JK - the book I started with was "The complete guide to Beekeeping" by Jeremy Evans - a little old fashioned, but full of good, clear info (lots of piccys too
) The book that is being sold in "starter kits" at the moment is called "Bees at the bottom of the Garden" so I assume it is a good beginners book.
It would really be helpful for you to join your local Bee Keepers Society, it will be registered with the BKA so you will find the contact details for it on their website - your local BKS might be able to find you some more bees & a mentor (to make sure you don't murder any more bees -
sorry that was sick of me - we all make mistakes)
There is also a good site
www.the-beeman.co.uk a chap in Scotland that sells nucs & equipment, runs courses etc. I think there's a forum on there, never been on it myself though.
Maybe we should be a little more active on this forum & remind each other to do the jobs that need attending to throughout the year - we all learn by doing & no-one knows it all
Egglady - the "cold way" is having the frames at 90 degrees to the entrance side - so the wind blows in. The "warm way" is running the frames parallell to the entrance side - warmer, but the air doesn't circulate evenly.
Remember - which ever way you decide to run your frames, they MUST be the same way on any/every super you add-on.