Blog!
It may seem that Blakelow Farm is a quite, peaceful place but rest assured there are many exciting events! Here is the proof! Have a read ... and we'd love to get your comments ...
BT lets us down ... again - 22 February 2010
Nothing
more than a housekeeping miniblog today, I'm afraid, but it might
interest those of you who like contemplating the astonishing power
telecommunications to hear that we are now on our 3rd telephone
system … ! apols to those who have left messages and not received an
answer, or the phone was just ringing out – BT hmmm ... not anymore,
we now have the top of the range Panasonic system.
What ever happened to telephones that worked for years not just 2 months at a time… worst of it is that it isn’t until someone actually gets through and tells you there’s a problem you have no idea … I'm sat here like "Billy no mates".
There rant over …
I
hope you’re reading this happily and that the site has let you in
with speed, fluency and ease today. This is without doubt due to the
hard work of the lovely Mary. Without sounding too boastful I have
to mention that the numbers of "web hits" is improving month on
month.
Even I know that without the invisible infrastructure of servers and the brilliant and dedicated people who maintain them, this wouldn’t happen. So if you’re reading this and arrived here instantly, raise a cheer to Mary. But not all at once …
Mary says flattery ... nice, but worrying ;-)
PLEASE NOTE … not one derogatory comment about the snow … even though I was up at 7.30am this Sunday morning digging guests out … again … I'm pleased you got home safely David and Sheila x
Cranberry
Cottage in the Sunday Times Top 100 Cool Cottages - 25 January 2010
I was thrilled to see that Cranberry cottage was ranked in the Sunday Times Top 100 Cool Cottages (24th Jan 2010) the article resulted in a flurry of activity and quite a few bookings… so a huge thank you to the travel editor for that.
The photos and text is ready for our new Chestnut Cottage (sleeps 1) which will hopefully be on the website next week.
The cottage will help meet the growing demand for quality, reasonably priced accommodation required by today's "solo traveller".
Here’s a little taster of what to expect ...
Mary says gorgeous, can't wait to see the rest.
Cranberry Cottage gets a makeover ... - 15 January 2010
Here
are a couple of photos of the new Cranberry Cottage interior … . The
sofas were made by Kevin Jackson Interiors - Crich, the fabric for
the curtains and sofas came from
Low
Wood Furnishings and the curtains were made by the lovely
Eileen. Paint was from the Little Greene Company (good eco
credentials) and came from
Seymour
Interiors at Cromford - thank you Christine and Duncan. The
paint by the way goes on like a dream and is in my opinion the best
I have ever used – and I’ve used lots! Oh … and the TV and DVD came
Farmers in
Matlock… keeping it local.
As soon as Mary has a minute she will put them and others on the Cranberry cottage page - Thank you Mary!
Mary says DONE, and you're welcome!
What more snow ... ? - 13 January 2010
As
with most of the country we’ve had a fair bit of snow. So much so
that guests this weekend had to be towed in and out on arrival and
departure. That’s in spite of me (and them) digging snow off the
lane to help get them up the hill, luckily a neighbour stopped and
offered to tow them in - thank you Trevor, which was lucky as both
times we all at the point of giving up. The snow was waist high in
places and although the snow plough had been down, it had very
quickly blown across again.
So Julie and Mike … I know you eventually made it home safely, Mike I hope you had a good birthday … one I’m sure you’ll remember for a long time. Julie thank you for the photo … good to see you were keeping busy whilst we were digging for victory!
2010 Tariff - 5 January 2010
Prices … Although our occupancy rate increased in 2009, our energy and waste usage has slightly decreased, this has been achieved by vigilantly monitoring resources and improving our efficiency but most of all with the help of our guests, switching off lights and turning the heating stat down a couple degrees etc.
To say thank you … we are NOT putting our prices up in 2010 and returning guests will receive a 5% discount - see PRICES.
Happy New Year!
Whiter than White Christmas and New Year - 1 January 2010
Wishing all friends, guests and browsers a very “Merry Christmas and a Bountiful New Year …”
We’ve had a brilliant time at Blakelow thanks to some wonderful guests and friends who stayed in our winter wonderland.
There’s been food and presents a plenty, mulled wine, mince pies, and lots of laughter … perfect.
I hope 2010 is just as good … to us and you all.
See our 2009 Blog archive.
