Talk of the Town: Capital weather is perfect for pandas

BEING stuck out on the side of Corstorphine Hill on a cold January day may not sound like the kind of experience you would happily travel thousands of miles to enjoy, but the Capital's cold climate proved to be a blessing for zoo chiefs when they were negotiating with the Chinese authorities for the loan of two giant pandas.

Apparently Tian Tian and Yuangguang will love it when they arrive, probably next year.

"Climatically, Edinburgh is absolutely perfect," says Iain Valentine, director of animals, conservation and education for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, which owns the zoo. "Many zoos have to install elaborate temperature controls. We have much less trouble emulating the cold, wet and snow of the Sichuan mountains."

Cookery class will suit even the simplest of men

WHEN the "Cookingmania" school in Edinburgh's North West Circus Place described its men-only course as a "relaxed" approach to pots, pans and recipes it seems they weren't joking.

One friend of this column joined at the behest of his wife - "a present to herself?" - and was greeted with the remark "The kitchen. Now that's the room men go through to get to the back door of the house and can usually be recognised by having a kettle in it!"

Of course, the female tutor was speaking tongue-in-cheek (why do we put up with that sort of stuff, eh guys?) but keeping it straightforward does seem to pay dividends. Our correspondent also described his enrolment as "one of my best Christmas presents in years".

Queen waives souvenir VAT

SOME good news amid rising fuel and supermarket bills. The Queen has decided not to impose the higher rate of VAT on souvenirs, including those marking the forthcoming royal wedding.

Will there be a stampede to the Palace of Holyroodhouse to snap up commemorative Wills and Kate plates? At 40 a pop, possibly not.

February flashmob fun

FANCY freaking someone out with a flashmob in February?

Plans are afoot for an outdoor silent disco, due to appear in different locations around the city on February 26. Participants are asked to bring an MP3 player with headphones, dress up for a dance and gather quietly at Waverley Station at 1.30pm to spook passers-by with a bit of impromptu silent dancing. They will then move on to the Royal Mile and Grassmarket.