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January 2007.
We have done some redecoration. The twin bedroom has had its cream emulsion renewed and looks a lot fresher. More significantly, we have repainted the walls of the sitting room in Duck Egg blue from Laura Ashley instead of the previous grey. We think it looks smarter and we hope visitors will agree.
February 2007.
The only significant and regular complaints that we have received have been about the shower over the bath. It was an ad hoc arrangement and we have always agreed that it was not very satisfactory. However, any major adjustment has had to wait for the following to coincide: funds, a gap in occupation and the plumber. It has now happened and we have installed a new purpose made shower bath and a new 10.5 kw electric shower. The first visitors to use it report that it is indeed much better than on their previous visit, although we did get the hot and cold taps the wrong way round! We will sort that as soon as they depart. We believe that we now have a bathroom which reflects our four star grading.
We have also had all mobile electrical appliances tested for safety.
As I write (25th February) the daffodils are getting ready to burst out all around the small garden of The Manager's House, possibly in two to three weeks time. It is always the best show of the year. However, the weeks when they will be in flower have all been booked already and all by returners! Sorry to potential new guests, but why not look at booking now for late April.
It has been very very wet in Gratton which is good news for the resevoirs but not for our local footpaths. Proper walking boots and gaiters or even wellington boots are currently the order of the day.
March 2007.
Yesterday Jane and I and the dog walked up Gratton Dale, along Long Dale and back from Smerril - our standard four mile round. Although there is still a lot of water around (the spring for the River Bradford is a far up the Dale as we have ever seen it) spring has truly arrived. We strode along Long Dale in the shelter from the wind and in warm sunshine listening to the mass of skylarks. We chatted and gave directions to the horse riders and off road bikers. We all agreed that it was wonderful. Next month Gratton Dale should be full of wild flowers. We are very lucky to be able to do this from our door.
Today we cut the grass in the garden of The Manager's House and put out the garden furniture for the first time this year. We will see what effect this has on the weather. However on their return from the day's outing the current guests were out in the garden sitting at the furniture surrounded by daffodils. We enjoy seeing that as much as they appeared to be enjoying it.
April 2007
We seem to have had particularly clear evening and night skies this month, maybe as a result of such warm and settled weather so early in the year. Yesterday was a new moon showing as a complete dark disk with a planets burning as bright as could be imagined and all set in a deep blue velvet evening sky. From Gratton we can see the loom of lights from both Bakewell and Matlock on the horizon but our local sky is still quite dark. We do have a light on in the yard of the factory, for general convenience particularly for guests. However, we do turn it off to look at the stars ourselves or if asked to do so by guests.
Gratton Dale is now covered with a carpet of violets. There are also cowslips, bluebells and orchids. The path up the dale is now dried up - what a difference a month makes.
May 2007
We are surrounded by lambs, lambs, lambs. We are very fortunate in that the farmer of the land surrounding The Cheese Factory does all the work but we have the benefit of watching them all grow up, changing almost daily. They have springs on their legs and they rush around in packs playing follow my leader. When that palls they have mother to feed them and then to climb on to play king of the castle. However soon they will be testing our fences to try to get in to the garden to sample the flowers. Farmers are less sentimental - subsidies on legs leading to "a good butcher's lamb".
We have a pair of blackbirds sitting on eggs in the open barn used for car parking by our guests. The guests and the blackbirds seem to be cohabiting happily. Martins are refurbishing the mud nests left from last year. We have also been visited by the first swallows. The family of wrens have reoccupied their home in a crack above the door of the factory engine house that we use most of the time; the wrens object strongly to us. In a few weeks time we hope that there will again be a cascade of small wrens; last year there were nine I think. This year there will be no pussy to terrify them; she rests under the apple trees, perhaps now part of this year's blossom on those old trees. Our buzzard pair of two years ago were, we think, reduced to one last year and there is no sign so far this year; are they seasonal or gone? A month ago we had a number of curlews, making their presence by the wonderful torrent of burbling; now they seem to not be here. Again, is this seasonal? Today we have watched a pair of fine fat thrushes feeding on worms on the lawn alongside a pair of brightly coloured goldfinches feeding on dandelion seeds. We have had some splendid evenings with bats swooping in the lane followed by nights with owls calling and answering all around us. By day the pheasants strut around and feed and grow without concern, knowing that it is closed season. We are not knowledgeable naturalists but with this all around and "in your face" it is difficult to miss.
"The chestnut candles are lit again For those who died last year ... "
June 2007
The countryside has been dressed in white like a bride; cow parsley "as high as an elephant's eye" and the white blossom of the blackthorn standing above that. Then the elder flowers also joined in. In places the lanes were tunnels of white. Now the white has faded and the verges have been cut by the council and the theme is green, green, green.
We have families of martins under the eaves of the factory, swallows in the barns and Jane and visitors have seen the little owl again.
Gratton shoot has used a digging machine to dig out the old fish pond (a relic of the monastic grange?) with the aim of attracting the water fowl.
Gratton Dale is full of flowers with the north side near the entrance a carpet of white ox eye daisies.
Last year Ben, our builder from nearby Elton, received a Highly Commended award from the Federation of Master Builders for his restoration and conversion of the Factory. He has now returned to build a wall and pedestrian gate between the Factory and the lane and to pave the vehicle entrance with setts (granite cobbles). (When he paved the large yard with setts he declared "never again!") We need to copy the original gate posts to The Manager's House and so examined them in detail with the architectural technician who would make the manufacturing drawings for the mason. Ben was able to show us how the originals had been cut and dressed by the masons in the quarry, presumably nearby Bury Cliff, and also how a far less skilled builder had then modified them on site to make the gate fit. Deciphering tool marks from 1885. The new gate posts will probably be made by Ben's nephew and finished by hand in very much the same way as the old ones and then fitted by Ben and his son. The wall will be made from gritstone dug up from the footings of the old pig sties and recycled. Local families, traditional local trades, continuity.
It takes visitors, particularly overseas ones, to see Gratton and Derbyshire with fresh eyes. Some years ago a German friend amused us by saying that we had "stone hedges". We have recently had American visitors. On arrival he announced with surprise that "Gee, everything here is made of rock!" July 2007
Wet, wet, wet! The worst July weather since records began. However our guests have appreciated being able to return from their walks and sight seeing to be warm and dry in The Manager's House with log stove, double glazing, central heating, oil fired range with a drying rack over and an electric tumble drier. Because all fuels are included in the charge for the house, guests do not have to stint over heating the house, drying clothes or having hot baths or showers.
We have had a Dutch influx. Previous Dutch guests had stayed with us for two weeks in 2005 and returned for three weeks in 2006. We encouraged them to go somewhere else this year (for their benefit not ours!). They went to the Yorkshire Dales, but insisted on including a visit to Gratton as well. At that time we had further Dutch guests in The Manager's House so we had a supper party for the Dutch, but speaking English. The party included two Dutch teachers of English who were very knowledgeable on the English language and literature and history. We had to work hard to keep up!
August 2007
The last day of the month, as I write! (Jane this month.)
Bank Holiday offered some fair weather and this has been greatly appreciated by all.
I thought I'd just draw attention to three highlights mentioned by guests, and ourselves during the school holidays. The younger children really love Gulliver's Kingdom; this is a theme park especially devoted to this age group in Matlock Bath. Carsington Water offers walking and cycling. I was told with breathless and excited enthusiasm about a canoeing lesson enjoyed by an eight year old staying with us last week. Sailing and windsurfing are also popular, and there is instruction available too. This is a brilliant facility in a landlocked county! Don't forget about the Chatsworth Farm for children and the Adventure Playground - I still love a visit to the Farm!
Geraldine Brooks has recently published her novel 'Year of Wonders' based on the plague outbreak in Eyam (1666). Hettie has just read this book. Accordingly we made an excursion there on Tuesday and found it fascinating as ever. We went to the museum, the church and had tea in the courtyard of the Hall - the latter also open to the public. We viewed the well dressings that take place at the end of August annually. Feeling energetic, Oliver, Hettie and I then walked round the lime stone hills that surround the village visiting on the way the Riley Graves and Mompesson's Well. These are among the carefully maintained memorials to the tragic events that will never be forgotten, in Eyam.
I would like to thank our guests who have put 'pennies' into my charity box in The Manager's House. I found a total of £20 there recently, which goes to SSAFA Forces Help. This is the national charity for serving and ex-service people and their families, for whom I work as a volunteer in the Derbyshire Dales. Your contributions make a big difference.
October 2007
We approach the end of our fifth season of letting The Manager's House. From February to November inclusive we have had only three unfilled weeks. We have let Christmas and New Year and bookings are now arriving for next year. Sadly the names and faces of all those guests become a bit of a blur. This is particularly embarrasing when they ring up to book for next year and I try not to make it too obvious that I am struggling to place "Fred and Betty" even when they give useful additional information "you will remember Susie our Yorkshire terrier!" A regional accent often gives a clue to the memory.
There is, however, one name and face that I have committed to memory and that is the lady who chain smoked inside the house. How unfair that was on Jane, who bears the brunt of the cleaning, and on the guests who followed!
(As an aside, if I do any of the cleaning, and Jane sees it before the guests arrive she grades it. I have yet to do better than B minus!)
With that one exception of Mrs Gasper, we have enjoyed having all our guests. More importantly they have all apparently enjoyed staying with us. The comments from the Visitors' Book elsewhere on this web site were taken from our first season. However, here are some extracts from September and October this year :
Lucky Stanley!
ps Stanley is the diesel fired range.
November 2007
Not the best of months for weather but there were two sparkling frosts, and presumably we shall see more of these. Ten days ago four inches of snow fell overnight and - my word - it was cold!
Here are some 'housekeeping' points of information. For those interested - and some of you are - Sainsburys have opened a new store in Matlock, near the station. Many guests are into recycling, for which there is no provision in Gratton. In Elton, Youlgrave and Winster there are these facilities but personal experience tells me that they are aften full to overflowing. Sainsburys have quite an area devoted to reclamation, so I suggest you go there with the paper, tins etc. As you know, should you wish to leave such materials on the property we will dispose of them appropriately on your behalf.
I have long meant to remind guests that fruit and vegetables are sold on Thursday in the Village Hall, Elton. Go in the morning for the stock, which is carefully selected for quality, is limited. While you're there have a cup of coffee and meet members of the community. Julie is in charge of this initiative each week, and will be pleased to welcome you.
Eggs are usually available at Ivy Farm, Ivy Lane. Please note they go 'off-lay' at this time of year so you may be unlucky. Try early in the day.
Eggs, pork (Happy Hogs), sometimes venison, plus vegetables at Christmas are generally available at New Farm, Alport: this is where we fetch our turkey each year.
I could go on but there are so many sources of local produce that I don't know where to stop. I will mention Winster shop, a village enterprise, which has some delicious goodies on the shelves. Hollands in Youlgrave is an old-fashioned butcher's shop and their home made pies and local meat is definitely to be recommended.
Lastly don't forget the Farmers' Markets.
Call in at The Duke of York in the evening for your ale but remember that there isn't a meal to be had. To commend it there is a great atmosphere and a brightly burning fire in one certainly, if not two bars.
All Saints Church welcomes all holiday guests and the services are 'up' on the board outside. In December there will be Lessons and Carols and then - on Christmas Eve- the Crib Service; children take an active part in both of these special services. Generally as part of the Tableau, the Holy Family will be accompanied by some animals. Goats, ponies, llamas have all starred!
More next month, best wishes!
December
Merry Christmas and and Good Wishes for the New Year - all 366 days!
Thank you to all our guests in 2007 and previous years, who have sent us cards.
April 2008
TV reception in Gratton valley has always been marginal. With a very large pole on the chimney stack of The Cheese Factory it was just possible to get a line of sight through Windy Gap to the transmitter on Stanton Moor. Depending on season and atmospheric conditions we could receive BBC1, BBC2, and ITV. On a good day we received a fuzzy Channel 4. Channel 5, never.
We rather liked this semi isolation from the modern digital world. (Mobile telephone and terrestial based analogue radio reception is also marginal.) However we were increasingly aware that guests in a four star holiday cottage expected things to be rather better than this.
Therefore this year's big improvement is that we have had a satellite dish fitted for The Manager's House. (We will never get underground cable TV in Gratton just as we will never get connected to the gas main or mains drains.) We have paid a lump sum installation cost. The guests therefore have the 14 Free to Air channels on TV and digital radio.
On the first changeover of guests after the installation, when I went round with a welcoming pot of tea, they were already listening to the big football match on Radio 5 live through the TV. Gosh, I thought, that's amazing! On their part however they had just assumed that it would be there and would have been amazed if it were not. However, they were 40 years younger than us.
For the first year at least will not take out a contract. I understand that at home those guests pay £40 per month subscription for digital TV. It will be interesting if guests this year indicate that they are content with Free to Air or if they expect lots of channels and if so would they be prepared to pay a significantly increased charge.
However, there are lots of guests who are most content with the glow of the Clearview wood stove and a good book.
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Jonathan & Jane Snodgrass The (Old) Cheese Factory, Gratton, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1LN |