Monthly Archives: November 2019

From Chad to Croydon via Disneyland and Australia (Rousse)

TPR set up a summer-long ‘book’ group and called it ‘Chad’. The participants ranged from his friends to a couple of my undergraduate students. Somehow JS had managed to inveigle herself into the men-only meeting. Meanwhile I visited drab, rainy … Continue reading

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UK Research and Innovation style (Rousse)

I put on my 1940s red and white gingham tea dress before setting off by train for Swindon. My outfit impressed the one member of research council staff who was interested in fashion. As she complimented me on my style, … Continue reading

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Self-defence cabbage (Belle)

The Girl Guides had set up camp in my street and I found it enchanting and irritating in equal measure. I decided to take my rubbish out to the bins so I could spy on them. As I walked towards … Continue reading

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Detective David Tennant distracted by kittens (Belle)

We were trying to watch a film in an open space in the motel/conference centre but were interrupted by the foul-mouthed language of two lads pushing prams down the corridor. Sensing trouble I followed them and (spying through their keyhole) … Continue reading

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A green Bentley, an angry ginger cat, and a visit to the anti-gravity stadium (Rousse)

PM collected JC (but not me) in the new Bentley that her husband had mentioned the last time that we had met. The car was long, sleek and green. It’s most distinctive feature, however, was a most unusual personalised number … Continue reading

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Uncomfortable beds and cold porridge (Rousse)

I was a terrible hostess. I forced my overnight guests to sleep on spin cycles, then made them wait for hours for the cold porridge that I served at breakfast.

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Lost cycle panniers, and Japanese water tanks (Rousse)

How would I admit to TPR that I had lost both of my fully-packed cycle panniers, one of which included our soap bag? I had no idea where I had left them along my solo route in the Scottish borders. … Continue reading

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A lobster-pot daughter and dodgy art work cleaning (Rousse)

Even though he obviously was not her father, TPR was the primary carer for our tiny new African baby. She was so beautiful that even I found it hard to believe that she was my very own daughter. We were … Continue reading

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Edinburgh property dispute (Rousse)

We had already sold and moved out of our Edinburgh flat a couple of times – and always ended up buying it back again. There was something about the sensible dimensions of the rooms, as well as the flat’s convenient … Continue reading

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Huge nuts in a hazel wood, and horrid pickles (Rousse)

My sister-in-law S and her husband A had a reputation for buying ridiculous properties. Their most recent purchase was a cottage in the woods. Our first impression was of isolation and inaccessibility along a rough track through hazel trees. However, … Continue reading

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