The forecast was uncertain for Thursday and it started pretty grim but brightened up during the day.  We had scheduled the day off although we had a late booking but as the cottage had been before they were happy to let themselves in.  Our first stop was Lea Gardens which were a riot of colour.  Usually the rhododendrons and azaleas are in good form when my cherry blossom is at its best.  The only downside was that it started raining when we got there and we usually enjoy a coffee on the terrace overlooking the gardens but we had to stay inside.  Still the dogs got a little walk.  From here we went to the East Midlands Outlet Centre at Junction 28 on the M1 where I was able to stock up on some choccies at the Cadbury’s.  We came back via Matlock where we stopped at one of the Garden Centres and I bought some more bedding plants.  The greenhouse is very full, we need some nice weather so I can start moving plants out!  Back at our peak district cottages I said hello to the cottage that had arrived as well as to those arriving back from their day out.  Thursday was also the start of the Tissington Well Dressings so we drove round to have a look and a wander round the village.  Here are the photos.

Monday was again quite pleasant continuing the trend of the last few days.  One cottage out and one back in and one cleaner up.  Cottage phoned later to say they wouldn’t be arriving until Tuesday.  Time to get down some curtains in a vacant cottage and wash them.  Later in the afternoon saw a band of showers cross to the south of us leaving some rainbows to marvel at.  In the evening went to the Over Haddon Village Hall Committee Meeting.  A longer meeting than usual as there was a lot to get through so too late to see the first episode of ‘Chatsworth’.  Tuesday saw a few more showers, some with hail, and it felt a bit cooler.  One cottage arriving later in the day as well as the delayed cottage from Monday.  One cleaner up.  Delayed guests arrived about 2pm then I went down to Bakewell to get some provisions for the next few days.  Got back in time to meet second cottage.  Time for pottering in the greenhouse and watched ‘Chatsworth’ in the evening. Roll on the next couple of episodes.  Wednesday was a quiet day and probably the best day of the week weather wise.  In the morning I ironed and hung back up the washed curtains.  In the afternoon I wrote up the minutes of the WI meeting and was quite busy with emails and phone calls.  Enjoyed my walk with the dogs at our peak district cottages in the evening. The milk cows are now out overnight so more black and white on the landscape. Some more cows will be coming over to our side of the road soon and next week it is hope that the young heifers can come out for summer pasture.  Lets see what they get up to this year!  Here are a few more photos from the last couple of days.

Saturday and Sunday were pleasant days weather wise but it is still cooler than it should be for the time of year.  One cottage out and four back in and one cleaner up as most were already cleaned.  Final checks in the cottages then an early lunch.  Chris did some gardening jobs and I put dinner in the slow cooker.  All cottages have been before three arriving between 3.30 and 4.30 pm.  Warm enough to have a cup of tea on the patio in the afternoon.  Final cottage arrived about 7.30.  They were looking forward to seeing the dogs but Smudge wouldn’t go and say hello as I had got his dinner ready and he was more interested in getting his dinner!  Another fine evening for a walk with the dogs. On Sunday morning we said goodbye to three cottages and with one cottage due back in one cleaner up.  Chris cut the lawn and after cottage arrived at 3pm I spent some time potting on the last of the plants and chatting to some of the guests. In the evening we went to Over Haddon to see the film ‘The Help’.  A full house to see an interesting film.  Here are some pictures from the weekend at our peak district cottages.

A holiday Monday is just like most Mondays with arrivals and departure but no collection of laundry and rubbish.  Six cottages out with four due back in although one delayed their arrival due to illness.  Two cleaners up and no problems encountered. All three cottages arrived between 3 and 3.30pm so rest of afternoon to catch up on other jobs.  Tuesday was quite a pleasant day at our peak district cottages.  One cottage out with one back in and one cleaner up.  Had time to do some more potting up in the afternoon and some accounts too.  Cottage arrived about 5pm, they have been before.  Delayed cottage postponed arrival another day but subsequently cancelled.  Pleasant evening to take dogs for a walk, it was crystal clear.  Pity the forecast is for rain again over the next few days.  Wednesday got off to a dull but mild start.  One cottage out with one back in and one cleaner up.  The annual Tourism Conference was taking place in Buxton but we had decided not to go this year, but we did go over and have a look at the leaflet swap.  Despite the fact I thought I wouldn’t need any we did come away with a few bags worth. Back in time for guests arrival about 5pm, they have been before.  In the evening it was the Over Haddon WI meeting and I collected Joanna’s other neighbour to come along for the evening.  Like all WI’s nationwide May’s meeting was to discuss the resolutions tabled for the WI AGM later this month. After we got business out of the way we had a quiz then a ‘Jubilee Tea’ with some appropriate decorations and a natter. 

Don’t forget there is a new series on Chatsworth House starting Monday evening BBC 1 9pm.  Pity I’m going to miss it.  Thank heavens for Sky+.

Friday was a busy day with three departures and six arrivals (and two already in) meaning a full house for the weekend!  First thing was to let the departing guests leave our peak district cottages as the cows that had been let into the front field on Thursday were blocking the entrance.  It took a bit of work to get them to move but eventually the guests were able to leave!  Two cleaners up to clean three cottages with other three already prepared.  Went down Bakewell to get provisions for weekend then finalised cottages for the day’s arrivals.  Four arrived between 3 and 5pm with the final two arriving between 8 and 9pm.  One has been before.  With all cottages in Saturday was a day off!   It was the annual plant auction at Bakewell and Chris took me down there for a quick look but as there wasn’t anything of interest we went onto Tideswell where there was a Food Festival.  You may recall that Tideswell was one of the subjects for the BBC programme ‘Village SOS’ which resulted in a school of food and a food festival.  As we drove through the village we could see all the stalls set out and after parking our first port of call was the school of food which seems to be doing well.  We arrived just in time for a guided tour so we saw the area used for brewing (they do brewing courses here too now) as well as the kitchen areas.  We wandered through the village chancing upon a performance from the renowned Tideswell Male Voice Choir and some Morris Dancing and enjoyed samples from some of the stalls.  Some were at the Bakewell Food Festival the previous Saturday.  Back home for lunch then another couple of hours planting up the remaining hanging baskets.  On our journeys today we called in at a local nursery and after some discussions will probably ‘outsource’ the planting up of our baskets next year leaving me time to concentrate on the rest of the grounds and gardens – I still have about a 100 plants to pot on for later planting.  So I will still be able to enjoy my greenhouse with the best views in Derbyshire!

Tuesday was another dreary day with some periods of rain at our peak district cottages.  One cottage out and one back in and one cleaner up.  Another day of odd jobs around the house and cottages and I had a surprise when the postman arrived with 250 plug plants.  Usually they arrive over a period of a couple of weeks so it looks like I will have plenty to do over the next few days.  Guests arrived about 5pm, they have been before. Wednesday was another pleasant day weather wise.  No departures or arrivals so in the morning I went to Buxton to Morrison’s and stocked up as I haven’t done a big supermarket shop for a while.  In the afternoon I unpacked all the plants that had arrived on Tuesday ready for planting up.  Chris erected the electric fence near the greenhouse as Andrew will be releasing some cows into the front field soon and they have a habit of looking over the wall (and sometimes knocking it down) as the grass is always greener on the other side!  Andrew brought some more cows over to this side of the road so there is a lot more black and white on the green landscape.  He also rebuilt the part of the wall Chris knocked down before Xmas.  In the evening it was our WI committee meeting and I collected Joanna and we went to the Presidents house in Bakewell.  Thursday saw no arrivals or departures so I spent some time preparing for Friday as well as a couple of enjoyable hours in the greenhouse planting up half the hanging baskets.  In the evening I went to Over Haddon for the Village Hall AGM.

Well I guess we could start with the weather statistics at our peak district cottages especially as April has been declared the wettest one in over a hundred years.  30th April turned out to be the warmest day with the highest temperature of 14.4C.  Before that the highest temperature had been 10.9C on 26th which had been the warmest day, which says it all about April.  The night of 25th was warmest.  Coldest day and night was 4th with a temperature of -0.1C and a wind chill of -5.2C.  Wettest day was 25th with .76 in rain.  April 2012 showed 4.44 in rain compared to 0.42 in April 2011.  So Sunday was wet but not as wet as Wednesday and it was windy so it was a stay at home day.  One cottage out and most of the rest stayed in all day.  Only consolation is that it was the worst day of the week weather wise.  Monday was by contrast, probably the best.  Warm sunshine, blue skies, just as April should be.  Two cottages out and one back in arriving about 5pm.  One cleaner up and whether it was because it felt so nice, I seemed to get a lot done.  The wind had brought down a lot of twigs so I spent some time picking these up from the car park and garden and I planted up some summer bulbs and lettuce plugs I had bought on Saturday.  In the vacant cottages I finished off some more jobs on my list. Indoors I finished off the accounts for the month.  In the evening Chris went to the AGM of the Bakewell Photographic Society and I took the dogs for a walk in the late evening sunshine.

Friday was quite dry but cool and cloudy at our peak district cottages.  Two cottages out with one back in and one cleaner up.  Went with friend (and Chris) to Buxton and had lunch.  We made a diversion on the way back to call in at the Chatsworth Garden Centre with Chatsworth House a beacon of brightness in the gloomy afternoon.  We also noted that there is some minor flooding in the area, notably Ashford in the Water, and river levels could still rise further.  When Andrew moved the cows into our eight acre field later in the day even he had to admit he has seen enough rain now.  That’s a first!  Later in the afternoon I ironed the curtains I had washed and hung them back up.  Guests arrived about 7pm having been delayed on the motorway.   Saturday was similar to Friday weather wise but a little windier with a couple of light showers later in the afternoon.  Two cottages out with three back in and one cleaner up.  Saturday was also Farmers Market and for the first time a Bakewell Food Festival was taking place in town with stalls dotted around and events happening at such venues as the Rutland Arms.  Took friend with me to Bakewell and came back with empty purse and full bags (and full stomachs) with all the samples at the Food Festival.  At least it stayed dry and I hope it was a success, there were certainly plenty of people around.  Friend left after a late coffee and I checked cottages before arrivals.  Two cottages arrived about 4pm, both have been before, and one arrived about 5pm.  After a few days respite a wet day is forecast for Sunday but a better day is promised for Monday.

It’s always nice when friends come to stay so it was nice to welcome one of our friends to Bolehill on Wednesday.  She braved the horrible weather to get here about lunchtime – she said it was trying to snow on the Cat and Fiddle. Not surprised.  I had spent the morning washing some curtains in one of the vacant cottages so along with my coat which had got very wet when taking the dogs out, there was a lot of drying going on in the laundry room.  First time for ages I had not enjoyed taking the dogs out. I had planned to go down to Bakewell after lunch but it didn’t really stop raining until about 4pm so it was a bit late then.  One cottage in, arriving about 4pm, they have been before.  In the evening we decided to go out for a meal and thought we would try the Druids Inn at Birchover as we haven’t been there for a while.  There was a lot of surface water around.  When we got to the Druids Inn it was closed, as in completely closed, no sign or information and with the Red Lion in Birchover holding a quiz and supper night we thought we would try the Bowling Green in Winster, only to find they weren’t serving food that night!  Fourth time lucky stopping at the Farmyard in Youlgrave where we had a nice meal.  At least Thursday saw an improvement in the weather with some dry and sunny spells amongst the showers.  One cottage out with one due back in and one cleaner up.  Went down to Bakewell with friend to do banking and get some provisions for the next few days.  After lunch and after guests arrived we went to the Peak Village Outlet Centre.  In the evening we watched the mist rise out of Lathkill Dale and I saw the first hare at our peak district cottages.