My tips to stay cool in a heatwave

When I was small, the summer holidays stretched out marvellously in a haze of playing outdoors, reading under shady trees, building camps and making 'perfume' out of rose petals in jam jars of water. (Left to fester in the greenhouse for months until it went slimy, and poor Mama T had to dispose of it.) As an adult, however I've never been a particularly big fan of summer.

Too hot to think straight, feeling sticky even immediately after showering, and sensing my skin start to burn through the factor 50 as soon as I step out of the door; it's really not my cup of tea. Not to mention feeling too hot to properly enjoy a cup of tea.

If you are like me and finding the heatwave a bit of a challenge, here are the top four tips that I use to stay even a fraction cooler in these sticky days...

1. Ice - I carry a frozen water bottle with me, all year round like a security blanket. Not only is it deeply refreshing to drink, it also feels amazing on your pulse points, on the back of your neck or on the forehead to rapidly get your temperature down. (Pop it in a fabric bottle sleeve to stop the condensation making your bag soggy!)

2. A reverse hot water bottle - Fill it up and put it in the fridge a couple of hours before you go to bed. I have one for my feet and one for my tummy, and whilst they warm up a little overnight, they definitely help me to get off to sleep much quicker, even when the bedroom temperature is in the 20s.

3. Mint infused pampering - Whilst a cold shower feels refreshing, your skin will do everything it can to warm you back up immediately afterwards. A lukewarm shower (not hot) just before bed with mint shower gel or soap will cool the skin down beautifully.

4. Come to see us at Happy & Glorious - we have the air conditioning on, it's lovely and cool and we'd be delighted to see you!

I'd love to hear your hot tips for staying cool...