A busy day. To start with two cottages departed our Bakewell cottages with one due back in later. One cleaner up to turn round cottages. My inspector arrived just before 11am and the inspection took just over two hours. First the ‘paperwork’ side. I have to show our Public Liability Insurance certificate, our fire risk assessment and logs and our access statements. She checks all the details on file are correct and then I took her on a tour of the cottages. She looked for work we have carried out since the last inspection and does random checks on equipment, including pillows and mattresses. Despite the fact there was only one cleaned cottage to inspect she is able to asses our standards of cleanliness. Overall she was happy with what she saw and we should receive our written report and confirmation of grades in about a month or so. A spot of lunch then a check on the cottage needed for today. Chris brought a car load of belongings back from his parents so we spent a few hours sorting that out. Had dinner and finally sat down about 9pm. Guests were held up on motorway so didn’t arrive until after we went to bed.
bakewell cottages
Lots going on 11/12 October
Another couple of days with arrivals and departures at our Bakewell cottages. It was a bit showery on Sunday morning and after a cottage had departed we went and got the paper. One cleaner up to turn round the cottage for today’s arrivals. Two cottages in overall today. First cottage arrived just after 5pm with the second one about 7pm. In the meantime I did some odd jobs in the cottages and some accounts. One of our guests who arrived yesterday is having problems with their car so I have given them the number of the garage at Sheldon where we take our cars and who are very helpful. I also gave them the details of the buses into Bakewell tomorrow. On Monday we had one cottage out with two back in. One cleaner up today and no problems encountered apart from a broken bin lid. Usual Monday bits with laundry and rubbish collected. Chris went off to York as his mum has finally been discharged from hospital into a care home. Jobs today included putting up some new curtains in one of the cottages. It was a lovely warm day. Both guests arrived about 4pm, both have been here before, one cottage are regular guests and one are here for the first time since we took over. Did some odd jobs and spoke to a friend on the phone. Went to put chicken away and noticed the nice evening colours so took the camera and got a few shots. Hope you like them. Took some recycling down to Bakewell and popped into the Co-Op. Had tea and just sat down to do some paper work when the phone went. Someone had spotted a stag at the bottom of the drive on the road and wondered if it was ours! Nearest deer I could think of were at Chatsworth so this one was definitely not at home! Conscious of the fact that deer can cause a lot of damage to cars I phoned the police who dispatched a car but later when Chris returned he said he could not see it so we shall have to see if it is in the fields in the morning!
A walk with surprises Sunday 27 September
A day off from our peak district cottages. I had planned a walk with a difference today but we didn’t set off until nearly midday just to give the weather a chance to brighten up which it did. The plan was to start the walk at Calver but there was nowhere to park so we drove over to Curbar near the church and started the walk from there. Initially we walked along the Derwent River before heading into Calver. We had never explored the village of Calver itself so it was a very pleasant surprise to find some quiet streets behind the busy A623. Out of the village we headed into the countryside before taking a path down into Stoney Middleton. Again we were surprised to find a lovely village ‘blighted‘ by the A623. We came across a house for sale and the owner happened to be nearby so we chatted for a while. We then took a steep lane out of the village to the minor road that leads to Eyam although at this point we picked up a path that went back down to the River Derwent. Before we headed down we stopped in the field to have lunch. We enjoyed a wonderful view and of all days I forgot my camera! From where we were sitting we had a panorama from the Chatsworth Hunting Tower along Baslow, Curbar and Froggatt Edges to the Lodge House o the Longshaw Estate. We then set off towards the river crossing the B6001, a road we have travelled along many times, before reaching the river which we followed back to Curbar. Back home to our Bakewell cottages and a quick bite before we went and picked up Andrew and Joanna and headed to Over Haddon Village Hall for the first film of the season. This was Quantum of Solace which I have to admit I did not enjoy as much as I thought.
Farmers Market and changover Saturday 26 September
Up early to head off to the Bakewell Farmers Market leaving Chris to deal with the departing guests. Five cottages out today with five back in to our Peak District self catering cottages and two staying on for a second week. Two cleaners up today and good progress made. Three of the cottages are returning guests and by pure chance one of the cottages has come on the recommendation of an acquaintance who has also booked for this week! When the sun came out it was quite warm so this nice September weather continues. Four of the cottages arrived between 3 & 4 pm with the final one arriving just before 6pm by which time it was starting to feel cool. Time to relax after dinner.
All change! Saturday 19 Setember
There was a distinct autumnal smell in the air today although we did have a warm and mainly sunny day. So eight of our peak district cottages out with seven back in to our Bakewell cottages (and one back in tomorrow). Three cleaners up and no major problems encountered. Most weeks we have little snaggly problems to sort out, usually items mentioned on our feedback forms, which we find useful. This year though I have noticed we have been buying more tea towels and oven gloves than usual. Sometimes I find burnt oven gloves where they have bee left too close to the cooker rings. I also seemed to have had to replace more shower curtains than usual too. Chris did his usual Saturday jobs, lawn mowing and at this time of year leaf blowing. All guests arrived between 3 and 6 pm, of which two cottages are in for two weeks, both of these have been here before, and three other cottages arriving today are previous guests as are the guests arriving tomorrow so three quarters of our guests here this week are returning guests! A fish and chip supper then off to the Over Haddon Village Hall for the performance by the Bakewell Silver Band. Another enjoyable evening with the audience singing along to some of those proms favourites and I won a raffle prize!
An update Friday 18 September
Apologies for the delay in posting the latest blog. Blogging might be a bit sketchy over the next few weeks as I will be back and forth to Hertfordshire. So here is an update. Sunday was an ‘at home’ day. Monday saw one of our peak district cottages out with one cottage back into our Bakewell cottages. I also helped out at a WI coffee morning at Over Haddon WI where we provided coffee and scones for a WI group from Luton who were here to see the Tideswell Flower Festival. Tuesday was a bit more hectic with me going to Buxton to do my fortnightly shopping and bits. In the evening we were back at Buxton again to see a Simon and Garfunkel tribute duo who were very good. En route to Buxton we stopped at Tideswell to look at the Flower Festival a we had heard some very good reports. It was very impressive and I shall add some pictures. Wednesday was another at home day with one cottage out and back in with the cottage in being a returning guest. In the evening we went down to my dads and stayed overnight as Chris had to meet some clients from his business on Thursday leaving me to do some more bits at my dad. Came back via our old neighbours who kindly provided supper. Today caught up with jobs and went down to Bakewell for the weekends provisions and prepare for tomorrow which is a big changeover again!.