The first visit of the New Year is traditionally a slightly nerve racking one. I’m really not sure whether we’ll find a hive full of dead bees. When we arrive there are no bees in flight but it is bitterly cold so John reckons they’re inside keeping warm.
He and Mikey lift off the roof for the first time in 09
And will a little help from the trusty crowbar manage to dislodge the propolised inner lid. At this point a few bees took to the air and one landed on Mikey’s ear. I was so busy removing it with the aid of his hat that i missed the shot of the bees inside, but there were plenty of them and they seemed fairly happy considering someone had just let all the heat out.
John dripped a weak solution of Oxalic Acid (made from rhubarb leaves) on to 7 frames of bees, and then quickly covered them up again.
There was food in there from their own stores, which means they’re still eating the honey they made during last year. Winter bees live from October to February apparently, and it’s a completely female colony at the moment.
In the sprit of new years resolutions it has been decided (in consultation with the hive of course) that now we’ve established it’s possible for bees to live surrounded by concrete and culture, we’re going to up the ante and go for award glory. This season we’re aiming for 1st prize for Best Honey in the London classes at the National Honey Show in October. Rosettes shall be ours.
Great news today as we drank tea downstairs afterwards - Mikey recently became a father and told us that he and Jules have decided to give their daughter ‘Honey’ as a middle name. Now there’s dedication for you. "Put that on the Blob" said John, so I have.
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