Thursday was a more pleasant day at our peak district cottages and despite the greenhouse beckoning there seemed to be no time.  The morning went in various chores, I am finally catching up with all the laundry and an early lunch so Chris could go to Over Haddon for the digital photography workshop now back in the village hall.  I went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend and get my hair cut and when I got back there was time for a cup of tea before going down to get the cows in.  Smudge seems to know what he’s doing now!   Friday was a busier day in the cottages with two departures and one arrival and two cleaners up.  A few odd jobs to keep up with and guests arrived about 3pm which meant I could spend some time potting up some more hanging baskets before getting the cows in for the last time.  I come home ahead of Chris who waits until all the cows are in the milking shed which unfortunately on Friday meant he got caught in a really heavy downpour coming back. On the local news they mentioned that the Monsal tunnels were open for walkers (and cyclists!) although not officially open until 25th of this month.  We might even hire bikes and ride the trail!

Tuesday started a bit cloudy at our peak district cottages with the forecast being a repeat of Monday’s.  Andrew and Joanna were off to London for a few days and Chris had offered to take them to Chesterfield to catch the train to London. As we were going to Chesterfield we decided to do the shopping I had planned to do last week.  After dropping them off at the station we drove round to Bookers then onto the town centre.  We were just walking into town when we bumped into one of our former cleaners so we went to M&S to catch up on gossip over coffee. We then did Wilkinsons and Argos (got a replacement airer) before heading to Dunelm and Morrisons.  Didn’t even stop for lunch (well did have a slice of cake with my coffee!) By the time we had unloaded the car, said hello to the dogs, checked emails and telephone calls and had a cup of tea it was time to walk down to the farm to help get the cows in for miking.  We took Smudge as he seems to know what to do, Blue was upset at being left behind but we told him he would have been more upset if he had to have been in the field with the cows! Mind you the cows were in no rush to go in.  Wednesday was another day of sunshine and showers.  With five dozen geraniums having arrived on Tuesday for planting on another 160 or so trailing geraniums arriving Wednesday so made time to start planting up my hanging baskets at long last.  In the evening it was WI but with no Joanna. Tonight was Resolutions Evening where after the usual business we discussed the forthcoming resolutions to be put forward at the WI AGM.  After which we found time for some fun and games and a beetle drive.

By the time we woke up on Sunday morning we had had nearly 3/4 inches of rain in 24 hours at our peak district cottages.  Apparently we missed a good lightening display on Friday evening, probably because the thick curtains blocked it out, there was no thunder audible but a lot of people were commenting on it over the weekend.  They had forecast showers on Sunday but they passed us by.  With uncertain weather we had an at home day but spent a lot of it outside doing jobs and starting to position some of my purchases.  In the afternoon we were invited for a cup of tea and a piece of cake and a chat by one of our guests which was nice.  Monday started bright and breezy and this lasted until late in the afternoon.  One cottage out and two back in.  One cleaner up and no problems encountered.  Both cottages here by 3.30 by which time the sky was looking ominous.  There had already been a short sharp shower but at about 4pm the heavens opened and we had a deluge with hail, thunder and lightening.  The dogs were not happy.  Poor Smudge was shaking and Blue was glued to my knee until he sneaked upstairs, why he feels safer there I dont know as he gets told off for going upstairs anyway.  Within half an hour we had another sharp shower and this time we had a brief power cut and lost the phone – just when I was taking a booking!  After that it did look threatening a number of times but that was as bad as it got.  A quiet evening in but did take the dogs for a walk to get some fresh air.  Sat down to watch the documentary on Wootton Bassett which was quite moving.

Friday was another warm day and the forecasted showers never materialised.  Good news for the remaining guests, bad news for farmers and gardeners.  Four cottages out today with none back in but three cleaners up to get as much done as possible in readiness for Saturdays arrivals.  This meant I could also get my jobs done too.  Laundry arrived back just in time.  Chris helped Ian and Joanna move some cows from the front field to one of the back fields as well as taking a couple of heavily pregnant cows back across the road for calving.  Chris also cleaned and cleared the gutters and cut the guest lawn.  Later in the afternoon I headed down to Bakewell again as I had forgot a few bits yesterday as I had forgotten my list.  I tried to get down before the school buses set off but got caught in them.  Never mind.  Before heading home I went to Torne Valley, an agricultural merchants, to get some compost and then fill up with petrol.  Finished off some jobs in the cottages before dinner so there is only a few bits to do on Saturday morning.  It rained during the night and looked ominous first thing on Saturday morning.  It was soon raining again.  One cottage out with five back in and one cleaner up.  As soon as guests had departed and I had given the cleaned cottages a final check Chris dropped me off at the Bakewell Auction Room for the annual plant auction.  A lot of items to go under the hammer but very few shrubs which is what I was looking for to replace the winter’s casualties.  Nevertheless I came away with a number of plants and other items and met up with the owner of Peak District Online.  We both come to this auction every year and always find time to have a little chat. One of our guests also popped in but didn’t buy anything – not that they didn’t try!  Chris collected me about 3pm and got back to find all the cottages were here!  Four had been before and I had phoned them to tell them to let themselves in if we were not there so it was a matter of catching up with them after I had dealt with the only cottage who had not been here before.  Nevertheless the rest of the afternoon just went.  Now I have to find time to plant out my purchases at our peak district cottages.

On Wednesday I had planned to go to Chesterfield to do a big shop but with a plumber and the handyman up working on various bits at our peak district cottages I thought it best if I stayed.  At least I managed to do a lot of odd jobs.  The plumber was up to replace a faulty hot water tank but it was discovered that the replacement did not fit but luckily he was able to fix the fault on the old tank.  The handyman was up to to replace some lats and tiles on one of the roofs. I did go to Chesterfield in the end though, one of my former cleaners who has not been well had to go to Chesterfield Hospital for some tests and needed picking up so we collected her later in the afternoon and took her home.  In the evening this months WI committee meeting was held at our place.  First thing on Thursday we drove over to the garage at Youlgreave to get some work done on my car.  Back in time see one cottage depart.  A much warmer day so I spent some time out and about moving plants and casualties of the dry weather too.  My bedding plants will start arriving any day now and there is the annual plant auction on Saturday in Bakewell.  Mid afternoon  we went and collected my car and I went down to Bakewell to get some provisions for the weekend.  Back just as it started to rain and Chris and the handyman were taking down the scaffolding.  Later in the evening we went down to Bakewell to cast our votes in the local elections and referendum.  It was still raining very lightly but we do need it and it sounds like more is on its way.

Another bank holiday but another working day for us at our peak district cottages.  Five cottages out with three back in, one of which are regular guests.  Two cleaners up and no problems encountered.  Morning seemed to go quickly and guests arrived between 3 and 5pm.  Tuesday was a repeat performance with two cottages out and two back in when mid morning I got a phone call from the Ashbourne Tourist Office who had a booking foe me.  Luckily with two cleaners up getting a third cottage ready was not a problem.  Tuesday also saw the rubbish and laundry collected.  With all the changeovers in the last week or so I am running low on clean laundry.  Luckily the lot sent today should be back for Friday which is just as well as we have a number of cottages in on Saturday.  Of course all the changeovers means lots of pillowcases, tea towels bathmats etc to wash too!   With it being so nice I have been drying laundry outside when I can but today one of my airers broke so another thing to replace.  With April being declared one of the warmest on record we have been looking at the grass in the garden which is starting to turn brown in places.  There is increasing worry about fires in the area, on Sunday we could see thick smoke billowing out from behind Stanton and it turned out that there was a grass fire on the moor.  Handyman up late afternoon and he and Chris put up some scaffolding so they can look at a roof on Wednesday especially now it is not so breezy.  The three cottages arrived between 3 and 4.30 and I decided to sit down early for a change.

Back to normality.  Another busy day at our peak district cottages with one cottage out and three back in.  Went down to Bakewell first thing for Farmers Market.  As I was there very early it looked quiet but as I was leaving the cars were queueing to get in.  Back to Bolehill.  One cleaner up and without the pressure today she had a blitz on ovens.  First two cottages here by 4pm with final one about 5pm. They have been before.  Although a lot sunnier today it was still quite breezy and it is still dry. Chris didnt even need to cut the grass and even Green Cowden are worrying about lack of grass for sheep.  Smudge and Blue have been in demand for being stroked and playing with some of the children here over the long weekend.

Weather stats for April.  A measly 0.42 in rain (only 1.18 in last April).  Wettest day 5th with 0.16 in.  It has hardly rained since.  Highest temp 22.1 deg C on 23rd which was the warmest day with preceding night being warmest night.  Lowest temp was 2 deg C on 28th with coldest day 4th and coldest night 3rd.  Reached 5.1 on the UV scale so get the sun cream out!

The day of the wedding started cool and cloudy at our peak district cottages.  Put the TV on as soon as I was up so I could ‘dip’ into the day’s events as and when I could.  The forecast was for an improving day  with the further north and west you were the less risk of showers.  Luckily we did not see any.  Four cottages out with four cottages back in and three cleaners up.  One cottage asked if they could leave later so they could see Catherine’s dress but we directed them to the Village Hall.  I would have loved to have gone down to the Hall and join in the celebrations there but never mind.  Having said that the cleaers and I stopped to see Catherine leave the hotel so we could glimpse that dress and then we had coffee watching the first part of the ceremony before finishing the cleaning.  By now the sun was starting to emerge and it was warming up.  Had lunch to coincide with the kiss and flypast and then did my final checks.  I was just finishing this when the first cottage arrived.  All in by 4pm.  Two have been before.  Caught up with some odd jobs including emailing our friends in Yorkshire.  They’re volunteers on the North Yorks Moor Railway and were working today.  With no emails or phone calls (!) sat down after dinner and relaxed.

Wednesday was our designated day off at our peak district cottages and despite a promising forecast Chris had offered to take me to Leek.   Last year when I went to Leek I picked up a Walking Tour of Leek and realised there were quite a few interesting buildings so I planned to look at some of these as well as do some shopping.  We stopped first at Longnor for coffee before heading to Leek which is probably as far from here as Chesterfield.  In the 18th & 19th centuries Leek was a centre of silk weaving and was also famous for its embroideries.  Through its Art and Craft movements it also attracted artists and designers including William Morris.  The mills are now redundant and some have been turned into antiques centres, one of which we visited.  As it was market day I was hoping the two main churches would also be open, one was.  St Edwards is Leek’s only medieval church but was restored in the 1800’s.  It has number of stained glass windows, one of which was designed by William Morris.  Unfortunately the All Saints Church had closed by the time we got there.  It is a Grade 1 listed building and was described by John Betjamin as ‘one of the finest churches in Britain’ so perhaps next time. Forgot to take my camera so have another reason to visit Leek, as if I need one as I enjoy shopping in Leek anyway, especially on Market day.  As usual most purchases were for the cottages but I made sure I came away with something for myself. When we came back we found some cows in the front field.  Blue was not happy!  Thursday was bright and breezy with two cottages out and one back in.  One cleaner up.  Chris down at Village Hall again and I did a bit of housework.  After lunch Chris and I went down to Bakewell to get some bits for the weekend.  When we got back I made sure the cottage was ready for day’s arrivals who got here about 8.30.  At least they can make the most of tomorrow.