It is 6.30am and I have got up to replace that old cut comb that had become ruined in the frames two weeks previously. I have to say it was easier than I thought and hence I am writing this piece now while the house is silent (bliss I have to say!). Replacing that cut comb made me realise just how sticky the job of extraction must be. People and books have said that honey gets everywhere. Me being me was thinking “no way, I am organised and generally tidy, I can do that without spilling a drop”. Read the rest of this entry »
I have to say I have been starting to have some doubts about my one aim for the year; one jar of honey. When I did the inspection on Saturday I was very aware of the lack of stores being built by the bees and obviously I want to make sure they are going to be okay for Winter. Without stores they will perish and so I cannot risk it. What do I do? Read the rest of this entry »
So today was a mixture of emotions until the chance meeting of a friend of mine in the coffee shop. Suddenly, after last night the enormity of the extraction process was playing tennis in my head. All the equipment needs, the fantastic game of dare you play with the bees when you take their honey super not to mention the mess I will undoubtably leave my kitchen in which will no doubt send in the wrath of the wife (make no assumptions, I most definitely wear the trousers in our relationship, she just tells me which colour trousers to wear!). However, the chance meeting in the coffee shop and the suggestion I should watch how the Nepalese extract their honey. Just watch the videos here and you can see why I am no longer worried about what I will have to put up with!
However there is still the small matter of equipment…..
Read the rest of this entry »
So I am starting to think about extracting my honey from my two hives – the panic started to set in last night as I realised I may be not to far off of the main event of the year.
I got talking to a guy in my local cafe today about it and he said “James, you must have seen the clip when they extract the honey in Nepal haven’t you?!”. I obviously hadn’t and so the guy just simply said “watch it and all your concerns will dissapear before your eyes”. Oh my god he was right. Check out the videos below! Read the rest of this entry »
A little bit of confidence restored today. I went to my beekeeping practical with the Reigate Beekeepers and got my hands dirty once more. I have to say it is really uplifting to be around other beekeepers (and what with the blog comments and twitter comments I have received) who all state it is quite common to abandon a hive visit at times. Some, by the sound of it have had it a lot worse that me. Read the rest of this entry »
It is 6.30am and I have got up to replace that old cut comb that had become ruined in the frames two weeks previously. I have to say it was easier than I thought and hence I am writing this piece now while the house is silent (bliss I have to say!). Replacing that cut comb made me realise just how sticky the job of extraction must be. People and books have said that honey gets everywhere. Me being me was thinking “no way, I am organised and generally tidy, I can do that without spilling a drop”. Read the rest of this entry »
