Talk of the Town: Bin men refuse to waste their day off

CITY householders have grown used to refuse collectors failing to turn up when they are supposed to as the bin men's dispute with the council continues to simmer.

But it was a novel experience to see them turn up on Friday for a collection that residents had been warned wouldn't take place.

Many householders on the east of the city didn't put their garden refuse out for collection because a flyer posted through their letter boxes by the council said the collection had been cancelled due to the royal wedding bank holiday.

The collection lorries turned up nevertheless. Perhaps it was a militant republican branch of the bin men's union staging a wildcat work-in to make a political point.

Veteran comic Palin has Rankin talking pants

AS one sixth of the Monty Python troupe, fans may almost expect Michael Palin to display some idiosyncrasies.

But crime writer Ian Rankin has told how the veteran comic left him flummoxed by presenting him with a rather bizarre gift - of lingerie.

Rankin told Twitter followers: "I'm having dinner with Michael Palin tonight. He once made me a gift of three pairs of his underpants. Fact."

He then wrote: "The Palin story: same publisher as me; landed in Australia and they lost his luggage; bought new clothes. His luggage turned up and he said to publicist: offer all these new clothes I've bought to the next author who comes here on tour. (Me.)"

He didn't go on to reveal if he had tried them on.

Jack adds colour to couple

AS royal wedding memorabilia goes, it is certainly a picture that sticks in the mind.

Scribble-happy Jack Henderson, who is creating works of art on request to raise money for the Sick Kids, created his own drawing of the future king and queen to honour the big day.

But instead of penning a conservative image of the immaculate couple, his latest work shows a rather busty-looking Kate Middleton standing next to a handsome, if slightly chubby and red-haired, Prince William.

As dad Ed Henderson pointed out: "It does remind me of the time Jordan married Postman Pat."

Grubb's dash to wedding

STAYING with the wedding, it seems Lord Provost George Grubb was just grateful to make it on time.

Having flown in from Edinburgh on the day, Mr Grubb soon found himself stuck in the crowds outside St James' Park. Fortunately he was able to get help from the police - who arranged an escort to get him into Westminster Abbey.