SHE fell in love, left her home town of Luton for a new life in Italy, had her heart broken and returned to England.

Last November she pitched up in York knowing nothing of the city except that Bettys' Tearooms was based here, and without a friend to her name.

It has been quite a couple of years for Lydia Aarons. After so much turmoil, she wants nothing more than a permanent job. The Diary is sure there must be an employer out there ready to take on someone with so much gumption.

When her Italian fianc ended the relationship, Lydia couldn't face returning to Luton. She wanted to put distance between her past and her future, and chose York as the perfect small northern city with prospects.

Another factor was the youth hostel, important for a woman on a budget. Two days after turning 34, her "worst birthday ever", she arrived in York to start again.

Her first impressions? "When I arrived at the youth hostel there was a very strange smell. I thought it was something like wet leaves being burned. I still haven't got used to it."

That, of course, was the sugar factory. More positively, York reminded Lydia of Florence (the Italian city, not Dougal's friend in The Magic Roundabout).

"Everyone's been quite nosy," she says, "but from that nosiness came a desire to help, and a lot of kindness." The people at the hostel were very nice. Now she lives in Lowther Street and has made friends via temping work at Norwich Union and Jarvis, and at Trinity Methodist Church on Monkgate.

No new boyfriend as yet, and no permanent job. On the latter front, Lydia would particularly like to work in a role helping people - perhaps for a charity.

"My nightmare job would be one where it was just about making money. In my dream job, I would feel I am doing something that's beneficial. It's as simple as that."

So has anyone got a suitable post for a determined, organised graduate, with writing, administrative and computer skills? Then drop Lydia a line via aaronslydia@yahoo.co.uk

WE promised more from the York Chief Constable's report for 1955.

Today's extract shows how the city of 50 years ago was already struggling to cope with the motorised age. And it brought a heartfelt tribute from Cyril Carter.

"Whatever scheme is devised or adopted by the local authority to solve, ease or partially relieve the traffic problem and congestion in the city centre, it is quite clear upon whom will fall the brunt of physically discharging the burden - the uniform patrol constable," he wrote.

The bobby "in my humble opinion has discharged this difficult duty so well under trying conditions during the past years.

"Let there be no doubt, they will continue to give of the same cheerful and efficient service."

AN inquiry from reader Martin Cruttwell, of Scrayingham.

"From time to time old accordions appear in the second-hand stores and shops and I wonder if there is a reader who has extensive knowledge of the days in York when accordions were in common use?"

Get in touch if you can enlighten us.

Updated: 09:10 Wednesday, March 09, 2005