A World Without Bees

Alison Benjamin & Brian McCallum - Read June 2103

   This book pulls together all the information and supposition on the causes of Colony Collapse Disorder [CCD] since it was first reported in november 2007. The book was written in May 2008. The book also looks back to reference in ancient Greece and neolithic cave painting to examine the relationship between Man and honey bees. The first couple of chapters are a very good and concise explanation of the lifecycle and statistics on the activity of bees.

   The story mainly relates to the migratory beekeeping in America but covers the experiences in Europe, The Far East and China. Given what we see reported in the press today and the position as related by the book in 2008 the outcome of the story is a bit depressing. However it has spurred me on to try to do something about it.

   Follow me on www.justbeeing.co.uk to keep up with my beekeeping adventures and misadventures. 

Two Degrees West

Nicholas Crane - Read June 2013

   Nick Crane, before he came to our notice on the TV series "Coast", did long and strange walks for a living and wrote about them. I read one of his other books Clear Waters Rising. In this book Nick walks the length of the prime meridian of British Isles. The meridian is two degrees west of the Greenwich meridian. He walks from the Berwick upon Tweed by the North Sea to the English Channel near Poole in seven weeks. He never uses road vehicles in all that time and more surprisingly walks the 400+ miles never deviating more than 100 meters either side the the meridian. Again we meet his unique father and the folks the walk throws up.

   My kind of book. Essentially a diary with anecdotes, wit, anger and ways of dealing with aggressive people. Very easy to read.