Talk of the Town: Dawe can sniff out snakes in the grass

She shared some of her pictures from the time, with snaps of her enjoying a family birthday and walking in the sunshine happily provided to the Evening News – with one notable exception.

The black and white picture showed Cllr Dawe in Ukiriguru, Tanzania, in 1967, holding the body of a snake she had killed with a golf club.

Defending her young family – and pets – from the attentions of poisonous snakes was a part of daily life over there. The ideal preparation for a life of politics?

Humourless by-election is disappointment at Festival

WHAT’S the difference between last week’s council by-election and a show on the Fringe? Well, not much it seems.

Unaware the good voters of City Centre ward were being asked to choose a new councillor at the height of the Festival, a visitor to Edinburgh thought the “Polling Station” sign outside the former Lothian chambers building on George IV Bridge was advertising a new political satire.

Imagine the disappointment on discovering it was a real by-election and any humour was completely unintentional.

Castle keeps kids happy

PARENTS will no doubt take heart from a survey suggesting the Capital is home to one of the nation’s favourite destinations for youngsters – Edinburgh Castle.

The children’s tourism report conducted by Travelodge found that, while Alton Towers and Big Ben were top of the heap, Edinburgh Castle was a respectable eighth.

Indeed, it seems more youngsters would enjoy running around the historic fortress than petting the penguins at London Zoo or running out onto the turf at Wembley Stadium.

Jack’s crocodile tears are real.

INTREPID artist Jack Henderson has continued to meet the demands of his growing fans – although not without sacrifices.

The six-year-old scribbler, who has raised more than £23,000 for the Sick Kids by selling drawing requests online, was recently requested to draw a crocodile.

And according to his website, the drawing was not without its problems. Jack’s dad Ed revealed: “The crocodile drawing scared Jack so much he is now afraid of crocodiles, had a nightmare about them and sleeps with his toy Dalek outside his bedroom door. We hope you appreciate the lengths the wee man has gone to!”