There are some things that you should know living in Melbourne…

1. Always be prepared for any weather
2. If it’s spring and you are walking through a park… keep your eyes out for magpies coz they hurt (so I’m told) if they get you in the back of the head.
3. If you are out in the middle of the day you should have sunscreen on… please see point 1

This weekend I have been away celebrating the bride to be who is also soon to be my sister-in-law and it has been quite an extravagant weekend… we have had delicious high tea, dinner by the sea, a spa, movies and a day at the hot springs down on the peninsula. This last stop was something that I had not done before, in fact before I got the invitation I didn’t even know that the peninsula had hot springs… but they do and they are actually very very lovely. Anyway, while at the springs last weekend I got really sunburnt… but it wasn’t the sunburn that irritated me most, although it was annoying and kinda sore, it was actually the fact that I should have known better.

I live in Australia… we are right under the ozone hole… we get burnt… all the time… and even though it was freezing cold and very very very overcast, I should have known better… As a kid, I was always told you can still get burnt if it’s cloudy, you can still get burnt if it’s cold… you can still get burnt even if you do all the right things. So… as I have now had my first burn of the season…. before summer has even started… here is my warning to all of you, who like me simply forgot what I know… even if it’s cold and overcast… if you are outside in your bathers… put on some sunscreen… or spend a week sticky from aloe vera and unable to carry your handbag with the shoulder strap…