Operational, not decorational

No fanfares at the jetty
No newsclips on flat TVs
No Freedom marches through Dalgety
No recognition given by the public
No medals from the body politic

We Come Unseen

And then

More private reunions at home
More polyblocks removed from off the plant
More vital maintenance on the dome
More PAGs, more deadlines - there is no can’t
More time on drills and time in trainers
More turkeys, steaks, eggs passed down to the fridge
More crap cleared from 'round the strainers
More paint is added to the bridge
More warheads worked on ‘round the corner
More time spent getting back in order

And then

Once more  the final checks for sea are made
Once more  the family ties are given up
Once more the plant is in the half power state
Once more, stern and headropes singled up
Once more, on a drizzly  Argyll day
Once more, for umpteenth time a black boat makes it's way...

We Go Unseen

©Peter Chilcott

Unseasonal Seasonal Weather? Good or Bad?

A guest blog from my old friend and Naval colleague Martin Howells. Martin is a keen amateur apiarist, and keeps his bees in South Wales (in hives...)

It is daft for me to say I am looking forward to the first really cold snap of our Winter? That is because my Honey Bees are still in "Summer" mode. Flying and gathering stores as "normal", with Ivy, Gorse, Holly and another pollen being brought in, I haven't identified as yet.

Pollen is identified under microscopic analysis of samples taken from returning Honey Bees too the hives. Yes! I know I have to be a little eccentric to stand infront of a bee hive to catch individual bees and remove a sample of their pollen load to check what they are gathering. Then letting that bee go on into the hive with its remaining pollen load. Some clown has to do it to find out what the bees are gathering at this time of year. Besides, I cant think of anything else better to do. Sad really?

Not that I should be complaining! As long as the busy bees can provide sufficient stores for now, and that they have sufficient stores for the real cold winter weather, when it does come. My fear is that they may just be comsuming more stores now, in this mild spell, than they can actually replace by recent gatherings. That will lead to starvation when a long cold spell arrives with a vengeance.

Still I need to be alert for the Honey Bees, This country is always in need of lerts. So people; appreciate your honey at this time of year, hoping we will have honey bees ready to go in the Spring; when it comes; ready for next years harvest of fruit and veg and the nectar of the gods.

Season Greetings to all from a Bee Keeper.

Martin can be contacted at martin@mjhowells.co.uk