Table talk
James Bond, the spy who looked after my coat
Diners at new Mayfair restaurant Shumi in London could be in for a surprise when handing in their coats. Speaking at the launch of his son Geoffrey's restaurant, former 007 Sir Roger Moore, said: "They could employ me as a doorman or a cloakroom attendant. It would lend the place a touch of class don't you think?"
Resized vegetables are really small in Japan
Swiss scientists have come up with a variety of dwarf vegetables to cater for Japan's growing population of single people. The Japanese retail giant Aeon will be offering quarter-size cauliflowers and half-size radishes to singles in 270 stores across the country. To tie in with Hallowe'en, the stores also plan to sell mini-pumpkins. About four in 10 households in Tokyo are singles.
Outstaying her welcome …to the tune of £14,000
A 70-year-old woman has been arrested in Japan for spending nearly a year in a hotel without paying. Fumi Takemiya clocked up a bill of more than £14,000 during her 379-day stay at a hotel in the city of Usuki. When she checked into the hotel last July she managed to pay the £38.50 daily rate for the first two months. But after falling behind with payments she told the owner her money had been lent to someone and would be paid back soon.
The pensioner was arrested last week after finally admitting she didn't have the cash.
Who ate all the pork-less pies in Wales?
Fears of a vegan pork pie shortage in Wales are growing in the lead-up to National Vegan Week, which starts this Saturday. Melissa Spooner, manager of a Holland & Barrett store in West Wales, said: "We sell many delicious vegan items and the pork-less pies are one of the most popular. People are always complaining we've sold out despite my doubling the order." Why does so much veggie food imitate the taste of meat?
Reports that chef Gordon Ramsay endorsed the pies with the slogan "Yum yum! They taste even better than the real thing!" proved to be unfounded.
Just stick to smouldering on screen, darling
She may be an Oscar-winning actress but Catherine Zeta-Jones is no domestic goddess. Apparently the star is such a menace in the kitchen that she once almost burned down one of her luxurious homes. Now husband Michael Douglas has allegedly barred her from the kitchen.
Fancy going for a bus timetable after the pub?
A bus company is hoping to boost passenger numbers with a balti-scented scratch-and-sniff timetable.
Birmingham-based Travel West Midlands says the leaflet also contains a guide to the city's so-called Balti Triangle - the home of more than 50 Asian restaurants.
Phil Bateman, Travel West Midlands corporate affairs director, said 1,000 of the 30,000 leaflets would feature the scratch-off section. He added: "We wanted to encourage people to go out for the evening by bus and enjoy a balti and a couple of beers without worrying about driving home. There's nothing like the smell of a good curry to titillate taste-buds, which is why we've created a special version of the leaflet."
