April has been a terrible month for bees - rain, low temperatures, big colonies unable to get out of the hives and in danger of starving. I've had to feed all three of my colonies, and they seem to be holding on. Let's hope May is better. Doesn't seem to be so far. The annoying thing is that the oilseed rape is in full flower - enormous fields of yellow all round our cottage - but the bees can't get out to it.
On a happier note, I've just been judging the Waitrose Short Story competition with Fi Glover. It was run by Waitrose Weekend and they asked for a story reflecting some theme or situation from Dickens, of not more than 1000 words. (The idea was to celebrate Dickens's bicentenary). There were some really excellent entries and the best ones are going to be published in Waitrose Weekend. So look out for them.