twobears

I think I'll end up as Billy No Mates if I adopt all your suggestions and cover myself in a potent mix of saliva, marmite, onion and vinegar

So many suggestions BBK, I have lots of animals to look after (kept at home, I'm not a zoo keeper ) so I have to venture outside or they'd all starve Is it the Avon Skin So Soft spray that you Avon fans are telling me about? I bought some of that and tried it on my horse but didn't think it worked very well so decided against using on myself, particularly as it was really greasy but maybe it would work? I'm trying the Smidge as soon as it arrives but will try the Avon in the meantime. I've actually opted out of putting the animals to bed tonight because that is when the midges lie in wait for me. They don't bother with Mr Two Bears at all

Nope, not keen on onion when worn as a perfume Will try the Vit B1 thing though Pete, how on earth have you managed to get so many bee and wasp stings?? Unless you are a really incompetent beekeeper or have stuck your hand into a wasps' nest I can't think how you could have garnered quite so many stings?

a horsey yard that isnt bitchy and gossipy........ there are many things in life that i will believe but the fact that a horsey yard like this exists is just a bit too much... ALL horsey women are gossipy and if you dont think they are gossipy or bitchy its because thry are gossiping or bitching about you! lol im with SMD on this one.... what did he say? I don't think they are gossiping about me... I'm way too boring Er, he didn't say anything horrible, just inappropriate Something that I doubt his wife would want him to say, put it like that

Haydn, I use the Anthisan all the time and it really works. I need to figure out how not to get bitten in the first place though. I've ordered some of the Smidgie stuff and am keeping my fingers crossed that it will work. The reviews all sound very encouraging. As for the standing water, er, not sure how to get round that as I live in fen country I've also got a rather stagnant pond for my waterfowl which I must clean out this weekend but I am surrounded by dykes (no jokes please ) that I can't exactly get rid of Vik, I thought brewers yeast was good for erectile dysfunction and I definitely don't suffer from that I tend to prefer something by Chanel rather than the fragrance of raw onion too Might try it if nothing else works mind you ... rabbitstew, nothing would persusade me to eat Marmite It's not even food in my opinion

I've never seen that one. Will go and look for it tomorrow. Thanks. I've tried most of the others so fingers crossed this one works!

Ugh, I've got to put spit on my legs? I've got about 30 bites on them. I'd run out of spit

Fed up today because I've got insect bites all over both legs and they itch and look horrible I know insects must play a vital role in the ecological system but I am not a fan because they always single me out to bite me and I get stupid reactions to the bites. Has anyone ever found anything that works to prevent insect bites? If so, please let me know because otherwise I am cancelling summer and we will all have to return to winter weather immediately

Got to agree with you there Mattross. Some very colourful phrases. I am learning quite a lot today

Or relieved? Sorry

Vix, I am really lucky because my yard is only small and everyone is lovely. I'd hate to be on a bitchy yard because I can't relate to that gossipy culture either. If you've got nothing nice to say just shut up and ride your bloody horse I always think

ddcboyle, you sound like Joe Lampton (Room at the Top by John Braine) Not sure your age theory holds true either because my friend is a lot older than me and I'm 40 er, something and it wasn't me who made a pass

Yummy!

Hm, yes, I'm not claiming to be able to drive very well but I am in possession of both sets of keys for my lovely Mr Zedders and intend hanging on to them at all costs I think I've improved slightly since Wales too 'cos I've had some instruction - I know, I needed it

14N, we couldn't agree Not really a valid statistical sample as we were all women and only 4 of us in total but we were all trying to convince 'the other side' that we were right. I think that personal experience has a lot to do with it rather than just what people say. I started the discussion because of something that my best friend had said that had rattled me a bit

Surely no need to burn one's foundation garments these days? Women are even allowed to drive Zeds the last time I heard

Sorry, what's mumsnet?

Hm, it's 'my' thread and I would prefer it if trousers were kept on please

"You're at risk of over simplification or indeed underestimating the sophistication of men's emotional interaction with women." I'd love to think most men's emotional interaction with women was a sophisticated and nuanced thing Bockaaarck, but, based on personal experience and most of what I've read on this thread, I just can't see it There will always be exceptions to every rule of course ...

Individually or en masse?

Agree, and it is a shame if you have been friends with someone for a few years and then they say or do something that makes things awkward

But do you want to be more than 'just friends'?

SuperStu, that is exactly how I see the situation for most male & female friendships. I reckon it's normally the bloke who would like to be more than just friends but my view may be coloured by my experience True story. If a bloke is nice to a girl, she probably reflex thinks, decent bloke. If a girl is nice to a bloke, he reflex thinks, I could well be in here. We're just wired differently. That's exactly what I think. I am still in shock due to something that my best (male) friend said to me today, hence the discussion up at the stables

Great minds thinking alike there? My best friend is a man so I guess 'bag of spanners' is the look I am rocking?

SuperStu, that is exactly how I see the situation for most male & female friendships. I reckon it's normally the bloke who would like to be more than just friends but my view may be coloured by my experience