Talk of the Town: Tall tales over height of rugby star Roddy?

EDINBURGH Rugby are in a new controversy following the hiatus which surrounded monarch-of-the-glen-type mascot Flinty missing a match for being at the dry cleaners.

It seems forward Roddy Grant might also have been there . . . and shrunk. According to the Heineken European Cup guidebook, Roddy is "6ft 2in" and that is supported by the Magners Celtic League manual.

However, Edinburgh's own website is declaring Roddy to be 6ft tall and none of this is impressing Evening News bloggers who are variously estimating this pocket battleship at either "5ft 9 or 5ft 10".

Will the real Roddy Grant stand up?

'Evil' gambling is no safe bet

THE days of puritanism in Edinburgh may not be dead just yet, if the city's licensing board is to be believed.

While the Capital may have more than its fair share of pubs, clubs and casinos, there are still those who see certain activities as a dark stain, which emerged when Councillor Nicola Barry stepped forward during a debate on JD Wetherspoon's plans to install an extra fruit machine in three city pubs.

"I think gambling is the new evil," declared Cllr Barry. "Alcohol and gambling do not go together."

It's not cheap to live here ..

IT MIGHT sound like a practical joke common on April Fool's Day, but when Joseph Giraldas received an official letter from the council telling him his rent was more than 4.6 million, his first reaction was panic.

The Port of Leith Housing tenant thought he had received an incredible demand notice, or a scam, until he realised it was a simple mistake.

It was also quite timely, with the day the rent was due being 1 April.

Mr Giraldas, 60, from Ferry Road, said: "I thought it was a demand originally. I never noticed the date until I read it with a friend."

Unfortunately for Mr Giraldas – who was also told his housing benefit came to the same 4.6m figure – he won't become a millionaire overnight.

He added: "I get my rent paid for me and if I had 4.6m paid into my bank account, I would be off!"

Brew won't believe it

A NEW survey has suggested that 39 per cent of people in Edinburgh have five or more difficult conversations every week. Quite what constitutes a "difficult" conversation is not made clear, but help is, apparently, at hand.

Professor Charles Spence has been studying "neurogastronomy", investigating the links between human senses and eating and drinking.

He has suggested that holding a warm cup of delicious tasting coffee has the amazing effect of making you, and those around you, feel better.

The research was commissioned by Starbucks, who were no doubt keen to gloss over the fact that, when asked what beverage they would want for a tricky conversation, 39 per cent of people from Edinburgh chose tea.