Beekeeping is a personal journey. For me it has been about finding purpose and nature and hence, regaining my sanity but a sub-theme has emerged. Beekeeping has made me ever more aware of my shortcomings: poor DIY skills, fear of bees and general worrying that the bees are OK (food, varroa, disease, mated queen, swarming, etc.). I’m not the self-sufficient adult I had hoped to be. I have called this theme manliness. I know, I know. DIY and being brave is definitely not male-only territory but as a man I feel the pressure is on.
My last test was building a flat pack hive. It wasn’t perfect but hopefully the weather and weight of the hive is fixing the poor build.
However, another opportunity presented itself for me to prove my manliness … buying my first ever cigarette lighter, for my smoker.
Me: “Please can I have a cigarette lighter”. I stumbled over my words, I squeaked like a teenager. It was obvious I was a virgin cigarette lighter buyer.
+ 2 man points. It should have been a +10.
Man behind counter: “We don’t sell them” in the kind of way that made me feel like I had to clarify I was a beekeeper and it was for my smoker!
– 10 man points
I went to the shop next door and was successful in my purchase. I got the smoker to light first time.
+ 10 man points
I was very proud of myself and felt the testosterone radiating from me. When I got home my wife (not to be messed with at four months pregnant & yes, I have told the bees and now you) informed me it was my turn to do the dishes. I reassured myself that in 2014 it is still considered manly to wear Marigolds.
Read More
- Where we are in the Beekeeping Calendar
- Key beekeeping activities of the moment: Varroa Management / Feeding / Swarm Management / Catching A Swarm
- One year ago in the apiary: Life Without Bees
- Two years ago in the apiary: Smoking The Hive And More To Worry About
- Hive Record Cards: Hive Two, Hive Three, Poly Nuc
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Love it Roger, now next week’s post must be about how the Malborough Man uses his new horse to move his beehives to another state, and he avoids the red Indians.
Great idea about the lighter, but wouldn’t a true Malborough man rub two sticks together to get his smoker working? That has to be +100 points, man makes fire…Grrrrr
We use those long BBQ style lighters, much easier to light smokers with these ones.
Have a great weekend.
Gary
Grrrr. Let’s make fire together!
But BBQ style lighters??? -100 points.
Weekend = finding out if my two new hives have got mated queens in them! Very, very exciting.
Ummm. I use a flame torch for lighting my smoker and I’m wondering how many plus or minus points I should award myself?!
Alison – you are definitely in positive territory:
BBQ style lighter … -100 points
Matches … +1 point
Cigarette lighter … +10 points
Flame torch … +20 points
Rubbing two sticks together … +100 points
Petrol & matches Rog – its a sure +100…
(disclaimer – I do not recommend this to anyone, ever, anywhere)
Hmmm. Not sure bees would appreciate petrol incensed smoke. Sounds toxic. Score … -1,000 points.