The Four Oaks entrance to Sutton Park (Photograph: Nikhara Korpal)
A bit of sunshine and we all get excited, and why not? With temperatures hitting 30 degrees this week, it’s time to put the sun cream on and venture down to the beach, let’s enjoy because it won’t be long before the heavens open and we all get soaked again!
Here’s a top-ten list of my do’s and don’ts in the hot weather:
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Body odour is a big deal in the heat. Make sure you’re all fresh and sweat-free (Photograph: Paul Stein/Wikimedia)
Do wear antiperspirant or deodorant
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This is the number one complaint – Smelly people! Nothing worse than trying to eat a sandwich or being stuck in a lift, or on the bus, with someone who smells of BO. Keep a roll of antiperspirant or spray deodorant in your pocket and psstt psstt it on yourself when you need to. Plus, there’s nothing better when people say you smell good!
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Stay protected with lotion when out in the sun (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
Do wear Suntan lotion
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Do wear sun cream to protect your skin – a 30 factor is normally recommended but check with your pharmacist. This also minimises the risk of cancer from the exposed time in the sun – especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Wear sunglasses and protective clothing such as wide-brimmed hats, long sleeves and trousers. Woolly jumpers and suits are not recommend!
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Get that summer playlist on, preferably the best of the 80s and 90s, or some jazz funk (Photograph: Wikimedia)
Do blast the music!
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With some chilled out tunes – sit in the garden in a shaded area, or use a sun shade, put some tunes on, and relax and enjoy. Please make sure you have a system which can blast on very high volume, as it won’t be long before your neighbour cranks up his heavy tunes consisting of ‘The Frog Song’ to try and drown your cool sophisticated sounds! Personally. I recommend some jazz, soul and funk:
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It’s never too hot not to have a water fight (Mario Antonio Pena Zapatería/Wikimedia)
Do get the water hose out
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Get the water pistols, water slider and paddling pool out and just soak yourself and everyone else, have friends and family around – make sure you are wearing a water resistant tanning cream – laugh and have lots and have fun. Do wear swimming trunks as it’s not a great look when you do it in your underpants and you get wet!
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Whatever you’re drinking in the heat, stay hydrated (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
Do have chilled drinks
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Whether alcoholic or non alcoholic – fill the glass up with lots of crushed ice and top it up with your favourite drink, so check the freezer and make sure you’ve got some ice – I recommend a fruity flavoured thirst quenching cider!
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Light summer wear in appropriate in the hot weather (Photograph: Kopfloser Böhringer)
Do wear light and appropriate clothing
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Don’t fancy seeing a thong in an office environment or down at the local supermarket? What you wear in your own garden is up to you (though, watch out for the wondering neighbour , “Ooh, I was wondering whether your hedge needed a trim!”)
Light colours also absorb less heat and you look better, darker the skin – lighter the clothing gives a great balance.
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Do go for a drive or hit the beach
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Windows down, sunglasses on and play some acid jazz music. Do it in a leafy area of the Midlands, otherwise in some areas you may be deemed a kerb crawler! Yikes!
Driving to a nearby beach and watching the sun go down on the sea is a must! Beaches in Wales are wonderful. Beaches in Birmingham are non-existent.
A shot of Rhossilli Beach in Wales (Photograph: Nikhara Korpal)
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Make sure pets get plenty of shade and hydration in hot weather (Photograph: R Bennett)
Do leave lots of water out in bowls for pets/wildlife
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In this dry and hot weather, domestic animals or wildlife need water too. Don’t take them in the car and leave them locked in there, though taking a bird in a car might be difficult, to be fair. Get them plenty of shade, water and hydration.
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Ice Cream, You Scream, We All Scream! (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
Do eat lots of ice cream
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Make your own knickerbocker glory (remember those?) Go to the supermarket, buy a minimum of 4 flavours of ice cream (cookies caramel, vanilla, strawberry and mint are my favourites), take several giant scoops of each and put them in the biggest bowl in the world!
Spray cream on top and eat and eat and eat- there should be no restriction as to how much you eat! For the healthy option though, put some berries on top.
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It’s not hot often in the UK, so don’t keep complaining about the weather
Don’t complain it’s too hot
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It’s annoying we only get a few days a year – enjoy it and share the moment. Yes, take a selfie, family selfie, friends selfie, a selfie selfie even, and post it out.
Grab a selfie in the sunshine, immortalise it while it lasts (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
Chilling with friends in the sun in this shadow selfie (Photograph: Nikhara Korpal)
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Vimal Korpal
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