When the sun does come out at Vindolanda it is stunningly beautiful (well it is beautiful whatever the weather but sometimes you have to have a slightly different mindset to appreciate horizontal rain in your face) but it also tends to bring those wee beasties out in force. I was wondering what people use to combat this pests. Anthea's mint option seemed to work as long as you don't mind looking like a bush (anyone got a picture of this?). This year the discussion was on marmite - but do you eat it or spread it?

Anyone got any other good ideas?

Well as I'm sure you know I have been there a while and only one thing has worked for me. Brace yourself now....... AVON SKIN SO SOFT! There I have said it. I have come out and confessed to using women's moisturiser, will life ever be the same again? :P Apparently is it now sold on vertually all campsites in Scotland and my mother once brought me a bottle home. After trying mosiguard, jungle formula, Autan and various other herbal mixtures, I can honestly say that avon skin so soft works best for me. Ok, so you butch manly types smell a bit girly, but it has to be better than being eaten alive right? :unsure:

Oh and a full bee keeping outfit works pretty well too, but not the best for digging in. :P

I have to agree with Justin. Although I am not suggesting his skin is in any way similar (!), I help out at the stables just across the way from Vindolanda, and we have found it's the best thing for keeping the flies and other beasties off the horses too!javascript:emoticon(':rolleyes:')
smilie

David can vouch for that too. He used it for the whole of the first week we were digging whilst conveniently forgetting to lend it to me and then raved for the whole week about its success...humph.

I still think someone should try spreading themselves with marmite though...

Marmite. Is. Evil.

And Justin, now I understand how you achieve such a healthy, youthful glow. Though I still prefer spraying myself all over in enough DEET to make my lips go numb.

- Harry

And stay out of the Twice Brewed Beer Garden after dark... the beasties out there have murder in mind! teehee. possibly something to do with the sewage tank out the back...
Don't forget to put Anthisan immediately on any bites you do get - once the skin's broken, there's no going back (I didn't practice what I'm now preaching this year and am currently facing the consequences :angry: )

And maybe suggest to Brian and folks there at the Twicey that there's this fabulous invention called screens that can go into windows. That way when the windows are open at night so the patrons don't pass out from heatstroke, the beasties won't be flying in and sullying their pints of Guinness!

Screens, people! They work, honest! :lol:

- Harry