It’s a girl
Whilst Queen bees can easily bang out up to 2,000 eggs a day … this is not the case for humans. In fact, at times on the day of the birth, it seemed like humans were not designed for natural childbirth. I will spare you the details, but I finally broke down when I was ushered out of the operating theatre for Heidi’s c-section. Three minutes later a nurse came out and told me mother and baby Senen were fine. It took me another 15 minutes to man-up and we are both still getting over the experience. Next time we’re booking in for an elective cesarean!
We’ve had a few questions about the name, so in anticipation of further questions … There is a place we like in Cornwall called Sennen Cove and about two years ago Heidi thought it would make a great name for a child, boy or girl. We looked it up in the baby name dictionary and there was a Senen, meaning “wise boy”, an Irish name. We reckoned it could also mean “wise girl”. We made a token effort looking through the rest of the name book, but our hearts were already set.
I took two weeks paternity which was the best holiday ever and at the end of this found the time to go and visit the bees and tell them the news. One of the guard bees seemed particularly interested and I had to run away.
Postscript: For an update on how I am getting on you might like to read On Being A Dad.
Bee update
I have not had much time to think about bees in the last six weeks. There were quite a few flying in and out on Sunday when it was about 12C … but I still don’t know whether there is a Queen in there. I might not know, until it’s warm enough to open it up in the Spring.
I am planning based on the scenario that these is a Queen and will phone a friend to discuss sugar fondant and oxalic acid.
Christmas present
As a Christmas present to myself I bought another flat-pack beehive (14×12 brood box, 2 supers, roof, floor, stand). It will take me about 16 hours to assemble but will keep me entertained during the dark Winter nights, especially as Senen should soon start having a bed time at 7.30pm.
So this my third hive … just need to catch a swarm … or better still, hope that someone brings me one in a cardboard box … and if they want to tip them in … please go ahead … they are scary those bees!
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Great to hear – Congrats!!
congratulations to you both on the new arrival, it sounds a lovely name
Thanks Steve. I think the parents are still getting used to the name.
“I took two weeks paternity which was the best holiday ever and at the end of this found the time to go and visit the bees and tell them the news. One of the guard bees seemed particularly interested and I had to run away.”
Hilarious! Congratulations to you and Heidi on your new princess. I like the story behind her name, it will be lovely for her to visit the Cove when she’s older.
Thanks Emily. I am sure she will visit the cove in 2013.