Q1. How long have you been a beekeeper?
A. I have been a beekeeper since 2011.
Q2. Why did you become a beekeeper?
A. My neighbour was given some old beekeeping equipment including a beehive which we cleaned up thinking that we could be beekeepers together and help save the bees. My garden was much larger than hers so we placed the hive at the bottom of my garden. We then waited around for a swarm to come and settle in, whilst asking local beekeepers to let us know if one became available. After two years waiting, I lost my patience and decided to buy a nuc of bees for the hive. My neighbour then became a full time mum and I took over.
Q3. What is your favourite bit of beekeeping kit?
A. My hive tool, I use it all around the house as well as on the hives. Most useful bit of kit ever and I now have four of them.
Q4. How many bee suits do you have?
A. I have a suit for every two years of beekeeping, so about 5 now. Also bought two
for my daughter so that she can come and help, although she hates flying insects. Asla gave one to the church warden so that he can strim around the hives at the church.
Q5. What is your proudest beekeeping moment?
A. Winning the best frame of honey at my local honey show.
Q6. Do you have a favourite pair of socks?
A. My favourite socks to wear are the ones that fit around my calves without cutting the blood circulation although these are mostly black as I wear them for work. However my favourite socks for pattern are the ones that look like they are eating my leg.
Q7. Who is your beekeeping hero or heroine?
A. I am not sure that I have a hero beekeeper. I am just impressed with and envious of anyone who manages more than10 hives and keeps them alive year after year. I just don’t have the time.
Q8. What beekeeping disasters have you had?
A. The worst disaster so far was losing my one and only hive to starvation in my second year beekeeping. Learnt a lot since then and haven’t had what I would call a disaster since.
Q9. Which aspect of beekeeping do you like best?
A. I love a nice calm day when I have time just to go and look at the hives, checking that they are in good health and are doing well.
Q10. What is your least favourite beekeeping job?
A. Dealing with an ‘arsy’ colony.
Q11. If you didn’t keep bees, would you be a campanologist or a Morris dancer?
A. I tried to become a Morris dancer when I was a young girl. It was frowned upon then and I decided that I did not want to be the person that had to fight about it. It’s also exhausting and they drink a lot of beer, not my favourite tipple. Therefore, campanologist would be a more suitable.
Q12. What would be your best bit of beekeeping advice?
A. Be patient.
Q13. What would your last meal be?
A. My last meal would have to be one I don’t have to chew cos I expect to live a lot longer than my teeth. Rice pudding always goes down well as long as it has a very nice jam on top.
Q14. What is your favourite bit of a bee?
A. Their tongue is great. I love seeing it out collecting nectar and sugar syrup but hate to see them out in dead bees.
Q15. When you think about your bees, what makes you smile?
A. Thinking about the pollen sacs filled with pollen and them being busy in and out of the hive.
Q16. Do you like honey?
A. I love it and would eat honey all day every day if it wasn’t so fattening!
Q17. What annoys you about bees (apart from the stings)?
A. The way they stick everything together with propolis and how they always manage to get in the way when you close up the hive.
Q18. Do you talk to your bees?
A. I often talk talk to the bees whilst I am with them. When I had them in the garden, I would go and tell them things. Now they are in an out-apiary they get less information and more telling off.
Q19. How often are you asked to stop talking about bees?
A. Strangely, I have never been asked to stop talking about bees and often have strangers ask me questions as soon as they find out that I am a beekeeper. My daughter will laugh at me sometimes when I start talking about them in company.
Q20. Do you prefer sweet or savoury nibbles?
A. I definitely prefer sweet nibbles but will usually eat savoury ones.
Q21. What other interests do you have besides beekeeping?
A. I read (a lot! Mostly fantasy and Sci-Fi), knit, build jigsaws ( I especially like the 3-D ones). play board games (when I can find an opponent), pottering in the garden, watching films and TV series. I also enjoy DIY, using skills that I have learnt over the years and getting to use tools.
Q22. Who would you like to inspect a hive with?
A. I like to inspect hives with anyone, because everyone has a variety of experience and approach. So whether experienced or beginner, I find the different aspects a learning curve.
Q23. What sums up your attitude to bees and beekeeping?
A. I try to be calm and patient as possible at all times but I am still learning as well.