Asidelines

OH the glories of an English summer! Who but the British would sit out in the rain watching a play and refuse to run for cover?

Join the Diary in Sheffield's Botanical Gardens for the closing performance of Heartbreak Productions' four play open-air season.

It sounds idyllic. Take a bottle of wine, sandwiches and a deckchair and watch a play - this year they did two Shakespeares, the Wizard of Oz and a murder mystery - under the skies.

The Diary caught three out of the four and on two got soaked.

The wise bring anoraks and capes and one couple were spotted wearing bin bags draped over themselves and their chairs. You have to watch for the water which collects in a little puddle under your bum.

To be fair, it only rained for the last 15 minutes of Cry Blue Murder! on Sunday.

"As investigating officer I can keep you here," cracked actor Phil Hemming, playing Inspector Dohnte and got a big laugh from his sodden audience.

See you next year? Of course. It can't get any worse . . .or can it?

Failing to plan for the present

SHEFFIELD City Council's planning department ought to stump up for a new address database.

The woman opposite the Diary's house has put in a planning application and neighbours are being asked if they object. The Diary got SIX identical letters, all to non-existent flats. The last time Diary Towers was in multiple occupation was over 20 years ago.