Less is more

A classroom full of bored 15-year-olds in the mid-1970s. A teacher lounging on his desk at the front of the room, his back to the blackboard – and they really were blackboards in those days, and teachers used actual chalk. The teacher is giving his class (which includes 15-year-old, hair-flicking me) both barrels about the failings of young people. A common theme both then and now.

“Your generation?” The teacher gives us all a dismissive wave. “The only problem your generation is going to have is what to do with all your leisure time.”

Famous last words, as we were the generation who grew up into the world of 24/7 work, the era of short escapes rather than long summer holidays and mandatory