Well Thursday was the best day in ages at our cottages near Bakewell (see link). It was dry sunny and warm and ideal for gardening. Guess what, it was the day we had booked a tour of the Thornbridge brewery so we were inside all afternoon! In the morning I went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend as we have a busy Friday. 
After lunch we set off for the brewery where a tour had been organised by Visit Peak District for some of its members . Thornbridge still has a small brewery at the Hall but the new brewery on one of the industrial estates on the edge of Bakewell means they have been able to expand their range of beers as well as bring jobs to Bakewell. We were able to sample some of the produce and I was presented with a case of beer as my name had been pulled out of the hat in the free prize draw! 
After the tour we went to Hassop station for afternoon tea and as it was still pleasant we were able to sit on the concourse and enjoy tea and cake! By contrast Friday was quite misty and we didn’t see our neighbours farm until late into the afternoon. It was mild though and stayed dry. 
Three departures and three arrivals and one cleaner up. A couple of cottages already cleaned but there was still plenty to do. Chris cleared the courtyard and car park of leaves again but the lawns were too wet. Two cottages arrived between 4and 4.30 pm, one has been before. Spent some time dealing with this months accounts before sitting down for the evening. Final guests arrived about 10.30,they have been before so knew to let themselves in.
bakewell cottages
A busy Tuesday
Tuesday (8th October) saw no departures with three arrivals and one cleaner up at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here). Another mild day forecast but with a cold snap to follow. Later in the morning I went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the next few days then final checks on cottages before guests arrived. Two cottages have been before and they arrived at 4and5pm but having said that we were chatting with the first cottage almost until the second one arrived. Final cottage, from Australia, arrived just before 8pm. Wednesday was a contrast feeling cooler with showers. Had planned to catch up on accounts but the morning went on emails, bookings and carrying out tasks from the reminders file. One departure but no arrivals. After lunch feeling in need of a break I headed to the Peak Shopping Village at Rowsley as a new shop which I like has opened. Didn’t buy anything though. Back home and after an early tea collected Joanna as we were opening up and setting out the hall for this months WI meeting. Our speaker had been before and this time spoke about mental illnesses and different treatments both past and present. It was very interesting. Thursday was another quiet day, a lot brighter but with a definite nip in the air. With the changing wind direction leaves were blowing into the courtyard so a job for Chris. Northerly winds are are what he hates at this time of year! No departures but one arrival and one cleaner up. Cottage arrived at 3pm and I managed to get some accounts done. The quarter finished a few weeks ago and I still haven’t finished the quarter end accounts!
Another pleasant weekend
At least we had our views back on Friday at our cottages near Bakewell (see here for details). It was a very mild day with sunshine and showers. Down to Bakewell first thing to get provisions for the weekend and back in time to see departing cottage. One cleaner up. Spent most of the day doing preparations for the cottages arriving on Saturday as well as housekeeping duties. Chris did some outside jobs. Cottage arrived about 8.30 pm. Saturday was another mild day with plenty of sunshine and saw three departures and six arrivals and two cleaners up. With prompt departures cleaning was finished by midday and checks finished by 1.30 as I had been able to do some of the work on Friday. Chris had a busy morning clearing leaves from the car park and the lawns as well as grass cutting. We also moved the new suite into a cottage and relocated the one it was replacing elsewhere. After a late lunch had time to catch up with emails before first guests arrived. A steady procession of arrivals saw all guests here by 4.15. Four have been before and one is here for two weeks, two were here for the second time this year (which was also the case last week) so we had plenty of catching up to do. Got a couple of bookings later in the afternoon and had a quiet evening in. If you are missing the Peak District and haven’t seen it recently here is the Peak District promotional video on You Tube. Count how many places you recognise! There is a TV advert in the offing too so watch out for that.
Bakewell Silver Band
Thursday was quite wet and dull during the morning at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see link). Problems with my washing machine again but hopefully Chris has finally sorted it out. Two departures and one arrival with one cleaner up. After lunch we headed to Chesterfield to Bookers to stock up on goods and called in at one of the farm shops on the way. By now it was brightening up and the sun came out. We also called in at Screwfix and Dunelm (of course) before heading home. Guests arrived just after 7pm. They have been before. Friday was as promised a fine day. Down to Bakewell first thing leaving Chris to say goodbye to our departing cottage. One cleaner up. At lunch time we met up with our friends from Yorkshire who were passing through en route to a weekend in the Wirral. We met up at Hassop Station for lunch. It was very busy. Spent the rest of the afternoon preparing for Saturday as well as some sewing jobs. Andrew came up and helped Chris put the hanging baskets back up. Cottage arrived just after 8 pm but had a busy evening for bookings. Although Saturday started dull it soon brightened and warmed up. Four departures and three arrivals and two cleaners up. One cottage booked again for next year. Everything ready by lunchtime and Chris cut the grass before guests arrived. Two cottages arrived between 3.30 and 4pm and the final one by 5pm and for once all are new guests. By mid afternoon it was really quite warm, almost warm enough for an ice cream. I did not wear a jacket when we headed to Over Haddon Village hall in the evening. I may not have had front row seats at the Albert Hall for the Last Night of the Proms but I had a front row seats at the Village Hall for the annual Bakewell Silver Band proms night at Over Haddon! After the excellent concert we stayed behind to help clear up and caught up on some village gossip!
Things that go beep in the day
On Wednesday we had planned to meet up with our friends from Yorkshire at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park near Wakefield but with rain expected we decided to save our outing for a better day. The rain arrived late morning at our cottages near Bakewell (see here) and continued into the afternoon. Over the last few days the business washing machine had been playing up and I had been using my personal washing machine so we went to Chesterfield (taking the dogs for a ride) to do some research on a replacement machine. There we some other items I wanted to research too including new crockery. Back home I prepared for the evenings WI meeting and gave Chris his dinner before collecting Joanna. As we drove round to Over Haddon there was mist rising from the Dale which looked spectacular, wished I had taken my camera. Tonight was the first meeting after the summer and we had organised a Harvest Supper with Lynne cooking some jacket potatoes and the rest of the committee bringing other food items. We enjoyed our supper and entertainment included guess the flavour of the crisps and I was kept busy with paying expenses from the lunches over the summer. On the way back Joanna and I were discussing the lengthening nights, it won’t be long now before the milk cows stay in over night and just come out for the day. Thursday was a much warmer day with some sunny spells. We had been advised of a planned power outage from just after 9am until latest 2.30. We had already advised guests earlier in the week and Chris had reminded them on Wednesday. As the dogs don’t like it when power goes off and everything beeps I took them for a long walk and Chris phoned when it was safe to come back! Chris got the generator out as it hasn’t been used for a number of years so it was a good opportunity to test it. I used the time without a computer to get some tidying up done. Without any power we decided to go out for lunch and went to Hassop Station where we were able to sit outside with the dogs. By the time we got back the power was back on but we kept the dogs in the car for a while we checked everything and Chris powered up the computers (more beeping). Time to catch up with emails before cooking tea. It was still warm when I took the dogs out for a walk in the evening but it looks like we’re in for some stormy weather over the weekend.
Chatsworth Country Fair
Chatsworth Country Fair is always a well attended event, most of our guests staying at our cottages near Bakewell (see here) will be attending over the three days. The event is usually held on the weekend following the Bank Holiday weekend and has grown from two days to three days over the last few years. Additionally the Red Arrows have been the highlight for many since they started making appearances a few years ago. This year they are displaying on Sunday lunchtime so we all have that to look forward to. Friday was a warm day and we saw two departures and two arrivals with one cleaner here. Both cottages arrived between 3 and 4 pm, one has been before. With a busy weekend ahead spent some time preparing for Saturday. With the recent good weather many farmers have been silaging again and Andrew is waiting for a field to be cut and baled. Saturday itself was a lot cooler. First thing down to Bakewell for the Farmers Market. Four departures with five arrivals and two cleaners up. A number of jobs including swapping a couple of sofas and Chris unblocking a drain. Cleaning finished by 1pm, as an early start to cleaning had been made. By the time I had lunch and done the final checks etc it was 2.30. So it was a wait until first guests arrival at 3.30. Two more cottages in by 4pm. Two have been before, both at the same time when we had the heavy snow just before Easter. Just after 4pm we went over to a cottage for a cup of tea with one of the guests who were already here with me leaving and returning after showing in the final two cottages at 5pm and 5.30. One is here for two weeks. We were happily chatting away and then we suddenly realised it was 7pm! I could have cooked dinner but we had a pizza from Ricci’s in Bakewell. I’d forgotten how good they taste.
Bakewell Secret Gardens
If it’s Bank Holiday Sunday then it must be Bakewell Secret Gardens. Sunday started dull but brightened and warmed up in the afternoon at our cottages near Bakewell (see link). First thing down to Bakewell to get paper then with one departure and one arrival later in the day Chris and I turned the cottage round. 
After lunch we drove down to Bakewell and was surprised to be able to park in one of the main car parks. This year the open gardens were mainly in the centre of Bakewell and the Milford area but we also came across the Alpacas below the Monsal Trail. We had time to make a cake stop at the Nice and Naughty Coffee shop next to Costa Coffee. Whilst wandering around I overheard a conversation that indicated I wasn’t the only one caught out by the Farmers Market being next Saturday, that made me feel better! Back home and guests arrived just before 7pm. At least more good weather is forecast in the days ahead.
Bakewell Show
We hadn’t planned on going to the Bakewell Show but as one of our cleaners had some spare tickets we decided we would go. One departure first thing at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here). The forecast had been for a warm and sunny day with isolated showers although luckily we didn’t see any. Chris spent the morning watering plants and weeding whilst I did some house keeping duties and a number of emails. After an early lunch we drove down to Bakewell and parked at Yeld Road a few minutes walk from the town centre.
No parking was possible in the car parks in the centre as these were being used for Coach drop off and pick up points and was manned by marshals. We entered the Show ground from Smiths Island Car Park and first of all headed for the WI tent to compare our entry with the others. From here we made our way round the show ground that extends to 30 acres. We had a look at the dog and equine competitions that were still taking place and we always enjoy the produce tents with the flowers and vegetables. 
In the food tent it was nice to see that our local butchers had done well in the competitions. The cattle seemed to have gone and by the time we got back to the sheep they were also on their way home. The benefit of going later on the second day is that by 4.30 food vendors start reducing the prices of stock. Two cupcakes for £1 and three pork pies with four bags of scratchings for £10 were my bargains of the day! We also got Blue a new lead. It was still warm when we got home but it had clouded up again so although I hoped we would be able to eat outside it was back indoors for dinner.
A cooler weekend
Well we had to get Friday out of the way first. Like the last few days the temperature hovered in the mid to upper 20’s but fell short of last Saturdays high at our cottages near Bakewell (see here for details). One departure and two arrivals with one cleaner up. I made a brief foray down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend. First cottage arrived just after 3pm with second one about an hour later, they have been before. Another evening al fresco. So Saturday was much cooler, still comfortable, but very little sunshine and the temperature didn’t get into the 20’s. Three departures and four arrivals and two cleaners up. No problems encountered but cleaning does take a little longer when guests have been in for a week. Guests arrived between 3 and 4pm, two have been before. For once I cooked and we ate inside. Sunday was even more disappointing weather wise. Lynne started their second silage and during the week Andrew has been up mowing the grass in the fields where the cows have been. At least once during the summer he gives them a cut to tidy them up. With the grass not growing Andrew has had to open up some more of his fields that had been held for silaging for the cows. He has arranged to buy some oats and silage from other farmers during the summer when they cut. We took the bottles for recycling when we went to get the paper and called in at Green Cowden Farm on the way back and stayed for a coffee and a chat. I had planned to have a BBQ as the forecast had been for a pleasant day so in the end I grilled the food and we had an indoor BBQ! No sun at all and temperatures only in mid teens so it felt relatively cool. Never mind, some better weather is expected in the next few days.
Edensor and Bakewell Food Festival 8/9 June
Saturday was another fine day but just a little cooler than Friday at our cottages near Bakewell (see here). Four cottages out and most guests away by 9.30 and with three cleaners up cleaning was finished by 11.30 and I had done my checks by midday. So guess what! We did something unusual for a Saturday. We went out for a few hours! We had seen signs for Open Gardens at Edensor but hadn’t expected to go as it was on Saturday. Yet we set off just after midday but we were concerned when we joined a long queue on the road to Chatsworth but luckily most were going to a Food Fair at Chatsworth House. There were only a dozen or so gardens to see as the village is quite small but they were interesting and we saw where the Dowager Duchess lived and saw the current Duke and Duchess as they visited some of the fete stalls as it was also the village fete. We had time for some lunch before heading home. We drove back through Bakewell which is hosting its first Baking Festival this weekend. Mowing was well under way at Andrews with rowing and carting also having started. Chris cut the grass and first guests arrived about 3.30. Second cottage arrived about 4pm, they have been before and final cottage arrived about 5pm. Had first request of year for a BBQ. After tea Chris helped Andrew move some cows in our front field to the side field and take some back across the road so that silaging can continue on our side of the road. There will be more musical cows in the next few days as cows are allowed in the silaged fields to eat round the edges and any grass that’s fallen from the collectors. Sunday was another sunny warm day. One departure, our Australians off to their next stop, and one arrival later in the day. In the meantime we thought we’d go down and have a look at the Bakewell Baking Festival, in particular the stalls dotted around the town as the main events were ticketed. As some of the car parks were in use for stalls and marquees we thought we would park at Lady Manners and walk down into town. We took the dogs with us too. Down town we had a walk round the stalls but there wasn’t as many as I thought but I bought a few bits. After lunch outside the Nice Cafe (next to Costa Coffee) we headed off to Chatsworth farm shop to get some more provisions. Back to welcome new guests and spent some time putting in bedding plants. Later in the afternoon I felt it was nice enough to go for a picnic so we packed the food and headed across the fields where the grass had been cut, rowed but not collected as the machine had broken down in the afternoon. A nice couple hours in the evening sun. Enjoy the photos from the weekend.