Category Archives: Uncategorized

A book, a bereavement, and butcher’s pie (Rousse)

Nearly everyone I knew had read the tragic novel, loved it, and discussed it whenever the opportunity arose. The one exception was my gym friend L. Whenever she approached any of us, we swiftly changed the topic of conversation. L … Continue reading

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David Morrissey and the tallest tree in Catford (Belle)

Browsing in a charity shop, I discovered treasure – three hand-painted plates featuring a figure standing in a country lane. I recognised them immediately – they were limited edition David Morrissey plates. Delighted with my purchase I walked to Catford … Continue reading

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Plenty of room at mother’s upgraded house (Rousse)

Auntie SS showed me and my sister J around my mother’s recently upgraded house. The kitchen was vastly enlarged with brand new units installed. It was also exceptionally tidy. Several new bedrooms had been added, all kitted out with brand … Continue reading

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Womble mask victim’s corpse encased in concrete (Rousse)

One of MH’s new American students dropped dead during a game of ‘Womble mask’. How embarrassing, we thought – and what were we supposed to do with the body? With the help of builder Brian, TPR and I came up … Continue reading

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A reluctant comedy writer (Rousse)

A bunch of friends came to visit us. Some stayed in our main rental flat with the enormous high-sided bath, while others lodged in the smaller one next door. (We also owned a very run-down flat in Leith, although neither … Continue reading

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From coercive control to kidnapping (Rousse)

I shared a cubicle at work with two women, who also lived together. The elder one regularly complained about her flatmate’s noisy bedtime antics. One day maintenance staff boxed in all the cubicles with black aquaboard. This was apparently ‘for … Continue reading

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An octogenarian bedroom vandal (Rousse)

After my mother returned home following her stay with us, I popped into the spare bedroom to check that she had left everything in order. She had not. A section of wallpaper and plaster from the wall above the radiator … Continue reading

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Fear of the French past historic tense (Rousse)

This was a University reunion with a difference: as part of the ‘celebrations’, we were all to sit the final year French essay exam. How could I possibly do this? The only graduates capable of such a feat would be … Continue reading

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A bumper garlic crop at the Annual Alien Horticulturists’ Convention (Rousse)

‘Hey, look at the size of that garlic head!’ I urged the rest of the family. ‘These aliens certainly know how to grow a bumper crop.’ They weren’t real aliens. Rather, they were keen gardeners who liked to dress up … Continue reading

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Mishaps in Mallaig (Rousse)

After dropping the dog off in Perth, the three of us headed north and west for Mallaig, and our onward journey to the Hebrides. This was to be a special treat for my former colleague TF, who had never seen … Continue reading

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