The North Wind and the Sun.

I remember years ago, in assembly at school hearing the story of Aesop’s Fables. The sun and the wind had a competition, to see which one, could get the Traveller to take his cloak off. The wind went first, but all that did was make him wrap himself up more. Then it was the sun’s turn, (there was no competition really) for very soon, the Traveller had to remove his cloak, because he was too hot!

I went to Malta recently and it was Very hot! A lot of things happened, in the 10 days that I was there, I basically put sun tan lotion on twice!

I didn’t realize just how powerful the sun is. I had a great tan, which I was pleased about. My friends and family back home, they were getting soaked, from the rain. Before I returned home, I was peeling, first on my shoulder.

I have paid the price, for not respecting the sun! In general, I have very good skin. Oh, my days, on my return, different part of my body was affected. One day, I was shocked when I saw my face, it was all rough by my chin, and dry. The only thing I put on my face is lipstick, no face creams, no night creams, no day creams, no foundation. I was embarrassed when I saw it.

Next my arms started to peel. I had gone into my local bank, and showed the cashier while I was in there. She said to me, “Go to ……. And buy Aloe Vera,” I did, but I wanted instant success, but there is no such thing.

I then saw my Vaseline intensive care Aloe Soothe lotion, on my shelf that I had bought, but had only used a few times, as I wasn’t keen on the smell. I had been using baby oil, after my bath but that too didn’t seem to do anything. I had told that to the Cashier too, but she had said, “Baby oil, isn’t going to do anything, get Aloe Vera.”

After my arms peeled, then it was the front of my legs, from below my knees to my ankles. Today I am still paying the price of using no sun tan lotion! My legs looked dreadful; I have Never peeled SO much in my life!!! The Vaseline, was fantastic, but there wasn’t an easy fix, I had burnt bad! I don’t know what degree it would be. I have been back home now, many weeks, and it doesn’t’ help that I haven’t been consistent in applying it day and night.

It also made me seriously think of skin cancer, this was just me once a year, I can’t imagine those who bake in the sun often. No one wants to sit in the shade in the hot sun on holiday. I think it was only the first day, that I sat in the shade, my legs though, they were not in the shade. I was genuinely worried for Meghan sitting next to me in the blazing sun, that was on our first day there, while we were waiting for our room to be ready.

My brother, asked me on my return to the UK, “Where next would you like to go?” I couldn’t think at the time, but after the ‘high’ of Malta, it came back to me that there is One other place on the beautiful Earth, where I have always wanted to visit, even before Malta!

That awesome, beautiful place, is also my Favourite accent in the whole wide world.

That place is, yes you have guessed is, Scotland!!!

My Mum went with a group, many years ago, for the day. When she came back, she said, “I see why the Queen loves it, it was beautiful, my eyes could not take in all the beauty, of it all.”

So, one day, I would like to visit Scotland, for a week or more. x