Wasps

Another completely channel-centric observation from me - but why is it that a tiny creature such as a wasp can make people freak out?

These creatures, which as I was discussing at an outdoor business lunch where wasps were buzzing around earlier this week, actually do have their uses - they eat flies and caterpillers for one - but they have the knack of reducing grown men and women to cavorting, flapping idiots in one buzz.

Take this poor girl on my train this morning. She was enjoying her early morning coffee with just a hint of sugar (I assume) before Mr Wasp decided to swoop in for some fun. She was practically in tears as this wasp stayed glued to the same spot mere centimetres from her face.

After throwing her handbag and coffee on the platform and failing to escape its clutches, a hero commuter came to the rescue, gallantly trying to kill the offending insect. The wasp escaped, the train came and everyone was happy again.

I detest wasps as much as anyone - a sting right inside my ear when I was four years old was really the defining moment for me, but I have learned that no matter how hard you flap - they won't go away. The best thing to do is to ignore them.

Something tells me that this girl won't be taking sugar in her coffee again.