Having spent money over Christmas and wasted £100 in not going to the Netherlands, I waited until 2008 to buy a 2008 diary. But oddly, I found it's nearly impossible to buy a decent diary. At Waterstones in Manchester I've only come across silly, large themed diaries with Channel 4 country cooking recipes in it, lots of cats or a horse racing agenda. None of which I need. At WH Smith I found a pocket size (A6) day-to-a-page diary, but no space for addresses or notes, which isn't handy at all. Even Marks & Spencer or Debenhams had nothing at all, which makes me wonder how a company like Collins or Moleskine get their products sold. Though Moleskine notebooks can be found everywhere, the diaries are probably sold out. I'm quite fed up with it. Had I gone to the Netherlands, no doubt I would've picked up a bog-standard Brepols or Ryam pocket day-to-a-page 2008 diary and a few pints of La Trappe Triple beer, but in Manchester neither are possible. I've considered going to John Lewis at the Trafford Centre, though it's not easy to get to on public transport. I'm getting cynical here, but since moving to Manchester I've become a bit of a misanthropist. How difficult can it be to get a bus to work? Very. How difficult can it be to open a bank account? Don't even go there. How difficult can it be to buy a 2008 diary?!