A (very unsexy) guide to surviving summer

Forget teeny bikinis and pretty baskets. I've learned what actually works in extreme heat...

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According to my parents, it’s barely stopped raining in Scotland since I called to wish them happy new year. I suspect they may be exaggerating slightly for comic effect, but I’m online enough to know that the weather in the UK has been… disappointing so far this year.

Now though, it seems the weather for ducks is on its way out. In Germany, high temperatures have already forced the closure of Euro 2024 fan zones in a host of cities. Hungary and Turkey are currently experiencing extreme heat storms, concerns are mounting for conditions at this summer’s Paris Olympics, and experts have warned of record breaking highs across much of the UK and Europe through July and August.

There’s a lot that could - and should - be said about the reasons for these conditions, and I’d suggest those levelling their anger at activists armed with soup might want to reconsider their priorities. That won’t change the forecast though - and already this week, I’ve had multiple friends tell me they’re concerned they won’t be able to withstand the heat on their holidays this summer.

So, as the mercury here hits 52 - yes, really - I thought it might be helpful to share a few things I’ve learned about coping with heat. Here then, are the genuinely practical, if not always exciting, things I can’t handle a Middle Eastern summer without…