A dull start and a busy morning with four cottages out and three back into our Bakewell cottages.  Two cleaners up and good progress made.  Laundry and rubbish collected, and some guests returned to collect some belongings they left behind.  All guests in within half an hour from 3.30 and by time I had phone a friend and cooked dinner it was time for Chris to go to the Photographic Society.  I caught up on some accounts and dealt with a couple of bookings before Chris returned.

A dusting of snow on the hillsides but the sun soon melted that.  Forgot to mention that we had one cottage arrive yesterday who have been here a number of times before. Got usual chores out of the way before popping down to Bakewell to get bits for the weekend.  With a busy day tomorrow the plan was to get a couple of cleaned cottages ready as well as do some more inventory checking.  One of the cleaners was also coming up to prepare a couple more cottages for tomorrow.  When I got back from Bakewell Chris realised he hadn’t seen Blue since I had left, they had last been seen in the fields but Smudge was back.  Despite some whistle blowing he did not come back, both normally come back to the whistle so we knew we would have to wait and see what happens.  Had some lunch then Chris went off to Over Haddon for the digital photography.  I was doing some bits in the Bakewell cottages when I had a phone call from the Cock and Pullet in Sheldon saying Blue was there.  I went round to collect him and as far as I could make out he must have followed some walkers to the pub but when they went in he was left outside and found when one of the staff came out.  They had tied him up in the garden area and I thought he would be pleased to see me but he was very subdued and spent most of the afternoon in the cage.  I carried on with bits in the cottages and after his photography session Chris went round to help someone with their computer.  At one stage I came back in the house and happened to look out the front.  I realised a car was against one of the walls on the roadside and there was an ambulance there, but not an emergency ambulance.  When I looked through the binoculars I realised the car had crashed into the wall so I went down to investigate.  As I got nearer another car arrived and I did not recognise them but when he took his hat of I realised he was an Over Haddn resident and the car belonged to his mum.  Apparently the sun had momentarily blinded her being low on the horizon and she had left the road.  (Other people have commented about the sun when driving along the road at certain times of the day).  Luckily a non emergency ambulance came from the other direction and stayed with her.  The car was brought into the field and the mother taken home and Andrew was advised he has another wall to repair.  I cooked a roast dinner which was just as well a Chris didn’t get back until late.

Woke up to rain again but also a landscape that was not completely white! Sheep will be happy. Icicles have gone now. One of our cleaners made it up today, she said the worst part was the last bit of our drive. She had plenty of problems in getting or not getting to her jobs over the last couple of weeks. Two cottages done, just as well as one of our Bakewell cottages was subsequently booked later in the day. Now that getting to most of the cottages is easier did a number of jobs in them (plus my daily checks). Also spent some time doing accounts.

Woke up not feeling well, as if coming down with something, so I stayed in bed a little longer. Not like me but Chris brought me breakfast in bed. Still got up though. A nice sunny day but still cold at our Bakewell cottages. Caught up with accounts today but a friend of mine who is staying in one of the cottages invited us up for a drink. Felt well enough to go up and felt even better after she made me a hot lemon drink with honey and cinnamon. Got back for about 11.30 as we have guests departing tomorrow but had an unexpected visitor in the bedroom just after midnight. We usually hear the firework’s in the distance but a bang must have spooked Blue and he found his way back to our bedroom. It took a lot of persuasion to get him back down stairs.

Guess could have been worse. About an inch of snow at most and luckily quite wet but it still took a couple of hours to clear drive and courtyard. Even I did a shovel run down the drive. Had the odd flurry during the day but the biting wind was the killer. The morning had gone by the time I had finished my chores. Two cottages into our Bakewell cottages today, one was the delayed arrival from Monday and they arrived about midday. Both these guests and the ones who arrived just after 3pm have been here before. So full house again. Afternoon went in preparing for our annual newsletter. This year we are going to send the majority by email. We decided to pursue this line during the postal strike when there were rumours that it could go on into the New Year. Studying the database we realised that we have the email addresses of most of our guests but with a little bit of work on my behalf, and the information on the guest questionnaires I was able to fill in a number of gaps. Only other drama today was that a guests thought they had seen a dead sheep in the fields but it turned out to be a dead hare. Emails and bookings as well today and sat down for 8.30.

With one cottage out but five back into our Bakewell Cottages a busy day lay ahead. An early trip to Bakewell for provisions for the weekend. Checked out the river which was fast flowing but no defences in view. Back in time for departing guests and one cleaner up to finish cottages needed for today. The news at lunchtime was worrying with flooding in Cumbria. All cottages ready in time and all guests in by 4.30. Three have been here before. A quiet evening and for the first time for a few nights not kept awake by the wind.

No departures on Saturday from our Bakewell cottages but two arrivals, both arriving around 3pm. One has been here a few times before. One cleaner up and the handyman was up again this morning as work on Bluebell progresses. Friend and I went to the Peak Village Outlet later in the day where, unbeknown to us, it had been the switch on of Xmas lights. It was quite busy and there were some real reindeer there too! A quiet evening in. Sunday was a bright and breezy day so the handyman was up again to do some more pointing work. One cottage out and friend went home. Quite a few flocks of starlings around too but the dogs don’t seem interested in them. More cows going back home and sheep should be here at end of the month. Time to catch up on some jobs around the house.

Monday saw one cottage in with one cleaner up and usual Monday chores. Tuesday saw us pay Buxton a visit for some business and had lunch out. We came back via Bradwell where we picked up some packing boxes and Brough where we went to the Agricultural supplies shop and bought a few bits. Despite the fact it was a grey day the autumnal colours were very vivid. We reckon this years colours have been the best we have ever seen. Guests here this week have had the bonus of a mild week too. Wednesday I went down to Bakewell and with one cottage out and back into our Bakewell cottages one cleaner was up to turn it around. Plenty to do as wont be here tomorrow. Chris’s brother came up for the night as we will all be going to York tomorrow for the funeral.