Third Saturday in a row that the weather has been fine on a Saturday at our peak district cottages.  Its the autumn equinox so I could accept a nip in the air.  It was nice to take the dogs for a morning walk with blue skies (see photos below).  Five cottages out with five back in and two cleaners up.  No major problems just a lot of little jobs like a broken glass, a voile that needed a wash so cleaning itself was finished by lunchtime and cottages were ready before 3pm.  Four of the cottages in by just after 4pm, one has been before with final cottage not arriving until 10pm.  Smudge was happy then as he knew this guest was going to spoil him this week!  Sunday stayed cloudy with the rain not arriving until about 4pm when guests arrived.  Two cottages out and one back in and one cleaner up.  Made time to do the tax returns (business and personal) as well as some odd jobs around the house like packing away my sandals until next summer.  Sigh.

Wednesday was another day of sunshine and showers at our peak district cottages.  No departures but one arrival later in the day. At lunchtime I went down to Bakewell to get my hair cut and get some provisions for the next few days.  The afternoon flew past in phone calls emails and ironing.  The cows have been moved out of our drive field too.  I was expecting rain all day Thursday but it wasn’t too bad in the end, and it felt milder too.  Two cottages out and two back in and one cleaner up.  One cottage arrived just after 3pm, they have been here many years ago, with the second one just after 5pm.  Some time for accounts in the afternoon.  Friday was more like a winters day, what a difference a week makes, this time last week I was  still in t shirts!  One cottage out with one back in later in the day.  One cleaner up.  Later in the morning I went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend.  It was noticeably quieter than previous weeks.  In the afternoon I spent some time doing housework and accounts.  Guests arrived about 5pm.  Noticed that the leaves at the top of the trees are starting to change colour, I’ve heard we could be in for a colourful autumn!

Sunday started dry but clouded up.  No departures but three arrivals and one cleaner up at our peak district cottages to complete the cleaning from Saturday.  Spent the day catching up with some paper work, sometimes it never seems to go away.  The three cottages arrived between 3 and 4 pm, one has been before.  Once again discovered what a small world  it can be when the two other cottages realised they knew each other from many years ago!  Later in the afternoon we had a visit from a couple on the B and B Forum we still subscribe to.  They have just been offered a job managing a cottage complex in the area so called in to say ‘hello’.  Monday was a fine day weather wise.  One cottage out and one back in and one cleaner up.  Made the most of the fine morning by doing some tidying up in the garden.  In the evening Chris went to the first session after the summer of the Bakewell Photographic Circle.  Tuesday was a WI day, doing some more work on the accounts and writing up minutes.  Had hoped to spend a little more time in the garden but there were a few showers during the day and there was a definite nip in the air.

I thought I ought to report the passing of Uncle Geoff from Over Haddon, one of our local great characters.  Apparently he was taken ill a couple of weeks ago and admitted to hospital where he passed away.  The exact date is not known nor is the date of the funeral as the family have kept details private.  The sign has come down and Uncle Geoff’s Diner, one of the most unusual cafes in the Peak District, is no more. A sad loss for Over Haddon and the innumerable walkers who used the cafe.

Thursday was a pleasant day at our peak district cottages with time to catch up with business.  A visit from a regular guest who brought some friends along to show them where they stayed.  Some of our guests do come to the area for the day in between their stays here.  One cottage in later in the afternoon.  In the evening we went over to one of the cottages and had a drink with some of the guests.  Friday was a bit cooler and it had been windy overnight bringing down some leaves.  Autumn is on its way.  Have suddenly noticed the nights are drawing in and the Virginia Creeper is turning red.  No departures or arrivals but a trip down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend.  It was a bit quieter down in Bakewell than it has been.  Saturday was also a pleasant day, perhaps the last warm day of the summer and possibly the last ice cream of the summer too!  Seven departures with three arrivals and three cleaners up.  As most of the departing guests were regulars I took some bookings for next year and one bought me some plants!  Chris cut the grass and everything was ready for guests arrivals.  One arrived between 3 and 4 pm and two arrived between 4 and 5 pm.  Two have been before.  An early tea then we went down to Over Haddon for the annual show by the Bakewell Silver Band.  An enjoyable evening as usual finishing off with the Over Haddon version of the Last Night of the Proms.  I tried to be clever with some photos but it didn’t work.  Never mind. (Chris said I should have used the flash).

Monday was a cooler day but stayed mainly dry at our peak district cottages.  One cottage out and one back in and one cleaner up.  As often happens when one thing goes another goes soon afterwards and two vacuums had given up the ghost in quick succession.  As Chris needed to go to Buxton I went too and we came back with two new hoovers. Back in time for guests arrival at 3pm. Tuesday was a day of sunshine and showers and for me phone calls and emails.  With a number of regular guests I have also been spending time chatting to guests.  Smudge has been finding cottages to visit as we have a number of dogs here this week too.  Wednesday was a cooler day and I went to Buxton to check on progress. In the evening I collected Joanna and went to the village hall in Over Haddon for our first monthly meeting after the summer break. Our speakers were two ladies from the local library service who were promoting the library services and they gave us a selection of readings from books and poems and we all enjoyed listening to these.  We are lucky that in Derbyshire the library services have remained largely unaffected.

Saturday was a sunny and warm day.  One departure and one cleaner up.  Seven arrivals later in the day, five of which have been before.  Had already done some of the preparations so plenty of time to finish before guests arrived.  Chris cut the grass and a few odd jobs in the cottages. Three arrived between 3 and 4pm and two arrived between 4 and 5 pm.  Had hoped to eat al fresco but a breeze had picked up.  Enjoyed the Last Night of the Proms.  On Sunday we decided to go for a walk.  Every time we drive along the A6 by Ashford I think we must walk the path from Ashford to Bakewell by the river.  So after doing some recycling and getting the paper we headed for Ashford.  From here we picked up the path along the river that headed for Bakewell.  We had a nice meander by the river taking our time as there was a lot to investigate.  We ended up on the A6 by the Auction House then crossed the bridge to walk along Lumford.  From here we picked up the bridle way at the side of Holme Hall that went up and over to the Monsal Trail.  Looking back we could see across Bakewell and when we reached the top after a steady but not hard climb we could see Longstone Edge ahead and the other Edges to the right.  We were only on the Monsal Trail for a short while which was just as well as it was very busy.  Then we picked up a path to Great Longstone and walked through the village and when we emerged we stopped for lunch from where we could make out Fin Cop through the trees.  Our walk carried on through to the edge of Little Longstone where we picked up the old Monsal trail, now redundant because the Trail goes through the tunnel,  and walked to the new part of the trail before taking a path that lead back to Ashford.  Not a particularly scenic or strenuous walk  but it was nice re acquainting ourselves with paths we haven’t walked for many years and also time to explore bits we usually see from a car.  Before we went home I had an ice cream from the Aisseford tea room in Ashford and we had a look at a friends kitchen that has finally been completed. Once again a late afternoon breeze thwarted hopes of eating al fresco at our peak district cottages despite the warmth, but I think we can say goodbye to summer for the moment looking at the forecast for the week ahead.  Enjoy the photos.

Thursday was sunny but with a cooling breeze, had thought it would feel warmer but never mind.  My first appointment of the day was at the village hall where a new dishwasher was being installed and I went along for the induction session as it is a commercial machine.  From here I went to Buxton as I have been meaning to go to the Buxton Farmers Market for a long time.  Much smaller than the Bakewell one but I bought a few bits.  Nice to see work has finally started at the Crescent!  I then walked over to the house to check on progress as they have been working outside this week with the fine weather. Stopped for a bit of lunch before getting some shopping and back home.  Friday was a much warmer day at our peak district cottages although it clouded up in the afternoon.  One cottage out with one back in and one cleaner up.  Took advantage of the warm morning to clean the downstairs carpet in the leisure area as well as some door mats.  Should have taken a picture of the mats lad out in the courtyard drying!  Later in the morning I went down to Bakewell to get some provisions for the weekend and after lunch did the checks on the cottage for the day’s arrivals.  They have been before and arrived about 5pm.  Also started on the checks for the cottages for Saturdays arrivals.  A further cancellation was filled by a passer by looking for a cottage from Saturday.  Had an unexpected evening out as when Chris got back from Buxton he couldn’t find his wallet so hoped he had left it behind, which luckily he had.  We thought we would see if we could find somewhere to eat and tried Barbarellas opposite Simply Thai.  It has not been open long and serves food from midday to 8pm, after which it just serves drinks.  The food is very reasonably priced and I thought my meal was one of the best I had had in a long time.

Before we get too far into September here are August’s weather statistics.
Warmest day was 10th with 22.1 deg C  and warmest night was 17th
Coldest day and night was 30th with lowest temp 6.2 deg C on 31st
We had 3.73 in rain with 29th wettest day with .58 in but two other days came close and .49 in rain fell on 12/8 in 15 min.  Aug 2011 had 2.06 in rain.  Highest UV was 7.8 on 7/8!

Monday was a sunny and warm day at our peak district cottages with one departure and one cleaner up to keep up with cleaning.  Some jobs around the house and cottages and preparation for the meetings in the evening. In the afternoon the fields that had a second cut on Saturday were rowed up and baled.  Its the first time we’ve seen the grass baled so it was interesting to watch.  After an early tea I went to the village hall in Over Haddon, first for a short meeting about the Hallmark 2 scheme then the village hall committee meeting.  It was dark when I got home and I could hear activity in the fields and just to be safe we phoned Andrew to make sure no-one was rustling the bales!  Tuesday started a bit dull but brightened up in the afternoon.  One cottage departed and one cleaner up.  Some housework and in the afternoon got the WI accounts up to date as the year end is shortly and I need to prepare them for auditing.  Also prepared for Wednesdays WI committee meeting.  Wednesday was a fine but cool day, autumnal coolness appearing in the morning and evening.  Went to Matlock in the morning via the Peak outlet centre  Main purpose of trip was Sainsbury’s but popped into Matlock itself.  When I was loading up the car a steam train from Peak Rail came into Matlock Station.  Not many supermarket car parks where you can watch steam trains from!  The afternoon disappeared in tidying up and housework but I took the dogs for a walk so we could see the bales being collected and transported down to Andrew’s.  As Andrew was away for the day I went down with Smudge to help bring the cows in.  As they were spread over two fields we had our work cut out and an ASBO was given to 445 who decided to stay in the furthest corner until we got there.  After dinner it was my turn to host the monthly WI committee meeting which was quite long as we had a lot to discuss after the summer break including our entry in the Bakewell Show and the programme for 2013.  I was going to title this blog ‘a quiet couple of days’ but it has been anything but!  Here are some pictures from the last few days.

So we decided we had enough time to pack a picnic and get to Chatsworth to see the Red Arrows!  We parked in the old Bakewell Station car park and walked a little along the Monsal Trail then over the golf course and through Carlton Pastures to the top of Chatsworth.  As we got to the end of New Piece Wood we could see Chatsworth House below with the Country Fair in progress.  There were a dozen or so other people there too and the first people we saw were our friends from Chelmorton which was quite a coincidence.  We got there with a few minutes to spare and we kept our eyes peeled and then there they were.  We were treated to a 25 minute display and 25 minutes of Smudge barking!  Sure the whole of Chatsworth could hear him too!  After the display we had a little picnic before walking back to the car getting back just before it got dark.  I had been thinking of doing a car boot sale on Sunday so Chris helped load up the car.  Sunday morning looked fine when I set off early from Bakewell but by the time I got to Bamford the roads were wet as was the playing field but luckily it stayed dry until the sale was winding down and then it was a quick dash to get the car packed during a heavy shower.  Enjoyed the views of Win Hill and Hope Church whilst the sale was on.  Back home had a few hours to catch up with things before we left the dogs behind and walked into the fields at our peak district cottages to watch Sunday’s Red Arrows display.  It was different watching it from a distance as you had a better view of the high level display.  A number of cars stopped at the roadside to watch – hope they noted our sign at the bottom of the drive!  After the display there was time for a quick tea before heading to Buxton Opera House to see Elkie Brooks. For a 67 year old her voice and her stage presence are still good.

It was difficult to slim down all the pictures but here are Saturdays and Sundays sets.

Thursday was a quiet day at our peak district cottages.  Cool and cloudy in the morning with a few light showers but brightening up with sunny spells in the afternoon. With no arrivals or departure I dedicated Thursday as a housework day as well as finishing off this months accounts.  Friday was a pleasant day, a lot warmer than the previous few days.  Two cottages out and two back in (should have been three) and one cleaner up. Went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend. it was quite busy and there were lots of dogs around, probably here for the Country Fair at Chatsworth.  Have checked the times for the Red Arrows displays over the weekend.  Back home I did the final checks on the cottages before a late lunch.  Spent the rest of the afternoon catching up on some paperwork and odd jobs and chatting to guests when they came back from the Country Fair.  By late afternoon it was raining lightly but the forecast is good for the rest of the weekend.  Saturday started dull but soon the sun came out and it felt quit warm.  Chris went off to Buxton leaving me to say goodbye to four cottages.  Two cleaners up to keep up with cleaning – just in case!  One cottage due in (should have been two) and they arrived at 3pm, they have been before.  With Chris arriving back early from Buxton it meant we could do something for the rest of the afternoon.  To find out what we did, you’ll have to wait for the next blog!