Here for the beer

Just when you thought Oktoberfest was over and done with it suddenly pops up in Edinburgh.

This certainly isn't on the scale of the original in Munich and it only runs from the 9 October until 13 October in Princes Street Gardens. It is really all about drinking one particular brand of German beer, although there is the opportunity to sample traditional German food apparently, such as Schweinebraten, Sauerkraut and Weisswurst. If you really want to get into the swing of things you can hire or buy lederhosen or dirndl dresses as suits your mood or gender.

The good old Scottish trait of 'getting blootered' may well be reined in by the price of the beer - £8.50 for a one-and-a-half pint glass. Certainly an incentive to stop you becoming a Bierleichen.

After Edinburgh it all packs up and moves to Glasgow, now there's a scenario that doesn't really bear thinking about.