Category Archives: Uncategorized

Irish politics and star of the Voice Fionn Gardner (Rousse)

My companion was a highly intelligent Irish woman. When she started talking about politics, I was grateful that I had paid attention to the radio news that morning. She seemed impressed that I was able to pass on some information … Continue reading

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Ski innovations (Rousse)

My brother-in-law MF invited me on a ski-ing trip. I hadn’t taken to the slopes for years so was interested in the new form of ski-ing on short stumpy blades that were held together across the front by a small … Continue reading

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Getting creative in the garden and the office (Rousse)

Creative KT spent the whole day in her narrow sloping garden, tidying it up in anticipation of the arrival of J’s grandchildren. She even pitched the huge embroidered tent that I had bought in the charity shop. TPR had told … Continue reading

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President suffers a blow at Peebles library (Rousse)

The head of Peebles public library service was furious with me. The CCTV footage revealed the reason why. When I had run out of the reading room and into the concourse to my unguarded Mac I had allowed the glass … Continue reading

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A novel solution to shortage of office space on campus (Rousse)

Space was at such a premium on campus that they converted the ladies’ toilets into a staff office. Then they split the tiny school office in two: one half housed desks, and the other a fully functional bathroom. All that … Continue reading

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A double birthday surprise – with Moomins (Rousse)

The first part of my birthday treat was an afternoon spent in the luxury top apartment of the block. We simply did a switch with our landladies (one of whom was friends with David Bowie) for the weekend. While we … Continue reading

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When will I die? (Rousse)

We were relaxing with our French friends, including the M and D families, and PG. I asked about the red cardboard constructions on the grand piano. With their black and gold lettering they looked like Chinese New Year decorations or … Continue reading

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Tiny disabled Chinese criminal forced to live in a pocket (Rousse)

OC’s new charge was a tiny disabled Chinese ex-con with a miniscule human head and the plastic body of an Action Mall doll. He’d given up his life of crime after his gang leaders found he was more of a … Continue reading

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Brian the dog lost forever (Rousse)

Out on the moors we were horribly lost. TPR caught his feet in the heather, tripped, and Brian the dog fell out of his arms. That was it: the dog was gone forever. The only creatures that came near us … Continue reading

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Open plan living and outlet stores (Rousse)

TPR came out of retirement to do one last rotation in the US. We lived ‘open plan’ in a gym-sized hall alongside many other people. This meant that we had to share furniture and dress in front of the others. … Continue reading

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