Plan A was say goodbye to guests, sort out cleaners, got to Bakewell then after lunch spend some time on the house.  Day started with checking weather forecast and having palpitations because SNOW was suddenly on the forecast.  Three cottages out today and a bunch of roses from my regular departing guests.  Two cleaners up this morning and one early afternoon and managed to get to Bakewell before a (late) lunch.  One cottage due back in the afternoon but mid afternoon got a call from a regular guest who had booked a place in Yorkshire but were not happy with the accommodation so wondered if we had anything.  Luckily we did and luckily as we were up to date with the cleaning it was ready, so I just needed to do my final checks.  I also got a phone call from Natwest to say my debit card had been compromised – someone had used ‘it’ in Australia to cash some money.  Afterwards I remembered about the ATM at the Co Op in Bakewell being tampered with a couple of months ago and I will mention this when I complete the paper work they are sending me.  First guests arrived about 5.30 and second ones about 9.30, they were previous B&B guests.  During the day Chris had been working in the old utility room and had been clearing it out and doing some plastering so we can put cupboards in.  This had meant the power had had to be switched off  a couple of times which always has a traumatising effect on the dogs.  In fact when I moved the car after going to Bakewell Blue joined me in the car and wouldn’t come out!   Even Smudge went in the car voluntarily when Chris went down to Bakewell rather than stay in the house.  At the end of the day at our peak district cottages we got everything ready so that Chris could salt the drive before bedtime if needed.

Tuesday was a bit of a miserable day weather wise and a day of catching up.  Down to Bakewell in the morning and to Focus in the afternoon with Chris to get some bits and pieces.  Also caught up with the WI accounts.  Plenty of emails.  Sometimes it feast or famine and sometimes like today you get a couple of enquiries for the same cottage for the same time but enquiries don’t always lead to bookings.  Wednesday was brighter and dry and I had another day of retail therapy this time at Leek.  Some more accounts and bookings to deal with later in the day and getting ready for a busier few days at our peak district cottages. Thursday was an ‘at home’ day.  For a Thursday we had a higher number of enquiries and bookings than usual so that was encouraging.  Had a prospective guest visit to have a look at some of our cottages and later in the day another cottage arrived.  Thursday is supposed to be our day off but with more bookings choosing Thursday as their start date we will have to reconsider our days off.  In the evening we went to Felicini’s in Bakewell. We haven’t been there for a while so it made a change and we both enjoyed our meal.

Sunday was a bit of a miserable day at our peak district cottages.  I had hoped it might improve but it didn’t.  Two cottages out.  After getting the paper from Bakewell had coffee and invited a couple of the guests over.  Thought I might have a quiet day but had a lot of emails and phone calls and got a number of bookings from them.  Chris did some planing for the work he was going to do on the dogs en suite.  Got the fire going later in the afternoon so Smudge was happy after I had taken them for a walk in the rain. Monday was one of those hectic days, bookings, cancellations, emails, telephone calls.  Two cottages out and two back in and three cleaners up and usual Monday events with laundry and rubbish collections.  No problems encountered with cleaning and one cottage here by 3pm and the second one arriving just after 5pm.  Been following the new series Outcasts so made an effort to sit down and watch it, even if the phone did ring!

Wednesday was a bit dull but mainly dry at our peak district cottages.  One cottage out and after coffee headed off to Macclesfield for a little retail therapy with my old cleaner.  Actually bought some bits for myself!  After dinner collected Joanna and headed to the church at Over Haddon for the monthly WI meeting.  Our guest speaker tonight was Berlie Doherty a local writer and Derbyshire’s Reading Champion (her role is to promote reading in young people).  She talked to us about how she started writing and about the inspiration for her books.  As she has lived in Derbyshire and Sheffield for a lot of her life she also has drawn on local history for ideas.  We all enjoyed her talk.  Thursday was dry and mainly cloudy although we had a little bit of drizzle.  One cleaner up to prepare cottages for the weekend. I spent time doing bits in the cottages for the weekend and also popped down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend.  Later in the afternoon we took the dogs down to the vets to complete their booster jabs which they took in their stride.  In the evening we caught up with some episodes of CSI and I noted (on Tuesday’s CSI) that as Greg processed the handcuffs my favourite composer (Einaudi) was accompanying him!

A good sign is that snowdrops are starting to appear at our peak district cottages.  I have noticed that Hopton Hall is open again for its snowdrops (it has changed hands recently so we weren’t sure if it would open to the public this year). Tuesday was lovely sunny day – no wind  – but a frosty start.  Down to Bakewell in the morning to get some provisions then loaded up the car to go to the recycling centre at Buxton.  After lunch headed to Buxton where dropped stuff off at the recycling center (couldn’t believe the numbers of TVs and microwaves stacked up) then went to Morrisons.  On the way back called in at some electrical suppliers and builders merchants.  A quite evening in.

The wind was still strong enough at our peak district cottages to make me lose my footing a couple of times on Sunday morning.  It had also been strong enough to dislodge a couple of tiles on one of the cottages and luckily the handyman was able to come up and fix them.  At least it was dry and still mild.  A day of odd jobs around the house and some last minute bits in the cottages. Monday was a busy day with two cottages out and two back in and one changing cottages. Two cleaners up today plus a new one who I hope will be able to help out on busy weekdays.  No problems encountered and everything ready for the arrivals, both of whom have been before.  It was still quite windy but during the day it finally eased off.  Chris and the handyman found some time to do some tidying up so I will be off to the recycling centre in the next day or so.

After a windy night at our peak district cottages checked for loose tiles when I took the dogs for their morning walk.  In some parts of the fields I could barely keep upright.  The dogs weren’t fazed by it though.  Went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend.  Chris carried on with carpet laying in Magpie and I went and helped him move furniture in and out of rooms when needed.  With two more cottages due in (and already cleaned) I had some last minute chores to do.  First cottage here just after 3.30 and the second cottage about 8.30.  Chris went out for a few hours in the evening sorting out a computer so I did some housework. Saturday was wet with over an inch of rain.  Glad of the new laundry room as I had somewhere to dry wet coats and towels as well as washing.  Another car to add to the car park, they arrived about 3.30 and have been here before.  Spent most of the day cleaning bits in Magpie along with the cleaner.  Also ironed the curtains ready to put back up.  Chris later laid the last of the carpet in Magpie and just as he got to the last bit when he found a problem.  It never rains but it pours!