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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 11:17 pm
by Ted
I normally just wear jeans and a T-shirt in summer and wrap up warmer in winter. The only bit of work gear I wear daily are my steel toe capped boots.
But I have a job in Africa and it is going to be hellishly hot.
I don't think jeans are the way forward.
But I have been looking at clothes by Dickies etc and the trousers etc are all part cotton/part polyester.
I don't really want polyester in my clothes if I am in a seriously hot environment.
Where can I get some quality cotton work clothes? What makes are best? I need to stock up as once I am out there I am in the middle of nowhere for three months.
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 3:52 am
by lutonlagerlout
i usually just get cheap t shirts from matalan,I'm not a big fan of that dickies stuff
always best to keep covered up in the extreme heat and wear a hat
you will probably need some Deet and stuff like that as well ted
what part you going to?
i went to Kenya about 10 years ago and wouldnt go back if you paid me
cheers LLL
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 6:37 am
by Dave_L
Long distance contract or what?? :p
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 8:40 am
by Ted
lutonlagerlout wrote:what part you going to?
i went to Kenya about 10 years ago and wouldnt go back if you paid me
Angola.
It is the trousers I am more concrened about. I have loads of T-shirts but I think jeans will get too hot and am worried that most cotton trousers will just rip/wear out.
Were you working in Kenya?
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 6:05 pm
by Dave_L
I wear polyester trousers from our local plant hire shop, they aren't heavy like denim jeans - and when they get wet, they dry out quickly.
Plus they're hard wearing.
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 6:42 pm
by Ted
I will buy a pair of Polyester/cottons!
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 6:46 pm
by Dave_L
.............or shorts on under your overalls depending if you are getting down and dirty!
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 7:24 pm
by Ted
Polyesters sound good for the rainy season.
I am a manager so have a load of Angolans, Chinese and Filipinos to the dirty work. It sounds easy (aside from the language barrier)!
Mosquitoes are my main worry. Malaria is not a nice disease and I will be in the thick of it in a high malarial zone which is why I want to wear trousers and long sleaves at all times regardless of the heat and however uncomfortable it may get...
4.30am starts out there you know?
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 9:25 pm
by lutonlagerlout
i went sea fishing and on safari,but the grinding poverty got to me in the end
every single person we met was begging for money after 50 times before breakfast it starts doing your head in
we got a cheap deal cos my mrs worked for an airline , but every tom,dick and harry was on us like flies
deet is the best stuff for repelling mossies but you still need to take the anti malarial stuff
malaria is a killer for us westerners
good luck ted
LLL 
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 9:37 pm
by Ted
lutonlagerlout wrote:i but you still need to take the anti malarial stuff
You can't take the anti malarial stuff long term (ie, for months at a time)!
You have to go without and head straight for a hospital at the first sign of illness is the advice I have been given but I am still checking!!!
I went to Luanda, the capital, recently and didn't get bitten once. If you have to work in that environment you need a fan on you or air con;that keeps the buggers at bay!
My work is in Luanda, a fairly developed city really but one where crime is fairly rife. As long as I am in a bar with a fan on me at sunset, then bed down in an air con bedroom I should be OK; touchwood!
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 11:55 pm
by matt h
get down to army surplus store..Light weight mossie nets, light weight trouses and decent light weight tops...not very sylish though, but very hard wearing and dirt cheap... dont forget your yellow fever , swamp fever ... etc and only drink bottled water...
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 8:42 pm
by Mikey_C
The Mrs always gets bitten when we are away, which is nice because I get left alone, however, evetually the ear ache got to me and I had to sort something out, and as LLL says DEET is the way forward and to that end I used and recommend BENS 100, the name comes from the fact that it is 100% DEET, takes colour off clothing, varnish off wood (bars -- supported by me during holidays), but this Mrs hasn't been bitten once, as a bonus I think the Mrs said it was on offer in lloyds sweetieshop aswell.
I guess you leaving that horrible job with all those problems (wall insulation, unlevel floors, dodge block work etc) behind !!
best of luck mate,
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 9:41 pm
by Dave_L
Lloyds Sweetieshop?? 
haha.......
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 9:47 pm
by Ted
Mikey_C wrote:I guess you leaving that horrible job with all those problems (wall insulation, unlevel floors, dodge block work etc) behind !!
No I am coming back to that next year hopefully.
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 2:15 am
by matt h
sucker for punishment or what? enjoy the respite m8, hopefully the building will be still standing when you get back:D