Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to enjoy the sun and suffer
The pains and death from skin cancer,
Or to hide from the burning rays
And grow up with deformed bones,
Like the slum’s kids in Victorian London.
A few days ago I came across some interesting item that was reported in the News*
Yea, the Victorian childhood disease known as “rickets” is making it’s unwelcome comeback. Rickets is a softening of bones in children potentially leading to fractures and deformity, the predominant cause is a vitamin D deficiency.
http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-health-news/2008/11/19/rickets-returns-to-birmingham-65233-22290225/
And how do you stock up on Vitamin D?
Simpels, by exposure to ultraviolet B light (sunshine when the sun is highest in the sky).
But apparently, due to the hours of sunshine everywhere north of Birmingham (and no one mentioned in the News whether it would include the city or not), children increasingly suffer from Rickets, especially if they are dark skinned (as that makes it more difficult for the weak rays to stimulate the Vitamin D production in the body) or wear protective clothing for instance for religious reasons (-like the Burqua).
But then - even if the sun breaks through the northern blanket of clouds, you can’t just enjoy the good weather, because exposing yourself to the sun will give you skin cancer, as we all know since we are told every 5 minutes in "summer" (eg when it is a bit lighter during the rainy season).
…sometimes you just can’t win.
*So, you see, it is even for health reasons that I should go to Italy… if that isn’t a sign…
