bithbheo

Hi everyone.....read a lot of posts from those in UK coming here for a life out in the sun....

the current sun awareness campaign in Queensland hopefully will make you very sun aware.....before you head to Oz.

here is link to website.....please watch the videos under campaign materials......not to scare just make aware......seen too many results of the sun in my work.

http://www.health.qld.gov.au/sunsafe...de_tanning.asp

bourbon-biscuit

Yes, it's a serious issue but you can enjoy the sun and warmth AND be sensible. You won't catch me out in the middle of the day unless I'm in the shade and the four of us all wear factor 30+, hats and sunnies and none of this skimpy beach gear- rash tops (and shorts for kids) etc. I know it's hotter here but the sunshine seems less ferocious than in NZ somehow.

bithbheo

As i said be aware and do not be the ones doing lobster impressions on the beach or in the park

always make sure hats t shirts etc are cancer council approved for sun protection....sun penetrates a lot of the cheaper fabrics when in the sun for a few hours......make sure they have an SPF number


also to bear in mind to watch what sunscreens you are using and look at the labels......some are not protecting your body as much as we might think......and may be causing other long term damage.....



http://www.novazine.com.au/article_a...csunscreen.htm

carlap

Since coming to Oz (6 months) getting a tan seems as bad as smoking 40 a day. You cannot get much less than 30+ spf cream.

We are sensible, use cream, but still turning brown slowly ( never lobster pink). You can enjoy it and get a tan, just be sensible.

I used to go to Spain, Greece etc on 15 spf and never get burnt. Might be lucky, but I don't think so. I am not saying it is not a real problem, it is, but we came over partly for the sun and hiding away from it to obsessive levels can be just as unhealthy. Not suggesting you do, but lots of houses have blinds down all the time and we rarely see people sat outside.

We like the sunny hot weather and enjoy it in a sensible way, so can you !

coolerkingcooler

I'll be factor 30ing and hat wearing. I have read ages ago one here about the long lasting products but I have not used any in UK - I remember there were issues eg staining clothes which doesn't bother me (what a tramp). Do they work if you have sweated a lot?

Cooler

bourbon-biscuit

The problem is not just about burning though- it's about lifetime exposure as well so I'm keen to reduce that- especially for my kids. There's truth that some seem to go OTT wrg to avoiding sun exposure, and that's not healthy, but if you're the sort of family that likes to be outside then that's not going to be an issue here in the Southern Hemisphere.

coolerkingcooler- there are "all day" products (or at least I noticed them in NZ) but price wise they were mental.

DEEDEE01

Great post, I bought our factor 40 at Boots last week before we fly out !

suanne

hi , suanne here and i'm new today.to all brits thinking of migrating to oz.it's the best place in the world to live. sandy beaches, parks and gardens great friendly people and lots of social clubs for brits so they don't get homesick. jobs ARE available if you really look and rents are high but so are wages.if you're on a pension you can bring all or part of your english pension with you supplemented by an oz pension. on an aged pension you can get rent allowance too. there's reduction in train and bus fares for pensioners and medicare takes care of the medical bills. schools are great and there's agreat selection to choose from ,eg... catholic, lutheran aussie etc,aussies are laid back people and nothing fazes us.we love people to come and live here just be yourselves and read up on our lingo (language) we use slang alot too. so instead of saying how are you today we say '' oweryagoin? '' that's ow_er-ya-goin. gidday is the usual greeting we give to everyone and if you pronounce it as it's spelt, you'll be right mate. by the way this week the weather is going to be 40 plus celcius , but it's usually about 30-35c . love to hear from anyone thinking of migrating to my wonderful country....suanne

Grayling

No you can't.

pingpong

Yea, just see all those slogan on t shirts and face paint on Australia day down in Manly "F**k of Lebs", "We grew here You flew here", "F**k off we're full", This is Australia. We eat meat, we drink beer, and we speak f***kin English"......

Petals

Whatever pension you are due in UK will be paid here to you however it will not be increased from the day you access it. No indexation. Only US Brits have their pensions indexed, bone of contention with Canadian and Aus ex pats. We get a pension from UK and a part pension here in Aus. They adjust the Aus pension to take into account UK pension though. So if you were receiving full pension like my Mum then when she gets her UK pension they adjust it.

Centrelink and UK are linked.

davyjones

Wow that doesnt sound too inviting for a new arrival.... I mean, I eat meat and drink beer so I should be ok?

moneypenny20

There is a race problem down that area. You are unlikely to find that level of abuse in the majority of areas around Aus.

What's this and the pension thing got to do with being cancer aware

Aussie4me

My OH always ended up looking like a lobster, even after only a day or so. It didn't matter what SPF cream he used, and one time he was really ill. Now he always uses P20 which is one of those long lasting sun protection thingys. He has never burned since wherever we have been, (including Aussie). It was recommended to him by a doctor friend and he now swears by it. It is meant to last for up to 6 (or is it 8?) hours, including when you have been swimming, so presumably would not be affected by sweating?!

You can get it at airports or places like Superdrug or Wilkinson's in the UK (but our local Boots don't have it!)

Not sure if it works for everyone, but it certainly does for him

Lou

moneypenny20

Not sold here because a) it's only factor 20 and b) it's not advisable to rely on one application a day. If you're out in the sun for any length of time here, you should be applying factor 30+ 3 or 4 times in a day and still covering up. As the QLD health ad says - a tan is NOT healthy.