Tag Archives: birthday

David Jason – arms dealer (Rousse)

David Jason handed me a replica hand gun to ‘use as required’. He then disappeared down the street, and I awaited my fate. This was supposedly a game, but it all felt very real. Organised by SPL on the Isle … Continue reading

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Lurid art birthday gift (Rousse)

My colleague FC led me to a basement. Here she had assembled an art exhibition with all pieces displayed for sale. I selected a lurid night time scene in dark oils from the freezer and took it home as a … Continue reading

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A hundred in Haltwhistle (Rousse)

RB planned to celebrate her 100th birthday with a pool party in Haltwhistle, the UK’s outdoor swimming capital. Everyone would be there, including EA from Hexham, and DE of Rhyl. On the day, I arrived wearing a long silky dress … Continue reading

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Ramsey MacMahon and a whale (Rousse)

Before we headed to the ferry terminal, LM and I checked the birthday cards in the stranger’s flat. They were all for someone called Ramsey – most likely the BBC Alba presenter Ramsey MacMahon, who I had just seen in … Continue reading

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Expensive Scottish border sandwiches, sandals, and snow (Rousse)

As we crossed the border at Carter Bar, I calculated that we would reach my mother’s house around 4pm. By this time my passengers would be rather hungry. I would not take any chances on the stock of my mother’s … Continue reading

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New boys in town (Rousse)

The first duty of CM’s three boys when they moved up to Edinburgh from Leeds was to surprise me at 6:00am on my birthday. The little one was most enthusiastic, especially when I said that I would play board games … Continue reading

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Barry Cryer’s autograph (Rousse)

I overheard Barry Cryer’s minder announce to the theatre staff that his boss was waiting in the car outside. I followed him back out to the street, then asked him if he might be able to ask Cryer to sign … Continue reading

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Gout-afflicted friend kills coronavirus fun in the Yorkshire Dales (Rousse)

It was an easy drive in two cars to the Yorkshire Dales for a weekend away to celebrate my birthday. It was only when we reached our destination that we understood why the roads and villages were deserted: coronavirus pandemic … Continue reading

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Dead man’s clothes (Rousse)

I selected a broad multi-coloured graph paper print soft cotton shirt for my father’s birthday present. Then I remembered that he was dead, so any purchase would be completely pointless.

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Sacrifices for the Secret Service (Rousse)

SC lost all her privacy the day that she was captured by the Secret Service. It was unclear whether they planned to retrain her as a spy, or that she was simply a person of interest to them. However, from … Continue reading

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