Last year as a noob.

[rossbyjove]

Been a steep learning curve this year but not too painful.
As those more experienced than me have said, could have had a lot more if I had stopped them swarming.
Bought a second hand, barely used Unimel 3 frame extactor and thornes heated uncapper from a guy for £200.
They both work really well and I was surprised it got ALL the honey out.
Just finished my first extraction, I only took four frames.
The cheek of the Bees eating the stuff !
I now realise if I had done it late july early august I would have had a lot more.
Me and the missus faffing about over a teaspoon of honey that might go to waste !
Did not bother renewing my club membership.
So can't use their extractor but having my own I'm not in a queue !
Meetings are just so boring and I just lose the will to live when it's the club honey show.
"No sign of incipient granulation......" and another fifty jars to go.
Had a talk on the ancient greeks and their contribution to beekeeping and at the end you realised they were effin clueless about Bees.
Really looking forward to next years beekeeping.

 

[drex]

Brilliant. If you had taken more in July, you might simply have ended up having to feed. I only took minimal and am having to feed 2 of my colonies. You survived your first year. The second year is usually more hectic and potentially stressful. I agree about boring meetings but am involved with my local BKA, helping them help others, which I find rewarding

 

[rossbyjove]

Brilliant. If you had taken more in July, you might simply have ended up having to feed. I only took minimal and am having to feed 2 of my colonies. You survived your first year. The second year is usually more hectic and potentially stressful. I agree about boring meetings but am involved with my local BKA, helping them help others, which I find rewarding

Actually my third year but I seem to have learned more this year.
If you could only bottle hindsight !