BAFFLING but true. One of the Diary's suggestions has actually been taken up.

And York city centre manager Paul Barrett adopted our idea in only six months - which counts as nosebleed-inducing velocity in council circles.

Back in mid-May we proposed that York followed Budapest in setting potential buskers a yearly exam. Only those who passed musical muster would be allowed to perform on our hallowed streets.

The plan was even endorsed by high profile al fresco entertainer Les Prentice. He is the man who serenades York shoppers with guitar, harmonica, vocals, drums, false woman and dogs Bessie and Rosie.

Then what do we read last Friday? Buskers are going to have to audition for Paul before he licences them to play in public.

This is music to our ears - and to those of the Stonegate trader who dropped us a note the day before Paul's announcement.

This anonymous shopkeeper felt it necessary to vent his pain at the noises emitting from some "so-called musicians".

"I am referring to those who sit in doorways, usually with a recorder upon which they repeat the same notes of a tune over and over again for hours on end.

"Working in Stonegate, my colleagues and I have to endure this monotony on a daily basis perpetrated by those concerned."

The writer witnessed one individual tell a police officer "that he wasn't begging, that he knew six tunes and was, therefore, self-employed. Having heard him play I would like to say that repeating one line from six tunes ad infinitum does not qualify, in my opinion, as knowing six tunes."

Could this sort of "busking it" soon be over?

IN the good old days, professional beggars didn't need to demean themselves by piping a tune on a whistle to make a living.

According to Knight's History Of York, begging was a "recognised and licensed profession in York" until 1583. That was when an order declared that no more "head beggars" would be chosen.

IF you're going to print a howler, make it a funny one.

Our thanks to former Evening Press journalist and pubgoer Tony Mallett for first spotting it on our website, although it went in last Friday's print editions too.

"I found this classic about the Chinese restaurant in Gillygate. Freudian slip, or wot? Brilliant," writes Tony, who is now production editor of European Voice magazine in Brussels. And here it is...

"Tessa Clarke, prosecuting for City of York Council, said: 'The premises were in a very dirty condition, with no hot water and little thought given to the safe woking practices to prevent food being contaminated'."

FILM maker, bon viveur and owner of Britain's most likeable face, Michael Winner was in York on Friday. These days he is better known for his lively restaurant reviews than for his series of unforgivable - sorry unforgettable - films. As a food writer for a national newspaper, he must have dined a few times in York's feted restaurants. Which is his favourite?

Um, well... he has eaten in York once before, he tells the Diary. It was a formal function he attended on behalf of the Police Memorial Trust. Oh yes, where? "I can't remember. I know for the reception we had a tent."

That certainly narrows it down. He could recall nothing about the meal, however. Dare we suggest he's perhaps not quite the expert on British dining his column might have us believe?

Gentle snort of laughter. "Gordon Ramsey apparently once said 'Michael Winner knows nothing about food,'" he says. "The Telegraph rang me and asked 'what do you say to that?'. I said 'God, the truth hurts.'"

Updated: 09:17 Monday, November 22, 2004