This may seem odd when I’m self-employed and can choose my own working hours, but I still look forward to bank holidays.
It’s the same as when I was a nine-to-five wage slave. Knowing most of the rest of the world is taking a break allows me to down tools with a clear conscience.
Now that the closure of high street bank branches has forced most of us to bank online, “bank holiday” is a misnomer.
We can bank online 24/7/365. Banking apps are always open for business. The government website still calls them bank holidays, but I think it’s time we changed the terminology.
“National public holidays” would make sense, as they vary from country to country. Even within the UK, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have different holiday calendars. Scotland, for example, takes an extra day off on 2nd January. I’ve always assumed this was to recover from their Hogmanay celebrations. To make up for it, they miss out on Easter Monday.
Such holidays feel all the more important since the 1994 Sunday Trading Act legalised Sunday opening. Now, almost every retailer opens all weekend, and Sunday no longer feels like a universal day of rest.
Even the Outer Hebrides, the last bastion of the Keep Sunday Special campaign, gave way last month. Despite local protests, the Stornoway branch of Tesco started opening seven days a week. (You can read all about it in the Hebrides News here.)
I can think of only one major retailer that hasn’t yet embraced Sunday trading: The Entertainer. On the toyshop chain’s website, founder and director Gary Grant, explains why. “As a Christian, I believe in families. For this reason, our stores are closed on Sundays so our staff can spend quality time with their families.”
What’s more, in the run-up to Christmas, every Entertainer store devotes part of its window space to a traditional Nativity tableau. It’s a refreshing change from the relentless commercialisation of the festive season.
Whatever your religious views, Grant’s message of “family first” is commendable. Surely the best way to spend a bank holiday is at leisure with family and friends. Restorative time on your own can also a great way to take advantage of these little oases of calm.
As a novelist, I realise how lucky I am to be able to choose my own work schedule. I’m sure I speak for all my readers when I say a special seasonal thank-you to those who selflessly work anti-social hours, providing emergency, essential, and retail services for the rest of us.
However you spend your time this holiday season, I wish you love, joy, and peace, now and throughout the New Year.
This post was originally published in the December 2024/January 2025 edition of the Tetbury Advertiser.
IN OTHER NEWS
My author copies of the audiobook edition of my latest novel, Death at the Old Curiosity Shop, have just arrived, courtesy of Boldwood Books’ audio partner, Ulverscroft. Although we’re used to digitally streaming audiobooks these days, physical copies like these are invaluable for reaching library borrowers and the visually impaired. I’m so pleased to be able to share my stories in this way.
UK readers who are members of Amazon Prime may now download the ebook of this novel for no extra charge as part of their Prime membership, between now and the end of February.
Australian readers might like to keep an eye open for some special promotions available in their Amazon store between now and the new year:
- Kindle Daily Deals on Murder at the Well on Christmas Day and for its sequel, Springtime for Murder, on 28th December
- “Today’s Big Deal in Literature and Fiction” for Dastardly Deeds at St Bride’s on New Year’s Eve
- A 12 Days of Kindle promotion for Murder in the Manger between Christmas Day and 5th January
Apologies to readers outside of these territories – these promotions are chosen by Amazon, and I have no control over them. I wish they’d offer them to you too!
Meanwhile, my final task before Christmas is to give the final once-over to the proofread manuscript of the next book in my Cotswold Curiosity Shop series, Death at the Village Chess Club, which is due for launch on 3rd March. My publisher, Boldwood Books, has given me a sneak preview of the cover, and it’s gorgeous, clever and bright yellow! I’ll reveal it as soon as it’s official, and I can’t wait to share it with you.
I’m looking forward to a busy and varied year of writing in 2025, and I’ll tell you more about these plans in a special New Year’s Eve post next week.
In the meantime, Merry Christmas!
Wonderful ♥️