Monthly Archives: October 2024

Teletubbies on the toilet (Rousse)

How long had our next door neighbours’ two grandchildren been observing us in the bathroom? I had never before spotted the tiny window high up in our shared wall. It was only because the children were blasting out the Teletubbies theme … Continue reading

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Strictly envious (Rousse)

I was consumed with envy as I watched FG lead SPL in an elaborate dance across the sprung dance floor of the cruise ship ballroom. He was my godson. Why had he partnered with her and not me?

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The disappearing doughnut (Rousse)

I could see a fresh doughnut through the back window of a parked car. I tried the door, found that it was unlocked, and stole the snack. I ate it a few steps further down the road. It was obvious … Continue reading

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Sell-by dates and shoe walls (Belle)

I was up a long ladder cleaning the top of my grandmother’s kitchen cupboards while she supervised. Mostly I was checking sell-by dates on food items, and lying to her about them. When I found a box of ‘Apple-Cinnamon Breakfast … Continue reading

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Lip fillers at the Exmoor chintz and regency innuendo hotel (Rousse)

I arrived late at the school reunion in white jeans and a long-sleeved navy blue T shirt, perfectly in keeping with the outfits of my former classmates. However, I had dressed in such a rush that I had forgotten to … Continue reading

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Belle the bad bookbinder

In an interesting career move, I had become a self-employed bookbinder. My USP was that I only used bright yellow leather in my work. I still hadn’t learned how to make the gold lettering stand out, so most of the … Continue reading

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Problems at the public baths (Rousse)

Normally I swam in the pool of my private members’ club. Fancying a change, I popped along to the public baths. This was a mistake: the water was filthy; the clientele common; and someone stole my striped tunic from my … Continue reading

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Sir Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and the lyrics to ‘Yellow submarine’ (Rousse)

Sir Paul McCartney and John Lennon agreed to make a personal appearance at a tiny independent book shop. As one of its regular customers, I was invited to meet the two former Beatles. McCartney entered the room first. He was … Continue reading

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Boris Johnson hosts house party with the PM in the Canadian Rockies (Rousse)

Before Belle and I set off on our Canadian Rockies adventure, we first had to pick the dog up from the vet. Black was a tiny sweet Affenpincher and very excited to be reunited with us after his (expensive) operation. … Continue reading

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An unreliable review of ‘An instance of the fingerpost’ (Rousse)

The woman opposite us on the bus was playing a podcast out loud on her phone. Its host gave an enthusiastic review of An instance of the fingerpost by Iain Pears. ‘I hated that book’, I muttered to my sister … Continue reading

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