here was a time when a trip to the newsagent was one of the little routines that helped hold everyday British life together. You popped in for the morning paper, picked up your favourite comic, bought a packet of sweets with your pocket money or nipped out on a Sunday to discover whether your football team had made the back pages. You probably knew the person behind the counter, they […]

It is the first morning of half-term. The school bags have been put away, the alarm has been switched off, and the prospect of a week without the usual school-run routine feels rather wonderful. You have visions of relaxed mornings, family time and perhaps even the chance to enjoy a second cup of tea while it is still hot. Then, somewhere around 9.17am, it happens. "I'm bored." You look at […]