Dairy Diary 2016: A5 Week-to-View Kitchen & Home Diary with Recipes 2016 Diary – 3 Aug. 2015

Dairy Diary is much more than a diary. It's been a perennial, friendly presence in my life for over 20 years, ever since my gran first bought me a copy from her milkman. Decades have passed and life has seen so many changes, but I still buy Dairy Diary every year without even considering an alternative. In part it's sentiment, but the diary itself is unbeatable, in my opinion. It has everything you need in a diary, then adds in various other features which range from interesting to indespensible. There's the four page spread year planner with columnar months which I've never seen bettered for practicality and accesibility, and it's even 'mirrored' in the back with a 2017 year planner. It has a useful numbers and contacts section, a generous address book section, the month-by-month home budgeting, spreadsheet-style pages and a full page, 2016 calendar which is flanked by half size 2015 and 2017 calendars. Having emphatically covered the diary basics, it goes on to offer calendar dates; bank holidays, religious festivals, notable dates such as Mother's Day, Armistice Day and saint's days, plus moon phases, sunrise/sunset times throughout the year, dates of the equinoxes and solstices and when the clocks go backwards/forwards. Just how useful can a diary be? But Dairy Diary hasn't finished yet...Next, it offers a list of wedding anniversaries, from one year's paper to blue sapphire's 65 years, together with the birthstones and flowers associated with each month. I knew I was topaz, but have since learned I'm also chrysanthemum. There's also a list of interesting anniversaries coming up in 2016, including the 400th of the death of Shakespeare, the 100th of the publication of the theory of relativity, and the 25th of the public availability of the world wide web. Already above and beyond the call of its diary duties, Dairy Diary keeps going with a metric conversion chart, healthy weight chart, cooking information such as roasting/grilling/steaming times and a fluid conversion chart from ml to fl oz. It also has a map of Britain's rail network, and a pocket at the front to keep your bits and bobs of paper together. By now a lesser diary would be in need of a lie down, but Dairy Diary still hasn't finished.It has a selection of interesting articles, covering dairy produce and how to make a pizza and cream slices called napoleons, as well as the tips on stain removal that really do work and an explanation of all the laundry symbols you see on clothing labels. The article on how to master the internet will appeal to anyone who's interested but nervous of giving it a go, and I love the feature on planting a tree in your garden, with advice on choosing the right tree and caring for it. There's also a piece on walking for health and leisure, with suggested websites which offer walks to suit all needs. The article about unusual holidays, such as converted railway cars and windmills, gives interesting ideas for out of the ordinary places to stay and includes suggested websites, but my favourite piece is the one on canals. I get dewy eyed at the sight of a narrowboat, and this is a gorgeously illustrated feature about the history of the waterways and their resurgence in the modern leisure industry. All this before you get to the actual diary itself.The diary part has a week to view, over a two page spread, with plenty of space for notes and a recipe at the bottom of each week. The recipes themselves would justify the price of the diary by themselves, and there's something to appeal to everyone, from stir-fries and casseroles to maids of honour and irish cream chocolate trifile. Did I mention hot cross bun and butter pudding? Dairy Diary is so crammed with useful, interesting and indispensible information, it's hard to imagine being without it. All this and a beautiful cover, too. As my gran used to say, don't forget to order your Dairy Diary, dearie!

PRESENT

I used to always get my Dairy Diary years ago off the good old milkman. Used to get one every year and thought that once the milkman was no longer so the diary was gone too. How wrong was I. I was searching for a diary on good old Amazon and lo and behold up pops this old favourite. Hurray my old friend was back. Filled with information and facts, recipes and stickers to make life easier to remember stuff. It is a mine of knowledge just like the old days. I got two in the end. One for my daughter as well. The tradition of Dairy Diary user is back. Thank you whoever kept this going. ps: My daughter loves hers too.

Don't usually bother with reviews but this deserves one. Love this diary...I take my diary everywhere and every Xmas I would hunt around for a suitable one. Had this bought me 3 years ago for Xmas and ordered it ever since. Everything I need in it, section for contacts and notes. Previous year and following year calendar and of course useful information and recipes. Great price and looks as new at the end of the year as it did at the beginning. Good quality.Wouldn't be without it and highly recommended! 10/10 for me.

My 2016 diary has just arrived.It has been a tradition for me to buy myself one of these for many years.Loads of useful information in the front and on each week to view page, there is a new recipe to try.I like the format of this diary and I use for planning meals. If I am stuck for inspiration I look through one of my previous copies and soon have a few ideas.Would definitely recommend if you are looking for a good sized diary with additional information and recipes.

I've been buying the Dairy Diary for about 30 years now - I love the tips and recipes and the diary itself has plenty of space to record all of our busy family activities. We keep this open on our mail shelf so everyone can see what's on the agenda for the week but, as opposed to a wall calendar, I can also pop it in my bag when I head out so I can quickly respond to invites/meeting requests etc.

I love this diary. A friend always bought me this diary every year, we lost touch and I just bought various diaries from then on. I have now come back to the Dairy Diary and will always get this one in future. All the extras are in here, all the little 'bits and bobs' that make all the difference. Love it!

I have been buying this Dairy Diary for both my wife and daughter in law for many years. I have never received any complaints. They are completely satisfied with the product. In previous years the diaries have been bought from the milkman but he no longer delivers our milk and therefore I had to find another source.