1st inspection 9th July 7pm

Got home a bit earlier from work but it was still hot so decided to leave inspection until a bit later.

Bees were busy as usual but once I opened was surprised that they weren't inclined to settle on me like the bees did on my practical course.

First rule of all beekeepers in and out quick, had decided earlier to get a super ready just in case as they had appeared busy.

Of the frame in the brood box only the first and last had not been filled by the bees so decided play it safe and put a super on when putting hive back together.

Was surprised how heavy the frames were, appeared to be lots of stores both capped and yet to be capped and on the smaller standard brood frames bees had been busy making comb on bottom, but no sign of any drone brood or larvae so will leave until next inspection, (must order an uncapping fork!).

Didn't see queenie but has been plenty of pollen flown into hive in the last week so she must be there somewhere? Of course she's there?

When I'd put the hive back together was impressed how quickly they are calmed down and it was business as usual, so much so that after taking off beekeepers suit I noticed have was a bit twisted so gave it a bear hug and moved it about and they didn't come near me! Phew!!!

A super added

Are things all well in the hive?

OK, got in from work today with the intention of opening up hive to see what is going on, but bees were really active, never seen them so busy, decided would leave the opening up until tomorrow.
Went out with kids for a tapas and when we got back had a quick check on bees, yes they are addictive! There was a large group of them moving about in entrance, more than I have ever seen, what's that all about, it's dark and the bees are still active, not flying but just so many in entrance? So many things go through your mind, are they about to swarm, they can't be, they were a nuc 9 days ago with this year's queen, not possible, or is it!
Oh well it's pitch black, not much I can do about it now, maybe a later start at work tomorrow and open hive first thing, see if I need to add a super.
It would be gutting for them to swarm this quickly, I thought I had a year before this hassle!
And I used to think that working was stressful! :-)

The Teetotal Naked Beekeeper! :-)

OK think I know why that bunny boiler bee keeps taking an active interest in me while I sit on the patio. Bees don't like certain smells, garlic, perfume, aftershave and alcohol! So not only is she a bunny boiler she's out banging the temperence drum!
So not only will I have moved house, now I will have to give up that evening tipple! There's more to beekeeping than meets the eye.
Will have to resort to that old trick of chewing spearmint gum, mind you that never worked when I ended up spending a night in jail in the deep south, but that's another story :-)
Or perhaps I will stick to Plan Bee, by my reckoning she has a maximum 12 days left on the wing?

Day 5 with bees in hive

Panic over, bees have been bringing pollen into the hive, so Queenie must be laying:-)

Yesterday evening sat on patio having a G&T and had some serious close attention from one lady bee, too close really, she hovered infront of me and eyeballed me, I get the feeling she didn't want me in garden! So beat a retreat to house, waited ten minutes went out again, sat down and she mae a beeline for me straight from hive! So is she a guard on extended picket duty or a bunny boiler bee? Is it even the same bee, well she flew exactly the same path, well fingers crossed she will be dead in three weeks and then I can enjoy my evening G&T.


Maybe she doesn't like G&T, I had been laying infront of hive watching comings and goings without any problem the previous few nights!


Got me thinking though, is the hive too close to patio, perhaps it needs moving further away, so decided to move it three feet a night, bloody hell it's heavy!! Looks like it's staying where it is, they must have been very busy in four days building comb and storing honey.


OK plan "Bee", if they still keep taking too much interest in me and my G&T I'll stick it out this year and buy a new queen for next year, some much for these being gentle bees! :-)

Can't wait to open hive on Wednesday if weather ok, to see just what they have been doing.

Bees have arrived

OK I know it's been sometime since my last post, I have been sitting impatiently waiting for bees, landlady said no to me keeping bees so I've moved to a bee friendly landlord:)

I think my bee supplier dreaded my calls, his breeder was struggling, but eventually he came up trumps with a beekeeper with a few nucs.
So on Wednseday off I drove to darkest Kent for a 8.30 pick up, bees were ready and waiting and soon loaded for the journey home, I had visions of making the travel bulletin, "M25 closed as beekeeper is attacked by car full of bees", but actually it was pretty uneventful except for one bee that hitched a ride all the way home!

My hitch hiker


Once home it was time to transfer the colony from the Nuc Box to the hive, now where did I put all the gear I needed!

I was hoping to take a few more photos but hey I'm a man and just getting the bees in hive was

enough of a task! :)

Bees are looking less than impressed, well they should calm down, or will they? I was told they were calm bees, very gentle, so why did three of them get stuck in my hair later in the day whilst I was watching the activity around hive. Me thinks BBQ's in the garden will be interesting, perhaps I need a sign on gate - BEE WARE ATTACK BEES :)

Or perhaps they are just trying to tell me time for a hair cut?

Well I am told I need to leave them alone for a week, but worried no sign of pollen going into hive, no pollen means Queenie isn't laying, this beekeeping is stressful! Will have to wait until I can open hive to see if all is well.

Plan C has kicked in :-)

OK, sorry, it's been awhile since last post, Plan C now in place, I'm moving! 200yds down the road to a two bedroom house with a garden and a landlord who is ok with bees, ok a small bribe, 2 jars of honey :-)
Have also spoken to bee supplier and should get a call next week to collect bees.
That presents a small problem, 3 feet or 3 miles! OK let me explain, bees are a bit like homing pigeons, they go back to where they think hive is located, if it is moved 3 feet they can find it, but any movement under 3 miles and they are seriously confused! 3 miles and they work out that they have been moved and carry on happily.
So 200 yards! A problem!
Have asked permission to put hive in early to new garden, they want to know when? Come on, when does a baby arrive on schedule!
Watch this space, could be plan C point 5!

....and then the 1st down!!!

Somebody told the landlady! After all these months of talking to neighbours who seemed ok with the bees, somebody has told landlady. Had a call this morning from agent saying "no way hose", never one to take no for an answer have sent an email, will let you know how I get on.
Shame was really looking forward to watching the bees in action everyday.
Plan B and C in action as a fall back.
PS People do seem to worry unneccessarily! What's the odd sting between friends:-)

.....1 more up and then!.......

My certificate at end of course

The ups of beekeeping!.........

OK been a it lazy recently not posted anything for a couple of weeks
Since last post had my last two practical lessons, was tested, didn't do too badly, got 9/10, didn't keep an eye on smoker, look for pollen on incoming bees (I did but didn't say!) and when did use smoker gave the bees a bit too much:)

Dream analysis!

Today will be opening a hive unhelped, so last night before falling asleep I was going through the proceedure and what to look for.
Then I woke up after having been attacked in slow motion by my new colony of bees, all I can really remember of the dream was thinking they had all gone back to the hive and then felt a tiggle in my ear and loud scratching noise and out popped a bee, then another, then another, then another.............
What was that all about? Years ago on hoilday in Greece an ant walked into my ear when I was asleep and the noise was scary, the bees sounded just like that.
So any dream analysers out there?