I live on a marsh. This is a fine place to live and I love it. Not everyones cup of tea I grant you.While we were in the process of moving here I asked an ex-inhabitant what he thought about the area, him being born and raised here so to speak. It was slow going but I prised it out of him. Round here they say that if you can get off the marsh you've made it. Oh. Right. Not an up and coming area then. Never mind. I like solitude. I like the wide, open space. I like the way the sky comes down to the flat horizon. It can be wild and windy and bleak in the winter That's fine. Summer can be nice too.We have no neighbours, we have miles of beautiful wild nature surrounding us. It's idyllic.
Until early evening. Then I have to shut myself indoors. Mosquitos you see.
Now of course I'd heard of these creatures. We've all said "oh no. I've been bitten by a mosquito" but I relise now that I hadn't. If I had I would have known I am allergic to their bites.
Further research showed that a local chemist was still selling quinine to combat marsh fever in the 1960s. Go further back in time to when these marshes were drained and we find peasants being paid to settle and work in this area (the book also says marsh dwellers have a turfy smell and a fenny posture. Hmm).
Back to the story, sorry, product review, (I'm getting to it soon). Never mind, I thought, I'll get something to deal with this, and so started years of frustration and misery. I've tried many products Herbal. Non herbal. I've eaten pots of Marmite. I've drunk an awful lot of bitter lemon. No good. Tablets from the Doctor keep the allergy tolerable but if only I didn't get bitten.
Imagine, then, my joy when I find Jungle FormulaInsect Repellent. It's approved by The Hospital for Tropical Diseases. The can tells me they are suppliers to the Forestry Commision -- how much better can it get? This stuff sounds GREAT!!! I race home. I read all the safety stuff on the can carefully. I find that it's also ozone friendly. My day is made complete.
I shut myself in the bathroom. I spray generously. I choke and stumble out. The fragrance is overpowering in a small space and my chest is wheezing slightly but I don't care. I can go out and enjoy an evening in the garden with a deckchair and a nice glass of something cool.
I go out. I get bitten badly. I am very sad indeed.
Maybe it's just me. I find it hard to read those approvals on the can. Someome must think this spray works but not me I shan't buy it again.
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I get bitten to death everywhere, they chose me everytime....
Nar 01.11.2005 20:05
I live in a similar area but we have midges. The Foresty commission here apparently recommends something by the name of "Buzz," or "Whoosh!" but I cant remember. It doesnt work anyway. About the closest thing I recommend is Citronella Oil. You can usually buy it at pound shops and it must be the aromatherapy oil which can be applied to skin.
daisydaisym 01.11.2005 19:10
I remember using this stuff - it stinks!!! And I also still got bitten! Yuk, Mel x
Oct 29th, 2005
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