Category Archives: Uncategorized

Wedding day blues: you just can’t get the staff (Rousse)

My wedding day was fast approaching. All that I needed to do now was transfer my hair straighteners and make-up to the hotel bedroom and then I’d be all set for the ceremony. The hotel bedroom was palatial. It was … Continue reading →

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1980s innovations in publishing: the musical academic journal (Rousse)

GMcM and I were browsing through old copies of the Journal of Information Science. Back in 1989 the fonts were enormous. What surprised us most of all, however, was that each issue was musical, just like a novelty greeting card.

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The best car mechanic in town (Rousse)

The best car mechanic in town is called Mr Reasonable. Every job costs just £50. The only drawback to engaging his services is that Mr Reasonable suffers from telephonophobia. This makes it rather difficult to book an appointment for your … Continue reading →

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Mrs Moon takes new premises (Belle)

Squealing excitedly, I dragged my sister towards the early Victorian end of terrace shop front. “Look. How wonderful. Mrs Moon’s new shop”. Pressing my nose to the window, I could see honeyed wooden floors, 1970s rainbow-coloured ‘ribbon curtains’ and an … Continue reading →

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Hostage taken at the White House: Rousse to the rescue

I could hear my iPhone ringing out, but where was I, and what time of night was this? I pulled myself up in bed to peer into the dark. I was back at the White House in my childhood bedroom. … Continue reading →

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A frustrating author mix-up (Belle)

It didn’t seem to matter how many times I repeated myself, no-one believed me. “Kingsley Amis did NOT write Hard Times”.

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Planning a party and pilfering pains au chocolat (Rousse)

The venue asked us to make some decisions for our afternoon of celebration: would we prefer the chairs to be set out theatre or cabaret style, and when would we like tea and cake to be served – before or … Continue reading →

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Scottish devolution discussions voted more interesting than conference magic (Rousse)

The last workshop in the series was a complete disaster. Not even MS could save the day with his presentation of magic tricks learnt from TPR. As I watched a balloon float over the heads of the delegates according to … Continue reading →

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The mystery of canoe man John Darwin’s lottery win (Rousse)

“And this, ladies and gentlemen”, announced the tour guide, “is the mug that Anne Darwin was holding in her hand the moment she heard that her husband had won £5 million on the lottery”. Surely he was mistaken? “Didn’t Anne … Continue reading →

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Rag doll family imposters invade Paris (Rousse)

I popped out to phone TPR from the call box down the street from my Paris pied a terre. I got lost on the way back, distracted by the shop windows stuffed with wonderful cakes and pastries that I could … Continue reading →

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