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8 Apr 2021 15:09
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We thought
2020 was a tough year but so far 2021 isn’t shaping up to be much better. Despite a successful vaccination programme,
which was heralded as our road back to freedom, a return to "normal” life still
seems like a long way off. But why?
A journalist
in the Sun News recently wrote about living under one of Heathrow’s flight paths
and is seeing planes land "with baffling regularity”. She writes that approximately 20,000 people
are arriving in the UK each day and 40% of those are "holidaymakers” arriving
from other countries.
According to Border Force figures released last week, up to
80-90% of people passing through Gatwick Airport and the Eurostar terminal at
London’s St Pancras station are holidaymakers, compared with between 20% and 30%
landing at Heathrow.
A Border Force agency staff member told The Times that one
visa was granted to a tourist from Peru who gave their reason for travelling to
the UK as "to visit Big Ben”.
They added:
"As long as they’ve got an address where they say they’ll quarantine, and
they’ve completed their pre-departure tests, they’ve got their certificates and
everything else, they’ve got means and a return ticket, we’ve got no grounds to
refuse them.”
So, if
Covid-tested tourists are coming here, why are we grounded for the foreseeable
future?
Here at
Techniblock HQ, we got excited about last Monday’s announcement and hoped that the
PM would announce the easing of restrictions and the opening of travel so that
people could take that much-needed holiday (and, of course, buy some
Techniblock sunscreen 😊).
However, the
virologists and epidemiologists that have become part of our every day news are
still whispering about variants and potential third lockdowns and so the ban on
"non-essential travel” abroad remains in place and the doom and gloom
contingent amongst us are saying there will be no summer holidays abroad for
Brits this year.
Life is a
risky business. How much longer are we
expected to stay at home and keep socially distanced? It’s been a year and still the prospect of "normal
life” remains elusive. We all know that viruses mutate but more than 32 million
people have had at least one jab, and by July, everyone should be vaccinated, including
the vulnerable. Isn’t it time to accept
that there will always be an element of risk in life and that now is the time
to start living properly again, seeing friends and family, enjoying a pint in
the pub and, yes, a holiday abroad with guaranteed sunshine, blue skies and a
suitcase packed with swimwear, flip flops and some Techniblock sunscreen!
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1 Apr 2021 10:00
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What's actually happening with holidays this year?
On April 5, and then again on April 12, the Department for
Transport's Global Travel Taskforce will be announcing the plan for restarting
overseas holidays, as we've known since Feb 22. It is likely they will announce
the resumption of overseas holidays to a limited number of destinations on or
around May 17.
OK, so why does the news say "holidays banned until
July on pain of a five grand fine?"
On Feb 22, Boris Johnson announced that holidays would be
banned until May 17 ("at the earliest").
Currently, that ban is achieved through the "stay at
home" rule - the one that says you can't leave your house except for
specific reasons, and holidays aren't one of them.
That stay at home rule comes to an end on Monday (29 March).
Thus, the government needs a new rule to stop people going on holiday between
Mon 29 March and Mon 17 May. Without a new rule, we could all have hopped on a
plane on Monday. That's all it is - a little gap in the legislation that they
needed to fill with a new rule, doing what they always said they were going to
do.
Why does the new law last until July then?
Just in case. The thing that could still cause a problem is
a new variant that's resistant to the current vaccines. But right now, there
doesn't seem to be one. As soon as overseas holidays start again, which we
expect to be on or around May 17, we expect they'll either repeal or supersede
the law that coming in from Monday.
What should we do for the moment?
We understand the UK government still advises holidaymakers
to wait until their report in early April before changing any travel plans.
Matt Hancock, the Health Minister, said to Sky News on last week "the
questions of whether people will be able to travel abroad this summer are going
to be addressed by the Global Travel Taskforce, which is reporting around 12
April…the earliest date by which we will allow for international travel…is 17
May. That has not changed."
So, it's up to you whether you want to book ahead for the
summer now. There are arguments for and against - with the main argument in
favour, of course, being that once the announcement is actually final, everyone
will want to book at once, prices will likely go up and packages will likely
sell out.
If you do book now, it’s recommended that you make sure
you've booked with as much flexibility as possible and that your holiday can be
cancelled or amended easily if your plans need to change.
Once you’ve booked, then of course it’s time to think about
what to pack so don’t forget your essentials – Techniblock sunscreen andPeaceful Sleep insect repellent. And
even if your plans change, our products have no expiry date because they are
aerosols (except for the face cream and lip balm) so you don’t have to worry
about use by dates if that much-needed holiday gets pushed back a few weeks.
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31 Mar 2021 17:44
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People do the strangest things in the hope of avoidingmosquito bites. They burn cow dung, coconut shells or coffee. They drink ginand tonic. They eat bananas. They spray themselves with mouthwash or slatherthemselves in clove/alcohol solution. And they rub themselves with Bounce! Youknow, those heavily perfumed sheets that you put in your tumble dryer!!! None of these techniques have been tested tosee if they actually do keep mosquitoes away, but that doesn't stop people fromtrying them apparently!
Most people, however, opt for an insect repellent and wethink we have one of the best in Peaceful Sleep. Manufactured in South Africa,this is the number one choice for safari rangers who spend all day, every dayin an environment that is rife with bugs of every kind.
Peaceful Sleep contains DEET, which has been shown to beboth safe and effective. DEET isshorthand for the chemical N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, the active ingredient inmany insect repellents. A 2015 article in the Journal of Insect Scienceexamined the effectiveness of various commercial insect sprays, and productscontaining DEET proved the most effective and long lasting. Although there wassome early concern about its safety, tests, observational studies andintervention trials have found no evidence of adverse side effects associatedwith recommended DEET use.
Peaceful Sleep, as well as being highly effective atpreventing insect bites, is also reasonably pleasant to use. The clean, clear spray is light andnon-greasy on the skin, which makes it great for people with sensitive skin,and it deters bites from mosquitoes, flies, midges, ticks and fleas for 8+hours. It’s available in an easy-to-apply spray or a stick to target morespecific areas such as the ears, face and neck.
Stock up at today!
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17 Jun 2020 9:30
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We may not be able to travel now but there’s nothing stopping us from dreaming about the next adventure or reminiscing about the last one.
We were lucky enough to squeeze in a visit to Vietnam just before the world shut down and, as you would expect from a company that sells sunscreen for a living, we are already planning our post-pandemic adventures.
We discovered Techniblock sunscreen through our love of travel. This superb South African sun protection kept us sunburn-free during the relentless searing heat of an African safari. It was hot and sticky searching for lions and giraffe in the bush but Techniblock prevented us from burning and kept on doing it’s job when we hit the pool for a much needed cool off the minute we returned to our safari lodge. That was many years ago and Techniblock is as good now as it was then. We’ve enjoyed many amazing holidays since and have never had a single incident of sunburn, despite long days on the beach and several dips in the sea to freshen up.
We are in unprecedented times at the moment but it won’t last forever, things will return to some semblance of normality and we hope and pray, for the sake of the travel industry, that it will be sooner rather than later. In the meantime, we’re spending our lock down days compiling a must-visit wish list and counting the days until we can pack our suitcase and jet off to somewhere hot and sunny once again.
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8 Jun 2020 13:17
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This SPF 50 Active Performance Sunscreen has been designed for
outdoor enthusiasts, athletes and is the perfect skin protector when training,
enjoying water sports such as windsurfing, sailing and scuba diving. Just one
application will provide protection for several hours, even in high
temperatures.
The main base for many of the more traditional sun lotions and creams available
today are oils and emulsifiers; these ingredients are used to encapsulate the
UV filters which, when applied to the skin, tend to leave behind a greasy
residue, especially with a high factor protection. The higher the SPF, the more
UV filters in the formula, and this often makes them sticky and uncomfortable
to apply and wear. These filters also
stain light clothing but Techniblock’s anti-stain technology helps to minimise
the risk of staining*, caring for your clothes as much as your skin.
Also, oils and emulsifiers break down in water and, therefore, the lotion has
to be re-applied frequently, particularly after swimming.
Techniblock is different. UV filters are encapsulated in an
ethanol-based spray that evaporates on contact to leave a transparent but
effective and very water-resistant UV barrier. Even while swimming, Techniblock
keeps on working to protect so you can enjoy the water for longer, safe in the
knowledge that the powerful, modern formula will keep working.
The new Techniblock SPF 50 range is revolutionary and one of the first of
it's kind on the market. Designed to protect in even the harshest
environments, it is ideal for water sports because it can be applied directly
to wet skin. Recommended by the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) the SPF 50 Wet
and Dry is a firm favourite with boaters and sailors, as well as perfect for
water babies who love to keep cool in the pool.
Non-greasy, fragrance-free and breathable, Techniblock has anti-pore blocking
technology, making it very suitable for sensitive skin, particularly if you’re
prone to prickly heat. This irritating skin condition is aggravated
by high temperatures and rubbing thick and gooey creams into the skin just
makes it worse. According to our customers,Techniblock keeps
prickly heat at bay so you can enjoy the sun without worrying about nasty and
irritating skin rashes.
It also provides instant protection in one quick application, unlike some other
sunscreens where you have to wait for up to 45 minutes before going out in the
sun in order for the protection to take effect, so it’s easy and convenient to
use. The ideal solution for people who hate the fuss and bother of applying
sunscreen. It can also be applied to the head, thus reducing the threat of
sunstroke.
Developed in South Africa, where they certainly know a thing or two
about the sun, Techniblock is a tried and trusted brand that has been protecting
skin for over 20 years. Packaged in a sealed, airtight container, the formula
is not compromised after opening so there’s no need to discard half-used
product, making it great value for money, and the twist-top locking lid ensures
no risk of spillage in the bottom of a bag.
Techniblock has broad spectrum protection.This means that it
protects against both UVA and UVB protection. UVA is associated with skin
ageing because it affects the elastin in our skin which leads to wrinkles and
brown pigmentation. UVB is more associated with sunburn and has strong links to
skin cancer.
A large can of SPF 50+ will provide an adult with all over sun protection for
an average of 10-12 days. Apply in a sheltered area to ensure even coverage and
enjoy a sunburn-free summer.
*To minimise yellow staining on light clothing, apply sunscreen and
allow to dry thoroughly before dressing.Do not spray directly onto fabric.If staining occurs, this can be removed by pre-wash soaking in Vanish
Gold or similar.
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24 Mar 2020 17:10
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The future, certainly in terms of travel, is looking very uncertain at the moment. We are 100% behind the #stayhomestaysafe mantra that is echoing around the world because the sooner we kick this virus to the kerb, the sooner we can reconnect with our loved ones and our love of visiting different countries.
As a small, family-run business, we have been hit particularly hard by the Coronavirus and the impact it is having on the world. As people come to grips with holidays being cancelled and the prospect of getting away from it all is nothing but wishful thinking right now, buying sunscreen is without a doubt (and unsurprisingly) the last thing on anyone's mind.
However, sun protection isn't just for a trip to Spain or South Africa, Asia or America. As I write this, it is only mid-March, the first day of the UK's lockdown, and the sun is shining brightly in the sky. I, for one, am grateful for that because blue skies and sunshine always cheers me up. Hundreds of people will be taking advantage of the good weather to tidy up the garden, take the dog for a walk, enjoy a run or a bike ride (while we still can) and this means that there's lots of UV bouncing around.
As we move fully into spring, as the weather (hopefully) continues to get warmer, everyone should be applying a bit of sunscreen while sitting in the garden.
We are still open, we are online and we are staying at home to run our business. You can buy from us without having to "come into the shop", pay us without having to handle money, and take delivery without having to see the courier. Parcels can be left in a safe place.
We are taking all necessary precautions to ensure that our parcels are packed cleanly and safely; we are a family-run business, so we don't need to have contact with anyone outside of our family to service orders. We wash our hands regularly and use hand sanitiser gel (yes, we managed to get some!)
What's more, we NEED you as much as you NEED sunscreen when it's hot! Please don't forget us and don't forget your sunscreen. Techniblock has NO EXPIRY DATE so you can buy now and use it at any time. You won't be housebound and grounded forever. We will be able to get out and about again before too long, to visit family and friends, both here in the UK and abroad, so be prepared for summer, be prepared for the lockdown to end, get ready to jump on a plane/boat/cruise and start travelling again and buy some sun protection now! Protecting your skin with Techniblock will help us to protect the little business that we have been growing and nurturing over the years and we want to survive this unprecedented situation as much as we want everyone to survive this dreadful virus.
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