Neither the sunshine of Glasgow or the rain of Somerset, today was dry, bright but very windy. Three cottages and both B&B out, one couple plan to come back again later in the summer with her parents. Three cottages back in and one cleaner up to clean these. Also defrosted a fridge. So the morning went as any change over day does and the cottages were ready for the first guests who arrived at 2.30. They have been here before. The next cottage arrived just after 3pm and the final one about an hour later. This gave me a chance to catch up with accounts which I am quite up to date with. It is at this time of year that I can start to catch up with my list of things to do so I have mentally planned what I am going to do when I have a little bit of time over the next few weeks. I had planned to put some more plants out in the wall planters but decided it was to windy I checked the planted hanging baskets in the greenhouse. I hope to start putting these out this weekend. This will still leave me with a 100 or so geraniums, these are not ready yet and still need a few more weeks in the greenhouse. After dinner did some filing before sitting down at 9pm.

The initial weather forecast had been awful but today turned out to be mainly cloudy and cool with rain in the air in the afternoon and no rain until late afternoon. After breakfast we went and got the paper before I did my usual chores. Today was one of the open days of the Derbyshire Open Arts Day weekend. (http://www.derbyshireopenarts.co.uk/) We had decided to visit Margaret Morgan who was showing at one of the venues in Bradley near Ashbourne. We hoped we might find time afterwards for a short walk before the rain arrived. We took a nice cross country drive to Bradley where we had not been before, but I hope to explore more of this area when we have the time. We came across a venue only to discover it was not the one we were looking for, but we spent a pleasant hour in the company of Melvyn Tolley, who is a specialist Windsor chair maker, learning about his craft and how he got involved. He is a member of Peak District Products who showcase their products regularly. He is going to send us tickets for an event in October. We went on to where Margaret was showing (http://www.thecalligrapher.co.uk/) together with a silversmith and an enamel jewellerist. All very interesting. By now it was past lunchtime but we stopped at Bassettwood Farm in Tissington for a late lunch before stopping in Monyash to look at the well dressings. Not long after we got home it started to rain. Did a few bits and did a roast dinner before sitting down about 8pm.

Up early so I could go to the Farmers Market, only to discover when I checked the list that it was not on until next Saturday. This left me with a small problem as I had planned to buy the weekends meals when I got there. So after five of the six cottages had left and two of the three cleaners had arrived I quickly popped down to Bakewell to stock up. Back in time for coffee. Good progress made with cottages left clean and tidy so finished in time to do bits I needed to do plus some other jobs. Six cottages and both B&B back in. First cottage arrived at 3pm with second shortly afterwards then three about 4pm, one of which has been here before. B&B arrived about 5pm, they are together but one has been here in the cottages and B&B a few times before. Final cottage not long after that Sat down for 8pm.

A quiet start to the weekend with two cottages out and two back in. One cleaner up and both done with no problem. As I had time I did some more bits around the house and garden. Tempted to put a few more plants out but the forecast is not promising for the weekend so I will wait until next week. First guests arrived just after 3pm, they have been here before, and the second one about 7pm. Still didn’t sit down until 9pm and watched the last of the current series of Dirty, Sexy Money.

A quiet day and a chance to catch up with house work and gardening. A bit of a lie in – last one for a while – as no guests in or out. One cleaner up today to do B&B rooms and public areas. Andrew has been bringing some more cows across including my namesake Shirley who is expecting later in the year. With such a dry month, (only 0.18 in rain so far this month), his grass is already starting to run out. They are already talking about silaging anytime from the beginning of next week depending on the weather. After lunch Chris went down to Over Haddon for his digital photography session whilst I carried on with my house work. When he came back I went down to Bakewell as Thursday afternoon is usually quiet. Whilst I was in the butchers a whole load of older school children went past. I thought nothing of it as there are often school parties in town. As I walked back to Bath Gardens they were all congregating by the bus stops so I assumed they were waiting for a coach. I noticed there was also a couple of policemen patrolling the area so something was definitely going on. As I walked past them I spotted one of them was sporting a sweatshirt with the logo Lady Manners school leavers 2008 so it all twigged, it was their last day of school. As the first of the school buses taking the Lady Manners kids home rounded the corner the group cheered. Got back home and found Chris showing some cottage guests around the B&B. They have booked a B&B break for later in the year. Checked my plants in the greenhouse. Spoke with a friend on the phone and after a late dinner caught up with some banking before sitting down for Heroes.

Plenty going on today. After doing breakfasts took dogs for walk. Have a few dogs in this week so usually meet one being walked too. Monthly delivery of tea and coffee and after usual bits went down to Bakewell and had my hair cut. Came back and had lunch after which I repotted my final hanging baskets with the replacement plug plants that arrived today. Plan to hang some of the baskets out in the next few days. Few more bits in the garden and greenhouse before returning inside. After dinner made a list of things to buy tomorrow when we go to Makro. Sat down to watch last of the series of Waking the Dead followed by last of series of CSI. What an ending.

Another bright but cool day. Three cottages in today and one cleaner up with cleaning quickly done. One fridge defrosted. All cottages arrived between 3&5 pm and with a bit of time available did some filing of paperwork. A number of hot air balloons around in the evening. Smudge woofs at hem when they get close and two of them flew close by. They most probably could hear Smudge barking! Sat down for Waking the Dead.