What sort of hoses do we recommend, I'm thinking of one of these...  
All of the 'normal' hoses we've bought here have turned into a sticky mess because of the heat/sunshine...  
Sorry no relevant expertise, I only connect ours to the cold water supply  
I've got one of those wind up reel things that makes me look like Mr Rusty everytime I wind the hose back in.  But it does the job and has lasted years (that's doomed it)
Like this...?  
No they're shite.  If you get a jam you sometimes have to take it apart
More like separate buys of 

 + 

Although IIRC both were Hozelock.  I still have loads of excess hose I cut off but it comes in useful for all sorts of stuff (like drains for fish ponds)