Buzzing Bees

Consumption of honey in this household is high; this, combined with a desire to do our bit for the struggling UK honey bee, led to me take a ten week beekeeping course in the early months of this year.

Theory is all very well, but yesterday we were called to the local area's apiary to begin to put some of our hard earned knowledge into practice. Things I have learned:

1. There is no elegant way in which to don an all-in-one bee-suit whilst hopping on one leg with red boggy ground beneath one's feet.

2. Along with one other, I am the youngest there by at least 15 years, therefore am assumed to have the agility to complete the above task. As the sole female, my fellow beekeepers are unsure whether to offer help or stare into space!

3. I still don't like the sound of multiple insects buzzing about my face, but

4. It is neither wise nor cool to swipe haphazardly at the few honey bees who are struggling to cope with being so rudely interrupted on a Sunday afternoon! Slowly and surely is the mantra.

5. Vision behind a mesh is not good, not even when teamed with glasses which are pushed down my nose by the hat and veil. This may be a good thing, I tried not to look to see how many of the little wonders had settled on me.

6. The apiary manager may want to choose someone else to write the hive record card, my handwriting whilst leaning on thin air is even worse than usual. The next person to inspect may wonder if the queen was a no show or had laid copious combs-worth of eggs.

7. I'm hooked, after half an hour.

8. But still have a life-time's worth of knowledge to assimilate and absorb so hope the fascination lasts long enough to provide the family with a jar or two of honey!