With no guests arriving or departing during the day on Monday went to Bakewell Market again in the morning and in the afternoon sat down and paid this months bills.  Phoned a friend later in the day.  Chris carried on with plumbing in the dogs en suite and the handyman carried on in Magpie.  One cleaner up to keep up with cleaning.  Tuesday was a bit wet on and off and work carried on at Bolehill.  I did more polishing and odd jobs in the cottages as well as some odd jobs around the house.  Chris also took some new pictures of Sheepfold for the web site.  Wednesday was more of the same but I also spent some time in the linen room as well as the cottages.  A carpenter came to look at Honeysuckle bedroom as I want to replace the wardrobe, but because of its size it may need to be especially made.  Still he is going to come up with some ideas.  The sheep have disappeared over to Andrew’s fields on the other side of the road for a few weeks so our fields are empty again. At least our peak district cottages wont be with more arrivals and departures in the next few days.

Saturday was a relatively quiet day.  One cleaner up to prepare cottage for Sunday’s arrival and I did last minute checks on cottage for today’s cottage who arrived about 3.30.  Also did checks for tomorrows cottage.  Various general housekeeping bits like stocking up on logs and a bit of housework thrown in for good measure, but time eluded me for accounts.  Sometimes I wonder where the day goes!  Sunday saw one cottage depart and one arrive at our peak district cottages.  Down to Bakewell for papers in morning and after coffee paid VAT and Tax bills to get them out of the way.  A number of bookings in the morning but we decided to go out for lunch and have a few hours break.  We went to the Riverside Herb Centre between Hathersage and Bamford which looks over the River Derwent.  A conveniently placed bird table meant we also saw a range of small birds whilst eating lunch.  After that we went to Castleton, which we haven’t been to for months, even in six months shops close and new ones open,  Had a wander round the back streets and walked up to the entrance of the the Peak Cavern.  We did think about going down the cave, but decided to save that for another day. (They allow dogs in too).  Also had a look in the visitor center where the dogs were given a biscuit by one of the staff.  Home via Hathersage where I exchanged my boots for a slightly larger size.  Some phone calls and emails to deal with but at least Top Gear to look forward to in the evening.

Chesterfield beckoned on Thursday morning.  It was very cold so I took the usual route to Chesterfield avoiding the road out of Rowsley which can be an accident black spot in icy conditions.  Left Chris working in the dog’s en suite, the handyman working in Magpie and the cleaner using the steam cleaner in bathrooms.  Visited Booker’s and Dunelm amongst others but also looked for some tiles for the dog’s en suite.  In my absence we had some oil delivered, having had to cut back on our last delivery the oil company phoned to see if we needed any which we did and at least it was cheaper than last time! Friday was another cold but bright day with another hard frost.  You could make out where the sun wasn’t getting to by the white patches in the fields.  I was also careful when I went down to Bakewell to get some provisions for the weekend as some of the pavements looked a bit iffy.  One cleaner up to prepare cottage for today’s arrivals who finally got here about  9.30pm.  Spent some more time in the cottages putting in bits bought yesterday and making a final list of things to do. Despite the number of years we have been here I still spot things I haven’t seen before from our peak district cottages.  Today the afternoon sun caught the features of Gardom’s and Birchen Edge which are not normally visible.  It was also a lovely sunset.  Chris has been doing some more plumbing work in the dogs en suite and as he does’nt enjoy plumbing there was the odd expletive as things did not go to plan! Had planned to pay this months bills but never got round to it so must make an effort in the next day or so.

Just as well we had no guest staying at our peak district cottages on Tuesday.  With the handyman sanding the insulation boards in Magpie, Chris working in the dogs en suite and a new fire being installed in Shippon there was a lot of noise durng the day.  I escaped to Buxton for a few hours to do a big supermarket shop and get some bits from Buxton itself as well as call into some builders merchants on the way back.  Did some bits in the cottages in the afternoon and Chris also installed one of the new TVs.  Both Tuesday and Wednesday were bright but cooler.  Despite the fact we have had no rain for a few days the fields are still quite muddy, especially where the sheep have trooped through the gates.  This means each time the dogs come back in from walks I am having to wash their feet which they do not like.  I shall be glad when their en suite is finished!  Wednesday was spent mainly in the cottages making a list of things still to do as well as some more polishing.  One cleaner up again today.  Getting there with the spring cleaning.  Will be having a blitz on steam cleaning ovens next.  A lot of aerial activity today.  This morning there was a helicopter hovering around in the neighbourhood for a while.  I even thought it was going to land in one of Andrews fields at one time.  It wasn’t a police or emergency helicopter and in the end, watching its movements I decided it was a helicopter checking on the electricity lines.  Later in the day we could hear a Chinook helicopter go down the valley.  Haven’t heard one of them for a while.

Sunday started off promising at our peak district cottages but by mid morning it was raining as predicted.  Down to Bakewell to get paper and both spent rest of morning on various paper work.  After lunch thought it would be good to get out for a few hours so we headed off to Hathersage.  I wanted to look for some new boots and Chris needed a pair of everyday working boots so we wandered round the various outdoor shops and we both came away with purchases.  In the evening we went to Over Haddon for this months film which was ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’.  An upsetting film but worth seeing.  Monday was a much brighter day.  Two cottages out and for a few days we will be empty!  Went down to Bakewell and had a wander round the market as well as get a few provisions for the next few days.  No handyman today as he was ill but a cleaner came up to carry on deep cleaning in the cottages.  After lunch I spent some time on WI accounts and later in the afternoon had my weekly chat with a friend.  The new TV’s were delivered so I spent the evening in the office surrounded by TV’s although they were not working.  Chris was off in the evening to the Bakewell Photographic Circle so we had an early dinner.  After dinner I spent some time on filing last quarters and last years accounts and paper work and fielded a couple of phone calls and emails.  A few more bookings today so I treated the dogs to a chew each from the market!

No arrivals Friday, a couple of tentative enquiries for our peak district cottages didn’t follow through with bookings but cleaner up and had a go at another cottage.  I  carried on with my polishing but didn’t get as much done as I hoped.  This was because I ended up helping Chris move dishwashers around!  We put the new one in Lathkill and took the the one from Lathkill into Shippon but the space it was going into needed some adjustment.  At least it stayed mild and dry again which was true for most of Saturday although it was a lot windier.  I had planned to do some bits around the house but ended up spending some time in the cottages and doing accounts.  Sue from Green Cowden brought up some eggs and we made time for a cup of tea and look at my new laundry.  I still love showing it off!  I had to make a unplanned journey to Over Haddon as Blue had followed some walkers there.  One cottage in today arriving about 3.30pm.  Handy man up again for a few hours and Chris and he did some more work on the dry lining in Magpie.  In the afternoon Chris did a number of odd jobs around the place.  Amazing how quickly non eventful days go!

Wednesday was positively balmy at our peak district cottages after the last few weeks.  Spent the day in working in the cottages, mainly polishing furniture with a stain/polish which seems to cover a lot of scratches.  Had hoped to go to Matlock but car was still at garage for servicing and MOT.  This also meant that I couldn’t give a lift to Joanna to the WI so she took me.  Our meeting was at the church, the hall will not be ready for another couple of months.  This month our speaker was a driving instructor who gave us a talk on driving in wintry conditions.  Could have done with that for last month!  Still we have learnt some new facts.  Back about 10pm and caught up with some more emails and bookings.  My car was finally ready on Thursday morning so I went down to Bakewell to stock up on provisions and do some banking.  Final touches in a cottage before guests arrived mid afternoon, they have been before.  In the evening we took advantage of one of the many special offers local pubs are running and tried the Devonshire Arms at Pilsley.  This is a part of the Chatsworth Estate and has recently been refurbished.  They were offering an early bird special of two courses for £6.95.  A small selection on the menu, but what do you expect at that price, but still we enjoyed our meal.

Monday was a bit dreary and cold although milder weather is forecast.  No arrivals or departures but still a busy day with laundry and rubbish to deal with too.  Handyman up to carry on with insulation work and Chris laid some more carpet.  Cleaner up to carry on spring cleaning.  Chris wanted a pair of work trousers turning up so I thought that would be a quick job as I wanted to go down to Bakewell to get some food.  Like all five minute jobs it took much longer and by the time I had dealt with a few phone calls it was too late.  I also needed to see Joanna about the WI programme and had arranged to speak to a friend too.  A busy evening with phone calls and emails but made sure I sat down for 9pm to watch Silent Witness even if I went back and carried on afterwards!  Tuesday was a quieter day at out peak district cottages so a chance to catch up on some housework and WI bits. Car in for MOT and as not ready by the evening Chis took me down Bakewell so I could get some bits from the Co-Op.  Also spent some time in the evening with Chris deciding on a couple of new TV’s for a couple of the cottages.

Saturday was a bright day and luckily the overnight rain washed away the snow so back to green at our peak district cottages.  Cleaner came up to turn round cottage needed for the day’s guests who arrived about 5pm.  Chris spent some more time laying carpet in Sheepfold and I spent a lot of time on emails and phone calls.  In the evening one of the cleaners came over with a problem with her laptop for Chris to sort out.  Sunday was another sunny but cold day and we couldn’t tell if the white dusting on the ground was snow or hard frost.  Despite that we thought it was good opportunity to go for a walk as we haven’t had a proper break for two weeks.  After getting the paper and doing the recycling we loaded up the car and set off for Rowsley to park at the Peak Village outlet.  From here we walked through Rowsley and past the Caudwells Mill and then took a number of footpaths up to Stanton in Peak.  We had to cross a number of lanes and at one corner I suddenly found myself on an icy patch and rather than risk falling over I got got down on my knees and crawled to a safer spot.  The ground was very hard in places especially where the sun hadn’t reached.  On the walk up we got some lovely views along the Wye Valley towards Haddon Hall and Bakewell.  We also could make out Youlgreave, Over Haddon and Bolehill Farm!  At Stanton we headed to the Moor and found the Nine Ladies Circle, a bronze age circle of stones depicted to be nine ladies turned to stone for dancing on a Sunday!  There were quite a few walkers in the area but we found a quiet but sunny spot for lunch.  After lunch we started the slow descent back to Rowsley passing through the hamlet of Stanton Woodhouse. On the descent we got some lovely views along the Derwent Valley and could make out Riber Castle at Matlock in the distance.  We also saw one of the Peak Rail trains making its way along the valley and could even (through the trees) make out Chatsworth in the distance.  Not often you get to see so much in a short walk!  Back in Rowsley we stopped at the mill so I could stock up on my porridge oats then I had a quick look around the outlet centre.  One thing that was still evident was the amount of snow still piled up in the car park!  Home via Chatsworth Farm Shop and after dealing with some emails and phone calls Chris made up the WI programme for me from the details I had typed in. Photos of walk to follow.

It had just started to snow on Friday morning at our Peak District Cottages when we got up.  Cleaner phoned and arranged to come up on Saturday to save venturing out.  Handyman had to drive via Over Haddon to get here as some cars had got stuck on the hill just past the Over Haddon turning.  One cottage out today but none due back in.  Chris and handyman continued with their work and I spent a lot of the day on emails and phone calls.  Took a number of bookings but also a couple of cancellations.  I also started to prepare the program of events for our WI.  All this years speakers have been arranged but a program needs printing.  By the time it stopped snowing mid morning there was about two inches.  I had hoped for a quick thaw with the promised rain but all that happened was that it got foggy as the temperature started to rise.  More rain has been forecast overnight so hopefully the snow will have gone by the morning.