Parking on double yellow lines at the station: a hanging offence (Rousse)

It seemed too good to be true that I could drive all the way along the pedestrian access and then park just outside the railway ticket office. Where was the no entry sign, and what had become of the double yellow lines?

Of course I was right: this was an illegal move. I was apprehended as soon as I stepped out of the car, then marched to a small office off the station’s main concourse. Here I could hear cries of pain as a fellow miscreant was punished for her offences.

When it was my turn to be seen, I was greeted by woman in a green uniform brandishing a long stick. To my great relief she explained that my sentence had been mitigated from a real hanging to a fake one. If I could just sit still for a few minutes, she would tug on my arms a little and then I would be released. I also had to promise that I would never again attempt to park at the station.

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A shoddy Edinburgh welcome at Portobello Town Hall (Rousse)

All business travellers to Edinburgh were routed into the city via Portobello Town Hall. Strips of dirty blue plastic poorly fixed to the hall’s internal steps announced ‘Welcome to Edinburgh’ hundreds of times in a tiny font. Once in the main room, the visitors were faced with rows and rows of traders’ stands, the majority of which offered homemade foodstuffs free of charge.

I saw an opportunity to pick up some cakes to take to J&G in Manchester. However, on close inspection, I discovered that (a) the goods were not very appetising and (b) the generous offer of free goods was limited to one cup cake per person. Regardless, I paid for a large iced cake from a woman on a stall at the far left hand side, then left the building.

Next on the agenda was a trip to the Forth Rail Bridge. I had heard that you could access it by foot. This proved too challenging for me. I lacked the strength to crawl through the narrow tunnel that had been bored through the hill to reach the structure at South Queensferry. I was also too frightened.

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The burden of a mentally ill husband (Rousse)

Towards the end of our stay in a shoddy three star hotel, TPR fell in with a group of other guests. He was so enraptured with them that he would have sat at their table at dinner had I not forbidden this.

TPR was no longer the man I knew and loved. He clearly now had no interest in me whatsoever. Even so, he was my responsibility, and his frail mental state represented yet another burden for me to bear.

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Canals crowded in city blaze (Rousse)

TPR shouted back to me that I should follow him up the hill to ‘See this!’

Ahead of me on the right hand side I could just make out an orange glow. As I approached it, I saw an occupied office block on fire. Instead of jumping out of the windows to safety, office workers were clambering up the building. Others encouraged them, claiming that the best place to shelter from the flames was a roof-top water garden.

My mother was sitting on a bench opposite the blazing building. My sister was meant to be looking after her, but had disappeared to Newcastle for an unknown period. Afraid that the fire could spread across the road, I threw my mother over my shoulders and onto my back, then carried her downhill.

Not long afterwards the whole city was ablaze. The only place of safety was the crowded canal.

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Passion with a business partner (Rousse)

PMF and CA worked for the family firm in Stockton-on-Tees.

One day, when I was looking for a dress* in a cupboard in my parents’ bedroom, I heard CA arguing with my father and his business partner. A few hours later, while I was on a group nature walk along the river, I spotted CA and my father’s business partner again. This time they were locked in a passionate embrace in a small blue car. Somebody needed to inform PMF. Would I be brave enough to do so?

*This was for an event at the Parkwood Hotel in Hartburn. I chose a modest tea dress. I later regretted my decision when ECM appeared in an almost transparent pale blue silk and satin gown, and our two other companions were also dressed for a ball rather than a night at the pub. My only consolation was that my hair was still the longest.

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Sausages on a train (Rousse)

Not long after my mother and I bought half a dozen sausages to cook on the train carriage grill, TPR suggested that we take advantage of the 40 minute break in the journey at Edinburgh Waverley station to play tourist in Midlothian. This sounded like a fun idea to me, so I plonked my mother on the back of a black pony and we led her across the by-pass to the Pentland Hills.

Of course our moorland trek took much longer than the allotted 40 minutes. By the time we realised this, the train to Inverness had left Edinburgh – with my computer and handbag, our suitcases, and the sausages.

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Life without a willy (Rousse)

The biggest surprise at TPR’s work reunion was the Japanese engineer dressed in a dark maroon kimono-style mini-dress and black, strappy, high-heeled sandals, who boasted that life was so much better without a willy.

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Applause at the pool (Rousse)

When the aquafit class was held up yet again by the squeals of the short, fat, ginger woman, I could stand it no more. I climbed straight out of the pool. Then, dripping wet, I announced that I was speaking on behalf of everyone in the class who had caring duties.

I explained that our limited ‘leisure’ time at the pool was very precious. We wanted to spend it exercising, not listening to her whinging.

For this short speech, I won a round of applause.

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Academic promotion criteria (Rousse)

My excitement at seeing DM again was wiped off my face when she told me that she hadn’t appreciated my contributions to online conversations about academic promotion criteria.

Whatever was I thinking, ransacking a dialogue that was obviously none of my business?

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