Talk of the Town: Baker on board to support the trams

FOR those working on Edinburgh's tram project, it must sometimes feel like the whole world is against them.

But they will be pleased to hear that they do at least have some friends in high places.

During a recent exchange in the House of Commons, Gregory Baker, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, was asked which art works currently hang in his department.

He revealed that alongside various paintings and a photo of the Queen, there also hangs a poster entitled Bring Back the Edinburgh Trams, dated 2008.

Library service needs to read up on maths skills

IT is often the case at school that pupils who excel in English tend to not be so good at maths, and vice versa. It would not be a surprise, then, if those who run Edinburgh's libraries were avid English enthusiasts at school.

If a council report on the performance of the city's libraries is anything to go by, they are certainly not too hot at maths.

The report said that visits to the city's virtual library had increased from 263,876 in 2008 to 896,579 now, which the report says is "an increase of 29 per cent". Well, no, actually - that would be a 240 per cent rise.

Fortunately Labour councillor and over-enthusiastic Sudoku player Eric Barry is good with numbers, and suggested: "Maybe the library service should introduce a maths app."

Wreck would be shipshape

IT'S certainly one of the more unusual requests to cross our desk recently - Deep Sea World in North Queensferry is looking for a shipwreck.

The aquarium has had a boat in its Underwater Safari display for 15 years, providing a habitat for crabs, lobsters and juvenile fish. But it's becoming too battered even to fulfil its role as a shipwreck, and staff are looking for an old fibreglass boat to take its place.

They are even offering a special sinking ceremony for the lucky winner. If you can help, call Tina Aydon on 01383 421142.

Introducing Wed Miliband

EVERYONE has weddings on their mind at the moment, even those hard-working souls embroiled in the battle for power at Holyrood.

Before introducing Labour's Iain Gray and Ed Miliband at their question and answer session in Portobello Town Hall yesterday, Ewan Aitken, the party's candidate in Edinburgh Eastern, said he knew there was an important wedding coming up and people were excited. "So I'd like to add my congratulations to Ed and Justine."