Talk of the Town: A stroll along the Champs des Leithy

THE departure of tram works from Leith Walk has prompted speculation on how this main artery to our traditional port might be made to resemble Barcelona's Las Ramblas, with its mime artists, vendors and streets acts.

A new name for the thoroughfare has already been coined though.

In his book Heartfelt, all about the traumas of switching football allegiance from Hibs to Hearts for a season, author Aiden Smith refers to the joys of approaching the hallowed Easter Road ground.

In doing so, he re-christens Leith Walk "the Champs des Leithy".

You never know, it might catch on.

Dour Danny's phone is staying in silent mode

DUNDEE United player Danny Swanson has had a troubled start to the season, with long-running injuries keeping him sidelined.

It's hardly surprising then that he's not been in the best of moods, although it appears his temper has now led to his own father steering clear of him.

John Swanson, who manages Gladstone's Pub in Leith, usually enjoys regular chats with his son, but it seems their chin-wags have dried up recently.

"I've been in a terrible mood and I think I've fallen out with everyone," said young Danny.

"My dad usually phones every day, but he knows I'm injured and he how crabbit I'm going to be, so he doesn't bother now."

Minnie's a star turn

HOLLYWOOD stars are notorious for their diva demands on-set, and it seems a little that showbiz selfishness popped up in the Capital earlier this year - Simon Pegg has revealed he managed to get his pet dog Minnie a part in his new film, Burke And Hare.

The Hot Fuzz star appears alongside Andy Serkis and Isla Fisher in the comedy about the Edinburgh murderers of the 1820s, and admitted that he persuaded director John Landis to cast miniature schnauzer Minnie in the film too.

Simon revealed: "I keep trying to get her in films. I took her to New Mexico last year, I took her to LA. There is no fee for her, she does it for the love."

Getting the bedtime blues

NOISY neighbours, over-excited nightlife and illness are all reasons regularly cited for sleeping troubles.

A recent survey in Edinburgh points to a culprit closer to home.

According to research by a sleeping pill manufacturer (of course), a third of locals are kept awake by their snoring, wriggling partner.

This leads to one in five sleeping in a different bed, with 15 per cent leaving their partner as a direct result.

Sweet dreams.