Category Archives: Uncategorized

Brilliance and sweeties at a Nordic lecture (Rousse)

I didn’t recognised the speaker when she took the stage. “Who’s that?” I asked GW. “MH” she replied. “We all used to be terrified of her brilliance, but now we’re quite used to her”. I settled into my seat to … Continue reading →

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A record deal with Simon Cowell (Rousse)

Simon Cowell was much shorter than I could have possibly imagined. I tried not to stare at his stumpy little legs when he waddled over to join us. For the sake of my niece’s singing career however, I really needed … Continue reading →

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German treasure trove reveals its secrets (Rousse)

TPR was the jumping champion. He was the first person who had ever managed to leap from a standing start at the bottom of the pit on to the turf above. Everyone had said that it was impossible, yet my … Continue reading →

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Boris Johnson’s PhD (Rousse)

Boris Johnson’s PhD thesis was so ancient that the yellowing paper cracked as you turned the pages. Presented in two battered cream-cloth bound volumes, the content was somewhat disappointing. I’d hoped that it would come in useful as I did … Continue reading →

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Tickled by a ghost at a high school reunion (Rousse)

I was incredibly excited that 23rd August had come round so quickly. Whatever happened to all those weeks since the reunion plans were fixed in May? I walked into the school hall and the first people I saw were LA … Continue reading →

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How to avoid predatory women (Rousse)

The holiday was full of surprises: A walk along the cliffs above the beautiful beaches of the Isle of Lewis A huge dinner at the guest house with DE A dash through a deserted Waverley Station with JM A tea … Continue reading →

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Running a successful antiques business (Rousse)

BM and RG’s sidewalk antique stall was such a success that I was seriously considering setting up one of my own on the pavement right next to theirs.

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Italy relocated to the West Country (Belle)

I was describing how my last holiday in the Bay of Naples had been interrupted by an earthquake and my friends wanted to know more.  Where exactly was the Bay of Naples?  With an air of authority I said: “Below … Continue reading →

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Packing and a pizza (Rousse)

TPR and I had completely under-estimated the work that goes into a house move. We thought that we could just come home from holiday, pack a few boxes, pop up to Aberdeen for a pizza with V and C, and … Continue reading →

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A seaside discussion of the merits of the Marks and Spencer store card (Rousse)

My long-dead red-lipsticked granny and I clung to the sea wall bracing ourselves for the next wave. Although the scene might have looked tropical with its smattering of palm trees along the shoreline, this was the north east coast of … Continue reading →

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