As I said, the first hive was set up and all was good.
Until they swarmed.
And as I discovered, bees do everything at the most inconvenient time. I was just about to leave for a family lunch when I thought I could hear a combine harvester in the distance. It was June, so something must be going on.
Off I went to investigate, and there were bees everywhere. You know there are a lot of bees in a hive, but until you see half of them pouring out, you don't really understand it.
Luckily for me they didn't go far, onto the hedge 100m from their original hive. Off I went to have strong words with them and bring them home.
Rather daftly, I put them into a black box during one of the hottest summers in years.
So out came the umbrella and a random cardboard box.
But once they were settled, I moved them into their new home.
The sun is out, the bees are settling, we have two hives, and all seems good in the world.