John Gibson: Now it's a frame-up in the Village

A WEEGIE and a Dubliner. A volatile mix anywhere, any time. Could William Street, one of the classier, superstore-free thoroughfares in Edinburgh's West End Village, handle it?

Speculating Jim Birrell and Brenda Rainford arrived from the closure of long-established opticians Black & Lizars a block away on Shandwick Place, convinced William Street craved quality opticians.

Former colleagues at Shandwick Place, they set up their own. That was three months back and, they assure me, Birrell Rainford Opticians has been well worth the speculation.

Glaswegian Jim's association with Black & Lizars had dated back to the Eighties and their shop in Davidson's Mains. Brenda came from Dublin to Edinburgh for a year and has stayed for over 20.

"We're finding it largely word of mouth in setting up here," they say.

"A lot of our patients at Blacks, when they hear where we are now, are proving loyal to us.

"What makes them feel at home is that our receptionist, Lindsey Muir, is a kent face. She was assistant manager of Charlie Miller's Stafford Street salon round the corner."

For sure, the Birrell Rainford partnership has a keen eye for business.

Out of Gear

Sashayed onto a catwalk in a poncified shirt, with poncified hair, on another TV assignment, James May. Fugitive from Top Gear.

This could be the final series of Top Gear after ten years. It only seems like 30. They won't be missed - May, diddy wee Rich Hammond and Mr Clarkson. He alone of the trio wasn't a total turn-off.