Talk of the Town: Blue suits Marilyne in confusing times

THE coalition formed at Westminster has muddied the political waters further at the City Chambers.

At the city council, we already had a coalition in the form of the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party. But in light of the Conservative and Lib Dem coalition at Westminster, it will be interesting to see whether the council administration find a more sympathetic opposition group in the shape of the Edinburgh Tories.

In the first council committee meeting after the formation of the Westminster coalition, education leader Marilyne MacLaren turned up sporting a blue outfit, much to the amusement of the Tories. Councillor Joanna Mowat remarked: "I notice you are wearing blue today, and you look very well in it too."

Randy's dead wrong

SINGER-songwriter Randy Newman poked a bit of fun at Edinburgh music-lovers during a gig this week.

At his packed performance in Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall he compared the crowd's participation in a singalong to the same song performed six years ago at the Queen's Hall.

After the audience had helped him in the chorus of I'm Dead (But I Don't Know It), he said: "That was great, much better than those sissies through in Edinburgh."

Sale of the 17th century

IT'S amazing what they can do with historical reconstructions these days.

Tucked away among the tartan tat shops at the top of the Royal Mile is the National Trust of Scotland's tastefully restored 17th century tenement, Gladstone's Land.

It's a corner of the world where the attractions are thick on the ground, so each must do its best to tempt the tourists in.

The banner outside Gladstone's Land proudly proclaims "Restored 17th Century Tenement & Gift Shop". Ah, there's nothing like a nice 17th century gift shop to really make your holiday special.

They're off their brollies

AFTER road rage, bike rage, computer rage and air rage, it seems there's yet another fact of life that just can't stop driving people to violence – umbrella rage.

Hard as it may be to accept, a not-entirely scientific study has revealed that more than 64 per cent of people living in Edinburgh have suffered from the condition when in a crowd of umbrella users.

Some 67 per cent of Edinburgh residents have apparently been hit by someone else's umbrella, with 31 per cent of them on the receiving end of a poke in the eye.

No doubt fearful residents reading the research – conducted by senz umbrellas – will be pleased to hear that this summer is expected to be a largely sunny one.