…very,very frightening is a line from Bohemian Rhapsody. More about that later.

So up and took the dogs for a walk after doing breakfast. A busy day ahead with four cottages to do and three to come in later in the day. Two cleaners up to change cottages over. Usual tasks today with laundry collection, rubbish collection etc. Had started bright but by lunchtime the showers had started to arrive. Chris and the handyman spent the morning with the guys who were bashing in the new fence posts around our front garden. Luckily they finished before the showers. Did lunch and the three guests arrived between 2.30 and 4pm by which time the showers were becoming more frequent and heavier. At 4pm Chris took the handyman back down to Bakewell en route to the Plumb Center up at the Industrial Estate. With all the guests in I went upstairs to sort out our washing when I heard it hailing outside. The ground went white very quickly and it was coming down so hard and fast that it started to build up on the windows. I heard a rumble in the distance then suddenly there was a flash and an explosion and the lights went out. I realised we had had a near lightening strike. The lights came back on and I thought I had better go down stairs and check on things. I found Smudge cowering behind a door (Blue had gone with Chris). In the office there was a burning smell and I checked the phones which were out. I couldn’t see anything else and assumed the smell was from the phone lines. One of the guests came over and said their TV was not working. A few minutes later another guests came over to say their TV was not working. When Chris came back I broke the bad news. He checked and discovered the burning smell was a computer server. This runs the computerised heating system (means we can turn off the heating from the office when guests leave rather than physically turning it off) and emails. Also the wireless Internet was down. We do have a lot of computer equipment on surge protected lines but still some equipment was affected. Chris found that the amplifier had blown which had taken out the TVs. He repaired that but found one TV and two digi boxes were dead. I went round the rest of the cottages checking that the remaining TV’s were working. The Internet company came to fix their equipment but didn’t have the right bits. Chris went over to their base in Ripley to pick up some bits but it was not enough to get it going again so they will come back tomorrow. Chris arranged with BT to divert incoming calls to his mobile, fine so long as we have a signal. Trying to work out what would be the priorities over the next day or two and ascertain the full extent of damage kept us up until 11.30.

Took the dogs for a walk in the rain before turning round one of the B&B rooms for tonight’s guests. One of the cottages left early today too. After a coffee we went and got a paper from Bakewell then took our friends around to see the cleaner and new baby. We drove back via Chatsworth and the farm shop where we made a quick visit. The car park was busy but we did not have to queue for long. Came back and cooked a lunch. By now the weather had turned as it had cleared up earlier. After lunch our friends left for home and we had a few hours to do things before we went to Buxton. One thing I did was to sort out the laundry and write a letter to advise the existing laundry I will not be using them until further notice. Our B&B guests arrived about 5pm. My businessman arrived this evening too. Tonight we went to see ‘Carmen’ at Buxton. Another fine performance by the Chisinau Opera. We also bumped into one of our near neighbours who also runs a B&B. Home by about 11pm.

No advent calender to open but a beautiful sunrise to greet the new month. After breakfast one set of B&B guests left but have no-one back in this evening. My weekend cleaner came up and got a couple of cottages ready for Monday and did the B&B room too. Took a couple of bookings this morning. Strangely enough I have more guests in during next week than I do this weekend. Must be the special offers we have posted! After lunch and after the cleaner had finished we drove over to Hathersage. Chris needs another pair of working boots but we could not find any. We then went onto Castleton but it doesn’t have the range of outdoor shops that Hathersage does. Castleton is a nice village but does get very busy. At this time of year it is a popular destination to see the Christmas lights. They are by no means spectacular, in fact they are very simple, but as you walk down the main street as dusk fall you feel transported back in time as all the old buildings give the place an old fashioned appearance.

We came back and I caught up with some bits for an hour and also phoned my dad. He is coming up to stay this week. We then went out for a meal at the Grouse and Claret at Rowsley.

A quieter weekend ahead with two cottages and one B&B in with only my business man out today. Next week will be his last week. One cleaner up to turn around a couple of cottages – we have some friends to stay this weekend too – and do the public areas. During the week I share the work load amongst the two cleaners and am down to just one coming up at the weekend. After breakfast took the dogs out for their constitution before getting down to work. I spent some time in the cottages this morning and they were ready by lunchtime. Chris and the handyman have been dry lining in one of the cottages. Friends arrived just after lunch and after a cup of tea went down to Bakewell. Chris took the handyman down to Bakewell and joined them there leaving me to see in the guests, who all arrived within minutes of each other. I did a roast for tea and we had a nice evening in.

So 2.41 in rain was recorded in November with the 18th being the wettest with 0.7 in rain. The warmest day being the 2nd at 14.2 and the coldest night being 23rd at -1.7.

Another quiet day but after a noisy start! Our washing machine was making a terrible noise and after a bit of investigation Chris found a penny somewhere in the works. A bright start and took the dogs for a walk after our breakfast – one B&B in later. Did various bits including some housework before going down to Bakewell. Chris had talked about going to Hathersage but I wanted to get things done so suggested the weekend for that as we have friends coming to stay. Chris did a number of odd jobs around the place including a new outside light. Came back and had lunch. Spent time planting out 90 bulbs. Still about 150 to do! B&B guests arrived just before 4 pm. Did a bit of paperwork and after dinner did a couple of gift vouchers. One of the cleaners came up in the evening to do a couple of cottage for the weekend. Sat down just after 9pm.

Up for an 8am delivery but with no breakfast to do planned to go to Chesterfield once I had done my usual bits. Had last delivery of tea and coffee before Christmas. One cottage out today, they arrived on Sunday and have been here a few times before. Chris and the handyman took down the front fence as it is being replaced next week. So at the moment we have an ‘open plan’ garden. I set off for Chesterfield about 11.30 and had a good journey. Spent about three hours in Chesterfield but I did buy myself some things for a change. Other than that it was bits for the cottages and B&B. Came back via Morrisons by which time it was chucking it down with rain. Spoke to our friends had dinner and spoke to my sister. We are hoping to go on a cruise again next year so we have decided on the best date for her to ask for time off from work. Also Geoff called in while Margaret was at choir practise, we are going to the performance next weekend. Watched Heroes. Last episode (double bill) next week. Can’t wait!

A day at home. B&B guests departed after breakfast and one cleaner up to turn room round (just in case) and do more in cottages. A bit quieter this week so Chris and handyman have been doing one of the cottage bathrooms. Yesterday they replaced a shower and today they retiled. So far so good but plumbing can always throw up problems. Had hoped to spend some time planting bulbs but it drizzled on and off so I spent time doing some odd jobs in cottages. Window cleaner came with his new cleaning equipment that can reach upper windows now that he cannot use a ladder. Also spent time catching up with things I hadn’t finished yesterday. Feeling better overall. Sat down for Spooks, but got little blogging done.

Woke up feeling grotty and feeling never went away all day but plenty to do so no time to fret. Remaining two cottages departed, one re booking for next year and then it was all go. Laundry turned up with some of the missing laundry from a few weeks ago. Two cleaners up today, one to clean a cottage and the other to do a ‘spring clean’ in one of the cottages. Had lunch then went to the market. First time for ages. A few new stalls so thats nice. Bought a few bits for the dogs, Chris and cottages. Me? I had some licorice. Came back and tried to get a few things done but phone calls and emails flowed – a few more bookings and now just one cottage left for the New Year. Sat down eventually at 9.45. Too tired to blog.

Plenty happening today. Four cottages out with two due back in later. Two more will leave later in the day so it will be a quiet evening. Said goodbye to the first Labradoodle we have had staying here. One cleaner up and two cottages turned around. After lunch we finalised the cottage prices and did a ‘sanity check’ to make sure the figures had transferred across from the database without any errors, dates were correct etc before oficially printing the price list. Guests arrived as expected. Took first booking for Xmas 2008. Cooked tea then went to Over Haddon village hall for showing of History Boys. Very enjoyable film.

A lovely sun rise but soon clouded over and the wind was quite strong when I took the dogs out. Said goodbye to the B&B guests and went down to the Farmers Market. It was busy but not overly so. Came back and turned around the B&B room ready for tonight’s guests. Had lunch then we spent a few hours discussing my proposals for next years prices. In the end we agreed on one and now we have to publish them. This will take a few more days. B&B guests arrived just before 6pm, they are in for three nights. Cooked a dinner and sat down just after 8pm. Watched a childrens film with two dogs (bit like Home Alone but with dogs being the heroes). Blue recogises dogs on TV and is quite facsinted by them so he watched the film too!