WOW! Close shave! Glad it all ended well.
On Mon, 8 Apr 2019 at 10:55, Peter Hodson <peterhodson2010@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Brilliant
On Mon, 8 Apr 2019 at 10:54 am, Oxnatbees <oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Well that sounds exciting.
In case of future emergencies: My mobile number: 07512 224700, home 01869
340665. I can probably get to you in 30-40 minutes including throwing
equipment in car.
Ironically Ann Welch is moving bees in the other direction shortly!
Your handling technique reminds me of how the ancient Romans dealt with
tricky hives. You don't want to get stung, so you send in the slaves.
The following story may help understand how professionals deal with such
matters. I once visited Ron Hoskins (beekeeper of 60 years) and his friend
Ron arrived with a swarm for their shared apiary, which he'd captured the
previous evening and left in a wrapped hive in his car. But when we opened
the boot, the bees had escaped from the swarm collection box and clustered
overnight on the roof of the car, which now smelled of them & their queen
and they did not want to leave that spot. See attached photo. Aha I
thought, between us we have over a century of beekeeping experience, I will
learn a thing or two here. Long story short, chaos ensued, car full of
smoke, car smelled like someone had been chain smoking in it for 10 years,
bees gonna do what bees gonna do. Bees 1, beekeepers 0.
Well done on handling things so well. Good result.
Paul
On Mon, 8 Apr 2019, 10:03 Peter Hodson, <peterhodson2010@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
What a wonderful tale. Feels familiar.
On Mon, 8 Apr 2019 at 10:00 am, Dawn Gosling <magikmum49@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Well, on Saturday my son and I drove to Gloucester to collect 2 full
apiaries and loads of empty new hives Unfortunately, one of the apiaries
was not sealed well and we had to leave for another time so we took the
national and the bees inside. We felt sure they were secure and covered in
an old duvet cover and duct tape they were tied to the van. We were told to
drive without squashing the queen.
My firefighter son drove us home to Banbury . He drove ,as only well
trained emergency drivers can, smooth and slow and even my glasses on the
dashboard did not move when he took the roundabouts.
All was well until.... one mile to the M40 exit to Banbury son say,
"Mum there's a bee in the cab" - we decided after much deliberation that
this had flown in whilst we were loading up the other end. "It might have
flown in from outside." I proffered , and received a look that said, "Think
that one through mother."
Half mile to the M40 exit son says, "Mum! there's another bee in the
cab!" I let that one out of the window - sorry little fella.
"What if they have all got out?" asked son
"No, they'll be fine" I replied.
On arrival at my home, son decides to open back of van to check ……..
out swarmed thousands of bees. "Oh, bugger" I said as he gently closed the
door. "I have bee suits inside the house. Ah, ...I have left my keys in
your car at the car hire place." So I pop next door to get key from
neighbour.... they aren't in!!!
Meanwhile, a family are walking up the hill towards the van and its
contents seeping out through the van door.
Son has now got a ladder to my bedroom window, and in true Fireman
fashion gets into my house. We find the bee suit and he goes out to try and
sort it out.
"Do you know a Bee Keeper?" My son asks me. " Loads," I replied " but
only one close and I don't know him".
"Just go and knock on his door ask him if he the Beekeeper and can he
help"
I walk up to his house, knock on door, no one in.
Meanwhile ….. family have now walked past the van and made some unhappy
comment about the bees and a man in a bee suit. This is clearly not
working and we now have a few thousand unhappy bees.
"Can you phone someone Mum? "
"The ones I know are at a meeting today"
I try the beekeeper we got bees from - no reply
"OK Im calling the local beekeepers association"
After some truly patient and calming advice son tells me to make sure
he is well covered as the beekeeper says as long as they cant sting you,
you will be find. So we dress him up and cover exposed areas with duct
tape. Son appears to be getting a bit nervous...
All I can remember from Paul's course at this time is "don't let the
bees know your are frightened" and I impart this to son. He cuddles me and
walks towards his doom.....
"Mum" they gone back into the hive"
"Oh, bless -aren't they clever!"
I go and get my hat and veil whilst son lifts full apiary (on his own)
out of the van.
Together we carry the bees to their final destination. Son starts to
uncover them and eventually they all fly out .
We have coffee...………
We go back and watch these wonderful creatures fly around and start
foraging.... after all they have been through they did a reckie of their
new environment and ( sadly) remove the bees that didn't make it.
All I can say is I have a hero for a son.... and after all that he now
wants to be a beekeeper.!!!
Dawn x
PS - still need some advice chaps