DIARY isn't just here for the nasty things in life. We're here for the good things, too.

In fact, far from being a burden, it gives us a nice, warm, Ready Brek-style glow when we feel we've played some small part in assisting our readers with the everyday conundrums which dog their lives.

Of course, there are limits to our powers.

We cannot, for instance, shed any light as to what the FTSE 100 index is going to do, on the likelihood of David Beckham being awarded his 100th England cap, or whether Liam off Coronation Street will choose Maria or Carla.

Were we able to do this, we would be a bookmaker's bad dream, richer than Paul McCartney, and making plans to take early retirement somewhere sunny, secluded and tax-free.

But we do enjoy the occasional little victory - and today we can exclusively reveal that we now know where you can buy stick-on soles in York!

Diary reader Keith Chapman contacted us earlier this week to bemoan the demise of the city's last Woolworths store.

He was particularly perturbed because the Coney Street branch's departure had left him at a loss as to where to buy loose soles to attach to his shoes.

Be at a loss no more, Mr Chapman, for we have the answer - or, at least, fellow reader Bill Hayes from Fulford has the answer; we're not going to take all the credit.

"I also thought I'd be able to buy some of these soles from Woolies, but then I found it was boarded up," he said.

"However, just across the road in Market Street, I looked in the window of Timpson, the shoe repair shop, thought they might be worth a chance, and they had some in there.

"They were £4.45 for a pair, which is cheaper than buying a new pair of shoes - I've been using them for years.

"So it looks like this gentleman might not have to travel too far to find some stick-on soles after all." We are very grateful, Mr Hayes, as we are sure Mr Chapman will be. So just remember - Diary: The Column That Gets Things Done, Pronto.

Where to find a goal palaver

WHO says grassroots football isn't as exciting as "the real thing"?

Certainly nobody who was at last Saturday's clash between Fulford United and Post Office FC, when the goal celebrations apparently had to be seen to be believed.

With the Posties trailing 1-0, well into the second half, they brought on their substitute, whom we shall call Woody, to try to help salvage a result.

No sooner was the supersub on the pitch, than he latched on to a flick on and thundered home an equaliser.

Cue the celebrations. Not for Woody a dignified hand in the air, a la Denis Law.

Instead, he ripped his shirt off, swirled it round his head, and ran off on a glory-trail.

This did not only take him round the pitch, but led all the way to a nearby hedge, with the scorer screaming at passers-by on the road for good measure.

We're told the referee was going to book him - but found it so funny that he couldn't bring himself to do so.

As for Woody, he tells us his moment of glory was "better than sex".