Mini Plus frames

[gavin]

If I do end up camping out in Stoneleigh's car park then I'll be knocking at your door for shower facilities .... at least once a week!

Best take that paper mountain with me and get those teeth sharpened. Madasa: I'll be the handsome one surrounded by admirers. I would say that I'm grey and have a beard, but I doubt that would make me stand out in the Bee Tradex scrum.

And could I say how delighted I am that the thoughtful, intelligent, questioning beekeeper contingent up here is soon to increase. The more the merrier (within reason in my foraging area of course ... ).

[Jon]

Attachment 2209

Lacking the beard and veil but other than that exactly how I imagined his living room!
I had better be careful as he will be kipping in my place for the weekend of the UBKA conference.
Place could get chewed to shreds.

[gavin]

..... shredding the bedding in a wee hotel just along the road from FS. Strangely about a year ago I really did have a mouse in the car. I think it arrived in a Paynes nuc, old style with the entrance enticingly presented at ground level. First I knew about it was discovering a shredded packet of almonds in the driver's door pocket. Then there were wee piles of shredded carrier bag under hiking boots and some other stuff in the back, with almonds nestling amongst the insulation. I did try my very best to get it out to freedom but it evaded me every time. One day I found it quivering and easily approached but with a look of discomfort likely associated with the shredded packet of wipes nearby. It did have a short spell of freedom before keeling over on the pavement.

Sad tale, eh?!

Then just yesterday there was an empty mouse nest in a casually discarded Apidea at the association apiary. I'll bet they make grand bumble bee homes after mice have cleared out the comb.

[Jon]

It is a cop out to blame the shredding on mice when you are doing it yourself!

[gavin]

Car seems to be so jam packed that there isn't even room for the driver to sit up straight never mind lie down in a nest of polystyrene and wood shavings.

I once showed you can get 15 hives into a car like that. This time there is much more in there - only no bees this time, as far as I can tell.

[Poly Hive]

Deep breath time.

I have never found two queen set ups to be a success. As in two queens reared successfully. One always in my hands fails and one unit is a success. I dumped this idea some 20 years ago.

Argue the case please

PH

[fatshark]

Car seems to be so jam packed that there isn't even room for the driver to sit up straight never mind lie down in a nest of polystyrene and wood shavings.

I once showed you can get 15 hives into a car like that. This time there is much more in there - only no bees this time, as far as I can tell.

I can see space for at least a couple of queen marking cages left …

Did you mean to buy Langstroth kit?

[gavin]

I can see space for at least a couple of queen marking cages left …

Did you mean to buy Langstroth kit?

I don't even have to think if things are right when the guys from Thorne have packed the pallet sitting waiting for me. What a delight to be driving a car smelling so heavily of western red cedar and pine. And a hint of polystyrene. After that picture was taken I went back for more. The carrier bag of Cupkit components from the nice couple at the Fritz stall. The free Swienty National brood box (its a long story). Unfortunately for my passenger north from Northumberland the passenger's seat is occupied with a sack barrow and my travelling bags. I'm sure we'll work something out, presumably by jetisoning cargo on the way.

Bee Tradex is a great event. Plenty of time to browse the hectares of stalls, although I was still seeing some for the first time late in the afternoon. Decent discounts. Car parking nearby, and the ability to drive a car right beside the Thorne (or Maisemore) juggernaut for the collection of orders.

At lunch in the cavernous canteen I plonked down at a table with a complete stranger, knowing that we'd have plenty in common to chat about. Turned out he was there for the model railway exhibition. However tonight dinner was in the company of a large contingent of bee farmers, a most friendly and entertaining bunch of folk bursting with good advice.

PH: last year I was mating queens in Apideas side by side and facing opposite ways, much the same as a split MiniPlus box. Don't anticipate huge problems but sure, there will be drifting from box to box sometimes. I'm taking my lead from others on the forum who have had experience with them.

[greengumbo]

I can see space for at least a couple of queen marking cages left …

Did you mean to buy Langstroth kit?

LANGSTROTH !