When I retired I thought it would be a nice gentle hobby to keep a few bees at the top of our garden. I had some lessons and then realised what hard work it was and that bees don’t do what they are supposed to! It’s not a cheap hobby either. A hive is £200 plus about £200 for a suit and all the other bits and pieces you need and then you have to buy a nucleus of bees which is another £200. My bees in my first hive died during the first winter so I had to buy some more. I also got given some by another bee keeper who had too many. Last year I was able to extract 120 jars of honey (60lbs). If I sold it for about £20 a jar I might get my money back! It’s actually a fascinating hobby and I love sitting near the hives and watching the bees going to a fro, very relaxing. I have been stung in the past but bees swarming are just looking for somewhere to live and are usually pretty docile. Someone posted on the local Facebook that there was a swarm. I was wearing my bee suit and just knocked them into a box and then poured them into a temporary hive and left it for the flying bees to settle in there.
It's that time of year for me again, perhaps a little late but two bikes taxed this morning plus another vehicle on the for sale block.
What a fascinating thing to do, and very rewarding I’d imagine when it goes right. Good on you and good luck with the jars of honey.
This morning I have put up a washing line in my garden, done some washing, and hung it out. Then I planted up a pot with some chilli seeds before doing some weeding and tidying up the edges of a border. Now having a cuppa before tackling some ironing then making lunch..... ......how domesticated am I?
Most of it I sell to friends and neighbours and last years has all gone. If I manage to collect any this year I can let you know @Ducbird
Made my head hurt by trying to work out the internal corner angles to cut for beading. After more than a couple of aborted attempts resorted to cutting a couple of templates to copy.
It’s alway a good idea to have some templates made up in advance, particularly for those that mess with the mind.
Clearly at a Stag Do last night and those famous JJ Cale lyrics comes to mind.......let it all hang out tonight.
