‘Look back on year full of surprises’

On the 12th day of Christmas my true love sent to me, Twelve Hibee humpings.

Colin Calderwood led Hibs to just 12 wins in 49 games before he was sacked in November.

Eleven Jambos mumping.

The Hearts first team had little to celebrate as the club failed to pay their wages on time in November and again in December.

Ten minutes waiting.

Drivers picking up or dropping off at Edinburgh Airport spent £1.3 million in the first year of the controversial “kiss and fly” charge.

Nine backsides burning.

Fewer than half the 20 entrants were brave enough to try the “Kismet Killer Curry” – and two of them ended up in hospital.

Eight (thousand) treasures gleaming.

More than 8000 items went on display when the National Museum of Scotland reopened after a £47m refit.

Seven battling illness.

Darren Fletcher, Scotland’s skipper and No7 (who has scored seven times for his country), battled colitis all year and was forced to take a break in December.

Six trams arriving.

After years of delays, five new trams were delivered, to add to the show vehicle already here, for test running at the Gogar depot. Fingers crossed, folks . . .

FIVE GOLD (AND BLACK) MSPs!

The SNP almost took a clean sweep of Edinburgh seats as the Nationalists recorded a stunning Scottish election win in May.

Four get the bird.

Four staff were sacked after a probe into statutory notices at Edinburgh City Council.

Three talent shows.

Caitlyn Vanbeck, 13, won the third Edinburgh’s Got Talent at the Playhouse in October.

Two giant pandas.

Tian Tian and Yang Guang finally went on show at the zoo.

And a newspaper to report on all of this and much, much more!

A Merry Christmas to all of our readers, advertisers and contributors.