It’s been a good week for ... soup

THE wet and rather chilly – let’s not beat about the bush, that should read "miserable" – summer we have been enduring means soup sales are as high as they traditionally are in winter. More than 60% of Scots say they enjoy a bowl of soup at least once a week, which means the hearty filler no longer changes with the seasons.

An announcement from Heinz revealed the news. It seems nothing is better than a piping hot bowlful to get us through the day. Food psychologist Dr Christy Ferguson said Scots are soup fans because of the feelings of warmth, comfort and love.

Maybe a team of scientists should be commissioned to test for the release of endorphins after every spoonful of soup. Now that’s research we could all benefit from, especially when the skies are gunmetal grey and monsoon rain is falling outside.

Behind the science it isn’t really difficult to explain the popularity of soup: we want comfort food that makes us feel better. Anyone for seconds?

It’s been a bad week for ... jobsworths

AT last, common sense has prevailed after the stooshie in Stonehaven over the humble deep-fried Mars bar.

The Carron fish bar in the Aberdeenshire town came under fire from council officials who demanded the removal of a two-metre banner outside the shop proclaiming it was the birthplace of the high-calorie snack.

In a bizarre U-turn, after an outcry from local residents, the council has now apologised to shop owner Lorraine Watson and told her the banner can stay.

“There is a regeneration plan to tidy up the town centre and remove eyesores, but I don’t consider this one of them and it does bring many visitors to the town,” said Chris Stirk, chair of Stonehaven Business Association. “This morning there were two Austrians in there, who had come to get their Mars bar and have their photo taken with the banner.”

Political correctness would indeed have gone mad if the Carron’s sign had had to come down. What next? Closing down all of the country’s chippies?

Being told what to eat by bureaucrats doesn’t sound particularly appetising. Unless they are suggesting a warming bowl of soup in the middle of summer. The deep-fried Mars bar for pudding would be optional.