John Gibson: All cisterns yet to go for the Indians

Published on Wednesday 10 March 2010 08:45

LOADSALAVVIES. Ideal material for Pan-orama. In India 700 million people have no access to a toilet. Bihar State is planning to build nine million of them in two years to end open-air defecation.

In Mumbai's slums, the average toilet is used by 270 people. In Leith's Fifties tenements we deemed one toilet for three families primitive.

Central Edinburgh could use a few hundred easy-access public toilets right now, judging by the rivers of urine flowing from every convenient nook and cranny at weekends.

It's the norm for sneaky after-dark piddlers. Guys who can't manage to keep it in the breeks. Nobody's ever nabbed for it.

This will take off

A true high flier. John Pascoe-Watson flew too many different aircraft to mention in his RAF days in the Fifties before he left in 1955 to become a test pilot with Ferranti.

So much to tell. John latterly taught cadets to fly Chipmunk trainers at Edinburgh airport and, having married a sister at the Western General, he returned to his native Devon

There had to be a book. Laughter-Silvered Wings covers his 38 years up here, where he was a passionate member of Lothian Car Club. A humorous yarn capturing the finest RAF traditions. John's got copies at 01395 263614.

I've yet to delve into it. When I can find the time. It's flying far too fast for me.

Tony's cup of tea

Sobering words from Sir Anthony Hopkins: "What made me stop drinking was not remembering where I'd been the night before. One day I just thought, 'I've had enough of this.' I don't miss drinking. Not at all.

"Now I just love English tea and digestive biscuits or Hobnobs."

Tony's been sober for 34 years. Let this be a lesson to you all.

Afterwords . .

. . . I'm in Hangover Street where in the sobering light of day I have to wonder if I'm seeing things. A shop called I Love Candy, as the name implies, specialises in the sweeter things in life, while the shop directly below is . . . Hanover Health Foods. It's your life.