Talk of the Town: Lachlan gives art bid added oomph

Now the Joppa student is about to start the new HNC art and design (portfolio preparation) course at the City of Glasgow College.

But it wouldn’t have happened were it not for a chance meeting with artist Julie Read while buying a second-hand camera.

Ms Read mentored Lachlan under her new scheme, Portfolio Oomph, which was created to give would-be art students a bright future.

Big-bellied Scots are not waist-ing away

STATISTICIANS for the Scottish Government and the NHS have developed complex and sophisticated data which they pore over regularly to determine the state of the nation’s health.

But there’s a simpler measure which people might relate to more easily – the size of their guts.

Lothians Green MSP Alison Johnstone is highlighting a new study from Glasgow University which shows how Scots waistlines have expanded in the last ten years.

The average man’s waist is now 39 inches, while the average woman’s is 35.

But when Ms Johnstone said this could “shock the Scottish Government into action”, did she mean in terms of policy or is she after the proof of the cabinet’s pudding?

Knitty knitty bang bang

IT’S the combination so many have been clamouring for – theatre and knitting.

Well, they are together at last, because if you can make rows like greased lightning, Brunton Youth Theatre wants your help to create the backdrop for a new play.

All you have to do is knit a rectangle half a metre wide and of a length of your choosing – any wool, any colour, any stitch, any length. To make things even easier, collection boxes will be left in community centres around East Lothian until the end of the month for those who want to help the theatre spin its yarn.

Fiver hotel deal in tune

LAST month, this very column told how the Capital was the third most expensive city in the UK for an overnight stay, with an average cost of £260.65.

Now, we say that cloud hovers above the city no more – thanks to the £5 room.

New hotel Tune Haymarket Edinburgh is offering the special rate during December, leaving you with just enough to spare for two pints of lager and a packet of crisps in the city centre.