a rainbow over the Kyles of Bute in tighnabruaich

Aging Is Good For The Ego

Rainbow over the Kyles of Bute I used to think that 60 yrs is quite old, but now that 2023 has arrived – the year in which I will have been alive for six decades (hopefully) – I’m thinking that…
Map of my travels for Interviews with Beekeepers

News from UK and CA

Travels for 'Interviews with Beekeepers' Many people, myself included, find spring to be their favourite season. The arrival of snowdrops, then crocuses, blackthorn and early blossoms together with frantic pollen-collecting activity by the bees is a welcome antidote to lockdown.…
Getting Bees Through Winter presentation

Zoom Talk on Wintering Bees

This week I did a Zoom talk for the Suffolk beekeepers, which was fun. Well, as much fun as it can be for an introvert. Maybe the virtual environment suits people like me who shy away from big crowds and…
Hollyhock in Ulta Violet light

Nine Years In

Hollyhock in Ulta Violet light I am coming to the end of my ninth beekeeping season. I started with two hives, and now I have nearly forty, including nucs. My journey has just begun, but at least I'm through the…
Steve Donohoe with Randy Oliver

Biased

Walrus and Randy Oliver I like to think of myself as objective and open-minded, but of course, I'm delusional. Unintentionally so. The thing about being biased is that we don't see it in ourselves. We clearly see it in others,…
Darth Vader

Darth Walrus

Darth Vader I have just completed a Star Wars marathon, which involved watching all of the Star Wars movies and stories in the correct chronological order on Disney+. One film per evening, for eleven straight evenings. In order, they are:…
Richard Noel with Interviews with Beekeepers

How to Buy my Book

Richard Noel is a chapter in my book Interviews with Beekeepers was launched in the busy beekeeping season for many and in the middle of a global pandemic. What was I thinking?! It should be available at most online booksellers…
Interviews with Beekeepers Cover front and back

Getting Creative

Interviews with Beekeepers Cover I am no literary academic and don't know how much of this is true, but it seems that Shakespeare's life and works were shaped by the plague. This article (go on, click it) suggests that he…
Lanzarote Coastline showing cacti and sea

My March

Lanzarote Coastline I have been keeping a low profile of late because I have a touch of walrus flu. I don't think it's anything exciting like that Covid-19, but who knows? A couple of weeks ago I got back from…