Friday, 19 June 2026

Mouches et Moustiques.


One of the most noticeable differences between the UK and France, are the Flying Insects.

We are sleeping in our 'Tower'; an outside room with a very comfortable bed. But somehow the Flies and Mozzies have already discovered that we're there.


I've given it a good spraying, I've installed a plug-in-insect-scarer, and I'm even wearing a yellow plastic anti-Mozzie bracelet, but still they come. 

I remember many years ago talking to our local Chatelaine about the problem, and she very indignantly asked me "So, you don't have Flies in England?".

"Of course we do", I replied, "but as soon as one is spotted inside a house, everyone rolls-up a newspaper, and we hunt him down". A very different attitude to here in France.

Like most people, I really hate hearing a Mozzie at night. It can completely spoil one's pattern of sleep.

If anyone knows of a foolproof system to keep the wretched things away, please let me (and the rest of the world) know.


23 comments:

local alien said...

Mozzies are so darn annoying. We've had them through the winter too. At night we light a coil and it helps outside. Inside we have devices into which we put a mosquito 'tablet' and plug in. It's very efficient. We get a quiet sleep. But do you have electricity out there? Those plug ins are the only things that work.
Flies are few and far between. We are lucky there.

Cro Magnon said...

Yes we have electricity in the tower, since last year. The pug-in seems to deter the flies, but again last night I had a Mozzie annoying me.

Cro Magnon said...

Pug-in? No, Plug-in!

Sue G said...

Hi Cro, why don't you get a mosquito net? We have one here in Norfolk. We don't have too many mozzies despite living next to a marsh, so it only comes out at the worst times maybe for a couple of months in summer. It works!

Traveller said...

I agree with Sue G. Treated mosquito net to keep them off you and earplugs so you can’t hear them.

Cro Magnon said...

We have one, and I said to Lady M this morning that I would put it up again. I'll do it this afternoon.

Cro Magnon said...

The earplugs are a good idea. What you don't know about, etc.....

Yorkshire Pudding said...

Wear ear plugs at night, then you will not hear the squadrons of mosquitoes descending to gorge on the hot blood of a well-nourished English artist.

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

Here in Canada, we have screens on all of our windows. If we did not, we would be bitten by mosquitos from spring until fall. -Jenn

Deejohn said...

I'm trying out Clove Oil, now that the warm weather is here. Even google says it acts as a repellant.
Some near the window sill plus a light coating around the room's central lampshade where flies sometimes gather.

Mind you, it was the Makerfield by-election that kept me up late last night. Looks like curtains for Starmer.

Cro Magnon said...

That's what 'Traveller' just suggested. A good idea methinks!

Cro Magnon said...

We have a 'screen-type' curtain, but it doesn't seem to work. I'll hang the Mozzie-net up tonight, and see if that works.

Cro Magnon said...

I thought Clove Oil was for toothache! Yes, it looks like a lurch to the Left is on the way. Expect higher Taxes, stronger Unions, and richer Couch Potatoes.

Sencosue said...

Citronella candles work ok-ish but I think mosquito nets work best plus ear plugs, I too hate the drone of a mozzie, I just can't focus on anything else and just can't get to sleep. Regards Sue H

Kathe said...

Took me a minute to figure out what a mozzie was. One of the many things that endear the English to me is your pet names you give things. Mosquitoes are diabolical and come straight out of HELL! NNNNNNNEEEEEEEE!!!

Kathe said...

I just remembered a story I heard when I was growing up. This guy I knew who was a very mild mannered fellow for the most part went to bed after imbibing in more than several drinks. He was visited by a demon mosquito during the night. After hours and hours of torture he got his shotgun and blew holes all over the ceiling hunting it down. I never heard if he ever actually hit it.

Travel said...

Window screens.

Cro Magnon said...

It's horrible. That buzzing sound really puts an end to sleeping. I'm just about to hang the net; I'm sure it'll work

Cro Magnon said...

Well, that's another way to deal with them. I had thought that 'Mozzie' was international. I apologise.

Cro Magnon said...

These Mozzies have ways around such things. They will find the tiniest of holes and force themselves in.

New World said...

I don't really have the problem here. We call them gnats in my neck of the woods, not mosquitoes, but I take it that is what they are. I always think of mosquitoes as "foreign". The odd gnat appears occasionally and it gets swiped and finished with. Having said this, there'll probably be one in my bedroom tonight.

justjudithanne said...

Just thinking how wonderful earpugs would be

Cro Magnon said...

I think they're very similar, and similarly annoying. I've put up the Mozzie net.... we'll see!

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