Beekeeper and aromatherapist. I write about bees and smelly stuff. My blog shares the art of aromatherapy and the secrets of the bees.
‘Skip to the end’
A sneaky shot taken by my big bro while watching my nieces and nephew climb a tree
I trained as an aromatherapist with Neal’s Yard Remedies in 2005 and practised aromatherapy massage for one year at the graduate clinic, Covent Garden, London. I have taken professional courses on aromatherapy for pregnancy and for skin care – a particular interest of mine.
My passion for nature and wildlife – and a happy coincidence – led me to become a beekeeper in 2010. I will be taking the British Beekeepers Association basic assessment next summer – my first step towards becoming a Master Beekeeper!
‘It’s a bit more complex than that’
As a commissioning editor for the weekly magazine, Enhancing your mind body spirit, I wrote over 100 articles on aromatherapy, herbalism, massage, yoga, nutrition, healthy living, animal healing, and world healing traditions, plus a fair few on folklore, spells and magic, fortune telling, and urban legends.
A feature I wrote on a Persian poem and artwork commissioned from Jim Pilston
As assistant editor on The Official Star Trek Fact Files, which was unsurprisingly the most successful partwork magazine of the 1990s, I wrote many more articles on, um, Star Trek, learned a bit of Klingon and found out that ‘quite a lot actually does happen in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back’.
Yep, I watched every episode of ST:TOS – twice – to write 'Kirk's crew'!
These days I have a proper grown-up job working as an editor for the Royal College of Physicians, where I sometimes get called ‘Pippa’ or ‘that girl who does Commentary’, and get a free lunch every day. I commission, write, edit and design, manage projects, and get to work with a really brilliant bunch of people. I highly recommend the public tours of our Medicinal Garden by Henry Oakeley, the garden fellow.
Denys Lasdun's Royal College of Physicians – a curious place, why not visit?
‘Thanks for coming, it’s been really useful‘
I am also interested in web design and am learning photography on my new digital camera. It’s pink.
I've read so many books about how bees should behave – the only problem is that the bees haven't read them!
DISCLAIMER
Have you heard about Euglossine bees? They unite your two loves, aromas and bees! Thanks for following.
Sorry for the late reply, I’ve been busy moving and not blogging! Just Googled Euglossine bees – I’d never heard of it before. What a beautiful bee – it looks like a jewel! Thank you for telling me about these insect aromatherapists!
No worries, mate! They are beauties, aren’t they? I wrote a bit about them, if you’re curious.
http://standingoutinmyfield.wordpress.com/2011/11/30/a-less-humble-bee-the-orchid-bees/
Yes, I read and tweeted this! Its amazing how many different types of bees and each type of bee is amazing in itself!
What a fabulous blog. So pleased I found it. Mind if I stick around?
James
Thank you for finding my blog and for your fabulous comment, James. Feel free to stick around! Do you like bees or smelly stuff?
Thanks you for visiting my blog, I will be visiting yours frequently. You have a lovely blog
Zahir
Thank you, Zahir!
Hi Emma,
Thanks for visiting my blog on calming autism! I truly believe that aromatherapy can help our children on the spectrum. Enjoy the bees, their numbers are dropping here in the US.
There have been some studies in primary schools in the UK about using aromatherapy, which found the aromas enhanced a creative learning environment by stimulating different parts of the brain. Studies on sense and smell are really interesting, there is still so much to unlock and learn. Your blog is fascinating.
The bees appreciate the good wishes – They need all the friends they can get these days!
Hi Emma
What a wonderful blog! An interesting combination but it makes perfectly sense that bees and aromatherapy should be joined
I love that quote from Withnail and I, ‘Flowers are essentially tarts. Prostitutes for the bees’. The bees and flowers do need each other! Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a great comment.
Such an interesting blog! Bees and flowers make a great deal of sense together. As a former editor in medical publishing we’ve got that in common as well as the aromatherapy. A small world…
Fx
http://naturalbeautycabinet.com
Thank you! Bees and flowers are mutually dependent on each other, I imagine there would be fewer essential oils for aromatherapy without bees! I love the picture of lavender on your blog, the friendliest of herbs!
Thank you for visiting my blog. And by the by, Breakfast at Tiffany’s is my favorite movie. And I love the Inigo Montoya quote. That’s a great movie too.
Thank you, Nicole. I love Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Princess Bride, Harvey is my favourite – what a wonderful script.
Hi, I’m watching Spirit of the Beehive a gorgeous Spanish film from 1972.(You’ve probably seen it). I’m showing it to my students next week. If you’ve not seen it I highly recommend, it does have bees in it, although not exclusively.
Sounds brilliant, I’ll definitely check it out. Thanks for the tip – you can never watch too many movies, or B-movies!
I haven’t seen it but I’ll put it on my list.
Pingback: “Sunshine” Award « My Magnificent Mess
Hi Emma – Just wanted you to know I nominated you for the Sunshine Award. Please read my post about it. I hope you accept and pass it on. Thank you for being a ray of sunshine to me
Best, Donna
Donna – thank you! That is so lovely of you. I feel honoured to be nominated for the Sunshine Award and shall be posting the nomination on blog wall soon, along with a page of my own nominations! It is great to share our experiences as bloggers and I’m looking forward to reading more on your blog too! x
I nominated you for the Inspiring and Versatile Blogger Awards. You can read about it here: http://veggiewitch.wordpress.com/2012/03/20/inspiring-and-versatile/
Peace,
Veggiewitch
Wow! Thank you, that is amazing. As soon as I have a few days off work at Easter, I’m planning on updating my pages and making nominations for all you wonderful inspiring people!
Hi Emma, just checking in! You’ve been busy! I had no idea you were a Trekkie too! Just one more reason to love you! Have a great day! Donna
Hi Donna! Thanks for checking in. You found me out – I am a real geek
The bees and other animals have been keeping me busy – spring is here! Hope your lavender is blooming! 
My lavender got a very late start this year – the leaves are just starting to sprout and unfurl. I have a huge clump of it though and it will be wonderful come late June and July. My thyme and oregano are exploding everywhere and my chives are doing well. The rosemary didn’t make the winter, but I expected that. My roses are growing inches every day. Now that we’ve had some rain I expect to see even more growth. My siberian irises are doing fantastic too! I’m glad to read that your bees are doing well. That was a scare you had. Best wishes to Queen Myrrh! (great name btw) Talk to you soon Best, D.
Explosions of thyme and oregano – your garden sounds delicious!
It is! – already using the fresh herbs whenever I can. Pork Roast with fresh thyme sprigs for Sunday Dinner…. Yum!
Mmm, I hope you blog that recipe!
Sure!
I have nominated you for the Liebster Blog Award. Check it out at http://ahealthylifeforme.com/2012/05/06/my-100th-post-the-liebster-blog-award/
AmySue – thank you! That’s amazing and a great idea for your 100th post, congrats! I’m currently compiling my own blogs listings and blog awards page to go up later this month
You’re quite versatile, Emma Sarah! Thanks for visiting my site–you have a lovely and interesting blog!