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(5569, 283, '2019-04-16 12:43:41', '2019-04-16 11:43:41', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/beehive-testapr19-960x1280.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-5571\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/beehive-testapr19-960x1280-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>When working in the garden, as with all things, I need to plan. The vegetable plot has a plan for my 2019 planting and I\'ve started a plan of one corner of the flower beds which has become a bit of a mess. I\'ve decided where the bee hive will go once I\'ve been on my training day at <a href=\"https://www.thorne.co.uk/index.php?route=common/home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Thorne\'s</a> in mid May and placed an old hive Jane and I bought many years ago as a garden ornament. The real hive will fit well here.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/lucy-rose-apr19-1280x960.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5574\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/lucy-rose-apr19-1280x960-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>Mary and I spent a couple of days in London with Richard and Nicola. We visited Tate Modern where we toured the <a href=\"https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/exhibition/cc-land-exhibition-pierre-bonnard-colour-memory\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Pierre Bonnard</a> exhibition but I wasn\'t impressed by this post impressionist painter and the following day we went to the Hayward gallery to see the <a href=\"https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/hayward-gallery-art/diane-arbus-beginning\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Diane Arbus</a> photography exhibition. Her photographs were intriguing with each one leaving many questions hanging in the air. Who were these people? Why were they there? What were they thinking? Etc.\r\n\r\nThe highlight of the London visit was the <a href=\"https://youtu.be/1o84y-5-cO0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Lucy Rose</a> (singer/songwriter) concert at Union Chapel. She exceeded my expectations - with a voice similar to Joni Mitchel and a beautiful melancholy style of music.\r\n\r\nNo sooner were we home from London than we were packing our bags to drive north to stay with dearest friends, Tony and Jude, in the Scottish Highlands. Although the sun did shine over the weekend there was a real bite in the wind and we had to wrap up warm as we walked the beach at <a href=\"https://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/findhorn-p237641\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Findhorn</a>, touring the <a href=\"https://www.themacallan.com/en/distillery\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Macallan</a> distillery and alongside the river at <a href=\"https://www.logie.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Logie Steading</a>.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5573,5572\"]\r\n\r\nAfter saying our sad farewells to Tony and Jude we headed south to stay at the <a href=\"https://www.exploremiddletonhall.co.uk/comein-boathouse.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Boathouse</a> at Middleton Hall near Belford, Northumberland. More on this later...', 'Busy, busy, bee', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'busy-busy-bee', '', '', '2019-04-16 12:43:41', '2019-04-16 11:43:41', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5569', 0, 'post', '', 1),
(5570, 283, '2019-04-16 11:50:02', '2019-04-16 10:50:02', 'When looking at the garden, as with all things, I need to plan. The vegetable plot has a plan for my 2019 planting and I\'ve started a plan of one corner of the flower beds which has become a bit of a mess. Within all of this I\'ve decided where the bee hive will go once I\'ve been on my training day at Thornes in mid May.', 'Busy, busy, bee', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5569-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-04-16 11:50:02', '2019-04-16 10:50:02', '', 5569, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5570', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5571, 283, '2019-04-16 12:06:22', '2019-04-16 11:06:22', '', 'beehive test(apr19)-960x1280', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'beehive-testapr19-960x1280', '', '', '2019-04-16 12:06:22', '2019-04-16 11:06:22', '', 5569, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/beehive-testapr19-960x1280.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5572, 283, '2019-04-16 12:06:32', '2019-04-16 11:06:32', '', 'scottish river(apr19)-960x1280', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'scottish-riverapr19-960x1280', '', '', '2019-04-16 12:06:32', '2019-04-16 11:06:32', '', 5569, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/scottish-riverapr19-960x1280.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5573, 283, '2019-04-16 12:06:37', '2019-04-16 11:06:37', '', 'macallan distillery(apr19)-1280x960', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'macallan-distilleryapr19-1280x960', '', '', '2019-04-16 12:06:37', '2019-04-16 11:06:37', '', 5569, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/macallan-distilleryapr19-1280x960.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5574, 283, '2019-04-16 12:06:42', '2019-04-16 11:06:42', '', 'lucy rose (apr19)-1280x960', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'lucy-rose-apr19-1280x960', '', '', '2019-04-16 12:06:42', '2019-04-16 11:06:42', '', 5569, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/lucy-rose-apr19-1280x960.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5575, 283, '2019-04-16 12:41:21', '2019-04-16 11:41:21', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/beehive-testapr19-960x1280.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-5571\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/beehive-testapr19-960x1280-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>When working in the garden, as with all things, I need to plan. The vegetable plot has a plan for my 2019 planting and I\'ve started a plan of one corner of the flower beds which has become a bit of a mess. I\'ve decided where the bee hive will go once I\'ve been on my training day at <a href=\"https://www.thorne.co.uk/index.php?route=common/home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Thorne\'s</a> in mid May and placed an old hive Jane and I bought many years ago as a garden ornament. The real hive will fit well here.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/lucy-rose-apr19-1280x960.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5574\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/lucy-rose-apr19-1280x960-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>Mary and I spent a couple of days in London with Richard and Nicola. We visited Tate Modern where we toured the <a href=\"https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/exhibition/cc-land-exhibition-pierre-bonnard-colour-memory\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Pierre Bonnard</a> exhibition but I wasn\'t impressed by this post impressionist painter and the following day we went to the Hayward gallery to see the <a href=\"https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/hayward-gallery-art/diane-arbus-beginning\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Diane Arbus</a> photography exhibition. Her photographs were intriguing with each one leaving many questions hanging in the air. Who were these people? Why were they there? What were they thinking? Etc.\r\n\r\nThe highlight of the London visit was the <a href=\"https://youtu.be/1o84y-5-cO0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Lucy Rose</a> (singer/songwriter) concert at Union Chapel. She exceeded my expectations - with a voice similar to Joni Mitchel and a beautiful melancholy style of music.\r\n\r\nNo sooner were we home from London than we were packing our bags to drive north to stay with dearest friends, Tony and Jude, in the Scottish Highlands. Although the sun did shine over the weekend there was a real bite in the wind and we had to wrap up warm as we walked the beach at <a href=\"https://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/findhorn-p237641\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Findhorn</a>, touring the <a href=\"https://www.themacallan.com/en/distillery\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Macallan</a> distillery and alongside the river at <a href=\"https://www.logie.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Logie Steading</a>.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5573,5572\"]\r\n\r\nAfter saying our sad farewells to Tony and Jude we headed south to stay at the <a href=\"https://www.exploremiddletonhall.co.uk/comein-boathouse.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Boathouse</a> at Middleton Hall near Belford, Northumberland. More on this later...', 'Busy, busy, bee', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5569-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-04-16 12:41:21', '2019-04-16 11:41:21', '', 5569, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5575', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
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(5578, 283, '2019-04-20 11:31:30', '2019-04-20 10:31:30', '', 'boathouse view(apr19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'boathouse-viewapr19', '', '', '2019-04-20 11:55:47', '2019-04-20 10:55:47', '', 5586, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/boathouse-viewapr19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5579, 283, '2019-04-20 11:31:34', '2019-04-20 10:31:34', '', 'northumbria beach(apr19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'northumbria-beachapr19', '', '', '2019-04-20 11:31:34', '2019-04-20 10:31:34', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/northumbria-beachapr19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5580, 283, '2019-04-20 11:31:38', '2019-04-20 10:31:38', '', 'celtic knot in sand(apr19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'celtic-knot-in-sandapr19', '', '', '2019-04-20 11:31:38', '2019-04-20 10:31:38', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/celtic-knot-in-sandapr19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5581, 283, '2019-04-20 11:31:42', '2019-04-20 10:31:42', '', 'tree lined walk(apr19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'tree-lined-walkapr19', '', '', '2019-04-20 11:31:42', '2019-04-20 10:31:42', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/tree-lined-walkapr19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5582, 283, '2019-04-20 11:31:47', '2019-04-20 10:31:47', '', 'St Cutherberts cave2(apr19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'st-cutherberts-cave2apr19', '', '', '2019-04-20 11:31:47', '2019-04-20 10:31:47', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/St-Cutherberts-cave2apr19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5583, 283, '2019-04-20 11:31:51', '2019-04-20 10:31:51', '', 'St Cutherberts cave(apr19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'st-cutherberts-caveapr19', '', '', '2019-04-20 11:31:51', '2019-04-20 10:31:51', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/St-Cutherberts-caveapr19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5584, 283, '2019-04-20 11:31:55', '2019-04-20 10:31:55', '', 'Mary Alnwick tree house(apr19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'mary-alnwick-tree-houseapr19', '', '', '2019-04-20 11:31:55', '2019-04-20 10:31:55', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Mary-Alnwick-tree-houseapr19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
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(5586, 283, '2019-04-20 11:58:48', '2019-04-20 10:58:48', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/boathouse-vistaapr19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5577\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/boathouse-vistaapr19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>And so we left the Moray Firth to head for our stay at the Boathouse.\r\n\r\nWe stayed on the country estate of Middleton Hall a year ago and promised ourselves we would return to stay in the Boathouse, overlooking the lake and it\'s wildlife. Whilst sitting on the verandah we witnessed a tree creeper working it\'s way up the nearby trees and a hare visited us on more than one occasion. The boathouse was very comfortable, warm and snug and it was tempting to sit outside in the sunshine and just soak it all up but we did manage several walks of around 8 miles.\r\n\r\nWe did a circular walk through woods and moorland where we discovered strange outcrops of rock and <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Cuthbert%27s_Cave\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">St Cuthberts cave</a>.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5583,5582,5581\"]\r\n\r\nThe Northumberland coast was calling us and we did a couple of walks along the coastal path and then back along the beach or vice versa. There was a brisk easterly wind which kept the temperatures down so we didn\'t overheat but warm enough to sit in a pub garden  and quench our thirsts.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5580,5579\"]\r\n\r\nThere were several times when we were the only people on the beach and it had the feel of a desert island. Someone had taken time to draw an elaborate celtic knot in the sand only for it to be washed away when we returned after the next high tide.\r\n\r\nWe completed our short stay in Northumberland with an evening out for dinner at Alnwick Gardens Treehouse. It\'s a magical environment.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5585,5584\"]\r\n\r\nAnd all too soon we returned home with plenty of happy memories filed away for future reference...\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/boathouse-viewapr19.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-5578\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/boathouse-viewapr19-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'The Boathouse...', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'the-boathouse', '', '', '2019-04-20 11:58:48', '2019-04-20 10:58:48', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5586', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5587, 283, '2019-04-20 11:56:19', '2019-04-20 10:56:19', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/boathouse-vistaapr19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5577\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/boathouse-vistaapr19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>And so we left the Moray Firth to head for our stay at the Boathouse.\r\n\r\nWe stayed on the country estate of Middleton Hall a year ago and promised ourselves we would return to stay in the Boathouse, overlooking the lake and it\'s wildlife. Whilst sitting on the verandah we witnessed a tree creeper working it\'s way up the nearby trees and a hare visited us on more than one occasion. The boathouse was very comfortable, warm and snug and it was tempting to see outside in the sunshine and just soak it all up but we did manage several walks of around 8 miles.\r\n\r\nWe did a circular walk through woods and moorland where we discovered strange outcrops of rock and <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Cuthbert%27s_Cave\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">St Cuthberts cave</a>.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5583,5582,5581\"]\r\n\r\nThe Northumberland coast was calling us and we did a couple of walks along the coastal path and then back along the beach or vice versa. There was a brisk easterly wind which kept the temperatures down so we didn\'t overheat but warm enough to sit in a pub garden  and quench our thirsts.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5580,5579\"]\r\n\r\nThere were several times when we were the only people on the beach and it had the feel of a desert island. Someone had taken time to draw an elaborate celtic not in the sand only for it to be washed away in the next high tide.\r\n\r\nWe completed our short stay in Northumberland with an evening out for dinner at Alnwick Gardens Treehouse. It\'s a magical environment.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5585,5584\"]\r\n\r\nAnd all too soon we returned home with plenty of happy memories filed away for future reference...\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/boathouse-viewapr19.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-5578\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/boathouse-viewapr19-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'The Boathouse...', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5586-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-04-20 11:56:19', '2019-04-20 10:56:19', '', 5586, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5587', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5588, 283, '2019-04-20 11:58:48', '2019-04-20 10:58:48', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/boathouse-vistaapr19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5577\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/boathouse-vistaapr19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>And so we left the Moray Firth to head for our stay at the Boathouse.\r\n\r\nWe stayed on the country estate of Middleton Hall a year ago and promised ourselves we would return to stay in the Boathouse, overlooking the lake and it\'s wildlife. Whilst sitting on the verandah we witnessed a tree creeper working it\'s way up the nearby trees and a hare visited us on more than one occasion. The boathouse was very comfortable, warm and snug and it was tempting to sit outside in the sunshine and just soak it all up but we did manage several walks of around 8 miles.\r\n\r\nWe did a circular walk through woods and moorland where we discovered strange outcrops of rock and <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Cuthbert%27s_Cave\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">St Cuthberts cave</a>.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5583,5582,5581\"]\r\n\r\nThe Northumberland coast was calling us and we did a couple of walks along the coastal path and then back along the beach or vice versa. There was a brisk easterly wind which kept the temperatures down so we didn\'t overheat but warm enough to sit in a pub garden  and quench our thirsts.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5580,5579\"]\r\n\r\nThere were several times when we were the only people on the beach and it had the feel of a desert island. Someone had taken time to draw an elaborate celtic knot in the sand only for it to be washed away when we returned after the next high tide.\r\n\r\nWe completed our short stay in Northumberland with an evening out for dinner at Alnwick Gardens Treehouse. It\'s a magical environment.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5585,5584\"]\r\n\r\nAnd all too soon we returned home with plenty of happy memories filed away for future reference...\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/boathouse-viewapr19.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-5578\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/boathouse-viewapr19-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'The Boathouse...', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5586-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-04-20 11:58:48', '2019-04-20 10:58:48', '', 5586, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5588', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
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(5592, 283, '2019-04-24 23:15:14', '2019-04-24 22:15:14', '', 'cox apple blossom(apr19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'cox-apple-blossomapr19', '', '', '2019-04-25 22:55:47', '2019-04-25 21:55:47', '', 5594, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/cox-apple-blossomapr19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5593, 283, '2019-04-24 23:15:18', '2019-04-24 22:15:18', '', 'new garden furniture(apr19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'new-garden-furnitureapr19', '', '', '2019-04-25 23:02:35', '2019-04-25 22:02:35', '', 5594, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/new-garden-furnitureapr19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5594, 283, '2019-04-25 23:07:06', '2019-04-25 22:07:06', 'After so much time spent away from home it has been good over the last few days to get stuck into doing the jobs around the garden. One of the tasks I\'ve been putting off for several months is the removal of some barbed wire and wire fencing along one boundary where the neighbours have put up a new fence. With the help of Nick &amp; Val and Dave and Lucie and some cajoling from Mary it has been removed. I had to buy some bolt cutters to snip through the thick wire so that I could roll it up, squash it down before uprooting the old fence posts.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5590,5589\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/cox-apple-blossomapr19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5592 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/cox-apple-blossomapr19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>In other areas of the garden my severe pruning of the apple trees to tie them back to the wires I installed last year seems to have been successful. The cox\'s apple is full of blossom with the prospect of another good year for apples. I do need to keep tieing wayward branches back and I think it will take several years to get them both into shape.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/hornbeamapr19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5591\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/hornbeamapr19-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>And good news when it comes to the <a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5222\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">new trees I planted in September</a> last year which are coming into leaf. Here the Hornbeam is looking particularly healthy.\r\n\r\nI do love the shape of this tree. If the large Ash tree has to be removed in the next few years then I might replace it with another Hornbeam.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/new-garden-furnitureapr19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-5593\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/new-garden-furnitureapr19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>To appreciate the garden fully there are times when I\'d like to sit and enjoy a cuppa. With this in mind I bought a couple of chairs and a coffee table. I will use them near the back door which is an area that gets the morning sun. I have in the past sat out there and eaten my breakfast but not on comfortable chairs. I have to confess that constructing the chairs wasn\'t as straightforward as I\'d hoped but it has been several years since I last built flat-pack furniture.', 'In and Around the Garden', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'in-and-around-the-garden', '', '', '2019-04-25 23:07:06', '2019-04-25 22:07:06', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5594', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5595, 283, '2019-04-25 23:07:06', '2019-04-25 22:07:06', 'After so much time spent away from home it has been good over the last few days to get stuck into doing the jobs around the garden. One of the tasks I\'ve been putting off for several months is the removal of some barbed wire and wire fencing along one boundary where the neighbours have put up a new fence. With the help of Nick &amp; Val and Dave and Lucie and some cajoling from Mary it has been removed. I had to buy some bolt cutters to snip through the thick wire so that I could roll it up, squash it down before uprooting the old fence posts.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5590,5589\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/cox-apple-blossomapr19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5592 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/cox-apple-blossomapr19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>In other areas of the garden my severe pruning of the apple trees to tie them back to the wires I installed last year seems to have been successful. The cox\'s apple is full of blossom with the prospect of another good year for apples. I do need to keep tieing wayward branches back and I think it will take several years to get them both into shape.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/hornbeamapr19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5591\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/hornbeamapr19-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>And good news when it comes to the <a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5222\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">new trees I planted in September</a> last year which are coming into leaf. Here the Hornbeam is looking particularly healthy.\r\n\r\nI do love the shape of this tree. If the large Ash tree has to be removed in the next few years then I might replace it with another Hornbeam.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/new-garden-furnitureapr19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-5593\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/new-garden-furnitureapr19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>To appreciate the garden fully there are times when I\'d like to sit and enjoy a cuppa. With this in mind I bought a couple of chairs and a coffee table. I will use them near the back door which is an area that gets the morning sun. I have in the past sat out there and eaten my breakfast but not on comfortable chairs. I have to confess that constructing the chairs wasn\'t as straightforward as I\'d hoped but it has been several years since I last built flat-pack furniture.', 'In and Around the Garden', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5594-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-04-25 23:07:06', '2019-04-25 22:07:06', '', 5594, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5595', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5597, 283, '2019-04-29 20:30:44', '2019-04-29 19:30:44', '', 'Forget Me Not', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5596-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-04-29 20:30:44', '2019-04-29 19:30:44', '', 5596, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5597', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5598, 283, '2019-04-29 20:39:22', '2019-04-29 19:39:22', '', 'bean poles(apr19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'bean-polesapr19', '', '', '2019-04-29 20:39:22', '2019-04-29 19:39:22', '', 5596, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/bean-polesapr19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5599, 283, '2019-04-29 20:39:26', '2019-04-29 19:39:26', '', 'forget me not lincoln castle(apr19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'forget-me-not-lincoln-castleapr19', '', '', '2019-04-29 20:39:26', '2019-04-29 19:39:26', '', 5596, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/forget-me-not-lincoln-castleapr19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5600, 283, '2019-04-29 20:51:33', '2019-04-29 19:51:33', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/forget-me-not-lincoln-castleapr19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5599\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/forget-me-not-lincoln-castleapr19-300x209.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"209\" /></a>St Barnabas Hospice were asking supporters to sponsor a forget-me-not in remembrance of a loved one. In Jane\'s final weeks the hospice gave Jane incredible support and peace of mind. Any contribution I can make to this incredible organisation is worth every penny. As this image shows each flower was placed on show at Lincoln Castle for several weeks and I collected mine on Sunday. Not a day passes without me thinking about Jane and how special she was. No matter what happens in my life it will never be the same again, not even close.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/bean-polesapr19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5598\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/bean-polesapr19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>The garden continues to be as much Jane\'s as it is mine and it gives me great pleasure to work hard in the garden. The veg plot is up to scratch and the seeds sown in the potting shed are coming along really well.\r\n\r\nI\'m sorry to say the rest of the garden is not looking too good It requires some serious work and thoughtful design. I\'ve said that for the last two years but this is the year I make a difference... Watch this space.', 'Forget Me Not', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5596-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-04-29 20:51:33', '2019-04-29 19:51:33', '', 5596, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5600', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5636, 283, '2019-05-30 21:55:45', '2019-05-30 20:55:45', 'After several hours of weeding I decided to go round the garden and pay attention to the flowers that bring some colour. There are still large areas that need further development and most areas are work in progress.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5637,5638,5639,5640,5641,5642,5643,5644\"]', 'Garden Flowers', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'garden-flowers-2', '', '', '2019-05-30 21:55:59', '2019-05-30 20:55:59', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5636', 0, 'post', '', 2),
(5637, 283, '2019-05-30 21:54:15', '2019-05-30 20:54:15', '', 'garden flowers8(may19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'garden-flowers8may19', '', '', '2019-05-30 21:54:15', '2019-05-30 20:54:15', '', 5636, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/garden-flowers8may19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5638, 283, '2019-05-30 21:54:18', '2019-05-30 20:54:18', '', 'garden flowers7(may19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'garden-flowers7may19', '', '', '2019-05-30 21:54:18', '2019-05-30 20:54:18', '', 5636, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/garden-flowers7may19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5639, 283, '2019-05-30 21:54:24', '2019-05-30 20:54:24', '', 'garden flowers6(may19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'garden-flowers6may19', '', '', '2019-05-30 21:54:24', '2019-05-30 20:54:24', '', 5636, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/garden-flowers6may19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5629, 283, '2019-05-28 18:00:28', '2019-05-28 17:00:28', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/online-dating.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4409\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/online-dating-200x143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"143\" /></a>After 18 months Mary and I have amicably agreed to end our relationship. We remain good friends and hopefully always will be. It is such a terrible shame because we get on so well however our differences are such that we couldn\'t live together and we would drive each other crazy after a while. It was better to bring it to an end before it disintegrated and became sour.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/muddyjodhpurs.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5632 alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/muddyjodhpurs-178x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"178\" height=\"300\" /></a>So I\'m back on the market. The prospect of dating again, starting from scratch, is not one I look forward to however it is very unlikely I will find my soulmate walking the aisles of my local Tesco... unless of course I\'ve got a thing for women in muddy riding boots and jodhpurs. On the other hand...\r\n\r\nThis time I\'m going to use the Match.com website instead of Guardian Soulmates. Who knows there might be a gorgeous woman just around the corner but if there is she must be working for MI5 because I haven\'t seen her.', 'Alone Once More', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'alone-once-more', '', '', '2019-05-28 22:06:14', '2019-05-28 21:06:14', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5629', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5608, 283, '2019-05-08 09:14:48', '2019-05-08 08:14:48', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/wildwoodkinmay19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5607\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/wildwoodkinmay19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>An overnight stay in Nottingham to see <a href=\"https://youtu.be/-Y5zkarGx40\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Wildwood Kin</a> at the Bodega night club. Here I am rapidly approaching 70 and I\'m spending my evening in a crowded bar, standing up for over 2 hours. It was a great evening with an excellent support act <a href=\"https://www.ferrisandsylvester.com/video\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ferris and Sylvester</a>.\r\n\r\nI don\'t think you can beat good live music. It lays down incredible memories that can be drawn upon, time and time again.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/harley-galleries.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5606\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/harley-galleries-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>When in Nottinghamshire it\'s worth visiting the <a href=\"http://www.harleygallery.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Harley Gallery</a> on the Welbeck Estate outside Worksop. I\'ve been there several times over the last few years and even if the gallery doesn\'t have a show on, which it usually does, brunch at the cafe is incredibly good, the service is excellent (the manager greets you as if you visit every day) and the flat white coffee is superb (I had two).\r\n\r\nAs it was the gallery had an interesting display by Sylvie Franquet with a very female oriented theme. And of course it is impossible not to wander around the garden centre next door with a final scout around in the farm shop. Like all farm shops the food is of very high quality and the prices reflect that.', 'Gig and Gallery', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5605-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-05-08 09:14:48', '2019-05-08 08:14:48', '', 5605, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5608', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5611, 283, '2019-05-20 23:14:45', '2019-05-20 22:14:45', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Pensarn-HouseMay19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5625\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Pensarn-HouseMay19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>Every year a group of ten (The Family) go away together and this year was no exception. This annual event started over 20 years ago and is still going strong.\r\n\r\nWe rented a large house in Pensarn close to LLanbedr with views over an estuary and sand dunes in the distance. It was possible to walk to the beach and then over some large stones to the sweeping sandy beach at Harlech.\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/rock-beachmay19.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-5623\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/rock-beachmay19-1024x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"333\" /></a>\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/staircase-May19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5624\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/staircase-May19-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>The nearest major town was Porthmadog which had a good feel to it with some interesting little shops and a lively cafe culture. The Department store had an interesting spiral staircase. The Big Rock cafe was a favourite despite is espousing some religious connection. Apparently the carrot cake was to die for and despite my penchant for it I decided upon an eccles cake.\r\n\r\nA visit to this part of Wales would be wasted without a trip on the Blaenau Ffestiniog Railway.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5619,5621,5620\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/lilies-walesmay19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5622 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/lilies-walesmay19-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>The weather was superb all week and you might be forgiven for thinking that we were holidaying in the mediterranean.\r\n\r\nSome of the plants indicated the area had a microclimate and as can be seen from this image the sandy beaches stretched for miles\r\n\r\nWe spent a very pleasant few hours strolling around Portmeirion. The village came to prominence when it featured in the 1960\'s cult TV programme \"<a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Prisoner\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Prisoner</a>\".\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Portmerion-panoramamay19.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-5613\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Portmerion-panoramamay19-1024x475.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"297\" /></a>Apart from the Italianate buildings the grounds feature trees and plants from all over the world. The private beach stretches for miles and when the tide is out it might be possible to walk to Porthmadog.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5618,5617,5616,5615\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/sunset-pensarnmay19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5614\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/sunset-pensarnmay19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>And in the evenings after a day of blameless blues skies the sunsets from the house were magnificent.', 'Wales \"Family\" Holiday', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'wales-family-holiday', '', '', '2019-05-20 23:14:45', '2019-05-20 22:14:45', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5611', 0, 'post', '', 1),
(5612, 283, '2019-05-20 10:45:03', '2019-05-20 09:45:03', 'Every year a group of us (The Family) go away together and this year was no exception. This annual event started over 20 years ago and is still going strong.', 'Wales \"Family\" Holiday', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5611-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-05-20 10:45:03', '2019-05-20 09:45:03', '', 5611, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5612', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5613, 283, '2019-05-20 22:44:56', '2019-05-20 21:44:56', '', 'Portmerion panorama(may19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'portmerion-panoramamay19', '', '', '2019-05-20 22:44:56', '2019-05-20 21:44:56', '', 5611, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Portmerion-panoramamay19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5614, 283, '2019-05-20 22:44:59', '2019-05-20 21:44:59', '', 'sunset pensarn(may19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'sunset-pensarnmay19', '', '', '2019-05-20 22:44:59', '2019-05-20 21:44:59', '', 5611, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/sunset-pensarnmay19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5615, 283, '2019-05-20 22:45:02', '2019-05-20 21:45:02', '', 'Portmerion3(may19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'portmerion3may19', '', '', '2019-05-20 22:45:02', '2019-05-20 21:45:02', '', 5611, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Portmerion3may19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5616, 283, '2019-05-20 22:45:05', '2019-05-20 21:45:05', '', 'Portmerion2(may19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'portmerion2may19', '', '', '2019-05-20 22:45:05', '2019-05-20 21:45:05', '', 5611, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Portmerion2may19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5617, 283, '2019-05-20 22:45:09', '2019-05-20 21:45:09', '', 'Portmerion 2(may19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'portmerion-2may19', '', '', '2019-05-20 22:45:09', '2019-05-20 21:45:09', '', 5611, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Portmerion-2may19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5618, 283, '2019-05-20 22:45:11', '2019-05-20 21:45:11', '', 'D&L Portmerion(may19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'dl-portmerionmay19', '', '', '2019-05-20 22:45:11', '2019-05-20 21:45:11', '', 5611, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/DL-Portmerionmay19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5619, 283, '2019-05-20 22:45:14', '2019-05-20 21:45:14', '', 'festiniog train(may19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'festiniog-trainmay19', '', '', '2019-05-20 22:45:14', '2019-05-20 21:45:14', '', 5611, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/festiniog-trainmay19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5620, 283, '2019-05-20 22:45:17', '2019-05-20 21:45:17', '', 'slate sculpture(may19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'slate-sculpturemay19', '', '', '2019-05-20 22:45:17', '2019-05-20 21:45:17', '', 5611, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/slate-sculpturemay19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5621, 283, '2019-05-20 22:45:20', '2019-05-20 21:45:20', '', 'festiniog railway(may19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'festiniog-railwaymay19', '', '', '2019-05-20 22:45:20', '2019-05-20 21:45:20', '', 5611, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/festiniog-railwaymay19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5622, 283, '2019-05-20 22:45:24', '2019-05-20 21:45:24', '', 'lilies wales(may19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'lilies-walesmay19', '', '', '2019-05-20 22:45:24', '2019-05-20 21:45:24', '', 5611, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/lilies-walesmay19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5623, 283, '2019-05-20 22:45:27', '2019-05-20 21:45:27', '', 'rock beach(may19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'rock-beachmay19', '', '', '2019-05-20 22:45:27', '2019-05-20 21:45:27', '', 5611, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/rock-beachmay19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5624, 283, '2019-05-20 22:45:30', '2019-05-20 21:45:30', '', 'staircase (May19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'staircase-may19', '', '', '2019-05-20 22:45:30', '2019-05-20 21:45:30', '', 5611, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/staircase-May19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5625, 283, '2019-05-20 22:45:33', '2019-05-20 21:45:33', '', 'Pensarn House(May19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'pensarn-housemay19', '', '', '2019-05-20 22:45:33', '2019-05-20 21:45:33', '', 5611, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Pensarn-HouseMay19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5626, 283, '2019-05-20 22:57:04', '2019-05-20 21:57:04', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Pensarn-HouseMay19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5625\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Pensarn-HouseMay19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>Every year a group of ten (The Family) go away together and this year was no exception. This annual event started over 20 years ago and is still going strong.\r\n\r\nWe rented a large house in Pensarn close to LLandbedr with views over an estuary and sand dunes in the distance. It was possible to walk to the beach and then over some large stones to the sweeping sandy beach at Harlech.\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/rock-beachmay19.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-5623\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/rock-beachmay19-1024x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"333\" /></a>\r\nThe nearest major town was Porthmadog which had a good feel to it with some interesting little shops and a lively cafe culture. The Big Rock cafe was a favourite despite is espousing some religious connection. Apparently the carrot cake was to die for and despite my penchant for it I decided upon an eccles cake.', 'Wales \"Family\" Holiday', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5611-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-05-20 22:57:04', '2019-05-20 21:57:04', '', 5611, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5626', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES
(5627, 283, '2019-05-20 23:12:52', '2019-05-20 22:12:52', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Pensarn-HouseMay19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5625\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Pensarn-HouseMay19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>Every year a group of ten (The Family) go away together and this year was no exception. This annual event started over 20 years ago and is still going strong.\r\n\r\nWe rented a large house in Pensarn close to LLanbedr with views over an estuary and sand dunes in the distance. It was possible to walk to the beach and then over some large stones to the sweeping sandy beach at Harlech.\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/rock-beachmay19.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-5623\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/rock-beachmay19-1024x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"333\" /></a>\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/staircase-May19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5624\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/staircase-May19-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>The nearest major town was Porthmadog which had a good feel to it with some interesting little shops and a lively cafe culture. The Department store had an interesting spiral staircase. The Big Rock cafe was a favourite despite is espousing some religious connection. Apparently the carrot cake was to die for and despite my penchant for it I decided upon an eccles cake.\r\n\r\nA visit to this part of Wales would be wasted without a trip on the Blaenau Ffestiniog Railway.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5619,5621,5620\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/lilies-walesmay19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5622 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/lilies-walesmay19-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>The weather was superb all week and you might be forgiven for thinking that we were holidaying in the mediterranean.\r\n\r\nSome of the plants indicated the area had a microclimate and as can be seen from this image the sandy beaches stretched for miles\r\n\r\nWe spent a very pleasant few hours strolling around Portmeirion. The village came to prominence when it featured in the 1960\'s cult TV programme \"<a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Prisoner\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Prisoner</a>\".\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Portmerion-panoramamay19.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-5613\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Portmerion-panoramamay19-1024x475.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"297\" /></a>\r\n\r\nApart from the Italianate buildings the grounds feature trees and plants from all over the world. The private beach stretches for miles and when the tide is out it might be possible to walk to Porthmadog.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5618,5617,5616,5615\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/sunset-pensarnmay19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5614\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/sunset-pensarnmay19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>And in the evenings after a day of blameless blues skies the sunsets from the house were magnificent.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Wales \"Family\" Holiday', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5611-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-05-20 23:12:52', '2019-05-20 22:12:52', '', 5611, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5627', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5628, 283, '2019-05-20 23:14:45', '2019-05-20 22:14:45', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Pensarn-HouseMay19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5625\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Pensarn-HouseMay19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>Every year a group of ten (The Family) go away together and this year was no exception. This annual event started over 20 years ago and is still going strong.\r\n\r\nWe rented a large house in Pensarn close to LLanbedr with views over an estuary and sand dunes in the distance. It was possible to walk to the beach and then over some large stones to the sweeping sandy beach at Harlech.\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/rock-beachmay19.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-5623\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/rock-beachmay19-1024x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"333\" /></a>\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/staircase-May19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5624\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/staircase-May19-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>The nearest major town was Porthmadog which had a good feel to it with some interesting little shops and a lively cafe culture. The Department store had an interesting spiral staircase. The Big Rock cafe was a favourite despite is espousing some religious connection. Apparently the carrot cake was to die for and despite my penchant for it I decided upon an eccles cake.\r\n\r\nA visit to this part of Wales would be wasted without a trip on the Blaenau Ffestiniog Railway.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5619,5621,5620\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/lilies-walesmay19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5622 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/lilies-walesmay19-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>The weather was superb all week and you might be forgiven for thinking that we were holidaying in the mediterranean.\r\n\r\nSome of the plants indicated the area had a microclimate and as can be seen from this image the sandy beaches stretched for miles\r\n\r\nWe spent a very pleasant few hours strolling around Portmeirion. The village came to prominence when it featured in the 1960\'s cult TV programme \"<a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Prisoner\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Prisoner</a>\".\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Portmerion-panoramamay19.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-5613\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Portmerion-panoramamay19-1024x475.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"297\" /></a>Apart from the Italianate buildings the grounds feature trees and plants from all over the world. The private beach stretches for miles and when the tide is out it might be possible to walk to Porthmadog.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5618,5617,5616,5615\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/sunset-pensarnmay19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5614\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/sunset-pensarnmay19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>And in the evenings after a day of blameless blues skies the sunsets from the house were magnificent.', 'Wales \"Family\" Holiday', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5611-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-05-20 23:14:45', '2019-05-20 22:14:45', '', 5611, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5628', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5630, 283, '2019-05-28 13:18:26', '2019-05-28 12:18:26', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/online-dating.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4409\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/online-dating-200x143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"143\" /></a>After 18 months Mary and I have agreed to end our relationship. We remain good friends and hopefully always will be. It is such a terrible shame because we get on so well however our differences are such that we couldn\'t live together and we would drive each other crazy after a while. It was better to bring it to end before it disintegrated and became sour.\r\n\r\nSo I\'m back on the market. The prospect of dating again is not one I look forward to however it is very unlikely I will find my soulmate walking the aisles of my local Tesco, unless of course I\'ve got a thing for women in muddy riding boots and jodhpurs.\r\n\r\nThis time I\'m going to use the Match.com website instead of Guardian Soulmates.', 'Alone Once More', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5629-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-05-28 13:18:26', '2019-05-28 12:18:26', '', 5629, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5630', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5632, 283, '2019-05-28 13:31:30', '2019-05-28 12:31:30', '', 'muddyjodhpurs', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'muddyjodhpurs', '', '', '2019-05-28 13:31:30', '2019-05-28 12:31:30', '', 5629, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/muddyjodhpurs.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5633, 283, '2019-05-28 13:36:38', '2019-05-28 12:36:38', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/online-dating.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4409\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/online-dating-200x143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"143\" /></a>After 18 months Mary and I have amicably agreed to end our relationship. We remain good friends and hopefully always will be. It is such a terrible shame because we get on so well however our differences are such that we couldn\'t live together and we would drive each other crazy after a while. It was better to bring it to end before it disintegrated and became sour.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/muddyjodhpurs.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5632 alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/muddyjodhpurs-178x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"178\" height=\"300\" /></a>So I\'m back on the market. The prospect of dating again, starting from scratch, is not one I look forward to however it is very unlikely I will find my soulmate walking the aisles of my local Tesco... unless of course I\'ve got a thing for women in muddy riding boots and jodhpurs. On the other hand...\r\n\r\nThis time I\'m going to use the Match.com website instead of Guardian Soulmates. Who knows there might be a gorgeous woman just around the corner but if there is she must be working for MI5 because I haven\'t seen her.', 'Alone Once More', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5629-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-05-28 13:36:38', '2019-05-28 12:36:38', '', 5629, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5633', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5634, 283, '2019-05-28 22:06:14', '2019-05-28 21:06:14', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/online-dating.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4409\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/online-dating-200x143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"143\" /></a>After 18 months Mary and I have amicably agreed to end our relationship. We remain good friends and hopefully always will be. It is such a terrible shame because we get on so well however our differences are such that we couldn\'t live together and we would drive each other crazy after a while. It was better to bring it to an end before it disintegrated and became sour.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/muddyjodhpurs.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5632 alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/muddyjodhpurs-178x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"178\" height=\"300\" /></a>So I\'m back on the market. The prospect of dating again, starting from scratch, is not one I look forward to however it is very unlikely I will find my soulmate walking the aisles of my local Tesco... unless of course I\'ve got a thing for women in muddy riding boots and jodhpurs. On the other hand...\r\n\r\nThis time I\'m going to use the Match.com website instead of Guardian Soulmates. Who knows there might be a gorgeous woman just around the corner but if there is she must be working for MI5 because I haven\'t seen her.', 'Alone Once More', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5629-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-05-28 22:06:14', '2019-05-28 21:06:14', '', 5629, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5634', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5647, 283, '2019-06-06 21:24:40', '2019-06-06 20:24:40', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/air-ambulancejun19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5648\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/air-ambulancejun19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>The other day the house was buzzed by the Air Ambulance which, after two tight circuits, decided to land in the field opposite the drive. Great excitement, all the neighbours were out to watch.\r\nThe doctor was picked up by the local police and whisked off to Tesco because, rumour has it, someone had had a heart attack in the car park. It seems shopping is a dangerous game and best avoided. It perplexes me that an important, life-saving service like the air ambulance is a charitable organisation - why?\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/garage-tiles1jun19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5651\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/garage-tiles1jun19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>For several years I\'ve been meaning to sort out the garage floor. The cement dust gets onto your shoes and it then gets deposited everywhere. I tried giving the floor a coating of silicon to bind it together but it made no difference. Painting the floor seemed like a lot of effort so I bit the bullet and laid rubberised matting across the whole floor.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/garage-tiles2jun19.jpg.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-5650\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/garage-tiles2jun19.jpg-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>The tiles are edged so that they lock together without having to be glued down - biggest jigsaw puzzle I\'ve ever completed. It took me several hours but it also forced me to tidy up a little bit. There is still some tidying to do in the back right hand corner. There is a table tennis top that Jane insisted on rescuing from somewhere - it needs to be dragged out and used. Maybe I could use it as a cover on one of my many log stores - now there\'s an idea.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/beehivejun19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5649\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/beehivejun19-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>I finished the week by collecting my beehive from Thornes. Here it is in the garden alongside the vegetable plot. The entrance is south facing as recommended and there is space around it for me when I need to inspect it.\r\n\r\nThe next step is to get some bees. My friend Gary in Banbury possibly has a spare nucleus (queen, workers and drones). I will need to get down there and collect the travel box before the end of the month otherwise there might not be enough time through the summer for the hive to make itself strong enough to survive through winter.', 'Busy Bee Week', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'busy-bee-week', '', '', '2019-06-06 21:24:40', '2019-06-06 20:24:40', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5647', 0, 'post', '', 2),
(5640, 283, '2019-05-30 21:54:28', '2019-05-30 20:54:28', '', 'garden flowers5(may19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'garden-flowers5may19', '', '', '2019-05-30 21:54:28', '2019-05-30 20:54:28', '', 5636, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/garden-flowers5may19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5641, 283, '2019-05-30 21:54:32', '2019-05-30 20:54:32', '', 'garden flowers4(may19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'garden-flowers4may19', '', '', '2019-05-30 21:54:32', '2019-05-30 20:54:32', '', 5636, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/garden-flowers4may19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5642, 283, '2019-05-30 21:54:34', '2019-05-30 20:54:34', '', 'garden flowers3(may19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'garden-flowers3may19', '', '', '2019-05-30 21:54:34', '2019-05-30 20:54:34', '', 5636, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/garden-flowers3may19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5643, 283, '2019-05-30 21:54:38', '2019-05-30 20:54:38', '', 'garden flowers2(may19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'garden-flowers2may19', '', '', '2019-05-30 21:54:38', '2019-05-30 20:54:38', '', 5636, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/garden-flowers2may19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5644, 283, '2019-05-30 21:54:41', '2019-05-30 20:54:41', '', 'garden flowers1(may19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'garden-flowers1may19', '', '', '2019-05-30 21:54:41', '2019-05-30 20:54:41', '', 5636, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/garden-flowers1may19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5645, 283, '2019-05-30 21:55:45', '2019-05-30 20:55:45', 'After several hours of weeding I decided to go round the garden and pay attention to the flowers that bring some colour. There are still large areas that need further development and most areas are work in practice.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5637,5638,5639,5640,5641,5642,5643,5644\"]', 'Garden Flowers', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5636-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-05-30 21:55:45', '2019-05-30 20:55:45', '', 5636, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5645', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5646, 283, '2019-05-30 21:55:59', '2019-05-30 20:55:59', 'After several hours of weeding I decided to go round the garden and pay attention to the flowers that bring some colour. There are still large areas that need further development and most areas are work in progress.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5637,5638,5639,5640,5641,5642,5643,5644\"]', 'Garden Flowers', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5636-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-05-30 21:55:59', '2019-05-30 20:55:59', '', 5636, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5646', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5648, 283, '2019-06-06 20:40:30', '2019-06-06 19:40:30', '', 'air ambulance(jun19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'air-ambulancejun19', '', '', '2019-06-06 20:40:30', '2019-06-06 19:40:30', '', 5647, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/air-ambulancejun19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5649, 283, '2019-06-06 20:40:34', '2019-06-06 19:40:34', '', 'beehive(jun19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'beehivejun19', '', '', '2019-06-06 20:40:34', '2019-06-06 19:40:34', '', 5647, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/beehivejun19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5650, 283, '2019-06-06 20:40:37', '2019-06-06 19:40:37', '', 'garage tiles2(jun19).jpg', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'garage-tiles2jun19-jpg', '', '', '2019-06-06 20:40:37', '2019-06-06 19:40:37', '', 5647, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/garage-tiles2jun19.jpg.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5651, 283, '2019-06-06 20:40:40', '2019-06-06 19:40:40', '', 'garage tiles1(jun19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'garage-tiles1jun19', '', '', '2019-06-06 20:40:40', '2019-06-06 19:40:40', '', 5647, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/garage-tiles1jun19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5652, 283, '2019-06-06 21:24:40', '2019-06-06 20:24:40', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/air-ambulancejun19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5648\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/air-ambulancejun19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>The other day the house was buzzed by the Air Ambulance which, after two tight circuits, decided to land in the field opposite the drive. Great excitement, all the neighbours were out to watch.\r\nThe doctor was picked up by the local police and whisked off to Tesco because, rumour has it, someone had had a heart attack in the car park. It seems shopping is a dangerous game and best avoided. It perplexes me that an important, life-saving service like the air ambulance is a charitable organisation - why?\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/garage-tiles1jun19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5651\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/garage-tiles1jun19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>For several years I\'ve been meaning to sort out the garage floor. The cement dust gets onto your shoes and it then gets deposited everywhere. I tried giving the floor a coating of silicon to bind it together but it made no difference. Painting the floor seemed like a lot of effort so I bit the bullet and laid rubberised matting across the whole floor.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/garage-tiles2jun19.jpg.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-5650\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/garage-tiles2jun19.jpg-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>The tiles are edged so that they lock together without having to be glued down - biggest jigsaw puzzle I\'ve ever completed. It took me several hours but it also forced me to tidy up a little bit. There is still some tidying to do in the back right hand corner. There is a table tennis top that Jane insisted on rescuing from somewhere - it needs to be dragged out and used. Maybe I could use it as a cover on one of my many log stores - now there\'s an idea.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/beehivejun19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5649\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/beehivejun19-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>I finished the week by collecting my beehive from Thornes. Here it is in the garden alongside the vegetable plot. The entrance is south facing as recommended and there is space around it for me when I need to inspect it.\r\n\r\nThe next step is to get some bees. My friend Gary in Banbury possibly has a spare nucleus (queen, workers and drones). I will need to get down there and collect the travel box before the end of the month otherwise there might not be enough time through the summer for the hive to make itself strong enough to survive through winter.', 'Busy Bee Week', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5647-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-06-06 21:24:40', '2019-06-06 20:24:40', '', 5647, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5652', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5655, 283, '2019-06-11 14:33:05', '2019-06-11 13:33:05', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/beekeeper-suitjun19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5656\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/beekeeper-suitjun19-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>My new adventure into beekeeping requires me to don the proverbial suit. I\'ve been described as a cross between Buzz Lightyear and the guys who maintain nuclear reactors. One thing I can say is that I\'m glad my exercises at the gym are making me more flexible because zipping the hood on requires me to get both hands round the back of my head and down my back - beekeeper and contortionist.\r\n\r\nNo bees yet but I hope to pick up the nucleus in a couple of weeks from a friend and then I will be buzzing. Before anyone gets too excited it\'s unlikely there will be any honey this year. The hive needs to build up the number of bees and its food supply to survive through the winter. I also need to learn how to extract the honey.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/damian-hirst-ypsjun16.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5657\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/damian-hirst-ypsjun16-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>On a completely different tack I went to Yorkshire Sculpture Park on Sunday and despite the forecast saying it would be dry it did rain around lunchtime. For the first time ever the exhibits were a disappointment. The lower gallery was closed and some of the pieces like the Antony Gormley had been removed. The Long Gallery was open and raised the question when is adornment, like tattoos, a criminal ornamentation.\r\n\r\nThis Damien Hirst sculpture were breathtaking in its size and the accurate depiction of a child in the womb. It reminded me of the <a href=\"https://bodyworlds.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Body Worlds</a> exhibition that Jane and I went to 20 years ago.\r\n\r\nI need to plan my visits better in future...', 'Inside Out', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'inside-out', '', '', '2019-06-11 14:33:05', '2019-06-11 13:33:05', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5655', 0, 'post', '', 4),
(5656, 283, '2019-06-11 14:16:47', '2019-06-11 13:16:47', '', 'beekeeper suit(jun19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'beekeeper-suitjun19', '', '', '2019-06-11 14:16:47', '2019-06-11 13:16:47', '', 5655, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/beekeeper-suitjun19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5657, 283, '2019-06-11 14:16:52', '2019-06-11 13:16:52', '', 'damian hirst yps(jun16)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'damian-hirst-ypsjun16', '', '', '2019-06-11 14:16:52', '2019-06-11 13:16:52', '', 5655, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/damian-hirst-ypsjun16.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5658, 283, '2019-06-11 14:33:05', '2019-06-11 13:33:05', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/beekeeper-suitjun19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5656\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/beekeeper-suitjun19-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>My new adventure into beekeeping requires me to don the proverbial suit. I\'ve been described as a cross between Buzz Lightyear and the guys who maintain nuclear reactors. One thing I can say is that I\'m glad my exercises at the gym are making me more flexible because zipping the hood on requires me to get both hands round the back of my head and down my back - beekeeper and contortionist.\r\n\r\nNo bees yet but I hope to pick up the nucleus in a couple of weeks from a friend and then I will be buzzing. Before anyone gets too excited it\'s unlikely there will be any honey this year. The hive needs to build up the number of bees and its food supply to survive through the winter. I also need to learn how to extract the honey.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/damian-hirst-ypsjun16.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5657\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/damian-hirst-ypsjun16-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>On a completely different tack I went to Yorkshire Sculpture Park on Sunday and despite the forecast saying it would be dry it did rain around lunchtime. For the first time ever the exhibits were a disappointment. The lower gallery was closed and some of the pieces like the Antony Gormley had been removed. The Long Gallery was open and raised the question when is adornment, like tattoos, a criminal ornamentation.\r\n\r\nThis Damien Hirst sculpture were breathtaking in its size and the accurate depiction of a child in the womb. It reminded me of the <a href=\"https://bodyworlds.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Body Worlds</a> exhibition that Jane and I went to 20 years ago.\r\n\r\nI need to plan my visits better in future...', 'Inside Out', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5655-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-06-11 14:33:05', '2019-06-11 13:33:05', '', 5655, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5658', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5659, 283, '2019-06-16 18:59:40', '2019-06-16 17:59:40', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/u3a-logo.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4788\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/u3a-logo-300x146.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"208\" height=\"101\" /></a>The second week of every month is my busiest. I have a <a href=\"http://westwoldsu3a.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">U3A committee meeting</a> on Monday morning after which I prepare notices for the Thursday general meeting and make sure the website is updated. The longer I\'m in the role of chairman the more onerous it becomes, I think people expect more of my and as a typical \"people pleaser\" I struggle to say no. My 3 year tenure comes to an end in December although I\'ve agreed to stay on the committee for at least another year to mentor the new chairman.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Noahs-Arkjun19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5665 size-medium\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Noahs-Arkjun19-e1560707390704-300x217.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"217\" /></a>This week we\'ve had some heavy rain and I did contemplate knocking up an Ark but the house was never under threat unlike some parts of Lincolnshire. The wet weather caused me to stay indoors and directed me to having a clothes clear out. There were shirts that I wore for work and jumpers that I haven\'t worn for many years. These have all been bagged up and are ready to go to the Hospice charity shop.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/no-parsnipsjun19.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-5664 size-thumbnail alignright\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/no-parsnipsjun19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>The vegetable plot has had it\'s failures. It seems I\'m sowing my parsnip seeds too early because the same thing happened last year. None of the seed has germinated so I\'ve weeded the area and will resow in the hope that something grows. Gardening is about never giving up.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe dating scene is jogging along but I do find it frustrating. I get \"Likes\" and \"Winks\" from people who are several hours drive away. If I don\'t take it too seriously and don\'t fret when I message a real beauty who then ignores me it can be fun. It was exactly the same as a teenager but then I got blanked face to face. I\'m currently in a dialogue with someone from California who spends a lot of time in the UK. She\'s a real looker, allegedly owns two ranches and <a href=\"http://www.bayliss-ranch.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">grows herbs for the beauty industry</a>. It\'s entertaining and better than watching TV.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Clives-artworkjun19.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5663 alignright\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Clives-artworkjun19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>Talking of TV - Clive has sent me some of his artwork. This is digital painting that runs on a computer and displayed on a screen on the wall so with the help of Nick the screen is up and the art work arrived on a Solid State Disk through the post. It\'s fascinating to watch the images build and change, brush stroke by brush stroke.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m anticipating the arrival of my bees next weekend. It\'s an odd mixture of excitement and anxiety - a new hobby and no experience; what could possibly go wrong, other than killing 20,000 bees.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/tea-croissantjun19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5666 \" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/tea-croissantjun19-e1560707718832-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"233\" height=\"175\" /></a>My fitness regime continues - two sessions at the gym this week where my personal trainer (I love saying that \"my personal trainer\") puts me through my paces until I can do more. My flexibility and muscle tone is slowly improving but I need to eat less between meals, I\'m afraid that\'s just comfort eating. After a day of gardening yesterday I was out on my bike at 06:45 and completed a 10 mile circuit in 48 minutes. It was indeed a beautiful start to the day and after a shower I had a croissant for breakfast with a large mug of Earl Grey tea sitting outside in the sunshine.', 'U3A Week Plus', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'u3a-week-plus', '', '', '2019-06-16 18:59:40', '2019-06-16 17:59:40', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5659', 0, 'post', '', 2),
(5660, 283, '2019-06-16 10:42:42', '2019-06-16 09:42:42', 'The second week of every month is my busiest. I have a U3A committee meeting on Monday morning after which I have to prepare notices for the Thursday general meeting.', 'U3A Week', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5659-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-06-16 10:42:42', '2019-06-16 09:42:42', '', 5659, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5660', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5661, 283, '2019-06-16 11:08:03', '2019-06-16 10:08:03', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/u3a-logo.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright  wp-image-4788\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/u3a-logo-300x146.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"208\" height=\"101\" /></a>The second week of every month is my busiest. I have a U3A committee meeting on Monday morning after which I have to prepare notices for the Thursday general meeting.', 'U3A Week', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5659-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-06-16 11:08:03', '2019-06-16 10:08:03', '', 5659, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5661', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5662, 283, '2019-06-16 18:28:22', '2019-06-16 17:28:22', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/u3a-logo.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4788\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/u3a-logo-300x146.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"208\" height=\"101\" /></a>The second week of every month is my busiest. I have a <a href=\"http://westwoldsu3a.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">U3A committee meeting</a> on Monday morning after which I have to prepare notices for the Thursday general meeting and make sure the website is updated. The longer I\'m in the role of chairman the more onerous it becomes, I think people expect more of my and as a typical \"people pleaser\" I struggle to say no. My 3 year tenure comes to an end in December although I\'ve agreed to stay on the committee for at least another year to mentor the new chairman.\r\n\r\nThis week we\'ve had some heavy rain and I did contemplate knocking up an Ark but the house was never under threat unlike some parts of Lincolnshire. The wet weather has directed me to having a clothes clear out. I had shirts that I wore for work and jumpers that I haven\'t worn for many years to these have all been bagged up and are ready to go to the Hospice charity shop.\r\n\r\nThe dating scene is jogging along but I do find it frustrating. I get \"Likes\" and \"Winks\" from people who are several hours drive away. If I don\'t take it too seriously and don\'t fret when I message a real beauty who then ignores me. It was exactly the same as a teenager but then I got blanked face to face. I\'m currently in a dialogue with someone from California who spends a lot of time in the UK. She\'s a real looker, apparently owns two ranches and grows herbs for the beauty industry. It\'s entertaining and better than watching TV.\r\n\r\nTalking of TV - Clive has sent me some of his artwork. This is digital painting that runs on a computer and displayed on a screen on the wall so with the help of Nick the screen is up and the art work arrived on a Solid State Disk through the post. It\'s fascinating to watch the images build and change, brush stroke by brush stroke.\r\n\r\nI\'m anticipating the arrival of my bees next weekend. It\'s an odd mixture of excitement and anxiety - a new hobby and no experience; what could possibly go wrong, other than killing 20,000 bees.\r\n\r\nMy fitness regime continues - two sessions at the gym this week where my personal trainer (I love saying that \"my personal trainer\") puts me through my paces until I can do more. My flexibility and muscle tone is slowly improving but I need to eat less between meals, I\'m afraid that\'s just comfort eating. After a day of gardening yesterday I was out on my bike at 06:45 and completed my 10 mile circuit in 48 minutes. It was indeed a beautiful start to the day and after a shower I had a croissant for breakfast with a large mug of Earl Grey tea.', 'U3A Week', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5659-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-06-16 18:28:22', '2019-06-16 17:28:22', '', 5659, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5662', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5663, 283, '2019-06-16 18:42:36', '2019-06-16 17:42:36', '', 'Clives artwork(jun19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'clives-artworkjun19', '', '', '2019-06-16 18:42:36', '2019-06-16 17:42:36', '', 5659, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Clives-artworkjun19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5664, 283, '2019-06-16 18:45:21', '2019-06-16 17:45:21', '', 'no parsnips(jun19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'no-parsnipsjun19', '', '', '2019-06-16 18:45:21', '2019-06-16 17:45:21', '', 5659, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/no-parsnipsjun19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5665, 283, '2019-06-16 18:48:55', '2019-06-16 17:48:55', '', 'Noah\'s Ark(jun19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'noahs-arkjun19', '', '', '2019-06-16 18:48:55', '2019-06-16 17:48:55', '', 5659, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Noahs-Arkjun19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5666, 283, '2019-06-16 18:54:43', '2019-06-16 17:54:43', '', 'tea + croissant(jun19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'tea-croissantjun19', '', '', '2019-06-16 18:54:43', '2019-06-16 17:54:43', '', 5659, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/tea-croissantjun19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5667, 283, '2019-06-16 18:59:40', '2019-06-16 17:59:40', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/u3a-logo.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4788\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/u3a-logo-300x146.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"208\" height=\"101\" /></a>The second week of every month is my busiest. I have a <a href=\"http://westwoldsu3a.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">U3A committee meeting</a> on Monday morning after which I prepare notices for the Thursday general meeting and make sure the website is updated. The longer I\'m in the role of chairman the more onerous it becomes, I think people expect more of my and as a typical \"people pleaser\" I struggle to say no. My 3 year tenure comes to an end in December although I\'ve agreed to stay on the committee for at least another year to mentor the new chairman.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Noahs-Arkjun19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5665 size-medium\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Noahs-Arkjun19-e1560707390704-300x217.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"217\" /></a>This week we\'ve had some heavy rain and I did contemplate knocking up an Ark but the house was never under threat unlike some parts of Lincolnshire. The wet weather caused me to stay indoors and directed me to having a clothes clear out. There were shirts that I wore for work and jumpers that I haven\'t worn for many years. These have all been bagged up and are ready to go to the Hospice charity shop.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/no-parsnipsjun19.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-5664 size-thumbnail alignright\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/no-parsnipsjun19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>The vegetable plot has had it\'s failures. It seems I\'m sowing my parsnip seeds too early because the same thing happened last year. None of the seed has germinated so I\'ve weeded the area and will resow in the hope that something grows. Gardening is about never giving up.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe dating scene is jogging along but I do find it frustrating. I get \"Likes\" and \"Winks\" from people who are several hours drive away. If I don\'t take it too seriously and don\'t fret when I message a real beauty who then ignores me it can be fun. It was exactly the same as a teenager but then I got blanked face to face. I\'m currently in a dialogue with someone from California who spends a lot of time in the UK. She\'s a real looker, allegedly owns two ranches and <a href=\"http://www.bayliss-ranch.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">grows herbs for the beauty industry</a>. It\'s entertaining and better than watching TV.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Clives-artworkjun19.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5663 alignright\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Clives-artworkjun19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>Talking of TV - Clive has sent me some of his artwork. This is digital painting that runs on a computer and displayed on a screen on the wall so with the help of Nick the screen is up and the art work arrived on a Solid State Disk through the post. It\'s fascinating to watch the images build and change, brush stroke by brush stroke.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m anticipating the arrival of my bees next weekend. It\'s an odd mixture of excitement and anxiety - a new hobby and no experience; what could possibly go wrong, other than killing 20,000 bees.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/tea-croissantjun19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5666 \" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/tea-croissantjun19-e1560707718832-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"233\" height=\"175\" /></a>My fitness regime continues - two sessions at the gym this week where my personal trainer (I love saying that \"my personal trainer\") puts me through my paces until I can do more. My flexibility and muscle tone is slowly improving but I need to eat less between meals, I\'m afraid that\'s just comfort eating. After a day of gardening yesterday I was out on my bike at 06:45 and completed a 10 mile circuit in 48 minutes. It was indeed a beautiful start to the day and after a shower I had a croissant for breakfast with a large mug of Earl Grey tea sitting outside in the sunshine.', 'U3A Week Plus', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5659-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-06-16 18:59:40', '2019-06-16 17:59:40', '', 5659, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5667', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5691, 283, '2019-07-02 22:05:42', '2019-07-02 21:05:42', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-manualjul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5695\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-manualjul19-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"171\" height=\"228\" /></a>After my first week of bee ownership it was time for my first solo inspection. The idea is to ensure there is a queen and she is laying eggs which are growing into larvae.\r\n\r\nThere\'s so much to learn and although I already have Collins Beekeeper\'s Bible I bought a Haynes Manual. The last Haynes Manual I studied was for a Triumph Spitfire.\r\n\r\nIt\'s a very good reference manual and I\'m sure it will be well thumbed and probably covered by honey before too long.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG-20190702-WA0000.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5692\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG-20190702-WA0000-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"193\" height=\"257\" /></a>So here I am booted and suited inspecting my girls, all 30,000 of them. No I didn\'t count them but I\'m assured a healthy colony can be anything between 20,000 - 50,000 bees.\r\n\r\nThere were eggs in some of the cells and larvae and plenty of bees. I\'m holding a frame from the middle of the brood box and it is covered in bees. I\'m wondering why they are not out foraging.\r\n\r\nOn the very last frame I found the queen which is always reassuring.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/YesterdayJul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-5694\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/YesterdayJul19-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>Another first for me was a visit to <a href=\"https://thekinemainthewoods.co.uk/KinemaInTheWoods.dll/Home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kinema in the Woods</a> in Woodhall Spa.  I met up with Mary (we are still friends) to see \"Yesterday\", a film written by Richard Curtiss and directed by Danny Boyle. This makes it a dream team production.\r\n\r\nThere have been so many reviews that I won\'t be giving anything away by saying the story is told in a time when nobody remembers that the Beetles ever existed apart from one person and when he starts to play some of their music everyone is in awe. A novel idea, well told, very funny and certainly a feel-good movie.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/kinemajul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5693\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/kinemajul19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>And so to the <a href=\"https://thekinemainthewoods.co.uk/KinemaInTheWoods.dll/Home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kinema in the Woods</a>. I\'ve never been before but had heard of it\'s quaintness. Well, it is more than quaint. The decor is straight out of the 1950s including ruffled curtains, an interval part way through the film (no need to change reels because it\'s digital) and then the awesome organ that rises out of the stage with organist who plays whilst we ate ice cream.', 'More Bees and Kinema', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'more-bees-and-kinema', '', '', '2019-07-03 12:28:57', '2019-07-03 11:28:57', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5691', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5669, 283, '2019-06-22 22:57:57', '2019-06-22 21:57:57', 'The garden has some lovely flowers and I\'m pleased with the way it is looking. Loads of weeding still to be done but that will never be finished. The dogwood is particularly spectacular this year, best ever.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5670,5671,5673,5674,5675,5676,5677,5678\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/brood-boxjun19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5672\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/brood-boxjun19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>I\'ve also prepared my hive by tying it together with ratchet straps for transporting down to Banbury to collect my bees. The plan is to take the frames out of the hive in Banbury, transfer them into my hive then close up my hive for the return journey. I need to keep them cool and I don\'t want any bees escaping into the car.', 'Flowers and Bees', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'flowers-and-bees', '', '', '2019-06-22 22:57:57', '2019-06-22 21:57:57', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5669', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5670, 283, '2019-06-22 22:49:22', '2019-06-22 21:49:22', '', 'cantebury bells1(jun19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'cantebury-bells1jun19', '', '', '2019-06-22 22:49:22', '2019-06-22 21:49:22', '', 5669, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cantebury-bells1jun19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5671, 283, '2019-06-22 22:49:29', '2019-06-22 21:49:29', '', 'foxgloves(jun19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'foxglovesjun19', '', '', '2019-06-22 22:49:29', '2019-06-22 21:49:29', '', 5669, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/foxglovesjun19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5672, 283, '2019-06-22 22:49:35', '2019-06-22 21:49:35', '', 'brood box(jun19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'brood-boxjun19', '', '', '2019-06-22 22:49:35', '2019-06-22 21:49:35', '', 5669, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/brood-boxjun19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0);
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES
(5673, 283, '2019-06-22 22:49:38', '2019-06-22 21:49:38', '', 'flowers3(jun19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'flowers3jun19', '', '', '2019-06-22 22:49:38', '2019-06-22 21:49:38', '', 5669, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/flowers3jun19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5674, 283, '2019-06-22 22:49:41', '2019-06-22 21:49:41', '', 'flowers2(jun19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'flowers2jun19', '', '', '2019-06-22 22:49:41', '2019-06-22 21:49:41', '', 5669, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/flowers2jun19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5675, 283, '2019-06-22 22:49:47', '2019-06-22 21:49:47', '', 'rose(jun19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'rosejun19', '', '', '2019-06-22 22:49:47', '2019-06-22 21:49:47', '', 5669, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/rosejun19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5676, 283, '2019-06-22 22:49:50', '2019-06-22 21:49:50', '', 'flowers1(jun19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'flowers1jun19', '', '', '2019-06-22 22:49:50', '2019-06-22 21:49:50', '', 5669, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/flowers1jun19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5677, 283, '2019-06-22 22:51:54', '2019-06-22 21:51:54', '', 'cantebury bells2(jun19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'cantebury-bells2jun19', '', '', '2019-06-22 22:51:54', '2019-06-22 21:51:54', '', 5669, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cantebury-bells2jun19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5678, 283, '2019-06-22 22:52:04', '2019-06-22 21:52:04', '', 'dogwood(jun19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'dogwoodjun19', '', '', '2019-06-22 22:52:04', '2019-06-22 21:52:04', '', 5669, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/dogwoodjun19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5679, 283, '2019-06-22 22:57:57', '2019-06-22 21:57:57', 'The garden has some lovely flowers and I\'m pleased with the way it is looking. Loads of weeding still to be done but that will never be finished. The dogwood is particularly spectacular this year, best ever.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5670,5671,5673,5674,5675,5676,5677,5678\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/brood-boxjun19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5672\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/brood-boxjun19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>I\'ve also prepared my hive by tying it together with ratchet straps for transporting down to Banbury to collect my bees. The plan is to take the frames out of the hive in Banbury, transfer them into my hive then close up my hive for the return journey. I need to keep them cool and I don\'t want any bees escaping into the car.', 'Flowers and Bees', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5669-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-06-22 22:57:57', '2019-06-22 21:57:57', '', 5669, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5679', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5680, 283, '2019-06-22 22:58:08', '2019-06-22 21:58:08', 'The garden has some lovely flowers and I\'m pleased with the way it is looking. Loads of weeding still to be done but that will never be finished. The dogwood is particularly spectacular this year, best ever.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5670,5671,5673,5674,5675,5676,5677,5678\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/brood-boxjun19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5672\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/brood-boxjun19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>I\'ve also prepared my hive by tying it together with ratchet straps for transporting down to Banbury to collect my bees. The plan is to take the frames out of the hive in Banbury, transfer them into my hive then close up my hive for the return journey. I need to keep them cool and I don\'t want any bees escaping into the car.', 'Flowers and Bees', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5669-autosave-v1', '', '', '2019-06-22 22:58:08', '2019-06-22 21:58:08', '', 5669, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5680', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5681, 283, '2019-06-24 18:45:01', '2019-06-24 17:45:01', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/beekeeper-suitjun19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5656\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/beekeeper-suitjun19-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>A trip down to my ex work colleague and beekeeping friend Gary in Banbury to collect my very first bee colony. We spent the morning inspecting his hives with me following his instructions and learning so much along the way. How to hold and turn the frames whilst inspecting to make sure the nectar drying in the cells doesn\'t ooze out, when to smoke and of course finding the queen. We talked non stop all day about bees, how to avoid swarming and making sure the hive is happy.\r\n\r\nGetting into and out of the suit is a lesson in itself.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5687,5685,5686\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/transporting-beesjun19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5683\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/transporting-beesjun19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>The journey back with the bees closed up in the hive was relatively straightforward although I did stop off at Leicester Forest East services to spray them with water to keep them cool. In the last couple of miles I noticed a cluster of bees on the back window and was worried they had found a way out but it was only a few escapees - nothing serious.\r\n\r\nThe hive was quickly lifted into position on its stand in the garden. Once I removed the tape over the entrance they came rushing out for fresh air only to find very unfamiliar territory and none of their known landmarks. They spent the rest of the day flying around the entrance with a few venturing further afield. I think it will take several days for them to settle and start bringing in fresh pollen. I shall be watching them very carefully over the coming week.', 'Bee Adventurous...', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'bee-adventurous', '', '', '2019-06-24 18:45:01', '2019-06-24 17:45:01', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5681', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5682, 283, '2019-06-24 15:04:58', '2019-06-24 14:04:58', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/beekeeper-suitjun19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5656\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/beekeeper-suitjun19-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>A trip down to my beekeeping friend Gary in Banbury to collect my very first bee colony. We spent the morning inspecting his hives with me following his instructions and learning so much along the way. How to hold and turn the frames whilst inspecting to make sure the nectar drying in the cells doesn\'t ooze out, when to smoke and of course finding the queen. We talked non stop all day about bees, how to avoid swarming and making sure the hive is happy.\r\n\r\nGetting into and out of the suit is a lesson in itself.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe journey back with the bees closed up in the hive was relatively straightforward although I did stop off at Leicester Forest East services to spray the bees with water to keep them cool. In the last couple of miles I noticed a cluster of bees on the back window and was worried they had found a way out but it was only a few escapees who had found their way out as I went over a bump and the brood box moved a little.', 'Bee Adventurous...', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5681-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-06-24 15:04:58', '2019-06-24 14:04:58', '', 5681, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5682', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5683, 283, '2019-06-24 15:07:55', '2019-06-24 14:07:55', '', 'transporting bees(jun19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'transporting-beesjun19', '', '', '2019-06-24 15:07:55', '2019-06-24 14:07:55', '', 5681, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/transporting-beesjun19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5684, 283, '2019-06-24 15:16:41', '2019-06-24 14:16:41', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/beekeeper-suitjun19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5656\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/beekeeper-suitjun19-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>A trip down to my beekeeping friend Gary in Banbury to collect my very first bee colony. We spent the morning inspecting his hives with me following his instructions and learning so much along the way. How to hold and turn the frames whilst inspecting to make sure the nectar drying in the cells doesn\'t ooze out, when to smoke and of course finding the queen. We talked non stop all day about bees, how to avoid swarming and making sure the hive is happy.\r\n\r\nGetting into and out of the suit is a lesson in itself.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/transporting-beesjun19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5683\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/transporting-beesjun19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>The journey back with the bees closed up in the hive was relatively straightforward although I did stop off at Leicester Forest East services to spray the bees with water to keep them cool. In the last couple of miles I noticed a cluster of bees on the back window and was worried they had found a way out but it was only a few escapees who had found their way out as I went over a bump and the brood box moved a little.\r\n\r\nThe hive was quickly lifted into position on its stand in the garden. Once I removed the tape over the entrance they came rushing out for fresh air only to find very unfamiliar territory and none of their known landmarks. They spent the rest of the day flying around the entrance with a few venturing further afield. I think it will take several days for them to settle and start bringing in fresh pollen. I shall be watching them very carefully over the coming week.', 'Bee Adventurous...', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5681-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-06-24 15:16:41', '2019-06-24 14:16:41', '', 5681, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5684', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5685, 283, '2019-06-24 18:38:25', '2019-06-24 17:38:25', '', 'gary+steve bees(23jun19)', 'A lesson in hive inspection from Gary', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'garysteve-bees23jun19', '', '', '2019-06-24 18:39:57', '2019-06-24 17:39:57', '', 5681, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/garysteve-bees23jun19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5686, 283, '2019-06-24 18:38:31', '2019-06-24 17:38:31', '', 'bees steve(24jun19)', 'Carrying my girls', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'bees-steve24jun19', '', '', '2019-06-24 18:40:15', '2019-06-24 17:40:15', '', 5681, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/bees-steve24jun19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5687, 283, '2019-06-24 18:38:34', '2019-06-24 17:38:34', '', 'bees queen(23jun19)', 'MY queen with the coloured head', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'bees-queen23jun19', '', '', '2019-06-24 18:39:39', '2019-06-24 17:39:39', '', 5681, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/bees-queen23jun19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5690, 283, '2019-06-24 18:45:01', '2019-06-24 17:45:01', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/beekeeper-suitjun19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5656\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/beekeeper-suitjun19-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>A trip down to my ex work colleague and beekeeping friend Gary in Banbury to collect my very first bee colony. We spent the morning inspecting his hives with me following his instructions and learning so much along the way. How to hold and turn the frames whilst inspecting to make sure the nectar drying in the cells doesn\'t ooze out, when to smoke and of course finding the queen. We talked non stop all day about bees, how to avoid swarming and making sure the hive is happy.\r\n\r\nGetting into and out of the suit is a lesson in itself.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5687,5685,5686\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/transporting-beesjun19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5683\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/transporting-beesjun19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>The journey back with the bees closed up in the hive was relatively straightforward although I did stop off at Leicester Forest East services to spray them with water to keep them cool. In the last couple of miles I noticed a cluster of bees on the back window and was worried they had found a way out but it was only a few escapees - nothing serious.\r\n\r\nThe hive was quickly lifted into position on its stand in the garden. Once I removed the tape over the entrance they came rushing out for fresh air only to find very unfamiliar territory and none of their known landmarks. They spent the rest of the day flying around the entrance with a few venturing further afield. I think it will take several days for them to settle and start bringing in fresh pollen. I shall be watching them very carefully over the coming week.', 'Bee Adventurous...', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5681-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-06-24 18:45:01', '2019-06-24 17:45:01', '', 5681, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5690', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5688, 283, '2019-06-24 18:38:44', '2019-06-24 17:38:44', '', 'bees closeup(24jun19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'bees-closeup24jun19', '', '', '2019-06-24 18:38:44', '2019-06-24 17:38:44', '', 5681, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/bees-closeup24jun19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5689, 283, '2019-06-24 18:40:30', '2019-06-24 17:40:30', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/beekeeper-suitjun19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5656\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/beekeeper-suitjun19-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>A trip down to my beekeeping friend Gary in Banbury to collect my very first bee colony. We spent the morning inspecting his hives with me following his instructions and learning so much along the way. How to hold and turn the frames whilst inspecting to make sure the nectar drying in the cells doesn\'t ooze out, when to smoke and of course finding the queen. We talked non stop all day about bees, how to avoid swarming and making sure the hive is happy.\r\n\r\nGetting into and out of the suit is a lesson in itself.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5687,5685,5686\"]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/transporting-beesjun19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5683\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/transporting-beesjun19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>The journey back with the bees closed up in the hive was relatively straightforward although I did stop off at Leicester Forest East services to spray the bees with water to keep them cool. In the last couple of miles I noticed a cluster of bees on the back window and was worried they had found a way out but it was only a few escapees who had found their way out as I went over a bump and the brood box moved a little.\r\n\r\nThe hive was quickly lifted into position on its stand in the garden. Once I removed the tape over the entrance they came rushing out for fresh air only to find very unfamiliar territory and none of their known landmarks. They spent the rest of the day flying around the entrance with a few venturing further afield. I think it will take several days for them to settle and start bringing in fresh pollen. I shall be watching them very carefully over the coming week.', 'Bee Adventurous...', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5681-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-06-24 18:40:30', '2019-06-24 17:40:30', '', 5681, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5689', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5692, 283, '2019-07-02 21:05:30', '2019-07-02 20:05:30', '', 'IMG-20190702-WA0000', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'img-20190702-wa0000', '', '', '2019-07-02 21:05:30', '2019-07-02 20:05:30', '', 5691, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG-20190702-WA0000.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5693, 283, '2019-07-02 21:12:03', '2019-07-02 20:12:03', '', 'kinema(jul19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'kinemajul19', '', '', '2019-07-02 21:12:03', '2019-07-02 20:12:03', '', 5691, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/kinemajul19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5694, 283, '2019-07-02 21:15:51', '2019-07-02 20:15:51', '', 'Yesterday(Jul19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'yesterdayjul19', '', '', '2019-07-02 21:15:51', '2019-07-02 20:15:51', '', 5691, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/YesterdayJul19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5695, 283, '2019-07-02 21:35:35', '2019-07-02 20:35:35', '', 'bee manual(jul19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'bee-manualjul19', '', '', '2019-07-02 21:35:35', '2019-07-02 20:35:35', '', 5691, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-manualjul19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5696, 283, '2019-07-02 21:49:01', '2019-07-02 20:49:01', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-manualjul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5695\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-manualjul19-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>After my first week of bee ownership it was time for my first solo inspection. The idea is to ensure there is a queen and she is laying eggs which are growing into larvae.\r\n\r\nThere\'s so much to learn and although I already have Collins Beekeeper\'s Bible I bought a Haynes Manual. The last Haynes Manual I bought I think was for a Triumph Spitfire.\r\n\r\nIt\'s a very good reference manual and I\'m sure it will be well thumbed and probably covered by honey before too long.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG-20190702-WA0000.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-5692\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG-20190702-WA0000-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"193\" height=\"257\" /></a>So here I am booted and suited inspecting my girls, all 30,000 of them. No I didn\'t count them but I\'m assured a healthy colony can be anything between 20,000 - 50,000 bees.\r\n\r\nThere were eggs in some of the cells and larvae and plenty of bees. I\'m holding a frame from the middle of the brood box and it is covered in bees. I\'m wondering why they are not out foraging.\r\n\r\nOn the very last frame I found the queen which is always reassuring.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/YesterdayJul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-5694\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/YesterdayJul19-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>Another first for me was a visit to Kinema in the Woods in Woodhall Spa.  I met up with Mary (we are still friends) to see \"Yesterday\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Kinema and More Bees', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5691-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-07-02 21:49:01', '2019-07-02 20:49:01', '', 5691, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5696', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5697, 283, '2019-07-02 22:05:42', '2019-07-02 21:05:42', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-manualjul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright  wp-image-5695\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-manualjul19-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"171\" height=\"228\" /></a>After my first week of bee ownership it was time for my first solo inspection. The idea is to ensure there is a queen and she is laying eggs which are growing into larvae.\r\n\r\nThere\'s so much to learn and although I already have Collins Beekeeper\'s Bible I bought a Haynes Manual. The last Haynes Manual I studied was for a Triumph Spitfire.\r\n\r\nIt\'s a very good reference manual and I\'m sure it will be well thumbed and probably covered by honey before too long.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG-20190702-WA0000.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5692\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG-20190702-WA0000-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"193\" height=\"257\" /></a>So here I am booted and suited inspecting my girls, all 30,000 of them. No I didn\'t count them but I\'m assured a healthy colony can be anything between 20,000 - 50,000 bees.\r\n\r\nThere were eggs in some of the cells and larvae and plenty of bees. I\'m holding a frame from the middle of the brood box and it is covered in bees. I\'m wondering why they are not out foraging.\r\n\r\nOn the very last frame I found the queen which is always reassuring.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/YesterdayJul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-5694\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/YesterdayJul19-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>Another first for me was a visit to <a href=\"https://thekinemainthewoods.co.uk/KinemaInTheWoods.dll/Home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kinema in the Woods</a> in Woodhall Spa.  I met up with Mary (we are still friends) to see \"Yesterday\", a film written by Richard Curtiss and directed by Danny Boyle. This makes it a dream team production.\r\n\r\nThere have been so many reviews that I won\'t be giving anything away by saying the story is told in a time when nobody remembers that the Beetles ever existed apart from one person and when he starts to play some of their music everyone is in awe. A novel idea, well told, very funny and certainly a feel-good movie.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/kinemajul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5693\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/kinemajul19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>And so to the <a href=\"https://thekinemainthewoods.co.uk/KinemaInTheWoods.dll/Home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kinema in the Woods</a>. I\'ve never been before but had heard of it\'s quaintness. Well, it is more than quaint. The decor is straight out of the 1950s including ruffled curtains, an interval part way through the film (no need to change reels because it\'s digital) and then the awesome organ that rises out of the stage with organist who plays whilst we ate ice cream.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'More Bees and Kinema', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5691-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-07-02 22:05:42', '2019-07-02 21:05:42', '', 5691, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5697', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5698, 283, '2019-07-03 12:28:57', '2019-07-03 11:28:57', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-manualjul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5695\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-manualjul19-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"171\" height=\"228\" /></a>After my first week of bee ownership it was time for my first solo inspection. The idea is to ensure there is a queen and she is laying eggs which are growing into larvae.\r\n\r\nThere\'s so much to learn and although I already have Collins Beekeeper\'s Bible I bought a Haynes Manual. The last Haynes Manual I studied was for a Triumph Spitfire.\r\n\r\nIt\'s a very good reference manual and I\'m sure it will be well thumbed and probably covered by honey before too long.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG-20190702-WA0000.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5692\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG-20190702-WA0000-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"193\" height=\"257\" /></a>So here I am booted and suited inspecting my girls, all 30,000 of them. No I didn\'t count them but I\'m assured a healthy colony can be anything between 20,000 - 50,000 bees.\r\n\r\nThere were eggs in some of the cells and larvae and plenty of bees. I\'m holding a frame from the middle of the brood box and it is covered in bees. I\'m wondering why they are not out foraging.\r\n\r\nOn the very last frame I found the queen which is always reassuring.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/YesterdayJul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-5694\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/YesterdayJul19-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>Another first for me was a visit to <a href=\"https://thekinemainthewoods.co.uk/KinemaInTheWoods.dll/Home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kinema in the Woods</a> in Woodhall Spa.  I met up with Mary (we are still friends) to see \"Yesterday\", a film written by Richard Curtiss and directed by Danny Boyle. This makes it a dream team production.\r\n\r\nThere have been so many reviews that I won\'t be giving anything away by saying the story is told in a time when nobody remembers that the Beetles ever existed apart from one person and when he starts to play some of their music everyone is in awe. A novel idea, well told, very funny and certainly a feel-good movie.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/kinemajul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5693\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/kinemajul19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>And so to the <a href=\"https://thekinemainthewoods.co.uk/KinemaInTheWoods.dll/Home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kinema in the Woods</a>. I\'ve never been before but had heard of it\'s quaintness. Well, it is more than quaint. The decor is straight out of the 1950s including ruffled curtains, an interval part way through the film (no need to change reels because it\'s digital) and then the awesome organ that rises out of the stage with organist who plays whilst we ate ice cream.', 'More Bees and Kinema', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5691-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-07-03 12:28:57', '2019-07-03 11:28:57', '', 5691, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5698', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5719, 283, '2019-07-14 22:27:30', '2019-07-14 21:27:30', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/garys-beesjul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5720\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/garys-beesjul19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>A weekend away with my friend and ex work colleague Gary and his wife Caroline. We spent Friday afternoon managing his bees. Gary has only been keeping bees for 2 years and was kind enough to donate a complete colony to me to get me started. He also started with one hive and now has two fully functional colonies with a small nucleus. A fourth hive didn\'t appear to have a queen so we took the brood box and using newspaper as a screen we placed it on top of his Hive 2. The idea is to poke a few holes in the newspaper and slowly the \"foreign\" bees are accepted and adopted by Hive 2 bees. This unification can take up to a week and isn\'t always successful in which case the \"foreign\" bees will be attacked and killed.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/broughton-castlejul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5723\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/broughton-castlejul19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"233\" height=\"175\" /></a>On Saturday morning Gary and I went for a walk around the grounds of Broughton Castle. It was untouched by the Civil War and the moat is completely in tact. On the walk we came across several beehives that Gary had assisted with a month or so ago. They stood within a stone compound and we stood outside watching them flying in and out for about 20 minutes. Suddenly a bee got caught in Gary\'s hair and after I flicked it out we became the centre of attention for several bees, one of which stung me above my eyebrow. We made ourselves scarce with several bees in pursuit. Gary managed to get the sting out because it continues to pump sting even after it is detached from the bee. My first sting since becoming a beekeeper and it wasn\'t one of my bees. The sting didn\'t last long and there wasn\'t any swelling so I\'m not allergic - good news.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/blenheim-rose-theatrejul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5722\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/blenheim-rose-theatrejul19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"248\" height=\"186\" /></a>On Saturday evening we went to Blenheim Palace to see A Midsummer Night\'s Dream in a \"pop up\" Rose theatre.\r\nThe food shops in the \"village\" outside the theatre were limited in choice and the quality was quite bland. Like all venues with a captive audience they can charge what they like. Here a small ice cream tub was £3.80, which was extortionate.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Midsummer-Blenheimjul19.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5721 alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Midsummer-Blenheimjul19-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" /></a>The play itself was brilliant. We had excellent seats and front of stage. The \"mechanicals\" who perform the play within the play were superb. The setting of the imps and fairies was jaw dropping and the only criticism I might put forward was that Titania and Oberon went through a gender swap which didn\'t do anything for the play and the fact that the female Oberon was heavily pregnant made the gender change even more bizarre.', 'Blenheim and Bees', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'blenheim-and-bees', '', '', '2019-07-14 22:27:30', '2019-07-14 21:27:30', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5719', 0, 'post', '', 2),
(5700, 283, '2019-07-05 21:58:11', '2019-07-05 20:58:11', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/hampton-court4jul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5706 size-medium\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/hampton-court4jul19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>I visited <a href=\"https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-hampton-court-palace-garden-festival\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Hampton Court flower show</a> this week to see the show garden designed and built by Caitlin McLaughlin. Jane met her mum 30+ years ago so I\'ve known Caitlin all her life.\r\n\r\nShe won silver gilt for her Urban Pollinator garden and it was much admired by visitors. The BBC interviewed her for the RHS Hampton Court TV programme and also decided to film the closing sequences from her garden. Here she is talking to Joe Swift and Jo Whiley. For the interview <a href=\"https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0006hhv/hampton-court-palace-garden-festival-2019-episode-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">click here and fast forward to 6 minutes...</a>\r\n\r\nThe Urban Pollinator is aimed at attracting all kinds of pollinators and there is emphasis on solitary and honey bees.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5705,5704,5703\"]\r\n\r\nHer attention to detail is awe inspiring from the hexagonal boxes filled with materials for bees to nest in to the shallow pool for them to drink and the hexagonal slabs inlaid with copper bees. I was totally blown away by it.\r\n\r\nElsewhere in the show were various gardens that took my fancy. I enjoyed the Beth Chatto garden which was filled with plants for an arid garden - the future outcome of climate change on the UK.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5702,5701,5708,5707\"]\r\n\r\nThe only downside to the event was the drive home. I\'d stayed over the night before the visit but my journey back was slow and tedious as I tried to navigate my way through west London rush hour and the tedious grind around the M25. Overall it was a happy and  memorable day.', 'RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Festival', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'rhs-hampton-court-palace-flower-festival', '', '', '2019-07-05 21:59:50', '2019-07-05 20:59:50', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5700', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5701, 283, '2019-07-05 21:11:32', '2019-07-05 20:11:32', '', 'hampton court8(jul19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'hampton-court8jul19', '', '', '2019-07-05 21:11:32', '2019-07-05 20:11:32', '', 5700, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/hampton-court8jul19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5702, 283, '2019-07-05 21:11:37', '2019-07-05 20:11:37', '', 'hampton court1(jul19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'hampton-court1jul19', '', '', '2019-07-05 21:11:37', '2019-07-05 20:11:37', '', 5700, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/hampton-court1jul19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5703, 283, '2019-07-05 21:11:40', '2019-07-05 20:11:40', '', 'hampton court7(jul19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'hampton-court7jul19', '', '', '2019-07-05 21:11:40', '2019-07-05 20:11:40', '', 5700, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/hampton-court7jul19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5704, 283, '2019-07-05 21:11:42', '2019-07-05 20:11:42', '', 'hampton court6(jul19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'hampton-court6jul19', '', '', '2019-07-05 21:11:42', '2019-07-05 20:11:42', '', 5700, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/hampton-court6jul19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5705, 283, '2019-07-05 21:11:45', '2019-07-05 20:11:45', '', 'hampton court5(jul19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'hampton-court5jul19', '', '', '2019-07-05 21:11:45', '2019-07-05 20:11:45', '', 5700, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/hampton-court5jul19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5706, 283, '2019-07-05 21:11:48', '2019-07-05 20:11:48', '', 'hampton court4(jul19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'hampton-court4jul19', '', '', '2019-07-05 21:11:48', '2019-07-05 20:11:48', '', 5700, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/hampton-court4jul19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5707, 283, '2019-07-05 21:11:51', '2019-07-05 20:11:51', '', 'hampton court3(jul19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'hampton-court3jul19', '', '', '2019-07-05 21:11:51', '2019-07-05 20:11:51', '', 5700, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/hampton-court3jul19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5708, 283, '2019-07-05 21:11:53', '2019-07-05 20:11:53', '', 'hampton court2(jul19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'hampton-court2jul19', '', '', '2019-07-05 21:11:53', '2019-07-05 20:11:53', '', 5700, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/hampton-court2jul19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5709, 283, '2019-07-05 21:54:04', '2019-07-05 20:54:04', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/hampton-court4jul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-5706\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/hampton-court4jul19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>I visited <a href=\"https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-hampton-court-palace-garden-festival\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Hampton Court flower show</a> this week to see the show garden designed and built by Caitlin McLaughlin. Jane met her mum 30+ years ago so I\'ve known Caitlin all her life.\r\n\r\nShe won silver gilt for her Urban Pollinator garden and it was much admired by visitors. The BBC interviewed her for the RHS Hampton Court TV programme and also decided to film the closing sequences from her garden. Here she is talking to Joe Swift and Jo Whiley. For the interview <a href=\"https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0006hhv/hampton-court-palace-garden-festival-2019-episode-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">click here and fast forward to 6 minutes...</a>\r\n\r\nThe Urban Pollinator is aimed at attracting all kinds of pollinators and there is emphasis on solitary and honey bees.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5705,5704,5703\"]\r\n\r\nHer attention to detail is awe inspiring from the hexagonal boxes filled with materials for bees to nest in,the shallow pool for them to drink and the hexagonal slabs inlaid with copper bees. I was totally blown away by it.\r\n\r\nElsewhere in the show were various gardens that took my fancy. I enjoyed the Beth Chatto garden which was filled with plants for an arid garden - the future outcome of climate change on the UK.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5702,5701,5708,5707\"]\r\n\r\nThe only downside to the event was the drive home. I\'d stayed over the night before the visit but my journey back was slow and tedious as I tried to navigate my way through west London rush hour and the tedious grind around the M25. Overall it was a happy and  memorable day.', 'RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Festival', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5700-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-07-05 21:54:04', '2019-07-05 20:54:04', '', 5700, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5709', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5710, 283, '2019-07-05 21:58:11', '2019-07-05 20:58:11', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/hampton-court4jul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-5706\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/hampton-court4jul19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>I visited <a href=\"https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-hampton-court-palace-garden-festival\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Hampton Court flower show</a> this week to see the show garden designed and built by Caitlin McLaughlin. Jane met her mum 30+ years ago so I\'ve known Caitlin all her life.\r\n\r\nShe won silver gilt for her Urban Pollinator garden and it was much admired by visitors. The BBC interviewed her for the RHS Hampton Court TV programme and also decided to film the closing sequences from her garden. Here she is talking to Joe Swift and Jo Whiley. For the interview <a href=\"https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0006hhv/hampton-court-palace-garden-festival-2019-episode-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">click here and fast forward to 6 minutes...</a>\r\n\r\nThe Urban Pollinator is aimed at attracting all kinds of pollinators and there is emphasis on solitary and honey bees.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5705,5704,5703\"]\r\n\r\nHer attention to detail is awe inspiring from the hexagonal boxes filled with materials for bees to nest in to the shallow pool for them to drink and the hexagonal slabs inlaid with copper bees. I was totally blown away by it.\r\n\r\nElsewhere in the show were various gardens that took my fancy. I enjoyed the Beth Chatto garden which was filled with plants for an arid garden - the future outcome of climate change on the UK.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5702,5701,5708,5707\"]\r\n\r\nThe only downside to the event was the drive home. I\'d stayed over the night before the visit but my journey back was slow and tedious as I tried to navigate my way through west London rush hour and the tedious grind around the M25. Overall it was a happy and  memorable day.', 'RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Festival', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5700-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-07-05 21:58:11', '2019-07-05 20:58:11', '', 5700, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5710', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5711, 283, '2019-07-05 21:59:50', '2019-07-05 20:59:50', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/hampton-court4jul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5706 size-medium\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/hampton-court4jul19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>I visited <a href=\"https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-hampton-court-palace-garden-festival\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Hampton Court flower show</a> this week to see the show garden designed and built by Caitlin McLaughlin. Jane met her mum 30+ years ago so I\'ve known Caitlin all her life.\r\n\r\nShe won silver gilt for her Urban Pollinator garden and it was much admired by visitors. The BBC interviewed her for the RHS Hampton Court TV programme and also decided to film the closing sequences from her garden. Here she is talking to Joe Swift and Jo Whiley. For the interview <a href=\"https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0006hhv/hampton-court-palace-garden-festival-2019-episode-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">click here and fast forward to 6 minutes...</a>\r\n\r\nThe Urban Pollinator is aimed at attracting all kinds of pollinators and there is emphasis on solitary and honey bees.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5705,5704,5703\"]\r\n\r\nHer attention to detail is awe inspiring from the hexagonal boxes filled with materials for bees to nest in to the shallow pool for them to drink and the hexagonal slabs inlaid with copper bees. I was totally blown away by it.\r\n\r\nElsewhere in the show were various gardens that took my fancy. I enjoyed the Beth Chatto garden which was filled with plants for an arid garden - the future outcome of climate change on the UK.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5702,5701,5708,5707\"]\r\n\r\nThe only downside to the event was the drive home. I\'d stayed over the night before the visit but my journey back was slow and tedious as I tried to navigate my way through west London rush hour and the tedious grind around the M25. Overall it was a happy and  memorable day.', 'RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Festival', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5700-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-07-05 21:59:50', '2019-07-05 20:59:50', '', 5700, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5711', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5750, 283, '2019-08-07 09:08:08', '2019-08-07 08:08:08', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/queen-bee-image.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5746 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/queen-bee-image-200x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>My first colony of bees has failed. I was advised to leave them alone for a couple of weeks to see if they would generate a new queen. The hive does have the capacity to sense when the queen is either absent or not laying sufficient eggs and will then create a new queen from an existing egg. It appears there weren\'t any eggs at the right phase of development to make it happen. At the last inspection there was still no eggs, no larvae and all the capped brood had hatched with no new brood visible. There is no future for this colony and the existing bees will live out the rest of their short lives foraging and bringing back pollen for young that aren\'t there. It\'s very, very sad. I feel like I\'ve let them down...\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/nuc-beehiveaug19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5748\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/nuc-beehiveaug19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>After discussing several options with my bee mentor, Gary, we agreed the best solution is to allow this colony to die because it would be too late in the season to introduce a new queen and it might endanger two colonies. He will be supplying a new mini colony called a nucleus towards the end of the month.\r\n\r\nI\'ve bought myself a Nuc box so his bees including the queen will be transferred on their frames into this polystyrene box to overwinter. I will be responsible for looking after them and nurturing them into 2020. Once the new colony is at full strength I will transfer them on their frames into my existing hive. To put a positive spin on this I will be able to use the Nuc box in the future when the bees create a new queen (they do when they\'re not happy with the existing queen which causes them to swarm) and I can transfer the new queen into the Nuc. As you will notice there is a complete jargon surrounding bee keeping and I\'ve still got a lot to learn.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/sprained-wristaug19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5747\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/sprained-wristaug19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>It appears I\'m going through a period of \"bad luck\". I don\'t believe in the superstition that bad things happen in threes however I hope my \"luck\" has changed. I\'ve lost the queen; the MX5 battery went flat when it was parked for 5 hours at RSPB Bempton Cliffs; and I slipped on some wet, slime covered pavement when rushing to a U3A committee meeting. As I fell I put my hand down to break my fall and subsequently sprained my wrist. It hurt like hell for 24 hours but today it is a lot better. I still can\'t pick up the kettle with my left hand but I can type. I\'m grateful for the time I\'ve spent in the gym over the last 6 months because without that upper body strength I think it would have been a lot worse.', 'In the Midst of Life...', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5745-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-08-07 09:08:08', '2019-08-07 08:08:08', '', 5745, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5750', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES
(5725, 283, '2019-07-22 16:55:20', '2019-07-22 15:55:20', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/cowboy-junkiesjul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5728\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/cowboy-junkiesjul19-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>Last week I went to Holmfirth to see <a href=\"https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/what-s-on/the-cowboy-junkies-we-were-big-joy-division-fans-1-9872705\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cowboy Junkies</a> at the Picturedrome. I stayed overnight with my college friends Susie and Jon. We had a good catch and thankfully they enjoyed the music. The band was very good, the first set was from their new album with the second half playing some of their older songs. They\'ve been around for over thirty years but I only discovered them about 2 years ago. I\'ve been asked several times how I would describe their music - it is a fusion of rock and folk best listened to in a smoke filled bar (although I hate smoke filled bars so it shouldn\'t work for me). The Picturedrome was a perfect venue and it was a very good night.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/harvest1jul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5726 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/harvest1jul19-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>The garden is keeping me busy with a lot of weeding being done but it seems no sooner have I caught up with one area  and started another then I have to start all over again. The vegetable plot is looking neglected and several crops have failed altogether. I sowed parsnips twice and still not a sign; I had to do a second sowing of beetroot (unheard of before); one row of peas seem to have been eaten by the pigeons and the peas that I thought were sugar snaps have come up as Kelevedon Wonder although I did sow them side by side so they may have got confused on the pea netting; the potatoes, carrots and courgettes are all doing very well which is a euphemism for inundated. The runner beans are in flower and look as though I might get a decent crop.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-inspection-2-2jul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-5715\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-inspection-2-2jul19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>And so to the bees. Ho hum, these little ladies are proving to be a worry. It seems the queen has died. For the third week running I cannot see her during the inspection and I cannot see any signs of eggs or larvae. It is possible that the workers will convert an egg into a queen cell and produce a new queen but this will take 16 days so the best advice I\'ve been given is to leave them alone and wait 2 or 3 weeks. I keep telling myself that bees have been doing this for millennia and I should stop worrying but I don\'t want to let my friend Gary (bee donor) down or let the colony die when they are working so hard. Only time will tell. A local beekeeper advised me that it has been a difficult year for beekeepers generally with an unusual number of swarms but that is little consolation to a novice like me.', 'Cowboys, Bees and Gardening', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'cowboys-bees-and-gardening', '', '', '2019-07-22 16:55:20', '2019-07-22 15:55:20', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5725', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5714, 283, '2019-07-09 20:40:50', '2019-07-09 19:40:50', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-inspection-2-2jul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5715\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-inspection-2-2jul19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>My second bee inspection today and all went well. I didn\'t see the queen but this is no reason to panic - yet. I did see a bee emerging from a cell which was incredible and the \"super\", the box above the brood box, has started to show signs of honey being stored on three frames\r\n\r\nI also discovered that holding the frame of bees and taking a close up photo isn\'t easy.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-inspection2-1jul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5716\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-inspection2-1jul19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>During my first inspection the smoker went out but I had no problems this time other than my clothes now smell of smoke. It\'s a delicate balance to keep the wood shavings smoking without catching fire or going out completely. The bees were very active but not aggressive and were compliant when I brushed them aside to see into the cells. I did find just blowing on them was sufficient when I held the frame close.\r\n\r\nI guessed that getting to know what to look for would take some time however I\'ve already started picking out the drones and drone cells. More importantly I didn\'t see any queen cells because if the colony starts to create a queen it is possible they will swarm although this is more common in May and June. There\'s so much to learn and I\'m already finding it a fascinating pastime.\r\n\r\nAnd so back to the garden...', 'Bee Inspection No. 2', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'bee-inspection-no-2', '', '', '2019-07-09 20:40:50', '2019-07-09 19:40:50', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5714', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5715, 283, '2019-07-09 16:22:51', '2019-07-09 15:22:51', '', 'bee inspection 2-2(jul19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'bee-inspection-2-2jul19', '', '', '2019-07-09 16:22:51', '2019-07-09 15:22:51', '', 5714, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-inspection-2-2jul19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5716, 283, '2019-07-09 16:22:54', '2019-07-09 15:22:54', '', 'bee inspection2-1(jul19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'bee-inspection2-1jul19', '', '', '2019-07-09 16:22:54', '2019-07-09 15:22:54', '', 5714, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-inspection2-1jul19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5717, 283, '2019-07-09 16:23:09', '2019-07-09 15:23:09', '', 'Bee Inspection No. 2', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5714-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-07-09 16:23:09', '2019-07-09 15:23:09', '', 5714, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5717', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5718, 283, '2019-07-09 20:40:50', '2019-07-09 19:40:50', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-inspection-2-2jul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5715\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-inspection-2-2jul19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>My second bee inspection today and all went well. I didn\'t see the queen but this is no reason to panic - yet. I did see a bee emerging from a cell which was incredible and the \"super\", the box above the brood box, has started to show signs of honey being stored on three frames\r\n\r\nI also discovered that holding the frame of bees and taking a close up photo isn\'t easy.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-inspection2-1jul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5716\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-inspection2-1jul19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>During my first inspection the smoker went out but I had no problems this time other than my clothes now smell of smoke. It\'s a delicate balance to keep the wood shavings smoking without catching fire or going out completely. The bees were very active but not aggressive and were compliant when I brushed them aside to see into the cells. I did find just blowing on them was sufficient when I held the frame close.\r\n\r\nI guessed that getting to know what to look for would take some time however I\'ve already started picking out the drones and drone cells. More importantly I didn\'t see any queen cells because if the colony starts to create a queen it is possible they will swarm although this is more common in May and June. There\'s so much to learn and I\'m already finding it a fascinating pastime.\r\n\r\nAnd so back to the garden...', 'Bee Inspection No. 2', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5714-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-07-09 20:40:50', '2019-07-09 19:40:50', '', 5714, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5718', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5720, 283, '2019-07-14 21:54:20', '2019-07-14 20:54:20', '', 'gary\'s bees(jul19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'garys-beesjul19', '', '', '2019-07-14 21:54:20', '2019-07-14 20:54:20', '', 5719, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/garys-beesjul19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5721, 283, '2019-07-14 21:54:25', '2019-07-14 20:54:25', '', 'Midsummer Blenheim(jul19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'midsummer-blenheimjul19', '', '', '2019-07-14 21:54:25', '2019-07-14 20:54:25', '', 5719, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Midsummer-Blenheimjul19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5722, 283, '2019-07-14 22:03:21', '2019-07-14 21:03:21', '', 'blenheim rose theatre(jul19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'blenheim-rose-theatrejul19', '', '', '2019-07-14 22:03:21', '2019-07-14 21:03:21', '', 5719, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/blenheim-rose-theatrejul19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5723, 283, '2019-07-14 22:03:23', '2019-07-14 21:03:23', '', 'broughton castle(jul19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'broughton-castlejul19', '', '', '2019-07-14 22:03:23', '2019-07-14 21:03:23', '', 5719, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/broughton-castlejul19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5724, 283, '2019-07-14 22:27:30', '2019-07-14 21:27:30', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/garys-beesjul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5720\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/garys-beesjul19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>A weekend away with my friend and ex work colleague Gary and his wife Caroline. We spent Friday afternoon managing his bees. Gary has only been keeping bees for 2 years and was kind enough to donate a complete colony to me to get me started. He also started with one hive and now has two fully functional colonies with a small nucleus. A fourth hive didn\'t appear to have a queen so we took the brood box and using newspaper as a screen we placed it on top of his Hive 2. The idea is to poke a few holes in the newspaper and slowly the \"foreign\" bees are accepted and adopted by Hive 2 bees. This unification can take up to a week and isn\'t always successful in which case the \"foreign\" bees will be attacked and killed.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/broughton-castlejul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5723\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/broughton-castlejul19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"233\" height=\"175\" /></a>On Saturday morning Gary and I went for a walk around the grounds of Broughton Castle. It was untouched by the Civil War and the moat is completely in tact. On the walk we came across several beehives that Gary had assisted with a month or so ago. They stood within a stone compound and we stood outside watching them flying in and out for about 20 minutes. Suddenly a bee got caught in Gary\'s hair and after I flicked it out we became the centre of attention for several bees, one of which stung me above my eyebrow. We made ourselves scarce with several bees in pursuit. Gary managed to get the sting out because it continues to pump sting even after it is detached from the bee. My first sting since becoming a beekeeper and it wasn\'t one of my bees. The sting didn\'t last long and there wasn\'t any swelling so I\'m not allergic - good news.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/blenheim-rose-theatrejul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5722\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/blenheim-rose-theatrejul19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"248\" height=\"186\" /></a>On Saturday evening we went to Blenheim Palace to see A Midsummer Night\'s Dream in a \"pop up\" Rose theatre.\r\nThe food shops in the \"village\" outside the theatre were limited in choice and the quality was quite bland. Like all venues with a captive audience they can charge what they like. Here a small ice cream tub was £3.80, which was extortionate.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Midsummer-Blenheimjul19.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5721 alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Midsummer-Blenheimjul19-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" /></a>The play itself was brilliant. We had excellent seats and front of stage. The \"mechanicals\" who perform the play within the play were superb. The setting of the imps and fairies was jaw dropping and the only criticism I might put forward was that Titania and Oberon went through a gender swap which didn\'t do anything for the play and the fact that the female Oberon was heavily pregnant made the gender change even more bizarre.', 'Blenheim and Bees', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5719-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-07-14 22:27:30', '2019-07-14 21:27:30', '', 5719, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5724', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5726, 283, '2019-07-22 16:25:57', '2019-07-22 15:25:57', '', 'harvest1(jul19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'harvest1jul19', '', '', '2019-07-22 16:25:57', '2019-07-22 15:25:57', '', 5725, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/harvest1jul19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5728, 283, '2019-07-22 16:41:24', '2019-07-22 15:41:24', '', 'cowboy junkies(jul19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'cowboy-junkiesjul19', '', '', '2019-07-22 16:41:24', '2019-07-22 15:41:24', '', 5725, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/cowboy-junkiesjul19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5729, 283, '2019-07-22 16:55:20', '2019-07-22 15:55:20', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/cowboy-junkiesjul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5728\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/cowboy-junkiesjul19-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>Last week I went to Holmfirth to see <a href=\"https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/what-s-on/the-cowboy-junkies-we-were-big-joy-division-fans-1-9872705\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cowboy Junkies</a> at the Picturedrome. I stayed overnight with my college friends Susie and Jon. We had a good catch and thankfully they enjoyed the music. The band was very good, the first set was from their new album with the second half playing some of their older songs. They\'ve been around for over thirty years but I only discovered them about 2 years ago. I\'ve been asked several times how I would describe their music - it is a fusion of rock and folk best listened to in a smoke filled bar (although I hate smoke filled bars so it shouldn\'t work for me). The Picturedrome was a perfect venue and it was a very good night.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/harvest1jul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5726 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/harvest1jul19-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>The garden is keeping me busy with a lot of weeding being done but it seems no sooner have I caught up with one area  and started another then I have to start all over again. The vegetable plot is looking neglected and several crops have failed altogether. I sowed parsnips twice and still not a sign; I had to do a second sowing of beetroot (unheard of before); one row of peas seem to have been eaten by the pigeons and the peas that I thought were sugar snaps have come up as Kelevedon Wonder although I did sow them side by side so they may have got confused on the pea netting; the potatoes, carrots and courgettes are all doing very well which is a euphemism for inundated. The runner beans are in flower and look as though I might get a decent crop.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-inspection-2-2jul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-5715\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-inspection-2-2jul19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>And so to the bees. Ho hum, these little ladies are proving to be a worry. It seems the queen has died. For the third week running I cannot see her during the inspection and I cannot see any signs of eggs or larvae. It is possible that the workers will convert an egg into a queen cell and produce a new queen but this will take 16 days so the best advice I\'ve been given is to leave them alone and wait 2 or 3 weeks. I keep telling myself that bees have been doing this for millennia and I should stop worrying but I don\'t want to let my friend Gary (bee donor) down or let the colony die when they are working so hard. Only time will tell. A local beekeeper advised me that it has been a difficult year for beekeepers generally with an unusual number of swarms but that is little consolation to a novice like me.', 'Cowboys, Bees and Gardening', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5725-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-07-22 16:55:20', '2019-07-22 15:55:20', '', 5725, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5729', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5730, 283, '2019-07-23 12:11:45', '2019-07-23 11:11:45', '', 'bee header 940x198', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'bee-header-940x198', '', '', '2019-07-23 12:11:45', '2019-07-23 11:11:45', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-header-940x198.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5731, 283, '2019-07-23 12:11:59', '2019-07-23 11:11:59', '', 'cropped-bee-header-940x198.jpg', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'cropped-bee-header-940x198-jpg', '', '', '2019-07-23 12:11:59', '2019-07-23 11:11:59', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/cropped-bee-header-940x198.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5738, 283, '2019-07-31 15:11:00', '2019-07-31 14:11:00', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/harvest2jul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5739\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/harvest2jul19-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>Despite the extremes of weather - it\'s either too hot, too dry or too wet and sometimes all three in the same day and despite my random periods of neglect the vegetable plot continues to deliver to varying degrees. I sowed four rows of peas, Kelvedon Wonder and Sugar Snap, but only two rows managed a crop (I suspect the wood pigeons ate them) and even then it was only enough for two meals. In contrast to the peas, the courgettes, as always, are giving me more marrows than I know what to do with. Every year I tell myself not to sow too many courgette seeds but do I listen? No, I don\'t.\r\n\r\nThe potatoes are looking good and each plant produces enough to last me a week. I should be cutting back on carbs but I don\'t like to see produce going to waste.\r\n\r\nI\'ve also pulled up the white onions and garlic. Sometimes the crop isn\'t that much larger than what I planted and I cannot figure why the onion size differs so dramatically across the same row. It\'s worth looking at the comments <a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5154\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">I made in August 2018</a> and note the similarity.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5741,5740\"]\r\n\r\nAll tied up and drying out in the potting shed. When it stops raining the red onions and shallots will need digging up.', 'Feast and Famine', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'feast-and-famine-2', '', '', '2019-07-31 15:11:00', '2019-07-31 14:11:00', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5738', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5734, 283, '2019-07-27 15:17:16', '2019-07-27 14:17:16', 'Life isn\'t about the big stuff, it\'s always the little things that either lift the spirits or dash all hope. The news of Boris the buffoon becoming Prime Minister had no affect on me because I cannot influence it however I found the following story very uplifting.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/steve@gym.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5524 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/steve@gym-200x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>At the gym on Friday, Tracey my personal trainer, was showing me her tattooed eyebrows (don\'t ask). She explained that the tattoo artist, who she knew, did it for free because Tracey was so good to other people. As a consequence, Tracey had decided to give her training services to someone who was overweight and unfit - the pay it forward principle. This is such a lovely story and we should all endeavour to pay it forward - it was a philosophy Jane followed whole heartedly.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/pigletaug16.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-3787 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/pigletaug16-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>Talking of the love of my life: apart from 40,000 bees and piglet there are no other significant females in my life. Even my queen seems to have deserted me. I\'m desperate to open the hive to see if a new queen is laying eggs but I must be patient and wait another week.\r\n\r\nAs for piglet, she has recently been serviced because she would stop in mid cycle. It turns out after 3 years and 2,400 hours of operation the battery had failed. It probably wasn\'t helped by an incident when she ran over a small branch which stopped her from moving forward or going back so she sat there trying to go backwards and forwards until the battery went completely flat. She\'s back to mowing again however I have changed her working hours so that she now gets the weekend off and a 2 hour lunch break. What she will do with all of this additional free time is a mystery to me, maybe she\'s contemplating the world\'s problems and the rise of the far right - who knows.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/online-dating.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4409\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/online-dating-200x143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"143\" /></a>On the dating front there is nothing to report. I\'ve had a couple of close shaves (not literally). One lady who I introduced to my college friends was described as someone with \"entrapment\" in mind. The ending of a relationship, even after one or two dates, is so difficult. In some ways not dating is a lot easier.\r\n\r\nSpeaking of which I continue to find out who I am without Jane. A simple but telling example of this exploration is that I have a very boring breakfast routine - in the winter it\'s porridge and in summer weetabix however recently I\'ve taken to eating muesli. In my previous life I would refer to it as sawdust but now I like it - go figure.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/project-echojul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5735\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/project-echojul19-200x135.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"135\" /></a>I\'m also considering volunteering to help St Barnabas Hospice with a technology project they have been running for six months. <a href=\"https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/video-conferencing-improves-palliative-and-end-of-life-care-in-lincolnshire/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Project Echo</a> derives from New Mexico where specialists/experts make an online presentation to care homes and other professionals via video conferencing to improve palliative care. At my introductory session it was very apparent it was a worthwhile project with people from care homes submitting case studies for discussion with experts. The only downside is that it would require my input every Tuesday afternoon from September until early December. I ask myself - what else would I be doing on a Tuesday afternoon? Yes, I could be reading a book but I don\'t at the moment... Watch this space!', 'It\'s the little things...', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'its-the-little-things', '', '', '2019-07-27 15:23:36', '2019-07-27 14:23:36', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5734', 0, 'post', '', 2),
(5735, 283, '2019-07-27 15:09:19', '2019-07-27 14:09:19', '', 'project echo(jul19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'project-echojul19', '', '', '2019-07-27 15:09:19', '2019-07-27 14:09:19', '', 5734, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/project-echojul19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5736, 283, '2019-07-27 15:17:16', '2019-07-27 14:17:16', 'Life isn\'t about the big stuff, it\'s always the little things that either lift the spirits or dash all hope. The news of Boris the buffoon becoming Prime Minister had no affect on me because I cannot influence it however I found the following story very uplifting.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/steve@gym.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5524 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/steve@gym-200x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>At the gym on Friday, Tracey my personal trainer, was showing me her tattooed eyebrows (don\'t ask). She explained that the tattoo artist, who she knew, did it for free because Tracey was so good to other people. As a consequence, Tracey had decided to give her training services to someone who was overweight and unfit - the pay it forward principle. This is such a lovely story and we should all endeavour to pay it forward - it was a philosophy Jane followed whole heartedly.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/pigletaug16.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-3787 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/pigletaug16-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>Talking of the love of my life: apart from 40,000 bees and piglet there are no other significant females in my life. Even my queen seems to have deserted me. I\'m desperate to open the hive to see if a new queen is laying eggs but I must be patient and wait another week.\r\n\r\nAs for piglet, she has recently been serviced because she would stop in mid cycle. It turns out after 3 years and 2,400 hours of operation the battery had failed. It probably wasn\'t helped by an incident when she ran over a small branch which stopped her from moving forward or going back so she sat there trying to go backwards and forwards until the battery went completely flat. She\'s back to mowing again however I have changed her working hours so that she now gets the weekend off and a 2 hour lunch break. What she will do with all of this additional free time is a mystery to me, maybe she\'s contemplating the world\'s problems and the rise of the far right - who knows.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/online-dating.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4409\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/online-dating-200x143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"143\" /></a>On the dating front there is nothing to report. I\'ve had a couple of close shaves (not literally). One lady who I introduced to my college friends was described as someone with \"entrapment\" in mind. The ending of a relationship, even after one or two dates, is so difficult. In some ways not dating is a lot easier.\r\n\r\nSpeaking of which I continue to find out who I am without Jane. A simple but telling example of this exploration is that I have a very boring breakfast routine - in the winter it\'s porridge and in summer weetabix however recently I\'ve taken to eating muesli. In my previous life I would refer to it as sawdust but now I like it - go figure.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/project-echojul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5735\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/project-echojul19-200x135.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"135\" /></a>I\'m also considering volunteering to help St Barnabas Hospice with a technology project they have been running for six months. <a href=\"https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/video-conferencing-improves-palliative-and-end-of-life-care-in-lincolnshire/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Project Echo</a> derives from New Mexico where specialists/experts make an online presentation to care homes and other professionals via video conferencing to improve palliative care. At my introductory session it was very apparent it was a worthwhile project with people from care homes submitting case studies for discussion with experts. The only downside is that it would require my input every Tuesday afternoon from September until early December. I ask myself - what else would I be doing on a Tuesday afternoon? Yes, I could be reading a book but I don\'t at the moment... Watch this space!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'It\'s the little things...', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5734-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-07-27 15:17:16', '2019-07-27 14:17:16', '', 5734, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5736', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5737, 283, '2019-07-27 15:23:36', '2019-07-27 14:23:36', 'Life isn\'t about the big stuff, it\'s always the little things that either lift the spirits or dash all hope. The news of Boris the buffoon becoming Prime Minister had no affect on me because I cannot influence it however I found the following story very uplifting.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/steve@gym.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5524 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/steve@gym-200x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>At the gym on Friday, Tracey my personal trainer, was showing me her tattooed eyebrows (don\'t ask). She explained that the tattoo artist, who she knew, did it for free because Tracey was so good to other people. As a consequence, Tracey had decided to give her training services to someone who was overweight and unfit - the pay it forward principle. This is such a lovely story and we should all endeavour to pay it forward - it was a philosophy Jane followed whole heartedly.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/pigletaug16.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-3787 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/pigletaug16-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>Talking of the love of my life: apart from 40,000 bees and piglet there are no other significant females in my life. Even my queen seems to have deserted me. I\'m desperate to open the hive to see if a new queen is laying eggs but I must be patient and wait another week.\r\n\r\nAs for piglet, she has recently been serviced because she would stop in mid cycle. It turns out after 3 years and 2,400 hours of operation the battery had failed. It probably wasn\'t helped by an incident when she ran over a small branch which stopped her from moving forward or going back so she sat there trying to go backwards and forwards until the battery went completely flat. She\'s back to mowing again however I have changed her working hours so that she now gets the weekend off and a 2 hour lunch break. What she will do with all of this additional free time is a mystery to me, maybe she\'s contemplating the world\'s problems and the rise of the far right - who knows.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/online-dating.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4409\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/online-dating-200x143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"143\" /></a>On the dating front there is nothing to report. I\'ve had a couple of close shaves (not literally). One lady who I introduced to my college friends was described as someone with \"entrapment\" in mind. The ending of a relationship, even after one or two dates, is so difficult. In some ways not dating is a lot easier.\r\n\r\nSpeaking of which I continue to find out who I am without Jane. A simple but telling example of this exploration is that I have a very boring breakfast routine - in the winter it\'s porridge and in summer weetabix however recently I\'ve taken to eating muesli. In my previous life I would refer to it as sawdust but now I like it - go figure.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/project-echojul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5735\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/project-echojul19-200x135.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"135\" /></a>I\'m also considering volunteering to help St Barnabas Hospice with a technology project they have been running for six months. <a href=\"https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/video-conferencing-improves-palliative-and-end-of-life-care-in-lincolnshire/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Project Echo</a> derives from New Mexico where specialists/experts make an online presentation to care homes and other professionals via video conferencing to improve palliative care. At my introductory session it was very apparent it was a worthwhile project with people from care homes submitting case studies for discussion with experts. The only downside is that it would require my input every Tuesday afternoon from September until early December. I ask myself - what else would I be doing on a Tuesday afternoon? Yes, I could be reading a book but I don\'t at the moment... Watch this space!', 'It\'s the little things...', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5734-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-07-27 15:23:36', '2019-07-27 14:23:36', '', 5734, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5737', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5739, 283, '2019-07-31 14:48:22', '2019-07-31 13:48:22', '', 'harvest2(jul19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'harvest2jul19', '', '', '2019-07-31 14:48:22', '2019-07-31 13:48:22', '', 5738, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/harvest2jul19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5740, 283, '2019-07-31 14:48:30', '2019-07-31 13:48:30', '', 'harvest onions(jul19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'harvest-onionsjul19', '', '', '2019-07-31 14:48:30', '2019-07-31 13:48:30', '', 5738, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/harvest-onionsjul19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5741, 283, '2019-07-31 14:48:33', '2019-07-31 13:48:33', '', 'garlic harvest(jul19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'garlic-harvestjul19', '', '', '2019-07-31 14:48:33', '2019-07-31 13:48:33', '', 5738, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/garlic-harvestjul19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5742, 283, '2019-07-31 15:00:30', '2019-07-31 14:00:30', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/harvest2jul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5739\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/harvest2jul19-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>Despite the extremes of weather - it\'s either too hot, too dry or too wet and sometimes all three in the same day and despite my random periods of neglect the vegetable plot continues to deliver to varying degrees. I sowed 4 rows of peas, Kelvedon Wonder and Sugar Snap, but only two rows managed a crop and even then it was only enough for two meals. In contrast to the peas, the courgettes, as always, are giving me more marrows than I know what to do with. Every year I tell myself not to sow too many courgette seeds but do I listen? No, I don\'t.\r\n\r\nThe potatoes are looking good and each plant produces enough to last me a week. I should be cutting back on carbs but I don\'t like to see produce going to waste.\r\n\r\nI\'ve also pulled up the white onions and garlic. Sometimes the crop isn\'t that much larger than what I planted and I cannot figure why the onion size differs so dramatically across the same row.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5741,5740\"]\r\n\r\nAll tied up and drying out in the potting shed. When it stops raining the red onions and shallots will need digging up.', 'Feast and Famine', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5738-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-07-31 15:00:30', '2019-07-31 14:00:30', '', 5738, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5742', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5743, 283, '2019-07-31 15:11:00', '2019-07-31 14:11:00', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/harvest2jul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5739\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/harvest2jul19-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>Despite the extremes of weather - it\'s either too hot, too dry or too wet and sometimes all three in the same day and despite my random periods of neglect the vegetable plot continues to deliver to varying degrees. I sowed four rows of peas, Kelvedon Wonder and Sugar Snap, but only two rows managed a crop (I suspect the wood pigeons ate them) and even then it was only enough for two meals. In contrast to the peas, the courgettes, as always, are giving me more marrows than I know what to do with. Every year I tell myself not to sow too many courgette seeds but do I listen? No, I don\'t.\r\n\r\nThe potatoes are looking good and each plant produces enough to last me a week. I should be cutting back on carbs but I don\'t like to see produce going to waste.\r\n\r\nI\'ve also pulled up the white onions and garlic. Sometimes the crop isn\'t that much larger than what I planted and I cannot figure why the onion size differs so dramatically across the same row. It\'s worth looking at the comments <a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5154\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">I made in August 2018</a> and note the similarity.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5741,5740\"]\r\n\r\nAll tied up and drying out in the potting shed. When it stops raining the red onions and shallots will need digging up.', 'Feast and Famine', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5738-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-07-31 15:11:00', '2019-07-31 14:11:00', '', 5738, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5743', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5751, 283, '2019-08-09 17:51:30', '2019-08-09 16:51:30', '<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>There is something fascinating about walled gardens. <a href=\"https://www.visiteaston.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Easton Walled Garden</a> near to Grantham and close to the A1 is in a wonderful setting. Like all gardens that have been long neglected, it is still a work in progress but well worth a visit.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I met with my friend Mary. We ate lunch outside the garden cafe surrounded by flowers and grasses very relaxing and a good place to recharge the batteries.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:gallery {\"ids\":[5752,5754,5753,5755],\"columns\":2,\"linkTo\":\"post\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/easton-walled-garden3aug19.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"5752\" class=\"wp-image-5752\"/></figure></li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/easton-walled-gardenaug19.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"5754\" class=\"wp-image-5754\"/></figure></li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/easton-walled-garden2aug19.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"5753\" class=\"wp-image-5753\"/></figure></li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/hibiscus-Eastonaug19.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"5755\" class=\"wp-image-5755\"/></figure></li></ul></figure>\n<!-- /wp:gallery -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>After spending a pleasant afternoon chatting we headed off to the <a href=\"https://www.thecholmeleyarms.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cholmeley Arms</a> in Burton le Coggles where we sat outside in the sunshine until it was time to eat. The menu is very good with very generous portions. I\'d certainly go again...</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->', 'Walled Gardens...', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'walled-gardens', '', '', '2021-07-02 16:34:07', '2021-07-02 15:34:07', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5751', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5745, 283, '2019-08-06 16:05:39', '2019-08-06 15:05:39', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/queen-bee-image.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5746 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/queen-bee-image-200x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>My first colony of bees has failed. I was advised to leave them alone for a couple of weeks to see if they would generate a new queen. The hive does have the capacity to sense when the queen is either absent or not laying sufficient eggs and will then create a new queen from an existing egg. It appears there weren\'t any eggs at the right phase of development to make it happen. At the last inspection there was still no eggs, no larvae and all the capped brood had hatched with no new brood visible. There is no future for this colony and the existing bees will live out the rest of their short lives foraging and bringing back pollen for young that aren\'t there. It\'s very, very sad. I feel like I\'ve let them down...\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/nuc-beehiveaug19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5748\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/nuc-beehiveaug19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>After discussing several options with my bee mentor, Gary, we agreed the best solution is to allow this colony to die because it would be too late in the season to introduce a new queen and it might endanger two colonies. He will be supplying a new mini colony called a nucleus towards the end of the month.\r\n\r\nI\'ve bought myself a Nuc box so his bees including the queen will be transferred on their frames into this polystyrene box to overwinter. I will be responsible for looking after them and nurturing them into 2020. Once the new colony is at full strength I will transfer them on their frames into my existing hive. To put a positive spin on this I will be able to use the Nuc box in the future when the bees create a new queen (they do when they\'re not happy with the existing queen which causes them to swarm) and I can transfer the new queen into the Nuc. As you will notice there is a complete jargon surrounding bee keeping and I\'ve still got a lot to learn.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/sprained-wristaug19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5747\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/sprained-wristaug19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>It appears I\'m going through a period of \"bad luck\". I don\'t believe in the superstition that bad things happen in threes however I hope my \"luck\" has changed. I\'ve lost the queen; the MX5 battery went flat when it was parked for 5 hours at RSPB Bempton Cliffs; and I slipped on some wet, slime covered pavement when rushing to a U3A committee meeting. As I fell I put my hand down to break my fall and subsequently sprained my wrist. It hurt like hell for 24 hours but today it is a lot better. I still can\'t pick up the kettle with my left hand but I can type. I\'m grateful for the time I\'ve spent in the gym over the last 6 months because without that upper body strength I think it would have been a lot worse.', 'In the Midst of Life...', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'in-the-midst-of-life', '', '', '2019-08-07 09:08:08', '2019-08-07 08:08:08', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5745', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5746, 283, '2019-08-06 14:59:30', '2019-08-06 13:59:30', '', 'Worker bees with the queen bee on honeycomb', 'Worker bees with the queen bee on honeycomb', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'worker-bees-with-the-queen-bee-on-honeycomb', '', '', '2019-08-06 14:59:30', '2019-08-06 13:59:30', '', 5745, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/queen-bee-image.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5747, 283, '2019-08-06 14:59:32', '2019-08-06 13:59:32', '', 'sprained wrist(aug19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'sprained-wristaug19', '', '', '2019-08-06 14:59:32', '2019-08-06 13:59:32', '', 5745, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/sprained-wristaug19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5748, 283, '2019-08-06 14:59:36', '2019-08-06 13:59:36', '', 'nuc beehive(aug19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'nuc-beehiveaug19', '', '', '2019-08-06 14:59:36', '2019-08-06 13:59:36', '', 5745, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/nuc-beehiveaug19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0);
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES
(5749, 283, '2019-08-06 16:05:39', '2019-08-06 15:05:39', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/queen-bee-image.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5746 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/queen-bee-image-200x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>\r\n\r\nMy first colony of bees has failed. I was advised to leave them alone for a couple of weeks to see if they would generate a new queen. The hive does have the capacity to sense when the queen is either absent or not laying sufficient eggs and will then create a new queen from an existing egg. It appears there weren\'t any eggs at the right phase of development to make it happen. At the last inspection there was still no eggs, no larvae and all the capped brood had hatched with no new brood visible. There is no future for this colony and the existing bees will live out the rest of their short lives foraging and bringing back pollen for young that aren\'t there. It\'s very, very sad. I feel like I\'ve let them down...\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/nuc-beehiveaug19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5748\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/nuc-beehiveaug19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>After discussing several options with my bee mentor, Gary, we agreed the best solution is to allow this colony to die because it would be too late in the season to introduce a new queen and it might endanger two colonies. He will be supplying a new mini colony called a nucleus towards the end of the month.\r\n\r\nI\'ve bought myself a Nuc box so his bees including the queen will be transferred on their frames into this polystyrene box to overwinter. I will be responsible for looking after them and nurturing them into 2020. Once the new colony is at full strength I will transfer them on their frames into my existing hive. To put a positive spin on this I will be able to use the Nuc box in the future when the bees create a new queen (they do when they\'re not happy with the existing queen which causes them to swarm) and I can transfer the new queen into the Nuc. As you will notice there is a complete jargon surrounding bee keeping and I\'ve still got a lot to learn.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/sprained-wristaug19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5747\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/sprained-wristaug19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>It appears I\'m going through a period of \"bad luck\". I don\'t believe in the superstition that bad things happen in threes however I hope my \"luck\" has changed. I\'ve lost the queen; the MX5 battery went flat when it was parked for 5 hours at RSPB Bempton Cliffs; and I slipped on some wet, slime covered pavement when rushing to a U3A committee meeting. As I fell I put my hand down to break my fall and subsequently sprained my wrist. It hurt like hell for 24 hours but today it is a lot better. I still can\'t pick up the kettle with my left hand but I can type. I\'m grateful for the time I\'ve spent in the gym over the last 6 months because without that upper body strength I think it would have been a lot worse.', 'In the Midst of Life...', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5745-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-08-06 16:05:39', '2019-08-06 15:05:39', '', 5745, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5749', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5752, 283, '2019-08-09 17:43:22', '2019-08-09 16:43:22', '', 'easton-walled-garden3(aug19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'easton-walled-garden3aug19', '', '', '2019-08-09 17:43:22', '2019-08-09 16:43:22', '', 5751, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/easton-walled-garden3aug19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5753, 283, '2019-08-09 17:43:26', '2019-08-09 16:43:26', '', 'easton-walled-garden2(aug19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'easton-walled-garden2aug19', '', '', '2019-08-09 17:43:26', '2019-08-09 16:43:26', '', 5751, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/easton-walled-garden2aug19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5754, 283, '2019-08-09 17:43:28', '2019-08-09 16:43:28', '', 'easton-walled-garden(aug19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'easton-walled-gardenaug19', '', '', '2019-08-09 17:43:28', '2019-08-09 16:43:28', '', 5751, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/easton-walled-gardenaug19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5755, 283, '2019-08-09 17:43:31', '2019-08-09 16:43:31', '', 'hibiscus-Easton(aug19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'hibiscus-eastonaug19', '', '', '2019-08-09 17:43:31', '2019-08-09 16:43:31', '', 5751, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/hibiscus-Eastonaug19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5756, 283, '2019-08-09 17:47:57', '2019-08-09 16:47:57', 'There is something fascinating about walled gardens. <a href=\"https://www.visiteaston.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Easton Walled Garden</a> near to Grantham and close to the A1 is in a wonderful setting. Like all gardens that have been long neglected, it is still a work in progress but well worth a visit.\r\n\r\nI met with my friend Mary for lunch outside the garden cafe surrounded by flowers and grasses.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5752,5754,5753,5755\"]\r\n\r\nAfter spending a pleasant afternoon chatting we headed off to the <a href=\"https://www.thecholmeleyarms.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cholmeley Arms</a> in Burton le Coggles where we sat outside in the sunshine until it was time to eat. The menu is very good with very generous portions. I\'d certainly go again...', 'Walled Gardens...', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5751-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-08-09 17:47:57', '2019-08-09 16:47:57', '', 5751, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5756', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5757, 283, '2019-08-09 17:51:30', '2019-08-09 16:51:30', 'There is something fascinating about walled gardens. <a href=\"https://www.visiteaston.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Easton Walled Garden</a> near to Grantham and close to the A1 is in a wonderful setting. Like all gardens that have been long neglected, it is still a work in progress but well worth a visit.\r\n\r\nI met with my friend Mary. We ate lunch outside the garden cafe surrounded by flowers and grasses very relaxing and a good place to recharge the batteries.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5752,5754,5753,5755\"]\r\n\r\nAfter spending a pleasant afternoon chatting we headed off to the <a href=\"https://www.thecholmeleyarms.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cholmeley Arms</a> in Burton le Coggles where we sat outside in the sunshine until it was time to eat. The menu is very good with very generous portions. I\'d certainly go again...', 'Walled Gardens...', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5751-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-08-09 17:51:30', '2019-08-09 16:51:30', '', 5751, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5757', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5802, 283, '2019-08-31 15:22:36', '2019-08-31 14:22:36', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/veg-produce-aug19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5803\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/veg-produce-aug19-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>As August comes to an end I start to think about tidying up the vegetable plot and harvesting whatever I can. The white onions have been hanging up to dry in the potting shed for a month so it\'s time for some of them to come into the house;  the others get stuffed into a stocking and hung in the workshop at the back of the garage.\r\n\r\nI\'ve belatedly dug up the shallots and red onions. Hopefully I will get a few more warm days so they will dry in the potting shed.\r\n\r\nAs always, will I ever learn, I turn my back on the courgettes and they grow into marrows. Those in the photo may find their way to the top of the drive to be given away. I promise myself every year that I will only grow one courgette plant because you only need one per person however if 4 seeds grow then I cannot help myself but plant them out. The carrots have done really well but how many can one person consume. I might try lifting the potatoes and carrots and put them into a bag of sand to see if that will preserve them rather than leave them in the ground where they will be eaten by slugs and grubs.\r\n\r\nThe runner beans are good if I pick them early however if I miss and they grow large then they become very stringy. I\'ve enough to be choosy about which ones make it to the table and which ones go straight into the compost.\r\n\r\nAs I take out the produce I can see that some digging and weeding will be needed to tidy up the plots before autumn gets a hold. I also need to dig in copious amounts of compost to give the soil some body to improve its water retention. After a very heavy downpour the other evening the soil is dry a few centimeters down.', 'Vegetable Garden...', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'vegetable-garden', '', '', '2019-08-31 15:22:36', '2019-08-31 14:22:36', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5802', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5759, 283, '2019-08-16 11:35:20', '2019-08-16 10:35:20', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/hedge-trimming-aug19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5763\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/hedge-trimming-aug19-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>The start of my adventure to the Edinburgh Fringe I drove up to stay with my friends, Tony and Jude. Tony mentioned beforehand that he needed a hand with cutting his hornbeam hedge so I took my Stihl motor with the hedge trimmer attachment. It\'s a very large hedge but over a couple of hours we soon had it licked into shape and finished the back of it the following morning.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/jaguar-xk150aug19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5760\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/jaguar-xk150aug19-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>We rewarded ourselves with a trip to the Motor Museum in Elgin. An eclectic mix of classic cars some of which had raced at Le Mans.\r\n\r\nMost of the cars were owned by the McWhirter family who started a local DIY store. Some of the cars were still raced on occasions.\r\n\r\nAfter just a couple of days, too few really, I headed south to Edinburgh. I find it easier to park at the airport and get the tram into the city. The tram might seem a little expensive at £8.50 return but it is a lot cheaper and almost as convenient as getting a taxi.', 'The Highlands', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'the-highlands-3', '', '', '2019-08-16 11:35:20', '2019-08-16 10:35:20', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5759', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5760, 283, '2019-08-16 11:29:14', '2019-08-16 10:29:14', '', 'jaguar xk150(aug19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'jaguar-xk150aug19', '', '', '2019-08-16 11:29:14', '2019-08-16 10:29:14', '', 5759, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/jaguar-xk150aug19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5761, 283, '2019-08-16 11:29:18', '2019-08-16 10:29:18', '', 'studio flat1(aug19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'studio-flat1aug19', '', '', '2019-08-16 11:29:18', '2019-08-16 10:29:18', '', 5759, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/studio-flat1aug19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5762, 283, '2019-08-16 11:29:21', '2019-08-16 10:29:21', '', 'street violinist (aug19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'street-violinist-aug19', '', '', '2019-08-16 11:29:21', '2019-08-16 10:29:21', '', 5759, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/street-violinist-aug19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5763, 283, '2019-08-16 11:29:24', '2019-08-16 10:29:24', '', 'hedge trimming (aug19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'hedge-trimming-aug19', '', '', '2019-08-16 11:29:24', '2019-08-16 10:29:24', '', 5759, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/hedge-trimming-aug19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5764, 283, '2019-08-16 11:29:26', '2019-08-16 10:29:26', '', 'studio flat2(aug19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'studio-flat2aug19', '', '', '2019-08-16 11:29:26', '2019-08-16 10:29:26', '', 5759, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/studio-flat2aug19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5765, 283, '2019-08-16 11:35:20', '2019-08-16 10:35:20', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/hedge-trimming-aug19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5763\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/hedge-trimming-aug19-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>The start of my adventure to the Edinburgh Fringe I drove up to stay with my friends, Tony and Jude. Tony mentioned beforehand that he needed a hand with cutting his hornbeam hedge so I took my Stihl motor with the hedge trimmer attachment. It\'s a very large hedge but over a couple of hours we soon had it licked into shape and finished the back of it the following morning.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/jaguar-xk150aug19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5760\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/jaguar-xk150aug19-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>We rewarded ourselves with a trip to the Motor Museum in Elgin. An eclectic mix of classic cars some of which had raced at Le Mans.\r\n\r\nMost of the cars were owned by the McWhirter family who started a local DIY store. Some of the cars were still raced on occasions.\r\n\r\nAfter just a couple of days, too few really, I headed south to Edinburgh. I find it easier to park at the airport and get the tram into the city. The tram might seem a little expensive at £8.50 return but it is a lot cheaper and almost as convenient as getting a taxi.', 'The Highlands', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5759-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-08-16 11:35:20', '2019-08-16 10:35:20', '', 5759, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5765', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5766, 283, '2019-08-16 11:57:26', '2019-08-16 10:57:26', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/studio-flat1aug19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5761 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/studio-flat1aug19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>I booked a studio flat in the same building as when I came two years ago. It is usually student accommodation but it has en suite facilities and a small kitchen so I can fend for myself if the crowds become overbearing or all the eateries are full. It\'s a safe haven.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/studio-flat2aug19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5764 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/studio-flat2aug19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>It is also very central so that most of the main venues are within walking distance even if the hills of Edinburgh can be a little daunting when rushing from one side of the city to the other.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/street-violinist-aug19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-5762\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/street-violinist-aug19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>I don\'t have to go far to the Royal Mile where the street entertainment never ceases, or it doesn\'t while I\'m still awake. I get the sense that the city doesn\'t sleep at this time of year.\r\n\r\nIt is amazing the level of young talent performing. This young lady had a pre-recorded track playing her violin and was playing over that with another theme. I stopped and listened for quite some time.', 'Edinburgh 1 (2019)', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'edinburgh-1-2019', '', '', '2019-08-19 17:51:26', '2019-08-19 16:51:26', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5766', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5767, 283, '2019-08-16 11:57:26', '2019-08-16 10:57:26', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/studio-flat1aug19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5761 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/studio-flat1aug19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>I booked a studio flat in the same building as when I came two years ago. It is usually student accommodation but it has en suite facilities and a small kitchen so I can fend for myself if the crowds become overbearing or all the eateries are full. It\'s a safe haven.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/studio-flat2aug19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5764 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/studio-flat2aug19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>It is also very central so that most of the main venues are within walking distance even if the hills of Edinburgh can be a little daunting when rushing from one side of the city to the other.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/street-violinist-aug19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-5762\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/street-violinist-aug19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>I don\'t have to go far to the Royal Mile where the street entertainment never ceases, or it doesn\'t while I\'m still awake. I get the sense that the city doesn\'t sleep at this time of year.\r\n\r\nIt is amazing the level of young talent performing. This young lady had a pre-recorded track playing her violin and was playing over that with another theme. I stopped and listened for quite some time.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Edinburgh 1 (2019)', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5766-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-08-16 11:57:26', '2019-08-16 10:57:26', '', 5766, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5767', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5768, 283, '2019-08-16 17:44:33', '2019-08-16 16:44:33', '', '547194-edinburgh-festival-fringe-1', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', '547194-edinburgh-festival-fringe-1', '', '', '2019-08-16 17:47:30', '2019-08-16 16:47:30', '', 5769, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/547194-edinburgh-festival-fringe-1.png', 0, 'attachment', 'image/png', 0),
(5769, 283, '2019-08-16 18:07:26', '2019-08-16 17:07:26', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/547194-edinburgh-festival-fringe-1.png\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-5768\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/547194-edinburgh-festival-fringe-1-200x113.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" /></a>\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Anxiety Experiment</span></h3>\r\nMy first event was called Anxiety Experiment. I am not alone in experiencing anxiety, we all do from time to time and to different degrees. In some respects being anxious is a protection - the flight or fight decision. It appears in our modern world we all feel this need with a rush of adrenalin and this event was presented by a GP. He suggested that our brain has some basic sensors which we have from birth and as babies we can control these senses by eye movement because babies don\'t have other mechanisms to deal with stress. If we emulate these eye movements then we can eradicate anxiety and stress. The audience took part in the \"experiment\" and I must say my stress was reduced by following his instructions. I did ask at the end if this was a case of \"distraction\" and \"suggestability\" causing the reduction and although he didn\'t dismiss my assertion out of hand he did imply that extensive research suggested otherwise. For further information click here...<a href=\"http://www.gazetherapy.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">click here...</a>\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Conscious</span></h3>\r\nThis was a drama about an android, the first of its kind, with super intelligence and artificial intelligence that would replace all manual workers. The development was taking place to a backdrop of food shortage riots and the population in revolt because the government controlled the supply of food coupons. The entrepreneur responsible for funding the development was a sleazy man who was hoping the android could be used as a sex toy for his own gratification as well as making his production lines more profitable by getting rid of human workers. What the play didn\'t explain was who was buying all the goods produced when ordinary citizens were not working and therefore had no money. I think economists would say there is a balance between profit, productivity and a population with enough money to buy the goods and services. It was an interesting theme however the acting was quite weak.', 'Edinburgh 2', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'edinburgh-2', '', '', '2019-08-20 15:12:30', '2019-08-20 14:12:30', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5769', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5770, 283, '2019-08-16 18:06:50', '2019-08-16 17:06:50', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/547194-edinburgh-festival-fringe-1.png\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-5768\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/547194-edinburgh-festival-fringe-1-200x113.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" /></a>\r\n<h2><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Anxiety Experiment</span></h2>\r\nMy first event was called Anxiety Experiment. I am not alone in experiencing anxiety, we all do from time to time and to different degrees. In some respects being anxious is a protection - the flight or fight decision. It appears in our modern world we all feel this need with a rush of adrenalin and this event was presented by a GP. He suggested that our brain has some basic sensors which we have from birth and as babies we can control these senses by eye movement because babies don\'t have other mechanisms to deal with stress. If we emulate these eye movements then we can eradicate anxiety and stress. The audience took part in the \"experiment\" and I must say my stress was reduced by following his instructions. I did ask at the end if this was a case of \"distraction\" and \"suggestability\" causing the reduction and although he didn\'t dismiss my assertion out of hand he did imply that extensive research suggested otherwise. For further information click here...<a href=\"http://www.gazetherapy.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">click here...</a>\r\n<h2><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Conscious</span></h2>\r\nThis was a drama about an android, the first of its kind, with super intelligence and artificial intelligence that would replace all manual workers. The development was taking place to a backdrop of food shortage riots and the population in revolt because the government controlled the supply of food coupons. The entrepreneur responsible for funding the development was a sleazy man who was hoping the android could be used as a sex toy for his own gratification as well as making his production lines more profitable by getting rid of human workers. What the play didn\'t explain was who was buying all the goods produced when ordinary citizens were not working and therefore had no money. I think economists would say there is a balance between profit, productivity and a population with enough money to buy the goods and services. It was an interesting theme however the acting was quite weak.', 'Edinburgh 2', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5769-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-08-16 18:06:50', '2019-08-16 17:06:50', '', 5769, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5770', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5771, 283, '2019-08-17 11:01:37', '2019-08-17 10:01:37', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/547194-edinburgh-festival-fringe-1.png\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-5768\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/547194-edinburgh-festival-fringe-1-200x113.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" /></a>\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Briony Redman is Indecisive</span></h3>\r\nI booked these shows so long ago I\'ve forgotten why I made the choices. I think this one was because I\'m interested in decision making. Briony was bouncy ad over the top from the very start. She presented a comedy routine where she acted out an adventure based on decisions from the small audience. Briony would hold up two decision cards and would follow the one we chose. Audience participation - oh no. She made the whole event hard work with a few touches of humour during the improvisation. I wasn\'t impressed.\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Scottish Parliament</span></h3>\r\nAfter the disappointment of Briony Redman I decided to walk down to Holyrood and visited the Scottish Parliament. I\'ve walked around the building before when Jane and I last came to the Fringe in 2011. This time I went inside where I was pleased to find a photographic journalists exhibition. The photographs were of excellent quality and the subject matter varied from was torn Syria to life protecting wildlife in Africa. I particularly liked a photo of a Mexican family climbing over the wall at the border - walls will not deter desperate people.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5773,5774,5777,5778,5775,5776\"]\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Nina Conti - Work in Progress</span></h3>\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Ventriloquist-comedian-Nina-Conti-books-UploadExpress-Caroline-Rees-699048.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5779 size-medium\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Ventriloquist-comedian-Nina-Conti-books-UploadExpress-Caroline-Rees-699048-300x178.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"178\" /></a>The last time I saw Nina Conti was at Lincoln Engine Shed. Her ventriloquism is secondary to the humour she brings to the interaction with the audience members she gets on stage and puts words into their mouths. The power of suggestion is so great the participants make gestures, dance and do things I\'m sure they wouldn\'t do normally if they weren\'t wearing a mask and Nina was speaking on their behalf. The show was hilarious - enjoyed every moment. It was interesting she didn\'t choose participants who were too keen, she chose people who would not dominate or be over bearing.', 'Edinburgh 3', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'edinburgh-3', '', '', '2019-08-20 15:11:49', '2019-08-20 14:11:49', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5771', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5772, 283, '2019-08-17 10:13:38', '2019-08-17 09:13:38', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/547194-edinburgh-festival-fringe-1.png\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-5768\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/547194-edinburgh-festival-fringe-1-200x113.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" /></a>\r\n<h2><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Briony Redman is Indecisive</span></h2>\r\nI booked these shows so long ago I\'ve forgotten why I made the choices. I think this one was because I\'m interested in decision making. Briony was bouncy ad over the top from the very start. She presented a comedy routine where she acted out an adventure based on decisions from the small audience. Briony would hold up two decision cards and would follow the one we chose. Audience participation - oh no. She made the whole event hard work with a few touches of humour during the improvisation. I wasn\'t impressed.\r\n<h2><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Scottish Parliament</span></h2>\r\nAfter the disappointment of Briony Redman I decided to walk down to Holyrood and visited the Scottish Parliament. I\'ve walked around the building before when Jane and I last came to the Fringe in 2011. This time I went inside where I was pleased to find a photographic journalists exhibition. The photographs were of excellent quality and the subject matter varied from was torn Syria to life protecting wildlife in Africa. I particularly liked a photo of a Mexican family climbing over the wall at the border - walls will not deter desperate people.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Edinburgh 3', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5771-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-08-17 10:13:38', '2019-08-17 09:13:38', '', 5771, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5772', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5773, 283, '2019-08-17 10:35:37', '2019-08-17 09:35:37', '', '2019-08-16 15.22.51-1280x960', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', '2019-08-16-15-22-51-1280x960', '', '', '2019-08-17 10:35:37', '2019-08-17 09:35:37', '', 5771, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/2019-08-16-15.22.51-1280x960.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5774, 283, '2019-08-17 10:35:47', '2019-08-17 09:35:47', '', '2019-08-16 15.17.41-1280x960', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', '2019-08-16-15-17-41-1280x960', '', '', '2019-08-17 10:35:47', '2019-08-17 09:35:47', '', 5771, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/2019-08-16-15.17.41-1280x960.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5775, 283, '2019-08-17 10:35:49', '2019-08-17 09:35:49', '', '2019-08-16 15.03.50-1280x960', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', '2019-08-16-15-03-50-1280x960', '', '', '2019-08-17 10:35:49', '2019-08-17 09:35:49', '', 5771, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/2019-08-16-15.03.50-1280x960.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5776, 283, '2019-08-17 10:35:51', '2019-08-17 09:35:51', '', '2019-08-16 14.04.43-1280x960', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', '2019-08-16-14-04-43-1280x960', '', '', '2019-08-17 10:35:51', '2019-08-17 09:35:51', '', 5771, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/2019-08-16-14.04.43-1280x960.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5777, 283, '2019-08-17 10:35:55', '2019-08-17 09:35:55', '', '2019-08-16 15.15.24-1280x960', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', '2019-08-16-15-15-24-1280x960', '', '', '2019-08-17 10:35:55', '2019-08-17 09:35:55', '', 5771, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/2019-08-16-15.15.24-1280x960.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5778, 283, '2019-08-17 10:35:58', '2019-08-17 09:35:58', '', '2019-08-16 15.15.02-1280x960', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', '2019-08-16-15-15-02-1280x960', '', '', '2019-08-17 10:35:58', '2019-08-17 09:35:58', '', 5771, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/2019-08-16-15.15.02-1280x960.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5779, 283, '2019-08-17 10:59:20', '2019-08-17 09:59:20', '', 'Ventriloquist-comedian-Nina-Conti-books-UploadExpress-Caroline-Rees-699048', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'ventriloquist-comedian-nina-conti-books-uploadexpress-caroline-rees-699048', '', '', '2019-08-17 10:59:20', '2019-08-17 09:59:20', '', 5771, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Ventriloquist-comedian-Nina-Conti-books-UploadExpress-Caroline-Rees-699048.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5780, 283, '2019-08-17 11:01:37', '2019-08-17 10:01:37', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/547194-edinburgh-festival-fringe-1.png\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-5768\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/547194-edinburgh-festival-fringe-1-200x113.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" /></a>\r\n<h2><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Briony Redman is Indecisive</span></h2>\r\nI booked these shows so long ago I\'ve forgotten why I made the choices. I think this one was because I\'m interested in decision making. Briony was bouncy ad over the top from the very start. She presented a comedy routine where she acted out an adventure based on decisions from the small audience. Briony would hold up two decision cards and would follow the one we chose. Audience participation - oh no. She made the whole event hard work with a few touches of humour during the improvisation. I wasn\'t impressed.\r\n<h2><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Scottish Parliament</span></h2>\r\nAfter the disappointment of Briony Redman I decided to walk down to Holyrood and visited the Scottish Parliament. I\'ve walked around the building before when Jane and I last came to the Fringe in 2011. This time I went inside where I was pleased to find a photographic journalists exhibition. The photographs were of excellent quality and the subject matter varied from was torn Syria to life protecting wildlife in Africa. I particularly liked a photo of a Mexican family climbing over the wall at the border - walls will not deter desperate people.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5773,5774,5777,5778,5775,5776\"]\r\n<h2><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Nina Conti - Work in Progress</span></h2>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Ventriloquist-comedian-Nina-Conti-books-UploadExpress-Caroline-Rees-699048.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5779 size-medium\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Ventriloquist-comedian-Nina-Conti-books-UploadExpress-Caroline-Rees-699048-300x178.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"178\" /></a>The last time I saw Nina Conti was at Lincoln Engine Shed. Her ventriloquism is secondary to the humour she brings to the interaction with the audience members she gets on stage and puts words into their mouths. The power of suggestion is so great the participants make gestures, dance and do things I\'m sure they wouldn\'t do normally if they weren\'t wearing a mask and Nina was speaking on their behalf. The show was hilarious - enjoyed every moment. It was interesting she didn\'t choose participants who were too keen, she chose people who would not dominate or be over bearing.</p>', 'Edinburgh 3', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5771-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-08-17 11:01:37', '2019-08-17 10:01:37', '', 5771, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5780', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5782, 283, '2019-08-17 11:03:27', '2019-08-17 10:03:27', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/547194-edinburgh-festival-fringe-1.png\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-5768\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/547194-edinburgh-festival-fringe-1-200x113.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" /></a>\r\n<h2><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Briony Redman is Indecisive</span></h2>\r\nI booked these shows so long ago I\'ve forgotten why I made the choices. I think this one was because I\'m interested in decision making. Briony was bouncy ad over the top from the very start. She presented a comedy routine where she acted out an adventure based on decisions from the small audience. Briony would hold up two decision cards and would follow the one we chose. Audience participation - oh no. She made the whole event hard work with a few touches of humour during the improvisation. I wasn\'t impressed.\r\n<h2><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Scottish Parliament</span></h2>\r\nAfter the disappointment of Briony Redman I decided to walk down to Holyrood and visited the Scottish Parliament. I\'ve walked around the building before when Jane and I last came to the Fringe in 2011. This time I went inside where I was pleased to find a photographic journalists exhibition. The photographs were of excellent quality and the subject matter varied from was torn Syria to life protecting wildlife in Africa. I particularly liked a photo of a Mexican family climbing over the wall at the border - walls will not deter desperate people.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5773,5774,5777,5778,5775,5776\"]\r\n<h2><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Nina Conti - Work in Progress</span></h2>\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Ventriloquist-comedian-Nina-Conti-books-UploadExpress-Caroline-Rees-699048.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5779 size-medium\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Ventriloquist-comedian-Nina-Conti-books-UploadExpress-Caroline-Rees-699048-300x178.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"178\" /></a>The last time I saw Nina Conti was at Lincoln Engine Shed. Her ventriloquism is secondary to the humour she brings to the interaction with the audience members she gets on stage and puts words into their mouths. The power of suggestion is so great the participants make gestures, dance and do things I\'m sure they wouldn\'t do normally if they weren\'t wearing a mask and Nina was speaking on their behalf. The show was hilarious - enjoyed every moment. It was interesting she didn\'t choose participants who were too keen, she chose people who would not dominate or be over bearing.', 'Edinburgh 3', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5771-autosave-v1', '', '', '2019-08-17 11:03:27', '2019-08-17 10:03:27', '', 5771, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5782', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5783, 283, '2019-08-17 11:03:40', '2019-08-17 10:03:40', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/547194-edinburgh-festival-fringe-1.png\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-5768\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/547194-edinburgh-festival-fringe-1-200x113.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" /></a>\r\n<h2><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Briony Redman is Indecisive</span></h2>\r\nI booked these shows so long ago I\'ve forgotten why I made the choices. I think this one was because I\'m interested in decision making. Briony was bouncy ad over the top from the very start. She presented a comedy routine where she acted out an adventure based on decisions from the small audience. Briony would hold up two decision cards and would follow the one we chose. Audience participation - oh no. She made the whole event hard work with a few touches of humour during the improvisation. I wasn\'t impressed.\r\n<h2><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Scottish Parliament</span></h2>\r\nAfter the disappointment of Briony Redman I decided to walk down to Holyrood and visited the Scottish Parliament. I\'ve walked around the building before when Jane and I last came to the Fringe in 2011. This time I went inside where I was pleased to find a photographic journalists exhibition. The photographs were of excellent quality and the subject matter varied from was torn Syria to life protecting wildlife in Africa. I particularly liked a photo of a Mexican family climbing over the wall at the border - walls will not deter desperate people.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5773,5774,5777,5778,5775,5776\"]\r\n<h2><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Nina Conti - Work in Progress</span></h2>\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Ventriloquist-comedian-Nina-Conti-books-UploadExpress-Caroline-Rees-699048.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5779 size-medium\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Ventriloquist-comedian-Nina-Conti-books-UploadExpress-Caroline-Rees-699048-300x178.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"178\" /></a>The last time I saw Nina Conti was at Lincoln Engine Shed. Her ventriloquism is secondary to the humour she brings to the interaction with the audience members she gets on stage and puts words into their mouths. The power of suggestion is so great the participants make gestures, dance and do things I\'m sure they wouldn\'t do normally if they weren\'t wearing a mask and Nina was speaking on their behalf. The show was hilarious - enjoyed every moment. It was interesting she didn\'t choose participants who were too keen, she chose people who would not dominate or be over bearing.', 'Edinburgh 3', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5771-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-08-17 11:03:40', '2019-08-17 10:03:40', '', 5771, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5783', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5784, 283, '2019-08-19 17:51:26', '2019-08-19 16:51:26', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/studio-flat1aug19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5761 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/studio-flat1aug19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>I booked a studio flat in the same building as when I came two years ago. It is usually student accommodation but it has en suite facilities and a small kitchen so I can fend for myself if the crowds become overbearing or all the eateries are full. It\'s a safe haven.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/studio-flat2aug19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5764 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/studio-flat2aug19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>It is also very central so that most of the main venues are within walking distance even if the hills of Edinburgh can be a little daunting when rushing from one side of the city to the other.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/street-violinist-aug19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-5762\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/street-violinist-aug19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>I don\'t have to go far to the Royal Mile where the street entertainment never ceases, or it doesn\'t while I\'m still awake. I get the sense that the city doesn\'t sleep at this time of year.\r\n\r\nIt is amazing the level of young talent performing. This young lady had a pre-recorded track playing her violin and was playing over that with another theme. I stopped and listened for quite some time.', 'Edinburgh 1 (2019)', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5766-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-08-19 17:51:26', '2019-08-19 16:51:26', '', 5766, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5784', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5785, 283, '2019-08-20 15:11:49', '2019-08-20 14:11:49', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/547194-edinburgh-festival-fringe-1.png\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-5768\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/547194-edinburgh-festival-fringe-1-200x113.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" /></a>\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Briony Redman is Indecisive</span></h3>\r\nI booked these shows so long ago I\'ve forgotten why I made the choices. I think this one was because I\'m interested in decision making. Briony was bouncy ad over the top from the very start. She presented a comedy routine where she acted out an adventure based on decisions from the small audience. Briony would hold up two decision cards and would follow the one we chose. Audience participation - oh no. She made the whole event hard work with a few touches of humour during the improvisation. I wasn\'t impressed.\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Scottish Parliament</span></h3>\r\nAfter the disappointment of Briony Redman I decided to walk down to Holyrood and visited the Scottish Parliament. I\'ve walked around the building before when Jane and I last came to the Fringe in 2011. This time I went inside where I was pleased to find a photographic journalists exhibition. The photographs were of excellent quality and the subject matter varied from was torn Syria to life protecting wildlife in Africa. I particularly liked a photo of a Mexican family climbing over the wall at the border - walls will not deter desperate people.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5773,5774,5777,5778,5775,5776\"]\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Nina Conti - Work in Progress</span></h3>\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Ventriloquist-comedian-Nina-Conti-books-UploadExpress-Caroline-Rees-699048.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5779 size-medium\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Ventriloquist-comedian-Nina-Conti-books-UploadExpress-Caroline-Rees-699048-300x178.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"178\" /></a>The last time I saw Nina Conti was at Lincoln Engine Shed. Her ventriloquism is secondary to the humour she brings to the interaction with the audience members she gets on stage and puts words into their mouths. The power of suggestion is so great the participants make gestures, dance and do things I\'m sure they wouldn\'t do normally if they weren\'t wearing a mask and Nina was speaking on their behalf. The show was hilarious - enjoyed every moment. It was interesting she didn\'t choose participants who were too keen, she chose people who would not dominate or be over bearing.', 'Edinburgh 3', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5771-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-08-20 15:11:49', '2019-08-20 14:11:49', '', 5771, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5785', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5786, 283, '2019-08-20 15:12:30', '2019-08-20 14:12:30', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/547194-edinburgh-festival-fringe-1.png\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-5768\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/547194-edinburgh-festival-fringe-1-200x113.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" /></a>\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Anxiety Experiment</span></h3>\r\nMy first event was called Anxiety Experiment. I am not alone in experiencing anxiety, we all do from time to time and to different degrees. In some respects being anxious is a protection - the flight or fight decision. It appears in our modern world we all feel this need with a rush of adrenalin and this event was presented by a GP. He suggested that our brain has some basic sensors which we have from birth and as babies we can control these senses by eye movement because babies don\'t have other mechanisms to deal with stress. If we emulate these eye movements then we can eradicate anxiety and stress. The audience took part in the \"experiment\" and I must say my stress was reduced by following his instructions. I did ask at the end if this was a case of \"distraction\" and \"suggestability\" causing the reduction and although he didn\'t dismiss my assertion out of hand he did imply that extensive research suggested otherwise. For further information click here...<a href=\"http://www.gazetherapy.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">click here...</a>\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Conscious</span></h3>\r\nThis was a drama about an android, the first of its kind, with super intelligence and artificial intelligence that would replace all manual workers. The development was taking place to a backdrop of food shortage riots and the population in revolt because the government controlled the supply of food coupons. The entrepreneur responsible for funding the development was a sleazy man who was hoping the android could be used as a sex toy for his own gratification as well as making his production lines more profitable by getting rid of human workers. What the play didn\'t explain was who was buying all the goods produced when ordinary citizens were not working and therefore had no money. I think economists would say there is a balance between profit, productivity and a population with enough money to buy the goods and services. It was an interesting theme however the acting was quite weak.', 'Edinburgh 2', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5769-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-08-20 15:12:30', '2019-08-20 14:12:30', '', 5769, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5786', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
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(5787, 283, '2019-08-23 20:52:34', '2019-08-23 19:52:34', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/547194-edinburgh-festival-fringe-1.png\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-5768\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/547194-edinburgh-festival-fringe-1-200x113.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" /></a>\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Irenie Rose sings Joan Baez</span></h3>\r\nI can remember my first year at college and falling in love with Joan Baez - a crystal clear voice from a really beautiful woman. Having been to Joan\'s farewell tour last year I was pleased that Irenie sung her songs really well interspersed with stories about her life and how as someone who was part hispanic the issue she faced of not fitting in. Her constant protesting about injustice came from the experience she had as a child.\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Arabella Weir - does my mum loom big in this?</span></h3>\r\nArabella talked about the relationship she had with her mother. How her mother was formed by her grandmother and how she was influencing her children (now in their 20s). She was very funny and at times shocking how parents can treat their children.\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Lucy Porter - Be Prepared</span></h3>\r\nLucy, who I\'ve seen before at the Fringe, was delightfully funny and managed to keep her pitch generally light with dips into deeper issues. During the performance it wasn\'t apparent how incisive her comedy really is. The main thrust was around the fact that her daughter has joined the Beavers as a precursor to joining the Brownies. She made a lot from the word Beaver and the other connotation sometimes associated with it. When her daughter came home and was going to look up on the internet \"International Beavers\" Lucy was very cautious as to what hits that search would come back with. It was a laugh out loud performance.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Vote Dr Phil</span>\r\n\r\nDr Phil Hammond has been on \"Have I Got News for You\" several times and writes a column for Private Eye. He is still a practicing doctor in a Bath hospital. It was a very political pitch and the thrust of it was him running for parliament in the same constituency as Jacob Rees-Mogg. It was a scathing attack on the government\'s attitude to the NHS and how is has been privatised by stealth. Interspersed with his political jibes were anecdotes about syphilis, erectile dysfunction, and various medical experiences he has had. A very, very funny presentation.\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Dharmander Singh - Free Fringe</span></h3>\r\nI was accosted in the street by Dharminder who explained the premise of his free stand up show. He was very articulate about his theme of identity. In his case he was second generation Indian although his father said he was Punjabi and the kids at school referred to him as Pakki. His show was very funny, sharp humour and heartfelt comedic thoughts about racial identity. He now lives in Germany and has a Polish/German girlfriend so he is truly a cosmopolitan man. Although it was free he was asking for donations and I thought it was well worth it. I think we will see his name on our screens, if not there is no justice.\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Einstein</span></h3>\r\nA one man show fro Pip Utton. I saw him do a one man show where he played Adolf Hitler which was truly brilliant. His portrayal of Einstein was exceptional. Einstein\'s work was everything to him and although he required the love of a woman it wasn\'t to be a distraction from his work. By the end of the show I really believed it was Einstein talking to us. I found the power of this work very emotional and I could feel tears welling up. Unfortunately there was no one to share my thoughts. I miss the company of a good woman.\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Adam Kay - This is going to hurt</span></h3>\r\nI read his book some time ago. It is the diary of his time as a doctor working in the NHS. The stories are comic and tragic in equal measure. He interspersed his readings with popular songs using his own words. He would sing a set of symptoms and the audience was expected to sing the diagnosis as the chorus. You had to be there to appreciate just how clever this was. At the end he explains the circumstances which led him to leave the profession. A mother and baby died during a cesarean section he was performing. He had told this same story on over 400 occasions as part of his performance and yet he cried every time. A very moving, poignant show which again demanded a cure for our beloved NHS.\r\n\r\nAnd that was the end of my Edinburgh Fringe 2019. Monday morning I was up, showered and breakfasted early. I took the tram back to the airport where I found the car immediately (phew) and was driving home by 8am and driving into Market Rasen at 1.30pm.', 'Edinburgh 4', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'edinburgh-4', '', '', '2019-08-23 21:34:09', '2019-08-23 20:34:09', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5787', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5788, 283, '2019-08-21 13:51:49', '2019-08-21 12:51:49', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/547194-edinburgh-festival-fringe-1.png\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-5768\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/547194-edinburgh-festival-fringe-1-200x113.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" /></a>\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Irenie Rose sings Joan Baez</span></h3>\r\nI can remember my first year at college and falling in love with Joan Baez - a crystal clear voice from a really beautiful woman. Having been to Joan\'s farewell tour last year I was pleased that Irenie sung her songs really well interspersed with stories about her life and how as someone who was part hispanic the issue she faced of not fitting in. Her constant protesting about injustice came from the experience she had as a child.\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Arabella Weir - does my mum loom big in this?</span></h3>\r\nArabella talked about the relationship she had with her mother. How her mother was formed by her grandmother and how she was influencing her children (now in their 20s). She was very funny and at times shocking how parents can treat their children.\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Lucy Porter - Be Prepared</span></h3>\r\nLucy, who I\'ve seen before at the Fringe, was delightfully funny and managed to keep her pitch generally light with dips into deeper issues. During the performance it wasn\'t apparent how incisive her comedy really is. The main thrust was around the fact that her daughter has joined the Beavers as a precursor to joining the Brownies. She made a lot from the word Beaver and the other connotation sometimes associated with it. When her daughter came home and was going to look up on the internet \"International Beavers\" Lucy was very cautious as to what hits that search would come back with. It was a laugh out loud performance.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Vote Dr Phil</span>\r\n\r\nDr Phil Hammond has been on \"Have I Got News for You\" several times and writes a column for Private Eye. He is still a practicing doctor in a Bath hospital. It was a very political pitch and the thrust of it was him running for parliament in the same constituency as Jacob Rees-Mogg. It was a scathing attack on the government\'s attitude to the NHS and how is has been privatised by stealth. Interspersed with his political jibes were anecdotes about syphilis, erectile dysfunction, and various medical experiences he has had. A very, very funny presentation.\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Dharmander Singh - Free Fringe</span></h3>\r\n&nbsp;', 'Edinburgh 4', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5787-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-08-21 13:51:49', '2019-08-21 12:51:49', '', 5787, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5788', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5790, 283, '2019-08-23 20:52:34', '2019-08-23 19:52:34', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/547194-edinburgh-festival-fringe-1.png\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-5768\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/547194-edinburgh-festival-fringe-1-200x113.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" /></a>\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Irenie Rose sings Joan Baez</span></h3>\r\nI can remember my first year at college and falling in love with Joan Baez - a crystal clear voice from a really beautiful woman. Having been to Joan\'s farewell tour last year I was pleased that Irenie sung her songs really well interspersed with stories about her life and how as someone who was part hispanic the issue she faced of not fitting in. Her constant protesting about injustice came from the experience she had as a child.\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Arabella Weir - does my mum loom big in this?</span></h3>\r\nArabella talked about the relationship she had with her mother. How her mother was formed by her grandmother and how she was influencing her children (now in their 20s). She was very funny and at times shocking how parents can treat their children.\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Lucy Porter - Be Prepared</span></h3>\r\nLucy, who I\'ve seen before at the Fringe, was delightfully funny and managed to keep her pitch generally light with dips into deeper issues. During the performance it wasn\'t apparent how incisive her comedy really is. The main thrust was around the fact that her daughter has joined the Beavers as a precursor to joining the Brownies. She made a lot from the word Beaver and the other connotation sometimes associated with it. When her daughter came home and was going to look up on the internet \"International Beavers\" Lucy was very cautious as to what hits that search would come back with. It was a laugh out loud performance.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Vote Dr Phil</span>\r\n\r\nDr Phil Hammond has been on \"Have I Got News for You\" several times and writes a column for Private Eye. He is still a practicing doctor in a Bath hospital. It was a very political pitch and the thrust of it was him running for parliament in the same constituency as Jacob Rees-Mogg. It was a scathing attack on the government\'s attitude to the NHS and how is has been privatised by stealth. Interspersed with his political jibes were anecdotes about syphilis, erectile dysfunction, and various medical experiences he has had. A very, very funny presentation.\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Dharmander Singh - Free Fringe</span></h3>\r\nI was accosted in the street by Dharminder who explained the premise of his free stand up show. He was very articulate about his theme of identity. In his case he was second generation Indian although his father said he was Punjabi and the kids at school referred to him as Pakki. His show was very funny, sharp humour and heartfelt comedic thoughts about racial identity. He now lives in Germany and has a Polish/German girlfriend so he is truly a cosmopolitan man. Although it was free he was asking for donations and I thought it was well worth it. I think we will see his name on our screens, if not there is no justice.\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Einstein</span></h3>\r\nA one man show fro Pip Utton. I saw him do a one man show where he played Adolf Hitler which was truly brilliant. His portrayal of Einstein was exceptional. Einstein\'s work was everything to him and although he required the love of a woman it wasn\'t to be a distraction from his work. By the end of the show I really believed it was Einstein talking to us. I found the power of this work very emotional and I could feel tears welling up. Unfortunately there was no one to share my thoughts. I miss the company of a good woman.\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Adam Kay - This is going to hurt</span></h3>\r\nI read his book some time ago. It is the diary of his time as a doctor working in the NHS. The stories are comic and tragic in equal measure. He interspersed his readings with popular songs using his own words. He would sing a set of symptoms and the audience was expected to sing the diagnosis as the chorus. You had to be there to appreciate just how clever this was. At the end he explains the circumstances which led him to leave the profession. A mother and baby died during a cesarean section he was performing. He had told this same story on over 400 occasions as part of his performance and yet he cried every time. A very moving, poignant show which again demanded a cure for our beloved NHS.\r\n\r\nAnd that was the end of my Edinburgh Fringe 2019. Monday morning I was up, showered and breakfasted early. I took the tram back to the airport where I found the car immediately (phew) and was driving home by 8am and driving into Market Rasen at 1.30pm.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Edinburgh 4', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5787-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-08-23 20:52:34', '2019-08-23 19:52:34', '', 5787, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5790', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5791, 283, '2019-08-23 21:07:24', '2019-08-23 20:07:24', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/twelfth-night-review-shakespeares-rose-theatre.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5792\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/twelfth-night-review-shakespeares-rose-theatre-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>I\'m barely back from Edinburgh and caught up with my washing before I\'m driving up to York to meet a friend, have an early dinner at the Ivy and then wander to the pop-up Rose Theatre to see Twelfth Night.\r\n\r\nThis was a rumbustious performance with the costume design from the flapper period, some of the pieces were set to music and sung and there were short dance routines too. Twelfth Night is a comedy and the cast played it for laughs and they got them. It was an uproarious evening\'s entertainment. At the end I went back for coffee. We sat around talking about the show and generally putting the world to rights. Before I knew it, it was 12.30 am and by the time I\'d got into the car it was closer to 1am. I rolled into Market Rasen at 2.30am. I was so wired after such a night out I sat up reading and eventually fell into bed at 3am. Bit wrecked on Thursday morning but I don\'t think anyone noticed...', 'Twelfth Night - York Rose Theatre', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'twelfth-night-york-rose-theatre', '', '', '2019-08-23 21:07:24', '2019-08-23 20:07:24', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5791', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5792, 283, '2019-08-23 21:01:01', '2019-08-23 20:01:01', '', 'twelfth-night-review-shakespeares-rose-theatre', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'twelfth-night-review-shakespeares-rose-theatre', '', '', '2019-08-23 21:01:01', '2019-08-23 20:01:01', '', 5791, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/twelfth-night-review-shakespeares-rose-theatre.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5793, 283, '2019-08-23 21:07:24', '2019-08-23 20:07:24', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/twelfth-night-review-shakespeares-rose-theatre.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5792\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/twelfth-night-review-shakespeares-rose-theatre-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>I\'m barely back from Edinburgh and caught up with my washing before I\'m driving up to York to meet a friend, have an early dinner at the Ivy and then wander to the pop-up Rose Theatre to see Twelfth Night.\r\n\r\nThis was a rumbustious performance with the costume design from the flapper period, some of the pieces were set to music and sung and there were short dance routines too. Twelfth Night is a comedy and the cast played it for laughs and they got them. It was an uproarious evening\'s entertainment. At the end I went back for coffee. We sat around talking about the show and generally putting the world to rights. Before I knew it, it was 12.30 am and by the time I\'d got into the car it was closer to 1am. I rolled into Market Rasen at 2.30am. I was so wired after such a night out I sat up reading and eventually fell into bed at 3am. Bit wrecked on Thursday morning but I don\'t think anyone noticed...', 'Twelfth Night - York Rose Theatre', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5791-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-08-23 21:07:24', '2019-08-23 20:07:24', '', 5791, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5793', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5794, 283, '2019-08-23 21:33:37', '2019-08-23 20:33:37', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/new-bee-colonyaug19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5795 size-medium\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/new-bee-colonyaug19-300x226.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"226\" /></a>After getting back from Edinburgh I wanted to do a final inspection on my dieing colony. I didn\'t expect to find many bees so I didn\'t bother with the smoker however I did put on my bee suit and I was glad I did. As I took the hive apart in the brood box there were a lot of bees, many more than I expected. As I worked my way through the frames I could see larvae and capped brood which are signs a queen has been laying. My conclusion is that either a new queen flew into the hive and set up home or the clever little devils created a queen for themselves. The little, white squiggles in the comb are larvae. Once they have been fed sufficiently, after 8 days they will be capped off and after another 12 days a worker bee will emerge.\r\n\r\nThe downside is that these new bees are incredibly aggressive. Once I start lifting the frames out they were buzzing around my head and really telling me off. I tried sweet talking to them in dulcet tones but they were having none of it. It is possible the new queen is laying genetically aggressive bees, it does happen. Normally, if that\'s the case, people consider replacing the queen but I haven\'t got one to replace her with so I\'m hoping they will settle down and get used to me.\r\n\r\nI\'m still going down to Banbury to collect a second brood (<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5745\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">see previous post</a>) as an insurance that at least one of the colonies will survive the winter.', 'Bee Update', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'bee-update', '', '', '2019-08-23 21:33:37', '2019-08-23 20:33:37', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5794', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5795, 283, '2019-08-23 21:22:49', '2019-08-23 20:22:49', '', 'new bee colony(aug19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'new-bee-colonyaug19', '', '', '2019-08-23 21:22:49', '2019-08-23 20:22:49', '', 5794, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/new-bee-colonyaug19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5796, 283, '2019-08-23 21:33:15', '2019-08-23 20:33:15', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/new-bee-colonyaug19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5795 size-medium\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/new-bee-colonyaug19-300x226.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"226\" /></a>After getting back from Edinburgh I wanted to do a final inspection on my dieing colony. I didn\'t expect to find many bees so I didn\'t bother with the smoker however I did put on my bee suit and I was glad I did. As I took the hive apart in the brood box there were a lot of bees, many more than I expected. As I worked my way through the frames I could see larvae and capped brood which are signs a queen has been laying. My conclusion is that either a new queen flew into the hive and set up home or the clever little devils created a queen for themselves. The little, white squiggles in the comb are larvae. Once they have been fed sufficiently, after 8 days they will be capped off and after another 12 days a worker bee will emerge.\r\n\r\nThe downside is that these new bees are incredibly aggressive. Once I start lifting the frames out they were buzzing around my head and really telling me off. I tried sweet talking to them in dulcet tones but they were having none of it. It is possible the new queen is laying genetically aggressive bees, it does happen. Normally, if that\'s the case, people consider replacing the queen but I haven\'t got one to replace her with so I\'m hoping they will settle down and get used to me.\r\n\r\nI\'m still going down to Banbury to collect a second brood (<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5745\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">see previous post</a>) as an insurance that at least one of the colonies will survive the winter.', 'Bee Update', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5794-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-08-23 21:33:15', '2019-08-23 20:33:15', '', 5794, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5796', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5797, 283, '2019-08-23 21:34:09', '2019-08-23 20:34:09', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/547194-edinburgh-festival-fringe-1.png\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-5768\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/547194-edinburgh-festival-fringe-1-200x113.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" /></a>\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Irenie Rose sings Joan Baez</span></h3>\r\nI can remember my first year at college and falling in love with Joan Baez - a crystal clear voice from a really beautiful woman. Having been to Joan\'s farewell tour last year I was pleased that Irenie sung her songs really well interspersed with stories about her life and how as someone who was part hispanic the issue she faced of not fitting in. Her constant protesting about injustice came from the experience she had as a child.\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Arabella Weir - does my mum loom big in this?</span></h3>\r\nArabella talked about the relationship she had with her mother. How her mother was formed by her grandmother and how she was influencing her children (now in their 20s). She was very funny and at times shocking how parents can treat their children.\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Lucy Porter - Be Prepared</span></h3>\r\nLucy, who I\'ve seen before at the Fringe, was delightfully funny and managed to keep her pitch generally light with dips into deeper issues. During the performance it wasn\'t apparent how incisive her comedy really is. The main thrust was around the fact that her daughter has joined the Beavers as a precursor to joining the Brownies. She made a lot from the word Beaver and the other connotation sometimes associated with it. When her daughter came home and was going to look up on the internet \"International Beavers\" Lucy was very cautious as to what hits that search would come back with. It was a laugh out loud performance.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Vote Dr Phil</span>\r\n\r\nDr Phil Hammond has been on \"Have I Got News for You\" several times and writes a column for Private Eye. He is still a practicing doctor in a Bath hospital. It was a very political pitch and the thrust of it was him running for parliament in the same constituency as Jacob Rees-Mogg. It was a scathing attack on the government\'s attitude to the NHS and how is has been privatised by stealth. Interspersed with his political jibes were anecdotes about syphilis, erectile dysfunction, and various medical experiences he has had. A very, very funny presentation.\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Dharmander Singh - Free Fringe</span></h3>\r\nI was accosted in the street by Dharminder who explained the premise of his free stand up show. He was very articulate about his theme of identity. In his case he was second generation Indian although his father said he was Punjabi and the kids at school referred to him as Pakki. His show was very funny, sharp humour and heartfelt comedic thoughts about racial identity. He now lives in Germany and has a Polish/German girlfriend so he is truly a cosmopolitan man. Although it was free he was asking for donations and I thought it was well worth it. I think we will see his name on our screens, if not there is no justice.\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Einstein</span></h3>\r\nA one man show fro Pip Utton. I saw him do a one man show where he played Adolf Hitler which was truly brilliant. His portrayal of Einstein was exceptional. Einstein\'s work was everything to him and although he required the love of a woman it wasn\'t to be a distraction from his work. By the end of the show I really believed it was Einstein talking to us. I found the power of this work very emotional and I could feel tears welling up. Unfortunately there was no one to share my thoughts. I miss the company of a good woman.\r\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Adam Kay - This is going to hurt</span></h3>\r\nI read his book some time ago. It is the diary of his time as a doctor working in the NHS. The stories are comic and tragic in equal measure. He interspersed his readings with popular songs using his own words. He would sing a set of symptoms and the audience was expected to sing the diagnosis as the chorus. You had to be there to appreciate just how clever this was. At the end he explains the circumstances which led him to leave the profession. A mother and baby died during a cesarean section he was performing. He had told this same story on over 400 occasions as part of his performance and yet he cried every time. A very moving, poignant show which again demanded a cure for our beloved NHS.\r\n\r\nAnd that was the end of my Edinburgh Fringe 2019. Monday morning I was up, showered and breakfasted early. I took the tram back to the airport where I found the car immediately (phew) and was driving home by 8am and driving into Market Rasen at 1.30pm.', 'Edinburgh 4', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5787-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-08-23 21:34:09', '2019-08-23 20:34:09', '', 5787, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5797', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5798, 283, '2019-08-29 18:15:22', '2019-08-29 17:15:22', '<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Customer-Service-Rant.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright  wp-image-5799\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Customer-Service-Rant-200x107.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"267\" height=\"143\" /></a>Have service industries learned nothing over the last ten years? Is customer loyalty worth nothing? Do large service providers think we\'re stupid?</em></span>\r\n\r\nThese are the questions I\'ve been asking myself over the past few weeks. I\'ve been a customer of TalkTalk for over ten years, before it was even called TalkTalk. The customer service has never been good but I stuck with them because they were cheap. As my Broadband fibre, phone anytime, and international contract came to an end I expected TalkTalk to contact me and say here\'s a better deal for you and switch me onto the new deal but Oh No! My contract goes from £39 pcm to £52 pcm. So I decide to switch, select Plusnet and I\'m now paying £31 pcm. When TalkTalk find out I\'m switching they send me two letters and eventually phone me. I go through my usual rant about customer loyalty and how it isn\'t valued so the agent offers me a new deal for £28. She\'s amazed when I refuse but I\'m explain my principle that if you cannot offer me the best deal from day one then I\'m not interested. TalkTalk loses another customer and I learn that nothing has changed.\r\n\r\nHaving moved my landline telecoms to Plusnet I decided to take a look at my mobile account with Tesco who I\'ve been with for many years. I\'ve been paying £10 pcm for 1Mb data, 750 minutes and 5,000 texts. I\'ve switched to Plusnet Mobile paying £8 pcm for 6Mb data, unlimited minutes, unlimited texts. So I\'m paying £2 less and getting so much more. Within days of asking for my PAC code Tesco contacted me to ask if I\'d like to discuss a better deal. <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Hey guys, why aren\'t you giving this loyal customer the best deal already?</em></span> The answer is because you don\'t value my loyalty.\r\n\r\nOf course the transition hasn\'t completed yet so if you don\'t hear from me for a few days or you cannot contact me then you\'ll know why. Watch this space and wish me luck...', 'Customer Service Rant...', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'customer-service-rant', '', '', '2019-08-29 18:15:22', '2019-08-29 17:15:22', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5798', 0, 'post', '', 5),
(5799, 283, '2019-08-29 18:13:13', '2019-08-29 17:13:13', '', 'Customer Service Rant', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'customer-service-rant', '', '', '2019-08-29 18:13:13', '2019-08-29 17:13:13', '', 5798, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Customer-Service-Rant.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5800, 283, '2019-08-29 18:13:50', '2019-08-29 17:13:50', '<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Customer-Service-Rant.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright  wp-image-5799\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Customer-Service-Rant-200x107.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"267\" height=\"143\" /></a>Have service industries learned nothing over the last ten years? Is customer loyalty worth nothing? Do large service providers think we\'re stupid?</em></span>\r\n\r\nThese are the questions I\'ve been asking myself over the past few weeks. I\'ve been a customer of TalkTalk for over ten years, before it was even called TalkTalk. The customer service has never been good but I stuck with them because they were cheap. As my Broadband fibre, phone anytime, and international contract came to an end I expected TalkTalk to contact me and say here\'s a better deal for you and switch me onto the new deal but Oh No! My contract goes from £39 pcm to £52 pcm. So I decide to switch, select Plusnet and I\'m now paying £31 pcm. When TalkTalk find out I\'m switching they send me two letters and eventually phone me. I go through my usual rant about customer loyalty and how it isn\'t valued so the agent offers me a new deal for £28. She\'s amazed when I refuse but I\'m explain my principle that if you cannot offer me the best deal from day one then I\'m not interested. TalkTalk loses another customer and I learn that nothing has changed.\r\n\r\nHaving moved my landline telecoms to Plusnet I decided to take a look at my mobile account with Tesco who I\'ve been with for some time. I\'ve been paying £10 pcm for 1Mb data, 750 minutes and 5,000 texts. I\'ve switched to Plusnet Mobile paying £8 pcm for 6Mb data, unlimited minutes, unlimited texts. So I\'m paying £2 less and getting so much more. Within days of asking for my PAC code Tesco contact me to ask if I\'d like to discuss a better deal. <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Hey guys, why aren\'t you giving this loyal customer the best deal already?</em></span> The answer is because you don\'t value loyalty.\r\n\r\nOf course the transition hasn\'t completed yet so if you don\'t hear from me for a few days or you cannot contact me then you\'ll know why. Watch this space and wish me luck...', 'Customer Service Rant...', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5798-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-08-29 18:13:50', '2019-08-29 17:13:50', '', 5798, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5800', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5801, 283, '2019-08-29 18:15:22', '2019-08-29 17:15:22', '<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Customer-Service-Rant.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright  wp-image-5799\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Customer-Service-Rant-200x107.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"267\" height=\"143\" /></a>Have service industries learned nothing over the last ten years? Is customer loyalty worth nothing? Do large service providers think we\'re stupid?</em></span>\r\n\r\nThese are the questions I\'ve been asking myself over the past few weeks. I\'ve been a customer of TalkTalk for over ten years, before it was even called TalkTalk. The customer service has never been good but I stuck with them because they were cheap. As my Broadband fibre, phone anytime, and international contract came to an end I expected TalkTalk to contact me and say here\'s a better deal for you and switch me onto the new deal but Oh No! My contract goes from £39 pcm to £52 pcm. So I decide to switch, select Plusnet and I\'m now paying £31 pcm. When TalkTalk find out I\'m switching they send me two letters and eventually phone me. I go through my usual rant about customer loyalty and how it isn\'t valued so the agent offers me a new deal for £28. She\'s amazed when I refuse but I\'m explain my principle that if you cannot offer me the best deal from day one then I\'m not interested. TalkTalk loses another customer and I learn that nothing has changed.\r\n\r\nHaving moved my landline telecoms to Plusnet I decided to take a look at my mobile account with Tesco who I\'ve been with for many years. I\'ve been paying £10 pcm for 1Mb data, 750 minutes and 5,000 texts. I\'ve switched to Plusnet Mobile paying £8 pcm for 6Mb data, unlimited minutes, unlimited texts. So I\'m paying £2 less and getting so much more. Within days of asking for my PAC code Tesco contacted me to ask if I\'d like to discuss a better deal. <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Hey guys, why aren\'t you giving this loyal customer the best deal already?</em></span> The answer is because you don\'t value my loyalty.\r\n\r\nOf course the transition hasn\'t completed yet so if you don\'t hear from me for a few days or you cannot contact me then you\'ll know why. Watch this space and wish me luck...', 'Customer Service Rant...', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5798-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-08-29 18:15:22', '2019-08-29 17:15:22', '', 5798, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5801', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5803, 283, '2019-08-31 15:05:53', '2019-08-31 14:05:53', '', 'veg produce (aug19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'veg-produce-aug19', '', '', '2019-08-31 15:05:53', '2019-08-31 14:05:53', '', 5802, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/veg-produce-aug19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5804, 283, '2019-08-31 15:22:36', '2019-08-31 14:22:36', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/veg-produce-aug19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5803\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/veg-produce-aug19-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>As August comes to an end I start to think about tidying up the vegetable plot and harvesting whatever I can. The white onions have been hanging up to dry in the potting shed for a month so it\'s time for some of them to come into the house;  the others get stuffed into a stocking and hung in the workshop at the back of the garage.\r\n\r\nI\'ve belatedly dug up the shallots and red onions. Hopefully I will get a few more warm days so they will dry in the potting shed.\r\n\r\nAs always, will I ever learn, I turn my back on the courgettes and they grow into marrows. Those in the photo may find their way to the top of the drive to be given away. I promise myself every year that I will only grow one courgette plant because you only need one per person however if 4 seeds grow then I cannot help myself but plant them out. The carrots have done really well but how many can one person consume. I might try lifting the potatoes and carrots and put them into a bag of sand to see if that will preserve them rather than leave them in the ground where they will be eaten by slugs and grubs.\r\n\r\nThe runner beans are good if I pick them early however if I miss and they grow large then they become very stringy. I\'ve enough to be choosy about which ones make it to the table and which ones go straight into the compost.\r\n\r\nAs I take out the produce I can see that some digging and weeding will be needed to tidy up the plots before autumn gets a hold. I also need to dig in copious amounts of compost to give the soil some body to improve its water retention. After a very heavy downpour the other evening the soil is dry a few centimeters down.', 'Vegetable Garden...', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5802-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-08-31 15:22:36', '2019-08-31 14:22:36', '', 5802, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5804', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5805, 283, '2019-09-01 14:44:43', '2019-09-01 13:44:43', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/mrs-lowry-son.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5806\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/mrs-lowry-son-300x211.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"211\" /></a>Timothy Spall and Vanessa Redgrave in a two-hander, a casting made in acting heaven. The film has had very mixed reviews with the Guardian only giving it 2 stars.\r\n\r\nI was concerned it might be too slow but the interdependency between Lowry and his mother was so stark and crippling for him that I soon became engrossed in the relationship. Timothy Spall as Lowry used his natural hangdog look to perfection. Lowry was a great disappointment to his mother and she decried his art work at every turn. She had aspirations of a different life; her husband had died leaving her with debts and she had to move to a \"lower class\" area which made her resentful so she used to bring her son down with her. Lowry equally was dependant on his mother because she had mollycoddled him from birth and isolated him from other children. The film left me wondering how Lowry could have developed if he hadn\'t been pulled down by his mother.\r\n\r\nI felt extremely saddened by the way a mother could treat a son and the concept of unconditional love didn\'t exist in her thinking. I was moved to tears by the film partly by the manipulative cruelty of his mother and the superb acting by Redgrave and Spall. If you have an interest in painters and like L. S. Lowry\'s work then I recommend the film.', 'Mrs Lowry & Son - Film Review', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'mrs-lowry-son-film-review', '', '', '2019-09-01 14:44:43', '2019-09-01 13:44:43', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5805', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5806, 283, '2019-09-01 14:33:19', '2019-09-01 13:33:19', '', 'mrs-lowry-son', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'mrs-lowry-son', '', '', '2019-09-01 14:33:19', '2019-09-01 13:33:19', '', 5805, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/mrs-lowry-son.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5807, 283, '2019-09-01 14:44:43', '2019-09-01 13:44:43', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/mrs-lowry-son.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5806\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/mrs-lowry-son-300x211.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"211\" /></a>Timothy Spall and Vanessa Redgrave in a two-hander, a casting made in acting heaven. The film has had very mixed reviews with the Guardian only giving it 2 stars.\r\n\r\nI was concerned it might be too slow but the interdependency between Lowry and his mother was so stark and crippling for him that I soon became engrossed in the relationship. Timothy Spall as Lowry used his natural hangdog look to perfection. Lowry was a great disappointment to his mother and she decried his art work at every turn. She had aspirations of a different life; her husband had died leaving her with debts and she had to move to a \"lower class\" area which made her resentful so she used to bring her son down with her. Lowry equally was dependant on his mother because she had mollycoddled him from birth and isolated him from other children. The film left me wondering how Lowry could have developed if he hadn\'t been pulled down by his mother.\r\n\r\nI felt extremely saddened by the way a mother could treat a son and the concept of unconditional love didn\'t exist in her thinking. I was moved to tears by the film partly by the manipulative cruelty of his mother and the superb acting by Redgrave and Spall. If you have an interest in painters and like L. S. Lowry\'s work then I recommend the film.', 'Mrs Lowry & Son - Film Review', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5805-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-09-01 14:44:43', '2019-09-01 13:44:43', '', 5805, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5807', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5808, 283, '2019-09-03 21:11:58', '2019-09-03 20:11:58', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/varroa-mite-closeup.png\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-5809\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/varroa-mite-closeup-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"228\" height=\"228\" /></a>As the Met Office announces we are officially entering autumn so the bees know they have to start preparing for winter. The beekeepers role is to make sure the hive is healthy. There are a number of issues - Varroa mites, European Foul Brood and American Foul Brood. The latter two are unusual and I wouldn\'t know what to look for however Varroa Mites are common in most hives. As you can see from the photo they are extremely small but they weaken the bees and affect their development.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Verroa-Mite-treatmentSept19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5810\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Verroa-Mite-treatmentSept19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>To treat the bees and kill the mites is quite straightforward. Strips containing formic acid are laid on the top of the brood box and you can see from the photo the strips sit across the top of the frames below the queen excluder. I opened the hive on a cooler afternoon so I wasn\'t surrounded by bees on this occasion. I have to leave the strips on for 7 days before I undertake my next inspection. Next time I will add some sugar solution to start to feed the bees in readiness for winter. During the summer the workers are foraging all day and as a consequence only live six weeks however over winter they stop foraging as the number of flowers decreases and it becomes cooler. They spend their days in the hive keeping the queen warm; this lack of activity means they can live for several months. The simple lesson here is that if you want to live longer do nothing...', 'Bee Treatment', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'bee-treatment', '', '', '2019-09-03 21:11:58', '2019-09-03 20:11:58', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5808', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5809, 283, '2019-09-03 20:56:58', '2019-09-03 19:56:58', '', 'varroa mite closeup', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'varroa-mite-closeup', '', '', '2019-09-03 20:56:58', '2019-09-03 19:56:58', '', 5808, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/varroa-mite-closeup.png', 0, 'attachment', 'image/png', 0),
(5810, 283, '2019-09-03 20:57:04', '2019-09-03 19:57:04', '', 'Verroa Mite treatment(Sept19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'verroa-mite-treatmentsept19', '', '', '2019-09-03 20:57:04', '2019-09-03 19:57:04', '', 5808, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Verroa-Mite-treatmentSept19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5811, 283, '2019-09-03 21:11:58', '2019-09-03 20:11:58', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/varroa-mite-closeup.png\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-5809\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/varroa-mite-closeup-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"228\" height=\"228\" /></a>As the Met Office announces we are officially entering autumn so the bees know they have to start preparing for winter. The beekeepers role is to make sure the hive is healthy. There are a number of issues - Varroa mites, European Foul Brood and American Foul Brood. The latter two are unusual and I wouldn\'t know what to look for however Varroa Mites are common in most hives. As you can see from the photo they are extremely small but they weaken the bees and affect their development.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Verroa-Mite-treatmentSept19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5810\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Verroa-Mite-treatmentSept19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>To treat the bees and kill the mites is quite straightforward. Strips containing formic acid are laid on the top of the brood box and you can see from the photo the strips sit across the top of the frames below the queen excluder. I opened the hive on a cooler afternoon so I wasn\'t surrounded by bees on this occasion. I have to leave the strips on for 7 days before I undertake my next inspection. Next time I will add some sugar solution to start to feed the bees in readiness for winter. During the summer the workers are foraging all day and as a consequence only live six weeks however over winter they stop foraging as the number of flowers decreases and it becomes cooler. They spend their days in the hive keeping the queen warm; this lack of activity means they can live for several months. The simple lesson here is that if you want to live longer do nothing...', 'Bee Treatment', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5808-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-09-03 21:11:58', '2019-09-03 20:11:58', '', 5808, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5811', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5828, 283, '2019-09-13 21:45:54', '2019-09-13 20:45:54', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Fleabag.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5829 alignright\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Fleabag-300x197.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"197\" /></a>I\'ve been an avid fan of the TV series Fleabag since the very first episode and that must be going back over 4 years because Jane and I watched it together.\r\n\r\nThe opportunity to see the stage version starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge wasn\'t to be missed. She originally did the show as a one woman act at the Edinburgh Fringe, but I never saw it there. Waller-Bridge is not only a superb writer she is also a very expressive actor. Her comic timing is impeccable and her face contains a multiplicity of nuances. Throughout the performance it was possible to see how she translated the ninety minute stage show into two series. Her characterisation is unique and pure genius.\r\n\r\nIf you missed this live screen look out for repeats coming soon to an arts cinema near you.', 'Fleabag - National Theatre Live Screening', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'fleabag-national-theatre-live-screening', '', '', '2019-09-13 21:45:54', '2019-09-13 20:45:54', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5828', 0, 'post', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES
(5813, 283, '2019-09-06 17:02:25', '2019-09-06 16:02:25', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/internet-graphic.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5814\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/internet-graphic-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"253\" height=\"202\" /></a>My decision to move my mobile and broadband service provider to PlusNet there was full of trepidation because there is so much to go wrong and I depend on my communication devices to remain sane. I might not be physically surrounded by people but email, WhatsApp, Twitter, Internet and this blog keep me in contact with so many people that I rely on the it. It\'s almost as if without these contacts I would cease to exist - bit melodramatic but you get the gist. I have to say everything ran very smoothly in terms of the changeover. My landline and broadband went down at 11am and was back up on the new providers network (BT OpenReach because that\'s what everyone uses) before 12pm. With a new router I had to reconnect my computers, tablet, Sonos speakers and mobile phone but that worked fine. I still haven\'t got Amazon Echo working or the Wemo electric sockets up and running but that\'s just a case of applying myself.\r\n\r\nI spent a pleasant afternoon at the hospice garden. I hoped I had handed the maintenance over to the volunteer gardeners however it seems they aren\'t very good at gardening and when I took Ruth to see Jane\'s garden it was in a neglected state. As a wildflower garden there are some species that are more expansive than others so the oxeye daisies and vetches have gone rogue. I strimmed back the ground cover and trimmed the Yew balls but there is plenty left to do. The hedge needs trimming, introduce foxgloves which were originally around the silver birches and remove a good proportion of the oxeye daisies. I\'m planning to go back next week. I sat there thinking what Jane would have done and then realised that if she was here I wouldn\'t need to do this - circular thinking never takes you forward.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5815,5816\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/lino-printsept19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5817\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/lino-printsept19-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>To counter my hardworking afternoon at the hospice garden I met up with my college friends Tim and Wid at Barton Upon Humber the following day. The <a href=\"https://www.the-ropewalk.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Rope Walk</a> has a lovely cafe with an art gallery and shop. While browsing through the shop I spotted this delightful linocut and was immediately smitten. The simplicity of the work epitomises what I like in artwork.\r\n\r\nI had a great time with Tim and Wid, putting the country back on track over lunch, and generally sharing news and views.', 'Juggling Stuff', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'juggling-stuff', '', '', '2019-09-06 17:02:25', '2019-09-06 16:02:25', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5813', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5814, 283, '2019-09-06 16:43:37', '2019-09-06 15:43:37', '', 'internet graphic', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'internet-graphic', '', '', '2019-09-06 16:43:37', '2019-09-06 15:43:37', '', 5813, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/internet-graphic.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5815, 283, '2019-09-06 16:43:41', '2019-09-06 15:43:41', '', 'hospice garden(sep19).jpg', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'hospice-gardensep19-jpg', '', '', '2019-09-06 16:43:41', '2019-09-06 15:43:41', '', 5813, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/hospice-gardensep19.jpg.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5816, 283, '2019-09-06 16:43:45', '2019-09-06 15:43:45', '', 'yew balls@hospice(sep19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'yew-ballshospicesep19', '', '', '2019-09-06 16:43:45', '2019-09-06 15:43:45', '', 5813, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/yew-balls@hospicesep19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5817, 283, '2019-09-06 16:43:48', '2019-09-06 15:43:48', '', 'lino print(sept19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'lino-printsept19', '', '', '2019-09-06 16:43:48', '2019-09-06 15:43:48', '', 5813, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/lino-printsept19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5818, 283, '2019-09-06 16:59:20', '2019-09-06 15:59:20', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/internet-graphic.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright  wp-image-5814\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/internet-graphic-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"253\" height=\"202\" /></a>My decision to move my mobile and broadband service provider to PlusNet there was full of trepidation because there is so much to go wrong and I depend on my communication devices to remain sane. I might not be physically surrounded by people but email, WhatsApp, Twitter, Internet and this blog keep me in contact with so many people that I rely on the it. It\'s almost as if without these contacts I would cease to exist - bit melodramatic but you get the gist. I have to say everything ran very smoothly in terms of the changeover. My landline and broadband went down at 11am and was back up on the new providers network (BT OpenReach because that\'s what everyone uses) before 12pm. With a new router I had to reconnect my computers, tablet, Sonos speakers and mobile phone but that worked fine. I still haven\'t got Amazon Echo working or the Wemo electric sockets up and running but that\'s just a case of applying myself.\r\n\r\nI spent a pleasant afternoon at the hospice garden. I hoped I had handed over the maintenance to the volunteer gardeners however it seems they aren\'t very good at gardening and when I took Ruth to see Jane\'s garden it was in a very neglected state. As a wildflower garden there are some species that are more expansive than others so the oxeye daisies and vetches have gone rogue. I strimmed back the ground cover and trimmed the Yew balls but there is plenty left to do. The hedge needs trimming, introduce foxgloves which were originally around the silver birches and remove a good proportion of the oxeye daisies. I\'m planning to go back next week. I sat there thinking what Jane would have done and then realised that if she was here I wouldn\'t need to do this - circular thinking never takes you forward.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5815,5816\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/lino-printsept19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5817\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/lino-printsept19-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>To counter my hardworking afternoon at the hospice garden I met up with my college friends Tim and Wid at Barton Upon Humber the following day. The <a href=\"https://www.the-ropewalk.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Rope Walk</a> has a lovely cafe with an art gallery and shop. While browsing through the shop I spotted this delightful linocut and was immediately smitten. The simplicity of the work epitomises what I like in artwork.\r\n\r\nI had a great time with Tim and Wid, putting the country back on track over lunch, and generally sharing news and views.', 'Juggling Stuff', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5813-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-09-06 16:59:20', '2019-09-06 15:59:20', '', 5813, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5818', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5819, 283, '2019-09-06 17:01:56', '2019-09-06 16:01:56', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/internet-graphic.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5814\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/internet-graphic-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"253\" height=\"202\" /></a>My decision to move my mobile and broadband service provider to PlusNet there was full of trepidation because there is so much to go wrong and I depend on my communication devices to remain sane. I might not be physically surrounded by people but email, WhatsApp, Twitter, Internet and this blog keep me in contact with so many people that I rely on the it. It\'s almost as if without these contacts I would cease to exist - bit melodramatic but you get the gist. I have to say everything ran very smoothly in terms of the changeover. My landline and broadband went down at 11am and was back up on the new providers network (BT OpenReach because that\'s what everyone uses) before 12pm. With a new router I had to reconnect my computers, tablet, Sonos speakers and mobile phone but that worked fine. I still haven\'t got Amazon Echo working or the Wemo electric sockets up and running but that\'s just a case of applying myself.\r\n\r\nI spent a pleasant afternoon at the hospice garden. I hoped I had handed the maintenance over to the volunteer gardeners however it seems they aren\'t very good at gardening and when I took Ruth to see Jane\'s garden it was in a neglected state. As a wildflower garden there are some species that are more expansive than others so the oxeye daisies and vetches have gone rogue. I strimmed back the ground cover and trimmed the Yew balls but there is plenty left to do. The hedge needs trimming, introduce foxgloves which were originally around the silver birches and remove a good proportion of the oxeye daisies. I\'m planning to go back next week. I sat there thinking what Jane would have done and then realised that if she was here I wouldn\'t need to do this - circular thinking never takes you forward.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5815,5816\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/lino-printsept19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5817\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/lino-printsept19-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>To counter my hardworking afternoon at the hospice garden I met up with my college friends Tim and Wid at Barton Upon Humber the following day. The <a href=\"https://www.the-ropewalk.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Rope Walk</a> has a lovely cafe with an art gallery and shop. While browsing through the shop I spotted this delightful linocut and was immediately smitten. The simplicity of the work epitomises what I like in artwork.\r\n\r\nI had a great time with Tim and Wid, putting the country back on track over lunch, and generally sharing news and views.', 'Juggling Stuff', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5813-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-09-06 17:01:56', '2019-09-06 16:01:56', '', 5813, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5819', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5820, 283, '2019-09-10 14:23:52', '2019-09-10 13:23:52', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-manualjul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-5695\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-manualjul19-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>Every single week I learn something new about beekeeping and one common factor is that all beekeepers have strong opinions on how it should be done and they are all different. When asking for advice it is quite likely you will receive several answers and some of them diametrically opposed. I\'m learning to listen to everyone, think it through with my current knowledge and understanding then, if none of that makes sense, I do whatever my friend Gary tells me to do. This week I learned that bees start their winter preparations when the nights start drawing in (22nd June) - they can tell when the daylight hours are getting shorter even if it\'s only a couple of minutes.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/empty-honey-framessep19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5821\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/empty-honey-framessep19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>Today I did another inspection to see how the varroa treatment had worked. The \"super\" box on top of the brood which last week contained some honey has now been emptied and so I removed it. You can see one of the frames with the foundation wax extended by the bees but no honey.\r\n\r\nI did have a plan to keep this on the very top if it still had honey in it but that wasn\'t necessary.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/queen-bee-sep19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5822\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/queen-bee-sep19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>I worked my way through the brood frames where there wasn\'t a great deal of stores and a few cells still capped awaiting the new bees to emerge. The bees in the hive at the moment will be the same ones in March when the queen starts laying again provided they don\'t starve during the winter.\r\n\r\nI was pleased to see the queen again. She\'s in the middle of this shot (longer body and legs) and is very canny because by the time I got the camera she had moved on and was surrounded by workers. I had hoped to mark her with a special pen so it would be easier to see her however with the rest of the hive buzzing around my head (they\'re still quite aggressive) I decided not to try to mark on this occasion. It\'s a task that requires a minimum of three hands - one hand holding the frame and two hands to catch the queen in a specially designed container and then mark her.', 'Bee Autumn', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'bee-autumn', '', '', '2019-09-10 17:49:38', '2019-09-10 16:49:38', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5820', 0, 'post', '', 2),
(5821, 283, '2019-09-10 14:02:35', '2019-09-10 13:02:35', '', 'empty honey frames(sep19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'empty-honey-framessep19', '', '', '2019-09-10 14:02:35', '2019-09-10 13:02:35', '', 5820, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/empty-honey-framessep19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5822, 283, '2019-09-10 14:02:39', '2019-09-10 13:02:39', '', 'queen bee (sep19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'queen-bee-sep19', '', '', '2019-09-10 14:02:39', '2019-09-10 13:02:39', '', 5820, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/queen-bee-sep19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5823, 283, '2019-09-10 14:23:52', '2019-09-10 13:23:52', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-manualjul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-5695\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-manualjul19-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>Every single week I learn something new about beekeeping and one common factor is that all beekeepers have strong opinions on how it should be done and they are all different. When asking for advice it is quite likely you will receive several answers and some of them diametrically opposed. I\'m learning to listen to everyone, think it through with my current knowledge and understanding then, if none of that makes sense, I do whatever my friend Gary tells me to do. This week I learned that bees start their winter preparations when the nights start drawing in (22nd June) - they can tell when the daylight hours are getting shorter even if it\'s only a couple of minutes.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/empty-honey-framessep19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5821\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/empty-honey-framessep19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>Today I did another inspection to see how the varroa treatment had worked. The \"super\" box on top of the brood which last week contained some honey has now been emptied and so I removed it. You can see one of the frames with the foundation wax extended by the bees but no honey.\r\n\r\nI did have a plan to keep this on the very top if it still had honey it but that wasn\'t necessary.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/queen-bee-sep19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5822\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/queen-bee-sep19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>I worked my way through the brood frames where there wasn\'t a great deal of stores and a few cells still capped awaiting the new bees to emerge. The bees in the hive at the moment will be the same ones in March when the queen starts laying again provided they don\'t starve during the winter.\r\n\r\nI was pleased to see the queen again. She\'s in the middle of this shot (longer body and legs) and is very canny because by the time I got the camera she had moved on and was surrounded by workers. I had hoped to mark her with a special pen so it would be easier to see her however with the rest of the hive buzzing around my head (they\'re still quite aggressive) I decided not to try to mark on this occasion. It\'s a task that requires a minimum of three hands - one hand holding the frame and two hands to catch the queen in a specially designed container and then mark her.', 'Bee Autumn', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5820-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-09-10 14:23:52', '2019-09-10 13:23:52', '', 5820, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5823', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5824, 283, '2019-09-10 17:49:08', '2019-09-10 16:49:08', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-manualjul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-5695\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-manualjul19-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>Every single week I learn something new about beekeeping and one common factor is that all beekeepers have strong opinions on how it should be done and they are all different. When asking for advice it is quite likely you will receive several answers and some of them diametrically opposed. I\'m learning to listen to everyone, think it through with my current knowledge and understanding then, if none of that makes sense, I do whatever my friend Gary tells me to do. This week I learned that bees start their winter preparations when the nights start drawing in (22nd June) - they can tell when the daylight hours are getting shorter even if it\'s only a couple of minutes.\n\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/empty-honey-framessep19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5821\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/empty-honey-framessep19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>Today I did another inspection to see how the varroa treatment had worked. The \"super\" box on top of the brood which last week contained some honey has now been emptied and so I removed it. You can see one of the frames with the foundation wax extended by the bees but no honey.\n\nI did have a plan to keep this on the very top if it still had honey in it but that wasn\'t necessary.\n\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/queen-bee-sep19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5822\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/queen-bee-sep19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>I worked my way through the brood frames where there wasn\'t a great deal of stores and a few cells still capped awaiting the new bees to emerge. The bees in the hive at the moment will be the same ones in March when the queen starts laying again provided they don\'t starve during the winter.\n\nI was pleased to see the queen again. She\'s in the middle of this shot (longer body and legs) and is very canny because by the time I got the camera she had moved on and was surrounded by workers. I had hoped to mark her with a special pen so it would be easier to see her however with the rest of the hive buzzing around my head (they\'re still quite aggressive) I decided not to try to mark on this occasion. It\'s a task that requires a minimum of three hands - one hand holding the frame and two hands to catch the queen in a specially designed container and then mark her.', 'Bee Autumn', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5820-autosave-v1', '', '', '2019-09-10 17:49:08', '2019-09-10 16:49:08', '', 5820, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5824', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5825, 283, '2019-09-10 17:49:38', '2019-09-10 16:49:38', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-manualjul19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-5695\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bee-manualjul19-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>Every single week I learn something new about beekeeping and one common factor is that all beekeepers have strong opinions on how it should be done and they are all different. When asking for advice it is quite likely you will receive several answers and some of them diametrically opposed. I\'m learning to listen to everyone, think it through with my current knowledge and understanding then, if none of that makes sense, I do whatever my friend Gary tells me to do. This week I learned that bees start their winter preparations when the nights start drawing in (22nd June) - they can tell when the daylight hours are getting shorter even if it\'s only a couple of minutes.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/empty-honey-framessep19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5821\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/empty-honey-framessep19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>Today I did another inspection to see how the varroa treatment had worked. The \"super\" box on top of the brood which last week contained some honey has now been emptied and so I removed it. You can see one of the frames with the foundation wax extended by the bees but no honey.\r\n\r\nI did have a plan to keep this on the very top if it still had honey in it but that wasn\'t necessary.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/queen-bee-sep19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5822\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/queen-bee-sep19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>I worked my way through the brood frames where there wasn\'t a great deal of stores and a few cells still capped awaiting the new bees to emerge. The bees in the hive at the moment will be the same ones in March when the queen starts laying again provided they don\'t starve during the winter.\r\n\r\nI was pleased to see the queen again. She\'s in the middle of this shot (longer body and legs) and is very canny because by the time I got the camera she had moved on and was surrounded by workers. I had hoped to mark her with a special pen so it would be easier to see her however with the rest of the hive buzzing around my head (they\'re still quite aggressive) I decided not to try to mark on this occasion. It\'s a task that requires a minimum of three hands - one hand holding the frame and two hands to catch the queen in a specially designed container and then mark her.', 'Bee Autumn', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5820-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-09-10 17:49:38', '2019-09-10 16:49:38', '', 5820, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5825', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5826, 283, '2019-09-11 19:08:16', '2019-09-11 18:08:16', '', 'queen bee header', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'queen-bee-header', '', '', '2019-09-11 19:08:16', '2019-09-11 18:08:16', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/queen-bee-header.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5891, 283, '2019-11-03 16:04:53', '2019-11-03 16:04:53', '', 'Leaf collection(Nov19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'leaf-collectionnov19', '', '', '2019-11-03 16:04:53', '2019-11-03 16:04:53', '', 5889, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Leaf-collectionNov19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5871, 283, '2019-10-26 16:16:09', '2019-10-26 15:16:09', 'In the early part of this year after much deliberation I decided to mark my 70th birthday by inviting some of my friends to stay at a large house in the south of Cumbria. It was on the edge of a village called Staveley and although the booking website called the house Skyline it was known locally as Craggy. Skyline was more romantic and the house turned out to be wonderful with great facilities and most of the bedrooms were very luxurious.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" ids=\"5882,5883,5885\"]\r\n\r\nWe spent most of the day in Windermere and Bowness however I did experience a migraine on the day which is the first for a very long time, many years. We spent the evening at <a href=\"http://www.hawksheadbrewery.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Hawkshead Brewery</a> where the beer was excellent, the food was terrible and the noise from the young customers was deafening. We visited the brewery several times in the week and also, <a href=\"http://www.moreartisan.co.uk/bakery-cafe.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">More?</a>, the artisan bakery/cafe next door. To have two such wonderful services in the same village made me think it would be good to live there permanently.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bee-mugoct19-e1572102850481.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5879\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bee-mugoct19-e1572102850481-278x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"162\" /></a>During the week we spent quite a lot of time visiting outdoor wear shops however I rapidly came to the conclusion that I wasn\'t wet or cold, I didn\'t need new shoes or boots, so what was I looking for? However I did purchase a couple of bee mugs in Hawkshead - one can never have enough mugs.\r\n\r\nSkyline (craggy) was a superb location and the views across the countryside were unsurpassed.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" ids=\"5872,5881,5884,5877\"]\r\n\r\nAt the back of the house there was a walk up the hillside to a footpath. It was quite a climb and I managed to walk it on a couple of occasion, each time finishing the walk in Staveley.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" ids=\"5873,5876,5874,5878,5875\"]\r\n\r\nThe woods in the autumn are at their very best and I was enthralled by the variety of colours with deep greens from the moss growing on the stones to the lighter browning leaves.\r\n\r\nA week in the Lake District and it only rained on the final morning as we were leaving. It was an excellent way to mark the passing of my 70th birthday and it doesn\'t seem too bad having made it this far. I continue to deeply regret the fact that Jane isn\'t with me but I would be letting her memory down if I didn\'t continue to live life to the full and make the most of every day.', '70 and still counting', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', '70-and-still-counting', '', '', '2019-10-26 16:16:46', '2019-10-26 15:16:46', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5871', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5858, 283, '2019-10-17 17:41:33', '2019-10-17 16:41:33', 'Middle of October and the garden still has a few surprises of colour in store.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5862,5864,5863,5861,5859\"]\r\n\r\nAnd the bees are active bringing in plenty of pollen on their leg sacks. The pollen will be stored and used to feed the new bees in the spring. I\'ve been feeding them since the end of August, first with a sugar syrup mixture but I learned this takes a lot of their energy to convert this into honey so I\'ve been feeding a fondant called <a href=\"https://www.thorne.co.uk/image/data/Documents/APICANDY2015.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ApiCandy</a>. They\'ve nearly finished one pack in two weeks so I\'ve placed another pack in the hive and will check again in another two weeks. There is still capped brood and larvae so more bees will be emerging in the coming weeks ready to keep the colony strong through the winter.\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/beespollenoct16.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-5860\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/beespollenoct16-1024x767.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"479\" /></a>', 'Garden and Bees', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'garden-and-bees', '', '', '2019-10-17 17:42:55', '2019-10-17 16:42:55', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5858', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5859, 283, '2019-10-17 17:31:17', '2019-10-17 16:31:17', '', 'Verbascum(oct19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'verbascumoct19', '', '', '2019-10-17 17:31:17', '2019-10-17 16:31:17', '', 5858, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Verbascumoct19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5860, 283, '2019-10-17 17:31:21', '2019-10-17 16:31:21', '', 'bees+pollen(oct16)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'beespollenoct16', '', '', '2019-10-17 17:31:21', '2019-10-17 16:31:21', '', 5858, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/beespollenoct16.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5861, 283, '2019-10-17 17:31:28', '2019-10-17 16:31:28', '', 'Michalmas daisies(oct19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'michalmas-daisiesoct19', '', '', '2019-10-17 17:31:28', '2019-10-17 16:31:28', '', 5858, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Michalmas-daisiesoct19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5829, 283, '2019-09-13 20:59:17', '2019-09-13 19:59:17', '', 'Fleabag', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'fleabag', '', '', '2019-09-13 20:59:17', '2019-09-13 19:59:17', '', 5828, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Fleabag.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5830, 283, '2019-09-13 21:45:54', '2019-09-13 20:45:54', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Fleabag.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5829 alignright\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Fleabag-300x197.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"197\" /></a>I\'ve been an avid fan of the TV series Fleabag since the very first episode and that must be going back over 4 years because Jane and I watched it together.\r\n\r\nThe opportunity to see the stage version starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge wasn\'t to be missed. She originally did the show as a one woman act at the Edinburgh Fringe, but I never saw it there. Waller-Bridge is not only a superb writer she is also a very expressive actor. Her comic timing is impeccable and her face contains a multiplicity of nuances. Throughout the performance it was possible to see how she translated the ninety minute stage show into two series. Her characterisation is unique and pure genius.\r\n\r\nIf you missed this live screen look out for repeats coming soon to an arts cinema near you.', 'Fleabag - National Theatre Live Screening', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5828-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-09-13 21:45:54', '2019-09-13 20:45:54', '', 5828, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5830', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5831, 283, '2019-09-14 19:38:24', '2019-09-14 18:38:24', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/holly-tree-felling1sep19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright  wp-image-5833\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/holly-tree-felling1sep19-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"178\" height=\"237\" /></a>One of the holly trees along the drive has died and although it wasn\'t dangerous it would become so over time. The hollies are not attractive trees however when we moved onto the site the tree warden for the Local Authority insisted that we keep a minimum of five holly trees on the site. Nick and Val were applying for consent to sort out some of their trees so they included this dead holly in their application and it permission was duly granted to remove it.\r\n\r\nI wasn\'t looking forward to cutting it down because it was quite high and I\'m not good up ladders. I\'d already removed some of the side branches but all that was left was the main trunks.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/holly-tree-felling2sep19.jpg.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5832\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/holly-tree-felling2sep19.jpg-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>After cutting some more branches Nick came to the rescue and took out the upper dead trunks and gave me the honour of felling the final 5 metres of trunk.\r\n\r\nAnother hour of shredding branches and the drive was clear of brush. Another couple of hours tomorrow and the whole area will be ready for an appraisal of what will grow in this area now that the holly is no longer shading it. I do need to replace the holly with a beech tree as one of the conditions of removing it. The tree warden suggested I might like to replace it with another holly - is she mad? They are an awful tree in a garden.\r\n\r\nBig thank you to Nick and Val for their community support!', 'Tree Fellers', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'tree-fellers-3', '', '', '2019-09-14 19:38:24', '2019-09-14 18:38:24', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5831', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5832, 283, '2019-09-14 19:22:27', '2019-09-14 18:22:27', '', 'holly tree felling2(sep19).jpg', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'holly-tree-felling2sep19-jpg', '', '', '2019-09-14 19:22:27', '2019-09-14 18:22:27', '', 5831, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/holly-tree-felling2sep19.jpg.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5833, 283, '2019-09-14 19:22:31', '2019-09-14 18:22:31', '', 'holly tree felling1(sep19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'holly-tree-felling1sep19', '', '', '2019-09-14 19:22:31', '2019-09-14 18:22:31', '', 5831, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/holly-tree-felling1sep19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5834, 283, '2019-09-14 19:38:24', '2019-09-14 18:38:24', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/holly-tree-felling1sep19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright  wp-image-5833\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/holly-tree-felling1sep19-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"178\" height=\"237\" /></a>One of the holly trees along the drive has died and although it wasn\'t dangerous it would become so over time. The hollies are not attractive trees however when we moved onto the site the tree warden for the Local Authority insisted that we keep a minimum of five holly trees on the site. Nick and Val were applying for consent to sort out some of their trees so they included this dead holly in their application and it permission was duly granted to remove it.\r\n\r\nI wasn\'t looking forward to cutting it down because it was quite high and I\'m not good up ladders. I\'d already removed some of the side branches but all that was left was the main trunks.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/holly-tree-felling2sep19.jpg.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5832\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/holly-tree-felling2sep19.jpg-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>After cutting some more branches Nick came to the rescue and took out the upper dead trunks and gave me the honour of felling the final 5 metres of trunk.\r\n\r\nAnother hour of shredding branches and the drive was clear of brush. Another couple of hours tomorrow and the whole area will be ready for an appraisal of what will grow in this area now that the holly is no longer shading it. I do need to replace the holly with a beech tree as one of the conditions of removing it. The tree warden suggested I might like to replace it with another holly - is she mad? They are an awful tree in a garden.\r\n\r\nBig thank you to Nick and Val for their community support!', 'Tree Fellers', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5831-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-09-14 19:38:24', '2019-09-14 18:38:24', '', 5831, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5834', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5836, 283, '2019-09-17 08:59:19', '2019-09-17 07:59:19', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/pickled-beetrootsep19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5838\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/pickled-beetrootsep19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>No, not a political comment on the state of the UK at this time but the view of my annual pickling of my beetroot.\r\nThis year I left the beets in the ground for too long and they grew so large that they took a lot of cooking. One of them hadn\'t cooked through after 1.5 hours bubbling away on the hob. I\'ve now got three jars pickled and more frozen ready to be roasted in the future.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/washing-on-the-linesep19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5837\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/washing-on-the-linesep19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>My domestic duties are never done either in the house or out in the garden. On a sunny autumn morning it is a real pleasure to be out hanging up my washing - listening to the birds, watching my bees still coming and going and appreciating that fresh smell in the air, a portent of autumn.', 'Another Blood Bath', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'another-blood-bath', '', '', '2019-09-17 08:59:19', '2019-09-17 07:59:19', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5836', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5837, 283, '2019-09-17 08:51:54', '2019-09-17 07:51:54', '', 'washing on the line(sep19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'washing-on-the-linesep19', '', '', '2019-09-17 08:51:54', '2019-09-17 07:51:54', '', 5836, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/washing-on-the-linesep19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5838, 283, '2019-09-17 08:51:58', '2019-09-17 07:51:58', '', 'pickled beetroot(sep19(', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'pickled-beetrootsep19', '', '', '2019-09-17 08:51:58', '2019-09-17 07:51:58', '', 5836, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/pickled-beetrootsep19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5839, 283, '2019-09-17 08:59:19', '2019-09-17 07:59:19', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/pickled-beetrootsep19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5838\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/pickled-beetrootsep19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>No, not a political comment on the state of the UK at this time but the view of my annual pickling of my beetroot.\r\nThis year I left the beets in the ground for too long and they grew so large that they took a lot of cooking. One of them hadn\'t cooked through after 1.5 hours bubbling away on the hob. I\'ve now got three jars pickled and more frozen ready to be roasted in the future.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/washing-on-the-linesep19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5837\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/washing-on-the-linesep19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>My domestic duties are never done either in the house or out in the garden. On a sunny autumn morning it is a real pleasure to be out hanging up my washing - listening to the birds, watching my bees still coming and going and appreciating that fresh smell in the air, a portent of autumn.', 'Another Blood Bath', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5836-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-09-17 08:59:19', '2019-09-17 07:59:19', '', 5836, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5839', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5850, 283, '2019-10-08 22:51:49', '2019-10-08 21:51:49', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Saltburn-pieroct19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5854\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Saltburn-pieroct19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>A couple of days in not so sunny Darlington and I was taken for a trip to <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saltburn-by-the-Sea\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Saltburn</a>. I\'ve never been to this north east seaside resort. It has all the trappings of a Victorian seaside leisure town and is largely unchanged from the original setting apart from the large Sainsbury\'s nestling beside the railway station.\r\nThe tide was out, there was a chill wind but it didn\'t stop a group of women running into the sea. British madness does exist outside of Parliament.\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Bees-with-yellow-pollenoct19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5853\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Bees-with-yellow-pollenoct19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>In the rare moments of warm sunshine at this time of year the bees are out and about foraging for nectar and pollen. The nectar is being collected for feeding the workers and queen during the winter months when it\'s too cold for them to come out. The yellow pollen in their leg sacks will be stored over winter and fed to the young bee larvae that will emerge some time in the spring. They were so intent on bringing in their \"gold\" they kept flying into me as I crouched down on their flight path into the hive.\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/caterpillaroct19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5851\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/caterpillaroct19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>While digging around one of the raised beds I came across this character perambulating over the leaves.\r\n\r\nIt is apparently a Pale Tussock moth caterpillar and usually found in the south of England. Are some moths also moving north as a consequence of climate change?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/raised-bed-problemoct19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5852\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/raised-bed-problemoct19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>I\'m out in the garden having decided to move the geraniums from the trough at the front to the raised bed by the back door. I started digging out the soil in the bed to make room and what do I find? The wooden sleeper on the end is loose and rotten. The nails that were holding it in place are doing nothing. I have to put aside my spade and trowel and start drilling holes, finding very large screws and try to fix it. Despite screwing it together it still moves a bit probably because the sleeper has started to rot. I thought sleepers were pressure treated to last 25 years. I think the builders were cutting corners on the landscaping.\r\n\r\nAfter putting everything back together I did have time to move the geraniums and plant 50+ pansies in their place. I\'m looking forward to a late show of flowers that will, allegedly, last through until the spring.', 'Piers, Bees and Garden', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'piers-bees-and-garden', '', '', '2019-10-08 22:51:49', '2019-10-08 21:51:49', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5850', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5843, 283, '2019-10-01 12:12:27', '2019-10-01 11:12:27', '<a href=\"http://ntlive.nationaltheatre.org.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5846 size-medium\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/one-man-two-guvnors-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>A slow start to last week followed by a manic few days has meant that I haven\'t had time to update the website. I had the pleasure of going to see One Man, Two Guvnors as a <a href=\"http://ntlive.nationaltheatre.org.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">NT Live streaming</a> event. I\'m not a great fan of farce or slap stick however with James Corden front and centre he made the show work for me. It was hilarious and I spent the time laughing out loud despite the ridiculousness of the plot.\r\n\r\nThere were some great ad libs involving the audience and I\'m disappointed that I never went to see it as a live show but I think it was a sell out show.\r\n\r\nAt the weekend I travelled up to Darlington to meet a new \"friend\". Fifty years ago I went to college just outside Darlington and is where I met Jane so there was huge potential for a nostalgia trip. The covered market is still there but the stall where Jane would exchange superman comics has sadly gone. Nothing stays the same. I stayed in the Bannatyne hotel; I wouldn\'t recommend it. When I came back late on Sunday evening after a day of heavy rain there were buckets in the corridors collecting water from the many leaks in the roof.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ad-astra-filmsep19.jpg\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-5845 alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ad-astra-filmsep19-144x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"144\" height=\"200\" /></a>Visited Richmond on Saturday and had a delightful walk alongside the river with an impromptu picnic sitting in the graveyard of a medieval abbey (<a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easby_Abbey\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Easby, St Agnes</a>) with the autumn sun warming the bones. For evening entertainment we went to see Ad Astra at the Richmond cinema housed in an old railway station. I had hoped for a film with the depth of \"2001, A Space Odyssey\" however it fell very short of that and was a long, drawn-out story of very little substance. I wouldn\'t recommend it.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Levens-Hall-TopiarySep19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5844\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Levens-Hall-TopiarySep19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>And on a very wet Sunday, we travelled over to the Lake District. Walked a short distance along Ullswater but it was raining too heavily for it to be called an enjoyable experience. The mists over the mountains remains enchanting whatever the weather. A quick drive down the M6 to visit <a href=\"https://www.levenshall.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Levens Hall</a> near Kendal. I last visited here in the 1970s with Jane\'s parents. The topiary has been here for over 300 years however the yew and box is under threat from a variety of new diseases that have infected our native trees as a possible consequence of global warming.\r\n\r\nA late lunch in the cafe at Levens Hall was superb and worth a revisit at some time in the future.', 'Culture, Rain and Travels', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'culture-rain-and-travels', '', '', '2019-10-01 12:12:27', '2019-10-01 11:12:27', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5843', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5844, 283, '2019-10-01 10:27:36', '2019-10-01 09:27:36', '', 'Levens Hall Topiary(Sep19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'levens-hall-topiarysep19', '', '', '2019-10-01 10:27:36', '2019-10-01 09:27:36', '', 5843, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Levens-Hall-TopiarySep19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5845, 283, '2019-10-01 10:27:40', '2019-10-01 09:27:40', '', 'ad astra film(sep19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'ad-astra-filmsep19', '', '', '2019-10-01 10:27:40', '2019-10-01 09:27:40', '', 5843, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ad-astra-filmsep19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5846, 283, '2019-10-01 10:27:42', '2019-10-01 09:27:42', '', 'one man two guvnors', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'one-man-two-guvnors', '', '', '2019-10-01 10:27:42', '2019-10-01 09:27:42', '', 5843, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/one-man-two-guvnors.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0);
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES
(5847, 283, '2019-10-01 10:30:27', '2019-10-01 09:30:27', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/one-man-two-guvnors.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5846\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/one-man-two-guvnors-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>A slow start to last week followed by a manic few days has meant that I haven\'t had time to update the website. I had the pleasure of going to see One Man, Two Guvnors as a NT Live streaming event. I\'m not a great fan of farce or slap stick however with James Corden front and centre he made the show. It was hilarious and I spent the time laughing out loud despite the ridiculousness of the plot.\r\n\r\nThere were some great ad libs involving the audience and I\'m disappointed that I never went to see it as a live show but I think it was a sell out show.\r\n\r\nAt the weekend I travelled up to Darlington to meet a \"friend\". I went to college just outside Darlington and that is where I met Jane so there was huge potential for a nostalgia trip.', 'Culture, Rain and Travels', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5843-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-10-01 10:30:27', '2019-10-01 09:30:27', '', 5843, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5847', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5848, 283, '2019-10-01 12:12:27', '2019-10-01 11:12:27', '<a href=\"http://ntlive.nationaltheatre.org.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5846 size-medium\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/one-man-two-guvnors-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>A slow start to last week followed by a manic few days has meant that I haven\'t had time to update the website. I had the pleasure of going to see One Man, Two Guvnors as a <a href=\"http://ntlive.nationaltheatre.org.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">NT Live streaming</a> event. I\'m not a great fan of farce or slap stick however with James Corden front and centre he made the show work for me. It was hilarious and I spent the time laughing out loud despite the ridiculousness of the plot.\r\n\r\nThere were some great ad libs involving the audience and I\'m disappointed that I never went to see it as a live show but I think it was a sell out show.\r\n\r\nAt the weekend I travelled up to Darlington to meet a new \"friend\". Fifty years ago I went to college just outside Darlington and is where I met Jane so there was huge potential for a nostalgia trip. The covered market is still there but the stall where Jane would exchange superman comics has sadly gone. Nothing stays the same. I stayed in the Bannatyne hotel; I wouldn\'t recommend it. When I came back late on Sunday evening after a day of heavy rain there were buckets in the corridors collecting water from the many leaks in the roof.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ad-astra-filmsep19.jpg\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-5845 alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ad-astra-filmsep19-144x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"144\" height=\"200\" /></a>Visited Richmond on Saturday and had a delightful walk alongside the river with an impromptu picnic sitting in the graveyard of a medieval abbey (<a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easby_Abbey\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Easby, St Agnes</a>) with the autumn sun warming the bones. For evening entertainment we went to see Ad Astra at the Richmond cinema housed in an old railway station. I had hoped for a film with the depth of \"2001, A Space Odyssey\" however it fell very short of that and was a long, drawn-out story of very little substance. I wouldn\'t recommend it.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Levens-Hall-TopiarySep19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5844\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Levens-Hall-TopiarySep19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>And on a very wet Sunday, we travelled over to the Lake District. Walked a short distance along Ullswater but it was raining too heavily for it to be called an enjoyable experience. The mists over the mountains remains enchanting whatever the weather. A quick drive down the M6 to visit <a href=\"https://www.levenshall.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Levens Hall</a> near Kendal. I last visited here in the 1970s with Jane\'s parents. The topiary has been here for over 300 years however the yew and box is under threat from a variety of new diseases that have infected our native trees as a possible consequence of global warming.\r\n\r\nA late lunch in the cafe at Levens Hall was superb and worth a revisit at some time in the future.', 'Culture, Rain and Travels', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5843-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-10-01 12:12:27', '2019-10-01 11:12:27', '', 5843, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5848', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5851, 283, '2019-10-08 16:22:54', '2019-10-08 15:22:54', '', 'caterpillar(oct19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'caterpillaroct19', '', '', '2019-10-08 16:22:54', '2019-10-08 15:22:54', '', 5850, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/caterpillaroct19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5852, 283, '2019-10-08 16:22:59', '2019-10-08 15:22:59', '', 'raised bed problem(oct19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'raised-bed-problemoct19', '', '', '2019-10-08 16:22:59', '2019-10-08 15:22:59', '', 5850, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/raised-bed-problemoct19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5853, 283, '2019-10-08 16:23:02', '2019-10-08 15:23:02', '', 'Bees with yellow pollen(oct19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'bees-with-yellow-pollenoct19', '', '', '2019-10-08 16:23:02', '2019-10-08 15:23:02', '', 5850, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Bees-with-yellow-pollenoct19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5854, 283, '2019-10-08 16:23:06', '2019-10-08 15:23:06', '', 'Saltburn pier(oct19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'saltburn-pieroct19', '', '', '2019-10-08 16:23:06', '2019-10-08 15:23:06', '', 5850, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Saltburn-pieroct19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5855, 283, '2019-10-08 22:51:49', '2019-10-08 21:51:49', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Saltburn-pieroct19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5854\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Saltburn-pieroct19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>A couple of days in not so sunny Darlington and I was taken for a trip to <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saltburn-by-the-Sea\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Saltburn</a>. I\'ve never been to this north east seaside resort. It has all the trappings of a Victorian seaside leisure town and is largely unchanged from the original setting apart from the large Sainsbury\'s nestling beside the railway station.\r\nThe tide was out, there was a chill wind but it didn\'t stop a group of women running into the sea. British madness does exist outside of Parliament.\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Bees-with-yellow-pollenoct19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5853\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Bees-with-yellow-pollenoct19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>In the rare moments of warm sunshine at this time of year the bees are out and about foraging for nectar and pollen. The nectar is being collected for feeding the workers and queen during the winter months when it\'s too cold for them to come out. The yellow pollen in their leg sacks will be stored over winter and fed to the young bee larvae that will emerge some time in the spring. They were so intent on bringing in their \"gold\" they kept flying into me as I crouched down on their flight path into the hive.\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/caterpillaroct19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5851\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/caterpillaroct19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>While digging around one of the raised beds I came across this character perambulating over the leaves.\r\n\r\nIt is apparently a Pale Tussock moth caterpillar and usually found in the south of England. Are some moths also moving north as a consequence of climate change?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/raised-bed-problemoct19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5852\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/raised-bed-problemoct19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>I\'m out in the garden having decided to move the geraniums from the trough at the front to the raised bed by the back door. I started digging out the soil in the bed to make room and what do I find? The wooden sleeper on the end is loose and rotten. The nails that were holding it in place are doing nothing. I have to put aside my spade and trowel and start drilling holes, finding very large screws and try to fix it. Despite screwing it together it still moves a bit probably because the sleeper has started to rot. I thought sleepers were pressure treated to last 25 years. I think the builders were cutting corners on the landscaping.\r\n\r\nAfter putting everything back together I did have time to move the geraniums and plant 50+ pansies in their place. I\'m looking forward to a late show of flowers that will, allegedly, last through until the spring.', 'Piers, Bees and Garden', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5850-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-10-08 22:51:49', '2019-10-08 21:51:49', '', 5850, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5855', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5862, 283, '2019-10-17 17:31:36', '2019-10-17 16:31:36', '', 'Begonias(oct19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'begoniasoct19', '', '', '2019-10-17 17:31:36', '2019-10-17 16:31:36', '', 5858, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Begoniasoct19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5863, 283, '2019-10-17 17:31:44', '2019-10-17 16:31:44', '', 'Penstemon(oct19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'penstemonoct19', '', '', '2019-10-17 17:31:44', '2019-10-17 16:31:44', '', 5858, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Penstemonoct19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5864, 283, '2019-10-17 17:31:50', '2019-10-17 16:31:50', '', 'salvia(oct19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'salviaoct19', '', '', '2019-10-17 17:31:50', '2019-10-17 16:31:50', '', 5858, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/salviaoct19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5865, 283, '2019-10-17 17:40:51', '2019-10-17 16:40:51', 'Middle of October and the garden still has a few surprises in store.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5862,5864,5863,5861,5859\"]\r\n\r\nAnd the bees are active bringing in plenty of pollen on their leg sacks. The pollen will be stored and used to feed the new bees in the spring. I\'ve been feeding them since the end of August, first with a sugar syrup mixture but I learned this takes a lot of their energy to convert this into honey so I\'ve been feeding a fondant called <a href=\"https://www.thorne.co.uk/image/data/Documents/APICANDY2015.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ApiCandy</a>. They\'ve nearly finished one pack in two weeks so I\'ve placed another pack in the hive and will check again in another two weeks. There is still capped brood and larvae so more bees will be emerging in the coming weeks ready to keep the colony strong through the winter.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/beespollenoct16.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-5860\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/beespollenoct16-1024x767.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"479\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Garden and Bees', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5858-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-10-17 17:40:51', '2019-10-17 16:40:51', '', 5858, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5865', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5866, 283, '2019-10-17 17:41:33', '2019-10-17 16:41:33', 'Middle of October and the garden still has a few surprises of colour in store.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5862,5864,5863,5861,5859\"]\r\n\r\nAnd the bees are active bringing in plenty of pollen on their leg sacks. The pollen will be stored and used to feed the new bees in the spring. I\'ve been feeding them since the end of August, first with a sugar syrup mixture but I learned this takes a lot of their energy to convert this into honey so I\'ve been feeding a fondant called <a href=\"https://www.thorne.co.uk/image/data/Documents/APICANDY2015.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ApiCandy</a>. They\'ve nearly finished one pack in two weeks so I\'ve placed another pack in the hive and will check again in another two weeks. There is still capped brood and larvae so more bees will be emerging in the coming weeks ready to keep the colony strong through the winter.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/beespollenoct16.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-5860\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/beespollenoct16-1024x767.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"479\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Garden and Bees', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5858-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-10-17 17:41:33', '2019-10-17 16:41:33', '', 5858, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5866', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5867, 283, '2019-10-17 17:42:55', '2019-10-17 16:42:55', 'Middle of October and the garden still has a few surprises of colour in store.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5862,5864,5863,5861,5859\"]\r\n\r\nAnd the bees are active bringing in plenty of pollen on their leg sacks. The pollen will be stored and used to feed the new bees in the spring. I\'ve been feeding them since the end of August, first with a sugar syrup mixture but I learned this takes a lot of their energy to convert this into honey so I\'ve been feeding a fondant called <a href=\"https://www.thorne.co.uk/image/data/Documents/APICANDY2015.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ApiCandy</a>. They\'ve nearly finished one pack in two weeks so I\'ve placed another pack in the hive and will check again in another two weeks. There is still capped brood and larvae so more bees will be emerging in the coming weeks ready to keep the colony strong through the winter.\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/beespollenoct16.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-5860\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/beespollenoct16-1024x767.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"479\" /></a>', 'Garden and Bees', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5858-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-10-17 17:42:55', '2019-10-17 16:42:55', '', 5858, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5867', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5893, 283, '2019-11-08 19:24:04', '2019-11-08 19:24:04', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/water-featureNov19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5894\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/water-featureNov19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>The weather this week has been absolutely foul with one weather presenter saying we had the equivalent of our November rainfall in one day. Is it any wonder that roads in Lincolnshire were flooded. Even the A46, a main artery through this part of the county, was closed due to floodwater.\r\n\r\nI went to a local beekeepers meeting and the village hall in Middle Rasen was effectively an island. At one point the floodwater was coming over my bonnet as I drove through water with a depth of about two feet.\r\n\r\nI had my own little water feature through the trees along the drive which hasn\'t happened before - a clear indicator of the amount of rain that has fallen.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/college-friendsNov19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5895\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/college-friendsNov19-224x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"224\" height=\"300\" /></a>Once in a while I meet up with my college friends (it\'s fifty years since we first met). This month we met at <a href=\"https://www.harleygallery.co.uk/exhibition/little-machines/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Harley Gallery</a> where we browsed the installations. Of particular interest were the mechanisms produced by <a href=\"https://www.smithautomata.co.uk/works.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Martin Smith</a>. They were fascinating mechanisms along the theme of <a href=\"https://www.heathrobinsonmuseum.org/williamheathrobinson\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Heath Robinson</a>.\r\n\r\nWe hoped to have lunch in the Welbeck cafe but it was full so we drove to the <a href=\"https://www.theoldschooltearooms.com/about\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Old School Tea Rooms</a> and what a delight this place is. As the name suggests it is an old school with a chalk easel for the specials of the day. I recommend it for its quaintness and good quality, value for money food.\r\n\r\nNext month we\'re planning to meet at one of my favourite places - Yorkshire Sculpture Park.', 'Foul Weather and Friends...', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'foul-weather-and-friends', '', '', '2019-11-11 18:05:46', '2019-11-11 18:05:46', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5893', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5894, 283, '2019-11-08 17:29:17', '2019-11-08 17:29:17', '', 'water feature(Nov19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'water-featurenov19', '', '', '2019-11-08 17:29:17', '2019-11-08 17:29:17', '', 5893, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/water-featureNov19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5895, 283, '2019-11-08 17:29:25', '2019-11-08 17:29:25', '', 'college friends(Nov19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'college-friendsnov19', '', '', '2019-11-08 17:29:25', '2019-11-08 17:29:25', '', 5893, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/college-friendsNov19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5896, 283, '2019-11-08 18:44:43', '2019-11-08 18:44:43', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/water-featureNov19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5894\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/water-featureNov19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>The weather this week has been absolutely foul with one weather presenter saying we had the equivalent of our November rainfall in one day. Is it any wonder that roads in Lincolnshire were flooded. Even the A46, a main artery through this part of the county, was closed due to floodwater.\r\n\r\nI went to a local beekeepers meeting one evening and the village hall in Middle Rasen was effectively an island. At one point the floodwater was coming over my bonnet as I drove through water with a depth of about two feet.\r\n\r\nI had my own little water feature through the trees along the drive which hasn\'t happened before - a clear indicator of the amount of rain that has fallen.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Friends and Foul Weather...', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5893-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-11-08 18:44:43', '2019-11-08 18:44:43', '', 5893, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5896', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5897, 283, '2019-11-08 19:24:04', '2019-11-08 19:24:04', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/water-featureNov19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5894\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/water-featureNov19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>The weather this week has been absolutely foul with one weather presenter saying we had the equivalent of our November rainfall in one day. Is it any wonder that roads in Lincolnshire were flooded. Even the A46, a main artery through this part of the county, was closed due to floodwater.\r\n\r\nI went to a local beekeepers meeting and the village hall in Middle Rasen was effectively an island. At one point the floodwater was coming over my bonnet as I drove through water with a depth of about two feet.\r\n\r\nI had my own little water feature through the trees along the drive which hasn\'t happened before - a clear indicator of the amount of rain that has fallen.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/college-friendsNov19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5895\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/college-friendsNov19-224x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"224\" height=\"300\" /></a>Once in a while I meet up with my college friends (it\'s fifty years since we first met). This month we met at <a href=\"https://www.harleygallery.co.uk/exhibition/little-machines/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Harley Gallery</a> where we browsed the installations. Of particular interest were the mechanisms produced by <a href=\"https://www.smithautomata.co.uk/works.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Martin Smith</a>. The were fascinating mechanisms along the theme of <a href=\"https://www.heathrobinsonmuseum.org/williamheathrobinson\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Heath Robinson</a>.\r\n\r\nWe hoped to have lunch in the Welbeck cafe but it was full so we drove to the Old School Tea Rooms and what a delight this place is. As the name suggests it is an old school with a chalk easel for the specials of the day. I recommend it for its quaintness and good quality, value for money food.\r\n\r\nNext month we\'re planning to meet at one of my favourite places - Yorkshire Sculpture Park.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Foul Weather and Friends...', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5893-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-11-08 19:24:04', '2019-11-08 19:24:04', '', 5893, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5897', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5929, 283, '2019-12-03 13:18:34', '2019-12-03 13:18:34', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/bees-still-flyingDec19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5930\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/bees-still-flyingDec19-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"349\" height=\"262\" /></a>Do they know it\'s December?\r\n\r\nAccepting this is my first year of keeping bees and I know very little about these superb creatures but everything I have read tells me they should be crowded together inside the hive with the queen at the centre keeping warm. Here they are, outside where the temperature is barely 6 degrees celsius. Why? It seems my bees are of a special strain that like sunbathing (joke).\r\n\r\nThe photo was taken from the living room with a 300mm zoom lense so the definition isn\'t brilliant but I think it gives a sense of what\'s going on.', 'Bee Update', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'bee-update-2', '', '', '2019-12-03 13:18:34', '2019-12-03 13:18:34', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5929', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5899, 283, '2019-11-11 17:44:43', '2019-11-11 17:44:43', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/water-featureNov19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5894\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/water-featureNov19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>The weather this week has been absolutely foul with one weather presenter saying we had the equivalent of our November rainfall in one day. Is it any wonder that roads in Lincolnshire were flooded. Even the A46, a main artery through this part of the county, was closed due to floodwater.\n\nI went to a local beekeepers meeting and the village hall in Middle Rasen was effectively an island. At one point the floodwater was coming over my bonnet as I drove through water with a depth of about two feet.\n\nI had my own little water feature through the trees along the drive which hasn\'t happened before - a clear indicator of the amount of rain that has fallen.\n\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/college-friendsNov19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5895\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/college-friendsNov19-224x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"224\" height=\"300\" /></a>Once in a while I meet up with my college friends (it\'s fifty years since we first met). This month we met at <a href=\"https://www.harleygallery.co.uk/exhibition/little-machines/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Harley Gallery</a> where we browsed the installations. Of particular interest were the mechanisms produced by <a href=\"https://www.smithautomata.co.uk/works.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Martin Smith</a>. They were fascinating mechanisms along the theme of <a href=\"https://www.heathrobinsonmuseum.org/williamheathrobinson\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Heath Robinson</a>.\n\nWe hoped to have lunch in the Welbeck cafe but it was full so we drove to the Old School Tea Rooms and what a delight this place is. As the name suggests it is an old school with a chalk easel for the specials of the day. I recommend it for its quaintness and good quality, value for money food.\n\nNext month we\'re planning to meet at one of my favourite places - Yorkshire Sculpture Park.', 'Foul Weather and Friends...', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5893-autosave-v1', '', '', '2019-11-11 17:44:43', '2019-11-11 17:44:43', '', 5893, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5899', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5900, 283, '2019-11-11 17:45:09', '2019-11-11 17:45:09', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/water-featureNov19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5894\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/water-featureNov19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>The weather this week has been absolutely foul with one weather presenter saying we had the equivalent of our November rainfall in one day. Is it any wonder that roads in Lincolnshire were flooded. Even the A46, a main artery through this part of the county, was closed due to floodwater.\r\n\r\nI went to a local beekeepers meeting and the village hall in Middle Rasen was effectively an island. At one point the floodwater was coming over my bonnet as I drove through water with a depth of about two feet.\r\n\r\nI had my own little water feature through the trees along the drive which hasn\'t happened before - a clear indicator of the amount of rain that has fallen.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/college-friendsNov19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5895\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/college-friendsNov19-224x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"224\" height=\"300\" /></a>Once in a while I meet up with my college friends (it\'s fifty years since we first met). This month we met at <a href=\"https://www.harleygallery.co.uk/exhibition/little-machines/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Harley Gallery</a> where we browsed the installations. Of particular interest were the mechanisms produced by <a href=\"https://www.smithautomata.co.uk/works.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Martin Smith</a>. They were fascinating mechanisms along the theme of <a href=\"https://www.heathrobinsonmuseum.org/williamheathrobinson\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Heath Robinson</a>.\r\n\r\nWe hoped to have lunch in the Welbeck cafe but it was full so we drove to the <a href=\"https://www.theoldschooltearooms.com/about\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Old School Tea Rooms</a> and what a delight this place is. As the name suggests it is an old school with a chalk easel for the specials of the day. I recommend it for its quaintness and good quality, value for money food.\r\n\r\nNext month we\'re planning to meet at one of my favourite places - Yorkshire Sculpture Park.', 'Foul Weather and Friends...', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5893-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-11-11 17:45:09', '2019-11-11 17:45:09', '', 5893, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5900', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5901, 283, '2019-11-15 17:05:15', '2019-11-15 17:05:15', '', 'knee bends(Nov19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'knee-bendsnov19', '', '', '2019-11-15 17:05:15', '2019-11-15 17:05:15', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/knee-bendsNov19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5902, 283, '2019-11-15 17:05:20', '2019-11-15 17:05:20', '', 'balance pressups(Nov19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'balance-pressupsnov19', '', '', '2019-11-15 17:05:20', '2019-11-15 17:05:20', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/balance-pressupsNov19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5903, 283, '2019-11-15 17:05:24', '2019-11-15 17:05:24', '', 'Bees+mouse guard(Nov19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'beesmouse-guardnov19', '', '', '2019-11-15 17:09:52', '2019-11-15 17:09:52', '', 5904, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Beesmouse-guardNov19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5904, 283, '2019-11-15 17:32:06', '2019-11-15 17:32:06', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Beesmouse-guardNov19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5903\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Beesmouse-guardNov19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>From everything I\'ve read about bees they should be slowing down, staying within the hive and keeping warm. It seems my bees haven\'t read the same books as me. The very wet weather gave me a chance to fit a mouse guard. Apparently mice like the warmth of the hive and make nests within the box which can harm the bees. The bees were curious about the new restriction on their entrance and clustered outside on the first sunny day after the rains. It is too cold to inspect the bees so I just have to assume that everything is going well for my workers. I\'m advised I should open the box in early January when I will give them another Varroa mite treatment and then leave them alone until February.\r\n\r\nWhile I\'m worrying about the fitness of the bees I also have to concern myself with my own level of fitness. I find it daunting how my balance has decreased over the years to the point where standing on one leg isn\'t easy. With this end in mind Tracey, my personal trainer, not only focusses on my general strength but also balance. The half ball you see in the photos often features in my sessions. Now I\'ve conquered squats and push ups she makes me do it on a surface that is liable to wobble and holding a heavy weight. The level of concentration can be seen on my face and if there is the slightest distraction, like someone making me laugh, I\'m likely to collapse in a heap.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" columns=\"2\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5902,5901,5906\"]\r\n\r\nAlso this week I stood down from my role as Chairman of <a href=\"http://www.westwoldsu3a.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">West Wolds U3A</a>. I will remain on the committee to help out whenever I can but I\'m no longer responsible for the running of the organisation. I enjoyed my three years as chairman but I\'m glad it has come to an end. I intend to focus my time on the committee building new links into Lincoln University. Watch this space...', 'Bees, Gym and U3A', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'bees-gym-and-u3a', '', '', '2019-11-15 17:36:00', '2019-11-15 17:36:00', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5904', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5905, 283, '2019-11-15 17:21:01', '2019-11-15 17:21:01', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Beesmouse-guardNov19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5903\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Beesmouse-guardNov19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>From everything I\'ve read about bees they should be slowing down, staying within the hive and keeping warm. It seems my bees haven\'t read the same books as me. The very wet weather gave me a chance to fit a mouse guard. Apparently mice like the warmth of the hive and make nests within the box which can harm the bees. It seems that the bees were curious about the new restriction on their entrance and clustered on the outside on the first sunny day after the rains. It is too cold to inspect the bees so I just have to assume that everything is going well for my workers. I\'m advised I should open the box in early January when I will give them another Varroa mite treatment.\r\n\r\nWhile I\'m worrying about the fitness of the bees I also have to concern myself with my own level of fitness. I find it daunting how my balance has decreased over the years to the point where standing on one leg isn\'t easy. With this end in mind Tracey, my personal trainer, not only focusses on my general strength but also balance. The half ball you see in the photos features often in my sessions. Now I\'ve conquered squats and push ups she makes me do it on a surface that is liable to wobble. The level of concentration can be seen on my face and if there is the slightest distraction I\'m likely to collapse in a heap.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" columns=\"2\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5902,5901\"]', 'Bees, Gym and U3A', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5904-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-11-15 17:21:01', '2019-11-15 17:21:01', '', 5904, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5905', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5906, 283, '2019-11-15 17:27:25', '2019-11-15 17:27:25', '', 'Squats(Nov19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'squatsnov19', '', '', '2019-11-15 17:27:25', '2019-11-15 17:27:25', '', 5904, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/SquatsNov19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5907, 283, '2019-11-15 17:28:06', '2019-11-15 17:28:06', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Beesmouse-guardNov19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5903\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Beesmouse-guardNov19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>From everything I\'ve read about bees they should be slowing down, staying within the hive and keeping warm. It seems my bees haven\'t read the same books as me. The very wet weather gave me a chance to fit a mouse guard. Apparently mice like the warmth of the hive and make nests within the box which can harm the bees. It seems that the bees were curious about the new restriction on their entrance and clustered on the outside on the first sunny day after the rains. It is too cold to inspect the bees so I just have to assume that everything is going well for my workers. I\'m advised I should open the box in early January when I will give them another Varroa mite treatment.\r\n\r\nWhile I\'m worrying about the fitness of the bees I also have to concern myself with my own level of fitness. I find it daunting how my balance has decreased over the years to the point where standing on one leg isn\'t easy. With this end in mind Tracey, my personal trainer, not only focusses on my general strength but also balance. The half ball you see in the photos features often in my sessions. Now I\'ve conquered squats and push ups she makes me do it on a surface that is liable to wobble. The level of concentration can be seen on my face and if there is the slightest distraction I\'m likely to collapse in a heap.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" columns=\"2\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5902,5901,5906\"]', 'Bees, Gym and U3A', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5904-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-11-15 17:28:06', '2019-11-15 17:28:06', '', 5904, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5907', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5908, 283, '2019-11-15 17:32:06', '2019-11-15 17:32:06', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Beesmouse-guardNov19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5903\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Beesmouse-guardNov19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>From everything I\'ve read about bees they should be slowing down, staying within the hive and keeping warm. It seems my bees haven\'t read the same books as me. The very wet weather gave me a chance to fit a mouse guard. Apparently mice like the warmth of the hive and make nests within the box which can harm the bees. The bees were curious about the new restriction on their entrance and clustered outside on the first sunny day after the rains. It is too cold to inspect the bees so I just have to assume that everything is going well for my workers. I\'m advised I should open the box in early January when I will give them another Varroa mite treatment and then leave them alone until February.\r\n\r\nWhile I\'m worrying about the fitness of the bees I also have to concern myself with my own level of fitness. I find it daunting how my balance has decreased over the years to the point where standing on one leg isn\'t easy. With this end in mind Tracey, my personal trainer, not only focusses on my general strength but also balance. The half ball you see in the photos often features in my sessions. Now I\'ve conquered squats and push ups she makes me do it on a surface that is liable to wobble and holding a heavy weight. The level of concentration can be seen on my face and if there is the slightest distraction, like someone making me laugh, I\'m likely to collapse in a heap.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" columns=\"2\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5902,5901,5906\"]', 'Bees, Gym and U3A', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5904-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-11-15 17:32:06', '2019-11-15 17:32:06', '', 5904, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5908', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5909, 283, '2019-11-15 17:35:46', '2019-11-15 17:35:46', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Beesmouse-guardNov19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5903\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Beesmouse-guardNov19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>From everything I\'ve read about bees they should be slowing down, staying within the hive and keeping warm. It seems my bees haven\'t read the same books as me. The very wet weather gave me a chance to fit a mouse guard. Apparently mice like the warmth of the hive and make nests within the box which can harm the bees. The bees were curious about the new restriction on their entrance and clustered outside on the first sunny day after the rains. It is too cold to inspect the bees so I just have to assume that everything is going well for my workers. I\'m advised I should open the box in early January when I will give them another Varroa mite treatment and then leave them alone until February.\n\nWhile I\'m worrying about the fitness of the bees I also have to concern myself with my own level of fitness. I find it daunting how my balance has decreased over the years to the point where standing on one leg isn\'t easy. With this end in mind Tracey, my personal trainer, not only focusses on my general strength but also balance. The half ball you see in the photos often features in my sessions. Now I\'ve conquered squats and push ups she makes me do it on a surface that is liable to wobble and holding a heavy weight. The level of concentration can be seen on my face and if there is the slightest distraction, like someone making me laugh, I\'m likely to collapse in a heap.\n\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" columns=\"2\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5902,5901,5906\"]\n\nAlso this week I stood down from my role as Chairman of <a href=\"http://www.westwoldsu3a.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">West Wolds U3A</a>. I will remain on the committee to help out whenever I can but I\'m no longer responsible for the running of the organisation. I enjoyed my three years as chairman but I\'m glad it has come to an end. I intend to focus my time on the committee building new links into Lincoln University.', 'Bees, Gym and U3A', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5904-autosave-v1', '', '', '2019-11-15 17:35:46', '2019-11-15 17:35:46', '', 5904, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5909', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5910, 283, '2019-11-15 17:36:00', '2019-11-15 17:36:00', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Beesmouse-guardNov19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5903\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Beesmouse-guardNov19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>From everything I\'ve read about bees they should be slowing down, staying within the hive and keeping warm. It seems my bees haven\'t read the same books as me. The very wet weather gave me a chance to fit a mouse guard. Apparently mice like the warmth of the hive and make nests within the box which can harm the bees. The bees were curious about the new restriction on their entrance and clustered outside on the first sunny day after the rains. It is too cold to inspect the bees so I just have to assume that everything is going well for my workers. I\'m advised I should open the box in early January when I will give them another Varroa mite treatment and then leave them alone until February.\r\n\r\nWhile I\'m worrying about the fitness of the bees I also have to concern myself with my own level of fitness. I find it daunting how my balance has decreased over the years to the point where standing on one leg isn\'t easy. With this end in mind Tracey, my personal trainer, not only focusses on my general strength but also balance. The half ball you see in the photos often features in my sessions. Now I\'ve conquered squats and push ups she makes me do it on a surface that is liable to wobble and holding a heavy weight. The level of concentration can be seen on my face and if there is the slightest distraction, like someone making me laugh, I\'m likely to collapse in a heap.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" columns=\"2\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"5902,5901,5906\"]\r\n\r\nAlso this week I stood down from my role as Chairman of <a href=\"http://www.westwoldsu3a.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">West Wolds U3A</a>. I will remain on the committee to help out whenever I can but I\'m no longer responsible for the running of the organisation. I enjoyed my three years as chairman but I\'m glad it has come to an end. I intend to focus my time on the committee building new links into Lincoln University. Watch this space...', 'Bees, Gym and U3A', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5904-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-11-15 17:36:00', '2019-11-15 17:36:00', '', 5904, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5910', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5912, 283, '2019-11-21 11:24:20', '2019-11-21 11:24:20', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/sown-broadbeansgarlicNov19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5913\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/sown-broadbeansgarlicNov19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>As I wind down from my duties as Chairman of the <a href=\"http://www.westwoldsu3a.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">West Wolds U3A</a> and I\'ve backed away from dating (going solo or is that so low?) I have a lot more time on my hands to do the things I want to do like writing this blog and keeping the WW U3A website updated.\r\n\r\nIf the weather is fine or at least not raining then I can get out into the garden. At the moment I\'m tidying up the vegetable plot and sowing seeds that should have been sown in late September or early October - I\'ve been distracted and the weather has been very wet. I planted out garlic sets using the corms from some of the garlic I grew last year. I\'m not sure how successful this will be but I\'m told it should work. A friend also gave me some broad bean seeds saved from last year so they have been sown. I\'ve never grown broad beans and I\'m not sure how I will use them - I need to explore recipes that use them. I pulled up the last of my carrots. They have been eaten however I plan to use what I can and make carrot and coriander soup. I made a batch a couple of months ago and it is very good.\r\n\r\nThe bees are very quiet as they should be when the outside temperature drops below 10 degrees and I\'m debating whether I should feed them more fondant to get them through the winter. There is a risk that if they continue to fill the comb with honey there won\'t be room for the queen to lay eggs when it warms up in the spring. There are as many opinions  about this as there are beekeepers.\r\n\r\nThankfully the last of the leaves have fallen around my part of the site so no more sweeping and raking the paths and lawns however I do need to clean the gutters again.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/piglet-rechargingsep16.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-3937\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/piglet-rechargingsep16-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>And finally Piglet has developed a problem. It has a waterproof keypad under the cover for security purposes and some of the keys have stopped working so I cannot get into the system to change its operating times. It is currently at the garden machines centre being repaired. Considering it has been running continuously for over 3 years I\'m not going to complain if it starts to develop problems.', 'A Day in the Life...', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'a-day-in-the-life', '', '', '2019-11-21 11:24:20', '2019-11-21 11:24:20', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5912', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5913, 283, '2019-11-21 11:09:25', '2019-11-21 11:09:25', '', 'sown broadbeans+garlic(Nov19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'sown-broadbeansgarlicnov19', '', '', '2019-11-21 11:09:25', '2019-11-21 11:09:25', '', 5912, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/sown-broadbeansgarlicNov19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0);
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES
(5914, 283, '2019-11-21 11:24:20', '2019-11-21 11:24:20', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/sown-broadbeansgarlicNov19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5913\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/sown-broadbeansgarlicNov19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>As I wind down from my duties as Chairman of the <a href=\"http://www.westwoldsu3a.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">West Wolds U3A</a> and I\'ve backed away from dating (going solo or is that so low?) I have a lot more time on my hands to do the things I want to do like writing this blog and keeping the WW U3A website updated.\r\n\r\nIf the weather is fine or at least not raining then I can get out into the garden. At the moment I\'m tidying up the vegetable plot and sowing seeds that should have been sown in late September or early October - I\'ve been distracted and the weather has been very wet. I planted out garlic sets using the corms from some of the garlic I grew last year. I\'m not sure how successful this will be but I\'m told it should work. A friend also gave me some broad bean seeds saved from last year so they have been sown. I\'ve never grown broad beans and I\'m not sure how I will use them - I need to explore recipes that use them. I pulled up the last of my carrots. They have been eaten however I plan to use what I can and make carrot and coriander soup. I made a batch a couple of months ago and it is very good.\r\n\r\nThe bees are very quiet as they should be when the outside temperature drops below 10 degrees and I\'m debating whether I should feed them more fondant to get them through the winter. There is a risk that if they continue to fill the comb with honey there won\'t be room for the queen to lay eggs when it warms up in the spring. There are as many opinions  about this as there are beekeepers.\r\n\r\nThankfully the last of the leaves have fallen around my part of the site so no more sweeping and raking the paths and lawns however I do need to clean the gutters again.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/piglet-rechargingsep16.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-3937\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/piglet-rechargingsep16-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>And finally Piglet has developed a problem. It has a waterproof keypad under the cover for security purposes and some of the keys have stopped working so I cannot get into the system to change its operating times. It is currently at the garden machines centre being repaired. Considering it has been running continuously for over 3 years I\'m not going to complain if it starts to develop problems.', 'A Day in the Life...', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5912-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-11-21 11:24:20', '2019-11-21 11:24:20', '', 5912, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5914', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5915, 283, '2019-11-23 18:02:48', '2019-11-23 18:02:48', 'It\'s a dull Saturday in every sense of the word dull - weather, lack of sunshine and mundane activity. Cleaned the house this morning which is always cathartic and has to be done.\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/CarrotCorianderNov19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5916\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/CarrotCorianderNov19-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>Made some carrot and coriander soup with the last of the carrots from the garden. Cleaning the carrots and discarding the ones that have been eaten by slugs is the most tedious part of the process. I found in Tesco sealable \"pour\" bags so I now freeze all my liquid foods - plum sauce, soups, apple puree, etc into these bags. They take up less room than plastic containers and can be pushed into small gaps - brilliant design.\r\n\r\nMy Saturday morning routine is to read the Guardian, the only newspaper I read, and usually do the quick crossword while nursing a cup of Earl Grey.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/amazon_clockNov19.jpeg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5917 alignright\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/amazon_clockNov19-300x200.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>My tech world expanded a little today - an Amazon Clock was delivered along with another Echo Dot for the bedroom. I use the Echo dot in the kitchen as a timer when I\'m cooking but there\'s no visual display to tell you how long is left so I usually ask - \"echo how long left on the timer\". Note I don\'t use the keyword Alexa because this would give the device some semblance of humanity and it isn\'t human, it\'s a rather stupid machine with a huge memory bank. The new wall clock is linked to the Dot so it shows a countdown for timers. In the bedroom when I get up in the night (At least once) I can\'t tell what the time is without putting on my glasses so now I can just ask Echo. It is also easier than my Roberts radio to set alarms - not that I need to set alarms very often because I\'m usually awake before 7. I thought setting up two new items of tech would at least occupy me for an hour or so, but no, five minutes and everything was connected and working as expected. Too easy!\r\n\r\nHaving spent a bit of time in the garden this week I decided it was time to plan what I\'m going to do with the veg plot over the next 12 months. It helps me decide what seeds I need and make sure there is crop rotation.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Vegetable-Plot-Plan-2020.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-5918\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Vegetable-Plot-Plan-2020-1024x594.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"371\" /></a>\r\n\r\nAt some point in 2020 I expect to have two bee hives so over half the left hand plot will be dedicated to that. I\'m thinking I will plant a variety of pollinators in front of the hive so it will be a little like a Tesco Metro on their doorstep but they\'ll need to go further afield for the weekly shopping.', 'Dull and Grey', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'dull-and-grey', '', '', '2019-11-23 18:02:48', '2019-11-23 18:02:48', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5915', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5916, 283, '2019-11-23 17:42:42', '2019-11-23 17:42:42', '', 'Carrot&Coriander(Nov19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'carrotcoriandernov19', '', '', '2019-11-23 17:42:42', '2019-11-23 17:42:42', '', 5915, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/CarrotCorianderNov19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5917, 283, '2019-11-23 17:42:46', '2019-11-23 17:42:46', '', 'amazon_clock(Nov19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'amazon_clocknov19', '', '', '2019-11-23 17:42:46', '2019-11-23 17:42:46', '', 5915, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/amazon_clockNov19.jpeg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5918, 283, '2019-11-23 17:42:49', '2019-11-23 17:42:49', '', 'Vegetable Plot Plan 2020', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'vegetable-plot-plan-2020', '', '', '2019-11-23 17:42:49', '2019-11-23 17:42:49', '', 5915, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Vegetable-Plot-Plan-2020.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5919, 283, '2019-11-23 18:02:48', '2019-11-23 18:02:48', 'It\'s a dull Saturday in every sense of the word dull - weather, lack of sunshine and mundane activity. Cleaned the house this morning which is always cathartic and has to be done.\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/CarrotCorianderNov19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5916\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/CarrotCorianderNov19-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>Made some carrot and coriander soup with the last of the carrots from the garden. Cleaning the carrots and discarding the ones that have been eaten by slugs is the most tedious part of the process. I found in Tesco sealable \"pour\" bags so I now freeze all my liquid foods - plum sauce, soups, apple puree, etc into these bags. They take up less room than plastic containers and can be pushed into small gaps - brilliant design.\r\n\r\nMy Saturday morning routine is to read the Guardian, the only newspaper I read, and usually do the quick crossword while nursing a cup of Earl Grey.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/amazon_clockNov19.jpeg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5917 alignright\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/amazon_clockNov19-300x200.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>My tech world expanded a little today - an Amazon Clock was delivered along with another Echo Dot for the bedroom. I use the Echo dot in the kitchen as a timer when I\'m cooking but there\'s no visual display to tell you how long is left so I usually ask - \"echo how long left on the timer\". Note I don\'t use the keyword Alexa because this would give the device some semblance of humanity and it isn\'t human, it\'s a rather stupid machine with a huge memory bank. The new wall clock is linked to the Dot so it shows a countdown for timers. In the bedroom when I get up in the night (At least once) I can\'t tell what the time is without putting on my glasses so now I can just ask Echo. It is also easier than my Roberts radio to set alarms - not that I need to set alarms very often because I\'m usually awake before 7. I thought setting up two new items of tech would at least occupy me for an hour or so, but no, five minutes and everything was connected and working as expected. Too easy!\r\n\r\nHaving spent a bit of time in the garden this week I decided it was time to plan what I\'m going to do with the veg plot over the next 12 months. It helps me decide what seeds I need and make sure there is crop rotation.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Vegetable-Plot-Plan-2020.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-5918\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Vegetable-Plot-Plan-2020-1024x594.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"371\" /></a>\r\n\r\nAt some point in 2020 I expect to have two bee hives so over half the left hand plot will be dedicated to that. I\'m thinking I will plant a variety of pollinators in front of the hive so it will be a little like a Tesco Metro on their doorstep but they\'ll need to go further afield for the weekly shopping.', 'Dull and Grey', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5915-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-11-23 18:02:48', '2019-11-23 18:02:48', '', 5915, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5919', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5920, 283, '2019-11-24 15:00:08', '2019-11-24 15:00:08', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/bees-clusteredNov19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright  wp-image-5922\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/bees-clusteredNov19-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"193\" height=\"257\" /></a>At this time of year I expected the bees to be very quiet but even on a dull day in late November there are still a few bees coming out of the hive and coming back with pollen. I did feed them with fondant during October however I was advised by a local beekeeper it isn\'t a good idea to over feed them. Since being told that I\'ve since read that it is almost impossible to give too much food so today I decided to give them some more fondant. I wore my bee suit as a precaution but it wasn\'t necessary as they were very lethargic. From this photo you can see how they are clustering together to keep warm.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/bees-kingspan-layerNov19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5921\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/bees-kingspan-layerNov19-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>To add the fondant you need to have a box, called an eke, above the brood box to give the bees some space to get to the fondant. Rather than build an eke I decided to put a Super on top and then halve its capacity with some Kingspan insulation material. This will also help to keep the heat in the hive. I\'m not sure if it will work and only time will tell. I don\'t expect to look into the hive again until early January when I will be giving a Varroa mite treatment.\r\n\r\nThe problem I will face in the spring is if the hive fails I will be looking for reasons why - there are so many variables it will be impossible to tell what went right and what went wrong.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Winter Bee Preparations', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'winter-bee-preparations', '', '', '2019-11-24 15:00:08', '2019-11-24 15:00:08', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5920', 0, 'post', '', 1),
(5921, 283, '2019-11-24 14:49:49', '2019-11-24 14:49:49', '', 'bees kingspan layer(Nov19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'bees-kingspan-layernov19', '', '', '2019-11-24 14:49:49', '2019-11-24 14:49:49', '', 5920, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/bees-kingspan-layerNov19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5922, 283, '2019-11-24 14:49:53', '2019-11-24 14:49:53', '', 'bees clustered(Nov19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'bees-clusterednov19', '', '', '2019-11-24 14:49:53', '2019-11-24 14:49:53', '', 5920, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/bees-clusteredNov19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5923, 283, '2019-11-24 14:58:05', '2019-11-24 14:58:05', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/bees-clusteredNov19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright  wp-image-5922\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/bees-clusteredNov19-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"193\" height=\"257\" /></a>At this time of year I expected the bees to be very quiet but even on a dull day in late November there are still a few bees coming out of the hive and coming back with pollen. I did feed them with fondant during October however I was advised by a local beekeeper it isn\'t a good idea to over feed them. Since being told that I\'ve since read that it is almost impossible to give too much food so today I decided to give them some more fondant. I wore my bee suit as a precaution but it wasn\'t necessary as they were very lethargic. From this photo you can see how they are clustering together to keep warm.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/bees-kingspan-layerNov19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5921\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/bees-kingspan-layerNov19-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>To add the fondant you need to have a box, called an eke, above the brood box to give the bees some space to get to the fondant. Rather than build an eke I decided to put a Super on top and then halve its capacity with some Kingspan insulation material. This will also help to keep the heat in the hive. I\'m not sure if it will work and only time will tell. I don\'t expect to look into the hive again until early January when I will be giving a Varroa mite treatment.\r\n\r\nThe problem I will face in the spring is if the hive fails I will be looking for reasons why - there are so many variables it will be impossible to tell what went right and what went wrong.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Winter Bee Preparations', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5920-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-11-24 14:58:05', '2019-11-24 14:58:05', '', 5920, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5923', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5924, 283, '2019-11-25 11:18:45', '2019-11-25 11:18:45', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/split-whiskers-Hope-TavernNov19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5925\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/split-whiskers-Hope-TavernNov19-300x256.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"256\" /></a>Dave and I visited the Hope Tavern (Holton Le Moor) Sunday afternoon blues session. This can be a very hit and miss event and despite reviewing bands on <a href=\"https://youtu.be/nxE6P_aG-mY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">YouTube</a> before agreeing to go, some bands don\'t live up to their YouTube performances.\r\n\r\nThe Hope Tavern isn\'t a pub I\'d normally go into - it\'s a bit run down and tatty round the edges however it is perfect for a blues venue. In years gone by, before the smoking ban, I can imagine a waft of cannabis smoke drifting around the bar.\r\n\r\nSplit Whiskers turned out to be a great choice. They played some very good blues including delta blues and they were all excellent musicians and loved what they were doing. The rhythm section, bass and drummer kept it all together, the keyboard player had some brilliant jazzy sets, vocalist and harmonica man led from the front and the lead guitarist was the star of the night. Unusually the pub wasn\'t full, normally it\'s standing room only but not this time so there was plenty of leg room and we were close to the front. It wouldn\'t be a good gig if you didn\'t come away with ringing ears and mine are still ringing the following day - or is that my usual tinnitus?', 'Split Whiskers @ Hope Tavern', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'split-whiskers-hope-tavern', '', '', '2019-11-25 11:42:28', '2019-11-25 11:42:28', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5924', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5925, 283, '2019-11-25 11:08:43', '2019-11-25 11:08:43', '', 'split whiskers Hope Tavern(Nov19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'split-whiskers-hope-tavernnov19', '', '', '2019-11-25 11:08:43', '2019-11-25 11:08:43', '', 5924, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/split-whiskers-Hope-TavernNov19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5926, 283, '2019-11-25 11:18:45', '2019-11-25 11:18:45', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/split-whiskers-Hope-TavernNov19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5925\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/split-whiskers-Hope-TavernNov19-300x256.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"256\" /></a>Dave and I visited the Hope Tavern (Holton Le Moor) Sunday afternoon blues session. This can be a very hit and miss event and despite reviewing bands on YouTube before agreeing to go, some bands don\'t live up to their YouTube performances.\r\n\r\nThe Hope Tavern isn\'t a pub I\'d normally go into - it\'s a bit run down and tatty round the edges however it is perfect for a blues venue. In years gone by, before the smoking ban, I can imagine a waft of cannabis smoke drifting around the bar.\r\n\r\nSplit Whiskers turned out to be a great choice. They played some very good blues including delta blues and they were all excellent musicians and loved what they were doing. The rhythm section, bass and drummer kept it all together, the keyboard player had some brilliant jazzy sets, vocalist and harmonica man led from the front and the lead guitarist was the star of the night. Unusually the pub wasn\'t full, normally it\'s standing room only but not this time so there was plenty of leg room and we were close to the front. It wouldn\'t be a good gig if you didn\'t come away with ringing ears and mine are still ringing the following day - or is that my usual tinnitus?', 'Split Whiskers @ Hope Tavern', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5924-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-11-25 11:18:45', '2019-11-25 11:18:45', '', 5924, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5926', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5927, 283, '2019-11-25 11:42:28', '2019-11-25 11:42:28', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/split-whiskers-Hope-TavernNov19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5925\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/split-whiskers-Hope-TavernNov19-300x256.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"256\" /></a>Dave and I visited the Hope Tavern (Holton Le Moor) Sunday afternoon blues session. This can be a very hit and miss event and despite reviewing bands on <a href=\"https://youtu.be/nxE6P_aG-mY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">YouTube</a> before agreeing to go, some bands don\'t live up to their YouTube performances.\r\n\r\nThe Hope Tavern isn\'t a pub I\'d normally go into - it\'s a bit run down and tatty round the edges however it is perfect for a blues venue. In years gone by, before the smoking ban, I can imagine a waft of cannabis smoke drifting around the bar.\r\n\r\nSplit Whiskers turned out to be a great choice. They played some very good blues including delta blues and they were all excellent musicians and loved what they were doing. The rhythm section, bass and drummer kept it all together, the keyboard player had some brilliant jazzy sets, vocalist and harmonica man led from the front and the lead guitarist was the star of the night. Unusually the pub wasn\'t full, normally it\'s standing room only but not this time so there was plenty of leg room and we were close to the front. It wouldn\'t be a good gig if you didn\'t come away with ringing ears and mine are still ringing the following day - or is that my usual tinnitus?', 'Split Whiskers @ Hope Tavern', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5924-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-11-25 11:42:28', '2019-11-25 11:42:28', '', 5924, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5927', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5930, 283, '2019-12-03 13:12:57', '2019-12-03 13:12:57', '', 'bees still flying(Dec19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'bees-still-flyingdec19', '', '', '2019-12-03 13:12:57', '2019-12-03 13:12:57', '', 5929, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/bees-still-flyingDec19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5931, 283, '2019-12-03 13:17:10', '2019-12-03 13:17:10', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/bees-still-flyingDec19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5930\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/bees-still-flyingDec19-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"349\" height=\"262\" /></a>Do they know it\'s December?\r\n\r\nAccepting this is my first year of keeping bees and I know very little about these superb creatures but everything I have read tells me they should be crowded together inside the hive with the queen at the centre keeping warm. Here they are, outside where the temperature is barely 6 degrees celsius. Why? It seems my bees are of a special strain that like sunbathing (joke).', 'Bee Update', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5929-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-12-03 13:17:10', '2019-12-03 13:17:10', '', 5929, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5931', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5932, 283, '2019-12-03 13:18:34', '2019-12-03 13:18:34', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/bees-still-flyingDec19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5930\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/bees-still-flyingDec19-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"349\" height=\"262\" /></a>Do they know it\'s December?\r\n\r\nAccepting this is my first year of keeping bees and I know very little about these superb creatures but everything I have read tells me they should be crowded together inside the hive with the queen at the centre keeping warm. Here they are, outside where the temperature is barely 6 degrees celsius. Why? It seems my bees are of a special strain that like sunbathing (joke).\r\n\r\nThe photo was taken from the living room with a 300mm zoom lense so the definition isn\'t brilliant but I think it gives a sense of what\'s going on.', 'Bee Update', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5929-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-12-03 13:18:34', '2019-12-03 13:18:34', '', 5929, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5932', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5944, 283, '2019-12-16 12:57:44', '2019-12-16 12:57:44', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/stowe-bucksdec19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright  wp-image-5945\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/stowe-bucksdec19-300x206.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"267\" height=\"183\" /></a>A weekend in Banbury with good friends Gary and Caroline is always fun. Gary and I worked together for 5 years at Northamptonshire County Council and a friendship has grown out of that. We tend to spend a lot of time talking about bees, technology and politics. With the outcome of the recent election on our minds there was a lot to talk about. He gave me my first nucleus of bees and is a great source of advice when there are just too many options/decisions as to what to do next.\r\n\r\nWe went for a walk on Saturday afternoon at <a href=\"https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stowe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Stowe in Buckinghamshire</a>. I didn\'t realise that Capability Brown was an apprentice on the design team for this estate. There was a bitter wind blowing and despite some sunshine we were glad to get back into the warmth of the cafe. Our evening was spent at <a href=\"http://voujonbanbury.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Voujons Indian restaurant in Banbury</a>. I believe it is probably the best curry house I have ever visited. The food is excellent and the service is superb which is a winning combination. Sunday morning breakfast of toast with Gary and Caroline\'s honey couldn\'t be a better way to start to the day.', 'Weekend Away', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'weekend-away', '', '', '2019-12-16 12:57:44', '2019-12-16 12:57:44', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5944', 0, 'post', '', 2),
(5947, 283, '2019-12-19 20:02:57', '2019-12-19 20:02:57', 'No bee stories this week, hopefully they are all tucked up and busy keeping warm, although I must make sure they have enough food soon.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Uni-Research-xmas-lunchDec19-rotated.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5951\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Uni-Research-xmas-lunchDec19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"220\" height=\"165\" /></a>The university research group I\'m involved with had their Christmas lunch this week. I don\'t often mention the activity because academics seem to work in a completely different way to me and I\'m often baffled by what\'s going on or the lack of apparent progress. The professor and her research assistant seem happy enough so I don\'t get too animated by the process.\r\n\r\nI met with my college friends at Yorkshire Sculpture Park on Wednesday. Having known these people for over 50 years it never ceases to amaze me how the years fall away and we revert to our teenage years, shared sense of humour and views on politics. So refreshing! The sculptures of <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Smith_(sculptor)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">David Smith</a> were very interesting and encouraged several discussions about what we saw in them. I\'m always interested in the back story - in Smith\'s case he was married twice (what happened in his marriages?) and died in a road accident at the age of 59. The only conclusion we came to was that he was a risk taker and maybe that\'s a characteristic of all artists; working outside the boundaries; living on the edge.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" columns=\"2\" ids=\"5949,5950\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Test-Drive-CX30Dec19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5948\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Test-Drive-CX30Dec19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"260\" height=\"195\" /></a>Also this week I had a test drive in the new Mazda CX30. When I originally bought the CX5 I thought it was too large for me however I\'ve become used to the size and the CX30 seems much smaller and lower. If I decide to change the CX5 then there will be a lot to get used to in terms of size and the difference in low torque with the current diesel engine and the petrol 180 bhp of the CX30. In terms of technology I\'m impressed by all the gadgets - the head up display on the screen is brilliant. What I do about colour is not an easy choice to make either - do I go for a red or a sombre grey similar to the MX5. I will be making my decision over the next couple of weeks and if I go ahead I hope to take possession by the end of January. Watch this space...', 'Keeping Busy', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'keeping-busy-3', '', '', '2019-12-19 20:03:20', '2019-12-19 20:03:20', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5947', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5935, 283, '2019-12-07 16:11:17', '2019-12-07 16:11:17', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/laser-printerDec19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5936\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/laser-printerDec19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>I started the week, after much deliberation, with the purchase of a new laser printer. My Epson inkjet was proving to be troublesome and had stopped printing in colour despite dismantling the printer heads and cleaning them with a special fluid. I\'ve had a couple of laser printers and they\'ve always given good service despite the toner cartridges being expensive. This time I\'ve bought a Brother mainly because the reviews on Amazon were good and where a few people had complained Brother had responded with advice and asked the reviewer to contact them for support. It is a beast of a machine and it took all my strength to lift it onto the desk.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/knives-outDec19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5940\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/knives-outDec19-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>I spent three days in London staying with Jane\'s brother, Richard. We went to see Knives Out at the local cinema shortly after I arrived. A superb cast and a very quirky film in the style of an old \"who dunnit\".  Daniel Craig made the film very watchable but I wouldn\'t necessarily recommend it as a \"must see\" film.\r\n\r\nOne of the \"joys\" of staying in London is that Richard and Nicola use the buses a lot so they know all the routes and timings. We travelled the city hopping from one bus to another. On my first journey I realised that my bus pass was out of date and so every time I showed my pass I kept my finger over the date - it worked.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/nhm-wildlife-photographerDec19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-5938\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/nhm-wildlife-photographerDec19-134x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"134\" height=\"200\" /></a>We started our busy schedule with a visit to the Natural History Museum to see the <a href=\"https://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/wildlife-photographer-of-the-year.html?gclid=CjwKCAiAuK3vBRBOEiwA1IMhuoxOqRDeVHMVUKAW7rBtVsd-k574Qbi3fnw2-E5T7SlQD8TD_i3eQRoC1MsQAvD_BwE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Wildlife Photographer of the Year</a> exhibition. One could argue that setting up a camera trap and then sifting through thousands of images is hardly photography however the images are truly superb. The photograph here wasn\'t a finalist but featured in the people\'s choice and I think it is an excellent example of the work on display. The photographers demonstrate skill, dedication, patience and knowledge of the habits of their subjects.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/concept-car-at-VADec19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5939\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/concept-car-at-VADec19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>After lunch in the V&amp;A we then toured another exhibition - <a href=\"https://www.vam.ac.uk/?gclid=CjwKCAiAuK3vBRBOEiwA1IMhutJya0wMH4Jgbhrp_vl3lXqOI6iFGGytY-GZ6XclRD1Vn9BA0SJ49BoCWhsQAvD_BwE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cars: Accelerating the Modern World</a>. It was interesting to see the concept cars from the past and how very few them had actually predicted how our current cars would look. The final exhibit was a  prediction of how cars of the future would look. This was a collaboration between Audi and Airbus Industries so this small car could be fitted with a set of 4 helicopter blades like a drone and fly. I don\'t think this concept will ever become a reality because a lot of drivers have a problem keeping their vehicles on the roads where there are only two dimensions to worry about. What would they be like if there were three dimensions to contend with?\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/as-you-like-itDec19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright  wp-image-5937\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/as-you-like-itDec19-300x285.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"282\" height=\"268\" /></a>And for me the highlight of my time in London was the <a href=\"https://www.rsc.org.uk/as-you-like-it/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">RSC production of As You Like It</a> at the Barbican. Pre theatre dinner at <a href=\"https://www.cote.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cote Brasserie</a> which is over the road from the Barbican Theatre.\r\n\r\nThe production was superb as expected - lively, funny and dramatic. The large puppet character that came on for the final scene was incredible. A great night followed by a multiple bus ride home...\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/azumaDec19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5941\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/azumaDec19-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" /></a>The following day after a coffee on Islington High Road I made my way to Kings Cross and an uneventful journey back to Market Rasen via Lincoln on a new Azuma train. There\'s been some excitement about these new trains amongst train buffs however I must say, it\'s just a train. A little more leg room but quite hard seats.', 'Lasers, Culture and Buses', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'lasers-culture-and-buses', '', '', '2019-12-07 16:11:17', '2019-12-07 16:11:17', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=5935', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(5936, 283, '2019-12-07 15:28:44', '2019-12-07 15:28:44', '', 'laser printer(Dec19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'laser-printerdec19', '', '', '2019-12-07 15:28:44', '2019-12-07 15:28:44', '', 5935, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/laser-printerDec19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5937, 283, '2019-12-07 15:28:48', '2019-12-07 15:28:48', '', 'as you like it(Dec19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'as-you-like-itdec19', '', '', '2019-12-07 15:28:48', '2019-12-07 15:28:48', '', 5935, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/as-you-like-itDec19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5938, 283, '2019-12-07 15:28:51', '2019-12-07 15:28:51', '', 'nhm wildlife photographer(Dec19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'nhm-wildlife-photographerdec19', '', '', '2019-12-07 15:28:51', '2019-12-07 15:28:51', '', 5935, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/nhm-wildlife-photographerDec19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5939, 283, '2019-12-07 15:28:54', '2019-12-07 15:28:54', '', 'concept car at V&A(Dec19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'concept-car-at-vadec19', '', '', '2019-12-07 15:28:54', '2019-12-07 15:28:54', '', 5935, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/concept-car-at-VADec19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5940, 283, '2019-12-07 15:38:32', '2019-12-07 15:38:32', '', 'knives out(Dec19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'knives-outdec19', '', '', '2019-12-07 15:38:32', '2019-12-07 15:38:32', '', 5935, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/knives-outDec19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5941, 283, '2019-12-07 16:10:52', '2019-12-07 16:10:52', '', 'azuma(Dec19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'azumadec19', '', '', '2019-12-07 16:10:52', '2019-12-07 16:10:52', '', 5935, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/azumaDec19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5942, 283, '2019-12-07 16:11:17', '2019-12-07 16:11:17', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/laser-printerDec19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5936\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/laser-printerDec19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>I started the week, after much deliberation, with the purchase of a new laser printer. My Epson inkjet was proving to be troublesome and had stopped printing in colour despite dismantling the printer heads and cleaning them with a special fluid. I\'ve had a couple of laser printers and they\'ve always given good service despite the toner cartridges being expensive. This time I\'ve bought a Brother mainly because the reviews on Amazon were good and where a few people had complained Brother had responded with advice and asked the reviewer to contact them for support. It is a beast of a machine and it took all my strength to lift it onto the desk.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/knives-outDec19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5940\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/knives-outDec19-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>I spent three days in London staying with Jane\'s brother, Richard. We went to see Knives Out at the local cinema shortly after I arrived. A superb cast and a very quirky film in the style of an old \"who dunnit\".  Daniel Craig made the film very watchable but I wouldn\'t necessarily recommend it as a \"must see\" film.\r\n\r\nOne of the \"joys\" of staying in London is that Richard and Nicola use the buses a lot so they know all the routes and timings. We travelled the city hopping from one bus to another. On my first journey I realised that my bus pass was out of date and so every time I showed my pass I kept my finger over the date - it worked.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/nhm-wildlife-photographerDec19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-5938\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/nhm-wildlife-photographerDec19-134x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"134\" height=\"200\" /></a>We started our busy schedule with a visit to the Natural History Museum to see the <a href=\"https://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/wildlife-photographer-of-the-year.html?gclid=CjwKCAiAuK3vBRBOEiwA1IMhuoxOqRDeVHMVUKAW7rBtVsd-k574Qbi3fnw2-E5T7SlQD8TD_i3eQRoC1MsQAvD_BwE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Wildlife Photographer of the Year</a> exhibition. One could argue that setting up a camera trap and then sifting through thousands of images is hardly photography however the images are truly superb. The photograph here wasn\'t a finalist but featured in the people\'s choice and I think it is an excellent example of the work on display. The photographers demonstrate skill, dedication, patience and knowledge of the habits of their subjects.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/concept-car-at-VADec19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5939\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/concept-car-at-VADec19-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>After lunch in the V&amp;A we then toured another exhibition - <a href=\"https://www.vam.ac.uk/?gclid=CjwKCAiAuK3vBRBOEiwA1IMhutJya0wMH4Jgbhrp_vl3lXqOI6iFGGytY-GZ6XclRD1Vn9BA0SJ49BoCWhsQAvD_BwE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cars: Accelerating the Modern World</a>. It was interesting to see the concept cars from the past and how very few them had actually predicted how our current cars would look. The final exhibit was a  prediction of how cars of the future would look. This was a collaboration between Audi and Airbus Industries so this small car could be fitted with a set of 4 helicopter blades like a drone and fly. I don\'t think this concept will ever become a reality because a lot of drivers have a problem keeping their vehicles on the roads where there are only two dimensions to worry about. What would they be like if there were three dimensions to contend with?\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/as-you-like-itDec19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright  wp-image-5937\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/as-you-like-itDec19-300x285.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"282\" height=\"268\" /></a>And for me the highlight of my time in London was the <a href=\"https://www.rsc.org.uk/as-you-like-it/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">RSC production of As You Like It</a> at the Barbican. Pre theatre dinner at <a href=\"https://www.cote.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cote Brasserie</a> which is over the road from the Barbican Theatre.\r\n\r\nThe production was superb as expected - lively, funny and dramatic. The large puppet character that came on for the final scene was incredible. A great night followed by a multiple bus ride home...\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/azumaDec19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5941\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/azumaDec19-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" /></a>The following day after a coffee on Islington High Road I made my way to Kings Cross and an uneventful journey back to Market Rasen via Lincoln on a new Azuma train. There\'s been some excitement about these new trains amongst train buffs however I must say, it\'s just a train. A little more leg room but quite hard seats.', 'Lasers, Culture and Buses', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5935-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-12-07 16:11:17', '2019-12-07 16:11:17', '', 5935, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5942', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5945, 283, '2019-12-16 12:49:50', '2019-12-16 12:49:50', '', 'stowe bucks(dec19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'stowe-bucksdec19', '', '', '2019-12-16 12:49:50', '2019-12-16 12:49:50', '', 5944, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/stowe-bucksdec19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5946, 283, '2019-12-16 12:57:44', '2019-12-16 12:57:44', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/stowe-bucksdec19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright  wp-image-5945\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/stowe-bucksdec19-300x206.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"267\" height=\"183\" /></a>A weekend in Banbury with good friends Gary and Caroline is always fun. Gary and I worked together for 5 years at Northamptonshire County Council and a friendship has grown out of that. We tend to spend a lot of time talking about bees, technology and politics. With the outcome of the recent election on our minds there was a lot to talk about. He gave me my first nucleus of bees and is a great source of advice when there are just too many options/decisions as to what to do next.\r\n\r\nWe went for a walk on Saturday afternoon at <a href=\"https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stowe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Stowe in Buckinghamshire</a>. I didn\'t realise that Capability Brown was an apprentice on the design team for this estate. There was a bitter wind blowing and despite some sunshine we were glad to get back into the warmth of the cafe. Our evening was spent at <a href=\"http://voujonbanbury.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Voujons Indian restaurant in Banbury</a>. I believe it is probably the best curry house I have ever visited. The food is excellent and the service is superb which is a winning combination. Sunday morning breakfast of toast with Gary and Caroline\'s honey couldn\'t be a better way to start to the day.', 'Weekend Away', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5944-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-12-16 12:57:44', '2019-12-16 12:57:44', '', 5944, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5946', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(5948, 283, '2019-12-19 19:45:14', '2019-12-19 19:45:14', '', 'Test Drive CX30(Dec19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'test-drive-cx30dec19', '', '', '2019-12-19 19:45:14', '2019-12-19 19:45:14', '', 5947, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Test-Drive-CX30Dec19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5949, 283, '2019-12-19 19:45:20', '2019-12-19 19:45:20', '', 'YSP2(Dec19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'ysp2dec19', '', '', '2019-12-19 19:45:20', '2019-12-19 19:45:20', '', 5947, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/YSP2Dec19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5950, 283, '2019-12-19 19:45:23', '2019-12-19 19:45:23', '', 'YSP1(Dec19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'ysp1dec19', '', '', '2019-12-19 19:45:23', '2019-12-19 19:45:23', '', 5947, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/YSP1Dec19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5951, 283, '2019-12-19 19:45:26', '2019-12-19 19:45:26', '', 'Uni Research xmas lunch(Dec19)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'uni-research-xmas-lunchdec19', '', '', '2019-12-19 19:45:26', '2019-12-19 19:45:26', '', 5947, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Uni-Research-xmas-lunchDec19.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(5952, 283, '2019-12-19 20:02:57', '2019-12-19 20:02:57', 'No bee stories this week, hopefully they are all tucked up and busy keeping warm, although I must make sure they have enough food soon.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Uni-Research-xmas-lunchDec19-rotated.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright  wp-image-5951\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Uni-Research-xmas-lunchDec19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"220\" height=\"165\" /></a>The university research group I\'m involved with had their Christmas lunch this week. I don\'t often mention the activity because academics seem to work in a completely different way to me and I\'m often baffled by what\'s going on or the lack of apparent progress. The professor and her research assistant seem happy enough so I don\'t get too animated by the process.\r\n\r\nI met with my college friends at Yorkshire Sculpture Park on Wednesday. Having known these people for over 50 years it never ceases to amaze me how the years fall away and we revert to our teenage years, shared sense of humour and views on politics. So refreshing! The sculptures of <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Smith_(sculptor)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">David Smith</a> were very interesting and encouraged several discussions about what we saw in them. I\'m always interested in the back story - in Smith\'s case he was married twice (what happened in his marriages?) and died in a road accident at the age of 59. The only conclusion we came to was that he was a risk taker and maybe that\'s a characteristic of all artists; working outside the boundaries; living on the edge.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" columns=\"2\" ids=\"5949,5950\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Test-Drive-CX30Dec19.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-5948\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Test-Drive-CX30Dec19-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"260\" height=\"195\" /></a>Also this week I had a test drive in the new Mazda CX30. When I originally bought the CX5 I thought it was too large for me however I\'ve become used to the size and the CX30 seems much smaller and lower. If I decide to change the CX5 then there will be a lot to get used to in terms of size and the difference in low torque with the current diesel engine and the petrol 180 bhp of the CX30. In terms of technology I\'m impressed by all the gadgets - the head up display on the screen is brilliant. What I do about colour is not an easy choice to make either - do I go for a red or a sombre grey similar to the MX5. I will be making my decision over the next couple of weeks and if I go ahead I hope to take possession by the end of January. Watch this space...', 'Keeping Busy', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '5947-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-12-19 20:02:57', '2019-12-19 20:02:57', '', 5947, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/5952', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
