DetectingWales.com

Hi to everyone,
Now that Summer is here,and were all getting out in the open air,the fields are now being cut,and the mosquitoes and horseflies can wait to attack us!!
I was fortunate enough to work and play in Spain for ten years+ and learned how to keep these little begger at bay....its cheap to buy easy to get,and easy to apply,its called English lavender water,just spray a bit around your forehead and neck,you can buy it at most chemists,and for a few bob you can buy an atomiser ( Wilco sell them in travel accessories)
That's the reason that the Spaniards grow lavender in pots and strategically place them around their swimming pools,try it,it works,and works really well.
Thanks for reading👍

Good Post Chris ;) or you could just take Taff with you because horsefly's luvvvvvv the taste of Taff  ;D

That's useful info Chris.  Do you think it would work if I tied a few sprigs around my neck  ::)

Got a beauty on the back of my neck yesterday. I always react badly to them, felt like the Hunch Back of Notre Dam this morning.

I used 100% Deet, watered down for my horse. That worked very well but can be a bit pricey.

Well you could Val,it might be a bit itchy after a while,I would stick with with the liquid...lol

Cheers for that Chef,now about this Taff solution,I've heard it don't come cheap,what with horsebox transportation costs to get him up to the fields!!
(No offence meant Taff)👍

Good post there dingdong, I never new that and wil try it I used some spray called Jungle Formula God knows what was in it but it was rubbish and I absolutely stunk needless to say I won't be using it again, some of the horse flies in my field was almost a foot long  ;D ;D I was more worried they would pick me up than sting me lol. ;)

Good post mate thanks AJ

Almost a foot long ?? Where have you been detecting , Jurassic park ? 😁😁😁

Wasn't there a place of "research" called....PORTON DOWN !!!who knows what went on there ?????😷🐁 🐰🐈🐕🐖🐒🐵🐉🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜watch out
HORSE FLIES!!!!!....lol

In my early 1950`s service days,that was a place where volunteer servicemen went to help find a cure for the common cold.

Well thats what they thought. >:( :(  Jerry.

O.K. right.  Chris tell us where to buy this Lavender Water.  I popped into my local Chemist this morning for some. The nearest I could find was Lavender Au De Par fume £14.79.  I wasn't going to pay that so I raided the horse medi box and found the Deet.
Worked fine with the help of the wind but it tastes vile. Lavender would be much nicer. Will see if I can find instructions on how to make it.

Try 'Skin so soft' from Avon, they use it up in Scotland to keep the midges away, it works, I have tried it.
Don't know about horse fly's.

val just found this on-line
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/250ml-PURE-ORGANIC-ENGLISH-LAVENDER-FLORAL-WATER-Incl-FREE-ATOMISER-SPRAY-/171302543514?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27e26d609a (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/250ml-PURE-ORGANIC-ENGLISH-LAVENDER-FLORAL-WATER-Incl-FREE-ATOMISER-SPRAY-/171302543514?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27e26d609a)

Just half way through saying 'Thanks for that Jerry' and the power went off.  Frightened me half to death. Sitting here all on my own and suddenly everything went black.

Anyway, I'm going to treat myself (again) and try some, thanks Jerry.

Funny thing; when I was a kid we had a lavender bush just outside the back door and it was always full of insects. Maybe they're actually attracted to the lavender and can't be bothered pestering humans? In which case it probably wouldn't be a good idea to go around smelling like lavender . . .

Anyway.

Mrs Cymro used to make things (pillows and such) with lavender in them - bought  dried lavender flowers off eBay pretty cheaply. They apparently grow it as a crop in France.

I'm a real skinflint and will make anything, so I just had a Google for 'making lavender water' and got a whole heap of hits. This was the first one, and it actually says that it works as an insect repellent:

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Lavender-Water (http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Lavender-Water)

We've got some lavender essential oil in, so I'll give it a go anyway cos for some reason I get bitten and stung to death by the insect population (got stung by a bee just two days ago . . . )

Thanks for the tip, dingdong!

Funny you should say that Cymro.

 I thought I'd have another look for instructions and I found that one.  I'm sure the local Chemist had some essential oil of Lavender on the shelf, selling it off cheap £1  so before I order ready made I'll give it a go. I've even got a bottle of Vodka in the cupboard, an unwanted Xmas present from years ago.

I'm a bit like you, love to think I've saved a penny.

Follow the thread of JCB(the thimble)that's the one to get!!and you don't need much for it to be effective ,a 250 mil bottle will last for ages and ages,get it you won't regret it!! 👍

Well, there is that . . . But I just love making things - anything - it doesn't matter what.

Well you know what they say "once bitten twice shy" buzzz🐜 buzzzz🐜🐜 buzz🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜!!!HeHeHe,a detectorist on my patch !! I am going to bite you!!!!!OH NO!! Oh NOLavender!!!!!I'm out of here!!!!!LOL...LOL.👍

Well, I didn't have any lavender water on my yesterday (although I do note that the missus has plenty of 'Skin so soft') - and true to form have been bitten - when I was wading through the longer grass to find somewhere to detect. Got a nasty bite on the wrist - I wonder if that one will take a week ago like last week's.....

And all I got for my trouble was a handful of cow tubes!

Well if all else fails make sure you have 2 main items in your Medi Box.   Anthisan cream and Piriton or Neoclarityn tablets.

As soon as you get home rub cream into bite and take a tablet.  Might have to re-visit again but takes the  worst of the irritation and swelling away.

Got some Lavender oil £3.39  make it up this afternoon.

Ah Piriton - used to take it, but it started to have no effect.

I used to have to take 4 when I visited my sister (who at the time had 46 animals, including 7 cats, all sadly dead now - of old age I hasten to add).

I forgot (for some reason) I'd taken them once and had a rare drink - and then became almost completely comatose......

Luckily the bite from yesterday isn't too bad - I think I knocked the fly away before it could do to much..

Point of interest for all dog owners.  If your dog suffers from hey fever, (some do apparently), or gets bitten or stung, you can safely give them Piriton 4mg one morning and one evening.

On good advice from my Vet after my dog got stung. He wasn't the only one. That B wasp cost me £79.

Made up a solution, as per instructions but can't say I'm over impressed.  It doesn't even smell like lavender.
 
With all ingredients carefully measured and mixed it makes up 125ml.  I'll give it a try but I think I'd better keep the Anthisan handy.

p.s. I didn't know Vodka had a kick like that  ::)

Hi Val,if you use this,its called Lavender,pure organic floral water.The company is called..Naturally thinking.
The website is www.Naturally (http://www.Naturally) thinking.com
I purchased this 250 mil bottle over 3years ago and still have over three quarter of it left,its very economical.
But it MUST be ENGLISH LAVENDER....nothing else will do,hope this will clarify things👍🐜🐜🐜🐜buzzz!...lol

Thanks for that Chris.  Looks like I'm about to spend another £5.00  ;D

Add...................

Looks like I should have done it a few days ago.  Hows this for 1 bite.  Only walking the dogs.  B****y things.

that looks nasty val , must have been a big horse fly to take 2 of your fingers off  ::) ::) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Mike I think it was one of Pauls,  at least a foot long  ::)

Pleased to report that the 2 remedies mentioned earlier are working.  Got home rubbed on some Anthistan and had a Piritan tablet. 

Sorry to see you with nasty bites VAL,very painful....."ouch!!"
Now,do as Dr Dingdong advises,put the Lavender stuff on before you go out,tut!tut!kids! They just won't be told!!...🐜🐜🐜buzzzzzzz!!!!!👍(and no Val,that's not a representation of your hand ....lol

Yes I know Chris, I should know better.  It's all in the mind you see.  Just taking the dogs out I never think about it but always do when I intend to spend a few hours in a field.

What's the difference...........none. Bet I remember in the morning. ;)

Don't know why Val but they(horseflies) seem to be even more vicious this year,God knows why,I hope they are not going "MUTANT" then we will be in real trouble!!!....Lavender or not.!!!!...NOT. LOL!!!

Unfortunately they have stopped selling that up here in Scotland, I think