Talk of the Town: Rugby star Ross not wild over oats photo

IT WAS recently suggested in this column that rivalry had broken out among three Scotland rugby players over whose photograph on packets of porridge was selling the most heavily.

It seems Chris Paterson and Thom Evans can fight it out themselves as laidback Edinburgh star Ross Ford has distanced himself from any contest, saying: "The only thing my picture is good for is putting on the mantelpiece to keep kids away from the fire!" Not so, Ross, especially after Saturday's heroic win in Ireland.

One Hill of a performance

GEORGE Clark has many incarnations within Capital society, from ESPC chairman to president of Boroughmuir Rugby Club. But George is set for arguably his toughest role yet on Saturday, 3 April, when he is booked that night to impersonate comedian Harry Hill at the Boroughmuir version of Stars In Your Eyes. Which is the real McCoy and which is the Doppelganger? Judge for yourself.

Foulkes in a class of his own

GEORGE Foulkes has not endeared himself to the Labour leadership at Holyrood with his call for Edinburgh's independent schools to be taken into public ownership following comments by Westminster Tory education spokesman Michael Gove about encouraging independent and private schools into the state sector.

It harks back to the Lothian MSP's days as Edinburgh's education convener in the late 1970s when he appointed ten Labour councillors to the board of George Heriot's School .

One senior Labour MSP said: "You can take it George's comments do not reflect the position of the Labour group. He seems to believe in this new Tory policy more than the Tories do."

Smokers go under cover

EVER since the smoking ban, Edinburgh has had a touch of cafe culture, with tables and chairs outside bars and restaurants to cater for those in need of a puff. But with its less than continental weather, the Capital's tables and chairs are often inhabited by hurried, huddled figures drawing hard on their cigarettes to get back into the warmth as quickly as possible.

Top marks then to Joseph Pearce's, on Elm Row, for encouraging patrons to linger longer outdoors and enjoy the lighter evenings by thoughtfully providing neatly-folded blankets on pavement tables and chairs so customers can wrap up warm and enjoy the pale March sunshine.

Assistant manager Jamie McInnes says: "It's a bit more friendly than a patio heater – two people sharing a blanket is a bit more romantic."

It's not quite Paris, but we like it.