Tag Archives: children

A highland journey by car, foot, boat and the Flying Scotsman (Rousse)

We took the Loch Awe route to the ferry port by car with RG-J, SG and their two children. S was at the wheel, swearing at every turn, while R and I ooh-ed and ah-ed at the full-bloom purple rhodedendrums … Continue reading

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Secret military airbase at Edinburgh airport harbours unexpected relations (Rousse)

I knew that it was too good to be true, but this didn’t stop my enjoying the company of my long-dead aunt, uncle and grandmother when I stumbled across them living happily together in a small house on the edge … Continue reading

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Graeme Garden’s elasticated stockings and a railway car chase (Rousse)

Graeme Garden sat opposite me in the waiting area at BBC Radio 4 reception. He was my host for the day. On the basis of my impressive track record of developing panel games, I’d been summoned to help create three … Continue reading

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Time-travelling aunt fulfils her duties as a godparent (Rousse)

The children’s names were listed in sibling groups on a whiteboard. The mothers referred to the list as they discussed godparents and presents. Although he was male and based in the Republic of Ireland (where this scheme did not operate), … Continue reading

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An afternoon with David Mitchell (Rousse)

The black banana that promised to contain a map inside was a grave disappointment. Now my sister J and I were lost with two Canadian cousins somewhere in the south of England with no idea of how to reach the … Continue reading

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Andy Parsons turns to kids’ comedy at the Edinburgh Fringe (Rousse)

Given Andy Parson’s hairstyle (or lack thereof), it was somewhat amusing that we first met properly through a hairdresser. We had, of course, crossed paths for real before. This was on the day that we shared a lane in the … Continue reading

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Harry Potter almost messes up Rousse’s travel plans to Kings Cross

It was Harry Potter’s fault that I almost missed the 08:30 service from Edinburgh Waverley to London Kings Cross. We hadn’t appreciated just how long it would take to organise refunds on the 40 cinema tickets for Harry Potter and … Continue reading

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Rousse’s nightmare nuptials near-miss

It was all so wrong, and I almost did it, but thankfully I pulled out at the last minute and didn’t marry NM. His last marriage floundered when wife number two had started hinting about babies. This was not part … Continue reading

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Shoes lost and children found in Oxford (Rousse)

We were just taking our seats for breakfast at the guest house in Perth when suddenly the phone rang. In Oxford P, S, L and T were missing us terribly and demanded our company there and then. Miraculously we joined … Continue reading

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Vincent Price, gun play and spaghetti hoops (Belle)

Desperate to impress, I told the man that my friends were living in Vincent Price’s cinema. I promised to take him there even though I knew I couldn’t navigate my way through the labyrinthine corridors and tunnels. It was obvious … Continue reading

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