Bee Club,Rain and a scouse Hitchhiker

Bee Club (ie The Conwy beekeepers' Association course for beginners) is a fascinating insight into a world very few are privy to. Course leader Geoff Critchley (the master beekeeper and bee inspector for North Wales) is a charismatic character with a mischievous twinkle in his 60 year old eye; he makes the life of the honeybee rather quaint and exciting, and even sets "homework" at the end of each session. His students are a mixed bag;middle aged friends of the soil like me, a few obvious eccentrics, and a surprising number of young University types in expensive outdoor gear and woolly hats.

The trek to the Henfaes research centre in Abergwyngreyn ( try saying that after a sherry) took a while, but the place seemed well organised and welcoming and we had mince pies at break ! (One large female student was seen placing at least two in her handbag!). Can't wait for the practical sessions in the new year.... wearing those big White suits! very The Andromeda Strain (1971)

Braved the rain with the dogs and as we set off to the beach we passed a forlorn chap hitchhiking in the village of Gwaenysgor. Now I never pick up hitchhikers, which I guess is a sign of the times, so I surprised myself this time. The poor chap seemed grateful enough ,even when Finlay did his usual bouncy bouncy welcome. Before I dropped the lad off in Prestatyn ( some 3 miles down a 1 in 4 hill), he told me he was from Ellesmere Port and he had just walked from Prestatyn to Trelawnyd in the pouring rain for a job interview at the market garden there. He told me he had got a labouring job there and was thrilled at the prospect at starting even though he would have to walk the 6 miles up and down the hill (pic) everyday. I asked him why he had come to Prestatyn, and he said simply that he had come with his mother to make a better life for himself. It was nice to have met this obvious hard working serious teenager, as we see so many of his contemporaries in this area who live life amid the crime, and drug underclass. It made a welcome change seeing someone positive and optimistic.

The rain has just stopped! some 100mm in a weekend! The River Elwy has burst its banks in St Asaph, and the whole countryide looks rather bedraggled! Thinking of putting some tarpaulin over the coop as the girls look fed up! Judy is comming for an early Christmas dinner tomorrow night, as she is then going to her sister's house for the holidays, then I am off to Sheffield on thursday. Catching up with Mike to drop their pressies off then catching up with Mickey as I havent seen her for a over a year! Flying visit as per usual but can't be helped. Nigel is comming over next week, so we can do other pre christmas nice things!