Sorry for the inconvenience but hopefully you will find it an even better blog!

Its quite interesting at the moment, a lot of people seem to be taking an interest in the blog and my quest for just one pot of honey. Its really enjoyable to be speaking to other beekeepers and, to be honest, whether I was writing this blog or not, I am pretty sure I would be receiving the same amount of support and help with my quest. There is such a nice community surrounding the bees that it is quite lovely to say that I am becoming a part of it. Everyone is so keen to offer advice that it can actually be quite confusing but you have to remember that they are doing out of a keeness to help you out. I get the feeling beekeeping is really about trying to understand all the information you can and then making the best decision you feel is right. Nice to know you have the support at hand though.

I mentioned recently that I have now bought my first hive (see post). I was obviously excited about it and mentioned it to a few of my many friends I have now generated through learning this hobby. There then followed a barrage of questions which included the following:

• What floor are you using?
• Did you get the crownboard?
• Have you thought about what foundation you are using?
• Which frame type will you be using?
• Are you using a stand?

I had to laugh at this because it was meant in the best way possible and Adam is a fantastic guy (one of the Reigate Beekeepers) and is helping me out more than you can appreciate. It just highlight, however, how much there is to learn as a beginner. I started by agonishing about which hive to go for (many days and sleepness nights dreaming of each hive; what serves the purpose, which looks the best – I know, I know, but you all know you will think that at some point! – what does everyone else use becuase you wouldn’t want to be the odd one out etc etc). Now that I have narrowed this down all of a sudden there is a barrage of other, very important information to take on board and study. To use an analogy of buying a car I have basically picked the car body shape but nothing else. I know have to pick all the seats, radios and gear sticks; not to mention the engine (lets say this would be the bees and that is a whole different ball game!)

Adam really showed me what a few years experience will give you; the ability to reel off all the technical information, which I have only read about in books and have a complete lack of understanding yet about how it will all be put together! I look forward to the day that I will understand it all and can speak with Adam’s authority.

I continually get asked the question lately about what bees I am going to get as well. I really must look into this as I am still only really aware that there are ones that are yellow and black. I am vaguely aware that some are from Africa and some are from Europe but I have no idea which bees are local to me around here. Quite looking forward to finding that out though. I am also learning alot about the solitary bee at the moment (not to mention the bumblebee) and the importance they have on pollination as well which has been interesting.

Must go to bed……thoughts not really making too much sense and another long day tomorrow. Night night.

McCallum………which I discovered at RHS Wisley. Obviously I view this from the perspective of a complete novice so I hope it is of help to you beginners out there.

I have to say, from a beginners perspective, this is worthy of a read. In fact it is worthy of a read to any beekeeper for that matter. Right from the start,  it outlines exactly why there is a huge concern at the moment for the plight of the humble honey bee (or any other bee, as they cover them all) and certainly the first two chapters really highlight every concievable reason to be worried. There are some amazing facts about the honey bee as well which I never knew of before (in fact I am using some of them in my “Facts about Honey Bees” blogs) which really add weight to the argument.

After the first two chapters it then goes a little technical for the beginner and discusses the facters which are influencing Colony Colapse Disorder. I have to say it got a little bit too technical here and had it not I would also have recommended this book to the Average Joe walking down the road as it can be that readable at points. These technical discussions continue for the rest of the book pretty much but it does give you the undeniable evidence that there is something fundamentally wrong out there and we have to help them out.

What is very obvious all the way through is the amount of research that Alison and Brian put into this book and I have to give them huge credit for that. They have really opened my eyes to the problems, the origins of these problems and even started to discuss relevent solutions; all the way along giving practical examples and actual events which back it all up.

Therefore, in summary, a worthy read, a bit heavy on technical detail in places but, and it needs to be said, the plight of the honey bee is not exactly an easy problem nor is there an easy solution so maybe it is warrented.

Hope this has helped you. If you want to buy the book, you can just click here to go to the relevent page in Amazon. You can also follow the latest news aobut some of the beekeepers mentioned in the book and also the latest news about CCD on the website/blog associated with the book – click here

I feel a little strange……I have just ordered my first hive. Feels a little bit unreal because it was so simple. I had a good look around and felt that the information and pictures supplied by Nicholas at Peak-hives.co.uk were the best people to go with. Got onto the website, bish, bash, bosh, one hive ordered and will make its way down here to Surrey from the foothills of the Peak District.

What a moment.

I decided, in the end, to opt for the slightly cheaper hive using Red Deal instead of the preferred Cedar wood. I suppose the only real difference, aside from the price, is weight (Deal being a little heavier I think) and the fact that Cedar probably looks a little bit nicer.

So I now have to go and buy the frames to go inside the hive and then, hey presto, my first hive will be born! Whoopee.

Must think about bees though! Where am I going to get them from and am I going to get a Nuc or a swarm (just been asked this on Twitter and as yet I am unsure of the merits of either! Note to self, must research this fact!)

It is full of happy people filled with smiles (especially considering we have just been told by a rather large man in a fluorescent jacket that they “are currently assessing the runway to see if it is safe to fly due to the snowy conditions”!) and all with heads stuck firmly into books or playing with devices which look suspiciously like iphones (wish I had one) or devices that wish they were iphones! 

Due to my current situation I thought I would just reflect on what happened yesterday as it was an interesting day which took an abrupt turn this morning while waiting for a flight and a little impulse purchase from WHSmith. 

Just been told we can board – hurrah!! 

Anyway, yesterday was the day to finish the final 10% of the Willow haircut (or massacre for a better description!). Bob, the man mountain joined me in the afternoon and we got on with the job at hand. My god I forgot how hard it was to keep on bending over and p (opps, sorry, have to board……) 

Okay……..well I have boarded, am sat on a seat (being 6ft 5 means my knees are by my ears and the computer is somewhere under my nose) and have just been told that with the snow coming down it means we may not be able to fly……ho hum. 

Anyway so the man mountain and I finished the job of cutting the willow. I have to say it isn’t all bad and it is lovely to end up with some fantastic willow poles which I shall make use off this year but……..you are also reminded that the gardening year hasn’t really started yet. This is where it all started to go wrong yesterday. 

Firstly, I realised that I have so much willow to burn (considering willow branches have an uncanny ability to whip you across the cheeks when a/ you least expect it and b/ when you are freezing cold, I hate to think how they will react to being burnt!)  which is going to take some time trying to fit these long elasticated branches into a small dustbin with holes in. Incidentally I have tried to start a fire twice with extra help from a nice green coloured canister of petrol and twice nearly fried my eyebrows! Secondly I found it quite tough going in the garden. I haven’t had time to tidy anything up; last years geraniums are still looking dead in their pots (must remember to bring them in next year to over winter!), the grass is all a little bit uneven, wanting a cut and needing to do be rolled flat once more. I can’t tell you how sad it is to walk on waterlogged grass (I know I shouldn’t be but I had to).

Enough of the sad stuff……..because I then go into Gatwick airport this morning and just start milling around WHSmith and, as I always do, I thumb around  the garden magazine section. There in amongst them all was the funny, well I find it funny, face of Alan Titchsmarsh advertising an exclusive magazine. The Gardeners Year. I had a quick thumb through that looking at some lovely pictures and my good mood was restored.

They had some lovely photos of what the gardens will be looking like in the summer, some step by step plans to reassure you that the waterlogged grass, messy looking pots, weed filled beds are all normal and what you should do about them. I felt my mood lifted knowing that it wouldn’t be too long until the daffodils started to open and after them the tulips and after them God only knows.

Needless to say my guilt for the bees having sacrificed the best part of an entire willow tree, was not necessarily lifted but there you go.

I must start thinking about where I am going to get my bees from…….