sorry! back to the midges

therebel said:

well you have managed to put my wife off the planned visit to the highlands
this summer with all of the speculation about them pesky midges. are the
isles affected to the same affect as the mainland. thinking I could possibly
drag her over to Skye if it aint too bad.

Ha ha ha. . . ho ho ho

What a troll! "Are the midges bad on Skye???"

Man, I almost fell off my seat!!

druidh

"druidh" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

therebel said:

well you have managed to put my wife off the planned visit to the

highlands

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

this summer with all of the speculation about them pesky midges. are

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

isles affected to the same affect as the mainland. thinking I could

possibly

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

drag her over to Skye if it aint too bad.

Ha ha ha. . . ho ho ho

What a troll! "Are the midges bad on Skye???"

Man, I almost fell off my seat!!

I take that as a yes then. hope you never ask for info on the peak

district you sarcastic ******!

Well no wonder Druidh almost fell off his seat. Anywhere in the west
where it is damp is infested by the dreaded midge and Skye is damp.
The further east you go, where it is normally drier the midges are not
so bad. However the midge is now being reported in most of the cities
in Scotland although they are not as bad as in the west. Midges
particularly like calm weather. To get away from them you want to be
on the high tops but even there if it is still you will be attacked by
them. Hot sun they don't like either but neither do I and we don't get
that often in Scotalnd.

therebel said:

"druidh" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

therebel said:

well you have managed to put my wife off the planned visit to the

highlands

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

this summer with all of the speculation about them pesky midges. are

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

isles affected to the same affect as the mainland. thinking I could

possibly

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

drag her over to Skye if it aint too bad.

Ha ha ha. . . ho ho ho

What a troll! "Are the midges bad on Skye???"

Man, I almost fell off my seat!!

I take that as a yes then. hope you never ask for info on the peak

district you sarcastic ******!

Sorry - just too good an opportunity to miss!!

The facts:
(a) Skye midges are known for their ferociousness.
(b) The midge "problem" really ain't as bad as some like to make out.
(c) If they're around at all, it tends to be early morning and evening.
(d) They hate direct sunlight and any breeze will clear them away.
(e) Altitude is good (tends to be more breezy).
(f) If camping, DON'T be tempted to pitch the door of the tent on the
less windy side (as you might do for shelter when cooking) as this just
gives them a sheltered hiding spot where you don' want it.!
(g) DEET works really well. Ignore all this rubbish about it being
carcinogenic (there's no supporting evidence), and who cares if it can
melt plastic? Ever seen what vinegar will do to a coin? How relevant is
that to the human skin?

If that still isn't enough, then bear in mind that the East tends to be
less midgy. Or camp at/near a beach (e.g. Arisaig, Gairloch, Ullapool)
as the see breeze will keep them at bay.

druidh

"Lindsay Boyd" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well no wonder Druidh almost fell off his seat. Anywhere in the west
where it is damp is infested by the dreaded midge and Skye is damp.
The further east you go, where it is normally drier the midges are not
so bad. However the midge is now being reported in most of the cities
in Scotland although they are not as bad as in the west. Midges
particularly like calm weather. To get away from them you want to be
on the high tops but even there if it is still you will be attacked by
them. Hot sun they don't like either but neither do I and we don't get
that often in Scotalnd.

I apologise for my response , but I informed the wife and she promptly dug
out the Spanish brochures, now let me think mozzies or midges what
does the group think is the best option?

therebel said:

"Lindsay Boyd" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well no wonder Druidh almost fell off his seat. Anywhere in the west
where it is damp is infested by the dreaded midge and Skye is damp.
The further east you go, where it is normally drier the midges are not
so bad. However the midge is now being reported in most of the cities
in Scotland although they are not as bad as in the west. Midges
particularly like calm weather. To get away from them you want to be
on the high tops but even there if it is still you will be attacked by
them. Hot sun they don't like either but neither do I and we don't get
that often in Scotalnd.

I apologise for my response , but I informed the wife and she promptly dug
out the Spanish brochures, now let me think mozzies or midges what
does the group think is the best option?

Nobody ever died from midge bites. As far as I know, they carry no
disease. Now the ticks. . . . .

druidh

On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 22:24:49 GMT, druidh <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

The facts:
(a) Skye midges are known for their ferociousness.
(b) The midge "problem" really ain't as bad as some like to make out.

You've said that before, druidh, and I have to disagree. If you are
the sort of person that biting insects like to lunch on (and I am)
then the problem is a million times WORSE than some people make out.

I was bitten half to death on the Lairig Ghru. Luckily I had a couple
of really windy days (with torrential rain) so I wasn't bitten all the
time but I shan't be going back to Scotland between May and October!

Judith

"druidh" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

therebel said:

"Lindsay Boyd" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well no wonder Druidh almost fell off his seat. Anywhere in the west
where it is damp is infested by the dreaded midge and Skye is damp.
The further east you go, where it is normally drier the midges are not
so bad. However the midge is now being reported in most of the cities
in Scotland although they are not as bad as in the west. Midges
particularly like calm weather. To get away from them you want to be
on the high tops but even there if it is still you will be attacked by
them. Hot sun they don't like either but neither do I and we don't get
that often in Scotalnd.

I apologise for my response , but I informed the wife and she promptly

dug

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

out the Spanish brochures, now let me think mozzies or midges what
does the group think is the best option?

Nobody ever died from midge bites. As far as I know, they carry no
disease. Now the ticks. . . . .

druidh

you have really knackered my chances of going up north now. do ticks eat
midges by any chance?

"therebel" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

well you have managed to put my wife off the planned visit to the

highlands

Quoted message said:

this summer with all of the speculation about them pesky midges. are the
isles affected to the same affect as the mainland. thinking I could

possibly

Quoted message said:

drag her over to Skye if it aint too bad.

The midge problem is vastly overstated in my experience. I've never been
bothered whilst actually walking (they are easily outpaced so don't chase
after you in swarms) so I can't see that anyone doing daywalks and staying
in B&B would get any problems. Evenings wild camping have sometimes been
affected but you can easily avoid a lot of the annoyance by camping high and
exposed to any wind. I bought a headnet a few years ago but have only ever
had the need to use it once so far. I don't think any particular areas in
general are better than others but certain campsites can usually be midge
free. I've always found Glen Nevis and the one behind the tourist
information place in Aviemore to remain midge free even when conditions are
such that places just up the road are swarming.

AndyP said:

The midge problem is vastly overstated in my experience.

Then you've not experienced the full force. They are so bad at times
that it is impossible to breathe or to see - and this is apart from
the biting. I have had them under my eyelids, in my ears, and filling
my nose and mouth, and have had my legs covered in bites so that there
was no unaffected skin remaining. No exaggeration.

--

R
o
o
n
e
y

"druidh" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

(g) DEET works really well. Ignore all this rubbish about it being
carcinogenic (there's no supporting evidence), and who cares if it can
melt plastic? Ever seen what vinegar will do to a coin? How relevant is
that to the human skin?

OK, I've left a couple of coins in vinegar for a bit and not a lot's
happening. The conc. nitric acid I've got for cleaning limescale off the
toilet works better.

"druidh" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Nobody ever died from midge bites. As far as I know, they carry no
disease. Now the ticks. . . . .

Midges are just being friendly. Ticks are evil little gits.

AndyP said:

"druidh" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

(g) DEET works really well. Ignore all this rubbish about it being
carcinogenic (there's no supporting evidence), and who cares if it can
melt plastic? Ever seen what vinegar will do to a coin? How relevant is
that to the human skin?

OK, I've left a couple of coins in vinegar for a bit and not a lot's
happening. The conc. nitric acid I've got for cleaning limescale off the
toilet works better.

On the coin or the skin??

druidh

"Rooney" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Then you've not experienced the full force. They are so bad at times
that it is impossible to breathe or to see - and this is apart from
the biting. I have had them under my eyelids, in my ears, and filling
my nose and mouth, and have had my legs covered in bites so that there
was no unaffected skin remaining. No exaggeration.

Yes, I know how bad they can be that's why I bought a headnet but I've found
occasions like that to be pretty rare with sensible avoidance tactics.

[email hidden] said...

Quoted message said:

(g) DEET works really well. Ignore all this rubbish about it being
carcinogenic (there's no supporting evidence), and who cares if it can
melt plastic? Ever seen what vinegar will do to a coin? How relevant is
that to the human skin?

For that matter, ever seen what cola (all forms, cheapest is
bestest 'cos it costs less) does to limescale? Try throwing
some down the loo before going to bed; swill the brush around
the bowl in the morning. And yet people still drink it!
--
If you can keep your head when all around are losing theirs...
then you've failed to grasp some important aspect of the
situation.

[email hidden] said...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

OK, I've left a couple of coins in vinegar for a bit and not a lot's
happening. The conc. nitric acid I've got for cleaning limescale off the
toilet works better.

On the coin or the skin??

Copper coins or silver? It works best on coppers.
--
If you can keep your head when all around are losing theirs...
then you've failed to grasp some important aspect of the
situation.

[email hidden] said...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I apologise for my response , but I informed the wife and she promptly dug
out the Spanish brochures, now let me think mozzies or midges what
does the group think is the best option?

Nobody ever died from midge bites. As far as I know, they carry no
disease. Now the ticks. . . . .

OTOH, if you're an allergy sufferer it's quite possible to be
affected by insect bites in a worse way than other people.
Packing an antihistamine preparation might not be a bad idea
if this is likely to be a problem.
--
If you can keep your head when all around are losing theirs...
then you've failed to grasp some important aspect of the
situation.

"Fran" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

OK, I've left a couple of coins in vinegar for a bit and not a lot's
happening. The conc. nitric acid I've got for cleaning limescale off

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

toilet works better.

Quoted message said:

Copper coins or silver? It works best on coppers.

Copper coin in vinegar for 20 minutes, take coin out, bit shinier after a
bit of rubbing. Boring.

Conc. nitric acid, lots of immediate fizzing, nice deep turquoise colour,
poisonous gases given off, queens head starts to disappear. Slightly more
interesting.

Late night kitchen science. Good stuff. Excuse me while I get some fresh
air.

"Fran" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

For that matter, ever seen what cola (all forms, cheapest is
bestest 'cos it costs less) does to limescale? Try throwing
some down the loo before going to bed; swill the brush around
the bowl in the morning. And yet people still drink it!

I may have said this before when the subject of DEET and plastic comes up
but polystyrene in nail varnish remover is really good. Assuming nail
varnish remover is still acetone.