THE death of Motown singer What Becomes of the Broken Hearted Jimmy Ruffin reminds Glasgow-born broadcaster Paul Coia of once introducing Jimmy on live television.

Says Paul: "After thousands of times singing his huge hit, he forgot his words. He sang, 'What becomes of the broken hearted,

Don't know the words but now I've started,

I'll keep going on, till the end of the song, baby.'

"And almost no one noticed. What a pro."

Trading places

THE Herald-sponsored Scottish Politician of the Year awards dinner took place last night with political broadcaster Colin Mackay who was chairing the event, explaining: "Scottish Labour leadership candidate Jim Murphy is hoping to come along later - but only if Ken MacIntosh gives up his seat."

Hats off to George

COLIN, looking back on the political year, recalled George Galloway's appearance in the debate at the Hydro before thousands of school voters.

He made an arresting appearance in a wide-brimmed hat.

Said Colin: "I can tell you George Galloway and his hat parted company after that. A spokesman for the hat said it was sick of Galloway talking through it.

"The young voters didn't really know who George Galloway was - to them he was just some old bloke in a hat shouting at them - which they can get down the park any day."

Ear souvenir

DO you think some souvenirs are tacky?

Peter Samson was visiting the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam when he noticed you could buy in the gift shop plastic ears with a ring in the ear lobe to use as a key chain.

Thank goodness it was only his ear that Van Gogh cut off.

At one with nature

BUS conversations are often intriguing. Over in Edinburgh Magnus Moodie tells us: "On the number 19 yesterday I overheard a fragment of conversation between two teenage girls.

'Oh my God,'" said one. 'Like I can't believe that fish, like totally swimming in the sea. Like, that's disgusting'.

"I fear they were en route to college."

Deep thinking

A MORE philosophical point was made by a girl in Glasgow who was heard asking her pal: "Do you think you've ever done something in public which a stranger later wrote about on Facebook?"

Bitter revenge

OUR mention of Govan Dry Docks reminds Ken Campbell of when his father worked for Ardrossan shipping company Hogarth's, dubbed Hungry Hogarth's because it skimped so much on food.

Says Ken: "He was in one of Hogarth's ships with 3ft of filthy bilge water to put over the side.

"As the ship came into the Govan dock there stood a motley of Hogarth board members in suits and bowler hats.

"The Second Mate, unhappy with their treatment by the shipowners, ordered open scuttles.

"My father complied, and he always regarded the sight of the owners drenched in bilge as a gem," he went on to say.

Office humour

A COLLEAGUE wanders over to interrupt us with: "I call my car Flattery. It gets me nowhere."

Dear oh dear.