TIME is of the essence, especially when you're live on air. So Radio York presenter David Dunning got himself in a spin when the radio controlled studio clocks started to speed up.

At first the second hand was going twice normal speed, then three or four times faster, but David did not notice as he presented an edition of the mid-morning chat show. As the clocks showed it was five to 12 he cued to the travel news but the reporter wasn't there.

Then as it ticked up to 12 he handed over to the news but again the reader wasn't in the studio.

Frantic calls from listeners revealed that it was only 11.40 and at that point David realised his studio clock had lured him into a strange twilight time zone out of sync with everyone else.

"Eventually, the second hand started flying round like a propeller," he said, "and I had to use a wrist watch while the engineer fixed it."

LOTS of bargains were to be had at the secondhand book sale in the Guildhall on Friday. One man was impressed by a bargain-priced copy of Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix.

"The first 15 pages are missing," admitted the white haired lady on the stall. "But we put it out for the rest of the story."

WE asked which broadcasters' clichs drive you potty. "It's more a phrase used on discussion shows, but 'I'm entitled to my opinion' drives me up the wall!" says Ben Drake, of Fulford, York. "Of course everyone's entitled to their opinion - whoever said otherwise?

"Usually what's really meant is 'You're not allowed to object or disagree'. More often than not it's a symptom of someone who's run out of arguments and wants to shut down a debate. Very frustrating."

Well, Ben, you're entitled to your opinion...

LOOPY letters in loopy handwriting occasionally land on the Diary's desk, but we had never received one from Holland before.

Until now. John Nooijed writes from Zuidlaren in the Netherlands to express his "need to read about Southport v York City".

Thanks for that Mr N. We particularly liked your sign off: "With kind, cordial greetings from Holland where I'm kidnapped by an annoyingly bad secret service..."

This may not be the best advert for the legalisation of funny cigarettes.

The letter reached us despite the vague address "To the local newspaper of York, the 'Evening Press'". Alongside it, Mr Nooijed had scribbled: "Big thank you York Royal Mail for your assistance in delivering this letter!!"

Thank goodness it got through.

Updated: 11:34 Monday, September 05, 2005