Tan maintenance conundrum 

Having spent four days solid on the beach in Sitges last week, I picked up quite the tan. As in, every single person I’ve seen since I got back has been stunned at just how dark I’ve gone. I love lying in the sun. And it shows…    

After a massive breakfast in the morning, I’d take myself down to the beach for between five and six hours of non-stop sunbathing, fuelled by cold drinks and some marvellous books on my Kindle. It was, without any exaggeration, pure heaven. The warmth, the sunshine, the swimming in the sea. A recipe for relaxation. 

But now I’m back in London, the challenge is maintaining this tan, in the absence of any Spanish sunshine. I mean, after diligently oiling up, turning over, following the sun and avoiding tan-marks (I was on the Platja dels Balmins, after all…) I don’t want to see this fade. Or worse still, peel off like a layer of old flakey paint. 

Yes, I’ll be back there in about six weeks, to enjoy Sitges Pride. But in the meantime, I love this tan. I feel healthy and more, so look healthy. So there’s only one thing for it: moisturiser. And lots of it… 

It’s not like there’s going to be much in the way of London sun any time soon. And even if there is, I don’t my neighbours would take too kindly to me tanning ‘desnudo’ in our shared garden. 

London really needs somewhere you can sunbathe naked. Really. 

And while I’m at it, a lot more sunshine.