Having been involved in the travel industry operating an airport car park and latterly supplying the same online, I often pondered whether holidays are good for you. I have seen literally thousands of people pass through the car park and have to say some return full of the joys of spring, obviously having had a great time and full of praise for the resort, hotel and local people whilst others even within the same party do not give off anywhere near this level of enthusiasm.

When I worked in banking in my early years as the office junior, I could not wait for my holidays to come round quick enough and never gave work a second thought and thoroughly enjoyed myself but as I progressed and became a Manager and then an Area Manager, my attitude to holidays changed significantly.

I took less part in the research and decision-making and generally left it all to the wife who was still full of enthusiasm and tried in vain to get me more involved. It always appeared to me that every time we were about to go on holiday there was always a lot going off at work and the holiday was an unwelcome interference and for at least the first few days my mind was elsewhere.

After the initial few days, I would start to enjoy myself and play with James my son and really get into the swing of things and even start to relax and forget about work. I could feel the change in myself and felt guilty for not being like this from the outset and then as the holiday was drawing to an end my mind would start to think more and more about work and I would once again start to go back into myself.

When I started my own business in the early nineties operating a car park at Manchester airport, I was even worse and constantly in touch with the office when I was away to see how things were going. The difference this time, was it took even longer for me to relax. I now realise that I was consumed by developing the business and virtually everything took second place and was totally stressed out due to this obsession.

My health suffered quite dramatically in 2000, which made me realise what a fool I had been and whilst I am still a natural worrier and tend to be too pessimistic I am a million miles away from where I was 10 years ago and take life a little easier and do not let things get to me, because I now know they will work themselves out. Fortunately, for me the lesson was not wasted and the last 10 years have been the best and if anyone learns anything from this article, which has been quite therapeutic to write, I will be more than happy.