Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

I have found the ultimate campsite essential item

40 replies

NeatFreak · 04/05/2011 17:41

Following last year's visit to a campsite swarming with wasps (to the extent that we were taking it in turns to eat while someone else jumped around rediverting flying pests until they'd finished!) I have found a pack of 5 fly swats in Poundland. One for each of us plus one left over... I now have visions of us all sitting round the table, fork in one hand and swat in the other

OP posts:

DuplicitousBitch · 04/05/2011 17:44

you need the electric tennis racket ones, hear them sizzle!

VivaLeBeaver · 04/05/2011 18:05

I've got an electric tennis racket!

Slubberdegullion · 04/05/2011 18:10

I have nothing. No anti wasp gadgets, nothing

Doesn't the old trick of jam & water in jam jar still not work?

as an aside I read that children's classic 'The Giant Jam Sandwich' the other day. Freaky book. Freaked me out as a child, unnerved me as a grown up.

Original poster

NeatFreak · 04/05/2011 18:15

I've never heard of that book but am strangely compelled to look for it now.
We;d have needed a vat of jam to catch them all- there were literally thousands of them, despite us being nowhere near bins and having all our food in the fridge/ boxes (we are definitely 'glampers' )

I just got really excited by a fly in the kitchen, ran into the garage to raid the camping boxes and allocated the 'spare' swat for house use. Dd and ds were watching sceptically when I got it and did a celebratory war dance

I also want to buy an electric one now...

OP posts:

Slubberdegullion · 04/05/2011 18:41

Quick precis.

Village overrun by wasp plague.
Decide to get rid
Make giant jam sandwich

Won't say anymore as don't want to spoil the ending.

I used to lie awake at night thinking about that giant jam sandwich
[someone walked over my grave emoticon]

So the simple swat worked then? No need for electrical fandangoery.

3rdnparty · 04/05/2011 19:04

we found a sacrifical couple of inches of cider strategically placed about 10ft distant really effective......

bigTillyMint · 04/05/2011 19:33

Our problem is always mozzies!

Any ideas?

Original poster

NeatFreak · 04/05/2011 19:35

No suggestions, sorry. I have lots of family in Scotland but have never been camping there because I couldn't stand the midges.

OP posts:

wednesday13 · 04/05/2011 20:03

Midges: Avon Skin So Soft lotion
Chemical repellent/ smoking coil things
Tent big enough to sit in with fine midge mesh on all doors and windows.

In our case all three because we like Scotland. I have seen strong men cry though. And use the SSS

Slubberdegullion · 04/05/2011 20:13

would that skin so soft stuff work against tics too? How does it repel?

wednesday13 · 04/05/2011 20:20

Have you ever smelt it? It would repel anything but I think it's the oiliness of it that works. I don't know about tics, never suffered them particularly. (My trousers are already tucked into my socks in defence against the midges)

Slubberdegullion · 04/05/2011 20:23

No have never smelt it. Is it gopping? I want something not with deet to smear on the dds for the forests of Germany (where encephalitis tics live)

wednesday13 · 04/05/2011 20:26

It's just a bit more chemical-smelling than body lotions normally are: IIRC (not going up to loft now!) it has overtones of Flash. Not bad for a repellant but can't imagine using it in daily life.

wednesday13 · 04/05/2011 20:27

googled it Avon have cottoned on obviously

Original poster

NeatFreak · 04/05/2011 20:29

I grew up in Scotland and have so many memories of sleeping in a tent covered in midges. Fire works well at repelling them but that isn't always practical when camping!

My second essential item is rope to use as a washing line to dry towels (just don't attach to the car then forget and drive off, almost pulling the tent over

Top tip here- don't allow dc to play with rocks- I was sitting in the tent reading the paper last year when dd decided to see how far she could throw a rock- it hit me on the forearm and I spent an afternoon in A and E and the rest of the holiday in a sling. Packing up the tent etc to go home was fun...

OP posts:

Original poster

NeatFreak · 04/05/2011 20:30

I;m sure I heard a while ago that they had changed the ingredients so it didn't repel midges any more (I'm sure I didn't imagine it)

OP posts:

Slubberdegullion · 04/05/2011 20:46

will have to do futher anti-tic lotion research

thanks anyway

DuplicitousBitch · 04/05/2011 20:48

dd had a atick this weekend! tic removing device had been 'tidied' by dh and could not be located. had to do it with tweezers. luckily it had not really attached.

honestly just check for ticks after walking in grass etc. if you get them early enough you should be ok. also long trews tucked into socks are a must.

Slubberdegullion · 04/05/2011 20:51

I have a device too (carefully stored in camping essentials box) AND have watched all the youtube videous on how to remove them.

Socks in trews yy but what about arms? Long sleeves too?

Am overthinking the tic issue I know.

DuplicitousBitch · 04/05/2011 21:35

they don't fly or jump (very far) obviously if you are beating yourway through shoulder high shrubbery that is frequented by sheep and goats you may feel the need to don a burka otherwise came down dear

bilblio · 04/05/2011 21:45

I did my DofE in Scotland. Didn't know about skin-so-soft then... and had the bites to prove it. But they did tell us what to do about tics.
Don't use tweezers because the heads and fangs can stay stuck in you and get infected.
You have to get them to let go. So either put alcohol on them, or burn their bums!.
I was 17 so obviously they couldn't encourage us to have alcohol... and I didn't want to carry it. :o so we were encouraged to hold a cigarette near them instead, but without burning ourselves.

I'm glad we didn't get any tics!

DuplicitousBitch · 04/05/2011 22:17

don't burn bums or use spirits and no you shouldn't use tweezers

Slubberdegullion · 04/05/2011 22:28

Have special gadget and will refrain from shrubbery escapades.

[calmed down]

notwavingjustironing · 04/05/2011 22:37

I thought this was a leisurely six week jaunt to vaguely furrin lands not a survival course slubber !!

Lucycat · 05/05/2011 08:13

Yes yes you definately need a spanker for the wasps - we have 2, dh and I have competitions to see who cam get the blighter first! Although I need a new one after destroying a hornet last summer and the spanker too- do Lakeland make a better quality one than poundland do you think?

Flip

1 2