Peak District cottages

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Easter arrivals

So how did you spend Good Friday?  Chris and I spent a couple of hours in the morning clearing a paths through the car park and into the courtyard at Bolehill.  It meant that our departing guests could get their car up into the courtyard to load up.  It was the first car in the courtyard for a week!  When I took the dogs for a walk a farmer was clearing more snow from the road meaning cars can now drive on both sides of the road.  One cleaner up and the three cottages due in arrived between 3 and 4pm.  One is a regular visitor and the other two had not been here since we arrived.  At least the sun had shone for a lot of the day and helped loosen more snow where Chris had spread salt.  Saturday saw one departure and three arrivals.  Chris dropped me off in Bakewell, as my car was still snowed in,so I could go to the Farmers Market which was quite busy. Time to chat with some of the regulars and exchange snow stories.  The farmer from New Close Farm had been one of the tractors clearing the road earlier in the week as his son was stuck in Monyash and they are in the middle of lambing so they wanted him home!  Green Cowden have almost finished lambing, slightly earlier than expected, but the barns are getting very full as they can’t put any sheep out.  Andrew normally starts to put cows out mid April but as grass hasn’t started to grow yet he is going to be feeding them indoors for a lot longer.  On the way back we called in at Haddon Grove Cottages to see how they were doing and also I haven’t seen the state of the road from the cottages to Monyash since I’ve been back.  All cottages arrived between 3 and 4pm, two have been before.  During the afternoon stocked up on logs, still have to wheel them down by barrow as drifts are blocking the garden entrance and log store.  Also had a chance to chat some of the guests.  Another sunny day so more snow has gone and we can now get cars in and out of the car park and courtyard.  In the evening watched Dr Who as well as the Channel 4 programme Walking through History with Tony Robinson walking down the Derwent Valley having started off at Bakewell.  Spotted the Lathkil Hotel from his stretch from Ashford to Rowsley via Magpie Mine and Haddon Fields.  Here are some photos from Friday.

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Easter preparations

Wednesday was bright with a few snow flurries at Bolehill.  No departures but one arrival later in the day and one cleaner finally was able to get to us.  Both of us did some snow clearance around the cottages and the snow overhang fell from Dove roof, flattening some bushes in the process.   Will probably have quite a few plant casualties to deal with.  After lunch we went down to Bakewell to get some provisions. I had planned to do a big shop this week as well as a trip to the cash and carry but all that has gone by the board.  Down in Bakewell we could see they had started work on the Costa Coffee and we found a new cook shop had opened in one of the arcades.  The road up from Bakewell to Bolehill was fine apart from the last hundred yards or so where it became a bit narrower and the snow has frozen and made a rutted surface.  Cottage arrived about 8pm, they have been before.  They had to park in the field and Chris collected them.  Thursday was the same weather wise and when the sun did shine you could see more thawing taking place.  With having to cancel a number of bookings last weekend the cleaners have time to prepare cottages for the Easter weekend.  One departure and two arrivals and one cleaner up.  Chris had a final trip to do to Buxton before our tenants arrive on Saturday.  While he was away Andrew came up and cleared the bottom of the drive and also the road between us and him.  After lunch when Chris came back I spent some time clearing more areas around the cottages and brought a wheelbarrow load of logs down from the log store as it is the only way to get them to us.  We still can’t get through the garden gate at the front of the house.  Ian came up to clear the drive and car park and Chris supervised what needed doing.  They also cleared some more snow from the courtyard.  Enjoy the photos of the snow pile in the car park.  Wonder how long that will be there for!  Also been liaising with guests arriving over the next few days as to conditions so guests know what to expect.  We had hoped to be able to us the car park by the close of Thursday but the snow is quite compacted and Chris bought and spread more salt to see if that would help speed up the melting process.  During the afternoon heavy duty tractors cleared more snow from the road beyond Bolehill, the piles are higher than our wall and they have finally cleared the road from Sheldon to the main road.  We saw the the postman for the first time in a week!  Later in the afternoon there was an accident just beyond our gate involving a hay transporter where a car had gone into a snow drift and then another car had gone into the back of the car.  No-one was hurt.  This caused chaos as cars from Bakewell couldn’t get past and had to turn round and go back.  The same was true of cars travelling from Monyash.  Both cottages arrived between 7 and 8pm, one has been before.  One was brave enough to park in the car park.  Here are some pictures of snow clearance.

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Back at home

Arriving back at Bolehill on Monday we had not been home long when a cottage arrived.  They had a Landrover so were able to negotiate the tricky conditions.  In the morning three cottages that had been here over the weekend were able to depart after Andrew had been up to create a passage through the snow.   The cleaners had not been able to get up so Chris turned the cottage round.  There was still one cottage here for a few more days having arrived before the snow.   I could have gone to bowls, if the road had been passable, but cancelled.  It was the last one of the season.  The road to Monyash beyond our entrance had been blocked by drifting snow until Monday morning and on the local evening news they were advising not to travel north of Bakewell due to bad road conditions.  Chris had told ne about a car that had spent Friday night at the bottom of our drive and a lady from Monyash had left her car in our field and walked home.  On Tuesday morning I took my camera with me when I took the dogs for a walk and saw a tractor trying to clear more snow off the road to Monyash.  The road to Sheldon was still closed. We had a cottage to turn round as the cleaners could not get here and guests arrived about 4pm.  They had to park in the field as the car park is not yet clear so Chris collected them and the luggage and delivered them to the cottage.  Some welcome sunshine initiated a thaw so hopefully we have seen the last of the heavy snow but already our WI group meeting on Wednesday at Monyash and the WI quiz at Buxton on Thursday are cancelled.  Flagg races on Easter Tuesday has also been cancelled.  Typical, the first time in years we could have gone.   Here are some photos from Tuesday.

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A quick round up

Before I get up to date  I thought I would give a quick résumé of the couple of days at Bolehill before I went away.  Saturday was dull and cold with three arrivals and two departures.  One cleaner up.  Time to get away for lunch and we had a drive over to Hartington where a new cafe had opened, but unfortunately they were busy and short staffed so we had lunch in the Charles Cotton Hotel.  We then inspected the new chocolate shop (purchases made) and visited the Cheese shop and naturally bought some cheese.  All guests arrived between 4 and 5pm, two have been before.  In the evening we went to Buxton to see Blofeld and Baxter (from Test Match Special).  Although not into cricket I still enjoyed the humour. Sunday was similar to Saturday weather wise with one departure and one arrival.  One cleaner up.  Just before lunch we saw the Four Shires Hounds do one of their trails across our land.  They had started at a farm near Monyash and finished in one of Andrews fields.  A quiet afternoon getting ready for my trip and making sure everything was up straight for Chris.  On Monday morning there were two departures and one cleaner up.  Later in the day five arrivals were seen in by Chris, luckily three had been before. Chris dropped me off at Chesterfield after lunch and after a fraught journey I finally arrived at my sisters in Watford later in the evening.  Not for a few days of fun mind you, we had a number a number of things to sort out but did find some time for retail therapy!  Here are some photos from Sunday.

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Hello from Watford

Well I was expecting to be back at Bolehill by now but the weather had other plans.   I came down by train on Monday afternoon to visit my sister in Watford and the plan was I ‘d go back Friday morning but it was obvious by Thursday morning I might have to rearrange my plans.  In fact I was expecting to be blogging by the fire with the dogs tonight but I’ll catch up with life at Bolehill when I get back.

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No news days

Wednesday (13/3) was a pleasant day with a lot of sunshine in the morning at Bolehill.  This helped with the thaw here but my fiend in Yorkshire woke up to 3inches of snow.  First I went down to Bakewell to get some provisions then on to Chatsworth Farm Shop to get some bits and then prepared for the WI meeting in the evening.  Chris went to Buxton to finish the house before our tenants move in.  Despite having a last minute icing disaster I got to the WI meeting on time.  A good evening as we had a brooch making session with a craft lady who has been a couple of times before.  Another cold night but Thursday wasn’t too bad.  Handyman up and he spent the day moving logs from the tree felled last year and sawing them up.  At least I will have some logs next winter now, we have gone through quite a lot this winter as well as a lot of oil.  Washed last of the curtains for the time being and although we haven’t quite finished all the jobs we had wanted to do, the cleaners and I will finish them off as we get vacant days in the cottages.  Still no sign of spring.  Friday was wet and handyman was back up to carry on logging with Chris.  There was a lot of sawdust around at the end of the day.  Three departures and two arrivals and one cleaner up. Down town later to get provisions for the weekend. After lunch did final checks in the cottages and some accounts and also washing of overalls and jackets!  First cottage arrived about 3.30pm with second cottage here about 5pm, they have been before.  A couple of bookings during the evening.  Here are some pictures from Thursday.

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More cold weather

There had been more snow overnight Sunday into Monday (11/3) at Bolehill, not a lot but the wind had blown snow over the top part of the drive so we had to clear that again.  The wind stung my face but I took the dogs out for a walk and took some photos especially of how the wind had blown the snow around.  No departures but should have been five arrivals, one of which had already cancelled, and during the morning I had a further cancellation due to a combination of weather and health.  One cleaner up but no problems encountered.  Decided not to go to bowls as the temperature never went above zero and we had a number of blizzard like snow showers.  From my office I could watch these pass across Baslow Edge and down the Derwent Valley.  All three cottages arrived between 3 and 4pm, two have been before. A visit from Sir Fitzherbert (of Tissington Hall) to deliver Tissington leaflets personally.  Not the first time he has done this and he stayed for a chat. Luckily no more snow overnight so no snow clearing or salting needed in the morning.   The ground was solid though as temperature had been well below zero overnight but a thaw set in during the day and with temperatures only creeping above zero it was enough for a lot of white to go green again. Busy day with me spending some time on WI matters in the morning including finally writing up the notes from last weeks meeting at Chesterfield.  Had a delivery of tourist leaflets I had ordered on line.  The main leaflet day for accommodation providers is next Thursday (21/3) at the annual Peak District Tourism Conference, but I shall be at my sisters and we’re not sure if Chris will have time to go.  In the afternoon we stocked up on logs again and I spent some time baking as I’m responsible for the refreshments at Wednesday’s WI meeting.  A busy day for emails and a few bookings.  Enjoy the photos from Monday.

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Another wintry weekend

Although Saturday started misty at Bolehill it had cleared by mid morning.  One departure and two arrivals and one cleaner up.  Kept an eye on the forecasts as a lot would depend on when the snow would arrive although later forecasts indicated we would be spared the worst.  This didn’t prevent one cottage from cancelling their arrival on Monday as they were concerned about the weather.  Both cottages arrived between 3and 3.30 pm, both have been before.  Did some accounts in the afternoon.  It started flurrying later in the afternoon but we did wake up to a covering of snow on Sunday morning.  We went out to check on the drive and the wind was blowing the snow across the drive at the top so we had to shovel that first before we could put salt down.  The wind was bitterly cold but my new jacket worked in keeping the wind out.  We then went down to get a paper, no snow in Bakewell but you could tell which cars weren’t from Bakewell!  We thought we would drive over to Hassop Station for coffee but when we got there it was busy.  Then we remembered it was Mothers Day so we drove onto Ashford and had coffee at the Aisseford Tearooms.  It brightened up in the afternoon despite the threat of snow showers.  We spent most of the afternoon dealing with the annual accounts as we have had the draft accounts back from the accountant.  What a weekend for Chatsworth House to open for the season.  No photos though as it was too cold but I did take a photo of the snowdrops on Saturday.

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catch up days

Wednesday was cold and dull after such a lovely Tuesday at Bolehill.  One cleaner up to catch up with cleaning as she had not been up since the weekend.  I did some more curtain washing and the electrician was back to do some more checks.  I also tried to see if I could fill the cancellations and had some success.  Later in the afternoon we headed to Buxton to do some minor jobs at the house and then headed to the Opera House for Yamata, the Japanese drummers.  Very energetic and different.  Thursday felt milder but was still dull.  One cottage departed and one cleaner up.  Jobs in the cottages for me as well as ironing and hanging curtains back up.  In the afternoon Chris went to Over Haddon and led a session for the digital camera workshop.  Friday was misty and cold.  No departures or arrivals and another catch up morning. Electrician back again.  Chris has spent some time with him as items like fridges and ovens have had to be moved and Chris wanted to ensure no damage occurred to flooring etc.  Ordered a supply of tourist leaflets for the season as they are now ready for delivery.   In the afternoon I went down to Bakewell to get my hair cut at long last as each time since Christmas I have tried to arrange a hair cut it has snowed.  I also got provisions for the weekend.  Having seen the forecast for the weekend just when I thought I could put my winter woollies away I am having to get them back out again!