woke up to no more snow but by 9am it had started to snow as forecast and it lasted until midday. Two cottages departed and luckily they were gone before it got too bad. The road to Bakewell was kept clear by regular gritting but one of our guests who went down to Bakewell only managed to get half way back up the drive although after lunch they managed to get back up to the car park. The cleaner came for a few hours until she got a call to say her sons school was closing. The laundry van managed to get most of the way up the drive so Chris took the laundry down to the van. No rubbish collection but postman made it. After lunch the sun came out so Chris and I went for a walk around the fields to take some photos. Had planned to get some more accounts finished but never did. Still I took some more bookings and got the fire going for Smudge. Decided not to got to bowls in the evening as although the main roads would be fine the lane down to the hall would not be so good. Here are some more photos from our peak district cottages on a snowy Monday.
looking towards the Edges
A cold weekend
Friday dawned bright and sunny and it stayed that way until it clouded up later in the afternoon. A last minute booking for the evening meant a change of cleaning plans and time was also spent preparing for Saturdays arrivals. After lunch I went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend. Stocked up with logs and got the fire going. Guests arrived about 4.30. The snow word has appeared in the weather bulletins so we are keeping an eye on the forecast. Saturday was another cold but sunny day. No departures but two arrivals. First thing we went down to Bakewell to the Auction Room although there was nothing that took my interest. Also filled up the Shogun with diesel in case we need to pull any cars up the drive when it snows. They are now talking about the snow arriving on Sunday evening. Back at our Peak District cottages did the final checks on the cottages. First one arrived at 3pm, they have been before, and the second one at 5pm. They are relatives of one of the WI ladies. Sunday started quite sunny but we were conscious that it wouldn’t last and kept an eye on the forecasts. After lunch Chris went out and salted the drive and courtyard in anticipation of the snow. The first flurries started about 5pm and by the time we went to bed there was a covering.
Keeping busy
Tuesday was a busy day at our peak district cottages. Cleaner up to carry on cleaning and I was kept busy in the morning with emails and telephone calls. After lunch I popped down to Bakewell to get some provisions for the next few days. It is a lot quieter now, even found a free parking space, many cafes are closed for a few weeks for winter breaks or redecorating. Plenty of posters up about Costa Coffee who have won their planning application on appeal. Late afternoon our relationship bank manager called in for a chat. Wednesday was another busy day for many reasons. One of our regular guests called in to make a booking (they don’t live too far away so often pass this way). After coffee we went to Buxton for an eye test which we should have done last year. Luckily there are no real changes but Chris needs a new pair of safety glasses so has ordered a pair. After lunch we called in at Morrisons. It was quite foggy on the way back but it cleared later in the evening. It was a much colder day and I had to scrape the ice off the car before collecting Joanna for the first WI meeting of the year. it was a busy night for me as I had to collect subscriptions, collect money for our trip to the Youlgrave Pantomime, do the vote of thanks for the speaker and pay the speaker. Our speaker tonight was a local solicitor who talked about wills and he raised a lot of interesting points. I had spent some time in the afternoon preparing for the meeting as I had to hand out lots of receipts, not that I got time to hand them all out! Thursday was a much quieter day. Cleaner up again and Chris and I spent some time going round the cottages listing things to do over the next few weeks. It was a cold day again with a veil of mist in the dales and the forecast of more cold weather over the weekend and beyond. I spent some time in the afternoon catching up on accounts, I have the end of month, quarter and year accounts to finalise as well as pay this months bills that are now in. Got the fire going too, haven’t had to do that for a few weeks.