YOU don't get many days like today. It is March 2, 2004, or 2/3/4.

The last time we had a date like a drummer counting into a rock song was a thousand years ago.

So it must be special. Isn't it?

York psychic and expert in all things mystical James Christie is not impressed so much by the date as by the sum of its parts.

"Two plus three plus four all adds up to the number of nine," he said. "Nine is a very spiritual number, so it should be a very spiritual day. Any child born today should be redolent with the spiritual and mystical."

This even works for children in the United States, where today is the less than portentous 3/2/4.

WHAT have we done to our empress's nose? Diary man-in-the-field Dale Minks has uncovered a royal scandal in West Bank Park.

The statue of Queen Victoria is falling to bits.

This is no way to treat the woman who was our longest reigning monarch. Victoria spent 63 years on the throne, which is 14 years longer than the York statue has sat in the park (although it is over 90 years old).

Some might say, fair enough. After all, the Queen only stepped on York soil ten times in her long reign, and then only on to the railway station en route to Balmoral.

History does not record whether she sought refreshment at Burger King or just got something from the vending machine.

But this is not the point. It shows a lack of respect to leave our former Queen resembling a 19th century Daniella Westbrook. And what are West Bank's birds going to do for a perch?

THE Yorkshire crusade to reclaim Robin Hood from Nottinghamshire, backed by our MPs John Greenway and John Grogan, has reached international attention.

American newspaper the International Herald Tribune has seized on the battle, with an in-depth report.

We particularly liked the first sentence. "Not since Mikhail Baryshnikov defected from the Soviet Union has there been such a fuss over a man in tights."

GOOD to see the problem of bed blocking at York Hospital - where recovered elderly patients remain on a ward because no place can be found for them in a care home - is under control. Speaking in the House of Commons last week, health minister Dr Stephen Ladyman said only 12 patients remained awaiting a place.

But it is a shame the minister and Hugh Bayley must use such an unpleasant name for the whole business. These patients, they say, are suffering from "delayed discharge".

ON March 3, 1998, the Evening Press reported that York "needed 3,400 affordable homes within the next five years".

Does anyone know if we got them?

THE Evening Press campaign to Save The Odeon from being turned into Yuppietopia has attracted vast support from here and around the world.

Our favourite message so far came from ex pat Yorkie James Kendall. Although he has lived in Australia for 30 years, he will never forget his trips to the picture palace.

"I have fond memories of my parents taking me on Saturday nights to the cinema and then rushing out to catch the last bus home," he emails.

"I took my first girlfriend on our first date to the Odeon. What a shame if the grand old lady is allowed to expire."

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: 09:30 Tuesday, March 02, 2004