Talk of the Town: Pizza testing job just cannot be topped

Papa John's on Leith Walk is offering one person the chance to become its official "pizza tester", which would involve sampling a range of free pizzas for a year.

John Winton, who owns the Leith franchise, said the official pizza tester would receive a free Papa John's pizza once a month for a year.

"We will ask them to provide us with feedback on everything from taste to toppings," he said.

Applicants' names will be put into a draw and the successful candidate will be announced after the closing date on Sunday, 28 March.

Rugby president has a field day as emergency referee

AS SCOTTISH Rugby president, Jim Stevenson is used to glad-handing visiting dignitaries and is frequently spotted at the side of the Princess Royal, Murrayfield's patron.

That will certainly be the case when England contest the Calcutta Cup in front of a 67,000 crowd tomorrow.

But the occasion will be a far cry from last Saturday when Jim was pressed into emergency service as referee for the Mull v Wigtownshire game when the scheduled ref twisted an ankle stepping down a rabbit hole.

President Stevenson had only gone north to fly the flag at the annual dinner of the Oban Lorne club.

Mascot absence cleared up

STILL with the oval ball and Edinburgh Rugby answered a few critics by scoring more than three tries for the first time in a match since last September when Ospreys were dispatched at the weekend.

But one question was troubling fans: what happened to Murrayfield's own monarch-of-the-glen mascot, Flinty? With due respect, a giant Scottie dog is a poor substitute.

A thorough investigation revealed that Flinty was at the dry cleaner's having his fur seen to, though early reports had suggested he was "attending a stag party"!

Swede stuff for schools

THERE'S nothing like a Conservative-sponsored education debate at Holyrood for producing racy remarks.

The Tories want to end the council "monopoly" on running schools by encouraging educational trusts to set up new schools in the state system, pointing to Sweden as an example.

That led to several comments about "embracing the Swedish model" and "a love affair with the Swedish model".

Tory education spokeswoman Liz Smith noted that education secretary Mike Russell and Lib Dem leader Tavish Scott were heading for Stockholm this weekend for a closer look.

Tory MSP David McLetchie was quickly on his feet. "Are Swedish schools not closed at the weekend?"

Mr Russell reassured him that he would be spending Monday and Tuesday looking at the schools.