Monthly Archives: August 2019

Wednesday morning I got up soon after daybreak at about 10 past 6.  It was raining.  There was a massive flock of rooks on the roof.  I could see about 60 and there might have been as many more out … Continue reading →

Tuesday evening.  After the lecture I joined the queue for dinner: soup, plaice, broad beans, cubic chips and beetroot.  Chocolate cake. A group was assembling on the front steps. I asked why and was told it was a nature walk … Continue reading →

The late afternoon talk on Tuesday was Bee Talk by Anne Rowberry.  Here are my scribblings: Forage, foraging and feeding. Busy bees equipped for the job.  Bees’ equipment – photo of emerging bee – workers’ rule. Foragers: eyes are 2 … Continue reading →

This morning I crossed the border into darkest Somerset and, after hold ups and getting lost, found Taunton BKA’s apiary just in time for the meeting of the South West Beekeepers’ Forum, a talking shop with no powers but some … Continue reading →

After lunch on Tuesday the Senior lecture was Bees and the Law.  As the law’s probably different in Ireland I decided to skip it and, instead, go to a workshop on Queen Rearing using a Cloake Board by Mark Newenham.  … Continue reading →

The second lecture on Tuesday was the Eamonn Tubman Memorial Lecture: Diagnosing Queen Problems by David Tarpy.  The lighting was a little better this time and so my notes are more legible. Here goes. Queen problems are increasing and they … Continue reading →

On Tuesday 13th I had slept reasonably well and awoke soon after sunrise at 6.  I went for  a walk. I discovered some buildings at the back of the castle that I assumed at first were real tennis courts but … Continue reading →

After the afternoon break there was a choice between the next Senior lecture: Jim Ryan on ‘Looking forward to the past creating a beekeeping archive’ and a workshop on Encaustic Art by my friend Lorraine Priestley from sconnie Botland.  I … Continue reading →

Monday lunchtime. Soup, not very minute beef steaks, chips, mash, gravy, carrots, greens, mushroom gravy. After lunch it was the annual photograph on the front steps.  There were too many people taller than me and so I couldn’t see the … Continue reading →

Monday’s second lecture was advertised as being by Clare Delaney, but that was a typo for Clare Densley, Bro. Adam’s successor at Buckfast Abbey.  Her subject was: Varroa – what they do?  She pointed out that she’s not an expert … Continue reading →