... And AGAIN!

Gazumped again!

I came in from shopping and all was quiet in the garden. I turned away to make a cup of coffee and when I turned back, tray in hand, all ready to go out into the garden with my newspaper and coffee and put my feet up for a well-earned rest, the air was filled with thousands of swarming bees.

Not again!

I went into the Itchy Knee hive and brutally destroyed every single Queen Cell I could find. I felt savage and cruel and terrible and sad, but resolute. I cannot afford to lose the goodwill of my next-door neighbours.

I left the swarm to settle, knowing that the best time to collect it would be in the evening. When I came back I heard a tiny scratching noise from some of the Queen Cells I'd removed from the hive. As I watched, I saw a young Queen trying to emerge from her cell. I watched her for a while, then destroyed her. It nearly broke my heart, but what else could I do?

I stole a brood frame and a super frame, and spent most of the day clearing honey from them. The brood frame offered up beautiful rich dark honey that tastes of toffee. The super frame yielded lighter honey, delicate and wild-flower flavoured. Some of the jars have gone to 4 of my neighbours, and the others will be for us at home. There is one client I've promised honey to, who shall have his on Monday.

This afternoon Guy and I went out determinedly to rescue the swarm by ourselves, just the two of us. We didn't do quite as neat a job as Ron did, but we achieved it nonetheless. Guy's karate instructor is a new beekeeper, and he and his wife came out to fetch the swarm, neatly wrapped in a box and fabric. They carried it away like a newborn baby. I remember that feeling :)

I've had so many phone calls offering support and help; lots of calls to take the bees. Everything about this craft seems to be about timing; when they swarm, when to call, following the feeling in your bones. Everything at the right time.