Summertime – and the living’s not easy. A new survey suggests that most of us have already embarked on a 30-hour (on average) voyage of discovery spread over five weeks in order to put together our perfect holiday. That’s around four working days to consult websites, friends, magazines, shop for bits and pieces, research accommodation and attractions, and sort out flights and other travel arrangements.
The researchers for some reason didn’t see fit to include questions about how long is spent preparing our nether and other regions for display in exotic climes or how much time we spend paralysed with panic about everything beforehand.
Then there’s the time we stay late in the office trying to clear our desks so as not to be overwhelmed by the backlog of work when we return – or indeed, the time spent clearing said backlog, which will form no matter how much advance effort you put in. I reckon you could comfortably double that 30-hour investment if they had.

Lucy Mangan: "When did holidays become hard work?"