I bought my first duvet in 1975 when I moved into my ‘own home’ (OK, university halls of residence). Some 40 years later I’m reminded each week, like most blokes, the extent to which I still struggle with my stuffing. I now realise that the arrival of the duvet in M&S and John Lewis was all part of the great EU conspiracy; the early-70s timing was surely no conicidence. So I hope we can look forward, next March, to the return of both blue passports and hospital corners. I think we should be told.
Making a difference?
The ’70s were for my coming-of-age time, as they were for Stuart Maconie, author of ‘The Nanny State Made Me’. It’s when I took my 0 and A Levels, went to uni and started my first job. My view of the decade will always be rose-tinted, I’ll remember the music, discos, student grants (wouldn’t have known what a tuition fee was) and monthly inflationary pay rises negotiated by unions of which I was not a member. The strikes, high taxes and IRA bombs were background noise to me and, yes, I was the first in my family to go to university and, yes, despite everything, felt more secure with a nanny state in charge than at any time since. I’d happily pay more tax to give my kids and grandkids the same.
