Before you go to do an inspection work out in your mind why you are going to have a look and what you are hoping to achieve. Have all the spare equipment you think you might need ready and close to hand. Carry a spare nuc box with you, or a similar-sized 'travel box' into which you can put your hive tool and any bits and pieces you might need. It also serves as a temporary storage place for wax you scrape off, and acts as a good receptacle to put the first frame you lift out of the hive when doing inspections. This gives you more space in the hive to work without crushing bees. If you are thinking of marking the queen have all those bits ready, but by the time you have reached for the marking pen after spotting her she will have disappeared and, despite your best endeavours it is likely she will prove ellusive! Not if you carefully put that frame in the box while you collect your 'pen!