Adrian Mole is thirty-four and three quarters, almost officially middle-aged, living in a minimalist loft apartment and working in an antiquarian bookshop Despite finding solace in a literary life Adrian is worried About the 'pathetic slide towards gum disease, wheelchair ramps and death' about whether or not he can get a refund on his holiday to Cyprus about his engagement to flaky New Ager Marigold Flowers and about his failure to find a celebrity speaker for his writing group's Christmas dinner