Talk of the Town: Clearing snow might brand you a criminal

AT THE height of the Big Freeze, Edinburgh Pentlands Conservative MSP David McLetchie led his party's calls for criminals to be put to work clearing the snow from pavements.

The Scottish Government then seemed very keen to prove that offenders on community service orders were indeed already out there with their shovels.

But now it seems the idea may have had the side-effect of deterring law-abiding citizens from clearing pavements outside their own properties.

One otherwise community-minded resident told Mr McLetchie: "We're not going to clear the snow – people might think we're criminals."

Website rocked by scandal of a different nature

IT HAS operated as an anonymous watchdog on the activities of councillors and public bodies in the Pilton area for the last few years. The blog Pilton Sucks features regular snippets of local news and gossip which built up a steady following.

But now the blog has found itself hijacked by a sex website which has taken over the domain name. Instead of allegations of impropriety in north Edinburgh's political life, the site now offers something completely different. The anonymous blogger, usually diligent in updating the pages with the latest alleged scandal, will have to act fast to reclaim the site before the readership becomes outraged for different reasons.

Urgent notice to lose touch

IT IS never good news when a letter arrives marked 'urgent reminder'.

Usually, such a letter means a company is demanding overdue money. But asthma sufferers in Musselburgh needn't worry when the 'urgent reminder' about an asthma clinic at The Riverside Practice arrives.

One reader said a letter sent this week told him that surgery records show he hadn't been for some time. So what was the punishment? Was he facing a fine, or even being struck off the surgery's records?

No, the letter said, if you don't want to attend, "contact reception and we won't write to you again".

No bounds for parental pride

ALL new parents enjoy taking pictures of their newborn and some enter them into a bonny baby competition. But one couple were so proud they decided to enter their son into a competition in the Capital – despite living in America.

The prize was only 200, and the winning family had to collect it personally and pose for a photo, but it didn't stop the proud parents from sending in their snaps to compete in the competition by the Baby and Gift store, in Ocean Terminal.

Perhaps luckily, they didn't win. The competition organisers also didn't put an age limit on entries this year which they will now do – just in case . . .