Tag Archives: Chinese

Rousse’s new job

I’d never before applied for an academic job where all short-listed candidates were interviewed together. The panel comprised two well-respected academics: the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of an English university, who – quite out of character – had turned bad cop for the … Continue reading

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Rousse’s flood-damaged carpet crisis

TPR choked back tears as he gingerly paddled across our flooded sitting room to inspect close-up the damage to our most precious possession. The threads of the Persian rug had disintegrated under the water. It was now puckered with huge … Continue reading

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Former Sun Microsystems employee turns to a life of crime (Rousse)

The Australian lady appeared to be doing the woman at my table a favour. She said that she was returning the lime green purse that had dropped out of the other woman’s handbag. I, however, was unconvinced that this was … Continue reading

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Nick Hewer waves off candidate for china restoration and robot building roles (Rousse)

I grabbed my iPhone and camera and made a dash to board the ferry back to the mainland. When Nick Hewer (Lord’s Sugar’s advisor on The Apprentice) told me that I had left my pink notebook behind I said to … Continue reading

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Rousse samples seaweed, cream and orange peel pudding

SS gathered us around her kitchen table and served the Chinese takeaway feast. There was so much to eat, and by the time the pudding was unwrapped at about 3am I really didn’t think I could consume anything more. SS … Continue reading

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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

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Time-travelling Rousse misses several photo opportunities and breaks a promise

I was in desperate need of a decent picture for my photo journal. I simply couldn’t find anything nearby that was interesting enough to snap. Then I struck upon an idea. If I travelled back in time just a couple … Continue reading

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Poaching students in pyjamas (Rousse)

“Baking croissants in class does not represent advanced study at Honours level” was my justification for transferring the two students from the rival institution into my own. It also has to be said that they begged me to take them … Continue reading

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Royal Botanic bathing (Rousse)

I took to spending my Sunday mornings at the Royal Botanics Gardens, Edinburgh. This was not because I was particularly fond of the plants. In fact, the gardens themselves were a bit of a mess. I noticed that some people … Continue reading

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Tattoos, travellers and television (Rousse)

I was aghast: TPR’s latest protest at the time that I spend away from him in London took the form of a small tattoo just above his right breast. To me it looked like it spelt out the word “Greece”, … Continue reading

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