At the training apiary Sunday, one of the beginners commented on how old my crown of thorns looked. I said I'd had it since almost when I started beekeeping, even though it had been lost a few times but promptly found.
Went to the castle apiary today, grass is getting long in front of the hives so planned to strim after inspecting, It's a wonderful apiary, well sheltered but in the sun from morning until sunset, it's at the foot of the castle so the terrain is a bit rough and rocky as it's where a lot of the debris landed when the castle was slighted, anyway.......
COT sat on the edge of the hive until needed, my hand slipped, COT fell, bounced off my boot then into the long grass and probably fallen between some rocks as look as I may, I could not find it.
Bugger!