Let's face it, when the hot news of the month is that the community bench is now well and truly in place overlooking the green, those relishing life in the fast lane are, to be quite blunt, in difficulty. It's not that we don't appreciate the old charm of such a darling new feature, but when the main day's activity has been a visit to the supermarket, forward minds need a little more to ponder over.

And so, we must embrace the offerings of alcohol. We are not talking about drowning the monotony of it all in a sea of intoxication, far from it, merely realising all it has to offer in terms of adding just a little spice to the bland.

It's 3pm, and you've just returned from a coffee with a friend in town. That's it. You've got a few bits of paperwork to sort, but frankly, the motivation isn't there. You're alone, and you know fully well that there'll be no knocking at your door because the long-haul drive means all visits are organised at least a fortnight in advance. So much for your day off.

Fear not, just as the overworked reach for a G&T after 12 hours at the office, now is the time to indulge in a beverage. Nothing too extreme, aim for chic value - Martini and Lemonade. Perfect. Glass in hand, it's time to unwind. Flick through a magazine, tune in to Steve Wright on Radio 2. Let's face it, there's no rush.

You'll soon be feeling like you're en vacances in the French Riviera and quite probably won't give a damn about the fact that the only excitement you've got to look forward to today is dusting the bathroom shelving. And who knows, perhaps with a well timed 'wooh' here and there, that in itself could provide some entertainment. You'll be taking backward living and  - rather than sulking in it's gloom - turning it around.