No arrivals Friday, a couple of tentative enquiries for our peak district cottages didn’t follow through with bookings but cleaner up and had a go at another cottage.  I  carried on with my polishing but didn’t get as much done as I hoped.  This was because I ended up helping Chris move dishwashers around!  We put the new one in Lathkill and took the the one from Lathkill into Shippon but the space it was going into needed some adjustment.  At least it stayed mild and dry again which was true for most of Saturday although it was a lot windier.  I had planned to do some bits around the house but ended up spending some time in the cottages and doing accounts.  Sue from Green Cowden brought up some eggs and we made time for a cup of tea and look at my new laundry.  I still love showing it off!  I had to make a unplanned journey to Over Haddon as Blue had followed some walkers there.  One cottage in today arriving about 3.30pm.  Handy man up again for a few hours and Chris and he did some more work on the dry lining in Magpie.  In the afternoon Chris did a number of odd jobs around the place.  Amazing how quickly non eventful days go!

Wednesday was positively balmy at our peak district cottages after the last few weeks.  Spent the day in working in the cottages, mainly polishing furniture with a stain/polish which seems to cover a lot of scratches.  Had hoped to go to Matlock but car was still at garage for servicing and MOT.  This also meant that I couldn’t give a lift to Joanna to the WI so she took me.  Our meeting was at the church, the hall will not be ready for another couple of months.  This month our speaker was a driving instructor who gave us a talk on driving in wintry conditions.  Could have done with that for last month!  Still we have learnt some new facts.  Back about 10pm and caught up with some more emails and bookings.  My car was finally ready on Thursday morning so I went down to Bakewell to stock up on provisions and do some banking.  Final touches in a cottage before guests arrived mid afternoon, they have been before.  In the evening we took advantage of one of the many special offers local pubs are running and tried the Devonshire Arms at Pilsley.  This is a part of the Chatsworth Estate and has recently been refurbished.  They were offering an early bird special of two courses for £6.95.  A small selection on the menu, but what do you expect at that price, but still we enjoyed our meal.

Monday was a bit dreary and cold although milder weather is forecast.  No arrivals or departures but still a busy day with laundry and rubbish to deal with too.  Handyman up to carry on with insulation work and Chris laid some more carpet.  Cleaner up to carry on spring cleaning.  Chris wanted a pair of work trousers turning up so I thought that would be a quick job as I wanted to go down to Bakewell to get some food.  Like all five minute jobs it took much longer and by the time I had dealt with a few phone calls it was too late.  I also needed to see Joanna about the WI programme and had arranged to speak to a friend too.  A busy evening with phone calls and emails but made sure I sat down for 9pm to watch Silent Witness even if I went back and carried on afterwards!  Tuesday was a quieter day at out peak district cottages so a chance to catch up on some housework and WI bits. Car in for MOT and as not ready by the evening Chis took me down Bakewell so I could get some bits from the Co-Op.  Also spent some time in the evening with Chris deciding on a couple of new TV’s for a couple of the cottages.

Saturday was a bright day and luckily the overnight rain washed away the snow so back to green at our peak district cottages.  Cleaner came up to turn round cottage needed for the day’s guests who arrived about 5pm.  Chris spent some more time laying carpet in Sheepfold and I spent a lot of time on emails and phone calls.  In the evening one of the cleaners came over with a problem with her laptop for Chris to sort out.  Sunday was another sunny but cold day and we couldn’t tell if the white dusting on the ground was snow or hard frost.  Despite that we thought it was good opportunity to go for a walk as we haven’t had a proper break for two weeks.  After getting the paper and doing the recycling we loaded up the car and set off for Rowsley to park at the Peak Village outlet.  From here we walked through Rowsley and past the Caudwells Mill and then took a number of footpaths up to Stanton in Peak.  We had to cross a number of lanes and at one corner I suddenly found myself on an icy patch and rather than risk falling over I got got down on my knees and crawled to a safer spot.  The ground was very hard in places especially where the sun hadn’t reached.  On the walk up we got some lovely views along the Wye Valley towards Haddon Hall and Bakewell.  We also could make out Youlgreave, Over Haddon and Bolehill Farm!  At Stanton we headed to the Moor and found the Nine Ladies Circle, a bronze age circle of stones depicted to be nine ladies turned to stone for dancing on a Sunday!  There were quite a few walkers in the area but we found a quiet but sunny spot for lunch.  After lunch we started the slow descent back to Rowsley passing through the hamlet of Stanton Woodhouse. On the descent we got some lovely views along the Derwent Valley and could make out Riber Castle at Matlock in the distance.  We also saw one of the Peak Rail trains making its way along the valley and could even (through the trees) make out Chatsworth in the distance.  Not often you get to see so much in a short walk!  Back in Rowsley we stopped at the mill so I could stock up on my porridge oats then I had a quick look around the outlet centre.  One thing that was still evident was the amount of snow still piled up in the car park!  Home via Chatsworth Farm Shop and after dealing with some emails and phone calls Chris made up the WI programme for me from the details I had typed in. Photos of walk to follow.

It had just started to snow on Friday morning at our Peak District Cottages when we got up.  Cleaner phoned and arranged to come up on Saturday to save venturing out.  Handyman had to drive via Over Haddon to get here as some cars had got stuck on the hill just past the Over Haddon turning.  One cottage out today but none due back in.  Chris and handyman continued with their work and I spent a lot of the day on emails and phone calls.  Took a number of bookings but also a couple of cancellations.  I also started to prepare the program of events for our WI.  All this years speakers have been arranged but a program needs printing.  By the time it stopped snowing mid morning there was about two inches.  I had hoped for a quick thaw with the promised rain but all that happened was that it got foggy as the temperature started to rise.  More rain has been forecast overnight so hopefully the snow will have gone by the morning.

Kept awake most of Tuesday night with the wind and rain-yes it rained.  And it was still raining when I took the dogs for their walk.  Having taken the cottage trees down I spent most of the morning boxing up trees, outside lights and baubles.  Every year when I get the trees etc down I say I will sort them out before I pack them away but never have so this year I did.  I also took our decorations and tree down.  Doesn’t everywhere look bare for a day or two!  After lunch went down to Bakewell to get some provisions for the next few days.  With a WI committee meeting here after dinner I also prepared for that too.  We had a lot to discuss especially with the Village Hall not ready and our local WI Group meeting looming which we are to host.  Thursday dawned bright and frosty at our peak district cottages.  After the arrival of the handyman and cleaner we headed off to Chesterfield as we still had some items to source for the work we are doing.  We had a coffee break at the Northern Tea Merchants (they do coffee too) and of course I had my Dunelm fix!  We then went onto Tideswell to get some bits from one of the builders merchants.  Tideswell has never done anything for me even though it is a very popular village but with the arrival of a number of new food shops I thought it would be nice to see what they were like.  I ended up disappointed as everywhere seemed to be closed.  There is a documentary to be shown soon on the BBC about Tideswell so watch this space.  We then went onto Buxton.  First call was an industrial clothing place for some outdoor clothes, with Chris doing a lot of outdoor work it is amazing how quickly they get ruined.  We had a late spot of lunch before getting some other bits and pieces.  We also had a look at couple of furniture stores for some more cottage items.  On the way back we called in at one of the electrical wholesalers as we need some more bulbs!  It was quite late by the time we got back and quite late before we sat down (no dinner – just a snack) as we dealt with a large number of emails and phone calls during our absence.  Time for another chocolate fix!

On Monday said goodbye to the last two cottages from the New Year but so we don’t feel too lonely one cottage came back into our peak district cottages.  One cleaner up to turn cottage round and make a start on others.  My time was spent in taking down four Xmas trees and other jobs around the cottages now that we have some empty ones again.  On Tuesday there was a light dusting of snow but that disappeared during the day.  Handyman back up today and he started taking down the outside lights.  Chris cut some more carpet and laid the bedroom carpet in Dove.  New sofas and coffee tables arrived for Sheepfold and some insulation boards arrived for Magpie where we are going to add some extra insulation to the upstairs bedroom.  One cleaner up to continue with cleaning.  Took down remaining trees in cottages as well as dealing with some enquiries and bookings.  Phew!  Needed a chocolate fix when I finally sat down for Silent Witness!

Saturday and Sunday were mainly ‘me’ days and I finished off a jigsaw that had been started when our friends were here amongst other things.  Finished off the accounts too.  One cottage out on Saturday and five on Sunday so it was strange to have just a couple of cottages in.  A couple of dreary days at our peak district cottages with the temperature heading southwards again but at least the visibility had improved.

December:  despite the snow there was only .71 in rain (2.3 in 2009) with 16th being the wettest day with .23 in rain.  Highest temp was 6.1 on 29th with lowest temp -7.2 on the 20th.  Coldest day was 20th with that night being the coldest.  Warmest day was the 11th with that night being the warmest.

Stats for 2010:  hottest day 23rd May with temp of 25.8 and warmest night was 10th July.  20th December has the honour of being coldest day, night and lowest temp of -7.2.  Highest UV was 9.3 on 1/7 with highest barometer reading of 1043 on 26/1 and lowest was 967 on 8/11. Total rain for 2010 was 26.48 with wettest day 1.08 on 8/11.  (total rain for 2009 was 37.16 and 2008 was 44.16 so you can see how dry 2010 was).