I would like to have been there too. 
Can you offer a synopsis of his advice for us?
Well now your putting me on the spot. Let me see what I can remember. I didn’t take notes.
Check for your queens they don’t lay always lay in a dearth, so you can’t just look for brood.
Check for mites, and treat if you need to.
Feed them, using something inside they hive. Stay away from a boardman Feeder.
Check the weight by tipping.
Merge hives if you’ve got a weak one.
If you’ve got a strong hive, you can spread some of their wealth with a weaker hive.
You want to make sure they are strong in the hive so you don’t lose them in the Spring.
Probably more, and maybe he’ll come by and help me out.
