Most of my mornings start in much the same way. If I am up early enough, I will have a leisurely cup of coffee and browse the news headlines, before heading outside to let out the chickens.
This morning seemed to be no different. I exited the back door, grabbed a watering can, and filled it from the outside tap. I was about to go and top up the chicken's feeder when I felt a sharp sting at the back of my neck. I reached around and found a bloody wasp had taken a dislike to me. I dislodged the little bugger, but it was determined to have another go. I managed to swat it at the second attempt and crushed the little bastard underfoot.
So I now have two throbbing wasp stings on the back of my neck!
As a beekeeper I get sting occasionally. Usually I am wearing a bee suit and gloves and the stings are minor. The pain subsides within a few minutes and I forget all about them within an hour.
Wasp stings, on the other hand, are completely different. When I've been stung by wasps previously I have found them to be very painful and I end up with an inflamed lump that can last for a day or two. I hate the little fuckers. They sting for no reason, and they are a real pest in the apiary.
This wasn't the best start to my day!
Right, I've finished my rant about this irritating member of the Hymenoptera, and will now recount the rest of the day.
The weather was fine and I was home alone, so I decided to drag The Beast from the shed and attempt to make the orchard look more presentable. I spent a couple of hours heaving the mower over the uneven ground up there and by lunchtime I had cut about sixty percent of the grass.
The weather was warmer than I thought and I was absolutely shattered when I wandered back to the house for a sandwich.
It will come as no surprise that a snooze on the sofa followed lunch.
I woke feeling relatively refreshed and decided it was time to attend to item #2 on today's to-do list,
I grabbed my helmet and new motorcycle jacket from the wardrobe and headed out to the garage. I needed to pop over to Arden motorcycles and arrange for my CBR 600 to be collected.* I decided that the R1250R was well overdue for a run, so selected it for my conveyance to Alcester.
I spent a few minutes sorting out a date for my Honda to be collected and then decided that I should put a few more miles on the BMW's odometer. I had a fast run down the bypass to Evesham before taking the twistier roads back home. I didn't go far, but I did have fun. I say it every time, "I really should ride my bikes note often".
I went to Tai Chi in the early evening before settling down after quite a busy day.
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* It needs a light recommissioning, including cleaning and refurbishment of the carburettors. I spoke to the chaps at Arden back in July, and we had agreed to defer the work until their workshop was a little less busy.
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