A sunny start and a busy day. Three cottages out but none back in so one of the cleaners and I spent a few hours getting some cleaning done. After that I spent most of the day cleaning around the house and tidying up. Chris went to his photography group after lunch. I had planned to go to Bakewell but Chris was late back by which time the Banks had closed so as Friday was to be busy I got some bits (ironing etc) done in advance. Had two phone calls in response to my advert for a cleaner. Chris went down in the evening to sort out a query with the computer. sat down and watched Heroes.

With forecast of a good weekend emails and phone calls continued into the evening. Last one at 9.45. Perhaps a sign of changing times as I would never have phoned anyone after 9pm but I guess people with their own busy lives forget that others with equally busy lives may just want to have a break after 13 hour or so. I could ignore the phone but I have been ‘mentally trained’ to answer as soon as it rings. People forget that many farming families do go to bed at about 9pm if they are up at 4 0r 5 am.

I had spent an hour last night going through our walks to decide which one to do today. The initial forecast had been for a lovely day but nobody reminded the weather! It was quite misty and dull. I hoped if we waited long enough it would brighten up but even by midday it had not changed. This was to be our first day off for a while as we had no one coming in or out and I had really been looking forward to stretching the legs and clearing the brain. In the end we decided to go to Ashbourne as we have not been there for a while and I do like the town. Also we need to buy a gift for Chris’s parents diamond wedding anniversary so a little browsing would help. Only we have never been on a Wednesday and discovered it was half day closing! Having said that most were open so we had a little walk around the town before having lunch. We then browsed a few shops for ideas before driving back a different way to have a look at some villages we don’t know that well.

After tea Geoff called in to return some plumbing tools. We had a cup of tea and after he left we did some end of quarter accounts before sitting down just before 10pm.

A nice sunny day. Spent most of the morning sorting out the emails and phone calls from yesterday including a B&B cancellation. Had planned to go to Bakewell but with no extra B&B guests did not need to. Went to Morrisons in the afternoon and did a few more bits to finalise accounts. I keep finding things I have not done and so the day just seemd to go.

We thought once Fay went to University we would not get phone calls about computers but Ian phoned with a technical problem so we popped down so Chris could sort it. We were chatting to Joanna’s parents who have some holiday cottages. They let theirs out through an agency. We were talking about the holiday cottage business in general and one valid point was made that we ‘have bought our work’ whereas many farming families ‘inherit‘ the work!

Weather stats for September. Rain 1.94 inches with the 24th being the wettest with .46 inches. The warmest was the 6th with a max temp of 21.4 deg and the coldest the 26th at 7.1 deg.

Up and out with the dogs after breakfast. Had three cottages and and one B&B to turn around although no -one booked in for B&B. One cleaner came in the morning and did two cottages (I did the beds) and then another cleaner came after lunch and did the remaining cottage and B&B. Again I helped with the beds. Laundry collected and cottages ready for guests arrival. One cottage phoned to say that they would not be able to arrive until tomorrow as their daughter had been hospitalised. Our other guests, one of which came earlier this summer, arrived between 3 & 4 pm.

Had tickets for Nabucco at the Buxton Opera House in the evening, our B&B guests also managed to get some. Had planned to eat before we went but decided to eat in Buxton. Found a Mexican place just behind the Opera House. Had a good meal. The performance was very good – it was by the Chisinau Opera Company and if you had watched Michael Palin last night then he visited Chisinau. This is not the first time we have seen Nabucco. Last time it was in Verona on a very warm moonlit night at arena. The Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves (which is the song most people would recognise) was well performed but I have to admit I still preferred the version I heard in Verona but I guess the seting and atmosphere would have had something to do with that.

Got back to nine messages and eight emails. Plenty to do tomorrow.

First thing I said to Chris this morning is ‘just the morning to get out and take some photos’. The mist was rising out of the dale and a pink/orange sunlight bathed the area. (Sounds good doesn’t it). Up to do an 8am breakfast. Most breakfasts this week have been before 8.30. Put on another load of washing and took the dogs for an early walk. A hot air balloon started to rise from Bakewell and as soon as the dogs saw it they started woofing at it. It headed this way and seemed to be coming down in the fields behind us before lifting again. Chris went out and took some photos whilst I started the 9.15 breakfast. Our American guests felt we were better than another local B&B they stayed in that has won lots of awards which is nice! We chatted with them for a while before they departed for Devon. Went and got the paper from Bakewell.

Had one of the bedrooms to turn around which finished by 1pm just as the first cottage guests arrived, albeit early. They would have come back later but everything was ready ad they have been here before. As it was nice we ate our lunch on the patio. Finished bits in the remaining cottage although they did not arrive till about 5. The SatNav had brought them an interesting way. Both lots of arrivals today have dogs as does one yesterday and one tomorrow so its another doggy week. Expect much woofing from our two!

Our B&B guests arrived not long after 5pm. They have been here a few times and they recently married so we gave them a little surprise gift. They had a cup of tea on the patio as it was still pleasant although starting to cool down. We chatted with them for a while and a few more balloons took off and came this way so the dogs did a bit of woofing. Almost finalised this quarters accounts – just need to reconcile some accounts. Then it will start all over again.

The final quarter is interesting because the quarter end is also the year end which is also New Years Eve. Guess what we will be doing on New Years Eve!

Up and down for 7.30 to rustle up toast and tea for one guest before he went off to Chatsworth. Put another load of washing on and took dogs for walk before having my breakfast and then doing breakfast for the remaining three. Four cottages going but only two in (two more in tomorrow) so a long weekend as there is another turn round of some cottages on Monday. Said good bye to most of the guests before heading down to Bakewell and the Farmers Market. I took the wife of the husband who had gone to Chatsworth as she was now carless. She was going to spend a few hours in Bakewell and make her own way back. Got my usual range of goodies from the market and remembered my lunch this time I did ask at the stall if I had left it behind last time – but hadn’t (but apparently some have in the past). Also met the American couple and some of the departed cottage guests there too.

Came back and cleaning was well under way. Fay had come again and with just one cleaner it lightened the load. With cleaning finished by lunch time and only two to arrive I spent some time doing various bits including defrosting a fridge and then spent most of the afternoon getting the accounts up straight. The guests arrived between 4 & 5pm. One of the B&B proprietors in Bakewell has started a taxi service and he brought the the B&B lady back. We had a chat with him. Cooked tea and sat down just after 8pm!

We are in that between time. Some guests here for the week, some for the weekend, and some for short breaks. Three cottages out and three in plus the two B&B rooms. One cleaner, Fay and myself got most done in two cottages and a B&B room in two hours (I did bathrooms and kitchens)with me finishing off. We had quite a few calls for availability over the weekend. (Last one was at 10pm). After lunch I went to Bakewell, did the usual bits and posted a couple of mobile phone chargers back. (£4 in postage). Guests were expecting to arrive anytime from 4-8pm. First B&B guests arrived just before 4pm. They have been here before and although British by birth he is now a US citizen and travel writer. The cottages arrived between 5 & 7 pm. The final B&B guest turned up just before 10pm. They had not had a good journey, but he had to be up early as he was involved in the Chatsworth rally. She was going to have breakfast later. So it looked like a long breakfast session in the morning.

Another one of those days when the time went and I had nothing to show for it. Both B&B rooms went today as did one of the cottages. One of the relief cleaners came up for a few hours and we managed to get one of the rooms and the cottage done. (I did the beds in the cottage). Chris went to the photography session and I did bits around the house. We could have gone to a Leisure Industry Show at the NEC but didn’t. When Chris came back we went to a showroom in Bakewell to look at a new office chair for him. His current one is literally falling to pieces. Had tea then Joanna came and picked me an we went to Grindleford. We went to a Derbyshire WI games evening. It was fun, we played Tiddlywinks, Snakes & Ladders, Shove Ha’penny and some other games. We also had a supper, pie and mash, I thought the supper would be sandwiches. It was a good evening and as usual I found out bits about the local area that I didn’t know before.

A bright but cold start and an early breakfast. Spent the morning doing extra washing and as it is almost the end of the accounting quarter trying to check all the accounts are up straight. A couple called in to pick up a brochure. Chris had his Ultra Scan appointment at Chesterfield hospital in the evening so early afternoon we went to Chesterfield. We had a late lunch at the Northern Tea Merchants where we get out tea and coffee for the B&B. Then had a little wander around Chesterfield before heading to the hospital. It is the first time we have been to there. It is relatively new and we had no problem parking (may have been to do with the time of day). His appointment was at 6.10pm and we were in the waiting room by 5.40pm and out of the hospital by 6 pm! Got home to find 19 messages on the answer phone despite the short time we had been away. (Some left no message). Still that kept me busy together with emails for a few hours before sitting down at 9.30 to watch Heroes. Then the phone went again…

A lie in! First morning for five weeks with no breakfasts! So decided to make the most of the time but as usual…

Took the dogs for an early walk. A large number of emails had arrived overnight so I started to wade through them along with three loads of extra washing. James from Haddon Grove popped in and we had a coffee and a chat. Chris had gone down to Andrews to help with the final cementing of the barn in readiness for when the cows go in for winter. I shall miss them went they go in but hopefully that wont be for another month or so. Had a hair appointment at midday in Bakewell so also did usual bits, banking etc. Also placed an ad in the paper for an extra cleaner, ad should appear next week. Came back and had lunch about 2.30, just as Chris got back. Then spent an hour or so finishing off the B&B rooms and cleaning the hall, stairs, landing and dining room. B&B guests arrived about 5pm. They had originally booked both rooms for three nights but changed it to two as one of the couples had been ill. They had fown in from Australia and had picked up a respiratory illness probably from the flight. We popped down to Bakewell just before 7pm as the couple who run Ricci’s are retiring and they were having a farewell party to which we had been invited. It was too busy to get in so we went around the corner to Prospects and had a tapas before returning to Riccis and saying farewell.