“LOOKING to stay in the UK this year but still want to enjoy a fabulous holiday?”

I hate statements like this, lifted from a travel website. As if remaining in the UK – dubbed the ‘staycation’ – is somehow a poor substitute to going abroad.

I hate all the fuss surrounding David Cameron and his ilk, in opting to holiday in the UK, as if he has made a huge sacrifice, and should be praised for it. The underlying message is always tinged with sympathy: “Awww, how sweet, they’re holidaying in ENGLAND.” When what they really mean is “OMG! Has he lost his mind?”

Up until two years ago we have always holidayed in the UK, many of those years spent just down the road on the Yorkshire coast and, latterly, in Wales.

I came back from each break feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

Not so, going abroad. You can waste whole days hanging around at airports or ports, sitting for hours with your bags, before watching someone rifle through them, then submitting to body searches (why is it always me?) and endless questions about your footwear. Next time – if there is a next time – I’ll wear flip flops to make clear I’ve got nothing to hide.

I realise that this has to be done but it cuts into precious holiday time. You could argue that motorway tailbacks are worse, but if you have a map, there are always other routes.

Then there’s those foreign climes. I’m still having trouble adapting to the mild increases in temperature inflicted upon us by global warming. To step off a plane into an oven was a shock from which I am still recovering.

I could hear my friends back home: “Well, what did you expect in southern Spain?”

Arriving back in Manchester, I experienced a rush of joy as I stepped off the plane to coat temperatures.

Why people make such a fuss about going abroad I don’t know. It is lovely to see other countries, but there is so much to see and do here and no language barriers.

You know where you are with money and don’t need to turn your brain into a currency converter.

Of course there are some advantages to mainland Europe. Public transport is punctual andcheaper and you can buy a crate of decent wine for less than a tenner My daughters have made it clear that they won’t come with us unless we go overseas, but I’m lobbying for Pembrokeshire next year.