to carry a pomander when travelling by public transport?

[ElaineFiggis]

I was verbally abused this afternoon on the train by a very rude old man who seemed to take it personally that I was using a pomander

I know it's a bit unfashionable (don't know why though!) but the way I see it is why the hell shouldn't I take whatever measures I deem appropriate to protect myself from discomfort?

If people observed proper personal hygiene (nothing obsessive here, I just mean not actually smelling bad and making other people feel unwell) and stayed off the buses and trains when they have hacking coughs and sneezes etc, I wouldn't use it

but I travel a lot and just want to be comfortable - why he was so rude I don't understand

he called me a "cow"

[SardineQueen]

I'm going to make some miniature pomanders with satsumas and attach them to deely boppers. And don them in conjunction with a banana pomander necklace.

I am well into this pomander lark.

[weebleswobble]

Elaine darling, I've already told you I understand your need to block the smell of the stinkies, but you really need to drop the germ stuff...your orange is not going to destroy germs 'cos you're starting to sound a bit potty now.

[GentleOtter]

Pomanders are so last season. You need one of these. They filter the air and everything plus no one would think it odd.

Not as odd as an orange with cloves being wafted at BO/ lurgy/ smelly bits.

[cocolepew]

if Elaine doesn't admit to carrying around a freshly pressed hanky, I'm going to be so disappointed.

[GentleOtter]

Maybe Boden do pomanders

[HerBeatitude]

I am crying at this thread

I have to say I'm with the OP

So often I've wished I had a handy pomander in a queue in Morrisons. But I have to admire someon who has actually acted on their supermarket/ public transport musings.

There were lots of oranges by the time Wolsey came along, he carried one around, didn't he?

[mrsruffallo]

What were you doing with your pomander that made him take offence?

[Heated]

Elaine, it possibly wasn't just sight of the pomander that led to the very old man insulting you but, were you, by any chance, singing "Ring O Ring O Roses?" at the same time?

[GentleOtter]

I'm thinking she has a serious case of pecksniffery.

[SardineQueen]

otter you are right of course, but those do run to money.

I would thoroughly recommend the deelybopper method for anyone wanting to ward off foul odours while still keeping bang on trend in the fashion stakes.

For the real fashionistas, roll the satsuma in glue and glitter before plugging with cloves. This has the added bonus of being something that the children can help out with.

[cocolepew]

i don't think it was the pomander that was causing offence, but the bell ringing and chanting "unclean, unclean!"

[Habbibu]

Well, for people like Wolsey (and that's pretty much Renaissance/Early Modern, I reckon) they would have been available, but for those slumming it on public transport? Nah.

[GentleOtter]

Yes, I love your deelybopper idea SardineQueen. She could really make a statement if she substituted oranges for pumpkins.

[Disenchanted3]

PMSLLLLL Cocolepew

[2kidzandi]

I always ensure I carry my smelling salts when travelling via public transport...just in case I pass out from the hazy smell of the great unwashed...

[cocolepew]

Oi Disenchanted did you cut your hair?

[TheHeadbangingWombat]

It will do sod all to protect you from germs. It is a citrus fruit.It does not have superpowers.

[TheHeadbangingWombat]

If it was that simple you'd get prescriptions on the NHS for pomanders.

[Grumpyoldcaaaaaaaa]

Shit.

I laughed so hard at this doozie of a thread that I developed a hacking cough.

Must get on bus forthwith

[ElaineFiggis]

OK this has gone a bit mad now

I wasn't waving it at the old man, I was holding it in my hand quite near my face - as it happens it wasn't the people that smelt on this train, it was the toilets

But hey - several posters have said thta they would have a pomander too if they had known about them! So I have spread some joy in the world todya, even if I am a bit potty!

[TrinityRhino]

I would be offended by you carrying around a stinking orange in my space

[Habbibu]

Do people have orange allergies? There could have been a public health risk in that orange.

[TheHeadbangingWombat]

And why an orange. Why not a grapefruit?

[TheHeadbangingWombat]

One large enough so that you wouldn't need to look at them or smell them.

[SardineQueen]

This has gone a bit mad now???