Suzanne Harrington: There's a lot to be said for a media blackout

I can’t process women dying in crushes outside Kabul Airport, or news of gay men being murdered by the Taliban - I’m on a crap holiday in the rain. 

'It’s not a lack of empathy. That would be easy.'

There’s a lot to be said for the August media blackout. For turning off, tuning out, dropping away from the endless pings, the head wrecking alerts, the relentless updates. Go away, we’re on holiday. 

Not even a proper holiday; more a damp tail-backed staycation to some godforsaken B-road beauty spot with a disappointing tea room doing overpriced scones and a gift shop last updated in 1953.