Thread 14 - TalkLair: “What The Hell Are We Supposed To Use, Man? Harsh Language?”

[Kucinghitam]

(Previous thread 13).

Summer should be well under way, but the chilly wind, grey clouds and pouring rain beg to differ. Looks like 2024 continues to be a washout - on the bright side, the Tories got washed out too! In the TalkLair, we remain hunkered down keeping cosy and warm. The hearth is glowing, the walls covered in dubious artwork, books by non-approved authors line the shelves, rugs are down on the floors (and assorted pets curled up on them).

We just won’t mention the gnawed bones of our prey over there in the corner of the cave…

Vegemiteandhoneyontoast · Today 13:06

Ooh, thanks! I will need to investigate that.

Do!

I've tried pretty well every repellent out there and this is the best one I've ever used. I was so impressed I even wrote them a fan letter and got a nice reply from one of their scientists.

Yes, I've been head to foot with DEET and still been bitten.

I vaguely remember going to Woodwalton Fen as a small child; I grew up not far from there.

That sounds lovely @SinnerBoy. I stopped off at my local nature reserve yesterday briefly. I sat by their large pond as the sun was setting. A mist descended too, it felt very peaceful. I saw some damselflies and swans. A couple of weeks ago I saw some emperor dragonflies. They look massive when they’re buzzing round your head.

I've had some good results with Smidge when I was walking the West Highland Way. Normally I'm a slowly walking buffet for midges (despite the Avon liquid of lies) and the days after I started using smidge not a single bite. Though I did finish every day looking like a poppy seed muffin due to the large numbers of midge corpses on my skin. It's supposed to act as a repellent, but the midge magnetism in me is too strong. However, the stuff which smelt lovely to me, seemed to be either soporific or fatal to midges. Either way, no bites!

duc748 · Today 13:30

I vaguely remember going to Woodwalton Fen as a small child; I grew up not far from there.

I seem to remember you saying that, it's great.

@SinnerBoy same here!

That's strange, I don't get any dead insects on me. Maybe Scottish midges are different.

To me, Smidge smells much like melon.

Not a single midge corpse on my husband either (also no bites, the smidge worked for him too)

That Smidgeup stuff sounds great and given the rise of Equine Encephalitis virus (which also affects humans) in New England combined with me being a mosquito magnet I'd love to try it. However - not available in the US. I'm in the UK for a couple of weeks at the end of October/early November so I could get some sent to my daughter.

Mosquitos don’t tend to bother me. I’m blood group A, which apparently they’re not so keen on.

Oh, that Smidge stuff looks just the ticket for my next trip home! Dengue fever is becoming more of a menace there and I really don't fancy getting it.

I'm blood group AB and they love me!

VictorianBigot · Today 13:53

Mosquitos don’t tend to bother me. I’m blood group A, which apparently they’re not so keen on.

I am, too, as is my daughter. Last time we went to the Lakes, my B group wife evaded being bitten entirely and we looked as though we'd been beaten up, whilst having smallpox.

That would explain someone I know, and her family. I was working for her one day and we were sat in the garden at tea time and whilst I had a dense cloud of insects buzzing around me, she and her family were entirely insect-free. Those were my pre-Smidge days and I had combined three repellents that day but they still didn't work.

I think I'm O positive, one of the most common blood groups.

MrG and I are both A+ and mozzies feast on me while shunning him. He's not even An Hairy Man.

I'm AB+ and of moderate interest to mosquitoes.

A horse and the farrier...

x.com/AMAZlNGNATURE/status/1830308801632673953

I didn't even know blood groups were a factor in mosquito attraction. Although I've always had this vague idea that women were rather more likely to have a problem with it than men. I'm not sure if there's any real Science on that, though.

I'm a very common O- and by and large they leave me be. I've had them flying around me in a shower and nothing. Obviously, I'm not complaining. I have been bitten by flying beasties but it's a rare occurence. I don't know what's in my genes that they don't like but I'm grateful for it!

@Gonners I had some Innocent apple and mango yesterday and it is indeed very good. I'd put it on a par with the M&S pink lady apple juice in that both have a lovely balance of sweetness and tart. I was only able to get a small bottle yesterday but it will definitely become a part of my juice repertoire.

@MouseMinge - Try Morrisons or the Coop for the big bottles. I tend to dilute it about 60/40 with tap water, because it's really very sweet!

I can’t remember what blood group I am but having been of no interest whatsoever to mozzies and other bitey insects in my younger days I am now seen as a major target. Given that I’m allergic to all sorts of things and my skin reacts badly to all sorts of things (including many insect repellents) getting bitten is no fun as the results can be spectacular and long lasting. Totally trying Smidge!

I'm sure that blood group is irrelevant, New Scientist had an article in the 90s, where they segregated mozzies and had different blood groups wait to be bitten. 90% or more went for A and I nodded sagely, mentally going, "Aah."