I am completely new to bee keeping. Got interested during covid and found out that a friend had a hive in a storm drain. They wanted rid of it so I found a local beekeeper to help me go and collect the bees. He put them in a brood box in September 20 and they have been busy since then. I watch them every day with binoculars from about 8 metres away (maximum zoom without blurring) - I find it is like meditating. I am waiting for Spring this year (2021) and I will have a super to put on top by then. I also bought a flow hive. Only since all of this, have I been watching videos, reading extensively (doing it the hard way). I have been stung twice but I was asking for it because I was filming inside the entrance (iphone) and got a bee in my sweater! They do appear to be thriving, though. I have chickens that also seem to love spending time foraging near the bees. Seemingly they are a good accompaniment. My main objective is to help bees survive, help the flora around here…and my garden. Any honey I get will be consumed by my family and me (because it is so healthy) and be given away to friends, along with our ‘orgasmic eggs’! The climate here is pretty wonderful, although we are now in mid-winter and the temperature is about 9-12 degrees C on a cold day.I guess that is fine. It never gets much above 30 C in the Summer in Sintra, so heat is not a major drama either.