It is fair to say that a fair number of us are attracted to the Riviera because of 300 days of pure sunshine that this part of the world boasts. Fears of skin related disorders and cancer have made us reconsider how we expose our flesh to this ball of fire. Sun screens and sun blocks with labels of SPF 25 or whatever have become the essential bit of kit when toddling down to the beach to settle for an hour or four to spit roast until tan has been acquired while trying to avoid the mid-day sun. The medical institutions have warned us of all the dangers that come with constant sun worshipping.

It is also a well known fact that when the sun shines something inside us comes alive and we are more than willing to face the challenges of daily life. With sunshine, we tend to forgive a multitude of sins that would normally plague us if the grey skies were to doom over us and we were faced with a succession of dull rainy days. This was apparent at the start of 2011 on the Riviera, when the heavens opened our morale was low and a thumping sense of apathy plagued us. Tuesday 11th of January we saw our first real day of sunny rays and all was well with the world. Facebook, Twitter and good old fashioned emails featured congratulatory side comments of 'Isn't it great to see the sunshine!'

Having stated the obvious, it was a delight to see that researchers believe they may have overstated the value of sunshine. Fact: Sunlight is the best source of vitamin D which plays a central role in cancer prevention. Deficiency is also linked to multiple sclerosis, heart disease and diabetes. Vitamin D is thought to slow cancer cell growth and spread.

While being aware that sunburn can be extremely dangerous, it has been observed that there were less cases of prostate, colon and breast cancer with folk living in the Mediterranean and other southern European countries, than those in the northern parts. As a result of paranoia, in England, parents wanting to protect their offspring from the punishing rays have subjected their babes to other problems. Rickets, a disease that has not reared its ugly head for over 80 years has made a significant appearance to raise the attention of the medics.

In conclusion, it is fair to say that a little bit of everything can't do you harm and it is a classic case of 'everything in moderation' and a good dose of common sense.