No arrivals or departures in our peak district cottages for a couple of days and with the WI accounts completed a chance to catch up on home and business affairs.  Wednesday we went to Chesterfield and Matlock to pick up tiles and glass for the extension.  Stopped for coffee en route and mid afternoon before we got back for a late lunch.  In the evening went to the WI committee meeting.  Thursday started misty but it soon cleared into a pleasant autumnal day.  Had considered going to Chatsworth to see the sculptures but with another leak in the plumbing Chris wanted to be here when the plumber arrived. Went down to Bakewell to hand over the WI accounts to an Independent Financial Advisor to confirm all in order.  Parked in the Agricultural Centre car park for a change and noticed how the leaves on the trees on the hillside are changing colour.  A reminder of what a lovely part of the country we are in!  In the afternoon caught up with business accounts. Haven’t taken any pictures of the extension lately, the laundry area is now plastered and hopefully the floor tiles can go down in the middle of next week and then we can move the washing machines and tumble dryer back in.  We’re getting there!

Chalk and cheese.  Monday was a beautiful day after Sunday with a good week forecast weather wise so it was nice that the first phone call of the day filled my remaining vacancy so full house again.  One cleaner due up but had problem with car so was delayed.  Two cottages due in, one cleaned but not made up so while cleaner got car sorted out I made up beds and finished off first cottage and then did beds in second cottage by which time cleaner arrived.  All done in time for arrival of guests with both cottages arriving about 4pm.  Our late booking were from Australia phoning on the off chance we had a vacancy.  In the evening we went to Buxton to see Tell Me on a Sunday at the Opera House so an early tea and no time to finish off the WI accounts as planned.  Still time for a chat with a friend on the phone and a chance to peruse the catalogue for the Chatsworth Attic Sale courtesy of one of the guests.  Tuesday was therefore dedicated to completing the WI accounts. Chris off early for a meeting at the Over Haddon Village Hall, he is giving some technical input on electrical matters.  No arrivals or departures at our peak district cottages but time to chat to guests as they came and went about their day. Had the regular servicing on our boilers but still have a leak on one of the new pipes installed in the new laundry so the plumber will come back and check it out.  In the afternoon went down to Bakewell to get some provisions and also called in at the WI Presidents House to get some paper work signed.  Finally finished off the accounts after dinner.  A busy day for enquiries and bookings so that kept me busy too. Day one at the Chatsworth sale saw lots raise £4.5 million which is what they were expecting for the whole of the three days.  One fire place realised £.5 million!

Thought Friday would be the wettest day but Sunday managed to beat Friday!  After walking the dogs and getting wet again went and got the Sunday paper.  One cottage out with two back in to our peak district cottages, but cottages already clean.  When we got back from Bakewell Chris went down and cleared one of the rain gullies as the cattle grid was filling up.  The dogs went too although Blue had to be washed as he got covered in mud.  Never mind, when their ‘en suite’ is finished we can shower them down without having to do it in the rain!  With two things having gone wrong this week the third happened today when the washing machine I use for cottage laundry gave up the ghost.  This meant we had to swap washing machines around and I had to finish today’s washing in the guests laundry area.  First guests arrived about 1pm (delayed from yesterday) just as the heaven really opened with the second cottage arriving just after 4pm by which time the sun was shining!   They are here for the Chatsworth Attic Sale (entrance by catalogue at £30!)  One of the cleaners called in later in the afternoon.  She said the A6 had flooded near Buxton and checking the Environment Agency’s website there were flood alerts all along the River Wye from Buxton to Rowsley. A chat with one of the guests who had been on one of Sally Mosley’s walk before dinner and a quiet evening in. Total rain for the day was 1.16 in rain.  We have had as much rain in the first three days of October as we had all of April and May!

Well it was quiet in some ways but not all.  Off down to the Farmers Market first thing leaving Chris to see to the departing guests (although I had already said goodbye to most).  Five cottages departing with only two returning back in.  Nevertheless arranged for two cleaners to prepare today’s cottages and some for the  arrivals during next week. When I got back found that Chris had forgotten to phone one of the cleaners so she was still waiting at home.  Luckily she didn’t have far to come.  Chris was working with the handyman puling cables into the new laundry for the electrician. That took most of the morning.  Cleaning was finished without any problems and both arrivals, one of whom has been here before, arrived between 3 & 4 pm.  Just after that our friends from Yorkshire arrived for a couple of nights.  They are going on a car rally on Sunday.  In the evening we went to the Derwentwater Arms in Calver and we all agreed that the food was very good.  Glad we booked as we wouldn’t have got a table otherwise.  Saturday was brighter with a cold wind still blowing but Sunday was cloudy but not feeling as cold.  Two more cottages departed with no cottages back into our peak district cottages. A trip down to Bakewell for the papers and recycling and at about midday we went out to the front of the garden and waved at our friends as they went past during their rally.  More time spent on tax returns before our friends returned not long after which my sister and her partner arrived for a few days stay.  A nice social evening with a chinese takeaway.

With a couple of quiet days with no arrivals or departures in our peak district cottages time to catch up with a number of jobs.  On Tuesday it was quite warm and sunny – a brief return to summer – so a few hours were spent in the greenhouse and garden.  Sorted out a number of ‘dead’ bushes from last winter as well as planting up some hanging baskets with spring bulbs and general tidying up.  In the afternoon spent some time on WI accounts and dropped off various cheques and papers in a drive round to Over Haddon.  Later in the afternoon one of our previous cleaners called in to see progress on our extension.  On Wednesday the roof started to go on the extension and I did some extra washing while the weather held.  Went down to Bakewell to get provisions for the next few days.  In the afternoon I finally emptied the last of the boxes of belongings that we packed when we moved here!  Only been seven years!

Tax returns and accounts.  They need to be done and that’s where a lot of Sunday and Monday went.  Sunday started a bit dismal but improved and it felt milder than of late.  We had tickets in the evening for Vampire Rocks at Buxton, a very visual rock show starring Steve Steinman who we saw earlier this year singing Meatloaf.  As a treat we had a meal out.  Monday was a better day and we had one cottage out of our peak district cottages with one returning later in the day.  Two cleaners up to do a number of jobs and everything ready for guests arrival just after 3pm. Got up to date with accounts.  In the evening Chris went to the Bakewell photographic Circle and I did some housework.

Friday was a quiet day.  An early lunch as I had a hair appointment in Bakewell after which I got provisions for the weekend and went and saw one of  the WI members who has been helping organise next weeks trip.  After dinner a friend who I hadn’t spoke to for a long time phoned so that was a nice way to finish the day.  Saturday was cool and cloudy with the odd glimpse of sunshine.  The last time for a long time that I have eight cottages out of our peak district cottages on a Saturday.  With seven back in and all four cleaners available it was a good opportunity for them all to come up and over our coffee break discuss any issues. I have drawn up a cleaning check list to help the new cleaner and I gave the others the chance to make sure nothing has been missed off.  No problems encountered and an early finish to the cleaning meant I had ample time to do my checks.  With extra time I was able do some other tasks so I still didn’t finish until nearly 2.45 just as the first guests arrived.  Out of the seven cottages six have been here before and they were all here by 4pm with the final cottage arriving just after 8pm.  Chris had time to cut the lawns and with the wind blowing in the wrong direction he also had time to ‘hoover’ up leaves in the courtyard.  Fish and chips for dinner tonight.  We are now moving back into the season of weeks and short breaks which the cleaners prefer as it means more work for them!  Another one will be leaving me next year so I will probably have to think about advertising at some stage.

On Wednesday I went to Macclesfield with one of the cleaners.  She is very good to take shopping as she can question my decisions and offer a second opinion.  TJ Hughes was my main destination but we have decided Macclesfield is on the up as new shops do seem to be opening.  On the way back over the Cat & Fiddle the heavens opened and the temperature dropped sharply.  By the time we got back to our peak district cottages it had cleared up and work on the extension hadn’t been too delayed.  Thursday was a much more pleasant day.  Swallows have reappeared so the dogs have something to keep them occupied.  I spent most of the day on accounts, paying household bills, Bolehill bills, builders bills and WI bills!  Th next quarter end for Bolehill accounts is approaching so I like to keep as straight as I can.  Joanna and I have been helping organise the trip to Highgrove House next week so there were some more things and phone calls to make in this respect too.  A session of the Over Haddon digital workshop was held here and Chris had a few ‘hours off’! At least the showers held off until later in the afternoon.  Work is nearly finished on the wooden joists of the roof and the felting and battoning should start on Monday in advance of the roof tiles going on.  Another couple of weeks and the basic structure will be completed!

Here are the pictures from Sunday on our walk from Hartington near our peak district cottages

Monday felt more autumnal with more showers than sunshine.  No cottages out or in of our peak district cottages so in theory a ‘free’ day.  Laundry and rubbish to deal with and one cleaner up to do public areas and other tasks with me.  I spent the afternoon engrossed in WI finances as it is approaching the year end and I need to prepare a financial statement.  Had my regular weekly chat with a friend, who is also a WI treasurer so I think our conversation was mainly WI focused.  A hectic day for the extension with my hall window coming out and being bricked up and the roof ridge beams going up and the first of the wooden struts have gone on.  Tuesday overall was more sunshine than showers although I got caught in a heavy down pour when in Bakewell in the morning.  It felt quite warm but cooler weather is on the way.  I had planned to do some spring cleaning in the kitchen but in the end only had time for one cupboard.  Have been helping with the organisation of the WI trip to Highgrove House next week (even though I’m not going) so had some phone calls to make.