Here are the pictures of the walk from Beeley, not far from our peak district cottages. Words to follow!
A walk in the sunshine!
Peak District cottages
February weather stats
Thursday was an ‘at home’ day catching up with jobs having been otherwise engaged in other activities the last few days. Did pop down to Bakewell for weekend provisions. Friday like the last few days started off dull at our peak district cottages and there was still that chilly wind. One cottage out with three back in and three cleaners up to keep up with cleaning. Two cottages arrived between 3 & 4 pm and final cottage arrived just after 5pm. Hoping to get a walk in over the weekend so planned some walks just in case. Saturday was dull and drizzly. No arrivals and departures so another chance to catch up on things. Went down to the auction rooms i Bakewell where one of the regular auctions was: taking place but there was nothing interesting.
February weather stats: there was 4.49 inches of rain with 5th being the wettest with 1.42 inches (2 inches in Feb 2010). Most rain fell at the beginning of the month. Coldest day and night was 19th with lowest temp of 0.1 deg on 1st. Warmest day was 25th with highest temp of 11.7. Warmest night was 4th.
a couple of different days
Tuesday was a lovely day weather wise so shame I was cooped up for most of it. Collected Joanna and we set off to Chesterfield for the Derbyshire Federation WI Spring Council Meeting. This is the first one I have attended and I was attending as Over Haddon’s delegate so I had to take notes. It was a very interesting meeting. After singing Jerusalem we had a speech from the Chairlady and Treasurer then the first of the two morning speakers, the first being the Editor of Derbyshire Life Magazine which is 80 years old this year. She gave us the history of the magazine and told us about how the magazine gets published each month with a small team. The second speaker was the Operations Manager of the National Trust for the Dark Peak and he told us about the work being done on Kinder Scout (old Saxon name meant water over the edge) to restore the peat bogland to its proper state. Time for lunch and time for a bit of fresh air before returning for the afternoon session. First there was any official business with various prizes and certificates before our afternoon speaker. This was Mr Stephen D Smith aka ‘the Rumpole of Rotherham’ who gave us an hilarious account of how he became a Solicitor and some of the more famous clients he has represented. Wednesday was mainly cloudy with a cold north easterly wind at our peak district cottages but it did brighten up later. Not that it mattered as we went to IKEA then onto the outlet centre at Junction 28 (to stock up on choccies!). In the evening it was WI committee. Chris is going to be a WI widower this month!
A varied couple of days
Well the forecast for Sunday changed and the planned walk was put off. Rain turning to showers so a day at home. Two more cottages departed so after a busy half term we are going into a quieter week at our peak district cottages. Monday was a bit more hectic with final two cottages departing but one back in . Two cleaners up to keep on top cleaning. After an early lunch popped down to Bakewell to get some provisions and do some banking and a walk around the market. Got back just after the guests had arrived, Chris had shown them in. Got up to date with the accounts as the next lot of bill will start arriving in the next few days
On the go!
Friday was a busy day at our peak district cottages, more departures than arrivals, but that’s usual for the end of half term week. Four cottages departed with one back in just before 4pm. Two cleaners up to prepare cottages for today and tomorrow and one for luck! Chris continued with some work around the house and the car did a few trips to Bakewell. With me I dropped some stuff off for a jumble sale and filled up with petrol and Chris did a couple of trips to the pluming and builders merchants. I also did a trip to Sheldon to collect Ian who had dropped his car off for some work and with Andrew out there was no-one else to collect him! Had planned to do some accounts but after I did some housework it was time for dinner so Friday gone in a flash! Two cottages out Saturday morning after which I went down to the Farmers Market. A few stall holders missing but came back with more than enough for this week. Had an energy survey done of the cottages with a heat searching detector and this enabled us to see where more insulation is needed. Planned a walk for Sunday on the basis it was supposed to be nice, Saturday turned out much nicer than forecast with no showers from mid morning onwards. One cottage in who I had arranged to collect from Bakewell. It was really busy! Took the dogs for an afternoon stroll and did some accounts before cooking dinner.
a glimpse of spring
Wednesday started damp and dreary again but at least it brightened up in the afternoon and we even had a ray of sunshine! Two cottages out from our peak district cottages with two back in, one of which has been a few times before. Handyman and cleaner here in morning so it was a busy place. I went down to Bakewell to get some provisions for the next few days as well as do the banking etc. First guests arrived about 3.30 and second ones about 5pm. A busy afternoon for emails and phone calls but at least it resulted in a few more bookings. On Thursday we finally saw our view again for the first time in a week. Although we had declared it a day off with a cottage out, a cleaner up at lunchtime and a cottage back in later in the afternoon it was difficult to go out. In the end the handyman came up and serviced the lawn mower and I did some bits around the house. After lunch and after the cottage was cleaned and finished we put the dog’s cage back in their room with a new duvet. We then treated ourselves to afternoon tea at the cafe in Longnor with a walk around the village. Guests arrived about 6pm, they have been before. Was a lovely spring like day even if the weather is going to deteriorate again it was enough to make you feel spring is on its way – that and the fact the birds woke me up this morning with their tweeting!
Hopton Hall Snowdrops
We had designated Tuesday as a ‘day off’ although with guests arriving in the afternoon it was not a true day off, but with no cleaners or Handyman organised we took a few hours off and headed to Hopton Hall to marvel at the snowdrops. I think we caught them at their best, shame the weather was still so dreary. We may go back in the summer to see the gardens again then even though they don’t allow dogs. Ours stayed in the car. After our wander round the gardens we headed to Ashbourne and had a little wander there. I bought some provisions from some of their delis and we had lunch before heading back to our peak district cottages. Back just before 3pm and the first guests had arrived with the second cottage arriving about an hour later. Took the dogs for a walk around the grounds as they had not had much of a walk before a quiet evening in. Enjoy the pictures!
Dreary days
At least by Sunday morning most of the snow had gone at our peak district cottages but there was a cold wind. The visibility was better too even though it wasn’t nice enough to go for a walk. So we spent the morning finishing off last years accounts for the accountant. In the afternoon I sorted out some items for a jumble sale and also for charity shops. After dinner we went with Joanna and Andrew to Over Haddon for this months film which was Eat Pray Love, which was enjoyable even though we couldn’t decide which category the film should be in. Monday was dreary again with some snow falling first thing but soon disappearing. It stayed cold and dreary for most of the day. Two cottages out with three back in and with two more to arrive on Tuesday there was a lot to get ready. Three cleaners up and no problems encountered. First guests arrived just after 3pm with remaining two between 5 & 6 pm. In the evening Chris went to the Bakewell Photographic Society and I had a number of emails and bookings to see to.
The White Stuff
My fault for making the comments last Saturday. We deliberated and decided the forecast of rain, snow then rain meant there was no point in salting the drive but when we woke this morning at our peak district cottages it was snowing quite heavily. With a couple of cottages due out and three due back in we were out clearing the drives and paths. Cottages away without any problems and luckily the cleaner due to come up managed to get here. No major problems encountered. We reckon there was about 2 inches of snow, which of course hampered me in my tasks. Two cottages arrived between 3 & 4 pm with the remaining cottage, who has been before, arriving about 8pm. Supposed to be milder and brighter on Sunday. Hope so as I planned for a walk! Lots of friends here at the moment for Smudge and Blue.
What a Friday!
Plan A was say goodbye to guests, sort out cleaners, got to Bakewell then after lunch spend some time on the house. Day started with checking weather forecast and having palpitations because SNOW was suddenly on the forecast. Three cottages out today and a bunch of roses from my regular departing guests. Two cleaners up this morning and one early afternoon and managed to get to Bakewell before a (late) lunch. One cottage due back in the afternoon but mid afternoon got a call from a regular guest who had booked a place in Yorkshire but were not happy with the accommodation so wondered if we had anything. Luckily we did and luckily as we were up to date with the cleaning it was ready, so I just needed to do my final checks. I also got a phone call from Natwest to say my debit card had been compromised – someone had used ‘it’ in Australia to cash some money. Afterwards I remembered about the ATM at the Co Op in Bakewell being tampered with a couple of months ago and I will mention this when I complete the paper work they are sending me. First guests arrived about 5.30 and second ones about 9.30, they were previous B&B guests. During the day Chris had been working in the old utility room and had been clearing it out and doing some plastering so we can put cupboards in. This had meant the power had had to be switched off a couple of times which always has a traumatising effect on the dogs. In fact when I moved the car after going to Bakewell Blue joined me in the car and wouldn’t come out! Even Smudge went in the car voluntarily when Chris went down to Bakewell rather than stay in the house. At the end of the day at our peak district cottages we got everything ready so that Chris could salt the drive before bedtime if needed.