I WAS looking forward to a nice relaxing break away from the office. It was, of course, not to be.

I spent three days trying to trace a slimline washing machine to replace my old faithful Service which died a death, fusing with two loud bangs and blue flashes.

Having kept it alive for 19 years it could be compared to Trigger's brush in Only Fools and Horses, it had had so many new parts only the shell was original.

I decided to try and find a 22in wide model to fill the appropriate gap in my fitted kitchen, but it was an impossibility. Every shop I went in I was told the standard width was 23 inches.

Even though there was none on offer I was told by dealers that there is a demand for them. WELL WHY AREN'T THERE ANY THEN?

To save having to spend thousands remodelling the kitchen I've ended up with a dwarf size model, a compact studio version, which is two thirds the size of a standard machine but twice as expensive!

What a ridiculous situation.