Talk of the Town: Cardownie's got his Ion communication

COUNCIL leader Jenny Dawe and deputy Steve Cardownie offered an insight into their trials with technology when they gave evidence to MSPs on the saga of The Gathering and whether they had seen a controversial press release before it was issued.

Councillor Dawe told Holyrood's audit committee: "I have the council version of a BlackBerry — a sort of cheap gizmo — and I check my e-mails regularly. The one time when I do not check them is on the day before a full council meeting and on the day of the meeting itself because I am fully occupied."

Councillor Cardownie informed them: "I was given a horrible bit of apparatus, which I eventually managed to change, although the council initially refused to replace it on the basis that there was still six months of the contract to go. Fortunately, I got an iPhone on trial — I am the only person on the council who has one — and I now check my e-mails on it. The previous thing that I had was horrendous and it was very difficult to open attachments on it. I did not read e-mails on it, but I read them now."

Study proves that Capital really is hell on heels

TWO-thirds of women in Edinburgh admit to wearing shoes that have caused them injury, according to a new study by a shoe firm.

The unessential finding was part of a survey of 3000 women across the country, whose lives appear to be blighted by bad footwear. Broken ankles, infected blisters and torn tendons are all reported, with 93 per cent of those surveyed admitting to buying painful shoes.

We can't speak for the rest of the country, but when it comes to Edinburgh, anyone who has tried walking on the Old Town's cobbles in high heels will only be surprised the figure wasn't higher.

Summit to make a splash

IT may not be up there with winning an Olympic Games bid.

But securing the European Conference on Underwater Acoustics for the city has been hailed a major coup by the Edinburgh Convention Bureau.

The four-day conference will host up to 600 delegates and is expected to inject 1.1 million into the local economy. It has already been tipped as unmissable by those in the mine detection, underwater intruder detection and fish shoal density industry.

Flushed with success

THERE'S nothing quite like an award-winning lav and the Lothians are flushed with success right now.

Two pubs are celebrating after achieving the highest rating in this year's Loo of the Year Awards.

The Alexander Graham Bell on George Street and The Blacksmith's Forge in Dalkeith, were awarded five stars for the quality of their toilets.