I have to admit that some weeks it’s not easy trying to come up with ideas (and enough words) to fill the allotted space that yours truly is given.
That I always come up with something, often at the 11th hour, and occasionally at one minute to midnight, is due to that old writer’s combination of 10 per cent inspiration and 90 per cent perspiration.
Fortunately, for those in close proximity to me while I’m working, I use a rather effective deodorant every day.
Other weeks, I have so many ideas elbowing their way to get a place in the front row of my thought processes, I don’t know where to start.
And then there are weeks like this when I feel the need to elaborate upon and ruminate a little more on a subject I wrote about a while back but didn’t have enough space.
So here’s some further thoughts on that most British of institutions . . . the Bank Holiday.
How many have we had this year already? Ten, at least.
With High Street banks closing all over the UK ‘because everyone banks online’ (I’m sure my nose just grew by two inches as I wrote that!), I don’t understand the need for Bank Holidays.
I don’t know this for a fact, but I assume they were created to give pressurised bank staff a few extra days off during the year. But, like thousands of unfortunate bank employees, they’re redundant in 2026.
If so many banks have permanently closed their doors, then the pressure is off bank staff who’ve entered new professions or taken early retirement and for whom every day is a Bank Holiday.
If we still want those extra days off so we can drive to a seaside resort we can’t get into because 20,000 other drivers had the same idea, they should reflect the new businesses that have taken over from banks in town centres.
The term ‘Bank’ Holidays should be replaced with something more honest.
I submit, for your approval, the following suggestions . . .
Cash For Gold Holidays
Turkish Barber Holidays
Vape Shop Holidays
And my personal favourite…
Coffee Shop Holidays!