About Us - WASuP

I hate wasps!...

I was that child whose mother would tell them to stand still when one was nearby and who would shout, flap and run a mile wondering why said wasp and ten of his friends would follow because in fact you were still carrying the ice lolly that had attracted them in the first place. Weirdly, I don't think I have ever been stung so I'm not sure where this fear originated but I am pleased to say it has improved with age.

Bad mother...

So fearful was I of these horrid creatures that when my firstborn was just a couple of days old, one came into the hospital ward, so I did what any self respecting mother would have done after 2 days labour, forceps and a very traumatic birth and left the baby in the basinette and shut the door. I went back in when the coast was clear, obviously!!

5 years later...

I was collecting 2 of the boys from a summer camp at school and baby number 3 who was only 18months was stung on the end of his finger. My mother had always said you should use Winegar on Wasps (alliteration not a problem with pronunciation) and Bicarb for Bees. We were in a play area, nowhere near any shops but luckily the school canteen was open! I thought I may as well try it, I mean mothers are always right after all...I went in, got some vinegar, put it in a cup and stuck his finger in. The result was unbelievable. There was literally no sign of a sting after 5 minutes. It had disappeared!

Work...

As a pharmacist, one of my regular days was a Sunday (so we could manage childcare but mainly so my husband could cook a delicious dinner every week). Throughout the summer, mothers would come in with their teenies in pushchairs who had been bitten or stung and there was nothing I could give to relief the pain and discomfort. At that time, restrictions were tighter than they are now, so there was nothing to apply under the age of 6. I knew exactly what they needed, that really worked so would suggest they went to find vinegar (try the restaurant opposite?) - not something that was always taken seriously...

I spent years wanting to find a way of making vinegar available to mothers that wouldn't leak or take up space in an already packed changing bag but 5 children, life and work took up all my time. During this time there were plenty more bites and stings at home and I always reached for the vinegar to soothe them.

First family festival 2015...

Third child (again) was stung and the medical staff had nothing to offer other than searching for ice. At this point my enthusiasm was reignited and I just knew I needed to get vinegar onto the market in an easy portable manner.

Our second family festival 2016...

We had the best time and it was here that I came across the device we now use, being used for something else. In a lightbulb moment, WASuP was born. I couldn't have done it without the help of the previously abandoned first born who was back from Uni and could design labels and boxes etc. Luckily he hadn't borne a grudge!