At last!  Friday (20/7)was quite a pleasant day at our peak district cottages.  One departure with one back in and one cleaner up.  Cottage arrived about 5pm.  In the evening we went to Buxton.  The Buxton Festival is still on (it grows in reputation each year) but we went as we had preview tickets for the Peak District Artisans Showcase at the Devonshire Dome.  We went last year too (remember it was the evening Blue got stung by wasps).  After our wander around the Dome we thought we would see if we could find somewhere to eat.  Although it was not late, it was a Friday and there was the festival on and after a little bit of searching we managed to find a table at the St Moritz, a little Italian restaurant near the Palace Hotel.  We had a lovely meal so will go there again.  Saturday morning saw six departures with four arrivals.  First thing though I was down to Bakewell for the Farmers Market, a week early this month because of the Bakewell Show.  Back before final guests departed and the two cleaners were well into their routine.  Chris cut the grass before cottages started to arrive at about 3pm.  Two cottages arrived between 3 and 4pm, one between 4 and 5pm and final one just after 5.30pm.  Two have been before.  A fine evening with more fine weather to follow.

Wednesday 18/7 said shopping in Chesterfield.  The forecast was pretty miserable so a shopping day fitted in fine but it turned into a pretty pleasant day at our peak district cottages.  By mid morning I realised that I was not going to get to Chesterfield.  The phone calls and emails were coming in.  Was it the appearance of the sun?  Or the special offers we had posted on our website?  I needed some food though so I went down town and got some provisions for the next few days and got my hair cut at the same time.  A last minute booking for the evening meant a cottage to finish off.  They arrived about 6pm. Took a short break in the evening by taking the dogs for a walk.  Finally finished about 10pm but at least the day had a number of bookings to show for it.  Thursday started damp but it brightened up although it stayed on the cool side.  A day to catch up after Wednesday and some house work too.

Monday was a dull and damp day, more drizzly than rainy at our peak district cottages.  One cottage out and two back in with one cleaner up.  One cottage arrived about 3pm and second one about 5pm.  At least it brightened up in the evening. News that the swollen River Dove has washed away two of the stepping stones meaning they cant be used was on the TV.  Tuesday was a brighter day and although mainly cloudy it was much warmer.  One cottage out with one back in and one cleaner up.  Just after lunch a car drove up to say two cows were on the road.  Phoned Andrew but as he was out in the fields Joanna drove up with Ian and I went down with Chris and warned the traffic coming round the bend from Monyash whilst the others got the cows back in.  As the guests had been before and knew where to go we had time to visit some Agricultural stores to get some bits and pieces.  As we also went to the one at Brough we made a detour as we had heard that water was flowing over the sink holes at Ladybower and as we had never have seen it before we went and had a look.  Back home we met up with the guests to make sure everything was OK.  There was an article on the local news about how bad bookings were for camp sites, it seems the only tourist businesses doing well are indoor play areas.  One of the problems it has been decided is that the weather forecasters are being too pessimistic.  Still, there is hope on the horizon?

Sunday (15/7) was forecast to be a fine day at our peak district cottages so we decided to go for a walk.  We said goodbye to one cottage and after picking up a paper in Bakewell drove to the lay by at the Monyash end of Lathkill Dale.  The aim was to walk along the dale to Over Haddon and back home.  We had walked the dale on Boxing Day after a wet spell so it would be interesting to see how much water was coming from the source cave.  The other difference was that the trees were out so I will have to compare the photos.  Starting at the more open end of the dale it soon closed in and we tackled the more rocky bit before it opened up again and we came across the source.  On Boxing Day it was gushing out whereas on Sunday it was flowing nicely.  The level was lower than at Christmas and we knew that because we could cross the river at this point whereas at Christmas we had to retrace our steps to find a place to cross at.  From here we entered the more wooded part and the path was more defined and soon we were in the Nature Reserve with the first of the weirs.  At the point where the old drovers track went up to Haddon Grove Farms we found a sunny spot for lunch, but I had to move quickly when I found I was sitting on an ants nest!  While we were having lunch one of our postmen, who is also a photographer, walked down the track with his new dog so our two said hello.  As he knows more about the wildlife of the dale he told us about slow worms and where they could be found.  After lunch we continued our walk along the dale and as it was so nice we walked all the way to Conksbury Bridge then up to our picnic stop.  We stopped for a few minutes to have a drink of water and let the dogs have a drink but Smudge was more interested in some cream crackers he had found.  There were a number of DofE groups around so I assumed one of them had had lunch there and left them behind.  Needless to say there weren’t any left after Smudge found them.  When we got to Over Haddon we found the village hall was open for tea and cakes as the well dressings were on display.  I usually try to go and help for a few hours but couldn’t this year.  It was a very good one too, one of the better ones I have seen this year.  After tea and cakes sitting outside the village hall in the sun with the view we walked the last part of the journey back home.  Unfortunately in the first field there were some cows so as soon as Blue saw them he jumped over the wall into the next field.  Further along he jumped back and then when he saw there was still cows in the field he jumped backed over and waited for us at the next stile.  Back home we drove back to Monyash to pick up the car and an ice cream from the Smithy (Chris put it in a container for me to enjoy when I got back).  It was St Swithin’s Day and despite the nice weather it wont be like this for the next forty days.  There is a hint of better weather from next weekend? Enjoy the photos

I was hoping the bad weather would stay to the south of our peak district cottages on Friday but it didn’t.  So on Friday we got another half an inch of rain just as the ground was starting to dry out.  One cottage out and one back in with one cleaner up.  Went down to Bakewell later in the morning to get provisions for the weekend and heard that Costa Coffee had been refused planning permission for a coffee shop in Bakewell.  Bakewell shop keepers are delighted.  It still leaves us with an empty shop but no more outdoor shops or coffee shops please as there are already 47 places in Bakewell to buy a drink!  Guests arrived just after 9pm.  Saturday was a dry day although there were showers in the area.  Three cottages out and four back in and two cleaners up.  With early departures cleaning was completed by midday (it had started by 9am).  With time available we went to Buxton to check on progress of our project and whilst standing in the garden a Spitfire flew over.  It was also Buxton Carnival day.  On the way back we stopped at the Flagg tea room and had lunch and were still back in time before the first guests arrived.  Two cottages arrived at 3pm, one had been before with a further cottage at 4pm and one at 5pm, both had been before.  Time for some accounts and a nice enough evening to enjoy a little walk with the dogs.  Hoping for a longer walk on Sunday.

On Thursday I went on a coach trip to Lichfield about 40 miles away from our peak district cottages.  This was organised by a WI lady from Monyash and Joanna and I thought it would be nice to go.  Chris dropped us off near the Lady Manners school just before 9am and after picking up some others in Bakewell and Ashford we were off.  It didn’t take long to get there via Ashbourne and there was still some flooding near Sudbury.  Lichfield is worth visiting if you are nearby for a couple of reasons, the Cathedral and Dr Johnson’s House.  Apart from some nice stained glass windows the Cathedral also now houses some of the Staffordshire Hoard.  It is also  famous  for having three spires. Lichfield was in the middle of its arts festival so while we were wandering around around the cathedral we were listening to a practice session for a piano recital.  Thursday was a nice day so we also wandered around the streets, there were some independent shops as well as a central shopping area.  There are a number of regular weekly markets too.  Dr Johnson’s House was also worth a visit, he wrote A Dictionary of the English Language.  After lunch we walked through some parkland and along the ‘pool’ beside the cathedral before browsing in some shops.  On the way back I noticed some farmers were making the best of the weather and either silaging or hay making.  Home by 5.30.  Had a nice day out but missed a good day to get some gardening done.  Never mind.

Sunday was a quiet day at home.  Collected paper and recycled various items.  One cottage departed and the day turned out to be quite pleasant.  Actually saw some sunshine!  On Monday morning I went down to the market.  One cottage out and two due back in but one delayed arrival for Tuesday.  One cleaner up. Cottage arrived about 3pm.  A mainly dry day, a little drizzle at lunchtime, but stayed mainly cloudy.  Tuesday was the same weather wise but not as mild..  The Ashbourne Highland Show (the biggest highland event outside of Scotland) has been cancelled and there was more flooding in the Derby area.  Andrew was saying that some farmers towards Leek still haven’t silaged.  Andrew mowed the fields today which he does at least once during the growing season.  No cottages out but one back in, arriving about 3.30pm, they have been before, and the delayed cottage from yesterday arrived about 7pm.  One cleaner up and I spent some time on WI accounts.  Wednesday started drizzly at our peak district cottages but brightened up with some lengthy sunny spells even if it was a little cooler.  One cottage out with one back in but cottage already cleaned.  Cottage arrived about 3pm.  A day of odd jobs and in the evening we went to Monyash where my namesake from Monyash gave the Over Haddon WI a guided tour around the village.  I even found out some things I didn’t know.  We finished off the evening with sandwiches and tea at The Smithy which we all enjoyed.

We welcomed Friday with trepidation.  No departures with one arrival at or peak district cottages but cottage already cleaned.  Despite the forecast nearly had a last minute booking but they changed their mind.  The prediction had been for up to a couple of inches of rain to fall during the day but despite the constant rain we ended up with .6 inch.  When I saw the news at lunchtime I realised we had got off lightly when I saw the flooding around Derby.  I managed to hem and hang up the curtains in one of the cottages before guests arrived about 3pm.  By about 5pm it stopped raining and actually brightened up for the evening which was just as well as the big wheelbarrow race was taking place in Bakewell as a part of the carnival week.  They had to halt the raft race on Thursday evening when it poured down.  Saturday was a quiet day for the time of year although with short breaks we have a number of arrivals during the week.  Four cottages departed and three returned.  The morning brightened up and when the sun came out it was warm.  Two cleaners up and cleaning was quickly accomplished.  Chris started to cut the grass after lunch but a heavy down pour put paid to him finishing. It probably spoiled the beginning of the carnival too.  Two cottages arrived about 3pm, both have been before.  Final cottage arrived about 5pm giving me time to finish the quarterly accounts.  As it was a nice evening I took the dogs or a walk around the fields in the late evening sunshine.  I lamented about the fact we have had only one picnic and no BBQ’s this year, not that the dogs were listening.  The late evening sunshine also made for some interesting cloud formations at our peak district cottages.

Tuesday saw one departure at our peak district cottages with one cleaner up.  A dull day but it was mild.  Spent some time on WI accounts and later in the afternoon we and got the cows in.  Not that we needed to do much as most were waiting to go in anyway.  Poor Smudge, he does enjoy getting the cows in but he came back so muddy that I had to swoosh him and he doesn’t enjoy that.  Wednesday saw a little more brightness and some afternoon sunshine.  One cottage out and did have a potential last minute booking but the forecast put them off.  Doesn’t help our bookings this wet weather.  Have some new curtain to hang up in one of the cottages but one pair need the hem taking up so I prepared them for sewing.  In the end didn’t take Smudge to bring in the cows even though it was sunny and warm as I was still wading through mud and I thought it not fair on Smudge to keep being hosed down.  Even in the wettest of winters I cannot recall the fields being so muddy.  Lynne collected me for the Over Haddon WI committee meeting as she has also joined our committee.  She has also been stuck in mud but she was saying a farmer near Chapel has cut his grass for silage but the fields are too wet to get the tractors in for collecting so it could rot.  Thursday stands out because … it was sunny, warm and dry!  In the morning we popped down to Bakewell for our dental check-up and get some provisions for the weekend.  Once home I spent a little time before lunch checking on the hanging baskets.  They are so full of water that I actually emptied some of the water out before feeding them.  After lunch I went to Buxton to get some bits.  Despite a forecast of thundery downpours we were lucky enough to miss them until much later in the evening when we had nearly half an inch of rain in a few minutes.  The dogs weren’t impressed with the thunder, Smudge wouldn’t even finish his dinner.  Chris went out to close the cows out of the front field as they have been moved to another field and said there was a stream of water running down the field. There was so much water coming off the field that it filled the cattle grid then ran on to the road. At least the fine weather during the day cheered us all up.  Just as well as the forecast for Friday is abysmal.

…  always get me down are words from a Carpenters song.  Its official now.  June was the wettest June since records began.  Won’t dispute that and it was also duller than usual.  We’ll all be suffering from SAD before autumn arrives.  Monday was disappointing weather wise.  I was expecting it to be dull with some showers but the showers seem to be in the form of constant drizzle.  No departures but one arrival and one cleaner up.  Cottage arrived about 4pm.  A usual Monday at our peak district cottages, laundry, rubbish, and time for some accounts as we have just passed the end of the second quarter so I have some work to do for the quarterly VAT return.  The first of the monthly bills started to arrive too.  Andrew and Joanna have gone off for a few days looking at Holsteins so I went down with Smudge to round up the cows for milking.  The fields are getting very boggy and while we were rounding them up I actually got stuck in mud.  I couldn’t get my boot out.  I had visions of having to wait until Ian finished milking before I could be rescued but with a bit of wiggling I finally managed to free my foot even though it meant I fell in the mud in the process!  Will have to submit a bill for laundry!  Poor Smudge needed a good hose down for all his efforts.  Here are the statistics for June’s weather.

Rain 6.3 in (June 2011 1.77 in) Wettest day 8th with 1.39 in.
Warmest day and night 27th with 21.2 on the 27th  Highest UV 8.6 on 28th.
Coldest day and night 3rd with lowest temp 4.2 on the 4th