There is often a wonderful serendipity in the world, and we happen upon surprising things and surprising things occur to us when we least expect it. That was the feeling of surprise I got when I opened this little book – “I Love My Bees” by Fiona van Dokkum, subtitled – A Novice Beekeeper’s First Year. I’m afraid of bees and this book didn’t change that for me, but the love, the loving attention to starting out with one hive to cultivate bees and gather honey as Fiona van Dokkum did, washed over me and I was caught by the dedication and beautiful honesty of this author.

She lives in the Comeraghs with her husband and young family in, I presume, idyllic circumstances, in the world via phone and internet, yet closer to nature than I would want.