And today started out so well.....

[littlespark]

Adding another socket to an outside bar in someone’s garden. A little rain but nothing too bad..

Ran the cable, hammered a couple clips in and I hear a buzzing....

Wasps. Hundreds of them. The banging must have woke them up.

ive been stung about 6 times on one hand. 3 on the other. Surprised they didn’t get my face.

Top tip! As a neighbour of the house I was working at is a chemist, she said wash the stings in vinegar. Stings are alkali, vinegar is acidic. Seems to have worked a little.

 

[DPG]

I absolutely hate wasps. Hateful stripy little twots they are. No good to man nor beast. A definite Friday afternoon project by the big G I reckon.

Or is it wasps that make marmalade?

 

[littlespark]

@DPG I think you’re getting your bears mixed up.... it’s Paddington that likes marmalade, whereas pooh likes hunny.
Bees make hunny whereas wasps are little bastards.

oops apologies. I thought that word would be censored after I posted

 

[fabsparks]

A little late now, but if you want to avoid being stung, agitated wasps and bees are attracted to the carbon dioxide in your breath. Then they will look for exposed skin to sting you. Holding your breath and walking away therefore prevents most stings. Was told this by someone who keeps bees. That said it didn't work the year I was mowing the lawn and went over a wasp nest, in the lawn. First thing I knew about it was when I was stung. Remembered to hold my breath and depart though (A bit sharpish), so was only stung once. The way the wasps swarmed a few seconds later, it could have been a lot worse, if I hadn't remember this little trick.

 

[DPG]

A little late now, but if you want to avoid being stung, agitated wasps and bees are attracted to the carbon dioxide in your breath. Then they will look for exposed skin to sting you. Holding your breath and walking away therefore prevents most stings. Was told this by someone who keeps bees. That said it didn't work the year I was mowing the lawn and went over a wasp nest, in the lawn. First thing I knew about it was when I was stung. Remembered to hold my breath and depart though (A bit sharpish), so was only stung once. The way the wasps swarmed a few seconds later, it could have been a lot worse, if I hadn't remember this little trick.

Good info. Worth remembering.
And I never knew wasps made nests in grass. Luckily I don't have any.

 

[fabsparks]

Good info. Worth remembering.
And I never knew wasps made nests in grass. Luckily I don't have any.

I didn't think they did either, but found out the hard way.

 

[littlespark]

I don’t know if I mentioned it earlier in the thread, but when I got stung, the customer was a pharmacist... told me to soak my hand in vinegar.

I’m sure it helped with the swelling and irritation, but it made my van smell like a chippy for the drive home.