Howard Jacobson on the end of mooching as a way of life.

"Rooting around, doing nothing in particular, walking but not knowing where I was walking to....I can only regret the happy mooching hours of earlier times", writes Howard.

He ponders whether our present age of mass anger and disgruntlement is partly a result of our expectations of instant gratification.

"We sit, like so many privileged Aladdins, rubbing our smart lamps in full confidence that the cyber genie will appear in ripped trousers and give us all we ask for".

Producer: Adele Armstrong