Category Archives: Uncategorized

Haunts old and new, and party dresses (Rousse)

The small Birmingham back garden was crowded with people clamouring to climb trees, the shed and the summer house. Even I managed to scale the trunk of a bare apple tree. From the top I looked back up the garden … Continue reading

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A literary cousin and vandalising grandmother from the dead (Rousse)

I opened the parcel from Canada. Inside was a beautiful travelogue presented as a book by author “Ann Jones”. My colleague Ann Jones, seated opposite me, said that this wasn’t her. From a quick inspection of the contents page we … Continue reading

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Rousse defends her position, welcomes a friend, and attempts to teach

I travelled up the building squeezed into a lift with two colleagues. Over months one of them had developed a dangerous patter in snide remarks about my leadership. When yet another oblique and insulting comment escaped from his dirty little … Continue reading

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Rousse pays homage to shark-wrestling Finnish immigrant

It was a bad day: I lost my shoes (black patent leather Mary Janes), mislaid my headphones, and couldn’t face a bare-footed music-less walk home. To my rescue came Professor JM. She offered me a lift down the A1 with … Continue reading

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A visit to Gilbert and George’s pizzeria (Belle)

An unlikely group of us had been gathered together in the east London home of artists Gilbert and George. For many years I had made no secret of my loathing of their work yet now I found myself charmed by … Continue reading

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Rousse tries – and fails – to relax

Belle knew that I had been overworking so she invited me to her hospital where I could take a few hours away from my computer. The catch was that I had to do this incognito and in silence. Creeping around … Continue reading

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Nobody is impressed by Rousse’s recent awards

I picked up two more awards: one for my skilful canoeing and another for exemplary pedestrian behaviour. However TPR, RG and BM took little notice. Although it was a beautiful day, they refused to spare even half an hour to … Continue reading

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The select committee comes calling (Belle)

As I opened the front door to leave home, three women were standing on the doorstep, blocking my exit. Holding clipboards and briefcases they marched past me and went into my office, firing questions about my filing and invoicing processes. … Continue reading

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Harry Potter almost messes up Rousse’s travel plans to Kings Cross

It was Harry Potter’s fault that I almost missed the 08:30 service from Edinburgh Waverley to London Kings Cross. We hadn’t appreciated just how long it would take to organise refunds on the 40 cinema tickets for Harry Potter and … Continue reading

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Belle and Lennie Henry

Although I hadn’t realised I was being interviewed for the position, I discovered I been the best candidate and I was now Lennie Henry’s new girlfriend. In what I had thought was nothing more than a casual conversation in a … Continue reading

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