Tag Archives: children

Basking sharks and dolphins “spotted” in the Tyne (Rousse)

Were those basking shark fins cutting through the water? How marvellous that a shoal had made it all the way up-river to Hexham! I’d never seen basking sharks in fresh water before, and what a thrill to find them in … Continue reading

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Is librarianship a profession? Rousse joins the debate

A beautiful couple entered the children’s reading room. She was a tall, elegant African woman in a blue and white midi dress. He was also tall, handsome and clearly devoted to his companion. If not lovers, they might have been … Continue reading

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Highland tattoo confession (Rousse)

I woke up cold on the floor of our tatty bed and breakfast room, with TPR five feet away tucked up cosy in bed. At least this proved that I’d slept. It was the last day of our holiday and … Continue reading

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Perfecting the poached egg – in a tin bath (Rousse)

While my family was sunbathing on the beach, I decided to cook a stack of poached eggs. I cracked the eggs into a tin bath of boiling water following a technique learnt from my Canadian friend WR. The cooking, however, … Continue reading

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Single bed shocker (Rousse)

We visited ECM on the last day of our three week holiday. ECM’s children were nowhere to be seen, and KJ had replaced PW as her husband. The set-up of their flat was also rather surprising. On the upper level … Continue reading

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How to stop your kids fighting at mealtimes (Rousse)

I found it a lonely experience eating my dinner in my parents’ vast dining room at a table all to myself. I also observed that the servants had to cover so much extra ground when forced to serve the same … Continue reading

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Green greatcoat is Paris fashion hit (Rousse)

I was finding it hard to cope on my own in the Paris hostel in the run-up to my wedding. Three feral children, who couldn’t even tell me how old they were, drove everyone mad running amok everywhere. They stole … Continue reading

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Shoe shops, a suitcase, and a dodgy taxi ruin travel plans (Rousse)

It was a real rush at the end of the Turku conference. Poor GW did her best to get me to the airport in time for my flight to London Heathrow (and onwards to meetings in Swindon), but I got … Continue reading

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Are we nearly there yet? (Rousse)

We were delayed on the return leg of the journey home from our cycling holiday in Cornwall. I spent a happy hour browsing through the books in the children’s section of the public library. My favourite tome was a compilation … Continue reading

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Bodies in the boot (Rousse)

It was a terrible end to our holiday. When we parked at the airport I noticed that the boot of the car was already open. Surely we’d shut it properly when we set off from the hotel? Once we got … Continue reading

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