Category Archives: Uncategorized

Unsuitable work for a claustrophobic (Rousse)

I’d undergone all the engineering training so now they expected me to enter the mineshaft in a battered old white Renault four with unreliable gears, then work my way underground by foot back to base, inspecting the tunnels along the … Continue reading

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Brad Pitt tattoos his forehead in latest celebrity revelation (Rousse)

Brad Pitt sat at the end of my bed at the Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh. In such close proximity to the famous movie star, I could see that his face was covered in tiny freckles. These comprised a mixture of miniscule … Continue reading

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An untidy wife and a dirty neighbour (Rousse)

I chased TPR into the spare bedroom to see what he was up to. Why was he wearing the pale grey suit that he bought back in 1983? Whatever was he doing trying to squeeze his big feet into the … Continue reading

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Rousse tweets academic Victorian music hall performance

At one of the most bizarre professional events that I had ever attended, my PhD supervisor stood at the microphone and introduced the first act to come on stage. One of my external examiners, dressed like a Victorian music hall … Continue reading

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How to save a marriage: Rousse gets desperate

TPR thought that he was making everything quite clear to me. He explained that although we were no longer a couple, he was perfectly happy for us to spend time together. I got the impression that he thought that he … Continue reading

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Final year project ideas – and a love poem (Rousse)

I left my office mate to deal with the final year student who imagined that it would be possible to write up an honours project based on (a) a love poem to his girlfriend and (b) options for the purchase … Continue reading

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Whoopi Goldberg party guest (Rousse)

Whoopi Goldberg was in our kitchen. “Hang on”, I thought. “Whoopi Goldberg? Who put her on the guest list for our party?” “I hope you don’t mind” DT whispered in my ear. “It’s just that she’s over from Hollywood staying … Continue reading

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Referendum aggression on the Edinburgh tram, and a dead grandmother (Rousse)

I laughed out loud when the idiot behind me boasted “I work for the Sun and I could sell Scotland for $2 billion!”. He clearly believed that this kind of statement would convince everyone of both his nationalist credentials, and … Continue reading

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Corbridge attracts Texan property investor (Rousse)

As my father cycled at full pelt up the hill he explained that two very astute business women had bought up most of the residential property in the pretty Northumbrian village of Corbridge. The first was my mother. The second … Continue reading

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