So, you want unusual huh?

May 24, 2014
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CAN ONE OF THE MODS MOVE THIS PLEASE, LIKE A FOOL, I PUT IT IN THE WRONG ROOM :whistle:

Three weeks ago, we returned from the Dordgogne having spent a month in a rented villa. Superb house, great location, exceptional facilities, and then some...................................................

The house had five double bedrooms, but one was locked on arrival, however this wasnt really an issue. The night of arrival, we had un unbelievable thunderstorm and so didnt have chance to explore properly. The following morning was bright and warm, and the long haired general was up and about early. it didnt take long for her to come and get the rest of us up. With those immortal words, " You gotta see this" she led the way like Tirpitz under full steam. Out we went, round to the side of the house and pointing proudly up at the window of the locked room, she awaited the shock to hit the rest of us.

There were what appeared to be thousands of insects swarming around the shutters of the locked room. On closed inspection we realized they were bees, and there appeared to be many more inside the shutter space. As one of our party has severe allergies to stings, we contacted the agent. "Oh yeah, says this venerable gent, we know all about this, they arent dangerous". Well, yes they are to someone with allergies to them. We then rang the owner, who basically repeated his words. An email followed to her, just to make it official, and only at that point were we taken seriously.

The following day, the agent arrived with a beekeeper, who had the agent move us to a hotel for the night, due to the danger that didnt exist. And over the following 24 hours, what can only be described as a huge hive was removed. Apparently, a large hive will contain 20-30,000 bees in winter and around 60-80,000 bees in summer. The beekeepers estimate was around 150,000 bees. So, I know what you are thinking, swarms are fairly common. But this was very definitley a hive.
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and the offending window later:

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There is now a beekeeper in the Dordogne richer by around 150,000 bees and some excellent honey.
 
Apr 20, 2009
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I would have stayed in the hotel, would be afraid they would have returned :(

They no like me and I no like them!!!
 
May 24, 2014
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We were assured it was safe. Apparently they take the queen and the rest just follow. Was happy to take their word rather than be a witness :dry:

I suppose in a way its fascinating to see the hive through glass, but one has to ask what sort of person would hire out a villa with that thing attached and not say anything. The point we made that had we had children there throwing a ball about, it could have been pretty hairy.
 
Aug 4, 2005
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I'm trying to match up the photos? Are the first three snaps of the bees once removed into beekeeper's hives? At first I thought they were photos of the room windows but they don't seem to match the final photo of the windows!
 
May 24, 2014
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Yes, the first three are from inside the room once the beekepper arrived, The last one is from outside the house after the return from the hotel. Def the same window B)
 
Aug 4, 2005
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You went in the room to take the photos?? You must be mad! I would have made a "beeline" for the front door
 
May 24, 2014
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The bees were between the double glazing and the shutters. Safe enough inside but running the gauntlet to the pool was a bit worrysome.
 

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