- Joined
- Aug 4, 2011
- Messages
- 2,597
- Reaction score
- 10
- Location
- Levenshulme, Manchester UK
- Hive Type
- 14x12
- Number of Hives
- 2 - and steward of 8 others.
I think the time has come for the Forum to build up what I gather is now trendily called, a 'data warehouse' of excuses and strategems to cover for our nefarious beekeeping activities.
Jenkinsbrynmair, for example, has proved himself a master of this, in the way he manages to disguise the extraordinary amount of kit he seems to need. Ericalfbee seems to have found ways to manipulate the male of the species to do some of the more awkward beekeeping tasks.
I, on the other hand, am struggling to explain away how what was meant to be a hobby with one hive in the garden, taking an hour a week, has expanded to take in the time consuming unemployed-volunteer-apiary project at the cathedral - and has just taken in another rooftop setup in Manchester!
It was like this: about 8 weeks ago, I got an urgent call via the cathedral from the Printworks in Manchester. This is a major conglomeration of bars, cinemas and restaurants, all in, guess what? An old printworks. They'd heard I had 11 hives on the cathedral roof (actually, it was 1 at that point and is now 4). Could I help them out? They just had delivered a "top of the range hive and starter kit" but had no bees and only willing volunteers. Even got sites on the flat roof and planters up and running with bee friendly plants!
So I went along. Dead keen to get started. Proudly showed me their hive - a WBC - and could I help them set it up and run it, till their own staff went on a course? Before the week was out, they'd got a second kit, as one of the cafes decided to join in. Can't remember it's name, but I do recall they play really cool hard rock in that cafe.
To cut a long story short, it ended up with me having a couple of nucs in the garden on Thursday night. 'Er indoors couldn't fail to notice. 'Er indoors didn't fail to notice. Did enyone in the Manchester area notice a sudden drop in temperature on Thursday evening? To about absolute zero? My appeals to her social conscience and the need to green the city, fell on deaf ears. My discussion of altruism as one of the most mature defence mechanisms, cut no ice. My observation that at least it would keep me from being under her feet as retirement slowly kicks in, was met with a list of jobs as long as your arm.
In the end, I managed to survive with all personal bits intact, when I pointed out that I've been offered the occasional free meal at that cafe whose name I can't remember but which plays really good hard rock. "Well" came the grudging response, "I suppose I could come along with you sometimes...".
Strange experience yesterday though; treated like a hero by everyone at the Printworks, as I installed their nucs. Treated like a dose of AFB when I got home.
So, guys and gals, any chance of sharing similar stories, and hints and tips about how to avert the wrath of the OH as we practice our craft?
Dusty.
P.s. I did also manage to get a new Sh*rr!ff suit out of it as well. They were really appreciative and generous. So it's going to be alright.
Jenkinsbrynmair, for example, has proved himself a master of this, in the way he manages to disguise the extraordinary amount of kit he seems to need. Ericalfbee seems to have found ways to manipulate the male of the species to do some of the more awkward beekeeping tasks.
I, on the other hand, am struggling to explain away how what was meant to be a hobby with one hive in the garden, taking an hour a week, has expanded to take in the time consuming unemployed-volunteer-apiary project at the cathedral - and has just taken in another rooftop setup in Manchester!
It was like this: about 8 weeks ago, I got an urgent call via the cathedral from the Printworks in Manchester. This is a major conglomeration of bars, cinemas and restaurants, all in, guess what? An old printworks. They'd heard I had 11 hives on the cathedral roof (actually, it was 1 at that point and is now 4). Could I help them out? They just had delivered a "top of the range hive and starter kit" but had no bees and only willing volunteers. Even got sites on the flat roof and planters up and running with bee friendly plants!
So I went along. Dead keen to get started. Proudly showed me their hive - a WBC - and could I help them set it up and run it, till their own staff went on a course? Before the week was out, they'd got a second kit, as one of the cafes decided to join in. Can't remember it's name, but I do recall they play really cool hard rock in that cafe.
To cut a long story short, it ended up with me having a couple of nucs in the garden on Thursday night. 'Er indoors couldn't fail to notice. 'Er indoors didn't fail to notice. Did enyone in the Manchester area notice a sudden drop in temperature on Thursday evening? To about absolute zero? My appeals to her social conscience and the need to green the city, fell on deaf ears. My discussion of altruism as one of the most mature defence mechanisms, cut no ice. My observation that at least it would keep me from being under her feet as retirement slowly kicks in, was met with a list of jobs as long as your arm.
In the end, I managed to survive with all personal bits intact, when I pointed out that I've been offered the occasional free meal at that cafe whose name I can't remember but which plays really good hard rock. "Well" came the grudging response, "I suppose I could come along with you sometimes...".
Strange experience yesterday though; treated like a hero by everyone at the Printworks, as I installed their nucs. Treated like a dose of AFB when I got home.
So, guys and gals, any chance of sharing similar stories, and hints and tips about how to avert the wrath of the OH as we practice our craft?
Dusty.
P.s. I did also manage to get a new Sh*rr!ff suit out of it as well. They were really appreciative and generous. So it's going to be alright.
