York respondents to an NOP survey complained vociferously about their lack of leisure time. Residents here are more unhappy about the amount of time they devote to work or doing chores - such as answering surveys, perhaps - than anyone else.

We were going to comment on this. We wanted to point out that life in the tourist and service sectors is becoming increasingly competitive. That the 24-hour society is creeping northwards, eroding our traditionally strong family ties.

We wanted to embark on a long and detailed debate about whether we work to live or live to work. But unfortunately, we are far too busy.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.