jamesdearsley

Well today has been an interesting day.......

I had a lovely day with the family today with Sebastian meeting up with all his mates and having a whale of a time just larking about. Amazing the transition in just 20 months and now seeing the little characters coming out and long term friendships settling in. Even more amazing was the moment that Sebastian walked up to Jo, bottom lip out and quivering. “Bee” was the word being uttered as his little eyes started to well up a little....

I have just finished the practical session today with my local association and I have to say it was the best session yet. We discovered our new queen which was great to see. It was good to see one quite clearly different to the rest of the bees with her pointed abdomen. It has given me the confidence that I should also be able to spot one relatively easily (I say that now but just wait till I get my own bees!)

There were also several other points of note this week; almost everyone...

So here I am stuck in another hotel room with the corporate world cruelly taking me away from the family and the prospect of bees for another Saturday. I was looking forward to sorting out my final hive position today and preparing my area for the Beehaus beehive. Such fun thinking what could be happening very soon – surely it can only be days away now (but still no sign of the bees, concern is growing by the hour)

However, all is not lost I have to say. I am here in Poland and because...

It is late and I still have the slight smell of smoke around me from my latest trip in the apiary (that smell has already become synonymous to my weekly trips to the apiary, quite a distinctive and not at all unpleasent smoky smell). Quite an exciting day today as I got the chance to actually lift out a frame from a hive and have a real look around. Quite amazing really as I am sure in a few weeks time, once I have my own bees, this will be second nature. For the time being however I still get...

I felt that I needed to sit down and reflect on last nights activities while my memory was still intact. It turns out that if you are a member of an association of beekeepers they will also mentor you through your lifetime on the practical elements of the role. At our local association it is all included in your annual membership, I think I paid £45 for the year (which also includes insurance)

I think this is fabulous and a great way to a/ meet other beekeepers in a similar situation...