summer

All posts tagged summer

The Perils of Being Pale

Published August 12, 2013 by iftheshoefits

I am pale, painfully so, it’s my heritage.  I can go brown, or so I believe, but it would take about 6 months of gentle and continuous sun exposure.

During my mis-spent youth I spent a fortune on tanning lotions and potions, one of which I was so allergic to I needed anti-histamine cream to get the swelling down.  I did try a sun bed once, but, like my experiences with train toilets, it’s not something that bodes well for me.  I stripped off, put the tiny goggles on, allowed the top to lower automatically and obediently stayed under for the designated time.  Unfortunately, the hinge malfunctioned and I was trapped like a slowly roasting chicken.  Luckily for me, a queue was building up outside and an attendant came in to rescue me.  Not an experience I wish to repeat in this lifetime.  Embarrassment 10, Dignity 0.

So for the last 8 years or so I’ve come to love the pale and interesting look.  This summer has been amazing so far and I’ve accidentally allowed myself to burn a couple of times. Each time, I get some new tan lines and I go up one shade on the pantene colour chart.

Today, however, I’m scarlet.  Ouchily so.

Yesterday,  I was assisting Mr ShoeThatAlwaysFits on one of his jobs, we were on the coast, it was windy and a tad overcast.  No need for the suncream at all then.  That was until about 2pm when the sun well and truly put its hat on, we were only out in it for an hour or so, but that was enough.  Burned to a crisp.  Mr ShoeThatAlwaysFits was ok – a bit red around the gills, but otherwise fine.  I on the other hand, well, there’s only one word for me, scarlet.  Ouchilly scarlet.  You can see the strap lines of my vest, my watch line, even that I was wearing 2 different necklaces.  Oh, for a bit of foresight and a bandeau top.  But a bandeau top when you’re moving around unpredictably is an accident waiting to happen.  And there’s only so many embarrassing incidents I can cope with in one lifetime.

So, I’ll be taut and crisp for a few days, peel a bit, and then turn a slightly darker shade of pale.

Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside, Oh I do like to be beside the sea.  But, like Baz Luhrmann says, “Wear Sunscreen”.

Galileo, Galileo

Published July 24, 2013 by iftheshoefits

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There were thunderstorms here in the south west on Monday night – and pretty dramatic they were too.

I thought they might clear the air, reduce the humidity and make life a bit less clammy.  But alas, our Galileo thermometer has stubbornly sat with all of its balls down, which means it’s hot, damn hot, in fact it’s Copa Cabana hot.  Did I mention it was muggy.

It’s this flat, its insulation is inverted – in the summer it’s the equivalent of an oven, in winter we move onto full on Artic survival mode, wishing for a ball to float up.  Just one – that’s all we need.

The fan is still following me around like it’s my best friend, but with Mr ShoeThatAlwaysFits being home again, I have to share – It’s a nightmare.  We have to have it in the middle, so that both of us can feel the cooling effects – that’s a hard compromise to swallow.  I’ll share just about anything with him, but the lovingly circulated cool air – that should be mine first and foremost.  His body being bigger has a more efficient cooling system, so I should get the lion’s share of the cool air.  That’s not selfishness, it’s biology.

The sunshine is still a wonderful thing, but I long for a bit of a breeze, something to make us all a bit more comfortable.  And something that makes you less self conscious when you hug – at the moment it’s very much an eugh moment and I find myself quoting Blackadderisms, “Sticky the stick insect got stuck on a sticky bun”.

The office is a wonderful assortment of aromas too, sweat, feet and nerdy-types over-compensating on the deodorant front are not a pleasant mixture when you work in a recycled air environment.

So, although it’s summer and I’m loving it, just send the breeze my way.

I’m channelling Morecambe & Wise, “Bring me sunshine…”

Published July 20, 2013 by iftheshoefits

Some days I just skip out of bed – I love those days – today is one of them.  Well, when I say skip, I mean more of a jaunty jump.

It’s the sunshine, I’m not used to it.  Give me another week of this weather and I may even be able to acclimatise – another week like this, that’s crazy talk.  What do we think this is?  The summer of 1976 or something.

The good thing about this heat though is that I can eat crisps completely guilt free – I need to get salt back into my body and I think you’ll find that a lovely packet of salt n’ vinegar is a very efficient way to do it.  In a way, I’m following medical advice.

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Delapidation (buffing & puffing for summer)

Published July 19, 2013 by iftheshoefits

The only bad aspect of summer is that your body turns high maintenance overnight.
Gone are the protective layers of clothing & every limb being fully covered. Overnight we need to be silky smooth, glossy & glamazonian.
It’s hard work – we may as well admit it. There’s always something that needs attention – an area needing to be tweezed, waxed, exfoliated, buffed – and that’s without the endless battle to stay moisturised.
No wonder we get hot & bothered.

Heatwaving on with my life

Published July 16, 2013 by iftheshoefits

I’m from the north of Scotland, so to me this delightful weather is a heatwave – my blood starts to boil at about 24 degrees celsius so I’m way out of my comfort zone.

This summer reminds me of when we first moved down here in 2004 – I couldn’t believe how much warmer it was than the beautiful (but windy) north east.  And humid – I’d never experienced anything like it.  Neither had my hair.

I do love it though – it’s a bit too hot for me – but I’d rather this than the endless winter we’ve just kissed goodbye to.  At home, we don’t have inbuilt air-con so I just have an electric fan with a long lead that I take into each room – low tech, but boy does it help.  And the other half’s off exploring again, so I don’t have to share the bed – that would make it much harder – he’s big and he’s hairy – not the ideal combo for clammy nights.

But the sunshine brings out the best of everything so I’m happy for it to last all summer long.

My Shoe / Life / Work / Balance

Published July 9, 2013 by iftheshoefits

Some days, you just feel like you have it all.  

Sunshine, an achievable one day to-do list, beautiful & comfortable shoes (god, I really love wedges), and really wonderful friends.

Throw in a couple of new dresses, a beautiful manicure and some custom-made jewellery and I’m in heaven.  End the day with an exquisitely chilled NZ sauvignon blanc – seriously – this is a wonderful day.

I am truly thankful for lovely things and great friends.  

Summer – you’ve got to love it.

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