Just about bordering on odd, I see things through different eyes.The heading says it all - I live, I love, I craft, I am me...

17/05/2021

Where've I bee(n)๐Ÿ recently

You see, the thing is  this ..... no hang on, I'll say at the end.

Last Friday my lovely colleague and I went off on a training day. We are learning how to be bee๐Ÿ keepers. Where we work we have a small apiary and the original bee ๐Ÿkeeper just did not come back after the autumn.   
Fortunately for the charity a very kind and extremely knowledgeable lady stepped in and monitored the hives over winter and spring while the charity decided what to do. 

It was very obvious that the bees๐Ÿ needed to be looked after and I found myself putting my hand up (carefully and after much thought) and for good measure, a colleague was 'volunteered' along with me so that I would not be๐Ÿ solely responsible.
So, with plenty of discussion both at work and with our lovely but temporary bee keeper๐Ÿ we were initiated into a bee๐Ÿ keeping course which, 'thanks to' the lockdown meant our classes were all on zoom (appropriately named I though). 
We muddled through, both the course givers and the students. Technology failed, we had lagging, the internet was intermittent, the course givers struggled with modern systems, but we all survived the seven week course (mostly due to reading books and absorbing as much info from our temporary bee๐Ÿ keeper who we gently pressganged into being our mentor). 
As restrictions lifted,  we finally got an onsite visit to the association's apiary. It was a bit of a logistical nightmare clearing the day however we managed.
There were six of us in total and I have decided that bee๐Ÿ keepers or beeks as they affectionately call themselves - are a species unto themselves. Enthusiastic, mostly retired, bumbling characters. Full of knowledge and desperately keen to share - even if it meant all of them told us the same thing at the same time at increasing volume to ensure their story was heard....
Two of the experienced beeks were stung - the bees๐Ÿ were inside their protective hoods, one of the beeks did a flappy hand dance and ran off to his car while our mentor, when she removed her bee๐Ÿ suit back at the car - found it was full of stings - probably 18 - 20 little stings stuck into the fabric on her back. We were quite cheerfully told that this can be normal - you can't be a beek without a few stings ..


We were there for several hours as we observed the inspections - my colleague taking a greater part in the process while I took photos. I was very quickly nicknamed ...The Lassie with the camera. We were congratulated on our calm manner 'especially as we were novices' and all I could think of was the retreating back of the bloke who'd been stung. He was a loud, animated and full of jovial banter - may be the bees๐Ÿ had heard all his stories before.


It was an interesting day - full of new folk, new stories, new skills to learn and we have been invited to go back - so we obviously did not disgrace ourselves!

Oh - yes, so what was I going to tell you at the beginning?

I am rather allergic to bees............................. ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ

13 comments:

  1. Well, I do remember you mentioning an on-line beekeeping course, but had forgotten about it as you hadn't mentioned it recently. All the way through your story I was thinking, I hope no-one is allergic to bee stings. And you are?..........Kate be super careful. Great set of photos from a wee lassie(giggle). Thanks for sharing, take care & huggles.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am being sensible (or am I??) but just working in a garden, any one's garden you work alongside bees and I have a healthy respect for them - so I just have to be careful :)

      Delete
  2. Sounds very interesting. Seems as though you are really enjoying learning something new. Hope you get lots of honey from your hives. Me.....I'd rather keep my distance.๐Ÿงก๐Ÿฆด๐Ÿฆด xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't worry - I am keeping my distance - do not want to be stung :D

      Delete
  3. How brilliant to have a go at beekeeping (except for the allergy!) I once hoped for bees but goats and bees don't mix and I preferred the goats especially as our nearest neighbour kept them and was willing to swap honey for eggs from our hens

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'd always fancied bee keeping but with my allergy in mind chose to not do anything about it - it was only coz the bees needed some one to monitor and take care that I stepped forward, I do think I am being a 'little gung-ho' even for me - so I help with the mechanics of the keeping and at a safe distance :)

      Delete
  4. How exciting. I hope you manage to not get stung. X

    ReplyDelete
  5. How exciting ... I must admit I don’t think I would be brave enough ... though I do love watching and listening to them buzzing around the garden on a summers day ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ

    ReplyDelete
  6. Respect! For you and the bees ♥️

    ReplyDelete
  7. Rather you than me! I have lots of bees in my garden and I've never had a problem but they are busy on the flowers while I watch. I do like honey but I know it's not something I would consider doing. Last time I was stung by a bee was when I was on my hands and knees in some long grass, about 60 years ago.... have fun and take care, as best you can! x

    ReplyDelete
  8. How daring you are! I am sure everyone has told you this but do take care :-) I think beekeeping is fascinating. You see lots of hives mostly on the outskirts of the mountain villages. We go up to the town of Polop in the mountains and buy Romero Honey(Rosemary) about once year. It is so delicious not over sweet with that lovely smell of Rosemary.
    A very good read and informative; great photos too. I like Bees! They are the only insect I will tolerant (except Ms Ladybird). Some people don't realise just how important they are! take care Amanda x

    ReplyDelete
  9. Epi-pen , and take care brave soldier.

    ReplyDelete

Hi there...

Thank you ever so much for stopping by today - I'm really glad that you did. If you would like to leave me a comment then I would be delighted to hear from you, any one signing as anonymous or writing anything unkind, political, any form of hate or computer generated will be acknowledged as spam and deleted.

Hawthorn x

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.