DONALD Trump took to Twitter to protest after his Vice-President-elect, Mike Pence, was harangued by an actor from the stage of the hit musical, Hamilton.

“The theatre must always be a safe and special place”, Trump’s indignant tweet began.

Comedian Katherine Ryan’s response is worth passing on. “The next president of the United States,” she said, “hasn’t even heard of Abe Lincoln.”

READ MORE: Beyond Brexit: Scotland could become 'dirty man of Europe' again

DESPITE the justified fuss about the publicly funded £369 million bill to refurbish Buckingham Palace, some companies will doubtless benefit from it. “Inside job for Crown Paints,” as comedian Milton Jones quipped at the weekend.

ANGOLA-born former footballer Jose Quitongo spoke about players’ freedom of movement in Saturday’s Herald, and reader Lachlan Bradley couldn’t help think of one particular game when St Mirren took on Morton at Cappielow.

Jose came out to warm up for the Saints and immediately incurred the wrath of the home fans. Lachlan, worried that racism might be rearing its ugly head, asked what it was all about.

“I was informed that a newspaper had trailed a story that Jose was to sign for Morton, but changed his mind at the last minute and signed for St Mirren”, he says. “I suppose that even freedom of movement has its limits.”

PERFECT names for the job, continued. Murdo MacLean writes: “Back in the pre Morrison's day I was working for Safeway and got an email from the Meat Manager in the Dundee store.

“His name? Tam Steer.”

JOHN Mulholland visited the National Gallery in Edinburgh and came across a painting by a celebrated French impressionist.

He had the distinct feeling, however, that he had seen it before. “You might say it was a case of Degas view,” he tells the Diary.

TERRACING chants, day 260.

“Following upon anecdotes relating to ‘Dandy’ McLean,” writes Alan Watt, “I attended a Rangers-Queens Park Glasgow Cup final at Hampden.

“McLean was having a quiet day and seldom in the action until in the second half he gave away a soft foul.

“The Rangers fans were incensed and hurled abuse at the referee but one of their more eloquent supporters said: "It was a f******* foul - he was loitering with intent!”

AND on the same theme we hear from Barrie Crawford, who was a linesman in the early 80s (“before assistant referees had been invented”).

One afternoon he was running the line at a dull match at Stirling Albion. Miday through the second half a spectactor behind him called out, "Haw, linesman, are you as bored as we are?”, to which Barrie nodded. He then heard the fan say, "Yes, there is life after becoming a linesman”.

On another occasion, at Forfar, he ran across the pitch to take up his position on the far-side line to be greeted with, "Oh no, we've got the ugly linesman again this week!”

READ MORE: Beyond Brexit: Scotland could become 'dirty man of Europe' again

OTHER sports have their wits in the stands, too.

Says David Stubley: “Not that I wish to suggest that rugby supporters are more polite than football fans, but at a premiership match at Millbrae, Ayr, a fan was heard to shout, ‘Referee, your social habits are affecting your eyesight!’

“I’m sure it was just helpful medical advice.”