After an early breakfast my American (actually Hawaiian) ladies left for London. Two more cottages left this morning and one left this evening rather than rush in the morning.

What a difference a day makes. Today the sun came out and it felt pleasant. Weather facts for May include wettest day Sunday 13 May – .86 in rain (one of the Chatsworth Horse Trials days) and warmest day the 24th reaching a max of 20.9 degrees.

After the usual chores went to Bakewell with Chris and the dogs. Don’t normally have an entourage but needed to get birthday present for Chris’s mum.

As Fridays go this is the start of the quiet season. Out of season when we have guests in for the weekend Friday is often the busiest day but from now until the end of September Saturday is the busy day. Today we had B&B guests coming in. They have been here before both in the B&B and cottages. As it was nice they were able to have their arrival tea on the patio and admire the views.

I had some time to start bringing some hanging baskets down from the grenhouse to hang up over the weekend. Decided summer was on way when I could here the farmers wife rounding up the cows for milking and the sound of grass being cut. Not any old grass but a tractor doing the first cut for silage. Over the next few says over 100 acres of grass in the neighbouring fields will be cut, collected, stored and covered for feed.

As my guests were in by late afternoon I did not have to spend the evening waiting for them to arrive and so was able to get on with other things – like blogging!

A light breakfast for three followed by a walk with the dogs. Forecast of showers but looked more ominous than that. One cottage is going home today as the husband is not well so the cleaner had an extra cottage today but it means one less for Saturday. Argos came to collect an oven we had ordered that did not seem to work.

The morning went quickly and and the promise of better weather in the afternoon I donned fleece and started to sort out the pots wit fuchsias etc. No sooner had I done that when there was a rumble of thunder and the rain came down. I spent a couple of hours venturing in and out before deciding to work in the greenhouse. Warmer weather is forecast for the weekend so I brought out a couple of the hanging baskets to harden off. One of the heavy downpours seemed to last a long time so I donned my raincoat and did a job normally Chris does in such circumstances. I walked around the cottages to check there were no overflowing gutters. There was one which knew have been aware of and plan to install another down pipe this year. By now there was a stream flowing down the courtyard into the car park where it collects at the bottom before dispersing. I also walked the length of the drive (200yds) with the rain coming down even heavier. We have bumps along the drive to divert the rain water during heavy showers. These resemble speed bumps. In a couple of places the water was just pouring over the bumps. The cattle grid flooded and soon there was water running into the road. At this point the rain stopped, the sun came out and it felt very warm. The cows, who had been sheltering under the trees, came out and started munching again. Cows dont like rain even with their leather coats. I stopped and said hello to cow 392 who we recently gave an ASBO to for eating my rhubarb! The evening went with paperwork – I took four bookings today- and getting ready for tomorrow. Chris left London to drive back at about 6.30 pm and got back about 11pm. Blame overturned caravans on the M! and a crash on the M40 for that – just what we moved here to get away from!

Walking the dogs by 7.30am. Thought I would give them a good walk before I did breakfast and then it would not matter if they did not go out again until later. They recognise routines so as soon as I had my breakfast I had two dogs looking at me as if to say ‘are you taking us out now?’ I told them I already had but they were not happy until we went out again. By this time the cows were closer to the garden so Blue would not go into the field anyway.

Breakfast went without a hitch, a relief as I was doing it on my own. As far as I know I remembered everything but I do miss Chris when he’s not here as it was 11.30 before I finished tidying up etc Mind you I was chatting to the guests after breakfast for a while. One couple have booked to come back next Easter and the other couple were interested in the cottages, so although I could not show them any on the inside, I showed them our photo album and before they left gave them an external tour of the cottages.

I had two more external tours today. Often people call in to collect a brochure and if I can show them around a cottage I will, if not then I take them around the courtyard and explain each cottage.

The weather started fine today but by lunchtime had deteriorated. By early afternoon I could barely see our neighbours farm about half a mile away. Then by late afternoon the sun came out and it was nice for a few hours. More showers tomorrow. At this rate May will be the second wettest month this year after January. Well 6 inches will be hard to beat. Weather facts for May tomorrow.

Both B&B guests departed today and one of the cleaners came to clean the rooms. I had three American ladies arrive this afternoon. They have come down from the Lake District and then go onto London on Friday for a few nights before flying to Italy for a few more days. Jealous! They decided to have a take away curry and as Chris was not here I had one too. He does not like spicy food so I rarely have a proper curry. I also spent some time with them advising them on various things.

As I had an hour or so ‘free’ this afternoon I decided to tackle some sewing jobs, but did not get them finished so ended up finishing what I had started at 3.30 pm at 9 pm. It is during the summer when guests are mainly in for the week that I get some of these jobs done. I have two task lists on the computer, one is a general one and one a list of things I need to do at the next change over such as defrosting fridges.

By the time I had finished the evening chores it was 8.30 pm. Chris’s brother and my other cleaner phoned and I laid the table for breakfast. I took the dogs to put the chickens away but went via the garden. Smudge woofed at a nearby cow and that brought a few others up to the fence to investigate. The cows have always been fascinated by the dogs and vice versa but I could see Blue was starting to panic with so many cows around (what has brought on this phobia we don’t know) so we went back around the house and up the guest garden to put the hens to bed. Smudge took up his usual position by the shed door but one hen was still out and she would not go back in with Smudge blocking the door. Smudge would not budge even when I waved some biscuits in front of him (Chris wont believe that!) In the end I headed back to the house and Smudge started to follow so I then dashed back and locked the hens in for the night. Guests must have wondered what I was doing!

As could not see anything interesting on TV I am blogging in the office, with the dogs. One is lying at my feet, the other by the door looking out into the courtyard. Will have an early night tonight. Had planned to tidy up some paper work but that can wait, just one email to do and a bill to pay before finishing for the day. Had a few phone calls today but no bookings – in that respect it is a quieter time of the year. Had quite a few emails but most were inviting me to advertise on their websites.

Just about to serve up 8.30 breakfast when doorbell went. Did not recognise lady but Chris answered the door to the lady who was reporting that two lambs were on the road. Though not ours Chris phoned one of the neighbouring farms who have lambs out in the fields. After the 9am breakfast I took the dogs Smudge and Blue for their morning walk. We have some of our neighbours cows in the front fields at the moment. Blue does not like cows but as they were a safe distance he ventured into the field before heading up to the guest garden where we let the chickens out of the shed. At the door to the shed it is always a fight as to what gets in the shed first, my foot or Smudges head. He takes his chicken duties very seriously and makes sure that none of them leave the shed while I collect the eggs and feed them. The duck is a different matter and she usually just walks passed him. (She thinks she is a chicken and doesn’t fly or like water). They then have a good run around before we head back to the house.

After that the morning goes in usual tasks, clearing up after breakfast, tumble dry and hang up the washing in the laundry room (one of the bedrooms in our part of the house) answer emails, check post to go and today make sure rubbish is ready for collection. Alan the regular postman, brought the post and we had a chat about the wekend. He is one of the dogs’ best friends as he often gives them a biscuit. I had hoped to get to Bakewell before lunch but went afterwards. It was really busy – why I was surprised at this I do not know after all it is half term week. In town I went to the Bank, butchers greengrocers and the CO-Op. Noticed another charity shop to open, that will make four in town. Bakewell has a good selection of family owned businesses and independent shops. We always worry when we see an empty shop. There is one prominent one in town, formerly an outdoor wear, that looks as if it may become another outdoor wear one. Will it survive if one has already closed? I went to the library but that as closed. It took me ten minutes to get home, usually I do it in five.

When I got back I took the dogs out in our garden. It is at the front of the house and has wonderful views. The dogs chased each other as their were no swallows around to chase. There were no phone messages but a couple of emails and then I went to water the plants in the green house. Last week I planted up twelve hanging baskets and there are some plants and a couple of hundred geraniums that will need to be planted out in the next few weeks. On the way up I stopped and chatted to a couple of guests who were admiring the view. It as really clear and I was able to point out Stanton in Peak, Two Dales, Youlgreave church and my favourite Minninglow. This is one of Derbyshire’s ancient burial mounds but it is the trees on top that make it distinctive. I calculated it is about 11 km away and use it as my gauge for how clear it is.

I phoned a friend and got Chris’s overnight bag ready as he has gone to London on (his) business for a couple of days. After he went I spoke to my mother in law and one of the cleaners, paid some bills,and answered some emails, took the dogs to put the chickens to bed. That is normally one of Chris’s jobs.

Sat down at 9pm and managed to watch CSI without the phone going. Amazing. Still have the table to lay for breakfast, put the washing on and take the dogs for walk. Talking of which they are lying on their mats in the lounge with me.

Tomorrow will be a hectic day.

This Blog is to report on our day to day life running a set of Holiday cottages and a Bed & Breakfast in the Peak District National Park.