It’s a Dog Life 33

My name is Tony Lucky Dog Wilson, and, I am ginger.

There, I’ve said it.

Of course my sister and my mum were both flaming red heads in their youth – (on a familly holiday to Norway long long ago, they were both frequently stopped in the streets of Oslo by strangers, asking if their hair was “real” and several times had to pose for photos -real camera photos mind you, not yer dgital selfie).

Photos from my school days betray a slight auburn tinge, and of course my beard has gone from red as my sisters hair, to ginger, to salt and pepper, to white stripes, to auditioning for Santa. Only my Bond villian eyebrows still carry a trace of bronze.

Following type, I have always had pale as milk complexion and freckles, and I burn and I burn and I burn. No amount of solar radiation produces anything other than angry pinkness, angry redness, or, after one disasterous familly holiday to Bournemouth, angry blackness (I was still peeling in October).

I can burn on a cloudy day, Arran folk festival 198? – Tony the human match (pink head, white body), I can burn sitting in the shade but caught by reflected light (different Arran folk festival), and I can burn inside with the sun shining through glass (numerous pubs and school rooms).

So naturally I have learned to be cautious. My time in Australia (1997 high summer) was mostly spent painted white with factor 50, and a hat, flitting- bat like- from shade to shade. When they talk about people having to hide from our recent spate of (unseasonal?) sunshine, and the risk to “Scottish” people, they mean, me.

I have in fact managed to navigate the last two weeks of solar radiation, with large hats, long sleeves,and only going out at night. That is, untill this weekend.

Life took Chris and I to Edinburgh, and on a whim we went to visit a good friend who has moved to Portobello – I have never been before.

It has a charming small seaside town atmosphere, and a delightful seafront promenade, where we duly had lunch then promenaded. Yes, long sleeves, Yes hat, but rookie mistake, not only am I deceived by the cool sea breeze into misjudging the ferocity of the day. I mill around in the full gaze of sol while Chris charity shops (instead of senssibly sneaking away to some darkened corner), I am also betrayed by my sartorial choices – my “smart” Panama hat, worn for a day out with my wife, is not the impenetrable shield of my all weather kevlar and canvas Indiana Jones sun hat.

In consequence my head, neck and face are not fully defended. And when you’re a ginger, not fully defended, is not defended at all!

It could have been worse. It has in fact been much much worse, still the unwelcome return of “the human match” added a smarting sting to an otherwise lovely day out. And I’m going to walk on hot coals?

Next week on IaDL : The band is back! and pass the sunscreen.