Like most of you I wouldn't go near St Tropez during the season, preferring my sun bleached hut in the small fishing village of Guissan, but at this time of the year there's only one place for me, and that's on ST's most renowned Tahiti Beach, I can tell you. Made famous by Brigitte Bardot, and infamous for its nudity, I love nothing more than a game of naked volleyball at The Flobbalob Club.

While relaxing in the hot sun after a particularly hard session, I couldn't help but be reminded of a recent letter from Barry Gibbon at T-Pee in Droitwich. ‘Dear Doc, I'm a one man band printer, operating out of a Nissan hut at the back of the Pukka Pie factory off the M42. Until recently I've been drying ink in between print colours using my wife's hairdryer, but it's got to stop - the Mrs is starting to look like Don King on a cattle prod, and besides, business is picking up and I think it's time to invest in a spot curer. I've had a look at a few but I'm confused - do I want ceramic elements or lamps, freestanding or built in, and do I need a timer, and should it be constantly on or flash on and off with a sensor, and... ?'

Whoah there Barry, turn down your thermostat to 2, your belt speed to one, free index your auto and hold the Doctor's hand.

First of all, and this is personal choice, I'm not a big fan of built in flash curers - I know the stand alone one's usually mean wires all over the floor, and ink reps tripping and wearing a tub of lycra base for a hat, but I like the flexibility of being able to move them exactly where I want them, directing heat to very specific areas.As for your elements - ceramic tend to be cheaper I guess, but as you know you can get the odd cold spot and end up with a sticky patch of ink. Next best might be those fiendishly clever cartridges that can slide into your spot curer. They give a much flatter all over heat, and when they eventually die you don't need to buy a whole new unit, just slide a new one into your existing stand. But my favourite I think are the ones with a nice row of lamps - you get massive heat and more light than Paul experienced on the road to Damascus. One day Brigitte and I will retire to Tahiti beach, but in the meantime they also deliver an additional bonus; five minutes a day under the lamps is saving us pounds at the tanning salon* Until next month my friends, yours, nicely cured, Dr. H.

* Do not try this at home - Dr H is a highly trained professional, with skin like a Cowboy's hat.

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