Talk of the Town: Sheep Heid's revenge is a dish best served cold

IT might be Edinburgh's oldest pub, and have one of the city's more bizarre ornaments - a snuff box made from a sheep's head - but it seems the rustic charm of the Sheep Heid Inn isn't enough to save it from the harsh critics of the modern age.

The inn was said to have been recently visited for a website, thegoodsoupguide, and failed to impress despite being said to be "a wonderful old hostelry".

As for the actual soup, there was little mention, except to point out that the reviewer had missed the chance to try the anniversary Sheep Heid Broth served up recently. Still, after this review he will probably be invited to try something even less savoury if he should return.

Video takes the Ricky

YOU have to hand it to those councillors who go that extra mile to communicate with their constituents.

So credit to Labour councillor Ricky Henderson, who not only joined the ranks of the blogging councillors earlier this year, but also recorded his own Christmas message for those in his Pentland Hills ward.

In the video, which features on his blog page, Ricky sported a bright red Christmas jumper next to a sparkling Christmas tree in what appeared to be his own living room, with Christmas music being blasted out from his CD player in the background.

"I hope you find time to eat too much, drink too much, take a little rest and, most importantly, spend some time with friends and family - merry Christmas," said Ricky, before an awkward ten-second pause staring straight at the camera, as the music gets louder in the background. On his blog post next to the video, he writes: "I'm available for contract work, rates very reasonable."

Ian anticipates a sore one

THE first day of the New Year is a singular date, being the 1/1/11, and as such is being celebrated as One day. A range of events around the city include a chance to hear Ian Rankin discuss all that is wonderful about Edinburgh, although after celebrating Hogmanay he might be struggling with a singular hangover.

As he admitted to followers on Twitter "There may still be tickets available to my Jan 1st gig with Lin Anderson at the National Gallery of Scotland. I'll be the grey trembly one."

New Year pledges add up

TALKING of New Year, resolutions reflect the times we live in, it seems. Losing weight is still the most popular (55 per cent), followed by a determination to exercise more (49 per cent). But the third most common resolution for people as we approach 2011 is to sort out their finances. Welcome to austerity Britain