Playtime

First, we were told that we British worked too hard, with longer hours and less holidays than anywhere in Europe. Now, we're being told that we play too hard - a nation, so the latest survey has it, of "pro-ams", which they describe as people who pursue a hobby to a professional standard. Astronomy, gardening and that sort of thing. It's a trend which business must take account of, say the researchers.

First, we were told that we British worked too hard, with longer hours and less holidays than anywhere in Europe. Now, we're being told that we play too hard - a nation, so the latest survey has it, of "pro-ams", which they describe as people who pursue a hobby to a professional standard. Astronomy, gardening and that sort of thing. It's a trend which business must take account of, say the researchers.

Keep out of our time off work, say we. Britons have always taken their leisure seriously. It's the work we don't take so seriously. Long hours simply means more time to plan what we really want to do in our spare time.