The message
from "Jim Paterson" contains these words:

how does one combat 'Gardeners'
Wilt' which is what I think I may have contracted during these extreme
temperatures we have been experiencing lately?
I have to work other peoples gaardens every day and apart from the odd glass
of squash or tea I have to just get on with it. Maybe I'm just starting to
feel my age but seriously how do others cope with the heat and still work
through the day outdoors and not always with a shady area.?

Hot innit; I forked wet hay (thunderstorms last night) into a trailer
for 3 hours this morning. It was preferable to working in the suntrap
walled garden which would have been even hotter. Here's what I find
useful;

All-cotton clothes including socks; loosely covered up is cooler, as
well as safer, than shorts/vest. Non-oily high factor sunscreen. Shady
hat, all-round wide brim. A **large** bottle of tap water for frequent
swigs as well as whatever drinks you're offered; drink at least a pint
an hour. Rest and cool down (preferably in shade) for a few minutes
every half hour. Pace yourself by alternating periods of active and
gentle tasks; for instance instead of mowing all the grass then trimming
all the edges, mow/trim/mow/trim. A fulltime gardener I know
half-freezes her bottle of water before she starts work. I put ice into
mine; Ikea sell a 99p icecube tray which makes long narrow sticks of
ice, which slip easily into a bottle neck.If you sweat a lot, eating
bananas keeps up your potassium level, and a cotton bandanna is useful
for wiping.

Janet.