4 minute read

STOEP CHAT BAUHAUS BUILDING PLANS

at Action Ads

Soapy Tales of Ellies and Mozzies 18 May 2023

I once had an unnerving experience with an elephant while washing my hair under a tap at Mana Pools game reserve in Zimbabwe. We had just returned from a fabulous four-day canoe trip down the Zambezi and the camp showers were full.

I decided to wash my hair in the meanme so was soaping away kneeling under a campsite tap when Jim, our guide, called out quietly: “Melanie, there is a young bull elephant coming towards you. Stay dead sll.”

Strewth! I did stay dead sll because I froze in fear. Aer what seemed like a long me, I slowly took a peak under one arm and there he was. Close, with his trunk outstretched towards me.

I did a silent freak. I had been forced to buy horrible apple shampoo at a lile roadside store because that was all they had, and I suddenly wondered if the elephant thought my head might be an apple.

What if he wanted to test my head by grabbing a bunch of applesmelling hair and pulling it up? He could scalp me. Or tear my noggin right off.

“Jim, I can’t do this anymore.”

“Okay, but then you have to crawl back towards me very, very slowly If I say stop, then stop.”

Lucky it was before smart phones or my ignominious retreat would have been splashed all over social media, crawling backwards with a head full of shampoo suds under the curious gaze of an ellie.

I made it to the safety of Jim and his rifle (at least good enough for scaring it away) and the ellie wandered off.

What made me think of that incident today was an arcle I read in the Guardian about scienfic tests that had been done to see if mosquitoes were aracted by the scent of soap.

Apparently when mozzies are not sucking blood they feed on the nectar of plants, so are aracted to flower smells.

The sciensts took four volunteers who were given sleeves to wear Some they wore on dirty arms, others on clean arms washed with one of four different soaps: Dial, Dove, Nave and Simple Truth.

The sleeves took up the body smell of the person and the smell of the soap.

The sleeves were then given back to the sciensts, who monitored mosquitoes’ behaviour to the sleeves.

(They used sleeves, not people, to exclude the effects of the carbon dioxide we breathe out, which is known to aract mozzies.)

Results: Washing with Dove, Dial and Simple Truth soaps made the smell of some – but not all - of the volunteers more aracve to mozzies, while Nave soap tended to repel mozzies.

It’s all in the soap chemicals apparently

Lead scienst Clément Vinauger told the Guardian that using toiletries that smelled like flowers or fruit meant that to mosquitoes we smelled like a flower or fruit and a person at the same me. Doubly aracve.

Mmm, so the ellie probably did think I was washing an apple on top of my shoulders, not a head.

Glad I chickened out and did not sck around for him to sample a taste.

Professional SeniorArchitectural Technologist

Design of new Homes and Additions & Alterations. Municipal Approval of Unauthorized Building Work. Sub-division / Consolidation & Rezoning of Erven. Consent-Use Applications for: Second Dwelling / Granny flat, Home Office, Guest House, B/B. Building Line Relaxations & Advertising Signs. Farm Buildings & Demolition Permit.

Office: 062 625 2096

E-WASTE INCLUDING: batteries, old printers, old computers, phones and more can be disposed of correctly @ iTFuture Computer Solutions 044 3820460/1

PCL AUTO SERVICES – We are RMI graded, our staff are trained, our workshop is fully equipped, our prices are keen and our work is guaranteed Good reason to deal withus.

REDUCED PRICE 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom groundfloor apartment Upper Central @ R1,495,000. Sue 0825733353RE/MAX

New builds • Renovaons Alteraons

Bennie 082 921 8959

R75 – R100 PD FOR OLD batteries @ Battery&TyreWorld.

LAPTOPPARTREPLACEMENTSFrom iTFuture Computer Solutions. Inquire for pricing on our WhatsApp 0633720220

BY LISTING YOUR HOME with RE/MAX,acharityofyourchoiceand youwillbenefitfinancially Fordetail call Schalk 082 891 2476 or 044 382 5722

For Sale

Skiboat 13 in Sedgefield. Will suit a small family Engine not included. Boat's papers current. Trailer not registered. Boat plus trailer R20 000 onco Call Jacky 082 414 2133

HUNTERS ESTATE RETIREMENT

Centre, R1 670 000. Lovely warm 2 bed, 2 bath, sectional title, close to private hospital, very sought after secure complex Ph 076 280 4813

FINANCIAL YEAR-END IS HERE. Nothing written up or balanced. For all your accounting functions to B/sheet, incl SARS returns, VAT recons, E-filling, IRP5 recons, call me for professional and confidential service.0823018977

JOIN US FOR A DELICIOUS SUNDAY ROAST

Beef, loads of fresh veggies, rice, roast potatoes and gravy BOOKINGS NEEDED TO SAVE YOUR SEAT.

044 384 1746

044 384 1746 nadineinknysna@gmail.com

12 Kingsway Leisure Island, Knysna

TO LET: Brenton Park. 3 Bedroom unit with carport. No pets allowed. Contact Eugene / Main Street

Properties0834428363

HEN HOUSE. Truly organic eggs in stock. Pure citrus honey every Sat at HarkervilleMarket.Egglady071771 5348

“I COLLECT WHAT YOU DON'T want” Brokenfridge,stove,washing machine, scrap metal, etc. Said 067 3248746

PCL AUTO SERVICES – Ford, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Renault, Subaru, Land Rover, Mercedes, Audi, VW, Toyota, Hyundai!Younameit,wecanhandle it! Contact Peter or Anthony on 044 3826409

TAXI ROUTE STICKERS and more. Acton Signs, 38 Cove Street Knysna. 044 382 0627 / worx@acton signs.net

LOVE GIFTS. Give smiles, they bring joy!

WE HAVE A VERY LARGE amount of wood burning fireplaces on our showroom floor We can quote and install Come in to find out why closedcombustionisthebestchoice.

Domestic

LOVE GIFTS. Our heart is our welcome!

EXCLUSIVE MANDATEIMMACULATE MODERN HOME IN GREEN PASTURES - R 3,750,000

This much loved family home is light, bright and airy. It consists of 3 Beds, 2 baths and guest loo.

Every room has a walk out pao. There is a large entertainment area with custom seang/storage. A CALORE built in fireplace in the lounge. Granite tops and gas hob in the kitchen. 5,000 litre water tank. Large (ALMOST OFF THE GRID) solar system. 33m² main bedroom en-suite. 39m² double garage.

WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED!

CALL TODAY TO BOOK YOUR VIEWING!

CYNTHIA’S PROPERTIES

Cynthia@cynthiasproperes.co.za 083 398 4213

This article is from: