"LOOKING for more happiness and success in your life?" asks a classified advert in the back of satirical magazine Private Eye.

Many would travel to the ends of the earth searching for this elusive duo. But don't trouble yourself so; they're available in Walmgate, York.

The advert was placed by social scientist Stephen Fox, a regular letter writer to the Evening Press who works from his home in Dixon's Yard, Walmgate, as a business consultant and lecturer.

Every other Saturday he hosts a seminar for those looking for more out of life, "specifically to help people acquire the most powerful, enduring, effective and masterful techniques of conscious persuasion and influence available".

His brief advertisements in Private Eye, Big Issue and other magazines have brought all types to his door, from down-in-the-dumps doctors to jaded job seekers.

"I am not guaranteeing everybody to be more successful and more happy. I say that people can come along and I will give them the tools to help them get there," he said.

And he is more than willing to help City of York Council out of its little local difficulty.

"This brings us into the area of conflict resolution," he mused.

"The first lesson of problem solving is to recognise you have a problem. Reading the reports in the Evening Press - and I am very concerned about what's going on - I don't think the council recognises it has a problem.

"I think I can help. But I can only help them if they want to be helped.

"I am very happy to talk discounts with them."

Any councillor keen to tap into Stephen's skills can get in touch via his website, www.stephenfoxassociates.co.uk

STAYING with York's highway shenanigans, could the whole business of demanding money from motorists who park at the roadside be against the law?

Fifty years ago it was, according to an irate letter writer in the Evening Press. The 1954 correspondent referred to an AA report which said: "Nobody has any legal or other right to ask for a fee from the motorist who parks his car on a public highway no matter how many officials in uniform and with printed tickets may be on duty".

Therefore, the writer continued, "I assume that it is illegal to be charged for parking in, say, Duncombe Place, Parliament Street, Deangate, the Marine Drive, Scarborough, the Ravine, Filey etc. Not enough motorists are aware of this.

"A tip to an attendant is, of course, different."

Columnist John Blunt took up the theme.

"The crux of the whole thing is that the 6d 'fee' has no legal backing. The motorist who raises a forbidding hand at the attendant is completely within his rights."

Presumably the law has been tightened up since then. Or does anyone know any better?

IN yesterday's edition of the Sun, a group of women from Yorkshire and Humber MEP Godfrey Bloom's constituency were asked to comment on his contentious remarks about them not cleaning behind the fridge.

Liz Bean, Samantha Seller and Vicky Morrell duly lambasted Bloomers for "living in the Dark Ages".

All three hail from Selby. Does this mean the Sun's reporting team on the quadruple murder case was diverted to canvassing local mums' views on household chores?

Write to: The Diary, Chris Titley, The Evening Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York YO1 9YN

Email diary@ycp.co.uk

Telephone (01904) 653051 ext 337

Updated: 11:22 Friday, July 23, 2004