THE GREAT ‘BLANK’ HOLIDAY DEBATE DO WE REALLY NEED AN EASTER MONDAY?

OUT of all the holidays Easter weekend is my sanctuary. Christmas is too cold, summer too long but at Easter there is just enough time to make the 250-mile journey to see the grandparents and have a few days’ respite.

Chocolate, childcare and special events to delight folks of all ages. What’s not to love?

This Easter I bundled my six-year-old Caitlin and three-year-old Benjamin in the car as soon as the school bell rang. Together with the Labrador we made the trip across the perilous M25 and up the M1 for a real Yorkshire welcome.

This Easter Monday a lie-in followed by a strong brew awaits while the children finish off their Easter eggs. At the sensible time of 11am we will stroll on down to a miniature railway – only open on Bank Holidays.

Whatever the weather every Easter Monday we have the same routine. It usually involves packing a

CALL me Mr Grumpy if you like but I can’t see the point of Easter Monday. Or Blank Holiday Monday as I prefer to call it. Why do we torture ourselves with this meaningless day off?

More often than not Easter Monday is a washout. Pouring rain, snow and cold winds make going out a nightmare – but that does not stop us.

Being British means the worse the weather forecast is, the greater the chance we will decide to take to the roads and head for the coast or the nearest shopping mall. So as well as foul weather, we then inflict on ourselves the pain of sitting in endless traffic jams.

This weekend the AA estimates about 26 million drivers have taken to the roads. And this afternoon, as they all try to head for home at the same time, there will be chaos up and down the land.

In a sane world people would go by train instead.

FUN OR FUTILE? Brollies up, coats on, storm clouds loom - it’s a typical Easter Bank Holiday scene that brings out the true British spirit in millions of families across the rain-soaked land