Ahead of a Scottish Parliament debate on affordable childcare, Save the Children was presenting some MSPs with “simulator” babies. The robotic lifelike babies aim to prove that taking a child to work is not a feasible option, therefore childcare must work for those on the lowest incomes. If nothing else it at least gives MSPs a reason to throw their toys out of the pram. Missing person ape-peal A group of American friends currently in the Capital have put out a frantic missing person appeal – for a sock monkey. The tourists have taken pictures of Sock Monkey’s adventures around Scotland. But now they report that somewhere between Waverley Station and St Andrew Square the sock monkey went MIA and are appealing for anyone who may have picked up their beloved possession to get in touch. A prickly problem for Jack YOUNG artist Jack Henderson found himself facing a bit of a struggle with his most recent request. While the star behind Jack Draws Anything had no trouble with requests including “an elephant playing a piano”, he was left baffled after one fan asked him to draw “a picture of what you think between the neon and the sea would look like”. The first problem, explained dad Ed, was that Jack didn’t know what neon was, prompting a quick learning session. Then young Jack set about his work with his customary imagination, with the sea at one end (blue wavy colour) some neon at the other and in the middle, explained Ed, “a hedgehog”. Scrumthing’s not right THE rugby World Cup currently taking place inevitably means an out-pouring of books, one of which is a collection of tales from the tournament’s 24-year existence. A member of Scotland’s 1987 team, Finlay Calder, tells of how, after a match against Romania, scrum half Roy Laidlaw was delegated to make a speech congratulating colleague Colin Deans on his 50th Scotland cap. “He delivered one of the most meaningful, touching speeches I have ever heard,” said Fin before noting that there was no response from the intended recipient. Eventually it was Gavin Hastings who broke the news, tears of laughter rolling down his cheeks as he said to Laidlaw: “Did you not think to check whether Colin was here before making your speech?”