An observer from outer space, had he, she or it happened to glance down in the direction of Scotland would have noticed something unusual this weekend. Well, two unusual things – the first being Scotland itself instead of the normal bank of thick cloud that conceals it from curious extra-terrestrial observers. The second would have been a million glaring spots of whiteness rapidly turning pink as the entire nation stripped off for the first really sunny day of the year. This is the second stage of the Scottish tan and is also visible from space. The third stage – rumoured, but never actually seen – is when people actually go brown.
I’m still on stage two. Turns out you can’t make up for nine months of vitamin D deficit in one day without a little collateral damage…
Me too. I am aglow.
Why is it that sunburn emits such heat? Makes me wonder how much the global culture of suntanning is helping melt the icecaps.
Most scots don’t tan – they go a sort of lobster orange. This is one of nature’s warning colours and perhaps evolved to stop outer spacers thinking they could safely drop in. I mean it must look really scary from up there.
Mike – I’m glad it’s not just me…
Simon – that must be why all the ufos stick to the US?
haha i actually got a nice tan 3 weeks ago when i went out for a day long cycle journey (~72miles) but then again i am not from around these parts and we New Englanders do tan a bit, although i try not to, but as i am outside either working in the garden/forest or cycling its understandable
now i wont be blinded when i am looking north, this is good!
hmm should clarify, i go to school in leeds, hence me being over here, although seeing the scots from america would be impressive!
I imagine the canadians can get quite blinding at times too
Even as a blow-in, albeit from just over the border, I’ve succumbed – it’s a partial-scottish in that my high-sensitivity rain detector (aka my bald nut) is on the verge of going brown and my arms are as red as my t-shirt (see http://www.moaboutique.com/item/color_chart.jpg – row 2, column 3 for a colour check)
Scotland has the highest incidence of skin cancer in Europe. Not surprising even if it all takes place over three sunny days in the average year