Tag Archives: Edinburgh

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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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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