Category Archives: Uncategorized

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

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Barn conversion love (Rousse)

Two boys from my primary school days – ST and SA (both now grown men) – loved my sister’s barn conversion.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bruce Springsteen spends Christmas in Scottish Highland lodge (Rousse)

Bruce Springsteen was amongst the dozen or so guests at the highland lodge over Christmas. Bruce and I exchanged a couple of words as I was gathering some of my belongings from the deck as the first stage of packing … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The ‘credible consort’ (Rousse)

Graduates from all eras had achieved quite a feat in the organisation of a reunion ball at Edinburgh’s Meadowbank stadium. After all these years, I was very excited to see many of my former students. I returned to the tower … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An eventful conference in a bookshop (Belle)

The conference was being held across multiple floors of the bookshop. On registration I received my delegate badge and was asked to open my handbag. As soon as I did, a woman quickly placed a ribeye steak inside and gave … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Toddler up a lamppost (Belle)

This was the opposite of what I expected to see on a quiet Sunday morning on the A20. Across the road, playfully giggling down at his parents, a toddler was sitting at the very top of a towering lamppost. How … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Made up in red, white, and blue (Rousse)

My latest humiliation was to be forced to wear ridiculous make-up. They plastered my pale face with chalk white foundation. Then, to my lips, they applied movie star red lipstick outlined with electric blue eyeliner. I looked a complete fright.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment