The First Sunburn of the Year

I was in London yesterday, at a conference for my new job. It was important to do it for all sorts of reasons, but inside I was gutted. It was the loveliest, sunniest day of 2008 so far and after a long hard week in my old job, my first acting up to cover Mutton, all I wanted to do was be on the allotment getting some seeds in the ground. Still, I did my duty and finally got away at about 6pm.

The journey back through London to the station was brilliant, the tube was stuffed with people who had obviously trawled through their wardrobes, shaking the mothballs out of their summer clothes. During the day the sun was powerful, but by 6pm they all looked slightly under dressed and a bit chilly. There were flip flops, tiny hotpants, Elvis-like sunglasses, hats, caps and titchy vest tops. There had also been some sporting events taking place, so there were tribal clutches of fans, faces painted, scarves held high, chanting loudly - and many drunk.

Almost all of them had been blessed with the first sunburn of the year and were clearly unaware of the fact. It increased my envy, I imagined them running towards the sun, shedding clothes and inhibitions on the way - exactly what I would have done given half a chance. The white silhouettes (can you have a white silhouette?) where sunglasses had sat were funny, the red necks and bald spots too. Lopsided women who had been sitting side on to the sun with one red side and one still pasty white.

The joy was short-lived as the train home was packed with smelly, snoring football fans.

And today, my only day off for 11 days and the first chance to get to the allotment in weeks, it's pouring with rain. Sigh.