Mermaids and bees

I confess.. I thought bees took care of themselves.

To a certain extent they do, but they also leave if the conditions aren’t right! I have discovered that in actual fact, they are hard work.

When a hive becomes productive and space becomes limited, they will send out scouts to look for a new home. And they’ll make new queen cells. And then a queen will leave, taking a portion of the bees with her.

Often they will break their journey to the new hive up with a rest in a nearby… well anything… Tree, lamppost, scaffolding poles.

I was fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time and I helped my gorgeous beekeeper recover a swarm. It was an amazing experience.

About eighteen months ago, a friend introduced me to a beekeeper and quite unexpectedly, I fell deeply in love.

Why was it unexpected that I should fall in love? Well that’s a tale for another day. But it involves cancer, death and Covid, and grief in the most unusual of circumstances.

“You two… keep each other company will you”. That’s how it all started (thanks M 😁).

The beekeeper and I started taking walks. Whilst that was the only Covid compatible sport at that time, it suited us both to be outside. Although I think initially he was wary of this City girl’s ignorance of all things nature! But I was keen to learn. And it enabled me to move on from my previous world full of music, and a modest rock and roll lifestyle.

What captured me most about this man was his love of bees. Something my Mother wonders at since I had been utterly terrified of them as a child.

As he talked to me about his hobby, he revealed so many beautiful things about his personality; kind, thoughtful, respectful, humble, truthful. I was as captured by the intricacies of beekeeping as I was with the man himself.

Over the last eighteen months, I discover that I love my beekeeper more with each day that passes. Because of him and his bees, the meaning of life has become more simple, and beautiful. This gorgeous man isn’t interested in what you can get in this world. He knows that we are simply part of that bigger cycle of life itself. And with each other we share the simple joys of being and living.

And that’s how I came to design this website. It’s not to talk about me or him particularly, I just felt an introduction was important. And it certainly isn’t to sell honey. This is never about profit. Bees are critically important to life itself.

Im astounded by the paradox of the simple yet complex nature of beekeeping, and wanted to share this experience.

It’s important to say, before I sign off, that I am a novice beekeeper. I simply write about my experiences, I am not sufficiently qualified to give advice. And if you don’t like my site please simply move on. Life is beautiful. Be beautiful to each other and see how rewarding it is.