Interviews with Beekeepers Archives - The Walrus and the Honey Bee

Hivemaker and the Walrus

With Peter and Andrew Little I can be an anti-social walrus at times. I am currently sat alone in a beautiful apartment in Funchal Old Town, Madeira, while my wife and daughter are off exploring the island doing Levada walks…

27 Jan 18 Walrus

More than Manuka

A New Zealand Honey Bee My time here in New Zealand is drawing to a close. I have managed to interview three different beekeepers and have had a great time too, plus I have picked up a bit of a…

Beautiful New Zealand scene of mountains and sea

21 Jan 18 Walrus

A long long way from home

Beautiful New Zealand It is six days since my son and I began our long journey to Christchurch, New Zealand, on the other side of the planet to our home. It was a LONG journey and even though I splashed…

12 Dec 17 Walrus

Taxes, Taxonomy and Tolerance

Bees clustered for winter in Scotland At this time of the year the issue of tax raises it’s grim visage, with online filing of returns having to be submitted by 31 January. I have just been sorting my tax return…

2 Dec 17 Walrus

The Queen of Queens of Blairgowrie

Jolanta with a Walrus One of the great pleasures that I derive from writing my book “Interviews with Beekeepers” is meeting the people that work with honey bees. Everybody that I have talked to on my travels so far clearly…

25 Nov 17 Walrus

Meeting Mr McGregor

Hives ready for winter In preparation for my latest interview with another legend of beekeeping I decided to have a hair cut. Samli’s is a gents hairdressing establishment run by an engaging 59 year old from North Africa who I…

19 Nov 17 Walrus

I’ll be in Scotland afore ye

Map of Scotland I only have a small group of friends, most of whom really started out as my wife’s friends and I adopted them, but there is one chap who I found all by myself. He is the only…

30 Oct 17 Walrus

Remembering Buckfast

As Monday mornings go, this isn’t a bad one. There is a chill in the air which seems only right given the time of year, but the sun is shining and I am settling down to write something for my…

25 Jul 17 Walrus

Comb Honey and Customs

Vermont based honey farmer and honeybee queen breeder Mike Palmer is a kind, patient and extremely knowledgeable chap. When I asked him what I could bring from the UK on my recent visit to meet him he asked for heather…

9 Jul 17 Walrus

Looking forward to Vermont

I shouldn’t be surprised by this; trying to interview busy beekeepers in the middle of the beekeeping season is almost impossible. It would appear to be an activity best reserved for the winter months, when our buzzing little friends are…