Friday was another lovely day at our peak district cottages.  Three cottages out and one back in with two cleaners up.  It was one of those weeks where the guests were often chatting to each other in the courtyard.  Its always nice to see that.  With the cottage not due in until late afternoon I sneaked a few more hours out in the garden and to my delight under a fallen bush found some hellebores!  Brightened my day.  Chris and the handyman were also making the most of the good weather tidying up outside and cleaning some of patio furniture.  Guests arrived about 5pm.  Saturday was a complete contrast being dull and cold.  Two cottages out and with most cleaning already done just one cleaner up.  Four cottages due in.  Popped down to the Farmers Market and on my return Chris then helped move the tables and chairs from our stables over to the new village hall at Over Haddon.  I didn’t get a chance to go and have a look but Chris took some pictures.  All being well we could have our next WI meeting there next month!   All cottages arrived between 3 & 5pm with no repeat guests for once!  Had some sad news today about one of our regular guests who has passed away, in fact we have had two such phone calls this week.  This is the sad side of the business when you get to know some of the guests well and look forward to their visits.

A couple of days dominated by WI events.  Wednesday was yet another nice day at our peak district cottages, not that I saw much of it.  One cleaner up to keep cleaning up to date and I popped down to Bakewell to get hair done, do banking, get provisions for us and provisions for the nights WI meeting.  After lunch I had things to do including  sandwiches to make.  Over Haddon were hosting a group meeting and a number of local WI’s were coming along to enjoy the simple supper we had prepared as well as our guest speaker.  I collected Joanna about 5pm and we set off to Monyash as we were using their village hall.  We had a couple of hours to set up and lay the tabled for about 70 guests and get the food ready for serving.  Everything was ready by the time the first guests arrived.  I was on the door taking raffle money and I had to collect entrance fees.  Luckily there were a number of us from Over Haddon to help serve the food and tea as well as clear up and wash up.  We all stopped for the evenings guest who was from Derby.  He told us how, as a former record dealer, he became interested in promoting Derby as a tourist destination many years ago.  He gave us a passionate talk on why Derby should be up there with the likes of York and Chester and the benefits this would bring to our area too.  It was gone half ten by the time I got home.  Thursday was a catch up day and another warm day.  One cottage due in so did my final checks as the cottage had been cleaned. Decided to spend a few hours out in the garden after lunch before the guests arrived but then I suddenly remembered that I was going to Buxton in the evening as a part of the Over Haddon WI quiz team to take part in one of the rounds of the Derbyshire WI Quiz.  Cottage arrived about 5pm and after tea went with Joanna and the President to Buxton.  Our team was completed by the former treasurer.  We usually finish in the top five but this year from half time we were in joint first place and we were still there at the end.  Unfortunately we lost on the tie break question but never mind.

Monday was a busy day at our peak district cottages with one cottage out and four back in. Three cleaners here to keep up with cleaning. With usual rubbish and laundry collections plenty to think about and do. Job of the day was take away leaflets as we have got some new ones in.  I usually leave a selection in the cottage folders and we have some folders in the leisure area but it is amazing how quickly they disappear.  This reminded me that we haven’t heard anything about picking up this years leaflets yet either!  The weather was spring like and with the ground being so dry checked the weather station and realised we have only had .14 in rain this month!  Three cottage here by 4.30, one of which has been before with final cottage arriving just before 9pm, they have been before.  Chris out at the Bakewell Photographic Circle in the evening so I caught up with some housework. Tuesday was our ‘day off’ and for once the weather was fine. With fine weather around for a few days the walling man is up here this week repairing the dry stone walls damaged by sheep and winter itself.  We also discussed the siting of a new stile/gate down by the entrance gate. With some things to sort out in the morning entailing a trip down to Bakewell I proposed lunch at the cafe in Monyash with a short walk from there for the afternoon as the weather was holding.  Bacon baps on the green at Monyash in the spring sunshine how wonderful!  We took the Limestone Way out of Monyash then the permissive path down Fern Dale to Lathkill Dale and back to Monyash.  Only a couple of miles or so but  the dogs enjoyed it too and finished off with an ice cream before heading home.  First of the year! 

Friday was another sunny day.  Two cottages out with two back in but three cleaners here to keep up with cleaning.  With guests not due until the evening had a chance to pop down to Bakewell in the afternoon.  First guests arrived about 8pm with final guests about 10pm.  Both have been before.  Saturday continued with the fine weather.  One cottage out and two back in with one cleaner up.  Morning went in odd jobs around the cottages and house as did afternoon.  First guests arrived just before 3pm with second guests about 4.30. With a ‘supermoon’ to finish the day at our peak district cottages we are waiting to see what the weather does on Sunday in case we can go for a walk but if not then it is about time I ordered the summer bedding plants.

Wednesday ended up being a repeat of Tuesday weather wise.  No cottages out but one in and one cleaner up.  Spend most of the morning on accounts both Bolehill and WI!  After lunch went down to Bakewell to get some provisions and do some banking!  On the way back noticed some forsythia starting to come out.  More signs of spring.  Guests arrived about 5pm. At least the sun came back out on Thursday.  No departures but another arrival.  Had planned to get some odd jobs done in the cottages but day got off on the wrong foot with Blue deciding to follow one of the cottages as they went for a walk from here.  When I realised where he was going I jumped in the car and drove round to intercept the path on the Sheldon road but was too late.  By the time I got back Blue was home and when I caught up with the guests they said he had turned back before getting to the Sheldon road.  This put me back a bit and with an oil delivery and some phone calls it wasn’t until after lunch I was able to get on with some things like hemming some cottage curtains.  One cleaner up and cottage arrived just before 3pm.  With work in the cottages coming to an end for the time being the next phase of work will be outside as the weather improves. Spring arrives next week!

Here is a picture of the hunt passing our peak district cottages last Saturday.

Monday was another bright mild day at our peak district cottages.  One cottage out and two back in later in the day and with further arrivals during the week thee cleaners up to keep on top of cleaning.  First cottage here just after 4pm with second one arriving by 6pm.  Tuesday was a complete contrast with fog hanging around all day despite a better forecast.  With no departures or arrivals it was our ‘day off’ but with it being so dreary we went to Chesterfield to get some bits and pieces.  We stopped off at the ‘Nostalgia’ Cafe on the way back for a late lunch.  First lambs have arrived at Green Cowden Farm just along the road and saw our first lambs in the fields on the way back from Chesterfield. Spent the rest of the afternoon on housework.

Saturday started dull at our Bolehill cottagescottages but brightened up later in the morning. Four cottages out with one back in later in the day.  One cleaner up to turn cottage round.  Day went in various jobs around the cottages and house.  During the afternoon spotted the local hunt on their last outing this season.  Ian has been chain harrowing the pasture fields ready for the cows. Guests arrived about 5.30, they have been looking forward to meeting the dogs! Sunday started wet but it turned  ino a much nicer day than we thought.  Three cottages out, one of which we took down to Bakewell when we did the recycling.  If we had known it was going to be so nice we could have gone for a walk but never mind.  Spent a little time in the afternoon planting out some more shrubs and finding more casualties from the winter!

Monday was another bright but cold day with two cottages out and two back in and two cleaners up. A typical busy Monday with laundry and rubbish collections and building inspector up to check on completed work, even though the work finished some months ago.  First cottage arrived about 4.30 and second one about 7pm.  In evening Chris went to Bakewell for the Photographic Society and I started to sort out this months bills.  Tuesday was another sunny day and it felt milder so I couldn’t resist spending some time pottering around the grounds checking on the winters casualties and planting some hedging plants I had applied for under a tree planting initiative.  In the afternoon I went to Sainsburys in Matlock, we do have to eat!  Wednesday was more cloudy but stayed dry.  In the morning I spent some time cleaning sofas and carpets with the Vax cleaner.  Two more cottages arrived about 3pm, they have been before.  I spent the rest of the afternoon on WI matters.  First I had to prepare a report of the Council Meeting last week to read out at that nights meeting.  I then spent some time baking cakes as I was doing the catering.  Joanna came and picked me up for the meeting.  Our guest speaker this evening was a local lady who brought along a collection of antique clothing, mainly childrens.  It was very interesting.  I was more worried that some of the chocolate from my cakes would end up on the clothes!  More signs of spring at our peak district cottages.  On Monday I heard the first Curlew and on Wednesday I heard Skylarks for the first time this year.

With a sunny day at last (noticed from my blogs the lack of sunshine recently) we decided to go for a walk.  One cottage out with one due back in later in the day.  Most walks we do are based on suggested walks but today’s was one I devised so if it was horrible it was my fault! We drove to Beeley, another Chatsworth village, and set off across the fields up to Burnt Wood.  Looking back we had some nice views towards Edensor and Baslow.  Up through the trees and out on the level we now had views across the moorland.  We passed Fallinge then headed to where we lost the footpath temporarily, perhaps not being well trodden paths we could not always make them out.  Before we reached the Rowsley to Chesterfield road which we have driven along many times, we could see Bolehill in the distance.  We picked up an indistinct path down towards Tinkersley.  After we passed through the hamlet we stopped in a clearing in the wood to have lunch and have a play with the dogs.  Through Copy Wood back to the Rowsley to Chesterfield Road which we crossed then into Rowsley Wood on the Haddon Estate.  Then we walked up through Smeltingmill Wood which I thought was like Padley Gorge and at the top we found a waterfall.  What a lovely find and no other wakers to share it with!  With the disused Burntwood Quarry nearby we found this immense stone structure which we could only think was an old bridge, or possibly rail bridge to do with the mine.  Back down a track to fields outside Beeley from where we could just make out Chatsworth House (which opens again next weekend). Not for the first time on the walk we found ourselves having to cross boggy ground on planks of wood.  We thought about having a cup of tea at the Old Smithy tearoom in Beeley but with it being so nice there was no room outside for us and the dogs.  Back at our Peak District Cottages and a number of emails and telephone calls to deal with including the arriving guests who would now be arriving Monday as their car had broken down.