I have some new pets.

With any luck I won't get too badly hurt.

Anyway, I've spent much of the weekend observing them from a safe distance and trying to figure out how bee society actually works. As far as I can make out, there are three types of bees: The Queen Bee, who sits in the middle of the hive scoffing honey, making out with any passing gentlemen bees who take her fancy, and killing anyone who looks like challenging her a bit like an insectile Catherine the Great; The Worker Bees, who congregate at the entrance to the hive around an oildrum full of burning wood, selling the Socialist Bee and demanding above-inflation payrises as honey might be a hazardous substance; and The Drones, who have a rather nice club in the hive where they drink cocktails and say things like "I say, Bertie, there's that frightful ass gussie Fink-Nottle. Let's de-bag him and throw him out!"

And that's my scientific research for the weekend.

There's an obvious "Being back" joke I could make here.

Bizarre political rumour of the day (From his own chief of staff, Terry Tamminen): Arnie, banned from standing for US President, is considering returning to Europe and standing for president of the EU.

And I thought the comedy had gone out of politics.