Tag Archives: Edinburgh

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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Kate shops at Topshop (Rousse)

Catherine Duchess of Cambridge crossed Princes Street from opposite the Balmoral Hotel and headed right towards Princes Mall. “Catherine!” I called. She ignored me. I called again, and then she turned round. She looked so beautiful and elegant in a … Continue reading

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Secret double life of world-famous magician (Rousse)

We stood in the queue at the tiny booth. Would we buy the world-famous magician’s standard tour merchandise, or splash out on limited edition signed T shirts at £40 a piece? The staff were keen to sell us the latter, … Continue reading

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From Merchiston to Sighthill with a fountain pen (Rousse)

I decided to sign all the paving stones between Merchiston and Sighthill with my best fountain pen. It was quite along way and I didn’t finish the job, but now at least 30% of the slabs were marked up. To … Continue reading

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Clegg house fire (Rousse)

It was not until I saw the extensive media coverage of the Clegg family house fire that I discovered that Nick, Miriam, Miguel, Antonio and Alberto lived just five doors round the corner from my Edinburgh basement flat.

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Here we go round the Mulberry bush – with an image problem to address (Rousse)

I knew very little about marketing yet had been co-opted onto the national committee of a professional body to help sort out its image “problem”. I agreed to meet the two young members of male staff who had summoned me … Continue reading

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Rob Brydon and Sarah Millican top Rousse’s bill

Our timing was perfect. The family that had bought our little house in Birmingham was away for Christmas, so we could just move straight back in. At first the neighbours were suspicious, but one by one we won them over. … Continue reading

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Rousse sees off a rival

PC and I were finally reunited after thirty-one years apart, and I was delighted. We had known one another since aged 7 at primary school right up to the point that we took our A levels in 1981. Now PC … Continue reading

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