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This is just a quick Post and there'll be a follow-up next week. Things have been very busy here at 'Nichoir' - with a mix of warm weather and occasional, but heavy, rainfall; everything has been growing at a fantastic rate and I'll explain more in the next Post.
Monsieur Oska has now had his third epidural steroidal injection and then a review of his progress. The verdict is encouraging - the pain pressure point on the lower spine is much reduced, his overall movement is easier and he more relaxed and happier in himself. So, we'll log progress over the summer and return to our specialist vet here in the Autumn for a further assessment - and it may be just leave things be, or have another course of injections or have to consider alternatives. But, for the moment, things are better. 'Phew!
Wildlife of the Month
This is the reason for this quick post .... about three weeks ago we found a bees' nest between the outside shutter and inside window of our bedroom. We keep the shutter closed over the winter, opening it up in the Spring - so, the bees had started their nest unknown to us. But it is a good place, as it is a south facing wall and, in Spring, smothered by the very large wisteria. When we found the nest it was quite large (about the size of a human head) but over the past couple of weeks it has grown rapidly, the bees adding new sections at the rate of one every two or three days.
Monsieur Oska has now had his third epidural steroidal injection and then a review of his progress. The verdict is encouraging - the pain pressure point on the lower spine is much reduced, his overall movement is easier and he more relaxed and happier in himself. So, we'll log progress over the summer and return to our specialist vet here in the Autumn for a further assessment - and it may be just leave things be, or have another course of injections or have to consider alternatives. But, for the moment, things are better. 'Phew!
Wildlife of the Month
This is the reason for this quick post .... about three weeks ago we found a bees' nest between the outside shutter and inside window of our bedroom. We keep the shutter closed over the winter, opening it up in the Spring - so, the bees had started their nest unknown to us. But it is a good place, as it is a south facing wall and, in Spring, smothered by the very large wisteria. When we found the nest it was quite large (about the size of a human head) but over the past couple of weeks it has grown rapidly, the bees adding new sections at the rate of one every two or three days.
Now the nest has trebled its size, so we panicked a bit and asked our neighbours if they knew of a bee expert who could help out. Today Marie-Claude came round with a friend of theirs, a keen amateur beekeeper. On taking a look he was clearly surprised ... c'est immense! - he reckoned there are between 15,000 and 20,000 bees! He said he would need the help of a colleague, a professional beekeeper and return tomorrow. They would use a technique that places a tunnel between the nest and a temporary hive, that is smeared with a 'special substance' (some form of confiture/jam, as far as we could understand), and the idea is that the bees leave the nest, go along the tunnel and into the temporary hive. We're assured that no bees will be harmed and that the swarm will be of great value to the beekeeper.
We will as far as possible (not sure how cross the bees might become ...) follow the whole process tomorrow, take photos and put together a Post early next week. Should be quite a buzz ....
We will as far as possible (not sure how cross the bees might become ...) follow the whole process tomorrow, take photos and put together a Post early next week. Should be quite a buzz ....
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