What Polly Hudson describes as le dimanche français is almost a description of the very British Sundays of my youth (Is a French Sunday the secret to a healthier, happier life?, 23 August). Sundays were days of guilt-free relaxation. There was time to enjoy the company of family, and sometimes close friends, with no time constraints.
We enjoyed a good book (not a heavy one), an afternoon film on TV, board games, cards, or a gentle stroll for the pleasure of it rather than as part of a keep-fit regime. And let us not forget time to peruse the Sunday newspapers. Children got bored and learned how to entertain themselves, a skill today’s hard-pressed parents underestimate as they struggle to ensure Sundays are packed with activities.
