Both Sunday and Monday were mainly bright and sunny but bitterly cold.  We had our lowest temperature so far with -7 on Sunday night although in Bakewell it got down to -12.  Sunday saw the start of our Xmas arrivals.  Two cottages should have arrived but one has postponed their arrival for a couple of days.  Today’s arrival will be here for two weeks and arrived about 3.30.  First thing on Sunday we went down for the paper and dropped some Xmas cards in at friends.  Chris and I spent most of the day doing bits around the house.  I put up our Xmas tree even if I didn’t get chance to put the baubles on (yet) but it does have the lights on.  Chris having finished most of the maintenance work for the time being put his tools away for the time being and tidied up the utility area.  It also meant that a part of the kitchen that seems to be used as a work place also finally got cleared! On Monday we had two cottages depart with one back in.  Two cleaners up to get cottages ready for this weeks arrivals at our peak district cottages.  Today’s arrivals were here last Christmas too and arrived a little early as they do not have a car and relied on a lift.  Once settled they walked down to Bakewell to get some bits.  We did offer them a lift as we we decided to have a few hours off.  We headed to Buxton with a few bits for the tip before stopping in the town centre.  Here it was -10 and felt like it, the air feels damper in Buxton.  Apart from a few things for a Christmas Chris had hoped to get a couple of small oil filled radiators but everywhere was sold out!  Watching the late news there was at least  little bit of comfort that our European neighbours are also struggling with severe winter weather.

Monday was more of a dull day at our peak district cottages but with something to look forward to – the arrival of three cottages.  Weekend cottage departed and one cleaner here to turn round some cottages.  Handyman also up with the aim of helping Chris finish in Sheepfold this week as well as laying some new carpet in Shippon. At least our rubbish got collected too although with few guests I had postponed the laundry collection.  All cottages arrived between 3&4 pm (one has been before) whilst the handyman was putting up some outside Xmas lights – something I didn’t think would happen this year.  I need to get cracking with putting up the Xmas trees in the cottages. Tuesday was a quiet day and I spent some time hemming and preparing some curtains for sewing.  On Sunday I had spent an hour tidying up dead plants outside and making a note of the toll the cold snap had taken, some more broken pots and damaged plants and with the forecast for the end of the week deteriorating again I spent another hour in the garden doing some more tidying up.  Good news on Tuesday afternoon is that we had an oil delivery, bad news was that due to demand they could only deliver half of what I ordered.  At least it should be enough to see us through Xmas and the New Year and local TV did have an article on the problems of oil delivery and prices.  The post seems to be getting back to normal and we have received a number of Xmas cards from our regular guests which I always find a nice thought.  I will be putting them up in reception.

Here are some pictures from Saturday when the sheep arrived.

Saturday started off sunny and after taking dogs for a walk spent an hour shovelling snow and chipping away at ice.  Even more has gone since yesterday.  With more guests due in on Monday at our peak district cottages the more snow and ice that can be cleared the better.  Although I had plenty to do I got sidetracked by a missing walking sock that resulted in me spending a few hours sorting out some cupboards, but at least I found the sock.  A surprise at lunchtime when 110 sheep appeared.  They will be here for the next couple of months but with the recent cold spell I hadn’t thought they wouldn’t arrive for another week. On Sunday we did some recycling and got the paper and caught up with a number of jobs.  I also did some baking.  The more worrying aspect is that more snow is forecast for the end of the week.  Just when we seem to be getting back to normal.

Here are some pictures of Friday at our peak district cottages

As the sun rose over our peak district cottages two rolls of carpet were finally delivered.  The handyman was up early to ferry the carpet from the bottom f the drive to the garage.  Amazingly a lot of snow had already gone which was encouraging bearing in mind that we had guests arriving for the weekend later in the day.  Chris and the handyman cleared an area in the courtyard so they could cut a few pieces of carpet from the roll.  One cleaner up to prepare a couple of cottages.  In the afternoon I tried to order some oil to keep us going over Christmas and the New Year.  In the last few weeks the price has gone up by nearly 50% and usually delivery can be within a few days but with high demand and bad weather delivery could be nearer a week.  Later in the afternoon we drove down to Ashbourne as they had a Christmas Shopping Evening.  It has been a number of years since we last went and the event has expanded.  The main roads were closed (which wasn’t helpful for some of the diverted lorries having to squeeze down the narrow side roads) but this enabled a number of stalls to be set up and also a small funfair.  We first went to the small retail park on the edge of Ashbourne where we visited M&S, Halfords and Majestic Wines, which have not long been open there.  Back in town it was nice to wander the streets and browse some of teh shops, especially the deli’s!  Luckily the streets were quite safe to walk along and after few hours shopping and enjoying a hot pork cob we made our way home.  Guests arrived about 10pm.  Nice to have guests here again!

Wednesday was another day of trying to get things done in cottages.  Chris and the handyman are doing well in Sheepfold and all being well two rolls of carpet should arrive on Friday so we can start recarpeting some of the cottages.  With more guests in next week I am not sure how much we can now get done before Christmas.  As for me I was oven cleaning and rehanging curtains.  I still have some to wash and a new pair to hem as most of our windows/doors are not standard sizes so this will keep me busy too.  With no WI meeting (it would have been our Xmas party) I started writing Xmas cards.  With a lot of snow still around I put the weekends guests on warning in case the situation didn’t improve.  On Thursday we had an appointment with the dentist down in Bakewell.  The pavements were a lot clearer and unlike last winter they were clearing the car parks.  I wish I had taken my camera to photo the piles of snow.  The temperature actually was above freezing today and a good sign was that the postman made it up the drive.  You could see a bit of a thaw was taking place.  A whole load of snow came crashing down from my new laundry roof.  The only damage seems to be one of my shrubs which I had saved from damage when all the building work was going on only for it to be damaged by snow. With a lot of lying snow though I am not sure how many outside lights we will, if any, be able to get up in time for Xmas.  Which reminds me, I have to start thinking about putting up trees in our peak district cottages!

Both Monday and Tuesday stayed cold but sunny and dry at our peak district cottages.  With no guests arriving or departing for a few days a chance to do a few jobs around the cottages despite the snow so I spent the morning going round the cottages checking everything was OK (no leaks) and measuring up for a few items such as curtains, sofas and dishwashers!  No rubbish collected although the laundry van made it.  Still no post.  Handyman back up though.  The afternoon I spent doing housework.  Tuesday was more of the same with a cleaner also making an appearance to clean some of the cottages vacated at the weekend in readiness for the next guests.  Spent some time on paper work as a number of items such as my WI advert have come up for renewal.  The postman finally made it although the van only got half way up the drive so I walked down to meet him.  Great to have some post even if most of it was this months bills!  More casualties of the weather include our WI party and the Baslow Choir concert scheduled for this weekend.   Milder weather is predicted later this week so hope it arrives!

Here are some pictures from our drive out and the sunset from our peak district cottages

Note the lovely blue sky during the day.

Saturday was a bit more dreary with some drizzle in the afternoon.  Chris dropped one of the cottages down in Bakewell for a few hours.  Early in the afternoon Chris went up onto the roof of the new laundry area to clear some snow also pulling down some snow from the main roof.  I spent some time concentrating on accounts.  Sunday dawned sunny once again and after I had walked the dogs in the crunchy snow we popped down to Bakewell for the Sunday paper.  By midday our remaining two cottages had departed.  Chris suggested a drive out to see the snow and take some photos.  We thought we might get a few photos of sledgers at Chatsworth, always a magnet on snowy days, but were surprised at the lack of them initially but perhaps an indication that people couldn’t get there to go sledging!  Highlight was a herd of deer crossing the road.  We drove through Baslow and Stoney Middleton and called in at our cleaner who has not been well to see if she was OK.  We did not stay long but I suggested we went back home via Monsal Head.  When we got there I could not believe no-one else was in the small car park!  We took some photos and spotting that the Hobbs Cafe was open decided to have lunch there.  There were a few hardy walkers there too and by the time we left there were two other cars in the car park.  Ashford looked quite snow bound and later in the day Joanna phoned to say the WI Carol Concert to be hosted by Ashford WI on Tuesday had been cancelled which gave rise to the question of our party on Wednesday.  Back at our peak district cottages I did some odd jobs around the house before spotting that it was going to be a lovely sunset so off we went to take some pictures.  We also watched the mist roll in along Lathkill Dale, but that wasn’t so easy to photo.  Will add some of the photos.

Friday was sunny but still cold with a hint of a milder (!) weekend to come.  The Matlock Victorian Weekend and the Haddon Hall Christmas opening have been cancelled and the Lincoln Xmas Market has also fallen victim to the weather. One cottage left our peak district cottages and with no-one now coming in this weekend no cleaners up.  The handyman managed to make it up today seeing as the snow had not blocked the drive again.  As it was nice took some more photos and checked the empty cottages too.  Will have to start doing that daily.  Its amazing how quickly the day can go and have little to show for it.  Have washed some more curtains and done a few odd sewing jobs.  In the evening we invited the remaining two cottages over for a drink and some nibbles and I think everyone had a pleasant time.