Is it just me then :)

[The Drone Ranger]

Often people who had just bought their new hive at Thornes would decided they now needed some bees to put in there
When they rang me their first question would be will they be black bees -answer No
Second question will the queen be black -- again answer no
third question are they local -- answer-- well where are you ringing from ?

If I couldn't help they would go to a commercial supplier and pay lots which is what mostly happened

When old boys ring you up they ask -- how much (not what colour are they)
Then its what are they like generally
(They usually know if they are local to the person they have just rung so they never ask that question)

When my niece took her first driving lesson we said if she passed she could have my wife's escort (it was a while ago)
She said what is it ? -- we said an escort 1300
No thanks she said I'll be needing a 1600 minimum!

She had been reading the wrong magazines and got a bit ahead of herself

This year I have helped out with 7 queens 1 nucleus and 1 beehive complete
Not one person said no thanks I need a 1600cc minimum
Now that's a tiny splash in a very big ocean but every little helps I suppose.
Could I have done more ? Yes I could but I think I'll leave it to the experts

What happened to my niece and her car you might be wondering
Well she was a bloody awful driver and couldn't pass her test to save her life
So she doesn't drive a 1600 or even a 1300 she gets the bus.

[gavin]

See! Everyone wants dark, native, local .... and the experienced guys (well, the older guys who keep losing bees and keep turning to you) know that your bees are a bit mixed so they never ask!

What about getting your niece a bicycle for her Christmas?

[Jon]

Over here the old boys will never ever ask 'how much'
The only question you get is would you have any 'spare' bees?

If you had bees for sale at £10 per colony they would still haggle.