No fresh snow this morning. Chris helped departing guests get on their way. A lot of roads around here are closed because of ice including parts of the A6. As a result Chris and I decided to clean the cottage needed for today as the cleaner due up cant get out of her village and I didn’t want to risk calling anybody else in. Postman made it by walking up most of drive but Waste collection didn’t, hopefully we can last another week. I had hoped to get out and about this week but with an ominous forecast Chris took me down to Bakewell to get some provisions for the next few days. The street market had been cancelled so for a Monday Bakewell as strangely quiet. Decided to have lunch in town and in the cafe found one of the WI ladies and her husband who Chris also knows. They invited us to join them for lunch and it was nice to have some company. Got back and managed to get the car up the drive and parked just before guests arrived at our peak district cottages. They could not get up the drive so left their car near the bottom and Chris ferried them up. Chris tried to get hold of more salt but with no joy so we are on a waiting list. The laundry wasn’t collected either and they will try again on Wednesday. Took a number of bookings today too. In the evening Chris went back down to Bakewell for the Photographic Society but was back earlier than usual as a number of members had not made it.

A beautiful sunny day and everywhere looks so different. Time for more pictures when taking dogs for walk. One more cottage should have left today but they left yesterday when they saw how the snow was settling. One cottage due into our peak district cottages later in the day. Luckily this was cleaned yesterday. Time to catch up from yesterday. Watched the weather forecast for the week ahead – no end in site for the cold snap and more snow. Have given the guests due to arrive this week the option of cancelling or rebooking but so far all have said they will arrive unless conditions deteriorate badly. Guests arrived just after 4pm and have two huskies. They stopped at Sainsburys in Matlock and said it was bedlam as there as some panic buying. After dinner sat down and watched Top Gear amongst other programmes, James May’s report was filmed in the area with some of the driving taking place around Ladybower reservoir.

Still not feeling well and although Chris said he would deal with the departing guests I felt it not fair to let him especially as he did the morning walk with the dogs again. First guests left just after 9am by which time it was snowing lightly. Snow flurries had been forecast but this got progressively heavier so rather than bring cars into the courtyard guests were taking their bits down to the cars. Five cottages out of our peak district cottages with two back in. Two cleaners up as I also have a cottage in tomorrow. By the time guests had departed the snow was even heavier and the drive now covered in a layer of compacted snow – the snow had arrived at the wrong time. Chris was able to clear the entrance to the drive but as fast as he tried to clear the drive he was beaten by the snow. I tried to contact the arrivals as Chris feared if it got any worse they may not get here and certainly would not be able to get up the drive. In this case we would have to revert to Plan B and guests would have to park at the bottom of the drive and we would ferry them up in the Discovery if they could not get up themselves. The cleaning was hampered by the snow but both cleaners managed to get away and back home safely. I also took down three christmas trees in cottages and had taken one down yesterday. By the time it stopped snowing there was 3 to 4 inches. So much for flurries. First guests arrived just after 3pm and although they tried to get up the drive they could not so Chris brought them up and we did a ‘fireman’s line’ to transfer luggage and bits from the Discovery to the cottage. Second cottage arrived about an hour later, but in two cars, one had had a terrible journey. Chris did a couple of trips from the cars to the cottage and I helped with getting luggage into the cottages. Had hoped for a take away but di not risk the road so that meant I had to cook tonight what I was going to cook tomorrow and get something out of the freezer for tomorrow. Sat down for about 8.30 but about an hour later one cottage that had gone out had trouble getting onto the drive so Chris went down and assisted. According to new tax legislation holiday cottage owners do not provide a ‘service’ to guests. Both went to bed exhausted.

Its the change over I dread the most each year, the one between Christmas and New Year. Its because I always worry how messy the cottages could be, in particular the ovens. Up early and out with the dogs to be ready for the get away and arrival of cleaners. Two cleaners up today to do seven cottages. I had hoped for three cleaners but one couldn’t make it but luckily Fay was able to come up for a few hours and help with beds and one of the cleaners brought her daughter up who was able to help too. Six cottages out today with six back into our peak district cottages later in the day. One has been before. A further cottage has delayed their arrival as the wife has broken her wrist after a fall. At this point I will add that when I spoke to my sister on Christmas Day just before she started her shift, she mentioned that as a radiographer she had already Xrayed over 150 broken wrists in the last few weeks because of the weather conditions (and that’s just wrists)! Fears were not founded when we discovered the cottages had been left clean and tidy so all the cleaning was finished with time to spare. Guests trickled in from 3 until 7pm. At least compared to last week guests were able to drive into the courtyard to unload, but more snow is forecast. One downside was that the waste bin was due to be emptied today and wasn’t so have to assume they are running behind because of last weeks weather conditions.

A quick round up of our Christmas. Last guests arrived in our peak district cottages on Christmas Eve. Our friends arrived on the Tuesday, went to Buxton on Wednesday and Thursday went to Chatsworth for a short walk. Had hoped to get some nice pictures of Chatsworth House in the snow but the fog and mist spoilt the effect! We walked from Carlton Lees car park to Edensor hoping for lunch at the tea room but it was closed, so we walked back and had lunch at the Chatsworth Garden Centre. Christmas Day was sunny but cold and some of the snow had gone revealing some greenery but also a slurried field with the footpath to Over Haddon under it! With our friends back playing up a walk was out of the question so we drove to The Bulls Head at Monyash for a pre dinner drink. I cooked a rib of beef for dinner. On Boxing Day we went to Carsington Water for a short walk as the weather was still holding. Hopefully I can find one or two pictures to upload in the next few days. On Sunday our friends went home and one cottage departed so one cleaner dropped in to make a start.

Here are some pictures from the last few days at our peak district cottages. Thank you for all your wishes and cards.

Woke up to a covering of snow on Sunday and with two cottages departing Chris was out clearing the drive as soon as we were up. Went down to Bakewell for the paper and to empty bottle bins, but the road was a bit precarious in places, which is unusual as the road is normally kept well gritted. On the way back we called into Green Cowden Farm and they said we could expect up to 8 inches of snow that afternoon. So we called into Andrews to ask for the use of the snow plough if required. He was with the vet as two of his cows were not well. The last of the cows came inside today. Back home one of the cleaners called in for a couple of hours but left when the weather started to close in. We had invited some friends over for the afternoon but felt it might be better to rearrange this. Our remaining guests had trouble getting the car back up the drive so they left it in a safe spot. We certainly had a couple of inches of snow so it was to an even whiter landscape that we woke up on the Monday. I hate changeovers in the rain but in the snow it is even worse. One cottage out today with five due back in to our peak district cottages. Chris was out early again and spent about five hours clearing the drive and car park and courtyard. Ian came up with the snowplough to help and also one of our cleaners children helped too. They wanted to build a snowman but it was too soft. With the weather hampering cleaning yesterday we were playing catch up today, especially as one of the cleaners had to wait until she could dig her car out and leave her village. With two cleaners up we managed to finish just before 3pm. I was beginning to panic at one stage and although I was helping by making beds there were still the final Christmas touches we put in the cottages which Chris usually does. With him occupied elsewhere I also had to find time for these too. I lost count of the number of times I put my wellies on and took them off. Two cottages arrived just after 3pm, one at 4pm and two just after 6pm. They have been before. A few more to arrive over the next few days. Now I need to catch up with everything else!

A dull day on Wednesday and time to put up two more trees. Getting there! One cottage in today. Forecast for next few days looks ominous, last thing we need just before Xmas is snow. Had hoped might get a few last minute weekend bookings but with snow forecast it seems unlikely. Thursday was a lot brighter but we did have a few flurries which left a very light dusting of snow. One cottage into our peak district cottages, they have been before. Two cleaners up today to keep up with cleaning and preparations for next week. Handyman up as well to finish off last bits in Bluebell and help Chris tidy up outside. Also went to Bakewell for our dental check up. Also finished writing Christmas cards. Phew.

Woke up to fog. After usual tasks out of the way had a visit from Sally from Peakdistrictonline, a local directory we subscribe to. Sally was instrumental in bringing the Beautiful South here to record their final album. Time to renew our subscription and time for a chat over coffee too. Then a quick trip down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend and final bits for Carol concert tonight. Back, lunch then Joanna collected me and we went down to the little church at Over Haddon to prepare for the evening. By now the fog had lifted but never cleared completely. Not needed for long at Over Haddon so back and a chance to catch up with things at our peak district cottages. One cottage out this morning with none returning today. Our first and only night with no-one in this year! No cleaners up today. An early dinner then I collected Joanna to go back to Over Haddon for the Carol Service itself. There were about four dozen WI ladies (plus a few children and male chauffeurs!) A lovely service and back not too late after we had cleared up, washed up and hoovered. Phew!