NORTHERN PLANNER

I like staying in Premier Inns. This of course is part post rationalisation, as corporate travel budgets rarely anything fancier, but that's not the whole story. You know where you are with a Premier Inn, they all look the same, booking and checking in is pretty standard and you know you will get a comfy bed.

I also like Pret a Manger. You know you'll get a decent porridge on the go for starters.

Even McDonalds has nice reliability. On the go with a hangover, it's salty, stodgy breakfasts take the pain away for a bit.

You've got to hand to Channel 4 and ITV in the UK, as telly fragments, as does all media, there's something to be said for places where you know what you'll be getting, with only a touch of innovation.

Let's be honest, Jacob's Creek Wine is OK and you know what you'll be getting.

There really is nothing wrong with being quietly reliable and  just wonder, in a world where is hardly beer anymore, but grapefruit beer made by monks and food needs to be ever more inventive, the stoic, relieble companies that do basics right, or at least make things a little easy to navigate, might just do more than OK.