It was the first day of meteorological summer at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here) although it didn’t feel like it.  A brisk north wind certainly made it feel cold. Two departures but no arrivals with one cottage changing cottage so Chris and I turned it around.  After coffee we went to Buxton, first to take a load of stuff to the recycling center then we called into the nursery and picked up the hanging baskets. We’ll put them up in the next couple of days. Spent the afternoon on personal paperwork and Chris was out and about sorting out various computer problems. Andrew was busy in the afternoon moving cows around, mainly into the silaged fields so they can eat around the edges, but also the youngest heifers came out for the first time but will stay on Andrews side for a few days.  For the first time this year the milk cows came out for the night. Thursday weather wise was better than forecast which makes a nice change.  One departure and one arrival with one cleaner here.  A morning of odd jobs and after guests arrival just after 3pm we headed to the Chatsworth Garden Center to pick up some more plants.  From here we called in at the Chatsworth Farm Shop for some provisions and drove home via the Garden Tea Room at Over Haddon.  By the time they closed the sun had come out so we went for a walk down to the Dale with all the dogs before returning home.

Weather statistics for May.  Highest temp 22.2 on 8th which was warmest day and night. Lowest temp on 21st which was the wettest day with .72 in rain. Coldest day and night was 1st. Highest UV 7.3 and total rain for May was 2.17 in (May 15 had 3.61 in).

After a misty start Sunday 29 May was a fine day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here).  More breezy than Saturday but pleasant nevertheless.  No departures but one arrival with cottage already prepared. Down to Bakewell for the paper before it got too busy and on the way back noticed that they had started cutting at Andrews on his side of the road.  This is the earliest start to his silaging for a few years.  A quiet day with jobs around the house and I planted in some more plants.  Cottage arrived later in the afternoon, they have been before.  In the evening we tried out the new Chinese restaurant in Bakewell and I am pleased to report we had a good meal.  Cutting continued well into the night, it is still quite light here at 10pm.  Bank Holiday Monday got off to a dull start and the cloud didn’t lift until lunchtime.  One departure and one arrival with one cleaner here.  Spent more time planting out and also some paperwork.  Cottage arrived at 5pm.  After dinner we went out to the back fields as by lunchtime they had started cutting (or chopping as it is called) on this side of the road.  We knew the guy operating the cutter and I got to ride in the tractor!  Tuesday stayed dull all day. No arrivals or departures and handyman here.  He and Chris tidied up the out buildings. Another day spent on planting out accounts.  I also spent time toing and froing watching the progress of the silaging as they rowed and collected on this side. Had a bit of rain late afternoon and silaging finished early evening.  Apparently Andrew is happy with the quality and quantity of the silage. Enjoy the pictures.

Friday 27 May was a pleasant spring day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here) and for once it looked like the weekend would be nice.  Had anyone told the weather it was a Bank Holiday Weekend?  Three departures and one arrival with two cleaners here. With early departures all cleaning and checks completed by lunchtime.  Made the most of the nice afternoon by making a start on planting out my purchases from Thursday.  The hanging baskets are also ready for collection.  Cottage arrived about 5pm.  A disturbed evening as the cows seemed particularly troublesome as they managed to break through the electric fence twice and we needed to get Andrew up to round them up.  Discovered the electric fence had short circuited so that was fixed.  Saturday was a busy day. Down to Bakewell first thing for the Farmers Market which was busy.  Back home to three departures and five arrivals with two cleaners here.  A lovely day weather wise, warm and mainly sunny.  All cleaning completed before lunch and final checks completed just after lunch.  Chris cut the grass again. Andrew is starting silaging on Sunday, the earliest he has silaged for a number of years, and you can already see where this is happening in the far distance. Additionally they will be shearing sheep at Little Cowden Farm on Sunday so it’s all go!  A rush of arrivals between 3 and 3.30 saw four cottages arrive, three have been before. Planted in some more plants. Final cottage arrived at 5pm, they have been before. Then we headed to Monyash as the well dressings had gone up.  Even though it was late in the afternoon it was still busy.  Must have been the nice weather.

Monday 23rd May was a pleasant day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here).  One departure and two arrivals with one cleaner here.  A busy morning but all cleaning and checks completed by lunchtime.  Afternoon spent on paperwork, mainly preparations for the evening’s village hall committee meeting.  Both cottages here between 4.30 and 5pm, one of which has been before.  Tuesday saw a glorious morning.  No departures but one arrival with cottage already prepared.  Handyman here and he and Chris continued with outside jobs.  After coffee I went to Sainsburys in Matlock and back for a late lunch.  Cottage arrived just after 3pm.  Later in the afternoon we went to Ashford to view the well dressings and flower festival in the church which was very colourful.  Called in to see the couple we know and stayed for a cup of tea and a chat.  Wednesday was a quiet day so a chance to catch up on jobs around the house.  Down to Bakewell first thing for my dancercise after which I got a few provisions for the next few days. A cool, murky day but at least the forecast looks as it will improve which would be nice for the bank holiday weekend.  Cows were let into our front field today, must make sure I close the gate from the garden into the field this time!  Thursday was at least drier and milder although it stayed cloudy for most of the day.  One departure then we went to the Chatsworth Garden Center so I could pick up some bedding plants, know what I’ll be doing over the weekend. Driving through Chatsworth we decided the lambs were feeling particularly kamikaze as many were wandering out onto the road.  Cleaner here at lunchtime and afternoon went on various jobs.  Cottage arrived about 7pm.  Lovely to hear so much birdsong around at the moment, even the guests are commenting on it.

Friday 20 May was another pleasant day at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here).  Two departures and two arrivals with one cleaner here.  Down to Bakewell first thing to get provisions for the weekend.  The Dreams and Ice Cream shop now sells soaps and smelly things and the new Chinese Restaurant is open.  Jobs around the cottages in the morning and accounts and paper work in the afternoon.  Both cottages arrived between 4 and 4.30, both have been before.  It had started to rain by the time I took Smudge out for his evening walk.  Chris spent some time in the evening sorting out his friend’s computer in Over Haddon.  Saturday was forecast to be wet and it got off to a cloudy but dry start.  Three departures and two arrivals with two cleaners here.  With early departures cleaning was underway by 9am and all cleaning and checks completed by lunchtime.  By then it had started raining and it continued through the afternoon with some heavy bursts.  The afternoon went in accounts and paperwork.  First day of  Ashford’s Well Dressings so hope they survived the rain.  First cottage here just before 4pm with second cottage just before 6pm, both have been before.  At least it dried up in the evening.  Sunday by contrast was dry and mainly sunny.  One departure and one arrival with cottage already prepared.  Down to Bakewell to get the paper then a quiet morning on housework.  After lunch Chris cut the grass again as it seems to have shot up and he also did some strimming.  Cottage arrived at 3pm.  In the evening I collected Andrew and Joanna and we went to the Village Hall for the film the Lady in the Van which we enjoyed.  On the way back there was a lovely sunset but the colours had gone by the time I got home so unfortunately no photos.

Friday 13 May was a fair day at our Bolehill Cottages near Bakewell (see here).  One departure and one arrival with one cleaner here.  Down to Bakewell  first thing to get provisions for the weekend.  A day of jobs around the vacant cottages and home with cottage arriving about 4.30. Saturday was the busiest Saturday for a long time.  Dry and sunny but with a cool breeze.  Six departures and four arrivals with three cleaners here.  All cleaning finished before lunch with checks  completed before first arrival at 3pm.  All cottages here by 4pm, three have been before. Our friend from York arrived for the weekend and we rounded off the evening with a Chinese take away.  Sunday turned out to be a much better day weather wise than forecast.  A lovely sunny mild spring day with one departure and one arrival with cottage already cleaned.  We decided to go for a walk and parked down by the River Wye in the free parking spaces near Cressbrook.  From here we walked along the road and by the mill picked up the concessionary path to Litton.  It was still a little boggy in Water Cum Jolly but it was quite scenic.  At Litton Mill we climbed up to the Monsal Trail and started to walk back to Bakewell.  Just before the Litton Tunnel we headed uphill on the old Monsal Trail. From here we had wonderful views over the Monsal Trail where it was out of the tunnels and of the Wye Valley and surrounding settlements.  We also found some Bluebells.  Once back onto the Monsal Trail we walked up to Monsal Head and had lunch at Hobbs Cafe.  Overall about five miles.  Back home in time for cottage arriving at around 4pm.  We then took our friend down to Over Haddon and introduced him to the Garden Tea Room after which we had a swift half at the Lathkil Hotel which was busy due to the nice weather.  Enjoy the photos.

Sunday 8 May saw a lovely summer day at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here).  Blue skies and warm sunshine from the off.  Can’t believe from winter jumpers to summer dresses in a week!  We also noticed that the trees suddenly seem to be in leaf.  No departures but one arrival later in the day.  Down to Bakewell to get the paper and on the way back noticed Andrew was going to move some more cows across the road so Chris gave a hand.  Jobs around the house and garden and later in the afternoon we packed up a picnic and headed to Kirk Dale on the way to Sheldon where we enjoyed our food and the warm evening sun.  Smudge enjoyed his dinner al fresco too.  Cottage arrived in our absence at 7.30, they have been before.  Monday was another sunny, warm day but the wind took the edge of the temperature.  One departure and one arrival and one cleaner here.  A busy day with emails and phone calls which resulted in a number of bookings.  Squeezed some cottage and garden jobs in between.  Chris also cut the grass.  Cottage arrived at 5.30.  Had to issue a group ASBO to the cows that came over last Monday.  When I took Smudge out in the evening we found one cow in the wrong field, a bit later most of them were to be found in our front field, we think a gate had accidentally been left open.  The grass is always greener…  Tuesday started dry but by mid morning it was raining and it rained for most of the day.  Two departures with one arrival and one cleaner here.  Cottage jobs in the morning and accounts and paperwork in the afternoon.  Can’t complain as it was the worst weather day for over a week.

Thursday 6th May was similar to Wednesday weather wise at our Bolehill cottages near Bakewell (see here).  No departures or arrivals.  We had thought about a walk in Deep Dale to see the orchids and cow slips but one of the cottages had walked there on Wednesday and they still weren’t out so we made the most of the nice day with outside jobs.  It was even warm enough to have lunch on the patio.  Friday felt warmer with a lack of a breeze.  Hard to believe that this time last week we woke to snow.  Down to Bakewell first thing to get hair cut and pick up provisions for the weekend.  Two departures and one cleaner here with two arrivals expected in the afternoon.  First one here at 3.30 and second one arrived about 5pm, both have been before.  We then set off to Tissington to see the well dressings.  It was a lovely evening as we made our way around the village admiring the works of art.  We were about to leave when we came across a hot air balloon being made ready for a flight so we stayed and watched it set off.  On the way back we stopped at Carriages at Newhaven for a meal.  We have not been there for a while and the owners are retiring at the end of the month.  Saturday was another warm day but with a breeze.  Three departures and four arrivals and two cleaners here.  A number of jobs in the cottages with everything finished by lunchtime.  First cottage here at 3.15 with the remaining three arriving between 3.30 and 4pm, all have been before.  It clouded up later in the afternoon with some rumbles of thunder and a little rain but nothing too much for Smudge to worry about. Enjoy the pictures.