Tag Archives: Edinburgh

Snow, cyclists, and a six stone friend (Rousse)

We stepped out into our yard to discover that it was snowing – in May. With a shudder TPR pulled the front door shut behind us and we set off up the road to meet our friends for coffee. On … Continue reading

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Cycling academics, poor publishing standards, diet Coke rations, a farewell disco, and stiletto heels (Rousse)

I cycled to work to mark the last day of operation of Queen Margaret’s Corstorphine campus. Many other Edinburgh academics did the same, discussing the poor standard of journal submissions as they rode the route. Because it was such a … Continue reading

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An over-ambitious walk (Rousse)

My school friends PM, SR and I embarked on a ludicrous 200 mile walk from Edinburgh to Hexham and back. Our goal was to cover the course in one day. We didn’t make it.

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David Mitchell’s photography one-upmanship lands university professor in trouble (Rousse)

David Mitchell showed me his DSLR camera and its a full range of lenses. It was then – two days into our two week holiday touring the Scottish highlands – that I realised that I only had the telephoto lens … Continue reading

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Travel by vegetable rack (Rousse)

My new mode of transport was a three foot tall, four-basket, vegetable rack on wheels. Travelling down Edinburgh’s Broughton Street at top speed on this splendid vehicle saved me twenty minutes a day. Sometimes I bounced along the pavement. As … Continue reading

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Rousse investigates discount rail fares and a career option on the east coast line

I paid a super-discounted fare to travel from Edinburgh to London by train and back again. The service was so good that I made it in good time for my meeting at 11:00, and by 16:00 I was back in … Continue reading

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Dangerous driver on the loose in Edinburgh’s New Town (Rousse)

I was a menace behind the wheel. My latest driving disaster was to crash my way through Stockbridge up to Howe Street. Someone really needed to confiscate my licence.

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Teenaged tutors at the University of Oxford (Rousse)

It was festival time in Edinburgh and celebrities were everywhere. When we passed a BBC van my niece BMcC recognised a famous drama director and Oxford academic. As B was a keen actress herself, and planning to take up a … Continue reading

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Burnt breakfast and a wet trip to Edinburgh Zoo (Rousse)

All the ingredients were laid out in the kitchen so I made a start on breakfast: one slice of bacon and a fried egg for me in one pan; three fried eggs for TPR in another. While all this was … Continue reading

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Changes in the marine environment to suit a red-haired mermaid (Rousse)

We were coming to the end of an uneventful family holiday. On the morning of our last full day away I bounced out of the big shared family bed and asked my little sister (aged 12) whether she would like … Continue reading

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