Breakfast can be like a military operation. Guests can let me know what they would like for breakfast the night before. If they do, this helps with planning. Today I had four guests for breakfast at 9am. With one vegetarian and three different types of eggs I had up to 6 frying pans and two grills on the go. Phew! Another lovely day, hazy, but the sun was warm enough to have coffee outside and for the first time I noticed the dawn chorus when I woke up.

One cottage and one B&B out with three cottages and one B&B in so one cleaner up today. Chris and I cleaned the B&B room. When we went to get the paper we noticed it had been colder down in Bakewell overnight as there was ice on some car windows. With it being a nice day and many people out we had a number of people calling in for brochures. The children of one family were so taken by the dogs they did not want to leave. First guests arrived just before 3pm with two other arriving simultaneously just before 5pm so Chris was called into service again! Last guests arrived at 10pm.

Another fine sunny day. Two cottages out and three cottages and one B&B in so a busy day ahead. One cleaner up and no problems encountered. The morning soon went but it was warm enough to eat lunch outside! Two guests arrived at the same time so I called Chris into action! The last guests, who have been here before, arrived about 5pm having enjoyed a walk! Had a rush of phone calls at 6pm just after I had started to cook tea – but I took a number of bookings. Sat down at 8.30 then the phone went…

Another busy Friday with three cottages out and four cottages and one B&B in. Two cleaners up and I went down to Bakewell. Another nice day which was good for the arriving guests. First ones arrived just before 3pm then the rest, including the B&B, between 4-5 pm. Chris popped down to Green Cowden Farm, they have already had their first lambs. One guest who was going to leave tomorrow left this evening. Had tea and sat down just after 9pm.

A quieter day but very springlike. Took dogs for walk and did usual bits. Was going to go to Morrisons in Buxton but decided to go Sainsbury’s in Matlock for a change. Had a delivery of oil. Electricity contractors came and confirmed a date for crowning the tree close to the overhead line. They have a major nationwide program instigated by the Health & Safety Executive to remove or trim back trees that are less than 3 meters to an electricity line. As a part of one of our trees has fallen already we have been moved up the priority list (even though this was nearly six months ago). They have identified about two dozen trees along the line from Over Haddon to Sheldon that need some work so they will turn off electricty for the best part of a day so they can do the necessary work. We will have guests in that day, but the later they leave it the more likely we will be to have guests in anyway. Chris went to Over Haddon and I decided to do some housework! Took a few bookings and sat down to watch Ashes to Ashes. Really enjoyed the Life on Mars series so lets see how this goes.

So what is it to be. Should we have a typical day or down tools and make the most of a sunny day and go for a walk. Took the dogs for a quick walk while Chris had a telephone conference. Got everything ready and left by 10.30 – the earliest we have been able to get away for ages. Drove down to Ecton Bridge by the River Manifold. A short three mile walk around to Wetton via Top of Ecton and back along the Manifold trail. One thing we were not expecting was the mud and this was up a hill. I slipped over twice so came back with muddy trousers. We had some nice views on the way up but stopped for luch in the dale on the way down. It was a nice sunny quit spot. We didn’t see anyone else on this stretch of the walk. When we got to Wetton the tea room was closed ( which we expected) but we stopped by the river to give the dogs a wash – they didn’t like that. Then we walked back along the trail to the car passing through the Swainsly tunnel. The trail is a part of what was the Leek and Manifold light railway. Stopped off at Haddon Grove Cottages to see James and Louise. Had a chance to see around some of the cottages. They have been there exactly a year today. Came back and sorted out emails and phonecalls. After tea went to Buxton to see the the Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged). It was quite an entertaining evening.

A quiet day. One cleaner up to do what didn’t get done yesterday. After I had done the ususal bits I spent a few hours sorting out a pile of paper work I have had in the ‘pending’ file for ages. I also did some accounts so I feel better for that. I also sorted out some old filing – most into the WPB! Chris made some pancakes – they showed a bit of the traditional Shrove Tuesday match from Ashbourne on the local news. The game dates back ages and the goals are three miles apart. The game finishes when the first goal is scored and if one is not scored on the Tuesday then the game continues on the Wednesday! Sat down in time to watch CSI.

A busy day with one B&B out but three cottages in. One has been before and two business men, one with a colleague, back in too. Two cleaners up this morning. With everything under control Chris and I went down to Bakewell with the intention of buying a rug for one of the cottages. We went around the market dodging the showers and stopped at Cafe Nosh for lunch. Have not eaten here for lunch yet – understand they do evening meals too but need to check. Got back in time to finish off bits in cottages. Had an early tea as Chris was off to the Bakewell photographic society meeting. I took the opportunity, finally, to file all last years accounts and paperwork into the box for the accountant. Did some accounts and put the pictures on the blog. Didn’t sit down but never mind – lots achieved.

Opened the curtains and everywhere was green. Had thought about going for a walk if it turned out as good as yesterday but showers threatened from the start and the wind was cold so it looked like a paperwork day. Went down to Bakewell to get the paper and do the bottle bank run. One B&B and one cottage out today. So it was a day of checking bills, paperwork, emails, phonecalls, bits about the house. Stopped about 7pm – on a Sunday most calls/emails are between 5-7pm.

Woke up to a snowy landscape with a nice sun rise. Out with the camera so photos to upload. After breakfast first chore for Chris was to put salt down on the paths for the B&B guests and also in particular snowy spots for the cottage guests. As he was doing that the phone rang – it was the cleaner stuck at the bottom of the drive. He went down and towed her up. We have noticed that different cars either do or don’t manage to ge up the drive when it has snowed. By this time we realised that the drive would need salting so Chris went with a large bag of rock salt and spread that on various points hoping that the combination of sun and salt would do the trick. The postman managed to get to the top of the car park but not up in to courtyard so out Chris went again. This time one of the guests arrived too early and could not get the car up into the courtyard as Chris had justed to spread the salt so we helped carry the luggage to the cottage. Three cottages in today – all for a week. (None out). Two have been here before. The third cottage is my first overseas visitors for the year from Australia. Chris had wondered why they would want to come here in our winter when it was their summer. The reply is with temperatures in the 40 deg C’s with humidity in the 90%’s Britain is a much better option! They were delighted to see the snow! Decided to stop at 6pm but the doorbell rung a few times after that.