Cat tails Posted August 16, 2017 Share Posted August 16, 2017 That moment when you are syringe feeding your poorly gerbil some water and not-my-cat Red proudly brings in a dead mouse... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted August 17, 2017 Share Posted August 17, 2017 Drove past an 'Exotic Pet Shop' on the Isle of Wight today and they had a big notice in the window that read 'Tortoises Now In Stock - Hurry, Going Fast'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted August 17, 2017 Share Posted August 17, 2017 Drove past an 'Exotic Pet Shop' on the Isle of Wight today and they had a big notice in the window that read 'Tortoises Now In Stock - Hurry, Going Fast'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted August 17, 2017 Share Posted August 17, 2017 Drove past an 'Exotic Pet Shop' on the Isle of Wight today and they had a big notice in the window that read 'Tortoises Now In Stock - Hurry, Going Fast'. My Mum's tortoise has come to stay and believe me he is FAST I played a game with him today sweeping a broom across the grass and I couldn't believe how fast he chased after it Don't know what on earth he thought it was Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted August 17, 2017 Share Posted August 17, 2017 Tortoises are fast. There is one that frequently escapes from his garden into the school field. He always surprises me how quick he can move as I am trying to rescue him from all the little feet. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 19, 2017 Share Posted August 19, 2017 One of the things I love about harvest time is all the free chicken feed left in the fields by the grain trailers - I take a carrier bag out on my dog walks and fill it up with wheat or barley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted August 19, 2017 Share Posted August 19, 2017 I've been doing this for the first time his year! I've been gleaning the ears of wheat that the combine didn't get and giving them to the chickens whole. It took them all of about 30 seconds to realise at if they peck them hard enough corn comes out! When we were little my sister and I would go out with our gran, glean as many ears of wheat as we could, bash them in a sheet and then toss them in the air ( to separate the wheat from the chaff), grind up the corn in a coffee grinder to make rough flour and then make bread. Totally pointless really but we enjoyed it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 20, 2017 Share Posted August 20, 2017 we did that too! I just glean from the piles left when they fill up the grain trailers.... it's ready to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 21, 2017 Share Posted August 21, 2017 Blumming bees; one of OH's friends keeps a few hives on B's patch, they are normally pretty nice natured and never a problem. last week, it looked like one of the hives was defunct so they covered over the entry hole with a piece of plastic. The hole on the occupied, and very busy, hive was restricted by a similar piece with a small hole so that only one bee could enter at a time. Cue very busy and frustrated bees, which got very grumpy with us when we were working about 30 feet away. We decided to down-tools after one attacked me, was in my hair and down my top. Any ideas why they restrict the entry like this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted August 21, 2017 Share Posted August 21, 2017 Often to keep the queen in, so they can't swarm. Queens are a tat larger than workers, so can't go through the hole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 21, 2017 Share Posted August 21, 2017 Ahhh, that figures. That hive is doing very well, so we wondered if it was to slow them down. They don't like it one bit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted August 21, 2017 Share Posted August 21, 2017 Lol! Londoners are very sweet really! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted August 21, 2017 Share Posted August 21, 2017 ......although, I was in a supermarket in Ironbridge and the queue was very long and slow. Elvis came on the radio singing 'we're caught in a trap'. I said very quietly to OH.... well, that's appropriate. The people in front of me and behind me laughed and joined in and there was lots of merriment. I can genuinely say we were taken aback. We even occasionally talk about it and here I am writing about it now! Although I might not be unfriendly I think our reaction says something about our normal environment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted August 21, 2017 Share Posted August 21, 2017 Often to keep the queen in, so they can't swarm. Queens are a tat larger than workers, so can't go through the hole. is it to keep the old queen in or new ones in to make it easier to the keeper to set up new hives It could also to try to keep hornets or wasps out the guy that keeps a couple of hives on the allotment lost a hive twice in the last year or two to wasps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 21, 2017 Share Posted August 21, 2017 Ahhh, that might make sense; I know that that hive is very active and the other one is dormant, so perhaps he's going to split it. Learn summat new every day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted August 21, 2017 Share Posted August 21, 2017 Lol! Londoners are very sweet really! LOL I LOVE IT!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted August 22, 2017 Share Posted August 22, 2017 Having an amazing time in India! Currently in Goa and flying to Mumbai this afternoon, don't have a laptop/great internet to post photos so will post when I get home next week but there are lots on Facebook and my blog if you want to have a nose before then Hope everyone is well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted August 22, 2017 Share Posted August 22, 2017 Lewis, I've seen some of your stuff from India and it looks like an incredible experience. You're building up some extraordinary memories to hold on to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted August 24, 2017 Share Posted August 24, 2017 It would be quite late in the year to split a hive, and you don't normally restrict the entrance - most likely is that it's to reduce the risks of wasps getting in, it makes it easier for the bees to defend the hive if there's only one at a time. However it's not essential to do this and if the hive is in a place like an allotment where there are a lot of people around, I'd have a word with them and say that it's causing problems. You should be able to work alongside bees without any problem. It may be that there is something else making them aggressive, but they should take steps to sort it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 24, 2017 Share Posted August 24, 2017 Thanks for the advice Olly; these bees are normally pretty easy going and we're able to mow near the hives and work in that area, but they got very grumpy indeed last weekend. Will try to text the owners and ask the reason for the restrictor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted September 2, 2017 Share Posted September 2, 2017 Why is it that, when we go out as a family, I choose a handbag that will fit what I need to take comfortably then OH, ES and YS ALL say 'could you just put this in your bag for me please' and I am then left with a bag that won't close, weighs a ton and keeps bashing into things? Oh forget it, I'll just take a suitcase Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted September 2, 2017 Share Posted September 2, 2017 On wheels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 3, 2017 Share Posted September 3, 2017 It would be quite late in the year to split a hive, and you don't normally restrict the entrance - most likely is that it's to reduce the risks of wasps getting in, it makes it easier for the bees to defend the hive if there's only one at a time. However it's not essential to do this and if the hive is in a place like an allotment where there are a lot of people around, I'd have a word with them and say that it's causing problems. You should be able to work alongside bees without any problem. It may be that there is something else making them aggressive, but they should take steps to sort it out. Just spoke to the beeks and it turns out that the invading wasps is the answer Had no idea about this at all, so a new fact learnt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 On wheels. Yup...or I'll get a shopping trolley (OH has convinced YS that these are not actually for shopping but, rather, are portable battery packs for OAP's. YS asked how the elderly plug themselves in - I think I may report OH to Esther Rantzen ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted September 5, 2017 Share Posted September 5, 2017 Ok - after reassurance here. I am a clumsy middle-aged woman of 55. In 2 months I have fallen out the shower of the Premier Inn, bruising elbows and head not to mention pride. I cried buckets as a week after dad's funeral and was feeling low. Fast forward where I jumped off a chair and damaged coccyx. Found it hard to sit for a few weeks. Today fell over a flex at work. Knocked ribs - sent home in pain as blood pressure rocketed and the noise I made falling was phenomenal. I was stone cold sober and spent this morning in WIC. No idea if fractured rib but bloody painful. I know this is nothing compared to say cancer just want to know if I am the only female Frank Spencer onthe planet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
