Talk of the Town: Actor learns her lines for dramatic train ride

DO you sometimes find your train journey to Glasgow drags and you long for a bit of entertainment?

If so, look out for an acting student from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama who is to present a play entirely on a train between the two cities.

Even in Glasgow/Edinburgh/Glasgow by Ishbel McFarlane will explore the differences between the two cities, their people and their literature, as the Central Belt flashes by outside.

E-mail [email protected] if you fancy a front row seat on the 2.30pm from Glasgow on 22 and 23 June (and don't forget to tell her how many railcards you have!).

On the other hand, if you're the kind of person who heads straight for the quiet carriage and can't abide loud mobile phone conversations, perhaps you'd better take a later train.

From here to maternity

THE scene was an Edinburgh golf club and two friends were playing in a midweek competition when a mobile phone call alerted one that his wife had gone into labour.

While delighted at such news the playing partner was, nevertheless, disappointed to find himself in a winning position on the 16th green with nobody else around to mark his scorecard. Reluctantly the father-to-be agreed to play on provided they "ran" the closing two holes whereupon after a scribbled signature on the card the impending champion relaxed and the new father departed . . . or so it appeared.

15 minutes later, "new dad" emerged from the clubhouse suited and booted. "I thought you were in a rush" asked the playing partner to be told: "I am. But if I turned up at maternity in golfing clothes I'd be in trouble with my wife so I have to look as though I'm rushing from the office!"

Exit, pursued by bicycle

WE THINK we have issues with the trams in Edinburgh now, but who knows what problems they may bring when they're actually up and running. This week a runaway tram rolled from a depot through Prague with the driver in hot pursuit behind it on a bicycle.

The tram, thankfully passenger-free, travelled for about half a mile on its track down a busy road towards the centre of the Czech capital before authorities switched off the electricity, bringing it to a halt. The driver was slightly injured trying unsuccessfully to jump on board while it was still moving.

Dougie's not so jolly

DO WE detect a touch of bitterness in remarks this week by television presenter Dougie Donnelly on his Twitter site, part of which reads: "Looking fwd to watching W Cup in English tonight! Wonder if there's anyone I know at the BBC not on a jolly in S Africa ?"