MANY would condemn the Yorkshire worker for being the quickest to phone in sick when struck down with a hangover.

It goes against the Protestant work ethic.

But our critics ignore the underlying reason for this statistic. Yorkshire folk are gregarious. We are given to meeting up with our fellow man at night, rather than staying at home to stare at strangers doing nothing on Big Brother.

Such social interaction demands a little alcoholic lubricant. And so we are bound to have the occasional morning headache. We are suffering for our own sunny natures.

So let us toast the congenial Yorkshire disposition. But be careful not to over-indulge, or you may have to call in sick tomorrow, citing a case of the Fosters flu.

Updated: 11:22 Tuesday, May 27, 2003