The forecast for Thursday was for showers at our peak district cottages but it rained most of the day which wasn’t nice for the guests who had planned to go out walking.  Time to catch my breath from Wednesday and prepare for Friday.  With it approaching the end of the month, quarter and financial year I spent most of the afternoon on accounts.  First thing Friday I popped down town to get some provisions for the weekend.  At least Friday morning was quite dry although overcast but by the afternoon it was drizzling again.  One cleaner up and final cottages arrived between 3pm and 6pm.  Two have been before.  A quiet evening in and a quiet couple of days to look forward to.

Tuesday was another fine day at our peak district cottages with two departures and also our friends departed for home.  One cleaner up to turn round vacated cottages but with no arrivals rest of day went in preparations for Wednesday and getting back to normal after a few days break.  Rubbish and laundry was collected so it was like a Monday in some ways.  Wednesday was the changeover that I dread most during the year, the one between Christmas and New Year as I always worry about the amount of extra cleaning.  Remaining guests from Christmas departed with one booking for next Christmas.  Luckily apart from extra oven cleaning, which was expected, no problems encountered by the two cleaners.  Four cottages in arriving between three and six pm, three have been before.  One is a friend who I used to work with many years ago.  By the evening it had started to rain and after a few mild days the forecast was not promising.

A lovely sunrise on Boxing Day heralded a mild but cloudy and windy day at our peak district cottages.  First thing we went down to Bakewell to do some recycling before kitting ourselves out for a walk.  The lads had already taken one car down to Over Haddon as we planned a long walk from the door but didn’t fancy the last uphill stretch!  We felt Blue was fit enough to go so the dogs were happy.  We set off towards the Magpie Mine where we had a quick look around and from here aimed for Monyash.  Here we stopped for a mug of tea and a bacon butty at The Smithy (had checked in advance it would be open).  We walked on through Monyash then started down Lathkill Dale.  Its been a long time since we have walked the Dale itself and surprisingly I thought it was quiet for Boxing Day.  Once in the dale the first part was quite stony but as we approached Lathkill Head Cave, the source of the Lathkill in times of high rainfall, it became more easy going and wooded.  The river was gushing from the cave and was flowing over the footpath so we had to make a small detour.  A couple of times along thw we had to follow alternative routes as the water ewas covering the footpath but nevertheless it was a lovly walk back to Over Haddon.  One downside we discovered was that the public loos were closed for the winter so something to bear in mind on this walk.  Back home we saw the stragglers of the Boxing Day Hunt crossing Andrew’s fields then making there way along the road.  We had a relaxing evening and a buffet supper and finished our Christmas jigsaw.  Hope you enjoy the photos.

Christmas Day arrived bright and breezy at our peak district cottages.  We have a routine for Christmas Day when our friends are here.  After breakfast we prepare lunch and put the goose in the oven and usually allow enough time to walk down to the Lathkil Hotel in Over Haddon for a pint and a walk back but we soon realised we hadn’t left ourselves enough time for the walk so we cheated.  We drove down to Over Haddon then did our little’picnic’ walk, dropping down into the Dale then along to Conksbury Bridge and up to the Hotel.  Two other things were different, one, we didn’t take the dogs although it was a lovely day, mainly because Blue seemed to be limping so wasn’t sure if he had overdone it on Saturday and the other thing was the Lathkill was in full flow.  Bearing in mind a month go it was empty it was a remarkable turn around and in fact we haven’t seen it so full for years!  Was so astounded by the amount of water at the clapper bridge forgot to take a photo.  Anyway we enjoyed our walk and drink and lunch was cooked just right!

 Smudge hoping some bits might go his way.  Needless to say he was disappointed!

Thursday was a sunny and milder day at our peak district cottages.  No arrivals in the cottages but our friends arrived for Christmas so did some housework during the day.  Also had a visit from the High Peak Hunt whose Boxing Day Hunt will be passing through Andrew’s fields this year but as his fields adjoin ours they thought it would be courteous to let us know their route.  In the evening we went to the Red Lion at Litton for a very nice meal.  Friday was quite dismal in comparison.  Fist thing we went to Monsal Head to collect our goose by which time it was raining quite heavily.  From here we went to Buxton for a little wander and get a few more bits.  The heavy rain curtailed a stroll so we had lunch, did some shopping and came home.  Two more cottages in and with both arriving between 3 and 3.30pm the rest of the afternoon was mine.  A couple of jobs to do before ‘closing’ for the day including Chris having to replace a set of lights on one of the cottages Xmas trees.  In the evening we went to Great Longstone to the White Lion and had a really good meal.  At least it had stopped raining but was feeling colder but no snow!

Guess what, more snow on Sunday morning.  Not a lot, again, and with Chris having salted the drive on Saturday evening the snow on the drive soon melted when the sun got on it.  One cottage out then popped down to Ashford to get the paper  Sunday was a day of house jobs, preparations for next week and a bit of socialising.  In the afternoon, some former guests, who now live in Ashford, came up for coffee and in the evening we had a late supper with Andrew and Joanna.  It was a much colder night than Saturday so it was no surprise to wake up to icy conditions on Monday morning.  At least no more snow.  The ice was too compacted to bring cars up into the courtyard so the two departing cottages had to walk down to the car park, Chris did lend a hand with luggage though.  One cleaner up and I spent the morning getting cottages ready for later in the week.  The dustcart had some trouble getting back out of the car park but by lunchtime you could see a thaw was setting in.  With no arrivals in the afternoon at our peak district cottages we went over to Buxton and did a bit of shopping, calling in at our friends in Chelmorton on the way back.  There had been a lot more snow over at Buxton.  If you have a couple of minutes have a look at the new promotional video for the Peak District called ‘Get here if you can‘.  See you soon!

So with Chris having salted the drive on Thursday night we woke up to no snow on Friday morning!  Except it didn’t last and soon we had a snow shower after which we had flurries and light showers on and off during the day.  No departures but two more cottages arriving later in the day.  One cleaner up and again I spent all morning doing bits in the cottages and after lunch kept up with accounts.  First cottage, who have been here before, arrived about 4pm.  Second cottage arrived about 9.30.  Woke up to another dusting of snow on Saturday so Chris salted the drive to be safe then we went down to Bakewell.  Last Farmers Market before Christmas so it was busy, but we found time to have a coffee in one of the cafes.  On the way back we stopped at the farm. They have had quite a number of calves born in the last few days, and not without problems, and expect to be calving over Christmas.  Stocked up on logs but the forecast is for milder weather next week.  A couple of light snow showers during the day left it a bit icy outside so Chris did a bit more salting in the evening.  As I said in an email to a friend we have been having little amounts of snow but often.  I finally got round to making a pair of curtains  I have meant to make all year, I was determined I would do them before Christmas, at least all the Chrustmas cards are written and posted, just a couple more trees to go up in the cottages and just a couple of days before our first guests arrive for Christmas at our peak district cottages.

Woke up Wednesday to a dusting of snow at our peak district cottages but luckily most of this disappeared during the day when the sun was out.  Spent more time in the cottages checking inventories and putting up another Christmas tree.  One cleaner up and a cottage arrived about 5pm.  They have been before.  In the evening I collected Joanna and we headed for Over Haddon for the WI Xmas Party.  We all brought some food or drink and after the ‘business’ we enjoyed the food and a natter and had a present from Santa’s Sack.  Bolehill looked nice lit up as I drove back.  On Thursday morning there was a good but unexpected  inch of snow.  The tree surgeon arrived but could not undertake the work, not because of the snow but because of the wind so will try another day.  Bumper post brought lots of cards from friends and guests, these I put up in the recption, and also my tax bill. Thank you HMRC!  Needless to say most of the snow disappeared during the day and I had a blitz on Christmas trees and decorations and later in the day Christmas cards. Getting there!