Talk of the Town: Students’ wizard sporting wheeze

IT IS the fictional sport of wizards that sees broomstick-riding players score points by guiding a “quaffle” through elevated rings.

But the practice of Quidditch may no longer be confined to the pages of Harry Potter after it emerged the Edinburgh University has launched its own team.

The team, known as the Holyrood Hippogriffs, hone their skills in the Meadows using a volleyball and three different sized hoops.

Quidditch is now available to all students through the university’s Harry Potter Society and it has even been reported that SportScotland would consider recognising it as a valid sport.

New zoo role best suit-ed to a maternal sort

IT’LL be a bizarre job but keepers at Edinburgh Zoo are just going to have to grin and bear it.

Staff plan to dress up in panda suits if Tian Tian and Yang Guang have cubs in an attempt to fool the babies into thinking the human carers are actually their parents.

Head keeper Alison Maclean said: “If they come to you for milk and you’re in a panda suit, as far as they are concerned you are mum.”

Just goes to show, when it comes to knowing who your family are, things aren’t always black and white.

Sculpture a no-show?

IT IS likely to be one of the art highlights of the year, although it seems one of the pieces may be missing.

News that the mystery paper sculptures found dotted at literary locations around the city were to be mounted in an exhibition will have thrilled art lovers.

The intricate pieces are to go on show at the Scottish Poetry Library later this year.

But at least one recipient of the artwork admitted he had heard nothing of the show, with author Ian Rankin tweeting: “I have not as yet been asked for a loan of my sculpture for the exhibition...”

The Rebus author has claimed to know the identity of the mystery artist, however, and so will no doubt be willing to lend his own sculpture to the show, at least for a little while.

Stress-free, eventually

DARK nights, cold weather and a bleak economic outlook – it’s no wonder so many people find themselves unusually stressed at the moment.

One psychologist has apparently seen a 25 per cent increase in seriously stressed clients and has decided to provide a little relief.

Professor Gillon will be hosting a free Stress Factor Workshop at Edinburgh’s Hotel Missoni – the only slight problem is that it won’t be held until February 22.