A Swarm of Bees in May...

A swarm of bees in May
is worth a load of hay.

 So goes the old proverb, but our neighbours Monique and Christian did not count their good fortune when this swarm established itself like an exotic fruit in a tree at the side of their drive. They called an apiculteur but he never rang back and the swarm remained, buzzing ominously and blocking access to their drive so that the car had to be parked elsewhere.
   It was time to engage the ex-pat network!  I had mentioned the swarm on Facebook, and Jacqui of French Village Diaries suggested a couple of names of English bee-keepers. I rang one based at Civray and John agreed to come and collect the insects.

  He arrived after dinner yesterday and we showed him where the swarm was hanging. He  pointed out that part had broken off and was on the ground beneath. He put on his `space gear` and prepared to transfer the swarm to the hive he had brought with him. I had always supposed that the bees were anaesthetised by smoking and gently transfered to the hive. However, John explained that the bees were to be shaken off into a box and left to find their way into the hive, he would then return after dark when the bees were tranquil, to collect the hive complete with bees. He said this was not a spectator sport, and that the irritated bees would fly everywhere, he advised shutting the windows and doors.
   Only half convinced, we retired to the middle distance but when we saw the tree-branch given a vigorous shake and an angry cloud arise, a general retreat, not to say a rout ensued and their are no further pictures of the no doubt interesting event. I am not of the stuff of these intrepid but foolhardy war correspondents who brave flying bullets to bring close-up pictures of war zones to the TV watchers!
  I looked cautiously back some time later and the insects were buzzing and crawling around the new hive and I HOPE they will have taken up possession by now. I will let you know the outcome later, but now it`s coffee time.

  Bye for now, this is your intrepid camera-man returning you to the studio...