Category Archives: Uncategorized

A PhD student, a wolf, and a champion demented Whitby stretcher-thrower (Rousse)

There was so much going on in the corridors that it took a long time to get everyone into the room and the main characters around the table for the PhD supervision. The student had become so paranoid that she … Continue reading

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Dream boy returns (Rousse)

It was such a long time since I had seen my old school friend ST (both in real life and in my dreams). I took the seat next to him and looked down to his left hand: he still sported … Continue reading

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A Daily Mail reader out of place (Rousse)

I felt rather out of place in the huge panelled drawing room stuffed with men in tweed jackets reading broadsheet newspapers, especially when carrying a copy of the Daily Mail. When I sat down in the dining room it was … Continue reading

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A suspicious highland ‘death’ (Rousse)

Only the trout nosing out to snap at flies broke the flat surface of the water. From my vantage point on the balcony of our highland hideaway the entire scene was of near calm, with the lush green mountains mirrored … Continue reading

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Lost in Hexham (Rousse)

JS and I were my mother’s passengers in the tiny red car. Our route us along the dangerous cliffs of the north east coast of Northumberland, and then west along the A69 towards Hexham. We considered calling in on KA, … Continue reading

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A name change to Simon (Rousse)

‘And this is Simon’, I announced, as the others took their seats at the table for a cheese feast. JG looked a little puzzled. Why had I rechristened him? I had no idea myself! Nevertheless he went along with his … Continue reading

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Celebrity top trumps: Ed Sheeran versus Paul Weller (Rousse)

My online friend TBM came to stay with S, the youngest of her three boys. Our flat had plenty of space, yet they both shared our bedroom. In fact, none of us really appreciated the vast size of our flat … Continue reading

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Inadequate research council accommodation and a couple of dead whales (Rousse)

The EPSRC put me up in a reasonable hotel, but my room did not have enough storage space. I would make a request for a corner cupboard and some shelving for my books above the radiator. In the meantime I … Continue reading

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Forgive, forget, and return to the fold (Rousse)

I kept quiet when XYZ entered the room carrying a tray of home-made cakes. She offered one to each person as if she had never been away. They each happily accepted a cake and carried on their friendly chat. Everyone … Continue reading

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A six-inch, straw-armed, baby (Rousse)

Motherhood was new to me and I was not taking well to it. I misunderstood the need to be near my baby at all times. I also found it difficult to explain why my baby (a) was only 6 inches … Continue reading

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