Tom's Top Tales: 30 July

This week, not so much a top tale, as two top tips.

First, after I spent a chunk of Tuesday's programme crowing about the absence of nasty, toxic, foot-savaging Weever Fish in Scotland (they like warm water and sandy beaches, and traditionally were found in places like Cornwall) it turns out I was wrong.

Thanks! Tracey Cruickshank:

"Oh how wrong you are ..... my husband was stung in the foot by a weever fish in the shallows on Portobello beach at the end of May 2010. They are now in Scottish inlets. Husband had to go to hospital who treated it completely wrong and he suffered swelling and pain for a month after.

We all have beach shoes now.

Beware !"

Good grief! Be careful out there folks!

And that hardy perennial, midges. How to deal with them? How about this from Helen Lockhart?

"Take up yarn dyeing. I am a small independent dyer, and I'm not bothered by midges at all in my workshop - I think it is the smell! Otherwise I second the bog myrtle option. We always carry a sprig with us when out walking in the hills near Stoer (coincidentally - having heard someone texting from the Old Man of Stoer). And we tuck a sprig in the dogs collars too to keep the midges off them."

So there you are. No tales, tips or indeed talk next week as I'm not broadcasting - I'm continuing The Barnard Challenge charity motorcycle ride in Ireland, Wales, England and Scotland before heading to the Belladrum Festival. See you there! Graham Stewart is in the afternoon hot seat.