Scotland, midges and mosquitoes in general…!

gerrym11 said:
Why, have you ever been to Southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland, etc.? If you have, you will know that there are many better alternatives.
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I never stated that there are not better alternatives, Scotland is currently the best option available.
 
gerrym11 said:
Why, have you ever been to Southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland, etc.? If you have, you will know that there are many better alternatives.
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All the above and they are very nice - but not better in so many ways - Just different.

marchie said:
Where are you heading for?

Steve & Elaine
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We never know - Just touring and wilding.
Up the east coast?? I want to visit Cromarty having just be reading the book 'Shipping Forecast'.
Then to the west coast?? Then Dumfries and Galloway??
 
Stealaway said:
All the above and they are very nice - but not better in so many ways - Just different.



We never know - Just touring and wilding.
Up the east coast?? I want to visit Cromarty having just be reading the book 'Shipping Forecast'.
Then to the west coast?? Then Dumfries and Galloway??
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We're on the east coast in [not remotely] sunny Fife, but will be heading south to escape the lunacy of Fife Council's decision to allow the Funfair to set up its Shanty Town less than 100m away from us, at a time when COVID cases in Fife are increasing on an almost daily basis ... Can't guarantee you sunshine, but almost certain we'll be able to give you COVID ...

Steve
 
We'll be fine - we have both had both jabs and immune to Covid now.
Where in Fife is this funfair?
 
snailtrailer said:
This time next week we are travelling to the Inner and Outer Hebrides on a coach trip. I have never been to Scotland before so I hope the midges have eaten their fill before I get there. As long as the blighters give us some respite I am going anyway.
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Have a wonderful trip, don't worry about the midges. The chances of coming across the little blighters will be greatly reduced if you're staying at hotels. (y)

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marchie said:
Can't guarantee you sunshine, but almost certain we'll be able to give you COVID ...
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Nobody goes to Scotland for the weather, unless you like to ski.
Scots are wrongly reputed to be tight, but we're always willing to share anything we have, no matter where you're from ;)
 
Stealaway said:
We'll be fine - we have both had both jabs and immune to Covid now.
Where in Fife is this funfair?
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Burntisland Links, KY3 9EB. The Council has provided EHU and mains piped water to the Showmen [without a rent increase!], paid for by an illegal transfer of funds from the Burntisland Common Good Fund [Community Council taking legal advice on recovery proceedings], and the Showmen have the keys to the public toilets which have been closed to the public but Fife Council will not install any water pipes, EHU or waste disposal for the motorhome overnight parking at Burntisland Leisure Centre, less than 100m away.

Not what you know, more who you know? Or, being charitable, the Council is working hard to ensure that there will be no medical staff redundancies at the local hospitals ...

Steve
 
Stealaway said:
I want to visit Cromarty having just be reading the book 'Shipping Forecast'.
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Read that book not so long ago. I spent 12 years driving up and down from Scotland overnight in my lorry and often listened to the shipping forecast. There's something very soothing about it. As I was familiar where each shipping area was, I was well tuned in to the weather patterns and was rarely caught out by bad weather. (y)
 
Stealaway said:
Oh Yeah --- permanent fair then?
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Naw, just 6 weeks! Allegedly [but our local Councillor has texted me to say that there will be no extension period ...]. There again, 4 weeks ago, there was to be no Funfair ...

It all endorses the theory that Fife stands for 'Flaming Idiots Flaming Everywhere', but other F words are available [and that explanation came from a Fifer!].

Steve

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Cases of Lyme disease have also been reported around the Scottish highlands, known to have a particularly high population of ticks. It's thought only a small proportion of ticks carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease though, so being bitten doesn't mean you'll definitely be infected. I think I'll settle for the midges. :unsure: ;)
 
Minxy Girl said:
We returned on Saturday from a 3 week trip up to the SW of Scotland, lovely place, we had intended to go down the 'sticky out' bits more, especially down to Campbelltown and get a ferry across to Arran then back to the mainland but we got as far as Dunoon and high-tailed it back round Eastwards to get away from the midges. There were some places where they were okay but others had loads of them which meant I wouldn't have been able to go out with hubby and the dogs for walks etc so 'captive' in the van ... not my idea of a holiday. We did have a lovely time though in the areas we visited, Ayrshire is lovely and very underrated IMV.

Despite my extra strength anti-histamines (prescription only from the Dr) I still came out if loads of large red sore and itchy blobs so if we'd pushed on I'd have ended up looking like a sci-fi creature! It hasn't put me off though and we will revisit either earlier or later in the season at some point to see the bits we missed.
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If think if you had got to Campbeltown you would have been alright as the wind never drops below a force 5 🤪
 
We should be thankful for the midge. The midge evolved and flourished on the West coast to keep the populace down which as we all know are very effective. Without midges the west coast would be a developers paradise. Scotland's Indian summers just before Autumn are magical with no midges as the temperature is too low combined with wind speeds over 5 mph. Apparently midges are very selective depending on the amount of carbon dioxide you expel in your breath combined with the smell of your sweat.
So get a sweat on and stop breathing :giggle:
 
GM0VPG said:
We should be thankful for the midge. The midge evolved and flourished on the West coast to keep the populace down which as we all know are very effective. Without midges the west coast would be a developers paradise. Scotland's Indian summers just before Autumn are magical with no midges as the temperature is too low combined with wind speeds over 5 mph. Apparently midges are very selective depending on the amount of carbon dioxide you expel in your breath combined with the smell of your sweat.
So get a sweat on and stop breathing :giggle:
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Don't forget folks. Summer in Scotland this year is on 22nd July (before 4pm) and I'm going to be there, yeeeessss:Grin:
 
marchie said:
Naw, just 6 weeks! Allegedly [but our local Councillor has texted me to say that there will be no extension period ...]. There again, 4 weeks ago, there was to be no Funfair ...

It all endorses the theory that Fife stands for 'Flaming Idiots Flaming Everywhere', but other F words are available [and that explanation came from a Fifer!].

Steve
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Was on BBC News this morning, Steve. They've been at Inverness before.

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I've been using odorless garlic tablets for a few years now. I still get bitten (nothing i can do about that, other than covering up) but i don't get the bad reaction (large red itchy bite marks) that i used to get... Also works with mosquitos.
 
Gellyneck said:
So am I, so am I, so am I!!!!! (y) :giggle:
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Bugger! We'll probably be driving back from the Rally, so we're likely to miss Scotland's Summer on 24th July ... On the bright side, our deceased neighbour's son is travelling from the South Coast of England whilst we are away, to finalise his late mother's Estate. When he phoned, he rather endearingly asked if our garden needed watering whilst we were away ... Perhaps the Rice Crop might need a mild top up, but everything else will just need blotting paper ... (y)

Steve
 
marchie said:
Bugger! We'll probably be driving back from the Rally, so we're likely to miss Scotland's Summer on 24th July ... On the bright side, our deceased neighbour's son is travelling from the South Coast of England whilst we are away, to finalise his late mother's Estate. When he phoned, he rather endearingly asked if our garden needed watering whilst we were away ... Perhaps the Rice Crop might need a mild top up, but everything else will just need blotting paper ... (y)

Steve
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You're definitely gonna miss it as Davy said it's on 22nd July!:whistle2::giggle::doh:
Just make sure he doesn't steal our good Scottish watter!
 
Midge advice from the Highlands.

Spray on Smidge before you go out, not once they've found you. Rub it all over, they just like sneaking under your waistband, cuffs, socks etc. You can get a fetching headnet from Smidge for use in an emergency. Midges like shade & are happy in a light shower. They do not like bright sunshine or wind over 8mph.
 
Wee Bold Davy said:
Nobody goes to Scotland for the weather, unless you like to ski.
Scots are wrongly reputed to be tight, but we're always willing to share anything we have, no matter where you're from ;)
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Davy,
I am an import who slipped across the Border under cover of darkness 21 years ago [after meeting Elaine]. I have met many very friendly and caring Scots and have rarely felt threatened or disliked [and that includes a spell as a Housing Officer dealing with anti social behaviour, rent arrears, and evictions; though I was often addressed as 'Y'Anglishpoof' [all one word ...]! Elaine and I have just finished 3 Scottish Rallies, and we had a great time, and many laughs, and sharing of food and drink, in a very convivial atmosphere.

We're looking forward to many more! Woodside Field next week,stopping off at Moffat, Penrith, Thirsk [to get refillable gas system fitted], Stourport [to get a Lithium Battery fitted], so we'll be playing with the new toys [I hope!] and meeting more Funsters!

Steve & Elaine

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marchie said:
Davy,
I am an import who slipped across the Border under cover of darkness 21 years ago [after meeting Elaine]. I have met many very friendly and caring Scots and have rarely felt threatened or disliked [and that includes a spell as a Housing Officer dealing with anti social behaviour, rent arrears, and evictions; though I was often addressed as 'Y'Anglishpoof' [all one word ...]! Elaine and I have just finished 3 Scottish Rallies, and we had a great time, and many laughs, and sharing of food and drink, in a very convivial atmosphere.

We're looking forward to many more! Woodside Field next week,stopping off at Moffat, Penrith, Thirsk [to get refillable gas system fitted], Stourport [to get a Lithium Battery fitted], so we'll be playing with the new toys [I hope!] and meeting more Funsters!

Steve & Elaine
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Hi Steve
You'll always be welcome in Scotland ........ as long as you don't mention 1966! :giggler:
As relative newbies' we've not yet been on a rally, mainly because we simply didn't have enough holidays at work. I was always off for 2 weeks at Christmas which meant we didn't have a lot left for the other 50 weeks! We're both retired, I only retired 6 weeks ago which wasn't planned until next Easter, so I'm still trying to get used to the idea while still waking each morning at 5.40am!
Trying hard to talk my wife into going on a rally but there's little chance until Covid is less conspicuous as she's got health issues.
PS. we stayed at Lickhill Manor Caravan Park a couple of years ago, a decent little site if you're looking for somewhere down at Stourport (y)
 
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Wee Bold Davy said:
Hi Steve
You'll always be welcome in Scotland ........ as long as you don't mention 1966! :giggler:
As relative newbies' we've not yet been on a rally, mainly because we simply didn't have enough holidays at work. I was always off for 2 weeks at Christmas which meant we didn't have a lot left for the other 50 weeks! We're both retired, I only retired 6 weeks ago which wasn't planned until next Easter, so I'm still trying to get used to the idea while still waking each morning at 5.40am!
Trying hard to talk my wife into going on a rally but there's little chance until Covid is less conspicuous as she's got health issues.
PS. we stayed at Lickhill Manor Caravan Park a couple of years ago, a decent little site if you're looking for somewhere down at Stourport (y)
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Hi Davy,

Welcome to retirement! We're staying in the Car Park behind The Old Rose & Crown in Stourport [my grandparents kept The Severn Trow pub in the town some 60 years ago, and I was saddened to hear that it closed around 1985, so I'm obviously well out of touch!], so that we can get to KS Energy early on 15th July, before continuing to the Woodside Field Rally.

The Rallies we attended have been socially distanced, usually with an outdoor circle of chairs spread wide enough to warrant the use of a loudhailer to contact someone on the opposite side of the circle! It was a wee bit daunting/intimidiating getting back to regular human contact again! That's more a recognition of how semi institutionalised we had become, than anything to do with the Rallies themselves, and Elaine and I still have feelings of unease when another person gets too close [we still cross the road, or at least move roadside of parked cars as soon as we see someone approaching from the opposite direction!]. Strange times!

Steve & Elaine
 

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