We have a guest blog today from our own Darren “Dazza” Willsher:

“Over the bank holiday weekend more than two thirds of us will stay in and do nothing more than watch TV or spend the time online according to a Mintel survey. Now this can be attributed to the weather, the economy, or, as is often the case, the technology will get the blame. Whenever a story accuses us of being lazy, fingers always get pointed at technology – and I don’t think that’s fair.

Now I’ll admit that on occasion I might have sent an email instead of phoning, or, back in my student days, I might have phoned someone in the next room rather than getting up to go and talk to them, (although in my defence I was probably engrossed in a particularly exciting episode of Neighbours.) However technology has opened so many doors to us that we are doing so much more than ever before.

The mobile phone and social networking sites have made us more sociable, keeping in contact with people all over the world has never been easier. At home the same technology actually encourages us to do more – how many times have you been sat at home with nothing planned when a text or Facebook message arrives inviting you to the pub? The TV and DVD have changed the way we watch films, how many times have you gone round to a friends just to watch a film? Consoles like the Wii have brought gaming into a whole new social area, and digital recorders make it easy to go out and still watch our favourite TV later.

So even if you can’t afford to go out and the weather’s awful – send a few texts and emails and invite some people round to make the most of the last long weekend before Christmas.”