Talk of the Town: Free car parking for QMU hits the buffers

TRANSPORT cops have become so fed up with Queen Margaret University students and staff parking all day at Musselburgh Station that they've decided to railroad them out.

Sergeant David Lacey, of British Transport Police East Sector, has written a strongly-worded letter to the university reminding cheeky university drivers that the station car park is for fare-paying passengers.

He warned: "A decision has been made that if the parking facility continues to be abused, British Transport Police will have no option but to take action, which may result in offenders being reported to the local procurator fiscal for a parking and obstruction offence."

Slopes prove a sharp exit from dogs for brave skier

IT TAKES a brave person to don their skis and take to the treacherous slopes of the Pentland Hills.

But while worrying about breaking a limb might be top of their list of things to fear, escaping the clutches of dogs isn't probably something they'd expect to be dealing with.

However, one unfortunate off-piste skier had to contend with just that during what was meant to be an enjoyable day on the slopes, when she had an unexpected encounter with two Boxer dogs and another unspecified breed of ferocious canine.

Although deeply distressed by the incident, the woman was said to have escaped injury by "out skiing" the dogs. Since the dogs were not on skis, however, some might say she had an unfair advantage.

A bowl of Irish oat cuisine

AS THE old adage goes, a supreme salesman could sell sand to the Arabs and ice to the Eskimos. So let's hope Flahavan's Oats bring one with them when they come to Waverley Station this week and attempt to sell porridge to the Scots.

The Irish porridge makers are kicking off St Patrick's Day early, promising a giveaway of Irish goodies at the station tomorrow.

You've been framed

SHOPPING can be a stressful experience at the best of times, but even more so when cashiers start making up prices.

One unfortunate customer shared the story of an unfortunate encounter at TK Maxx, in Meadowbank, when the cashier spotted the photo frame she was trying to buy had no price tag.

A teenage employee was duly dispatched to try and find another frame, complete with price tag.

But after another lengthy wait, he returned to say he couldn't find a price.

To the customer's astonishment, the cashier said: " I'll charge you 5.99."

He might have considered this a bargain, but the customer had seen the actual price – displayed quite clearly on the apparently invisible identical items – and had no hesitation pointing out it was supposed to be 2 cheaper.