My right hand is now a fetching shade of purple, but at least it doesn’t really cause me any discomfort any more. As predicted, the children were very interested by my red hands and neck, asking me what had happened.

I don’t think that they really understood my answer, however. Asian people do change colour from exposure to the sun, but generally not as rapidly as I do or with such negative effects. Nor do they turn quite the same disconcerting shade as me and my pasty-skinned fellow Northern Europeans. I can understand their concern.