I have received quite a few enquiries regarding giving my talks via Zoom.

Having dipped my toe in the process over last summer, I have now given quite a number of Zoom talks to WIs, U3As and similar groups.

Given the continuing lockdown and likely extended restrictions, it seems that more groups are now setting up regular Zoom meetings and I am receiving more calls asking about the suitability of my talks for zoom. So I thought it useful to put up a post to let anyone interested know that my talks do work well for Zoom and that I am happy to help out.

It of course means that I am not restricted travel wise so can offer my talks to groups beyond Essex.

Full details of my talks are here.

The talks which work best for zoom are:

• ‘Around the world in 33 years and 7 months’
• ’90 years of Social History Through the Eyes of Mildred, my Austin Seven’
• ‘Blacksmithing: from then to now’

Feel free to contact me for further information.

I know it has been a while since I last posted, but circumstances have conspired against me.

Apart from WordPress introducing a baffling new layout which I find infuriating and leaving me not wanting to fight my way through it to post here, it doesn’t mean I haven’t been busy, especially in relation to the bees.

Below is an amazing picture, where the queen and bees have decided to lay some brood in precisely the shape of a hexagon, within a frame of stored food. This is the shape they use for each cell in their comb, as it is the most efficient use of space. To then use it on a larger scale for the brood pattern is one of those amazing things bees do.

At last it’s time to finish off my weather vane posts. I last left the story with the base of the weather vane in zinc undercoat. I finished off the pig for the ‘wind’ part from plasma cut aluminium and balanced it on a rod with a curly tail end for decoration and balance. This fitted over the vertical part of the main vane stem with a greased ball bearing to allow it to swing easily in the wind.

With the whole assembly screwed in place of the original tatty weather vane, I was quite pleased with the result.

Here is a close up of the pig:

I know I have been remiss in not posting the picture of the finished weather vane, but in the meantime, Happy Xmas to everyone. Be kind.