Tag Archives: children

Staffing priorities in hard times (Rousse)

As far as I could remember we had never received any presents from the G-J family. So when their servant asked us to return “everything” it was difficult to know what to say. The servant explained that R and S … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A cross-Atlantic trip to the Liverpool Museum of Prison Life (Rousse)

I hadn’t seen my school friend JB for over thirty years so it was quite a surprise to bump into her in Liverpool. Her husband and one of their four children accompanied her. They’d travelled all the way here from … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rousse is left holding the rag doll baby

The excitement invested in anticipating the trip to China and meeting SC, her husband and their children, was eclipsed by the nature of our one and only encounter. We sat in front seats of the Landrover, then they opened the … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Shetland’s craziest coach driver (Rousse)

We had both settled into our seats on the train on the way to the airport when I asked TPR what he had done with the suitcase. Although we’d both remembered our rucksacks as hand luggage, he’d forgotten to pick … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Man falls to death from medieval tower: “lost” handbag takes the blame (Rousse)

I found my new Joey D handbag again where I’d left it: sitting in the corner of the lift. It must have been travelling up and down the floors for hours, yet it appeared untouched. I pulled the zip to … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rousse’s mistaken hot property purchase

I was looking forward to moving house. We were going back to the north east of England to be within a one hour drive of my parents. It would be wonderful to be surrounded by friendly northerners again. TPR left … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Talking dog finds a new home (Rousse)

TPR and I found a new place to live on the top floor of an abandoned Victorian orphanage in Manchester. Admittedly it would take some time to make the cold grey rooms comfortable, and we’d have to do something with … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A misguided love affair, a talking ape, a fairground murder, and three clear advantages of a prison sentence (Rousse)

We spent the day at Belle’s London office counselling a friend desperate to escape a loveless marriage. When X refused to reveal to me the identity of his mistress, yet hinted that Belle was in the know, I feared the … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Facebook time-waster ruins picnic (Rousse)

We took a break from packing up all our belongings for the big house move to join S and K for a Sunday picnic. With the children away on some kind of outdoor adventure weekend, this was the first time … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Salmon fishing in Scotland, and disability in the animal kingdom (Rousse)

We’d already reached Fife by the time that I summoned up the courage to admit to JK that I’d forgotten to pack any socks to wear with my wellies. “Well, I suppose I could buy some in Braemar?” I suggested. … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment