Well the nightmare began late on Saturday night at our peak district cottages when Chris  turned on a tap and just a trickle came out.  He went down to the meter and came back because the meter at the bottom of the field indicated water was passing through but it wasn’t getting to the house so there had be a leak.  As it was gone 11pm we decided the best thing we could do was get some drinking water for the guests for the morning and see what the situation was then.  Luckily we found the Tesco Express in Buxton was open 24 hours so Chris set off only to get there just after midnight and find they were closed!  Luckily it was just for a break so half an hour later he was able to buy some water and by 1am we were putting bottles of water on cottage steps with notices explaining the situation.  The alarm went off at 7am and Chris went down to the farm to get some water for flushing toilets and then went to check the meter again.  He came back perplexed as it was still showing water passing through but the meter was going backwards!  Hopefully that meant the leak was not on our land.  He spoke to Severn Trent and they said someone would be there within the hour and they were.  They had recorded a loss of pressure in the area and were able to report they had found a leak about half a mile along the road towards Monyash.  They were not expecting it to take long to repair but we had to forgo the walk I had planned.  As it was nice Chris and I did a number of outside jobs.  A couple of times Chris drove over to where the leak was to see the progress.  As the leak was on the main road they were going to need traffic lights for traffic control but by the time they arrived the digger men had finished their shift so digging could not start until the next shift arrived!  At one stage it looked like we would have water back by 7pm but this came and went. As we had tickets for the Opera House at Buxton we gave them to Joanna to use as realised we would not get there in time.  We provided more drinking water to guests as needed and Chris did a couple of trips during the day to make sure the other water containers were full.  With it being a nice day guests were out until later in the day.  Chris did a final trip at about 10.30 but work was still in progress so we were resigned to the fact we would not have water for another night but just after 11pm we could hear the sound of cistern refilling so we went to bed a lot more relieved (and clean!)

Thursday was another pleasant day at our peak district cottages although there was still a chill in the air.   A busy day for phone calls and emails but I found a few hours to go over to Buxton to see how things were getting on.  Back in time for the arrival of two cottages.  One has been before and both here by 4pm.  In the evening we went out for a meal with one of the couples staying in the cottages.  We went to Felicinis in Bakewell and had a enjoyable evening.  Friday saw two departures with one arrival and one cleaner here.  Cottage arrived about 3.30 then spent some time on accounts.  Saturday saw one further departure with another arrival and one cottage staying for another week.  One cleaner up to turn round vacated cottage and change bedding in second cottage.  Took dogs for their usual walk but stopped to talk to one of the guests and when I turned round I could not see Blue.  I carried on with Smudge thinking Blue would join us but when I got home he had not returned.  I saw a group of walkers on the footpath and caught up with them but they had not seen him so off Chris went and came back with Blue.  He had got all the way to Magpie Mine!  Needless to say he was in the doghouse for the rest of the day.  Cottage arrived about 5.30 having been delayed by bad traffic en route.  In the meantime I had got up to date with this months accounts and found time to think about a walk for Sunday as the forecast was promising..

It was a sunny and frosty start to Tuesday and taking the dogs for an early walk saw our first hot air balloon of the season from our peak district cottages.  Joanna collected me and then we picked up another WI lady from Bakewell and headed to   Chesterfield for the Derbyshire Federation of WI’s for the Spring Council meeting.  I went as the Over Haddon delegate.  If you remember I went last year a delegate so I had a better idea of what to expect.  We had two guest speakers, the one in the morning was from the Derbyshire Library Service, and saving Libraries was last years WI resolution.  At lunchtime we had a wander round the various WI stalls before a quick stroll into town.  Our main speaker of the day was Dame Jenni Murray, well known to Woman’s Hour listeners, I’m not one, so she was well received.  She recounted her time in radio, talking about some of the people she had enjoyed and not enjoyed interviewing and there was time for questions afterwards.  On the way home we noticed that Debenhams would be coming to Chesterfield later in the year and Poundstretcher was stretching into the vacant neighbouring Comet store.  At home I called in and said hello to the cottage that had already arrived, they have been before, and one cottage had left that morning.  A quiet evening after a hectic day.  Wednesday was a catch up day, a bit cooler than Tuesday and in the evening this months WI committee meeting was held at our house.  In Joanna’s absence I took the minutes so I have a lot of notes to write up in the next few days. Below is a picture of the sunlight catching the Edges one evening.

Saturday morning was quite hectic at our peak district cottages.  It was surprisingly very foggy first thing, thought I might have to take the dogs out on their leads but it lifted and by the time we went out it was drizzling.  One cottage out with one back in and one cleaner up.  Unexpected guests and phone calls occupied the morning and it was lunchtime before I even answered emails.   Found time to hang up the new curtains and get the fire going as it was a bit cooler.  Guests arrived just before 5pm. Sunday started wet and by the time I took the dogs out it was snowing (wet snow), but luckily it was not settling.  Heard the first calls of a curlew when out with the dogs, what a contradiction, a call of spring with the weather of winter. One cottage out.  With it forecast to be a wet day it gave us the chance to catch up on some bits round the house. By early afternoon it had stopped snowing and the cloud lifted but it stayed cold.  Another opportunity for Smudge to enjoy laying in front of the fire.  Monday was a better day weather wise.  One cottage out with two back in and one cleaner up.  Usual Monday routines and next thing you know it is lunchtime.  Guests arrived about 4pm then an early tea as Chris was off to the Bakewell Photographic Society and I was off to Over Haddon, this time for the Village Hall Committee meeting

Woke to sunshine!  More noticeable too now that the sun is rising earlier at our peak district cottages.  So the first day of March was a warm sunny day but with warnings of a cold snap to come.  Dogs had their last walk with some of their canine friends as two cottages departed this morning.  One cleaner up and with it being so pleasant Chris and I spent a few hours in the gardens and grounds tidying up and it reminded me that I really must start thinking about the hanging baskets.  A quick trip down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend and also dropped some boxes off at a WI members house for the Oxfam Jumble Sale.  Friday started with the sun peeping above the mist in the valleys and although not as warm or sunny it was another pleasant day.  One cottage out with three back in and one cleaner up.  Did a number of odd jobs in the cottages and house and a bit of tidying up the in the courtyard.  Washed some more curtains and final pair of new curtains arrived. First guests, who have been many times before, arrived just before 4pm with second cottage, who have also been before, arriving about 5pm.  Final cottage arrived about 9pm.
Here are a couple of pictures from Friday morning.

February weather stats Highest temp 14.6C on 23rd which was the warmest day with night of 22nd the warmest night.  Lowest temp -6.7C on the 8th with night of 7th the coldest night and the 3rd being the coldest day.  Total rain was 1.33″ (2/2011 4.49″) with wettest day 22nd with .47″.

Sunday started bright and sunny at our peak district cottages but it soon clouded over.  Took dogs for their morning walk before fetching paper and doing recycling.  After coffee we headed to Hopton Hall near Carsington Water to have a look at the snowdrops.  We go most years and although they don’t allow dogs in the gardens it doesn’t take to long to walk round the estate and have a light lunch.  From here we drove round to the Sheepwash car park at Carsington Water as by now the sun had come out and we thought the dogs would enjoy a short walk.  From the car park we took the footpath to the Visitor Centre and as it was a nice afternoon the path and Centre was busy.  The walk was about three miles there and back and on the way there we passed an old WW11 viewing tower and a couple of bird hides.  The footpath and cycle way that goes round the reservoir is about eight miles long.  At the main viewing gallery there were a number of families bird watching and there was a whiteboard for anyone to list any birds they have seen.  The visitor centre was busy with families but I found a place to buy an ice cream and enjoy it before the walk back to the car.  Strange to think that last Sunday we were worried about icy paths on the walk and this Sunday I enjoyed an ice cream on the walk.

What a difference a day makes.  Thursday was incredibly mild, especially when the sun came out.  It was mild enough to leave the doors open of the empty cottages to let them air a bit.  One arrival and one cleaner with guests turning up at about 4.30.  I had spent most of the day getting cottages ready for the next few days as well as a number of jobs on the ‘to do’ list.  I also went down to Bakewell to get some dinner for the next few days and do the banking.  By contrast Friday started dull and drizzly but brightened up in the afternoon although it was a bit cooler.  One cottage out and two back in and one cleaner here.  This years brochures arrived for Haddon Hall (Prince Charles was a guest there on Friday) and Chatsworth House.  Finished the preparations for the cottages then spent some time in the afternoon on paperwork.  First cottage, who have been before, arrived about 4pm, with final cottage here just about 8pm.  Saturday was another bright but cool day.  One cottage out with one back in and one cleaner up.  Down to the Farmers Market i Bakewell first thing and later in the morning one of our former guests who now lives in the area popped in for some advice on kitchens.  After lunch final check on cottage before guests arrived about 3.30, they have been before and are here for a few weeks.  A few bookings in the afternoon kept me occupied and looked at some walks in case Sunday turned out to be fine.

To put us in the mood for further spring like weather at our peak district cottages (more is predicted in the days ahead) here are a couple of shots I took at our neighbours last Sunday

Monday saw one departure and one arrival and one cleaner up at our peak district cottages.  Usual routines and handyman also here to finish as many indoor jobs this week as possible.  In the evening we abandoned the dogs with myself heading to Over Haddon for indoor bowls and Chris down to Bakewell for the Photographic Society.  Tuesday was a pleasantly mild day, didn’t even need my hat and scarf when walking the dogs.  One cleaner up to continue cleaning.  I started work on a pair of new curtains that needed re hemming in the morning and in the afternoon went to Buxton to do a big shop at Morrisons.  On Wednesday morning I would have liked to have taken the dogs out before it rained but the drizzle started earlier than expected.  One cleaner up and I managed to sew and hang up the new curtains.  One cottage in today, they have been before, arriving about 3pm.  Had a chat with one them later on in the day as it has been a few years since they were last here.  A number of bookings over the last few days has been promising but we did have a cancellation due to redundancy as well and we wonder how many more we may have.

Friday morning saw one departure at our peak district cottages and one cleaner up.  I went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend and found Bakewell very busy.  You get used to seeing empty spaces in the car park and then all of a sudden its busy again.  Another sign of it being busy is the people who try to cross the road with moving traffic when there are plenty of pedestrian crossings available.  There was one fatality last summer when someone dashed out and got knocked over.  Caught up on some accounts in the afternoon and some odd jobs around the house. One cottage left late evening to avoid the predicted wet weather and on Saturday morning a further four cottages left.  Felt really strange wandering around empty cottages checking them after the guests had gone.  By this time the rain had set in and a sudden hail shower meant I got quite wet.  Two cleaners up today to start turning round cottages for next week.  By lunchtime the sun had come out and you could feel the drop in temperature.  Sat down with Chris and looked at what jobs still needed doing in the cottages before we start the outside jobs.  Stocked up on logs and a few more odd jobs and that was the day gone and a late wintry shower left a dusting of snow!