Get a grip woman!

Suffolk_lass

Hurray, got some power back and the house is once again warm from the electric Aga. Two of our neighbours are asking about freezer space, as they are still without. We have plenty because there is a full upright one in the workshop for bee stuff (it is on now, with one huge bag in it so far and another neighbour due); my chest freezer also has all the bag-owner's ready made stuff in now so that is full. I'm going to check with the other neighbour in the Lane that is out (tree down on the power-line) to see if they need anything now.

trix-a-belle

Glad you survived SL, our power went out about 4pm Friday, then the mobile phone network got knocked out just after 5pm & normal service was resumed about 10am Saturday here. Some friends down in Hampshire/Dorset lost power midday Friday & aren't looking at getting it back till Monday/Tuesday
Hope the hives were ok, lots round here got strapped down with paving slabs on top

Suffolk_lass

Ours were fine thanks trix, they are strapped down with cambuckle straps to the stands and ratchet straps attached to ground anchors. We do need to top up fondant for two hives today - that has just reminded me. A quick check to see when the weather will be warmest I think - 1pm looks best here. We still have some without power in the Village but we are back to normal

LadyGnome

Glad to hear you weren't too badly affected.  I need to check the hives for food as well. The weather here is still bad - very wet and windy so I don't want to open up the hives today.  Hopefully, tomorrow will be better.

Suffolk_lass

We walked over with Pup and stuck two take-away boxes of fondant on the two hives there. The smaller colony had almost emptied the previous box and we took the opportunity of a fine morning to go. It was starting to piddle as we got back.

boxofpaws

Sorry that you’ve been affected by the power cuts. Where I live we get lots of little power cuts, Just long enough to knock the Wi-Fi out normally when I’m on a teams call. I can’t imagine having power off for hours or days. Must be very difficult.

Hope the bees enjoyed their fondant. 🐝 

trix-a-belle

Box of paws short ones like that sound super annoying! I have friends in Hampshire & Dorset areas who were off for 4 days thanks to Eunice.

Not sure about you SL but i've caved and ordered enough oil to brim my tank, I don't think I trust the price not to go loopy now a certain someone is just doing whatever he damn well pleases. (63.99ppl on homefuelsdirect)
When you talk about giving the bees fondant I have visions of a pack of cake icing

themadvix

trix-a-belle said:

When you talk about giving the bees fondant I have visions of a pack of cake icing

Me too! 😂

Suffolk_lass

You could use cake icing fondant, but only if it does not contain anti-caking agents or other chemicals. I bought ours (a box of five 2.5kg plastic covered slabs) from a coordinated purchase for the local beekeepers association, together with not enough syrup. I can make up my syrup (called 1:1 - it is if you use imperial measures but not if you use metric). Anyway I bought 20l and we ended up feeding about 50l with me making up the rest from bags of sugar, to make sure they had enough stores for winter.

In money news we are collecting our van today (gulp). It is closer to £3k than £2k. I had mentally allowed £2.5. It has been welded, repaired and wax-oiled to prevent further erosion and there will be no further danger of the front suspension dropping through the bottom onto the road. Very reassuring! I think our next step will be to attach it to electric hook up when home and see if three months without charge (relying on the solar panel in winter) has knackered the 2 leisure batteries. 

We are also meeting up with DH's former colleagues about 30 miles away for lunch. I will need to get fuel. On the upside I spent over £40 in Morries to get the 7p off a litre. On the down-side the first ever TGTG bag I had reserved was not there. I was only 15 minutes after the start time for collection so they had not run out, they just did not have them. There were three of us in the queue and one of them said he only ever reserves if he knows he will be there for another reason. That is B-all use to me as I only go there to shop when I have to. I did top up vegetables and bowl fruit, and buy some things for the dinner I am cooking for others on Saturday.

I might have been reading Barefoot Contessa books this morning (it really is food !!!!!!) (guilty secret time!) but I know the couple coming both love crumble, so I might toast pine nuts, walnuts and oats to add to a basic crumble to jazz it up a bit, and serve with custard, ice-cream or cream - a proper winter pudding to go with the seafood platter and beef casserole I am planning.

themadvix

Eek to the van costs SL, but it sounds like the work was very much needed and the wax oil is definitely worth it for future protection. We have a CTEK battery charger (possibly Creek MX5 model - I asked DH to remember off the top of his head) - it does trickle charging but more importantly it does battery reconditioning - might be worth the investment for your van batteries. It's brilliant for it - DH has brought about 9 car batteries back to life that had been given to us on Freegle (he uses them for a garage project), as well as reconditioning the Mini's battery prior to putting it on trickle charge.

The food for the weekend sounds delicious, can I come (I'll bring my own main, but it still sounds great!)