Tag Archives: children

A posh yacht passenger and a PhD (Rousse)

I ran up to the deck when I heard that the CalMac ferry was stopping in the Minch to collect the dirty washing from a posh yacht. Helpful as ever, I lent a hand to winch the bundle of clothes … Continue reading →

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Brad Pitt tattoos his forehead in latest celebrity revelation (Rousse)

Brad Pitt sat at the end of my bed at the Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh. In such close proximity to the famous movie star, I could see that his face was covered in tiny freckles. These comprised a mixture of miniscule … Continue reading →

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Time-travelling academic gives conflicting advice (Rousse)

I couldn’t work out how I would get to my office across the flooded swamp of campus. The assistant dean appeared to be leading us one way, but just behind us his younger self (plus wife and three children) was … Continue reading →

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Tossed stone is cause of Aberdeen train tragedy (Rousse)

It was a very long walk to Aberdeen, and well after 4pm when we reached the city centre. Our first stop was the railway station. The people waiting on the platform watched a bunch of workers busily repairing the track. … Continue reading →

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The conference trap (Rousse)

I was trapped at yet another dreary conference for PhD students. By Day 2 most people had given up on the programme and headed back to their offices to get on with some “real” work. Unfortunately for me, I was … Continue reading →

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Skiing in Scotland: chairlifts, cafés and crime (Rousse)

There was something not quite right about this Scottish ski resort. The main drag lift, for example, pulled skiers uphill at such a speed that TPR and I found it almost impossible to cross their path while out on our … Continue reading →

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Man wins free Sky TV subscription in Somerset village hall raffle (Rousse)

My ambition was to earn a degree in fine art. The first step to my new career was to return to the sixth form to embark on a one-year foundation course. So I applied to join the Bath and Wells … Continue reading →

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When popping out to the shop turns into a hunt for polar bears (Rousse)

The community shop at Timsgarry was doing a roaring trade, despite its endemic over-pricing. I picked up a pretty pair of purple sheepskin child’s slippers and baulked at the £83 tag. Meanwhile TPR was negotiating on a supply of brown … Continue reading →

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Children and the dangers of thin ice (Rousse)

The children boasted that the ice was so thick that they could walk across the frozen river. I asked them to demonstrate, my camera at the ready. The first girl placed her booted foot onto the supposedly solid ice, fell … Continue reading →

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When an interactive workshop goes wrong (Rousse)

This five day interactive workshop was not delivering creative ideas as anticipated. The participants were merely going through the motions of the exercises that they were set, and appeared to have no interest whatsoever in forming research relationships with one … Continue reading →

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