Did one last winter, three this year, there were four but one dwindled in Autumn so I presume weak/queen failure. They're looking ok at the moment, one quite a bit emptier than the other two so we shall see. They're in Warnholz mating hives.
can’t believe it ! 
I remember chatting to my grandmother one day (been gone 20 years now) and she was telling me of when they first got married (1938), they lived in a little cottage up on the mountain that could only be reached by foot or horseback - no electricity just a coal fire and an oil lamp. Every Thursday, when my grandfather came home with his pay, they would sit at the table and count it out, putting money aside for rent, oil and coal, food for the animals and then work out what food they could afford to buy that week. then said "in over sixty years of marriage, those were the happiest days I can remember"
My grandad and nana were the same. My dad had the wages but always gave mum an allowance. Bring the eldest I never heard them argue ever, she would go to the ‘mafia’ as my dad called it , the WI AGM in London and he would pull out his wallet and ask how much she wanted. Happy days
Years ago I passed a beggar, complete with dog & cardboard notice sitting cross-legged outside the local mini-supermarket. I ignored him.
2 events, first one in Paris a beggar came to each outdoor table of a restaurant asking for money. In my limited Welsh (my wife is 50% English, 50% Welsh) I spoke to him and he just walked away with a puzzled look on his face. Second time in Estoril in Portugal a deaf mute handed me a piece of paper (usual grunt to mimic the mute) in many languages asking for charity money for the deaf and dumb. I just said in English I'm a tourist and only donate in my country. It must have been a miracle he spoke back to me in English.
