Wednesday morning was warm enough for me to do some gardening at our peak district cottages.  One cottage out with one back in but cottage already cleaned so no cleaners up.  Electrician here to do bits in laundry area and dogs en suite.  Had an early lunch so I could go down to Bakewell and get hair cut and provisions for next few days. All the talk is off the accident on Monday morning in which a lady was killed (or not).  The road was closed for hours (a friend said it was even mentioned on Radio 2 traffic news).  Back in time for arriving guests but by then it was raining.  Managed to find time to pay some bills and after dinner went to Joanna’s for WI committee meeting.  Thursday was mild, more like an April day than November.  One cleaner up to clean a cottage and public areas.  Decided to clean my car as it was so mild and managed to do so before it rained agin.  Electrician here again and Chris had to go to Buxton to get some electrical bits.  He had to replace a hot water timer in one of the cottages.  Forecast is for a colder weekend. 

Tuesday started promising enough at our peak district cottages but unfortunately it had deteriorated by the afternoon into rain.  Had hoped to do some gardening.  No cottages out but one back in but again two cleaners up to do some cleaning and deep cleaning.  With it being nice I decided to wash a doormat but that ended up drying off inside.  Spent time in cottages putting up curtains, switching lampshades and changing bins and checking gust information folders.  Cottage arrived just after 4pm.  Next year’s prices are now posted on the Internet.  The milk cows are now only out for a few hours a day as the quantity and quality of grass deteriorates and if it stays wet they will go in and stay in until next spring so I’m counting the days until we lose them.  We have lost a few more of the in calf heifers from this side of the road as they have gone home for their confinement.  Only about two dozen left in our fields and only a few more weeks before they go home too as will the hooligans. A lot will depend on the weather over the next couple of weeks.

Talking of weather here are the weather stats for October.  Wettest day was 3rd with 1.04 in but most of the 3.39 in fell in the first three days! October 09 showed 1.84 in.  The warmest day and night was the 8th with highest temp of 15.8 o 10th.  Coldest night 19th with coldest day 20th with lowest temp of -0.3 on the 20th.

Friday was a big departure and arrival day with four cottages out and four back into our peak district cottages.  A bit dull to start with but it brightened up.  Two cleaners up and with all guests out by 10am a quick start was made to cleaning.  Chris popped to Buxton to get some DIY bits whilst I finished off in the cottages.  Two cottages arrived between 3 & 4 pm with two cottages arriving between 5 & 6pm.  One has been before.  Saturday saw three more departures with three arrivals and with two cleaners up I made a dash down to Bakewell for the Farmers Market. A few of the usual stall holders weren’t there but I still got more than enough for the week.  No problems encountered with cleaning and all finished by midday!  Chris cleared some leaves out of the car park and gardens and I showed some existing guests around the cleaned cottages.  Two cottages arrived between 3 & 4 pm and one between 5 & 6pm.  They have been before.  Installed my new washing machine before dinner.  Things are getting there!

Tuesday was a dismal day weather wise.  Not a good advert for the Peak District but it wasn’t just here and guests made the best of the day.  When it brightened up later in the day I took the dogs for a walk.  Chris was doing some finishing off jobs in the new laundry and I did some sorting out in my linen room.  Wednesday was a much better day with the sun shining and it feeling more like spring than autumn.  Builder who dug out footings up today with some of his toys to carry out some maintenance and repair work on drive and patios. He has sold us his 4×4 so at least we are now prepared for a bad winter as the discovery died last winter.  There have been rumours of a long winter ahead again.  One cottage out with one back into our peak district cottages.  Down to Bakewell in the morning to pick up supplies for the next few days.  One cleaner up and cottage arrived about 5.30pm.  Found some time to do accounts.  In the evening I went with Joanna to Monyash WI where there was a group meeting of a number of local WI’s.  There was bout 50 – 60 of us ladies and we had a nice supper.  Our guest speaker was Sean Wilson (aka Martin Platt from Coronation Street). He has now become an artisan cheese maker and he gave us a very entertaining talk on making cheese and we had a cheese tasting session comparing supermarket brand with his own.  Learnt a lot about cheese.  Got the WI accounts back and pleased to say I haven’t done a bad job!  Thursday was another fine day and most of the morning seem to go in making decisions about the laundry.  Builder up to relay path that had to be dug up when the extension was built.  After lunch we went to Chesterfield with a list of things to get from various DIY stores.  We also visited the new Tesco’s (actually its been there nearly a year) and had a cup of tea there.  Decided we are becoming ‘ruralised’ as we found the place too big! 

A couple of glorious days weather wise at our peak district cottages, beautiful sun rises and sunsets and a frosty start to Monday.  On Sunday we thought about going for a walk but Chris wanted to get some plumbing finished so he concentrated on that and I ‘pottered’ around the house and garden.  First we went down to Bakewell to get the paper and do the bottles.  Later in the afternoon we went over to Longnor and had a walk around the village and a cup of tea and piece of cake at the old Market Place.  Monday was a busier day with three cottages out and four back in and two cleaners up.  A busy day for phone calls and emails too which resulted in a number of bookings.  Two cottages arrived between 3 & 4 pm, one between 4 & 5 pm and final one just before 7pm.  Sat down in time for Spooks.  Chris should have gone to the Bakewell Photographic Circle but the joiner arrived late afternoon to finish off some work – the dogs now have a door to their en suite – and didn’t leave until nearly 8pm, added to which Chris dropped his big box of screws so had to spend an hour or so sorting them all out again!  The builder was up for a while today tidying up.  We should have the path at the back of the new laundry re laid this week and with the electrician also due to finish we should be able to start moving in soon.

Friday was a mild day with a few showers.  Two cottages out with three back in and two cleaners here at our peak district cottages.  All cleaning finished by lunchtime so had the chance to do some odd jobs in the cottages.  First cottage arrived at 3pm, with second one arriving at 4pm and final one at 6.30 pm.  One has been before.  Saturday was a bit more showery.  Three cottages out with three back in, all departed by 9.30 and with two cleaners here by 9.30 quick progress was made of the cleaning.  Chris went down to Over Haddon to give some more input on the cabling at the village hall.  Cleaning finished by lunchtime so again some time for odd jobs.  First cottage here by 3pm with second one arriving at 5pm.  They had driven over from Ireland.  The third cottage arrived about 6pm having been held up by an accident on the motorway.  They have been before.  In between the two arrivals I oversaw the Tesco delivery  for the third cottage and put items in the cupboards for them, but as I pointed out they still have to find where I put everything!  Chris spent some time in the afternoon putting up the radiator in the new laundry area.  We’re getting there!

Cold frosty start to Wednesday at our peak district cottages, had to scrape the car before setting off to Chesterfield.  Lots on the list.  First stop Magnets for missing window vents for new laundry area. Then to Booker’s to stock up for the next few weeks.  Into town and a visit Argos and Wilkinsons to pick up some more supplies.  Then to Dunelm where I didn’t buy anything, but in Wickes I bought a replacement hob for one of the cottages.  Back via the tile shop to pick up more tiles.  Back home with a full car!  Still cold but luckily Chris had got the fire going!  Thursday was another day at home with time to catch up with accounts and extra washing.  Went down to Bakewell in the afternoon to get provisions for the weekend. In the evening went out for a meal at the Church Inn at Chelmorton.  A couple of busier days head.

With most guests in until Friday or Saturday at our peak district cottages I found time on Monday afternoon to go down to Bakewell Market, the first time for many months!  Monday morning went the way as most Mondays and one cleaner up to clean the public areas.  Tuesday was an ‘at home’ day catching up on WI accounts and other paperwork.  Leaves are building up again in the courtyard, the wind has been coming from the wrong direction so this year Chris is fighting a losing battle with leaves.  Tuesday was wetter than expected with a cold wind.  Time to light the fire!