Talk of the Town: Going downhill

Attendees of St Anne's Church coffee morning, in Corstorphine, needed a strong cuppa after a parked car started rolling down the road.

MSP Margaret Smith was one of the attendees who set off running down Corstorphine Hill in pursuit of the runaway Vauxhall.

Luckily, the small crew managed to push it to the side of the road, then called the police and tracked down the very red-faced owner.

The politician said: "I was able to get a sweet cup of tea to calm my nerves."

Rankin filing from America

HE'S a long-way from home, but it seems even as he tours America, author Ian Rankin is being reminded about the joys of the Capital.

As well as keeping up to date with all the latest stories from Evening News via Twitter, he has also been chatting to fans and friends back home about his experiences.

And it seems he is not alone in wanting to find out about the delights of Edinburgh - after meeting his American fans he was excited to reveal the following: "Delighted to discover that readers in the US have been downloading the *free* iPhone app, 'Ian Rankin's Edinburgh'."

He did at least have the grace to admit this was a "brazen commercial", and in that spirit we would simply add that readers can continue to find out all the latest Edinburgh news online by following @edinburghpaper.

Breaking the mould

FOR the beauty conscious, clay is something you would usually slap on your skin rather than lather into your hair.

But one young Edinburgh boffin left other competitors green with envy when she came up with an environmentally friendly shampoo with a difference.

Mhairi Threlfall's clay shampoo landed her the Shell Livewire 'Grand Idea' award, plus a handy 1000 to invest in the muddy mixture.

A sense of occasion

IT'S a chance for youngsters to come to their senses.

At Newhailes next month, they will be offered the chance to test out their sensory perception in a series of challenges to discover how hearing, sight and smell are crucial to the survival of birds and mammals.

Donning blindfolds to blot out their senses, they will be asked to identify substances by smell or navigate their way around through touch.

Booking for the April 14 event is essential and costs 3 per child. It kicks-off at 2pm.