Melancholy

It was a lovely day today and I carried out the last of my inspections. I can't help but feel sad that aside of any varroa control and feeding that's it - the last I will see of brood and queens until next Spring (7 months!). It hit me hard: I was actually reminiscing my childhood as I sat eating my packed lunch and enjoying my flask of tea at one of my apiary sites. I love my "bee lunches" and it took me back to my childhood and going on holiday with tea from a flask in a lay-by with mum and dad and my brother Gary. There was a tinge of sadness thinking of my late brother and then the thought that this is the last of seeing my bees for another year, and what a hard struggle it has been this year.

Wasps

Checks yesterday show that the nectar flow coming in at the end of July has stopped; short lived but very welcome, so back to vigilant store checks. At one site the presence of wasps led me to put mouse guards on smaller colony entrances and I may even reduce the entrances in the coming weeks.

Michael Bush

Sat on holiday in Appledore, chilling out watching some honey bees working a fuchsia in the garden of the cottage we are staying at. I have started to read "The Practical Beekeeper - Beekeeping Naturally" by Michael Bush. I am only on Page 43 of 600 but already I have read so much that I have deduced myself or follows on from my recent thoughts, though it conflicts hugely with what I have been previously taught or told !