craftyhunnypie Posted December 22, 2007 Share Posted December 22, 2007 There is just no stopping you Martin is there?! There should be more young people like you instead of the usual Nintendo, PC & DVD mad ones. The outdoors & love of animals is far better for your health & sanity!!!! Well done Martin - for being different!!!! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted December 22, 2007 Share Posted December 22, 2007 I don't know where you find the time - you do go to school and watch footie as well, I believe! Congratulations - echo what Emma says, about Nintendos, nothing wrong with them but I know my friend's daughter will spend most of New Year hunched over hers in a corner, while we are all playing games and having fun. I'd love to keep bees but don't think it would go down well with my neighbours who have children. Well done, I look forward to hearing more - what a great year you're going to have in 2008! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 wow - just noticed this thread Martin. I'm very impressed. !) I can't keep bees as I'm horribly allergic to them, but I know my OH has always had notions about it as his grandfather used to keep them. I echo "well done for being different" When I was a Teenager, I couldn't understand all the others who just stood around in the centre of town in large groups, not doing anything (I was into music not bees and chickens though ) good luck with your new enterprise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 Just imagine all that honey!!!! Martin Bee's honey! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted January 30, 2008 Author Share Posted January 30, 2008 Last night I went to the first part of the beekeeping course and I am so excited regards the next one! It was great to see the different hives, and despite the WBC being absolutely georgeous, I am going to go for the National and I am going to order it from the same place as Lesley. Lesley and Carl were at the course yesterday aswell and it was great to see them. Not sure Mike was impressed regards the Top Bar Hive though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGirlsMum Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 Im glad it went well for you Martin and Lesley. I had both the courses I was booked on cancelled as "Ooops, word censored!"ody els booked on the courses............ But I'll keep trying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted January 30, 2008 Author Share Posted January 30, 2008 Yes, do keep trying. It is very interesting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 This course at Stratford is very different to the one we did last year with Cov. and Warks. Beekeepers. That one was oversubscribed and full of pushy people - so if anyone was at all on the quiet/shy side then they missed out ( ) They started with a full history of the honeybee and was more than required I think. The Stratford course is a small group and much more practical. I'm interested in Top Bar hives as well, as it appears to be a more natural way to keep bees, but we wanted to learn how to keep bees first and then to explore the different ways to keep them. GM, I hope you manage to find a course to go to...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 so if anyone was at all on the quiet/shy side then they missed out ( ) Surely not you Lesley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 Both of us! I'm only loud and scary on the forum! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted April 14, 2008 Author Share Posted April 14, 2008 I have really enjoyed the course so far, it has been brilliant. The next session is a practical at the association apiary at the end of this month. I hope to get my own hive very soon too! Well, it's what you've all been waiting for.... http://martin-blyth.vox.com/library/photo/6a00cd971939f54cd500e398f008d90004.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 I'd love an orchard, with bees, and chickens and a couple of pigs. With a big brick wall round the whole lot, like "The Secret Garden". Are you going to make me really jealous and tell me it's a walled orchard? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 He he! Wonderful picture Martin! Can't wait to hear how you get on with your bees Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 "Houston. The eagle has landed" Fab picture Martin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 Lovely photo Martin! I look like a Teletubbie in mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted April 15, 2008 Author Share Posted April 15, 2008 It is not a walled orchard but it is very remote and is surrounded by wildflower meadows and oil seed rape, ideal for making honey! The orchard is only just visible from the lane, but if you weren't looking out for it you wouldn't notice it, when I went to look at it for the first time we drove past it several times. Can't wait to see you in your suit on the 27th then Lesley! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chili pepper Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 I do admire you! I have a phobia of wasps and bees and run a mile screaming like a lunatic, even in public in the middle of town, its so embarrassing I did say to Hubby that one of my resolutions this year was to visit a bee hive to try and conquer this fear - not done it yet though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 My dad is a beekeeper and I have always been scared od stinging insects, I try to hide it so that the children don't pick it up, but it is hard. I saw my dad last week and after 3 months with no honey I now have 6 jars of lovely hard set North Welsh honey. I have tried buying Gloucestershire honey but the floral and fauna is so different that I much prefer the Welsh honey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 Love the picture martin. Isnt it fantastic when you first get up the the hive in your suit and you are surrounded by bees. Hope you get your bees soon. You will love it. Its a lifetime hobby. We have been doing bees for 4 years now and our mentors have been invaluable. We are in the Cheshire Beekeepers. They are always around and happy to give advice no matter how daft the questions are Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 It's nice when the mentoring system works isn't it? We started off with Coventry and Leamington as we are between Stratford and Leamington.......... but no-one could be bothered to come and advise us. We ended up phoning a memebr of Stratford Beekeepers and getting them to come out and go through the hive with us. We decided to join Stratford Beekeepers instead - they have been really helpful, especially with the loss of our bees last month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Lesley I read about your bees. Thats so sad. We lost all of ours one winter. Hy Husband actually cried. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
druids57 Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 Just to say Hi and good luck with your adventure sounds perfect - let your mum out of the front room though she will be able to make the jam for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...