Oh snap, Surprize Blood-eye tearing eldritch form jumpscare wasn't on my bingo card (I'm losing spectacularly).

For those who giggle at the Australian Tourist Hat (aka Cork Hat) you really can't understand just how necessary they are unless you've spent time in the Bush.

Be it Australia, Africa, South America, Canada or even many parts of North America, there are endless numbers of insects that desire your bodily fluids. Some of them just want moisture, and will literally drink from your lips, nostrils and eyeballs to get it. Others want your blood, and will bite, chew and pierce/or your flesh to get it.

BOTH types have a nasty habit of leaving any number of "gifts" in return for your unwilling kindness, be it malaria, schistosomiasis, dengue, yellow fever, dysentery, chikungunya and more, sometimes more than one at a time.

And those ridiculous corks keep most of them away from what they view as their rightful drink. I say most, because it doesn't chase away mosquitoes or flies that bite lower than your head and shoulders.

Even so, the reprieve they provide is most welcome indeed.

I hear those hats are a lot more useful than they look.