MIDGES. Or should I say [insert expletive of choice] midges. This plaintive cry – a mixture of howling anguish and quivering fear – is the sound of the Scottish summer. Even more so this year with many folks choosing to holiday on home turf due to travel restrictions regarding foreign jaunts.
I am not a fan of midges. I despise them. Conversely, they love me. In fact, they find me irresistible. Testament to this one-sided amour is the collection of angry-looking red dots covering large swathes of my skin.
These itchy, stinging bites have a tendency to swell into lumps the size of a large conker. Over the years, I have tried myriad home-remedy midge deterrents suggested to me – everything from eating Marmite sandwiches to spraying Listerine and taking garlic tablets.
Been there. Done that. Got the T-shirt. Said T-shirt is now covered in microscopic blood spatter from countless midge bites. I should probably have bought shares in Avon's Skin So Soft.
The only thing I dislike more than midges are those who airily proclaim: "Oh, midges? They don't bother me …" Good for you. I am so thrilled.
Now, it seems, midges are trying to get good PR. They have even employed a National Trust for Scotland (NTS) ambassador for this cunning plan. This unenviable task has fallen to Rule Anderson, a ranger at Kintail, West Affric and the Falls of Glomach.
At least, that seems to be the premise of the NTS press release that has dropped into my inbox. It reads: "Rule comes face to face with swarms of midges every day and he's learned to love the insect for the crucial role they play in the food chain."
It is a lovely sentiment, but it's a hard pass from me on the midge love-bombing tactics. As much as I acknowledge their vital contribution to Scotland's ecosystem, yada yada, I have no desire to be within the vicinity of these blood-sucking flying brutes.
I don't think it is too much to ask. I would simply like to sit outside on a warm summer's evening without slathering myself in more lotions and potions than a beauty influencer hawking sponsored content on Instagram.
READ MORE: Issue of the day: End of the road for the North Coast 500?
It is difficult to relax when you are peering through the mesh of a midge hood with bloodshot eyes due to the smoky bonfire and copious citronella candles that have been lit in a bid to keep the biting blighters at bay.
Meanwhile, I am wondering how I'm meant to glug my wine while wearing an unflattering net over my head that gives me the appearance of a grieving Victorian widow/scheming Scooby Doo villain.
The midges will be lobbying the tourist board next. I can already visualise the VisitScotland campaign packed with natty slogans.
READ MORE: Susan Swarbrick's Week: Eyes to the skies – how plane-spotting became my happy place
Scotland: Land of a trillion tiny vampires.
Scotland: It's in your blood.
Scotland: A warm welcome from our national beast: We can't wait to eat … we mean greet … you.
Now, if you need me, I will be gazing out longingly into the garden and quietly cursing.
Our columns are a platform for writers to express their opinions. They do not necessarily represent the views of The Herald
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel