Tag Archives: flat

Dull conversation with the disorganised (Rousse)

The young lad who had been telling us about his eastern European Jewish heritage skipped ahead along Bruntsfield Place and stopped at a fast food outlet where he ordered a doner kebab. When we reached him TPR thought about asking … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Student graffiti attack on west end Edinburgh flat (Rousse)

We had access to a huge flat in the west end of Edinburgh. Its owner was a young man who worked in finance. I got the impression that he hardly used this place at all. The vast rooms were almost … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A failed family get-together at Newcastle-by-the-sea (Rousse)

Newcastle city centre was packed on the first Saturday after the January pay-day. We should never have agreed to meet my mother and sister S there. As things turned out, we didn’t manage to find one another. This was because … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Staying with friends during house renovations, and a parsnip cheese (Rousse)

While their flat was being renovated BM and RG initially stayed with MSB and DB, but now it was our turn to play host. We didn’t have much space for them because there were many others also in residence at … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cilla Black death faux pas (Rousse)

One of my former students had a famous mother-in-law: the singer and entertainer Cilla Black. When I called round to see him and his father-in-law I asked after Cilla. ‘What kind of question is that?!’ said the father-in-law. I had … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Birmingham University students play on swings to avoid murder scene (Rousse)

SPC, SH and I stayed in Birmingham at SH’s flat a couple of weeks before the start of our final year at University. Just across the road people were queuing to lay flowers at a murder scene. We tried to … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Phil Cunningham plays Edinburgh – to an audience of three (Rousse)

I took my seat in the fourth row of the concert hall and waited alone for Phil Cunningham to take the stage. The lyrics of his first song were displayed on a flip chart a few metres in front of … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An ousted father and an ice cream (Rousse)

We found the children dredging the canal in their back garden. Their mother was nowhere to be seen, apparently at work. When they fell silent we looked up and saw their father at the gate. ‘We are not allowed to … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A new baby and sticky prawn salad (Rousse)

As the boat set sail for a tour of the harbour (£40 per person) SPL went into labour. How would she cope with a new baby at her age? Back home again I was making a mess wherever I went. … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Potato and pea poisoning in buy-to-let investment (Rousse)

TPR and I and some friends invested in a buy-to-let flat. One of our co-investors took the lead on the renovations and started by dismantling the navy blue bath. We chose the wallpaper (in the event too expensive for a … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment