SINGER Elton John has called for a boycott of Italian fashion house Dolce and Gabbana after it criticised gay couples being allowed to adopt. As a shopper was heard to remark in Glasgow yesterday: "I'm with Elton on this. Not a problem. Thank goodness it wasn't Primark mind you."

DIFFICULTIES we never had before new technology. As a reader phones to tell us: "I might have to go down to the Cat and Dog Home to get some new pets - I'm running out of names for my computer passwords."

BBC Scotland boss Ken MacQuarrie has begun his investigation into Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson having a hissy fit with a producer because he didn't like the food provided while out filming. We like the fact that the makers of Snickers have sent Clarkson a box of 48 chocolate bars with its current advertising slogan "You're not you when you're hungry" plastered over the top of the box.

RUSSIAN leader Vladimir Putin popped up on television yesterday after not been seen in public for a fortnight leading to speculation about what he's been up to. Naturally folk on Twitter did a bit of guessing on his absence. We liked Damien Owens who remarked: "I found Vladimir Putin. He's in our shed. He said 'Is Putin's shed now' and then he cut off our gas."

READER Irene Carmichael spots an advertisement for a builder in her local Bearsden newspaper who is offering "Loft conversations". She thought the product seemed rather expensive if all he was going to do was climb into your attic and chat to you.

THE political news getting commentators hot and bothered yesterday was Labour leader Ed Miliband ruling out a coalition after the General Election with the SNP. Not everyone got excited. As former Herald columnist Hugo Rifkind put it: "Ed Miliband refusing to go into coalition with the SNP is a bit like that time I refused to leave my wife for Angelina Jolie."

A GLASGOW reader overhears a chap in the Shawlands branch of Boots the Chemist tell the assistant: "A packet o' aspirins Hen - ah wantae make sure the wife husnae a headache the night."

Says our reader: "The best part was that the assistant didn't even look up. Had she heard it all before maybe?"

TONY Blair is to step back from his role as a peace envoy for the Middle East, according to a report. "Surely," says a reader, "even with his ego, he won't actually say, 'My work here is done'."

A COLLEAGUE wanders over to interrupt us with a tale about what he was up to at the weekend. "Had a terrifying time trying to open some flat-packed furniture with a Stanley knife," he told us. "Nearly slit my shelf."