I accidentally annoyed 60,000 bees this week....

I annoyed 60,000 bees this week….

Not in a dramatic, run-for-your-life kind of way. Just in that subtle, collective shift where you suddenly realise…you are no longer welcome.

It was one of those days that starts off feeling productive. You know the ones — sun’s out, everything looks calm, and you convince yourself you’re going to “just quickly” check a hive before doing your mahoosive job list for the day.

(There is still a part of me that believes hive checks are quick. That part of me is delusional.)

I had my suit on, bees were flying gently in and out, everything looked… fine. Peaceful, even. But bees are always busy…They’re organised. Intentional. Very aware of their surroundings.

And I, on the other hand, had turned up in a rush, hair not brushed, odd socks on and absolutely convinced I knew best.

Frame one — all good.

Frame two — still fine.

Frame three…

Something shifted.

It’s hard to explain if you’ve never felt it before, but it’s like the atmosphere changes. The buzz gets sharper. More focused. Like they’ve all silently agreed something isn’t quite right. And in that moment, you realise, this is no longer a collaboration. This is now 60,000 tiny creatures politely (but firmly) asking you to leave.

I slowed down. Tried to act calm — as if that might undo the fact I’d already annoyed them.

(It doesn’t.)

And standing there, mid-hive, trying to regain a bit of dignity, I had one of those moments where everything just sort of… makes sense. Because this is it.

This slightly chaotic, slightly unpredictable, very real version of beekeeping. Not the neat, aesthetic version you sometimes see. Not the “perfect golden honey in perfect jars” version.

But this:

• second guessing yourself halfway through

• reading the mood of a hive like it’s a room full of people

• learning (repeatedly) that you are not in charge

And honestly… I think that’s just how it is.

The bees don’t care about your looks, your plan, or whether you’re in the mood for a smooth day.

If you’re off, they’re off.

If you rush, they notice.

If you’re calm, they’re calm

Everything we do at Herd & Hive comes out of that reality. Not the polished version of it, the actual one. Making mistakes, recalculating halfway through jobs, or sometimes walking away.

Even the honey and soap comes from days like this. Not perfect ones. I did eventually close the hive.No drama. Just a quiet acceptance that I’d pushed it a bit far and they were done with me for the day. I think ollie sometimes feels the same way about me too LOL

They went straight back to work for the day. I left them to it.

Bees don’t respond to what you meant to do. Only what you actually did and you get very honest feedback from the bees, just not verbally.