Talk of the Town: Theft of tartan is highly uncharitable

A PAIR of statues in the heart of the Capital had been sporting something a little more classy than the usual traffic cones of late, thanks to an unusual charity drive.

The statues of Greyfriars Bobby and Sir Walter Scott were given a Tartan make-over in aid of the annual Kilts for Kids charity event.

But it seems that despite the event being for charity, some people have found the fetching little tartan additions too adorable to leave alone.

Distressed staff at Children 1st, who were running the campaign, reported the special tartan sash on the Sir Walter Scott statue was pinched within days of going up - and one staff member cursed the thief extra hard, having suffered the indignity of a ladder in her tights whilst putting up the sash.

Park strife taking its toll on Capital's motorists

STUTTERING through the Capital's cobbled streets in rush hour or being caught at every traffic light in town is part of the daily grind of being a city motorist.

But one constant for behind-the-wheel Edinburgh residents, and one that is guaranteed to get the blood boiling, is the perennial void of parking spaces.

And according to one report published this week, drivers here spend eight months of their lives hunting out parking spaces.

The study reveals the average Edinburgh motorist loses the equivalent of more than five days (131 hours) every year circling car-parks and streets in search of those parking spaces. It is estimated up to 120 in petrol is lost seeking out these ever-elusive bays.

Rankin's cutting remark

WITH 500,000 jobs being slashed, not to mention drastic benefit cuts and a raft of other harsh measures, there was precious little to enjoy about last week's government spending review.

But as always there were people keeping a watchful eye on events who were ready with a light-hearted quip to ease the gloom.

Among them was Capital novelist Ian Rankin, better known for his intricate, gripping crime thrillers but equally adept at a good gag.

After witnessing the extent of the cuts, he cheered up his followers on twitter, stating: "After my own comprehensive spending review, I find I still need to go for a haircut."

Carping at catch of the day

Break out what's left of your savings for an 11,000 lot due to go under the hammer at Bonhams' auction house next month. For that sum you can get (cue the drum roll...) Four fish. That's right. The stuffed trout and three salmon were caught and cased at the turn of the last century by renowned fisherman and taxidermist Peter Malloch. Worth every penny, we're sure.