Sunday 24 April 2016

Orange hands

This last week has proved that Spring sprang and the promise of Summer is coming. This current weekend, however, has proved that we live in England and should know better! This photo nicked off Facebook proves it all.
Today I will probably be mostly wearing warm clothing and lots of it! 

The postlady delivered the sweetest smelling letter I've ever had! Suzanne from No.38 http://lifeatnumber38.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/crafty-and-medical-week-ahead.html?m=1 sent it to me. I didn't know whether to drink it or bathe in it! 
Thank you Suzanne X The Rose lemonade is divine. I'm not sure of the spicy chai at all. I'll give it another go!

Orange hands.
I'll tell you the story before I show you. 
Monday it was cold, Tuesday it was warmer so I went and gardened, but when I sat out it was only halfy warm. Where the half of you is facing the sun, the other side is freezing cold. Wednesday, however, was 360 degrees warm. So, because I couldn't walk properly or bend or anything due to  non athletic gardening thighs from the day before, I sat and read my book. It was an unputdownable page turner. I read it til the end. 

Now, I have always always loved being outside and love to get a tan, despite all the skin cancer warnings. But now I'm getting quite the old biddy I seem to have developed a skin condition called PMLE - poly morph light eruption or something?!! It's an allergic reaction to one of the lights in sunlight. It triggers prickly heat all around my collar bone and shoulders, my forearms and the top of my feet and my shins. It's unsightly and sometimes itchy. So I now use factor 30 minimum when I go outside. I have yet to find the one with the right formula for me as some can aggravate the condition making my skin react faster!! So as I was reading I had factor 50 on round my neck chest and shoulders. I'd rubbed some in on my arms and legs. 
But I was out in the sun for a good two and a half hours from 3pm . I was so engrossed in the book I didn't realise I was getting sunburnt. 
After I came in and had a shower, I used my new expensive 'Atfersun'. I lathered it on. I went to bed. The usual prickly heat areas were hot and angry, so throughout the night I applied it liberally and often. Not needing to look where it was going. It did the trick. Soothed, moisturised and I looked forward to the effects of the - what I thought - deeply moisturising and nourishing - mysterious 'tan intensifier' it proclaimed proudly on the front. 

I got up next day, never noticed anything, went about my chores. It was only when I was doing some mending I'd been going to do all fortnight, mending bras - death by underwire was imminent unless I took action - that I stopped. And looked. And thought. Bloody hell Rachel your hands are filthy. My brain reasoned I must have picked something rusty up. My brain then reasoned, I had no rusty things TO pick up. 
These photos MASSIVELY UNDER ESTIMATE how orange my hands and between my fingers were.are.
These photos were taken after frantic scrubbing with exfoliator and pumice stone. 
Turns out, 
Tan Intensifier
Is sodding fake tan!!! 
They are still orange now. Four days later. In Gateshead yesterday I kinda fitted in with the locals but I was still mortified! 
My arms and legs look healthy, if a bit stripey. My face, where I rubbed in the residue, looks healthy where it touched. 
Orange betwixt my fingers.

It's as bad today. The photos really do not show up the orangeness. 
I'll be back soon to share the beautiful flowers and plants I've bought today from the garden centre! Bet you can't guess the colour! 

Lots of love from 
Rachel *oompa loompa* Radiostar xxx


25 comments:

  1. It could only happen to you Rachel. You've brightened (no pun intended) my day anyway. X

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    Replies
    1. Wive taken a photo of the tube for the next blog! I'm still rusty of hand!

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  2. Good luck trying to explain your orangeness to the class when you are back at school tomoorrow.

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    1. Hopefully they'll pay me no attention like normal!

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  3. OK I could have lived without that oompa loompa song going round in my head for the rest of the day.....but crikey....that does look very orange. Hope it doesn't last too long-x-

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    Replies
    1. I've tried swarfega, exfoliating scrub, fairy liquid. It's still there!

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  4. I've been in the garden all day and now I'm starting seize up, oh well at least it looks good out there.

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    1. Your garden us looking amazing so your hard work is paying off X

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  5. Love the 'sunny' post. Very warming.
    xx

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  6. Ooops-a-daisy. I can just imagine it! Sorry, but I had to laugh. The children will love it, I am sure.
    Good luck with the coming week - at least you'll have to be inside when it's cold and nasty.
    J xxx

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    1. One of us is off so well all have extra duties too. I always go outsid unless it's hurricane or torrential!

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  7. Sorry Rachel. I can't comment at all today because I'm rolling around the settee laughing my head off. xx

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    Replies
    1. Your love and support has been duly noted!!!!!

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  8. Oh my! Hope you return to normal soon! xx

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  9. Oh dear Thank goodness it will eventually wash off. Do you now have orange sheets too?
    Many, many years ago (70's ish) my mum was diagnosed as being allergic to the sun and had to use a total sun block. Back then there was only one type and it was so very expensive, today there's many to choose from.
    Carolx

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    Replies
    1. It should start wearing off soon - but I was applying it all night - had I known...I'd have left it on the shelf!!

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  10. Oh my lord I'm snorting loudly at this. Did HG think he had woken up next to an umpa lumpa? xx

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  11. Wish I could type sound effects, snorting with laughter here! xx

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    1. That's orangeist!!! I'd be laughing at it too!! I want my nice pale palms back!!

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  12. oh blimey. There aren't many bloggers who can make me cry so much that I have tears falling, but you do! You and your orange hands! ha ha ha.

    :O) xx

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    1. I'm touched by your kind words lady!!! Lol X

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  13. Oh goodness. Thanks for the warning. I do not look well in orange. I remember putting fake tan on as a kid. Not a pretty sight. Just keep saying - This too Shall Pass.

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