Bee Day 3

Half way to Towneley Hall this morning for Beekeeping Day 3 and I remembered I hadn't taken an antihistamine. 

I don't suffer from hay fever, but last year at a Blackburn Beekeeper Meeting I listened to a talk by a Dr Julia Piggott, she expelled the myths of anaphylaxic shock relating to bee stings.  There are approximately 6 cases a year and seemingly so many other factors to take into account; one's mood, heat, the bees mood, dirty sting etc etc.  Roughly, a bad reaction from a bee sting one time "doesn't make a summer".  The suggestion as an apprentice beekeeper with any apprehension is, take an antihistamine and a pain killer.  As I understand it the result is to provide an element of protection against reaction (antihistamine) and calm any nerves (painkiller).  Well, it makes sense to me.

So, back to my journey this morning; driving along I tried to convince myself I was over reacting, the antihistamine is probably all in the mind and we might not be looking at the bees anyway. 

Hmm, but what if we were?  I felt my heart rate started to increase. 

Yep, nothing for it but a quick detour to the supermarket for the necessary 'protection'.

Our morning included a quick resume of last week (yes, I probably should have re read my notes), honey extraction techniques and equipment.  Surprisingly, Dave our tutor said he'd rather be stung anytime than carry out this proceedure.  Sticky, sticky, sticky.

Early 1900s bee keepers wearing a conventional suit,
not a bee suit

Today was a glorious 22 degrees, even in Burnley, in the North West England.  After lunch, in groups of three we were suited up to meet the bees.  I was in group 2 and whilst I was aware of the occasional bump of a bee on my head veil; an oufit rather similar to the fencing suits we've seen on the Olympics, only without flashing lights, I felt protected.  We were a good 10 minutes checking each frame in turn, for a queen bee, for eggs, for pollen and for adequate spacing - enough for the bees to move, but not enough for them to create a random honey comb.

Modern bee suit

Thankfully none of our group was stung, the bees were far too busy taking advantage of the plentiful pollen in the late September Indian summer.

Later back at the Walter Segul Cabin training room, I sleepily watched some "Bee Porn" under the influence of my earlier (non drowsy) antihistamine tablets.