The trouble with the clocks changing is number of clocks we have to change!  Chris spent an hour or so going round the cottages and house making sure they were all moved forward.  One cottage out and one back in and despite the gloomy start Sunday turned out quite nice.  Guests arrived about 3pm after which I took the dogs for an extra walk in the sunshine before doing the Census and the form we had for the holiday cottages.  I always find that the Monday is the worst day after the clocks go forward so I got up early to go to Bakewell Market.  In fact back before guests departed from our peak district cottages.  Two cottages out but with no cottages back in still had a cleaner here to keep up to date.  Usual Monday chores too.  Whilst the weather is holding Chris and the handyman have been doing some cleaning and painting of the outdoor garden furniture.  Realised I haven’t filled in the form so we can still have our rubbish collected to something else to do.  Thought it would be a good day to do some accounts too but with phone calls and a friend dropping in for some advice from Chris on computers the afternoon soon went.  Also got a call from a friend who will be coming to stay for a few days unexpectedly.  In the evening Chris went to the Bakewell Photographic Circle and I did some housework.

Sorry about the lack of news from our Peak District Cottages.  We have been overtaken by events (nothing serious!) and I will post details of what has been happening soon.

Friday was another lovely day at our peak district cottages.  Three cottages out and one back in with two cleaners up.  It was one of those weeks where the guests were often chatting to each other in the courtyard.  Its always nice to see that.  With the cottage not due in until late afternoon I sneaked a few more hours out in the garden and to my delight under a fallen bush found some hellebores!  Brightened my day.  Chris and the handyman were also making the most of the good weather tidying up outside and cleaning some of patio furniture.  Guests arrived about 5pm.  Saturday was a complete contrast being dull and cold.  Two cottages out and with most cleaning already done just one cleaner up.  Four cottages due in.  Popped down to the Farmers Market and on my return Chris then helped move the tables and chairs from our stables over to the new village hall at Over Haddon.  I didn’t get a chance to go and have a look but Chris took some pictures.  All being well we could have our next WI meeting there next month!   All cottages arrived between 3 & 5pm with no repeat guests for once!  Had some sad news today about one of our regular guests who has passed away, in fact we have had two such phone calls this week.  This is the sad side of the business when you get to know some of the guests well and look forward to their visits.

A couple of days dominated by WI events.  Wednesday was yet another nice day at our peak district cottages, not that I saw much of it.  One cleaner up to keep cleaning up to date and I popped down to Bakewell to get hair done, do banking, get provisions for us and provisions for the nights WI meeting.  After lunch I had things to do including  sandwiches to make.  Over Haddon were hosting a group meeting and a number of local WI’s were coming along to enjoy the simple supper we had prepared as well as our guest speaker.  I collected Joanna about 5pm and we set off to Monyash as we were using their village hall.  We had a couple of hours to set up and lay the tabled for about 70 guests and get the food ready for serving.  Everything was ready by the time the first guests arrived.  I was on the door taking raffle money and I had to collect entrance fees.  Luckily there were a number of us from Over Haddon to help serve the food and tea as well as clear up and wash up.  We all stopped for the evenings guest who was from Derby.  He told us how, as a former record dealer, he became interested in promoting Derby as a tourist destination many years ago.  He gave us a passionate talk on why Derby should be up there with the likes of York and Chester and the benefits this would bring to our area too.  It was gone half ten by the time I got home.  Thursday was a catch up day and another warm day.  One cottage due in so did my final checks as the cottage had been cleaned. Decided to spend a few hours out in the garden after lunch before the guests arrived but then I suddenly remembered that I was going to Buxton in the evening as a part of the Over Haddon WI quiz team to take part in one of the rounds of the Derbyshire WI Quiz.  Cottage arrived about 5pm and after tea went with Joanna and the President to Buxton.  Our team was completed by the former treasurer.  We usually finish in the top five but this year from half time we were in joint first place and we were still there at the end.  Unfortunately we lost on the tie break question but never mind.

Monday was a busy day at our peak district cottages with one cottage out and four back in. Three cleaners here to keep up with cleaning. With usual rubbish and laundry collections plenty to think about and do. Job of the day was take away leaflets as we have got some new ones in.  I usually leave a selection in the cottage folders and we have some folders in the leisure area but it is amazing how quickly they disappear.  This reminded me that we haven’t heard anything about picking up this years leaflets yet either!  The weather was spring like and with the ground being so dry checked the weather station and realised we have only had .14 in rain this month!  Three cottage here by 4.30, one of which has been before with final cottage arriving just before 9pm, they have been before.  Chris out at the Bakewell Photographic Circle in the evening so I caught up with some housework. Tuesday was our ‘day off’ and for once the weather was fine. With fine weather around for a few days the walling man is up here this week repairing the dry stone walls damaged by sheep and winter itself.  We also discussed the siting of a new stile/gate down by the entrance gate. With some things to sort out in the morning entailing a trip down to Bakewell I proposed lunch at the cafe in Monyash with a short walk from there for the afternoon as the weather was holding.  Bacon baps on the green at Monyash in the spring sunshine how wonderful!  We took the Limestone Way out of Monyash then the permissive path down Fern Dale to Lathkill Dale and back to Monyash.  Only a couple of miles or so but  the dogs enjoyed it too and finished off with an ice cream before heading home.  First of the year! 

Friday was another sunny day.  Two cottages out with two back in but three cleaners here to keep up with cleaning.  With guests not due until the evening had a chance to pop down to Bakewell in the afternoon.  First guests arrived about 8pm with final guests about 10pm.  Both have been before.  Saturday continued with the fine weather.  One cottage out and two back in with one cleaner up.  Morning went in odd jobs around the cottages and house as did afternoon.  First guests arrived just before 3pm with second guests about 4.30. With a ‘supermoon’ to finish the day at our peak district cottages we are waiting to see what the weather does on Sunday in case we can go for a walk but if not then it is about time I ordered the summer bedding plants.

Wednesday ended up being a repeat of Tuesday weather wise.  No cottages out but one in and one cleaner up.  Spend most of the morning on accounts both Bolehill and WI!  After lunch went down to Bakewell to get some provisions and do some banking!  On the way back noticed some forsythia starting to come out.  More signs of spring.  Guests arrived about 5pm. At least the sun came back out on Thursday.  No departures but another arrival.  Had planned to get some odd jobs done in the cottages but day got off on the wrong foot with Blue deciding to follow one of the cottages as they went for a walk from here.  When I realised where he was going I jumped in the car and drove round to intercept the path on the Sheldon road but was too late.  By the time I got back Blue was home and when I caught up with the guests they said he had turned back before getting to the Sheldon road.  This put me back a bit and with an oil delivery and some phone calls it wasn’t until after lunch I was able to get on with some things like hemming some cottage curtains.  One cleaner up and cottage arrived just before 3pm.  With work in the cottages coming to an end for the time being the next phase of work will be outside as the weather improves. Spring arrives next week!

Here is a picture of the hunt passing our peak district cottages last Saturday.

Monday was another bright mild day at our peak district cottages.  One cottage out and two back in later in the day and with further arrivals during the week thee cleaners up to keep on top of cleaning.  First cottage here just after 4pm with second one arriving by 6pm.  Tuesday was a complete contrast with fog hanging around all day despite a better forecast.  With no departures or arrivals it was our ‘day off’ but with it being so dreary we went to Chesterfield to get some bits and pieces.  We stopped off at the ‘Nostalgia’ Cafe on the way back for a late lunch.  First lambs have arrived at Green Cowden Farm just along the road and saw our first lambs in the fields on the way back from Chesterfield. Spent the rest of the afternoon on housework.

Saturday started dull at our Bolehill cottagescottages but brightened up later in the morning. Four cottages out with one back in later in the day.  One cleaner up to turn cottage round.  Day went in various jobs around the cottages and house.  During the afternoon spotted the local hunt on their last outing this season.  Ian has been chain harrowing the pasture fields ready for the cows. Guests arrived about 5.30, they have been looking forward to meeting the dogs! Sunday started wet but it turned  ino a much nicer day than we thought.  Three cottages out, one of which we took down to Bakewell when we did the recycling.  If we had known it was going to be so nice we could have gone for a walk but never mind.  Spent a little time in the afternoon planting out some more shrubs and finding more casualties from the winter!