Heads Up: Gold To Be Claimed In The Ardington Area!
🌈 Look, I took this photo on Saturday and have spent the last couple of days in the Ardington area digging. Found nothing…but now it’s your chance. Shot from near … Read more
Being Gracious Is For The Birds
Because of encounters with humans today, I’ve decided to begin a ‘Taxonomy of Human Zoo Creatures’ – this is No. 1 in the series. Today’s specimen is entitled Posh Horsey … Read more
Pushing up the Michaelmas Daisies
This post is not congruent with the current weather — it’s now raining hard. The rain is welcome, but to what lasting benefit? The solar calendar (the one modern pagans … Read more
Drought And Nought
If the ivy is blooming now, what’s left for autumn? I hear we’ll get rain in the coming days, yet I doubt it will be more than a few days’ … Read more
Stretched Elephant Skin
Metal railings surround a large piece of stretched elephant skin, pinned down in the middle with rocks – it’s one of the features of West Isley along with the cricket … Read more
The Tragedy of the ‘Footpath to Heaven’.
There’s aways been gossip in the West Ilsley about this, always told in hushed tones about the stories of the missing ones. They recount terrible things that happened over the … Read more
Solar Wax Extractor Crossed With Swivel Chair
Being a nice sunny day, I put my solar wax extractor to good use. At lunchtime, a large amount of beeswax pieces went in, and by the end of the … Read more
Linseed Oil Paint: Advantages
Ditch the chemical paint: linseed oil is safer on the painter and environment, lets wood breath, and doesn’t peel with age or cause rotting. Admittedly, it takes longer to dry … Read more
Lockinge Estate Exhibition 2026
The Lockinge Estate Exhibition will be open on 21st through to 22nd March 2026 (2pm to 5pm) at the Loyd Lindsay Rooms in Ardington. The topic will be ‘Gaps & … Read more
Bees Living Below A Manhole Cover: An Unusual Underground Colony in Grove, Oxfordshire
I was tagged in a Facebook post where someone was asking for help with what they described as a “bee swarm coming from the drain”, although it might be better … Read more
How to Make Homemade Quince Jelly: A Step-by-Step Recipe
This blog celebrates the wonders of bees, but their pollination efforts recently led me to a delightful detour: quince jelly. Thanks to Jane for sharing a generous 4kg bag of … Read more
Beekeeping Tips and Honey Harvesting Insights for Autumn 2025
As the beekeeping season winds down, I’ve been busy preparing my hives for winter and harvesting the last of this year’s honey. 🍯 It’s been an incredible season, and I’ve … Read more
Removing a Swarm from a Shipping Container
Last Wednesday evening, I embarked on removing a swarm from a shipping container. The club’s chairperson of Wantage Town Football Club, requested help because a bees had congregated in the … Read more
Apple cider vinegar and honey bedtime sleep drink
Apple cider vinegar and honey with hot water are the only ingredients in this bedtime sleep drink. This is a very effective sleep remedy and I take this drink every … Read more
