Mite resistant queens wanted

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Funnily, did you know that the term ' flogging a dead horse' has no equine basis - it's a mishmash of naval terms.
Apart from corporal punishent - flogging was a term for swabbing the decks after the morning wash - an onerous and menial task - also meant getting up earlier than the other watches
'Dead horse' was a system of paying back an advance on the seaman's wages which technically meant he wasn't being paid for a 'watch' or shift on repayment.
So flogging a dead horse was a term for doing a crap task without remuneration.

Interestingly as well - the terms 'freezing the balls off a brass monkey' has nothing to do with the cold contracting a brass retainer for cannon balls to such an extent that they fell out of it - there never was such an implement - cannon balls (to use the layman's terms) were kept on wooden trays also known as 'shot garlands'.
The term ' to freeze the balls off a brass monkey' literally means it is cold enough to freeze the testicles off a err - brass monkey!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Starflex,

Inclined to agree with you.

I have had the same broom for about thirty five years now. It has had about four new handles and umpteen new heads - but is still that same broom I bought all those years ago, and probably works better now than when new! Is this your 'triggers brush' syndrome/argument you were referring to?

I still have my great great grandfather's thumb stick - cut from a hawthorn hedge in the 1800's - it has had neither a new head or a new handle, although it is probably about an inch shorter than when David Leigh died just after the old queen

 

[Finman]

.
Didhop. You have told that you have lost colonies for unknown reason and second, you have not seen mites. Joined to your slow ignition, draw from that.
It is impossible to say from distance 2000 km, why your hives get only one jar honey/hive. My one frame mating nuc brought 1,5 kg in a week.

It is so much unknown factors.

There is an European research project, where they research European Mite Resistant Bee Strains. As far as I remember, UK is not there. But now You could be a choosen one in it. Then you get a good answer to your questions. Take contact to coloss project.

.

 

[alanf]

Funnily, did you know that the term ' flogging a dead horse' has no equine basis - it's a mishmash of naval terms.
Apart from corporal punishent - flogging was a term for swabbing the decks after the morning wash - an onerous and menial task - also meant getting up earlier than the other watches
'Dead horse' was a system of paying back an advance on the seaman's wages which technically meant he wasn't being paid for a 'watch' or shift on repayment.
So flogging a dead horse was a term for doing a crap task without remuneration...

There's a naval explanation that some offer for pretty much every expression. Most are too contrived to be believable. According to the OED the first recorded instances were by John Bright, mid 19th century parliamentarian. He used it in the obvious metaphorical sense involving beating an animal, there are variants "flogging a dead dog" meaning much the same. Believe what you like about the original coinage .

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

'On the fiddle, is again naval term - in days of yore seamen when joining ship would be issued with a tray like square (easier to stow, and wouldn't roll around) piece of wood to eat off - hence 'three square meals a day' the edge of the board had a wooden rim - commonly called a fiddle tacked on to stop food spilling off the edges. Any mess leader who always took more than his fair share could be identified as his food was piled up so much it was resting 'on the fiddle'

 

[Stiffy]

I've seen a mite!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

There's a naval explanation that some offer for pretty much every expression. Most are too contrived to be believable. According to the OED the first recorded instances were by John Bright, mid 19th century parliamentarian. He used it in the obvious metaphorical sense involving beating an animal, there are variants "flogging a dead dog" meaning much the same. Believe what you like about the original coinage .

Tell that to the Marines

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Such as toeing the line - nothing to do with prize fighting. on Sunday the whole crew would turn up on deck for religious observance and inspection - every company had is (and occasionally her) spot to stand on the deck - usually behind a seam between two deck planks - each crew member was expected to get into place - 'toeing the line' at the alloted spot.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I like the trem 'rubbing the glass' personally. Each watch was timed by an hour glass - it was believed that by rubbing the waist of the hourglass would warm it up thus making it expand and leaving the sand flow faster - thus shortening the time of the watch.

 

[Apple]

I will just hang on to the bitter end, whilst you lot get in a flap !

James

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Got to be careful what i say in case I get accused of tapping the Admiral and then the cat will be out of the bag and the devil to pay.

 

[Apple]

Keel hauling would be too good, a slow hanging from the yardarm better.
Swinging the lead again to get your post count up?

You must have spent too many years at sea, methinks, meharty!

James