RoseCottage
Field Bee
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2009
- Messages
- 718
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Near Andover, UK
- Hive Type
- WBC
- Number of Hives
- From 5 to 2 and hopefully a better year
It's late last night and the day has been a long one. Trees have been chopped, chickens have been fed, gardens worked on, and backs are aching. Our daughter has gone out to fetch more bread and milk and I've just had a bath.
The phone goes and I am still getting dry...so Linn tries to get to it racing away from the washing up. She fails to get there before the caller hangs up.
If its important they'll call back.
Two minutes later Alice bursts in the house breathless and in a fury. It's been a very peaceful day and I notice the contradiction of her contorted face with the evening sunlight, like a gentle halo around her, as she stands in the kitchen. She's snapping out orders, barking really.
When she went to the shops all was calm but on her return her usually wandering driving eye had spotted a horsebox drawing up next to our five hives. She's not going to let some Hampshire thief get away with this. Get your blo*dy clothes on, all of us grab a hand axe, mallet, chainsaw or whatever we're going to war!
Hurry up we don't have time.
So we are bundled into action.
Linn and Alice are already in the shed with Alice choosing the most damaging prospects. I have just reached the phone as I hear them leave. I phone Will, the farmer.
'Hi Will, sorry to bother you but there seems to be a horse box right next to the hives.'
'No Sam that's my calf box, I've just put it out the way for tonight. Market day tomorrow...'
'oh great, err...you better get out of your house quick'
'why?'
'I think Alice has called down air strikes...'
Silence at the other end of the phone.
Then I hear laughter, starting off with a chuckle but then developing into a throaty roar as Will sees the local rebels defending their rights.
Apparently Alice blocked the yard entrance, Sweeney style, with her car and with her mum in straggling support charged up the field shouting and waving her garden rake as she ran the hundred or so yards. Her assault was faultless the calf box never stood a chance.
Will made his excuses and I hung up. Went back to getting dry and wondered whether I should feel pride at their actions or a little stupid. Opted for the former and now the assault on Calf hill will pass into family folklore alongside many others - operation McDonald's, the swim for help, and the infamous alpaca rescue.
Sam
The phone goes and I am still getting dry...so Linn tries to get to it racing away from the washing up. She fails to get there before the caller hangs up.
If its important they'll call back.
Two minutes later Alice bursts in the house breathless and in a fury. It's been a very peaceful day and I notice the contradiction of her contorted face with the evening sunlight, like a gentle halo around her, as she stands in the kitchen. She's snapping out orders, barking really.
When she went to the shops all was calm but on her return her usually wandering driving eye had spotted a horsebox drawing up next to our five hives. She's not going to let some Hampshire thief get away with this. Get your blo*dy clothes on, all of us grab a hand axe, mallet, chainsaw or whatever we're going to war!
Hurry up we don't have time.
So we are bundled into action.
Linn and Alice are already in the shed with Alice choosing the most damaging prospects. I have just reached the phone as I hear them leave. I phone Will, the farmer.
'Hi Will, sorry to bother you but there seems to be a horse box right next to the hives.'
'No Sam that's my calf box, I've just put it out the way for tonight. Market day tomorrow...'
'oh great, err...you better get out of your house quick'
'why?'
'I think Alice has called down air strikes...'
Silence at the other end of the phone.
Then I hear laughter, starting off with a chuckle but then developing into a throaty roar as Will sees the local rebels defending their rights.
Apparently Alice blocked the yard entrance, Sweeney style, with her car and with her mum in straggling support charged up the field shouting and waving her garden rake as she ran the hundred or so yards. Her assault was faultless the calf box never stood a chance.
Will made his excuses and I hung up. Went back to getting dry and wondered whether I should feel pride at their actions or a little stupid. Opted for the former and now the assault on Calf hill will pass into family folklore alongside many others - operation McDonald's, the swim for help, and the infamous alpaca rescue.
Sam
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