Tuesday was a dismal day weather wise.  Not a good advert for the Peak District but it wasn’t just here and guests made the best of the day.  When it brightened up later in the day I took the dogs for a walk.  Chris was doing some finishing off jobs in the new laundry and I did some sorting out in my linen room.  Wednesday was a much better day with the sun shining and it feeling more like spring than autumn.  Builder who dug out footings up today with some of his toys to carry out some maintenance and repair work on drive and patios. He has sold us his 4×4 so at least we are now prepared for a bad winter as the discovery died last winter.  There have been rumours of a long winter ahead again.  One cottage out with one back into our peak district cottages.  Down to Bakewell in the morning to pick up supplies for the next few days.  One cleaner up and cottage arrived about 5.30pm.  Found some time to do accounts.  In the evening I went with Joanna to Monyash WI where there was a group meeting of a number of local WI’s.  There was bout 50 – 60 of us ladies and we had a nice supper.  Our guest speaker was Sean Wilson (aka Martin Platt from Coronation Street). He has now become an artisan cheese maker and he gave us a very entertaining talk on making cheese and we had a cheese tasting session comparing supermarket brand with his own.  Learnt a lot about cheese.  Got the WI accounts back and pleased to say I haven’t done a bad job!  Thursday was another fine day and most of the morning seem to go in making decisions about the laundry.  Builder up to relay path that had to be dug up when the extension was built.  After lunch we went to Chesterfield with a list of things to get from various DIY stores.  We also visited the new Tesco’s (actually its been there nearly a year) and had a cup of tea there.  Decided we are becoming ‘ruralised’ as we found the place too big! 

A couple of glorious days weather wise at our peak district cottages, beautiful sun rises and sunsets and a frosty start to Monday.  On Sunday we thought about going for a walk but Chris wanted to get some plumbing finished so he concentrated on that and I ‘pottered’ around the house and garden.  First we went down to Bakewell to get the paper and do the bottles.  Later in the afternoon we went over to Longnor and had a walk around the village and a cup of tea and piece of cake at the old Market Place.  Monday was a busier day with three cottages out and four back in and two cleaners up.  A busy day for phone calls and emails too which resulted in a number of bookings.  Two cottages arrived between 3 & 4 pm, one between 4 & 5 pm and final one just before 7pm.  Sat down in time for Spooks.  Chris should have gone to the Bakewell Photographic Circle but the joiner arrived late afternoon to finish off some work – the dogs now have a door to their en suite – and didn’t leave until nearly 8pm, added to which Chris dropped his big box of screws so had to spend an hour or so sorting them all out again!  The builder was up for a while today tidying up.  We should have the path at the back of the new laundry re laid this week and with the electrician also due to finish we should be able to start moving in soon.

Friday was a mild day with a few showers.  Two cottages out with three back in and two cleaners here at our peak district cottages.  All cleaning finished by lunchtime so had the chance to do some odd jobs in the cottages.  First cottage arrived at 3pm, with second one arriving at 4pm and final one at 6.30 pm.  One has been before.  Saturday was a bit more showery.  Three cottages out with three back in, all departed by 9.30 and with two cleaners here by 9.30 quick progress was made of the cleaning.  Chris went down to Over Haddon to give some more input on the cabling at the village hall.  Cleaning finished by lunchtime so again some time for odd jobs.  First cottage here by 3pm with second one arriving at 5pm.  They had driven over from Ireland.  The third cottage arrived about 6pm having been held up by an accident on the motorway.  They have been before.  In between the two arrivals I oversaw the Tesco delivery  for the third cottage and put items in the cupboards for them, but as I pointed out they still have to find where I put everything!  Chris spent some time in the afternoon putting up the radiator in the new laundry area.  We’re getting there!

Cold frosty start to Wednesday at our peak district cottages, had to scrape the car before setting off to Chesterfield.  Lots on the list.  First stop Magnets for missing window vents for new laundry area. Then to Booker’s to stock up for the next few weeks.  Into town and a visit Argos and Wilkinsons to pick up some more supplies.  Then to Dunelm where I didn’t buy anything, but in Wickes I bought a replacement hob for one of the cottages.  Back via the tile shop to pick up more tiles.  Back home with a full car!  Still cold but luckily Chris had got the fire going!  Thursday was another day at home with time to catch up with accounts and extra washing.  Went down to Bakewell in the afternoon to get provisions for the weekend. In the evening went out for a meal at the Church Inn at Chelmorton.  A couple of busier days head.

With most guests in until Friday or Saturday at our peak district cottages I found time on Monday afternoon to go down to Bakewell Market, the first time for many months!  Monday morning went the way as most Mondays and one cleaner up to clean the public areas.  Tuesday was an ‘at home’ day catching up on WI accounts and other paperwork.  Leaves are building up again in the courtyard, the wind has been coming from the wrong direction so this year Chris is fighting a losing battle with leaves.  Tuesday was wetter than expected with a cold wind.  Time to light the fire!

Sunday dawned sunny and mild so without ado we packed a lunch and set off from our peak district cottages for a walk along Baslow Edge.  Not having done much walking recently I chose a walk that would not be too demanding but would give us some views. We got a paper in Bakewell before driving to and parking in Baslow.  We took the lane that lead up to the Edge but turned off on a lower path below the Edge itself.  As we walked along we had some nice views up to Curbar Edge and the surrounding countryside.  Pity I had forgotten my camera.  The path ends up on the lane below Curbar Edge so we walked the short way up then took the path onto Baslow Edge.  After a short while we found a spot for lunch.  From here I could make out Fin Cop and Monsal Dale and Baslow Hall.  Whilst we were having lunch one of Chris’s photographic fiends walked by.  The dogs were distracted by a model glider which resulted in some woofing and then they spotted a para glider which resulted in more woofing. As we walked we got some lovely views towards Chatsworth.  It looked very busy.  We were back in Baslow early afternoon as the walk was less than four miles but it gave us the afternoon to get some things done.  It was warm enough to have a cup of tea on the patio! Later in the evening we went to the Church at Over Haddon for this months film club.  The film was Shutter Island, a psychological thriller, very engrossing!

Friday started dull but brightened up.  Three cottages out of our peak district cottages with two cleaners up to prepare cottages for tomorrow.  I went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the weekend.  Andrew took the last of the maternity wing back across the road so we are left with two fields of youngsters.  The milk cows are now in at night and it wont be long before they will be in for the winter.  Saturday was a busy day with three cottages out and six back in.  A bright but cold day and Chris found time to blow leaves out of the courtyard again and ‘hoover’ leaves of the lawns.  Two cleaners up today.  Five cottages in between 3.30 and 4.30pm with the remaining cottage arriving about 5.30pm.  Four have been here before.

Wednesday was another nice day at our peak district cottages once the cloud broke.  In the morning got all my WI bits ready for the evening then after lunch headed for Chesterfield.  First stop was to pick up more floor tiles for the laundry area.  Then I headed to Dunelm (no trip to Chesterfield is complete without a visit to Dunelm!) before going to Morrisons.  After dinner collected Joanna and we went to the church in Over Haddon for the WI meeting.  A good turnout and our speaker gave us a talk on beading. We had planned on a hands on evening but there wasn’t enough room for tables but we enjoyed the talk and learnt that beading is far more intricate than first thought.  We also had a plant sale to booster our funds.  Thursday was dreary and a day to catch up with things around the house.  Still its amazing how quickly these days go.  The underfloor heating is down in the laundry area and the floor tiles should start to go down tomorrow.  Also had my new washing machine delivered, this will stay in store for a few more days and a new fridge for the cottage which left today and this will go in before the next guests arrive at the weekend.

Tuesday was another of the possible days we could visit Chatsworth as we had no arrivals or departures at our peak district cottages but again it was quite gloomy so by coffee time we abandoned the idea.  I headed off to Bakewell to get some provisions for the next few days leaving Chris replacing the shower in the sauna area.  Whilst I was down in Bakewell the clouds started to break so when I got back we decided to have a quick lunch and head to Chatsworth to have a look at the garden sculptures and the house itself as they have opened more rooms to the public this year.  By the time we got to Chatsworth House the sky was blue.  We had the dogs with us so we opted first for a walk round the gardens to look at the ‘Beyond the Limits’ exhibition.  This year there are 24 sculptures and as usual there is the debate of Is it Art? The one which provoked a lot of conversation was the one by Damien Hirst called Exquisite Pain.  My first reaction was that it was grotesque but I heard one lady call it moving.  It was though an intricate piece of work.  The dogs got a lot of attention and when Chris was taking a picture of Blue for his blog another lady was also snapping away so it would have been interesting to know where that as going to end up.  One interesting thing was that we heard one of those old wind up cameras being used!  We had a tea break at the stable before having a quick tour round the house.  For this year only there is an exhibition to celebrate the Dowager Duchess 90th year.  They have also installed a lift so there is now wheelchair access to the first floor.  After the house we still had time for another walk round the garden and came across the staff turning off the Emperor Fountain just before the gardens closed.  As we left we got some nice shots of the setting sun lighting up the facade of Chatsworth.  Now I just have to whittle down the 112 pictures into a small selection for the blog!  As I blog Blue is snoring away, he obviously had a good day.

Friday and Saturday saw all the cottages out of our peak district cottages with some arriving back in but no returning guests.  Monday will also see comings and goings.  Four out Friday with three back in and two cleaners up.  After a fine day on Thursday it was back to misty conditions which only lifted eventually into low cloud.  First cottage arrived by 3pm and with remaining two not arriving until 7.30 and 8pm time was devoted to business matters like ordering a new washing machine and a fridge for one of the cottages.  I am missing the old machine as it had an 8kg capacity and I am rediscovering how little a 5kg machine can wash!  Saturday saw four more cottages out and three back in with two cleaners up.  One cottage gave us a box of chocolates as Chris had had to sort out a problem with the heating for them.  A little brighter today but the mist still really didn’t clear.  After everything ready for today’s arrival sorted out bills for paying as I have a mixture of business and ones relating to the extension to sort out.  First guests in just after 3pm with second one about an hour later.  All being well we will have a day off on Sunday. our first for five weeks so do need it, so tried planning a walk but feel like being lazy and doing one from here.