I'm absolutely thrilled to report that through freecycle I got in touch with a beekeeper about 8 miles from here. He was absolutely thrilled to find that we had a swarm, and I was absolutely thrilled to find that he had empty hives. This is the most excitement we've had here since the plumber's merchant on the corner of the next street caught fire the week before Christmas.

Anyway, even as I type this, my bees (funny how in the space of about 8 hours they've suddenly become 'my' bees) are being placed into a hive, where they will go to their new homes.

And I have found a great local source for organic honey and beeswax.

What an absolutely thrilling episode!

Yup, they are still there.......   I've got a larger photo but don't know how to post it here, nor have I worked out how to get a photo into a reply yet. Oh well, something to enjoy learning another day!