Handyman phoned at 8am to say he couldn’t get into our drive so Chris told him to go home.  Snow had drifted overnight and there was a big fall too.  I was expecting a few centimeters at most so surprised when we measured 12 inches.  One cottage due out today although gave them option of staying another night if they wished.  As Andrew had a lot of snow to clear of his own it wasn’t until 2pm that he made it up here with the Kramer to clear the entrance and car park and the tractor with snow plough to clear the drive.  With help from other guests cottage got away about 2.30pm. Andrew also collected some logs from the log store with the Kramer as we were getting low and couldn’t use our mini tractor as the snow was too deep. On the cow side the final cows from here went back across the road on Sunday and Andrew put most of the remaining cows in the sheds on Tuesday.  The trouble was that he had been hoping to keep them out for another week or so, so as a result some of the cows aren’t where they should be and some are still out.  Usually as he puts them in for winter he sees to jobs like nail and tail clipping but this has had to go by the wayside for the moment.  Added to which they are now tucking into silage so we will have to hope they can come out early in the spring. Arriving guests cancelled as they also had more snow than expected at their end and with the police advising not to drive unless it was necessary it was better to be safe.  Our weekend booking also looks doubtful but one of the existing cottages may stay another night or two.  Our guests have been managing despite being ‘Bolehill bound’ on the whole and everyone has been mucking in to help keep things ticking over. Spoke to Joanna and agreed there was no point in having the WI committee meeting tonight.  No post again today and laundry could not be returned.  Chris spent a lot of the day clearing routes and I had planned to deep clean an oven in one of the cottages.  I can’t really see myself getting into any of our peak district cottages now for a few days, some of the doors were snowed up this morning anyway as you can see from the pictures so I think I will concentrate on some other things like accounts and planning for Christmas and hopefully I can get cracking on the cottages again next week.

Woke up to a couple of inches of snow and out by 7.30 clearing the drive for the carpet delivery.  They phoned just before 8 to say they couldn’t get here so Chris has put off the delivery for a couple of days.  No cottages arriving or departing today but still work to do.  With a couple of empty cottages I took down some curtains for washing over the next few days and the handyman came up to carry on with his work.  Chris is a bit better today.  Andrew came up and cleared the drive properly with his snow plough mid morning.  Chris was able then to use his fertiliser/salt spreader which made salting the drive a lot better.  A couple of cottages stayed in all day and I went out early afternoon to get some logs from the log shed and took some pictures which gives you a flavour.  I know other parts of the country have got it worse but it is a nuisance when I really want to be out there in and out of cottages doing things.  Oh and I have reminded the handyman that we will have to be thinking about putting Xmas lights up soon!  Cooked a roast dinner but kept an eye on the weather the wind in particular was whipping up the snow.  I couldn’t see out of the office by late evening.  Checked with tomorrows arrivals at our peak district cottages that things were still ok with them so we will see what happens.

The temperature went down to -6 on Saturday night.  In Rowsley it was down to -12.  Even when we went down to Bakewell on Sunday morning it was still -5 in Bakewell (but -3 at Bolehill).  At least it stayed dry and sunny.  Chris has got my cold bug so he stayed in bed a bit longer.  I spent a lot of Sunday moving into the laundry room.  Boxes of bits that have been down the cellar since July now have a new home as does various bits from the old utility room.  Monday started with some flurries but the sun soon came back out.  Four cottages out of our peak district cottages this morning with one back in later in the day.  Carpet was due to be delivered but it will now arrive on Tuesday, weather permitting.  Handyman up and started maintenance on the next cottage which we also hope to re carpet.  Cleaner up and prepared cottage for today and Wednesday in case she cannot get up on Wednesday.  One disappointment is that one of the new hair dryers I bought for one of the cottages has gone AWOL and another oven glove bites the dust.  At least a dozen oven gloves and tea towels have had to be replaced this year where they have been burnt by being left too near a hob or stains like curry spices in addition to normal wear & tear.  And they are always the new ones that get damaged!  Usual tasks including laundry and rubbish and after an early lunch I set off for Matlock.  Main purpose was to stock up at Salisbury’s and possibly pop into town to the bank and Wilkinsons.  I wanted to get back before it got dark so in the end just did Sainsbury’s. It was very busy, whether it was because others were also stocking up too with more snow forecast for the next few days I don’t know, but I got back just after 4pm.  Not long after the cottage arrived, who has been a number of times before.  Spoke to my friend in Yorkshire who already has had a foot of snow in the last week.  Chris went to the Bakewell Photographic Circle as it was competition night and although not feeling well there was no-one else there who could operate the computer!

As soon as I woke up on Saturday I knew it had snowed by the colour of the daylight.  First things first Chris went out to start clearing the drive and I followed.  There was a covering of about 1/2 inch so it did not take too long to shovel and grit.  Eggs delivered from Green Cowden Farm, probably the last weekly delivery for this year as they are laying less due to shorter days and cold weather.  After a late breakfast Chris took me  down to the Farmers Market.  A couple of stalls were missing but most of what I usually get I was able to buy and having Chris with me meant I bought a few different things too.  We also called in at Elliots who install log burning stoves as we plan to replace the stove in Shippon.  Back home I did the last of my bits in the three cottages that were arriving later in the day at our peak district cottages.  All three have been a number of times before.  All arrived between 3.30 and 4.30 pm.  Took some pictures including our resident pheasant, view from my office, cows in the paddock from Derwent and views from the front door. All eyes on the weather.

Its been mentioned again.  They’re talking about snow later in the week.  So to be safe one cleaner came up on Wednesday and made a start on cleaning empty cottages in readiness for the weekend as we are quite full this weekend.  Chris and the handyman are repainting one of the cottages.  I also went down to Bakewell to stock up for a few days and replenish some stock as I have not been down to Bakewell for a week.  Spent some time doing bits in cottages and over the next few weeks I have a list of jobs to do .  Chris went and filled the 4×4 up so we are prepared.  Thursday was a repeat of Wednesday but I managed to get more done in the cottages.  After lunch Louise from Haddon Grove Cottages popped in and we had a chat about business and I showed her some of the cottages.  Later on I made our Christmas Cake – my Christmas cakes were always well received – but this is only the second time since I’ve been here that I’ve made one.  I also made a stollen which didn’t go to plan (I forgot one of the ingredients) but I shall have another go.  Still no sign of the white stuff at our peak district cottages but the panic is not over yet!

On Monday there were two departures with one cottage returning so with only two cottages in over the next few days a chance to repaint one of the cottages and carry out a number of maintenance jobs.  One cleaner up to prepare cottage who arrived about 4pm.  Chatted to my friend in Yorkshire and later in the evening we went to Buxton to see Ludovico Einaudi.  Who? I hear you say, well known to listeners of Classic FM his piano music has a wide audience as my nieces who celebrated their 18th birthday on Monday confirmed when I phoned them.  I have enjoyed his music for years.  You may have heard this piece which is used by the BBC  for a trailer on what is on on their channels.  Also at the Opera House were Deborah and Martin from Wheeldon Trees Farm.  I only coughed a few times!  On Tuesday we went to Sheffield.  We called in at the Solicitor after which we had a walk around Sheffield and bought a few things from TJ Hughes.  The wheel has gone but there was a Xmas Market.  We then went onto Makro before returning to our peak district cottages.  The handyman had been up again so he had kept an eye on the dogs.  They had ran off after a flock of geese who flew over, but they came back after a few fields although the handyman didn’t think they would!  After a quick tea we went off to Buxton again, this time to see a tribute to Johnny Cash.  This was Chris’s choice as I’m not keen on country and western music but I still enjoyed it.

With me still feeling under the weather I stayed in bed a bit longer on Saturday morning leaving Chris to say goodbye to the departing cottage.  Once up I got on with jobs around the house at my pace.  Sunday was more of the same.  One cottage out from our peak district cottages after which we went down to Bakewell for the paper and some milk.  Felt well enough to go out in the evening to the film night at Over Haddon.  Still in the church for another month or so but the new hall is coming along fine.  Tonight’s offering was the ‘Blues Brothers’ which is celebrating 30 years since it was released.  Didn’t some of the stars look young!

Here are a couple of pictures from a few weeks ago when we went to Derwent Reservoir not far from our peak district cottages.