Monthly Archives: May 2012

An unwise trip to the Scottish Antique and Arts Centre (Rousse)

My father and my sister J had started their car journey from Stockton, so they were delighted when I suggested we break our journey at the Scottish Antique and Arts Centre. As we pulled into a parking space on the … Continue reading

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Shoe shops, a suitcase, and a dodgy taxi ruin travel plans (Rousse)

It was a real rush at the end of the Turku conference. Poor GW did her best to get me to the airport in time for my flight to London Heathrow (and onwards to meetings in Swindon), but I got … Continue reading

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French flood wipes out village (Rousse)

My mother and I lived in a log cabin in the upper section of a rural French village. During the day she worked in the cinema further down the valley, quite close to the river and the lake. My daily … Continue reading

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Two unwanted pregnancies and an unwelcome underwater trip (Rousse)

This was terrifying news. A friend who took fortress-style contraceptive measures, and another who was years past the menopause, had both fallen pregnant. Was it catching? Would I be next? I hoped not. I had enough troubles of my own … Continue reading

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Nick Hewer waves off candidate for china restoration and robot building roles (Rousse)

I grabbed my iPhone and camera and made a dash to board the ferry back to the mainland. When Nick Hewer (Lord’s Sugar’s advisor on The Apprentice) told me that I had left my pink notebook behind I said to … Continue reading

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When massage therapy goes wrong (Rousse)

TPR laughed at me from the other end of the treatment table while my friend tried her best to keep a straight face. Then fitness trainer SS appeared from nowhere and attempted to clamber up on to the table and … Continue reading

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Sarah Jessica Parker picks Belle’s pocket

I had sourced a rare, early version of a clothes peg doll.  Although only three inches tall, its remarkable resemblance to Sarah Jessica Parker (SJP) meant it was both highly collectable and extremely valuable. As I walked down the street, … Continue reading

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Beware underwater gypsy robbers (Rousse)

It was a rare sight: hotel guests bathing in the sea long into the evening on the Isle of Lewis. All that spoilt the peace was the permanent threat of underwater gypsy robbers.

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Home Counties versus the Hebrides (Rousse)

ED and I travelled to the misty isle and arrived under three fabulous rainbows. “These are almost as beautiful as the ones I saw in Haslemere” she remarked. I found it hard to believe that the rainbows of the Home … Continue reading

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Where Formula 1 and potatoes don’t quite fit (Rousse)

I seemed to be unfairly treated in comparison with the others who had adopted the commune’s medieval lifestyle. For example, I was the last to be served my cabbage ration, and a rude woman wouldn’t let me use the upstairs … Continue reading

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