Give us a Lazy Monday
Some years ago, when I was an employee with regimented annual leave of four weeks, I fell ill with a virus the very day my summer fortnight began and only got back to normal the day before I returned to work.
I felt cheated out of my hard-earned summer holiday.
This year, after our dreadful summer weather, I wonder if many people are similarly fed up, deprived of sunny times they felt entitled to.
Perhaps they gaze from windows at workplaces and schools, miffed that September's weather started much better than July or August.
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There's also the dispiriting thought for many workers that their next day off is more than three months away – Christmas.
The bank holiday schedule seems potty at the best of times, but this year's summer drenching makes it feel worse – where's the rejuvenating autumn break we need?
Maybe a bank holiday should be hastily incorporated at half-term to lift the nation's spirits, perhaps called Summer Consolation Day.
There'd be more practicality and logic to it than some other national holidays. Why do we have to wait for a royal wedding before there's an extra day?
The close bunching of Easter, May Day and spring bank holiday also seems irrational, given the yawning gap between August and Christmas.
Why not switch spring or May Day to late October permanently?
Although I'm very much in favour of workers standing up for themselves, I'm not sure May Day has had the positive effect intended since its launch in 1978 in the UK.
Many younger people probably don't have the foggiest idea what it's about, while older folk like me associate it with unnerving Cold War memories of tanks rolling across Moscow's Red Square or, more recently, anarchic anti-capitalist protests in London.
Overall, I'd prefer it if more bank holidays had nothing to do with politics, religion, the royals or long-gone historic glories like Trafalgar. If most of us just want to have a relaxing break with the family, why not name the day accordingly. Anyone fancy a Lazy Monday in October?
Comments
by DaveF_Walcot
Thursday, September 13 2012, 11:30AM
“"Although I'm very much in favour of workers standing up for themselves, I'm not sure May Day has had the positive effect intended since its launch in 1978 in the UK."
I don't know who wrote this, but they're unaware of the difference between pagan May Day celebration & International Workers' Day which just happen to share a date, or as some might say - hijacked.”