Talk of the Town

ON 6 May, as the nation went to the polls, Gordon Brown and David Cameron were busy striking a deal at an Edinburgh bowls match.

At the match between Tramways Bowling Club and London Road Foundry Bowling Club, a Mr Gordon Brown, ex-President of LRFBC was approached by a member of the opposing team, who introduced himself thus: "I'm David Cameron. I've been told you're Gordon Brown".

They shook hands, and after initial surprise and banter they agreed that whichever party lost, the loser would treat the winner to a pint.

And, just as in the election, it was Mr Brown who came out the loser, promising to get the drinks in the next time the two cross paths.

Trials turn Portobello into Copacabana for a day

THE sandy shores of Portobello might not have many obvious similarities with the tourist hot-spot of Copacabana Beach.

This afternoon, however, it was standing in for the world famous beach, as Scotland's Homeless World Cup team held trials to find the squad that will travel to this year's World Cup in Rio de Janiero.

Street Soccer (Scotland) will be hoping anyone who can brave the chill winds blowing off the North Sea in nothing but shorts and a football top will be tough enough to cope with the sweltering heat of Brazil.

Salmond score misses mark

SCOTTISH Labour leader Iain Gray is determined not to let Alex Salmond forget his over-ambitious target of winning 20 seats in the election.

The SNP went into the election with seven MPs, but lost Glasgow East to end up with six seats.

At First Minister's Questions, Mr Gray coined a new phrase, which he no doubt hopes will stick: "Just like a baker's dozen is 13 instead of 12, a Salmond score is six instead of 20."

Pushing past the fun barrier

ACTORS are a generous lot, always willing to go that extra-mile for charity.

Thespians Malcolm Shields, Tom Freeman, Neil Kent and Anthony Bowers are no different, after signing up for a gruelling non-stop 24 hour marathon – of video games.

They're among the participants signed up to take part in Sick Kids Save Point, a video games marathon to raise money for the children's hospital in Marchmont.

Edinburgh-based Freeman is adamant that it won't be fun. "Twenty-four hours of non-stop gaming is going to be tough. In the same way that a marathon runner goes that extra distance for charity, we are going to be pushing past the fun barrier here," he says.

Other gamers who want to put themselves through the terrible trial – and raise funds for this worthy cause – can sign up at www.sickkidssavepoint.blogspot.com.