New year New Horizons?

[jenkinsbrynmair]

as you probably have seen from the general section, we got our first honey today - if the super had been on top we could have taken the lot, but not being greedy we just put it on top and took the obvious surplus (taking some of the brood frames would have caused too much hassle, but there wasn't half some weight in the brood box - may be opening up again before I go to pinch a little more!! Always seem to attract an audience out here - the first hive i inspected today I looked up to see one of the herd boys on the bank behind the hive looking into the brood box with me (no more than a yard away) then a bunch of lads at the second hive - they liked the honey I handed round though!!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Donation update

Okay, for anyone who donated to SWMBO's fund raising for the orphans, a quick update.
It's been pretty dire over here with the government closing down a number of very poor performing orphanages but not offering any solutions apart from the police literally dumping the kids on the doorsteps of other establishments.
I haven't really stuck my nose into the orphanage side of things, apart from socialising with the kids when they are on their breaks, but six weeks on I'm still meeting new ones - there's over 150 of them here!
Found out this weekend that one dormitory is packed full of teenage girls (some with health problems or learning difficulties) that are sleeping four to a (single) bed. So a big chunk of donated money (My chapel has sent me a generous amount towards the cause) is coming with me on a shopping trip for some bunk beds, some will be spent on warm pyjamas (kids have asked for these) and maybe a top up on blankets although I'm hoping that Prince Harry's foundation over here - Sentebale will give me some buckshee.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Not long to go now

Well, the clock is ticking and I have this week left at the orphanage, then a bit of time in the capital to maybe speak to the herd boys and answer the Royal summons.
almost to timetable the autumn swarming season has started; one moved in to one of our hives and one caught swarm. Hope we get a couple more before next week.
Loads of requests for cut outs though - plenty of feral/wild/whatever bees around. A lot of the newer houses here are constructed from hollow concrete blocks and guess where the beggars go? so as the colony grows it spreads and weaves the comb between the tied blocks. I thought I had one yesterday in a roof space - easy job, just lift a suspended ceiling tile and....... but no, again, in the blocks so they've been there three years, so there they remain (but nobody seems to mind - they only want them moved into a hive - so they can harvest the honey!!)
My valedictory trip to the outlying farmers on Thursday, then my farewell ceremony Friday.
I won't even be here to take delivery of two bee suits (Thanks to Teemore for convincing someone to donate)
It's been an experience

 

[theeggman]

Well done JBM.
We hope there is a "Legacy" that comes out your trip, give the poor b's the tools and knowledge and they can better themselves.
Safe trip back to the UK.

Tim

 

[Erichalfbee]

Time to start planning a return trip?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

well, speaking to the project director in Wales earlier on (she's bringing the bee suits over) and she said I hoped I had a few good projects in mind for the huge chunk of money she's given me to play with so............... just need a new job now that will let me do more of this kind of thing!
Oh, and ten days break in South Africa staying with my cousin Irene in Jo'burg to wind down before flying home (tempted to cancel though and stay here!!)

 

[theeggman]

JBM,
Apart from you're hate of TBH's are you going "native" in the BEST possible sense. If so power to your elbow etc.
Get as much as you can from the UK to help our poorer relations that we have P'd on for years.
We are quite happy to import flowers,plants and food from Africa without a second thought as to what's behind the cheap product.

Tim.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

well, slight delay to my departure from Lesotho - been asked to go up to the hills and speak to the Herd boys about beekeeping (they have a tendency to go 'honey hunting' and destroy wild colonies in their quest for sweetness)it may mean scope for another high profile project (the herd boys' welfare are a favourite of our Prince Harry)so an extra weekend out here - but I will be offline for a few days probably!

 

[Erichalfbee]

You will have the whole country converted. There will be a statue of you in the main square of Maseru. The great Jenkins of Brynmair!!

Seriously....what great work.

 

[Teemore]

JBM - did the beesuits arrive OK?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

You will have the whole country converted.

Well, meeting with the Sentebale - the princes' (Seeiso and Harry) charity this morning and they've asked when can I come back and start two projects for them, although I can give them some time (my leave) it's who will pay my wages for anything long term. Big conference going on at the moment and I'm to meet the director either this afternoon or Tuesday.

There will be a statue of you in the main square of Maseru.

With all the pigeons over here - story of my life at the moment - hanging around feeling useless and then being sh@t upon!!

JBM - did the beesuits arrive OK?

Due to my extended stay here - as I'm so important (or is it impotent?) - my colleagues and I are going sightseeing up North this weekend.Veronica and Baron Mike are in Capetown at the moment and are driving up as we speak and are going to meet us there - they have the suits. The people at Phelisanong are really excited at the gift and Veronica will have photographs when she delivers them next week.

 

[Dishmop]

Its good to see that donated money and time is being put to proper use as opposed to all the millions (£) that dont seem to achieve anything or vanish in "administration costs"
I have noticed over the years that its the younger people in these bad situations who seem to be enthusiastic in learning, and then using common sense to re-mix what they have been taught to utilise bits of old machinery to create something usefull to not only themselves but to the community where they have to live.

 

[Teemore]

You'll be looking for a nice series land rover to pootle about in out there next!

Really glad that things seems to be going well.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

You'll be looking for a nice series land rover to pootle about in out there next!

How about the one attached?
I must say I do miss my old III 109" safari station wagon (I was persuaded to get something a bit more 'normal' when my limited skills and time meant I couldn't keep her road worthy) although a shorter wheelbase would be better out here, and I do prefer leaf springs to coil - I'll put some photos on my blog of the high altitude ledges (it would be an offence to call them mountain tracks) that we navigated in a Toyota Hilux yesterday.

Did you know that the first vehicle to enter Lesotho was a series I SWB driven by a Captain Sinclair over the Sani pass in 1958?

 

[Teemore]

I think the shorland would be a mite top heavy for traversing mountain tracks..... that and the 2.25 petrol would be a little asthmatic hauling all that weight around at altitude!

If I hadn't started to "rationalize" my collection (heaps) of LR magazines I might have been able to find a picture of Captain Sinclair and his S1!! This will have to suffice (1957 S1 not mine!):

 

[Dishmop]

Did you know that the first vehicle to enter Lesotho was a series I SWB driven by a Captain Sinclair over the Sani pass in 1958?

Did he mean to?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Well, that's me done in Lesotho - for now.
Having a chill out in Johannesburg for a few days, staying with my cousin and seeing the sights - Apartheid museum Thursday - interacting with elephants yesterday, and today, we're both doing a tour of Jo'burg and Soweto and going for a braai tonight. tomorrow............. flying back home.

 

[pargyle]

Is there anything better than looking into the eye of an elephant or a dolphin ... these mammals seem to share so many human traits that I think they understand more about us than we do ourselves. Wonderful creatures ....

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Well, that's me done in Lesotho - for now.
Having a chill out in Johannesburg for a few days, staying with my cousin and seeing the sights - Apartheid museum Thursday - interacting with elephants yesterday, and today, we're both doing a tour of Jo'burg and Soweto and going for a braai tonight. tomorrow............. flying back home.

Bring a Yard of Boerwous back as a present for your locals _

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Bring a Yard of Boerwous back as a present for your locals _

Funnily enough - my local butcher makes it each year in the barbecue season (that'll be one weekend in mid September!) But as it was about the only 'normal' thing available where I was living I'm about woersed out!

Now in the airport awaiting my flight to Heathrow. Can't wait to see my bees................ err and SWMBO of course! (she's spent the whole of today looking at the floor apparently - as she'll be mostly staring at the ceiling for a while well, two minutes anyway!!)