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Preparedness for when
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My pal and I had been striding about on Lewis in the remnants of a Force 9 gale which had blown over the Hebrides the previous night. It was, shall we say...... invigorating.
We were well-dressed in full waterproofs and fleece hats but thought that it might be nice to get under the wind for a few mins to eat our sarnies, so we slipped down to the shore in a secluded wee bay and the midges descended like the ravening hordes.
In the end, I got rid of them by plunging my head into the sea and running away upslope into the gale again. There was an abandoned croft in that wee bay, couldn't imagine the torment of living with these things around for several weeks of the year. *shudders*Every increased possession loads us with a new weariness.
John Ruskin
Veni, vidi, eradici
(I came, I saw, I kondo'd)
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There was an abandoned croft in that wee bay, couldn't imagine the torment of living with these things around for several weeks of the year. *shudders*
Several weeks?
Several months is more like.
The start appearing in April, that isn't so bad as its mainly males which are fairly annoying and clog up your breathing but tend not to bite. By mid May the females are literally out for blood, they need to feed to produce around 600 eggs before they die. Around September the clouds thin and most years the infection is over in October.
They don't like sunny days (which is why they are so prevalent in Scotland and Northumberland) can't cope with high winds or real rain (which is how humans manage to live in Scotland and Northumberland).
Family rumour is that a great uncle of mine tried dealing with midge using a flame thrower, eventually conceded defeat and moved from the Hebrides to the Falklands.
There's millions and millions of reasons why I tended to walk or climb in the winter, they are tiny (but vicious) and hunt in swarms.0 -
I've often thought I'd love to visit the Highlands, but you two have put me right off :eek: I'll stick with the Lowlands for now!
GQ Do you reckon they are worse than NZ sandflies?0 -
My boiler packed up yesterday, so I called out British Gas Priority Response. (To be honest, I'm wondering if it's even worth paying £36 a year for this, as the adverts claim they attend pretty swiftly anyway.) The guy showed up today and I explained the symptoms. He'd never heard of my problem, but started working away, and going to & from his van.
After about half an hour, he told me the boiler needed a new circuit board.
'Have you got one?'
'No, I'll have to order it.'
'Let me see if I've got one... (Guy looked at me as if I was mad)...I ordered some spares for this.'
Anyway, about an hour later, my boiler was working again. Still cost me £129.99 for the guy's attendance, and £115 for a new circuit board I've ordered. I've ordered two, as I doubt they'll be available for my 14 year old boiler much longer.0 -
Having lived, camped, walked & climbed in Scotland many a merry year ago, I have to say that the New Forest midges run the Scots variety a close second... the difference being that they're around much earlier; there were midges merry-go-rounding in our garden in February this year, but we're a little further West. Ours don't seem to see me as a mobile feast like the ones east of the Avon, and they don't seem to go on all summer. But of course we have the dreaded & horrible Blandford Fly to contend with in May/June instead; not so many of them about now, but they're no laughing matter. Friends have ended up in hospital with Fly bites, and OH's legs are a perennial target for the nasty little beasties.Angie - GC Jul 25: £225.85/£500 : 2025 Fashion on the Ration Challenge: 26/68: (Money's just a substitute for time & talent...)0
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My boiler packed up yesterday, so I called out British Gas Priority Response. (To be honest, I'm wondering if it's even worth paying £36 a year for this, as the adverts claim they attend pretty swiftly anyway.) The guy showed up today and I explained the symptoms. He'd never heard of my problem, but started working away, and going to & from his van.
After about half an hour, he told me the boiler needed a new circuit board.
'Have you got one?'
'No, I'll have to order it.'
'Let me see if I've got one... (Guy looked at me as if I was mad)...I ordered some spares for this.'
Anyway, about an hour later, my boiler was working again. Still cost me £129.99 for the guy's attendance, and £115 for a new circuit board I've ordered. I've ordered two, as I doubt they'll be available for my 14 year old boiler much longer.Overprepare, then go with the flow.
[Regina Brett]0 -
I've often thought I'd love to visit the Highlands, but you two have put me right off
Me too - my sister is keen for us to explore the Western Isles and suggested we go for a week in early summer. That seems to be a non-starter. When IS a great time for two reasonably active gals aged 60 and 70 to go (we'd have a car)?
Even the wonderful green Skin-So-Soft has its limitations I used to use it around ponies but one flared up into huge lumps all over her body at the slightest touch of dry oil spray, though I could make up a very dilute rinse and it would be fine.
I have Benadryl gel here but have never needed to try it out, what antihistamines have people found most useful for midges?0 -
Even the wonderful green Skin-So-Soft has its limitations I used to use it around ponies but one flared up into huge lumps all over her body at the slightest touch of dry oil spray, though I could make up a very dilute rinse and it would be fine
For the ponies, have you considered the bath oil version?
We used to use it all the time mixed with cider vinegar and/or a cap of dettol -just as effective as the dry spray.That sounds like a classic case of premature extrapolation.
House Bought July 2020 - 19 years 0 months remaining on term
Next Step: Bathroom renovation booked for January 2021
Goal: Keep the bigger picture in mind...0 -
Me too - my sister is keen for us to explore the Western Isles and suggested we go for a week in early summer. That seems to be a non-starter. When IS a great time for two reasonably active gals aged 60 and 70 to go (we'd have a car)?
Most years I've been up on Lewis in mid September the midge have been fairly low level (though stopping off at Loch Lomond was a bad idea). The outer Outer Isles I've only been even later in the year, but would expect them to be fairly similar.
September weather is usually fairly decent.
There is an island hopper ferry ticket which might suit you. (there's a route, Skye, Uist, Harris & Lewis, which would give you a flavour of the Isles, but might be a more packed itinerary than you want).
I spend more time on Harris and Lewis than the other isles, highly recommend heading for Skye, spending at least a day in Dunvegan before getting the ferry from Uig to Tarbet (Harris) and driving up to Lewis. That way you really do see why they are two islands joined together. I'm rather fond of Callanish, if stone circles appeal.
I'd avoid early summer unless I had to go (I have family across the Isles) trips in July and August might appeal to masochists. I did spend a few weeks one Hogmanay which turned into a longer trip than planned due to serious winter storms, but there's a beauty in the bleakness of Hebridean winters that I wish everyone could see.0 -
I've often thought I'd love to visit the Highlands, but you two have put me right off :eek: I'll stick with the Lowlands for now!
GQ Do you reckon they are worse than NZ sandflies?Is the NZ sandfly the same as the blackfly you get in Abel Tasman National Park, and other places on the South Island?
If so, I've had the pleasure, and they're close contenders for the crown of I can't believe something so small I can barely see it on my skin has a bite like a horsefly.
Geezer working the Park gave us a great tip for the flies (on the boat journey out, unfortunately) which was to mix up baby oil and Dettol, 50/50 in a spritzer bottle and coat available flesh in that. They loathe it, apparently.:rotfl:
The flies on the west side of the South Island of NZ are so appalling that they were pretty much the reason humans didn't live there until modern times; the Maori had more sense and just used to make brief foraging visits.
I was on the Outer Hebrides for 10 days in late August and we took the ferry across to Skye on 1st Sept, then spent a couple of days then down the West Coast. Pal made me walk up Ben Nevis. Nearly killed my arthritic knees coming back down again, I'd've just strolled gently along the glen and into the village for a teashop if left to my own devices.Every increased possession loads us with a new weariness.
John Ruskin
Veni, vidi, eradici
(I came, I saw, I kondo'd)
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