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I don’t know whether you have ever used a handheld, indoor bug zapper, but I think that they are wonderful. I?m talking about the handheld sort that looks like a child’s plastic, toy tennis racquet. They come in two basic sorts. I rather the rechargeable bug zapper, for the reason that batteries end up up costing more than the indoor bug zapper itself, although you could always buy rechargeable batteries, but then they are costly too.

My wife and I like to spend time in the garden. We meet friends there, dine there and in general loaf about outdoors, as do most folks around here, when they are not working. Besides, it’s far cooler outside than indoors. A comfy chair, some snacks, a cool drink and a book or a friend and life does not get much better. In fact, it?s idyllic.

That is until about six or seven o’clock when the first squadron of mosquitoes have judged that the sun’s rays have lost enough strength that they will not evaporate and they come out looking for blood. Some evenings are worse than others, of course. Normally, the mosquitoes are pretty bearable, especially seeing as I have discovered the indoor bug zapper. (I don’t know why it is called an ‘indoor bug zapper’, it is equally as effective outdoors as in).

It’s not that I want to kill things, but I find it difficult to have sympathy for mosquitoes. Nevertheless, I do get a certain amount of enjoyment from seeing and hearing mosquitoes and other bugs literally blow up with a flash and a spark as they come into contact with the electric and ground wires of the indoor bug zapper. These electric bug zappers are capable of packing quite a charge, especially if the batteries are new or the pack is wholly charged.

The other day, I discovered a novel use for my handheld, indoor bug zapper. I’ll tell you how it came about. I was in the garden, as usual, and my bug zapper was close at hand as the first squadron of mosquitoes was due. I had my book in one hand and the bug zapper on my knees, when my wife asked me to go to the shop for her. No problem, so, I set off on the five minute walk.

I was half-way there when I noticed that I had the indoor bug zapper in my hand, but it was not worth taking it home and beginning the journey again. Anyhow, on my return journey, I had my small bag of groceries in one hand and the indoor bug zapper in the other, when a local tyrant of a dog came running out of a garden directly for me. This has happened often and, although he has never bitten me yet, it is rather menacing. He stood there glaring at me with teeth bared and his ‘pack’ of assorted local pals came out to encircle me and join in.

I don’t actually know what the best course of action is in this situation. I have tried holding my ground, but the intimidation just continues and I have tried to continue walking, but he gets worryingly close sometimes. This time, I suddenly lashed out with the indoor bug zapper and just hit him on the snout. Well, I’m not sure whether it hurt him, it did not appear to too much, but it gave him a very nasty shock in more ways than one, I can tell you! He leaped about four feet into the air as if he were on a pogo stick and then fled for all he was worth with all his friends behind him. It was very gratifying after six months of persecution from this dog.

Anyway, I don’t take my indoor bug zapper everywhere with me, but I will in future, if any further local dogs bother me. I know it works a treat. I have seen that one since, but he stays far away from me and doesn’t utter a squeak. I think I would take my indoor bug zapper with me, if I were wandering in an strange part of town or the park nevertheless.

Have you ever used an indoor bug zapper? If you haven’t, or if you want to get an indoor bug zapper, please click one of the hyperlinks to our website or blog.

Collecting antique dolls is a hobby that a lot of women grow into or would like to if they had the time or and the money. A collection of antique dolls in a gorgeous display case is a very attractive asset, but collecting antique dolls is not as easy as it may seem.

Well, to define that properly, it depends what you would like the antique dolls for. As with any hobby that has the capability to make the collector money, it is not easy to get it right, but if you only would like to enjoy your collection you will have an easier time of it.

Millions of women collect old dolls, but it is doubtful that any large number of them actually earn any money out of their hobby, because you have to study and the professional competition is fierce. It is the same as collecting coins or stamps: you can have a beautiful collection of pretty commemorative stamps or coins that is worthless in monetary terms, because there were too many of that sort or that year made, whereas you could have a collection of a dozen dreary stamps worth a million.

Therefore, if you want to begin a collection of antique dolls, the first thing to do is visit the library and get out some books on the subject. If there are no illustrations, you can almost certainly find some photos on the Internet in order to afford identification easier.

One of the first things you require to acquaint yourself with is the names of the most famous manufacturers of dolls in the 150 years of the Nineteenth and early Twentieth Centuries. Learn the names of the firms, the names of the dolls and an average cost.

If you come across what you think is a good deal at a car boot or yard sale, do not get put off by a shabby appearance. Many dolls lead a tough life, but they can be repaired pretty easily and there are many dolls’ hospitals if you need expert help, advice or specialist parts like eyes or buttons. The original clothing can be repaired or replaced and the doll would still be valuable if it is rare, popular or sought after.

You know, some things are not particularly rare but are still expensive because they capture the imagination of a great deal of individuals. Baby Boomer toys from the Fifties and Early Sixties will almost certainly acquire this status once the Boomers retire and perhaps begin a collection.

Look out for antiques fairs to help you acquire more first hand knowledge. There are frequently specialized antiques fairs in largish towns and one sort of fair is antique toys, in which the section on antique dolls is certain to feature fairly prominently. It is very practical to be able to see the dolls ‘in the flesh’ so to speak in order to know what you should be looking out for whilst browsing.

Books, photos and the Internet are useful resources, but there is no replacement for hands-on experience and talking with collectors and dealers who are fanatical about collecting antique dolls.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on a variety of subjects, but is now involved with Silver Cross Dolls Prams. If you would like to know more, please go over to our website at Doll Prams.