Sunday dawned sunny and mild so without ado we packed a lunch and set off from our peak district cottages for a walk along Baslow Edge.  Not having done much walking recently I chose a walk that would not be too demanding but would give us some views. We got a paper in Bakewell before driving to and parking in Baslow.  We took the lane that lead up to the Edge but turned off on a lower path below the Edge itself.  As we walked along we had some nice views up to Curbar Edge and the surrounding countryside.  Pity I had forgotten my camera.  The path ends up on the lane below Curbar Edge so we walked the short way up then took the path onto Baslow Edge.  After a short while we found a spot for lunch.  From here I could make out Fin Cop and Monsal Dale and Baslow Hall.  Whilst we were having lunch one of Chris’s photographic fiends walked by.  The dogs were distracted by a model glider which resulted in some woofing and then they spotted a para glider which resulted in more woofing. As we walked we got some lovely views towards Chatsworth.  It looked very busy.  We were back in Baslow early afternoon as the walk was less than four miles but it gave us the afternoon to get some things done.  It was warm enough to have a cup of tea on the patio! Later in the evening we went to the Church at Over Haddon for this months film club.  The film was Shutter Island, a psychological thriller, very engrossing!

Friday started dull but brightened up.  Three cottages out of our peak district cottages with two cleaners up to prepare cottages for tomorrow.  I went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend.  Andrew took the last of the maternity wing back across the road so we are left with two fields of youngsters.  The milk cows are now in at night and it wont be long before they will be in for the winter.  Saturday was a busy day with three cottages out and six back in.  A bright but cold day and Chris found time to blow leaves out of the courtyard again and ‘hoover’ leaves of the lawns.  Two cleaners up today.  Five cottages in between 3.30 and 4.30pm with the remaining cottage arriving about 5.30pm.  Four have been here before.

Wednesday was another nice day at our peak district cottages once the cloud broke.  In the morning got all my WI bits ready for the evening then after lunch headed for Chesterfield.  First stop was to pick up more floor tiles for the laundry area.  Then I headed to Dunelm (no trip to Chesterfield is complete without a visit to Dunelm!) before going to Morrisons.  After dinner collected Joanna and we went to the church in Over Haddon for the WI meeting.  A good turnout and our speaker gave us a talk on beading. We had planned on a hands on evening but there wasn’t enough room for tables but we enjoyed the talk and learnt that beading is far more intricate than first thought.  We also had a plant sale to booster our funds.  Thursday was dreary and a day to catch up with things around the house.  Still its amazing how quickly these days go.  The underfloor heating is down in the laundry area and the floor tiles should start to go down tomorrow.  Also had my new washing machine delivered, this will stay in store for a few more days and a new fridge for the cottage which left today and this will go in before the next guests arrive at the weekend.

Tuesday was another of the possible days we could visit Chatsworth as we had no arrivals or departures at our peak district cottages but again it was quite gloomy so by coffee time we abandoned the idea.  I headed off to Bakewell to get some provisions for the next few days leaving Chris replacing the shower in the sauna area.  Whilst I was down in Bakewell the clouds started to break so when I got back we decided to have a quick lunch and head to Chatsworth to have a look at the garden sculptures and the house itself as they have opened more rooms to the public this year.  By the time we got to Chatsworth House the sky was blue.  We had the dogs with us so we opted first for a walk round the gardens to look at the ‘Beyond the Limits’ exhibition.  This year there are 24 sculptures and as usual there is the debate of Is it Art? The one which provoked a lot of conversation was the one by Damien Hirst called Exquisite Pain.  My first reaction was that it was grotesque but I heard one lady call it moving.  It was though an intricate piece of work.  The dogs got a lot of attention and when Chris was taking a picture of Blue for his blog another lady was also snapping away so it would have been interesting to know where that as going to end up.  One interesting thing was that we heard one of those old wind up cameras being used!  We had a tea break at the stable before having a quick tour round the house.  For this year only there is an exhibition to celebrate the Dowager Duchess 90th year.  They have also installed a lift so there is now wheelchair access to the first floor.  After the house we still had time for another walk round the garden and came across the staff turning off the Emperor Fountain just before the gardens closed.  As we left we got some nice shots of the setting sun lighting up the facade of Chatsworth.  Now I just have to whittle down the 112 pictures into a small selection for the blog!  As I blog Blue is snoring away, he obviously had a good day.

Friday and Saturday saw all the cottages out of our peak district cottages with some arriving back in but no returning guests.  Monday will also see comings and goings.  Four out Friday with three back in and two cleaners up.  After a fine day on Thursday it was back to misty conditions which only lifted eventually into low cloud.  First cottage arrived by 3pm and with remaining two not arriving until 7.30 and 8pm time was devoted to business matters like ordering a new washing machine and a fridge for one of the cottages.  I am missing the old machine as it had an 8kg capacity and I am rediscovering how little a 5kg machine can wash!  Saturday saw four more cottages out and three back in with two cleaners up.  One cottage gave us a box of chocolates as Chris had had to sort out a problem with the heating for them.  A little brighter today but the mist still really didn’t clear.  After everything ready for today’s arrival sorted out bills for paying as I have a mixture of business and ones relating to the extension to sort out.  First guests in just after 3pm with second one about an hour later.  All being well we will have a day off on Sunday. our first for five weeks so do need it, so tried planning a walk but feel like being lazy and doing one from here.

No arrivals or departures in our peak district cottages for a couple of days and with the WI accounts completed a chance to catch up on home and business affairs.  Wednesday we went to Chesterfield and Matlock to pick up tiles and glass for the extension.  Stopped for coffee en route and mid afternoon before we got back for a late lunch.  In the evening went to the WI committee meeting.  Thursday started misty but it soon cleared into a pleasant autumnal day.  Had considered going to Chatsworth to see the sculptures but with another leak in the plumbing Chris wanted to be here when the plumber arrived. Went down to Bakewell to hand over the WI accounts to an Independent Financial Advisor to confirm all in order.  Parked in the Agricultural Centre car park for a change and noticed how the leaves on the trees on the hillside are changing colour.  A reminder of what a lovely part of the country we are in!  In the afternoon caught up with business accounts. Haven’t taken any pictures of the extension lately, the laundry area is now plastered and hopefully the floor tiles can go down in the middle of next week and then we can move the washing machines and tumble dryer back in.  We’re getting there!

Chalk and cheese.  Monday was a beautiful day after Sunday with a good week forecast weather wise so it was nice that the first phone call of the day filled my remaining vacancy so full house again.  One cleaner due up but had problem with car so was delayed.  Two cottages due in, one cleaned but not made up so while cleaner got car sorted out I made up beds and finished off first cottage and then did beds in second cottage by which time cleaner arrived.  All done in time for arrival of guests with both cottages arriving about 4pm.  Our late booking were from Australia phoning on the off chance we had a vacancy.  In the evening we went to Buxton to see Tell Me on a Sunday at the Opera House so an early tea and no time to finish off the WI accounts as planned.  Still time for a chat with a friend on the phone and a chance to peruse the catalogue for the Chatsworth Attic Sale courtesy of one of the guests.  Tuesday was therefore dedicated to completing the WI accounts. Chris off early for a meeting at the Over Haddon Village Hall, he is giving some technical input on electrical matters.  No arrivals or departures at our peak district cottages but time to chat to guests as they came and went about their day. Had the regular servicing on our boilers but still have a leak on one of the new pipes installed in the new laundry so the plumber will come back and check it out.  In the afternoon went down to Bakewell to get some provisions and also called in at the WI Presidents House to get some paper work signed.  Finally finished off the accounts after dinner.  A busy day for enquiries and bookings so that kept me busy too. Day one at the Chatsworth sale saw lots raise £4.5 million which is what they were expecting for the whole of the three days.  One fire place realised £.5 million!

Thought Friday would be the wettest day but Sunday managed to beat Friday!  After walking the dogs and getting wet again went and got the Sunday paper.  One cottage out with two back in to our peak district cottages, but cottages already clean.  When we got back from Bakewell Chris went down and cleared one of the rain gullies as the cattle grid was filling up.  The dogs went too although Blue had to be washed as he got covered in mud.  Never mind, when their ‘en suite’ is finished we can shower them down without having to do it in the rain!  With two things having gone wrong this week the third happened today when the washing machine I use for cottage laundry gave up the ghost.  This meant we had to swap washing machines around and I had to finish today’s washing in the guests laundry area.  First guests arrived about 1pm (delayed from yesterday) just as the heaven really opened with the second cottage arriving just after 4pm by which time the sun was shining!   They are here for the Chatsworth Attic Sale (entrance by catalogue at £30!)  One of the cleaners called in later in the afternoon.  She said the A6 had flooded near Buxton and checking the Environment Agency’s website there were flood alerts all along the River Wye from Buxton to Rowsley. A chat with one of the guests who had been on one of Sally Mosley’s walk before dinner and a quiet evening in. Total rain for the day was 1.16 in rain.  We have had as much rain in the first three days of October as we had all of April and May!