Talk of the Town: Author spices things up at bar on beach

THE spiciest item at the Dalriada, Portobello Prom's popular "bar on the beach", is usually the hot nuts.

The Regulars might be amused therefore when they read The Existential Detective by Porty's own Alice Thompson. The novelist - and former keyboardist with the Woodentops - has included a loosely concealed version of the pub in her latest work. Visitors to the fictional venue, however, have other things on their mind rather than pulling pints. In the novel, the building is home to a brothel.

House hunting woes for budding filmmakers

THREE Napier University film students are facing difficulties due to restricted funds.

They were asked to make a three-minute movie and came up with bringing an extract from Robert Louis Stevenson's detective fiction series The Suicide Club back to life.

As part of the script, their star runs into an old traditional-style house. There is only one problem, though: finding that old-style empty house.

"We've gone to a lot of estate agents but they have just been dismissive," said second-year John Angus Morrison.

If anyone has a house that fits the bill, John is on 07788 796897.

Impressive old boys list

THE achievement of celebrating 450 years in education puts Leith Academy in elite company.

But a glance at its roll of old boys from (relatively) recent years alone is just as impressive. From the world of sport, there is former Commonwealth Games diving champion Sir Peter Heatly, a former chairman of the Scottish Sports Council and Commonwealth Games Federation; the late Kitch Christie, who coached the Springboks to the 1995 rugby world cup; former SRU president George Jack and the late Bob Munro, manager of the Scotland rugby team at the inaugural world cup in 1987. Then there's Frank Doran, the Labour MP for Aberdeen North and city council chief executive Tom Aitchison; Lt General Sir Bob Richardson, who commanded the British Army in Northern Ireland, and former Scottish Tory leader David McLetchie. (The Evening News, of course, wouldn't be the same without Academy old boys John Gibson and Bill Lothian.) It's an impressive list - no other city school could beat it, could they?

Flowers hide security secret

New flowering baskets to be displayed in West Lothian are to be security marked to keep them safe from pests.

The baskets, being prepared by Williamson Garden Centre, will be security marked with the latest UV micro fingerprinting system., encouraging those with green fingers instead of light fingers.