Up and off very early as Chris had an ‘e business’ breakfast club meeting at the Palace Hotel in Buxton (subject Facebook for small businesses). After dropping Chris off at the hotel I was in Morrison’s by 8.30. From there I drove back into town and had a wander round the shops until Chris was finished.  He’d had a bacon butty so he took me for coffee and cake!  In the afternoon I did some WI accounts as I had a committee meeting in the evening.  Chris took Smudge down to the farm to help round up the cows for milking as Joanna and Andrew were at a dairy event at the NEC.  See the dog’s blog for a video of Smudge in action!  When I came back from the WI committee Chris wasn’t here – he’d gone to sort out a computer problem for a friend.  Thursday saw one cottage out and one back in and one cleaner up.  Grey skies in the morning gave way to a sunny afternoon.  Guests arrived about 4pm.  A lot of the dry cows have gone back across the road as the grass is running out in our fields – Andrew is still hopeful the grass will be long enough in some of his fields to get a third cut by the end of this month.  Chris went to the Over Haddon Village Hall for the digital camera workshop and I took delivery of a new fridge (the new TVs have arrived and been installed).  In the evening we watched the recording of Village SOS about Tideswell. I have to admit that Tideswell has never excited me so I will go and look at it again now there are a few more food shops open.  I will also look at the courses they have at the cookery school.  Friday could be a nice day after a disappointing week weather wise but there is more windy weather on the way for our peak district cottages!

Monday was a bright and breezy day with a few showers.  No cottages in or out but a cleaner up to do the public areas and some housekeeping jobs with me.  When she went home she dropped me off in Bakewell so I could get some provisions then Chris picked me up as I walked back up to our peak district cottages.  After feeling so delighted about being full until the end of the month had a cancellation phoned through but luckily a previous guest had emailed a few days ago to see if we had any cancellations so with a few phone calls was able to fill most of the cancelled break.  Afternoon went in accounts and in the evening I went to the Over Haddon Village Hall Committee meeting.  Chris went to the Bakewell Photographic Club.  Monday night was wet and windy but Tuesday was not as wet as initially predicted.  It stayed mainly dull but dry in the afternoon with more rain in the evening.  Spent some time working on next years prices.  had hoped to get some time outside this week but the forecast is not promising.

First weekend in September and we are now fully booked at our peak district cottages until 1st October (unless we have any last minute cancellations).  Six cottages out and six back in of which four have been before.  September is usually a good month for returning guests.  Three cleaners up and an early start made so a timely finish was achieved.  Chris also managed to cut the grass.  We are having problems with two of the TVs which have Digi boxes since the change over on Wednesday so we have decided to replace the TVs.  (Chris discovered by looking on the Internet that other people are having problems with this particular type of Digi box but it is inconvenient to keep on having to re tune each time guests switch on the TVs). One of the compressors of one of the fridges is also starting to make a noise so it is going to be an expensive week!  Five of the cottages arrived between 3 and 4 pm and the final one about 5pm.  The forecast for Sunday was promising so I had planned a walk just in case.   Unfortunately it was quite overcast in the morning with a few showers so after lunch to have a few hours out we headed for Cromford and the High Peak Junction where the nearby Leawood Pumping Station was in operation.  Or at least that’s what my list of events said!  When we got there it said next pumping day 1 and 2 October!  Still we walked along the canal back to Cromford Wharf by which time the sun was out and had a cup of tea at the Cafe there.  We then went across the road to Cromford Mill and had a look round before walking back along the canal.  The canal runs along side the railway and River Derwent.  With it still being sunny when we got back to the High Peak Junction I had an ice cream.  Last one of the year?  Here are the photos.

Hurrah!  The sun came out on Thursday and it felt quite warm again.  One cottage out with one back in later and one cleaner up.  I went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend.  Cottage arrived about 5pm having been held up by roadworks on the way.  They have been here before. Spent the afternoon doing jobs around the house.  In the evening we went down to Andrew’s to help him celebrate a special birthday with friends and family.  Friday was another pleasant day although it got off to a cloudy start.  A bit of housework and one cottage in about 3pm.  First day of the Chatsworth Show and a lot of our guests went.  The original schedule had included appearances by the Red Arrows on Friday and Sunday but after the tragic accident further displays were cancelled until further notice.  We heard on Thursday evening that they would, after all, appear at Chatsworth on Friday afternoon.  With guests due in and having see them last year we decided we would go and watch from the back fields.  So about half an hour before the display started we walked out into the back fields to find a good spot (allowing time in case our first choice wasn’t suitable) and having quickly sorted out a spot sat down to wait.  We were joined by some of our other guests and on the dot of 4.15 I could make out the red white and blue smoke of their planes.  We had a good vantage point for their display apart from some very low manoeuvres.  Unlike last year they didn’t fly over this way so much but they did fly close a couple of times which got the dogs barking.  Still I took loads of pictures but they are not as good as last year but I will put a few on to give a flavour of the half hour display.  Back to our peak district cottages and after tea drove over to Baslow as Chris needed to pick up the projector for the Bakewell Photographic Club as their meetings recommence on Monday.  The photographer who recently took some photos of our cottages had a display of his photos at one of the hotels in Baslow and Chris collected the projector from him.  We had a chat and a look at his photos.  Gave us some ideas of other places to visit and walks to do too.  As we were back quite late I didn’t have a chance to prepare for Saturday but never mind.

waiting for the Red Arrows

 Here they come!

They came this close!

For some more see here.  They are’nt as good as these though!

Hey!  I thought it was supposed to be August!  It was really cool and drizzly on Monday at our peak district cottages.  One cottage out with two back in, both have been before.  One cleaner up and no problems encountered. Found some jobs for Chris in the vacated cottages (re-silicon a sink, take down a wall cupboard) and the same happened on Tuesday.  Two cottages out and one back in, they have been before.  Another cool day, but felt milder.  Weather statistics for this summer show it to be the coolest since 1993.  So when are we going to have a decent summer?  (How about 2012 so we can have that ‘feel good’ factor with the Olympics and Diamond Jubilee).  Laundry and Rubbish collected too.  Time for some accounts as I like to be up straight at the end of each month before the next set of bills come in. Wednesday was a little brighter and a bit of a pottering day.  Chatted to guests, chatted to Andrew when he came to feed the cows.  Wished I had taken my camera as there was a classic shot of Smudge eating out of the cow trough while the cows looked on. You’d have thought they would have moved him to get at their food!  With the second digital changeover having occurred in the early hours of the morning Chris spent some time retunung TV’s in the house and cottages.  One cottage in.  They have been before, and they mentioned there was a flower festival at Monyash so later in the afternoon we had a little excursion to have a look, except we got there just after it had closed for the day.

Weather stats for August.  3rd August was the warmest and wettest day (.37in) with the highest temperature (24.4 deg C) and the night of the 2nd was the warmest. So despite some wetter days on the face of it the fact that all that rain fell within an hour gave the 3rd another record for the month. (most rain within an hour). The total rain for August was 2.06 in (Aug 2010 2.24 in). The coldest day was 26th with coldest night 28th and lowest temp 8.1 on 25th. Highest UV was 8.1 so the sun still has some strength.  Hoping for a better September. (PS My alternative weather forecaster has given a 32% chance of a white Xmas).

Thursday was quite a pleasant day at our peak district cottages after some overnight rain.  One cottage out and one cleaner up to keep up with cleaning.  I popped down to Bakewell to get some provisions for the weekend but found it was so busy I only got a few bits before coming back home.  I spent the afternoon doing some accounts.  Had planned to go back to Bakewell later in the afternoon but before I knew it it was too late.  Chatted to some of the guests as they came back from their day out and did some housework in the evening.  The forecast for Friday showed us being on the border of the wet or sunny weather.  One cottage out and one back in later and one cleaner up.  Another trip down to Bakewell and this time came back with everything I wanted.  It had been drizzly to start with but the weather deteriorated and the rain continued into the afternoon.  Crossed off a few of my ‘to do’ jobs like hanging up some curtains in the spare bedrooms! Cottage guests arrived about 6pm.  At least the forecast is for an improvement in the weather. We have had some lovely sunsets this week.  Its getting more noticable how the evenings are drawing in.  Here is one photo anyway.

Lots more photos of heather, shame we will have to wait another year.  All the places have been easily reached from our peak district cottages.  Here’s the link to the rest and one to wet your appetite!

So Wednesday dawned bright and sunny so dogs in the car, rucksacks packed and this time we headed to the Roaches just over the border in Staffordshire and about 20 minutes from our peak district cottages.  I’ve heard that they are also good for heather but wasn’t sure if we would be too late.  After years of missing the best of the heather, with two good heather walks under our belts already this year would we be lucky enough for a third?  We were able to park in one of the parking bays at the foot of the Roaches as we were there early enough.  We set off and started the climb up to the ridge and with a clear day had some wonderful views towards Titesworth reservoir with Leek in the background on the Staffordshire side and Jodrell Bank and Shuttlingsloe on the Cheshire side.  We were lucky again and the heather was still in good condition but my photos of Hen Cloud havent come out well because of the angle of the sun but I will say it was a blaze of purple.  We passed Doxeys Pool, a small lake on the top that has many ‘dark’ stories associated with it.  The first half of the walk was on the Roaches before dropping down onto the surrounding farmland so I assumed the second half would be the easier bit.  At first it was and we found a nice spot with the Roaches behind us and Titesworth ahead of us for lunch.  After lunch the final part was more of a slog across what could be quite boggy ground in the winter but was very hard ground now and I know I am not the nimblest over stiles but some of the ones we encountered I found really hard to negotiate.  Nevertheless I made it and as we got back to the car I noticed the clouds were starting to gather.  Still there was time for tea and cake at the Roaches tea room.  On the way home we drove via Hartington as the most direct route was closed for roadworks so we popped into the cheese shop to pick up some supper!  Pictures to follow.

Up early and after having put out two lots of laundry Chris dropped me off at Joanna’s at 8.45 and then we went on down to Bakewell to set up our tables.  It was already getting busy in Bakewell itself and after parking at the Methodist Hall we unloaded and set up.  Every Monday there are refreshments at the hall from 10am to midday.  It is always popular and has many regular visitors.  A number of other members brought down some baked goods and bric a brac items and before we knew it we had two tables full of goods.  Two other members came to help which is just as well as when the doors were opened there was a big rush for the tables.  Two hours later we had sold most of the goods and after packing up Joanna dropped me off at home with the unsold goods.  When I totted up our takings I was delighted at what we had made and phoned Joanna.  After lunch caught up with a few jobs before our guests arrived, one cleaner had been up in the morning.  They arrived just after 3pm, they have been before.  As the weather was so nice I suggested a picnic in the evening so at 5pm we set off for Over Haddon where we parked in the car park and walked down to the dale.  We did our usual route to Conksbury Bridge then up to the ridge where made ourselves comfy at our usual spot.  By now it had started to cloud over but it was still warm.  Chris was just wondering why we hadn’t seen any balloons when Blue’s barking alerted us to the Virgin balloon creeping up behind us along with another one.  From where we were sitting it looked like they were flying over Bolehill!  A quick drink at the Lathkil before heading home.  Now the nights are starting to draw in perhaps it was our last evening picnic but hopefully we might get some lunch time ones in.  Tuesday was forecast to be the wettest day and it was raining when I took the dogs out for their walk.  Said goodbye to our Dutch family and one cleaner up whilst I went down to Bakewell to get my hair cut and get some provisions. By the time I got back the sun was out and the rest of the afternoon was quite pleasant.  New guests arrived just after 3pm.  Had planned to get some accounts done but didn’t. (Read recently that we are on average interrupted every 11 minutes these days by technology, eg phones, emails!)  The forecast for Wednesday looked promising so planned a walk just in case.  Also agreed the final proof for our peak district cottages advert in next years tourism brochure. Enjoy the photos.

The forecast for Saturday was fine with a risk for showers in the afternoon at our peak district cottages but luckily they didn’t materialise until much later in the day.  Five cottages out with four back in and three still here for a bit longer.  Said good bye to our Italians as well.  A chance to get some extra jobs done in the cottages too so ready or guests arrival in the afternoon. Cottages arrived between 3 and 5pm, two have been before.  Chris cut the grass on Friday in case it rained on Saturday bu as it turned out he could have cut the grass on Saturday.  Sunday was a lovely day weather wise, perhaps one of the best Sundays this summer.  Just as well as I had organised a BBQ and invited our neighbours.  First though after getting the paper and saying goodbye to one of the cottages Chris and I cleaned the cottage for the next arrivals later in the day.  Finished preparations for the BBQ and then had a plesantt few hours with Andrew and family.  By the way I did the BBQ as I prefer my food to be edible rather than cremated! In the evening I did some more baking for the WI table top sale at Bakewell (I cooked some fairy cakes, Chris said I should call them cup cakes to make more money!)  Guests arrived about 7pm and after having done some of my Monday morning chores finally found an hour or so to relax.