Wednesday was a brighter day so took the opportunity of washing net curtains of the two cottages that were arriving today at our peak district cottages.  They were washed and hanging back up well before guests arrived.  One cleaner up this morning to keep up with cleaning. First cottage arrived about 3pm and second one about 5pm.  Caught up with some paper work and housework during the day too.  Thursday started damp and as I was taking the dogs out Andrew was moving some of the cows.  Chris came out and helped move the hooligans back to the other side of the road.  The in calf heifers in our front field have been moved to the side field and locked out of the front field so the builders could bring their machines up. It seemed to start brightening up by the time I left for Buxton.  Had some recycling to do as well as buy an airer and take some stuff to the charity shops.  I also took an item to hand over to a Freecycler.  Freecycling is an way of extending the life of goods which could end up in the tip.  In recent months I have donated small items of furniture, some electrical goods and recently a whole lot of plant pots to people to have asked for them.  You can ask for items or offer items.  The weather turned quite miserable and it stayed quite cool all day.  Back home I found that the first of the builders had arrived and work had started on the footings for the new extension.  In the evening a former colleague of mine from when I worked in London called in with his partner (who I also knew) and we went out for a meal at Great Longstone.  On the way we showed them Monsal Head and the well dressings at Little and Great Longstone.

The forecast for Monday was a damp start then cloudy with some sunny intervals.  We had the damp start but then the sun soon came out and Monday turned into a warm and humid day so can’t grumble.  Two cottages out of our peak district cottages and one cleaner up to prepare cottages for next guests.  After lunch went down to Bakewell and Chris came too.  Probably last time this side of the school holidays that I go to Bakewell on a Monday.  Tuesday saw one cottage out and two back in, one has been before and one cleaner up.  The forecast had been for a weit day with up to 2 in of rain and feeling cooler.  The main ran did not materialise until later and then most came in a short heavy downpour so added to the rain that fell early in the morning, Tuesday will probably be the wettest day this month. It was also a humid day.  Andrew is hoping for 3 inches of rain this month, we have already had two, his cows are already munching the grass that was destined for the second silage in August and the milk cows are being given extra food at the end of miking to make up for the lack of grass. 

Sunday started breezy and overcast but dry.  Enough to encourage me to put some washing out to dry but soon it was back in again when the rain came.  Down to Bakewell for the paper and recycling.  The forecast was for a gradual improvement so with the gardens at Winster not open until 1.30 we spent a few hours doing a bit more preparation for the imminent building work (due to start Tuesday).  While Chris did some bits inside – we no longer have a working boiler so hope we don’t have a cold spell over the next few months – I moved some pots and pieces even though it was drizzling.  Chris helped me move the heavier bits and patio furniture.  After lunch we set off for Winster which we can see from our peak district cottages.  We parked at the top of the village and walked down East Bank stopping of at the open gardens on the way.  Somehow, again, I had forgotten my camera so I will insert some pics that Chris took.  A lot of Winster is built into the hillside so most gardens are terraced so there were some very interesting use of space. At the bottom we walked along the main street passing a holiday cottage, now a private home, that we had stayed in at Christmas 2001.  After the gardens off the main street we headed up West Bank before cutting across to one doing nice puds with a glass of Bucks Fizz.  The final garden at the top of the village was worth the effort, a number of levels with lots of steps but wonderful views over the village and countryside beyond.  And guess what!  I could see Bolehill!  At least now when I look across to Winster I can visualise the houses at the top of the village.  By the time we left it had warmed up nicely.  The only downside of the Winster afternoon was that a lot of the gardens didn’t allow dogs, unlike Monyash.  Some of the other villages in the area have open gardens, but most have passed this year so I plan to see a lot more gardens next year, even if it bores the dogs!

Took dogs out as usual this morning but with youngsters in front field went different way which meant I found the true damage of the winds on Thursday evening.  In our new field a large branch was on the ground, at first I thought it was a small tree but when I looked I could see where it had fallen from.  No damage to the wall luckily. Then I discovered that a branch had fallen on our outside drying line and smashed it!  Will need to replace it soon as guests do use it in nicer weather.  Six cottages out today with six back in and three cleaners up at our peak district cottages.  Forecast was for sunshine and showers and with a number of departing overseas guests there were towels that needed to be dried as well as washing but the weather conspired against me again in the morning and with my laundry room out of use I had to find space around the house for things to dry.  No problems encountered and cleaning finished before lunch.  Time to finish everything before guests arrived but Chris hoped to tidy the lawn but further showers prevented getting the lawnmower out.  Three cottages arrived between 3 & 4 pm (two have been before) with two more between 5 & 6pm and one just before 7pm having spent over 3 hours held up because of two accidents on the motorways. The weather did clear up in the afternoon and for a while a helicopter was hovering around, it was a leisure one and Chris’s pictures showed someone was using it to take pictures.  We tried out the new kebab shop in Bakewell and I have to admit I enjoyed mine.

Wednesday and Thursday were both sunshine and shower days and it felt a bit warmer too.  Tuesday morning Chris and I had helped round up the cows in the front field for fly spraying before we went to Chesterfield and on Wednesday morning I tried to help Ian get a runaway youngster back with her friends but with Smudge trying to help too it was easier to leave Ian to do it alone.  Wednesday was a quiet day at home, paying this months bills and getting myself sorted for this evenings WI annual outing.  One cottage into our peak district cottages today.  We set off just after 4pm collecting my namesake from Monyash and headed for Whaley Bridge.  Our outing this year was a trip on a canal boat with a cream tea!  From Whaley Bridge the boat went round to the Bugsworth Basin (the Inn here was owned by Pat Phoenix of Coronation Street fame in the 1970’s) before heading along the High Peak Canal to New Mills via the Furness Vale Marina.  It was a lovely evening and we all felt very relaxed at the end of our two and a half hour return journey.  It wasn’t easy taking pictures so the best thing is to have a look at the website and the photo section will give you an idea of what it was like, but I did take a couple.  www.judithmary.co.uk    Just as we got back home the heavens opened and we had a bit of a storm.  The dogs weren’t happy but as it passed we went out and could see it was really bad over Baslow.  On Thursday the plan was to spend the morning submitting and paying the VAT return and sorting out the advert for next years Visitor Guide with a few hours out in the afternoon.  Needless to say it didn’t work out that way but we did have a visitor in the afternoon so we did have a break.  As Andrew and Joanna were at the Yorkshire Show at Harrogate we took Smudge down to the farm to keep up his cow herding skills and round up the cows for milking.

OK, so we need the rain, but now its here can it rain at night instead?  On Monday when I had to go to the garage to do the tumble drying it was raining.  First day for a long time I have had to wear a raincoat when taking the dogs out.  One cottage out with two back in to our peak district cottages and two cleaners up to clean all three cottages.With it being the first time for a few weeks when I have had Monday change over the day seemed to go very quick.  Both cottages arrived between 3&4 pm. Tuesday stayed dry until later in the afternoon.  Chris and I went to Chesterfield to do the rounds.  First stop Booker’s then to Curry’s where we bought two new hoovers (two have gone in the last few weeks) and a new toaster as a spare.  Then into town itself and lunch at Peacocks Coffee lounge.  Afterwards it was the Co-Op for some place mats and Argos for some lights (not in stock) and a towel rail.  Onto Dunelm, where amazingly I didn’t buy anything and finally Morrison’s, so a full car by the time we got home. Here are some pictures of my hanging baskets.

A pleasant day, again a bit of a breeze present.  After getting the paper we had a few things to do in preparation for the work soon to commence on my new laundry.  At some stage very soon we will have to turn off the boiler so it can be moved.  Today we emptied the existing laundry room with the tumble dryer and my washing machine in the utility room going in the garage.  The business washing machine has gone where my washing machine was but we needed to find a home for all the washing powders and bits that were in the laundry room.  Some stuff went down to the cellar but we also cleared out some cupboards in the utility room so I can have day to day bits close at hand.  I needed to clear a space where I can put all the bits to be laundered as well.  It took longer than we thought but it was a job that needed to be done.  We found time to have lunch outside and later in the afternoon I spent some time catching up on jobs around the house before sitting down for Top Gear.  Before I forget here are the stats for June at our peak district cottages.  27 June was the hottest day and night with highest temp of 24.3. Coldest day and night was 19th with highest UV of 8.6 on 20/6.  Regarding rain we had 1.66 in (2.61 in 6/09) with wettest day being 13th with .49 in rain.

Cant believe this is my 1000th blog. Started blogging in May 2007 so guess the 2000th will be late 2013!  Anyway Thursday and Friday went in bits and bites.  Bites, well somewhere along the line yesterday something bit my hand.  When I woke up on Thursday my left hand had ballooned up so I managed to get an appointment at the Doctors where they confirmed a reaction to a bite but not an infection.  Advised to take extra anti histamine tablets and elevate arm (in sling) and if not better after weekend go back.  Then went down into Bakewell (Chris drove) and got bits for weekend.  In afternoon the digital workshop held its last session here before the summer, I had planned to do some housework but ended up pottering around.  On Friday went first to Chatsworth Farm Shop.  With the promise of a hot weekend at our peak district cottages I felt a picnic might be in order.  Packed a lunch and went with Joanna and a couple of other ladies from Over Haddon WI down to Ashford in the Water for a WI picnic and Treasure Hunt.  At least it was  sunny and warm with a little breeze.  We had our lunches at the recreation ground then were given our instructions. We had two hours to answer all the questions, a couple of which had pictorial clues and well as find a few items.  We treated ourselves to an ice cream whilst we waited for the results and although we missed out on prizes we were not far behind – and we learnt a bit more about the village.  Back home and after dinner did some preparation for tomorrow.  For the first time since we have been here Andrew has had to bring up a trough  to feed the cows as the grass is not sufficient.

Wednesday started dull with the threat of rain.  As our day out we could have gone for a walk but preferring to remain dry we put on our ‘tourist’ hat and headed for the Churnet Valley Railway.  As a pet friendly attraction we were able to take the dogs too.  We went via Ashbourne where we dropped off some bits at the recycling centre.  The railway is just south of Leek so not that far from our peak district cottages, and runs from Cheddleton to Kingsley & Froghall with extensions planned.  From Ashbourne we went to the Kingsley end where we had a coffee while we waited for the train to arrive.  Today was a steam day although they do run diesels as well.  As the train arrived we were on the opposite platform so Chris was able to take some pictures.  I forgot my camera so the pictures are from Chris.  There were a lot of people waiting to board, including a small school party, as well as lots of enthusiast taking pictures and admiring the train.  We got on and found ourselves a small compartment, I thought this was better with the dogs.  The return journey is just over an hour with a few minutes stop at the other stations.  By the time we got to Cheddleton it was raining so I stayed on the train while Chris went and took some pictures of the Grade 2 listed station.  It would be nice to do this again on a sunny day especially as you can walk along the river for a while so it is possible to break the journey.  There is also a flint mill at Cheddleton to explore.  After our trip, a little look round the shop then headed to Leek where we had a little wander before heading home.  There had been a little rain here too.  In the evening it was WI committee meeting which was held here. I was hoping it would be nice enough to have our meeting outside but it was not to be.