I am a fan of sunbathing, and only ever in the sun. I've never been on a sunbed (by which I mean a tanning booth, as I think you guys across the pond call them ), and I never use fake tan. I hate the streaky effect and the smell of those products. I suppose can't shake off the memories of the girls in my teenage days who looked like they bathed in Tango every morning, either!

I don't believe that I have any lineage that would lend me 'olive skin', but I don't usually burn and go brown quite quickly. I of course still use high factor suncream and moisturise my skin when I come out of the sun. I definitely don't want to end up like a leather satchel!

I actually find that I work very well when out in the sun, and by work I mean revision, going over notes, writing essays, etc. Last year in April, the weather was glorious here, and I spent all my time in the garden sat in my sun-lounger revising for my exams, and got so much done. The weather wasn't so kind this year, and I found it a lot harder to keep the concentration up. The sun has only recently showed its face over here, and I spent the weekend out in a quiet corner of Hyde Park writing my 2nd year lab report. Again, got way more done than I ever would sat at my laptop in my room. Perhaps I am just more relaxed and motivated when outdoors in the warmth, and less prone to distraction.

Perhaps it is partly a British thing, too. The high sun is a fickle friend over here. As quickly as he comes, he's gone, so I suppose we take full advantage in that short space of time!