Peak District cottages

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Wintry days

Tuesday started with snow flurries at our peak district cottages but the sun soon came out but it was not warm enough for any significant melt.  One cleaner up and guests managed to get out and back without any problem during the day.  Rubbish was collected and managed to get some accounts done with Chris’s help.  After lunch Chris took me down to Bakewell to get some provisions.  Hardly any snow left down there. Chris was at Buxton most of Wednesday so I used it as a catch up day.  Caught up with accounts, emails, housework and all sort of bits during the day.  Also did a check on the empty cottages as I do during colder weather.  Temperature didn’t go above freezing all day and on the whole we had milky sunshine as a mist hung in the dales for most of the day.  Had a hoar frost first thing.  More worrying   was the amber warning for snow for Friday especially as we have arrivals and departures on Saturday. Thursday was overcast with that feel of snow in the air.  One cottage left early as a precaution against being snowed in.  Another cottage has asked to stay on a few days rather than risk leaving on Saturday.  The forecast seemed to be constantly changing so we went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend.  I had planned to do this on Friday but I think like most other Bakewellians I was playing safe by going Thursday!  We had a couple of hectic hours after lunch.   We decided we would stock up with logs just as our oil delivery arrived – phew – I thought it would not arrive before the snow did.  Also Sue from next door brought us up some eggs as her new hens have just started laying and she stayed for a cup of tea.  Even had a phone call enquiring about a booking for the weekend!  After logs I checked on the vacant cottages again and Chris salted the drive.  It started flurrying about 5pm and by the time the evening weather was shown our amber snow warning was downgraded to yellow.  We will have to wait and watch.

 Baslow Edge caught by the setting sun Tuesday evening

Smudge watching over the sheep
 Three pictures above taken on Wednesday
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A snowy Monday

 dogs playing in the snow

Woke up to no more snow but by 9am it had started to snow as forecast and it lasted until midday. Two cottages departed and luckily they were gone before it got too bad.  The road to Bakewell was kept clear by regular gritting but one of our guests who went down to Bakewell only managed to get half way back up the drive although after lunch they managed to get back up to the car park.  The cleaner came for a few hours until she got a call to say her sons school was closing.  The laundry van managed to get most of the way up the drive so Chris took the laundry down to the van.  No rubbish collection but postman made it. After lunch the sun came out so Chris and I went for a walk around the fields to take some photos.  Had planned to get some more accounts finished but never did.  Still I took some more bookings and got the fire going for Smudge.  Decided not to got to bowls in the evening as although the main roads would be fine the lane down to the hall would not be so good.  Here are some more photos from our peak district cottages on a snowy Monday.

 looking towards the Edges

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A cold weekend

Friday dawned bright and sunny and it stayed that way until it clouded up later in the afternoon.  A last minute booking for the evening meant a change of cleaning plans and time was also spent preparing for Saturdays arrivals.  After lunch I went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend.  Stocked up with logs and got the fire going.  Guests arrived about 4.30. The snow word has appeared in the weather bulletins so we are keeping an eye on the forecast.  Saturday was another cold but sunny day.  No departures but two arrivals.  First thing we went down to Bakewell to the Auction Room although there was nothing that took my interest.  Also filled up the Shogun with diesel in case we need to pull any cars up the drive when it snows.  They are now talking about the snow arriving on Sunday evening.  Back at our Peak District cottages did the final checks on the cottages.  First one arrived at 3pm, they have been before, and the second one at 5pm.  They are relatives of one of the WI ladies.  Sunday started quite sunny but we were conscious that it wouldn’t last and kept an eye on the forecasts.  After lunch Chris went out and salted the drive and courtyard in anticipation of the snow.  The first flurries started about 5pm and by the time we went to bed there was a covering.

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Keeping busy

Tuesday was a busy day at our peak district cottages.  Cleaner up to carry on cleaning and I was kept busy in the morning with emails and telephone calls.  After lunch I popped down to Bakewell to get some provisions for the next few days.  It is a lot quieter now, even found a free parking space, many cafes are closed for a few weeks for winter breaks or redecorating.  Plenty of posters up about Costa Coffee who have won their planning application on appeal.  Late afternoon our relationship bank manager called in for a chat.  Wednesday was another busy day for many reasons.  One of our regular guests called in to make a booking (they don’t live too far away so often pass this way).  After coffee we went to Buxton for an eye test which we should have done last year.  Luckily there are no real changes but Chris needs a new pair of safety glasses so has ordered a pair.  After lunch we called in at Morrisons. It was quite foggy on the way back but it cleared later in the evening.  It was a much colder day and I had to scrape the ice off the car before collecting Joanna for the first WI meeting of the year.  it was a busy night for me as I had to collect subscriptions, collect money for our trip to the Youlgrave Pantomime, do the vote of thanks for the speaker and pay the speaker.  Our speaker tonight was a local solicitor who talked about wills and he raised a lot of interesting points.  I had spent some time in the afternoon preparing for the meeting as I had to hand out lots of receipts, not that I got time to hand them all out!  Thursday was a much quieter day.  Cleaner up again and Chris and I spent some time going round the cottages listing things to do over the next few weeks.  It was a cold day again with a veil of mist in the dales and the forecast of more cold weather over the weekend and beyond.  I spent some time in the afternoon catching up on accounts, I have the end of month, quarter and year accounts to finalise as well as pay this months bills that are now in.  Got the fire going too, haven’t had to do that for a few weeks.

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Manic Monday

Sunday started quite pleasant at our peak district cottages but the mist soon came down. Two departures and one arrival so some jobs in the cottages in the morning.  Cottage arrived about 3pm, they have been here before and are here for a number of weeks, as is another one of the cottages that arrived a few days ago.  After they arrived I finally finished packing away Christmas trees and decorations.  The outside lights have been switched off for a another year.  One sign of the new year is that our annual letter has been emailed and we received a number of bookings during the day.  Monday stayed gloomy and I had a busy day with emails and bookings.  One cottage out and one cleaner up.  Our main cleaner will be here most days for the next few months not only cleaning in between change overs but undertaking the annual deep clean.  I have a list of things to do in the cottages too over the next couple of months.  Chris took down the lights.  In the evening we abandoned the dogs with Chris heading down to Bakewell for the Photography Club and I headed to Over Haddon for Indoor Bowls.  When I got back there were a few more emails.  The first Monday after the New Year is normally busy for enquiries and bookings hence I dub it Manic Monday.

 The mist rolling in during our early morning walk.
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A walk on Curbar Edge

Saturday was forecast to be dry and with one departure and no arrivals, we thought we would have a few hours off. With the fields still muddy we thought we might go to the National Arboretum but with short daylight hours perhaps spring would be a better time when trees start to bloom again.  In the end we opted for a short walk on Curbar Edge.  Despite setting off later than planned (due to a possible booking that didn’t confirm) we managed to find a parking place and set off along Curbar Edge.  It was busier than I thought, perhaps expecting families would have other things on their minds with schools going back on Monday, but it was nice to see so many out on a Saturday.  It was quite a clear day so we had some wonderful views back to Baslow Edge and over to Derwent Edge.  We found a nice spot for lunch before taking the path down of the Edge and heading back to the car.  Before that we made a short diversion as we could see some Highland cattle at the side of the footpath further along the edge.  Walking along the Edge it was dry but the path down did get muddier and it was rocky in places.  The track back was quite muddy and being lower down we had lost the clear views but we still had some dappled sunlight and we only came across one other walker!  A short walk back up to the car then we set off to Calver where we stopped for afternoon tea at the cafe at the craft centre as we haven’t been there for a while.   Back home at our peak district cottages we had a quiet evening in.  Enjoy the photos.

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Down come the trees

Wednesday saw one departure but no arrivals and one cleaner up to keep up with cleaning.  Chris needed to go to Buxton to bring back some bits so we went after lunch.  We also had a little walk round town but when we went to come back to our Peak District cottages Chris noticed that one of the tyres to the trailer was flat.  We did a tour of garages and tyre places before we got the right replacement and back home it was a quick tea as I was hosting this months WI committee meeting.  Thursday was a bit drizzly in the morning but brightened up in the afternoon.  Another departure with one arrival band one cleaner up.  As cottages are being vacated I have been removing and taking down the Christmas trees.  Sometimes I think it takes longer to take them down and pack them away for the following year than to put them up! In the afternoon I went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend.  Guests arrived about 7pm, they have been before.  Friday started brighter than of late.  No departures but one arrival and one cleaner up.  Spent a lot of the morning in jobs around the cottages and Chris and I started our rounds of going through the cottages making a note of what work needs doing over the next few months.  I plan to get the deep cleaning in the cottages under way next week.  Guests arrived just after 3pm, they have been before.  Then spent the rest of the afternoon in undecorating and packing away Christmas trees and still haven’t finished!

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New Year at Bolehill

New Year’s Eve was a dull and damp day although it brightened up later.  No departures but one arrival and one cleaner up to keep up with cleaning.  Later in the morning we took Chris’s brother to Buxton to see our project and Buxton’s highlights and had lunch at No 6, close to the Opera House.  Back in time for our guests who arrived at 6pm.  They have been before.  In the evening we thought we would get some fish and chips from Bakewell but when we got there just after 7pm, it had already closed.  The Chinese takeaway was busy so we thought we would pop into the Peacock for a drink.  They were serving food and there was a spare table so we ended up eating there and we all enjoyed our meals.  Will have to add that to our list of places to eat.  Saw the New Year in quietly as we usually do.  New Years Day was pleasant but cooler and there were two departures and Chris’s brother headed for home too leaving Chris and I to have a quiet afternoon and evening and have a few relaxing hours at our peak district cottages.

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New Year arrivals

Friday saw two departures and one arrival for the New Year and one cleaner up.  Went down to Bakewell early afternoon to get provisions for the weekend.  Guests arrived just after 3pm.  Saturday saw four departures and two arrivals for the New Year.  Another wet day which made cleaning harder for the two cleaners.  No major problems but oven cleaning was a top priority.  The rain finally relented in the afternoon at our peak district cottages but it turned colder.  Cottages arrived between 4 and 5pm.  Sunday was a more pleasant day weather wise but we had plenty to do.  One departure and three more arrivals for the New Year.  Cottages already prepared but also got a phone call from Chris’s brother who arrived later in the day for a short stay.  All three cottages arrived between 3 and 4pm, one has been before.  Also in the afternoon the couple we know from Ashford in the Water (they used to be regular guests) came up for coffee so a busy but pleasant day.

Here are the weather stats for December although the rainfall may not be accurate as we were without the weather station for a few weeks.

13th was coldest day and night with lowest temp of -5.7 deg C on 13th.  Warmest day was 28th and night 22nd with highest temp 10.6 deg C on 21st.  Wettest day was 20th with 1.16 in rain with 5.76 inches for month (7.29 inches Dec 2011). 

We recorded 42.58 inches of rain for 2012 (and there was more!) compared to 30.75inches in 2011. 

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Derwent and Ladybower Reservoirs

On Thursday we had hoped to get another walk in but the forecast indicated it would be raining by lunchtime.  Our friends were meeting up with a couple of their friends for coffee so we met up with them afterwards and headed up to Derwent reservoir to see the water coming over the top of the dam.  We had heard it was very good at the moment and we must admit we had never seen the water come over the dam with such force.  We did a short walk along the local tracks then headed over to Ladybower to see the water going into the sink holes.  We stopped for lunch at the Riverside deli just outside Hathersage then had a wander round Hathersage browsing in a few outdoor shops too.  Despite the fact it always looked threatening it never rained so we could have had a walk after all.  An early tea back at our peak district cottages then our friends departed for home.  One arrival in the afternoon too.  Enjoy the photos.

 Looks more like a wall of snow!