True to form, the weather post Christmas was pretty abysmal over most of the country. Once again the media featured photos of bedraggled campers in the rain, clearly having less than fun. Returning holiday makers brought tales of being cramped up in tents, cabins, campervans and baches staring out at the rain. Not much of a way to spend a holiday.
Also true to form, as everybody goes back to work or school the sun comes out in all its glory and up go the temperatures. Logically this is when we should all be having, and enjoying, rather than enduring, a holiday. “The holiday period should be changed” – how many times have you heard that comment?
Indeed the advantages would be many and obvious. The pre- Christmas overload of having to attend school prize giving, making all the festive preparations and shopping while also trying to organise all the holiday preparations would be rationalised.
Christmas would be a welcome short break and then it would be back to work until the weather improves.
The school year would go through to include January with all the exams being held in that month. The summer holidays then being held in February and part of March. My school day memory of February is of being slumped over a desk hanging out for three o’clock and a dash to the baths. Of equally hot and flustered teachers not being at their patient best and not a lot being achieved.
Re-jigging the school terms is obviously possible . They did it for the World Cup.
Commerce would definitely benefit, particularly the export oriented. Overseas customers, who look for continuity of supply, find it difficult to understand a country completely closing down. With the holiday period spread leave could be rationalised so that production continued. Likewise offices could remain open. People requiring information, consents or decisions would not have to put their life on hold for a month.
Probably best of all with the choice of holiday timing spread over the whole six weeks of school holidays beaches, camping grounds and holiday destinations would be comfortably less crowded. Everybody would enjoy a more relaxed time and all come back to work happy and rested.
All makes sense? Yet while anecdotally there seems to be a mood for change, a recently taken poll found that actually only 44% approved the idea. Likewise there was only one letter to the Dompost on the subject, the letter garnered no supporters. Maybe a few active enthusiasts are required to get together to promote some action. Both daylight savings and MMP were started in this manner. Any takers?
Mike Beckett
