Talk of the Town: Magic moment as Potter wins rebate

JK Rowling was famously amused by some of the fake book titles which were thrown around the internet at the height of Harry Potter fame.

Even she might have baulked at the suggestion of "Allan Potter and the 2000 tax rebate" - but fortunately for one Penicuik resident this is no fantasy story.

Mr Potter scooped gold in Midlothian's council tax prompt payment prize draw, and the father of two from Milton Bridge was the lucky winner of a 2000 holiday travel voucher.

Whether he will use it to take the family all the way to the Harry Potter experience in Orlando, Florida, is not yet known.

One man's meat is another man's dinner party

On the subject of books, it brings a whole new meaning to having friends round for dinner.

Bosses at a city attraction are set to publish a recipe book for cannibals.

The Edinburgh Dungeon's "distasteful" cook book will feature dishes including Dr Hannibal Lecter's often quoted favourite, "liver with butter beans, washed down with a bottle of nice Chianti".

The book is inspired by Sawney Bean, the legendary Scottish cannibal celebrated at the attraction.

Students scramble for flats

THERE might be months to go before the start of term, but that hasn't stopped some of the more affluent parents making sure their precious child has the best possible place to stay when they come to study in the Capital.

Edinburgh rental agency DJ Alexander has reported being inundated with requests from China, India and the Middle East for rented flats around the Edinburgh University campus.

And such is the scramble for flats in the Quartermile site that most are willing to sign immediately, pay rent on the flat while it sits empty and even pay well over the asking price.

Sympathy can be a pain

WITH words like "bromance" increasing in use, the concept of feminine behaviour in men is becoming more commonplace.

Now one company has coined the phrase "pregMANcy" to describe the behaviour of 43 per cent of middle aged men in Edinburgh.

After research in the Capital, Pampers said a large section of men will feel "changes" in their emotion and body similar to those of a pregnant woman.

These, according to the company, include mood swings, food cravings and even phantom labour pains.