Welcome to the latest Shopper Rant opinion column which complains about summer being blighted by unwanted buzzing guests. Join the debate by adding your comments.
THE joys of summertime. Warm weather. The chance to eat more ice cream. Lighter evenings in pub beer gardens. Burying your winter clothes at the back of the wardrobe.
However, there are still things which are intensely annoying at what should be the most relaxing time of year.
Yes, I'm talking about irritating creatures.
This isn't a rant about estate agents, traffic wardens or door-to-door salesmen.
I'm ranting about the bees, wasps, flies, moths and mosquitoes which seem to blight my summers.
It's the end of the day. After putting in an honest day's work you head to the pub for a reward in the shape of a pint.
You can sit outside in the beer garden and enjoy an evening with friends and family, until the wasps decide they fancy a pint but have left their wallets at home.
What should be a relaxing evening drink suddenly turns into a workout, as you constatly have to wave the wasps away from your glass or, worse still, run a few laps of the beer garden to avoid being stung for any more than the round you just bought.
You would think this would be enough insect annoyance for one night, but don't worry, there is more to come.
Getting a good night's sleep during the summer can be difficult if it is particularly warm, but it can be even harder when you realise there is an unwanted guest or two in the shape of flies and mosquitoes.
Despite having not seen or heard one since you walked into your bedroom, you can be sure as soon as you switch the lights off and your head hits the pillow you will be disturbed by a droning, buzzing sound after about 30 seconds.
You don't want to get out of bed to deal with it, but the buzzing continues.
This means any chance of drifting off to sleep quickly is ruined, as you begin to wonder where the little buzzer is.
Is it by the window? Does this mean it will find its own way out?
Is the net curtain a decent enough safety barrier between you and the unwanted guest?
Should I pull the duvet over me to avoid being stung and put up with the heat?
The buzzing shows no sign of going, and it will likely get louder as a mosquito divebombs past your ear, causing a horizontal version of the flapping you did earlier in the beer garden.
Why can't the insects just buzz off on holiday?
This column in no way reflects the official position of News Shopper or its parent company.
Are you troubled by insects and bugs during the summer? Have you got any good solutions for keeping them at bay? What other summertime habits get on your nerves? Add your comments below.
Check News Shopper's website every lunchtime for a new daily opinion column. Tuesday is entertainment, Wednesday is a reader's rant, Thursday will cover a moral issue and Friday is sport. Be sure to have your say if you agree or disagree with what you read.
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