As mentioned I'm relatively new to both of these pastime/hobbies/whatever you want to call them. My job in the military lends itself to being adaptive so I guess I like to turn my hand to new things. Having always been an outdoorsy person I like things that can keep me out of doors.
I love the military, but one thing it does offer everyone is stability; less a few short notice trips to sandy hot places... Nevertheless, 3 square meals, a roof and shelter plus a regular wage can lead to a false sense of "I have everything I need". Sadly there are still people leaving today, after serving 22 years who still haven't invested or saved knowing that the lifestyle will come to an end. Which is why, at aged 32 and after 12 years in the military I bought my first house in Caterham, Surrey last year.
I love it, best thing I have ever done! It's given me my own space and room to potter.
As at Dec 2013. I have 2 bee hives, now these were a couple of swarms I had to split from my charity hives. Luckily these have thrived this year, sadly though my 4 charity hives that were located in Suffolk died. If you remember, 2013 had a wet snowy winter where mine suffered from a very warm Feb, which had encouraged my Queens to start laying, followed by a very cold wet and snowy Mar etc etc. even though I supplemented their feed, they didn't make it. I did consider myself lucky however as a local chap lost 14 of 32 hives!
Anyhow, my 2 back garden hives, I put in place in spring. Normally you wouldn't expect any honey in your first year, yet these successful buggers sorted me out with 20 jars of the good stuff, with enough to leave for winter feed. 
Only recently have I lifted the hive (to check weight and food stores without opening in the cold) and fed them some supplementary feed. None of this success was down to me, luckily I have a local keeper look after my hives whilst i was away in Afghanistan summer through winter, however you'll often find that back garden hives will thrive.
Lots of avid gardeners love to plant colours and pack out their gardens with their favorite plants, often more so than you'll find wild or in the country. So bees can thrive in urban/semi-urban settings. I get the benefit of extra honey, plus gardeners within a 3 mile radius will have then benefit of extra pollination. It's win win! If your worried about your neighbours, well as I did speak with them, you and they will hardly notice they are there as bees are much more concerned with gathering pollen, nectar and water than they are us in the gardens. I can get to within 1.5 meters of my hives before they start getting interested in me!
These are they (2 commercial hives, and Nuc's (centre).
Moving onto my chooks... These came about after an flippant remark whilst I was away in afghan, when guarded by 3500 miles of distance I chanced my arm and asked if we could keep chickens. (Bearing in mind I'm a Bristol born and bred bloke and have never owned or kept any such thing before).
The resounding answer was NO, don't be stupid. But to my suprise, when I returned home I was told I had a present outside and low and behold a chicken coop was waiting for me!
I'm usually very much a learn by doing sort of bloke, however after some strong advice and that look that only you're other half can give when she knows she is generally always right gives; I decided to do some proper research, study and prepare. I did this for about 2 weeks, but also used the time to make the coop fox proof as best I could...
Originally I just bought two hens from +Surreypoultry, I know there is a lot of love and a lot to be said for Ex battery hens, but for me, I wanted Pullets (young, non laying hens) I could get tame quickly as well as knowing they will have a long egg laying career ahead of them. After 2 weeks I accidentally popped back to +Surreypoultry which is near Dorking to get some advice and came away with another two chickens, making my flock 4 in number.
The Dutchess (Dutch) named so because she quickly kicked everyone's backside as soon as she arrived making herself top of the pecking order. She's my only egg layer so far, and just cuts around quietly knowing she's boss not needing to make a fuss about it.
The other three; from left to right, The Colonel (black rock), McNugget (columbian blacktail) and Goujon (columbine).
The colonel used to be really timid but for the last week she's been squatting like a seasoned old dear and will be laying soon and as such has become pretty friendly.
McNugget has always been friendly and came up to me straight away which is why I chose her in the first place. She is quite vicious towards Goujon, and regularly chases her around the garden.
Goujon, she's a funny one, probably lowest on the order but secretly my favorite, not least because she'll give me a blue egg but also because she is always getting in trouble, escaping and I imagine plotting scheme's
Goujon... In trouble, somehow out over a 6 foot fence and up on the roof! God knows...
So that's where I am going into 2014. Looking forward to keeping you all updated with the trials and tribulations of a small back garden turned 'the good life adventure'.
Please feel free to follow and ask any questions give advice or just get in contact for like minded chat.
Big love
Dan.
