Talk of the Town: Football prize is a kick in the teeth

FOOTBALL, it seems, is most certainly not coming home. That was the view of a father who took his son to the ice rink at Princes Street Gardens.

After they had enjoyed a skate they visited one of the gaming stalls beside it, and took part in the much-loved pursuit of throwing a ball at tin cans to knock them off a shelf.

And when they succeeded, the stall-holder rummaged around in a bag to hand out the prize.

To the astonishment of father and son, they were presented with an England team football, complete with three lions. The father remarked acidly: “I’d rather have won the cuddly toy.”

Phenomenal, obviously

IT has conquered all before it - including millions in the Russian Federation. Now Irn-Bru has been elevated to the heavens after being snapped up by Ryanair.

From today, Scotland’s other national drink will be available to passengers on the airline’s 61 routes from Edinburgh and Glasgow Prestwick airports.

Predictably, Irn-Bru described the news as “phenomenal”.

Rudolph gets his wings

IN the days before Christmas, Santa’s time is mostly spent at rickety grottos in shopping centre forecourts noting down the festive wish-list of good children everywhere. But this weekend Mr Claus will enjoy a more arresting venue for his festive order-taking - in the shadow of Concorde at the Museum of Flight in East Fortune.

Father Christmas will also listen to children’s orders aboard a Boeing 707. Let’s hope the presence of aviation masterpieces will equip Rudolph with supersonic speed come the Big Night.

Guard that photocopier

THE perils of the office party extend to more than employees telling the boss what they really think of him, or illicit romances in the stationery cupboard.

And now Edinburgh-based employment lawyer Dawn Dickson, a partner at Lindsays, has suggested employers take a few precautionary steps to ensure they don’t find the office Christmas party leads to an unwelcome start to the New Year. She said: “I don’t want to sound like Scrooge, but following a few tips should avoid problems at the Christmas bash.”

One of Dawn’s tips includes encouraging employers to consider whether they are alienating employees from the festive celebrations, though strangely there’s no mention of the Christmas party favourite – inappropriate use of the office photocopier.