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Another swarm to collect today, at the local Dr's surgery.

Highly tempting, but another 3hr round trip for me.. Anyone know of any auctions closer to Oxfordshire? 😂

Once again, I'm playing catch up with kit. Machined up the timber for two brood boxes this evening, ready to assemble tomorrow evening. Also assembled my new to me Kielers, having bleached and scorched them yesterday.

I've been slow to get mine out, but the two that are up haven't seen any activity yet.. we're due another few wet days here after highs of 18 today, so I'll run round then 🤞

Popped into my home apiary to heft the hives, and check on the 3 nucs I'd made up- everything had been going great guns, but I was begining to worry about the hives and their store levels. Rounded the corner to a cloud of bees, bivouacking in the hedge.. Now the status of my colonies at this...

The amount of rain we had, they'd become moist towelettes..

That poor bugger was me! Hats off to the steward that lumped the sodden pile to the nearest recycling bin, despite my protestations that I could do it myself! 3 Kielers for £5 was probably my best buy. The next guy got 4 for £4 though.. Few other handy bits picked up. I gave up at 5pm, as...

I'll be going- I assume weather has no bearing on whether it goes ahead or not?

Although, having said that, every time I bother to take a trailer to auction, I never buy a thing.

Is it odd that I've been looking forward to this coming online since the 18th? 🤣 Think I'll down tools until the weekend, and bring a trailer just in case- better safe than sorry..

Made up an introductory nuc for the queen very kindly sent to me by @Sutty - a lovely looking queen, so I'm excited to see how she'll perform. Inspected two other colonies that I took pre-emptive swarm control on, and tore down all QCs bar one in each. Bees didn't take it well, but the coming...

As this will be the first time I actually manage to attend, (despite several years of good intentions) I'm looking forward to the length and tediousness! 🤣

Is your queen still available Sutty?

Hi Neil- do you happen to have plans for these, or a separate thread? I watched the lecture with interest (thanks for links both) and think I'll knock a few up. They look like 4 frame nucs to me, but appearances can be deceiving! Thanks Jason

I see today that they're now at capacity for lots- should be a good day!

What's going on here, may I ask? Very intrigued!

Another chance to get into hives, a day earlier than necessary, but needs must. One hive steadfastly refusing to work their super. Super added to another hive. Plenty of play cups with eggs- inspection due Monday!

A quiet lambing day, and the best weather for the next few days, meant supers went on hives today, despite the wind. Bees were unimpressed, but needs must.

Finished off another nuc, with UFE, waxed up another super full of frames. Quite nice do do something in the dry, not related to sheep.

Thanks both. An electrician friend ('lighting designer' to his clients) has given me one of these: https://amzn.eu/d/4SIDFAs Should do the job nicely