Our faith in human nature is finally restored.

There are some kind, helpful people in the world. Geoff and Mary Bradley have just experienced it, and they have written to The Diary to say thank you to the people who helped them after a bizarre accident.

The Escrick couple were shopping at York's Naburn designer outlet when Mary missed her footing as she guided her three-year-old grandson on to a step.

"She flung out her arms and fell back. She knocked me down and flattened me.

"She took the skin off her arms, even though she had a soft landing - on me.

"I was unconscious for a few minutes. We're both black and blue," said Geoff.

The couple were so impressed at the way they were looked after, they sent us a missive saying: "Many, many thanks to everyone who came to our assistance.

"Grateful thanks to the off-duty police lady for getting in touch with our daughter; to ambulance and hospital staff; to the lady who looked after our grandson; and also staff from nearby shops."

It makes you feel warm all over, doesn't it.

THE Diary has a friend - honest we do - who likes to jog. Well, that's his business, but whether it's such a good idea at his age is another matter.

Anyway, The Diary's mate was propelling himself on creaking knees past the doomed York Odeon in Blossom Street when a motorist asked for directions.

This is a common hazard in our tourist city. Usually, the befuddled visitor wants to know the way to the National Railway Museum from faraway Walmgate or something similar.

This time the request was broader in nature and a touch risky, considering the county in which it was being asked. The middle-aged couple in the open-topped sports car shouted across the traffic: "What's the way to Lancashire?" The Diary's friend was too polite to say "Why would you want to go there?", but instead suggested that Harrogate was the right sort of direction.

THE four-week inquiry into the proposed University of York expansion got under way this week at the city's Guildhall.

The controversial dispute is set to be settled by a "marathon" hearing - though perhaps we shouldn't use that painful term within earshot of Matthew Copeland, City of York Council's legal representative at the inquiry. The Diary hears poor Matthew got a few odd looks when he hobbled into the inquiry on day one wearing odd shoes - one smart leather one and one trainer.

Apparently he was competing in the London Marathon on Sunday when he suffered a stress fracture in his right foot, leaving him in considerable pain for the final seven miles.

Hearty congratulations to him for still managing to finish the 26-mile race. Pity the inquiry looks set to run and run.

Updated: 12:15 Thursday, April 27, 2006