Tag Archives: ginger

Sharing a cabin with Dermot Murnaghan (Rousse)

I sat next to television news presenter Dermot Murnaghan in the passenger cabin of the tiny plane. Keen not to embarrass him by making it obvious that I recognised him, I engaged him in conversation about Scottish stereotypes (e.g. short, … Continue reading

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Ginger hotel cat is famous actress in disguise (Rousse)

While the slim, male, hotel receptionist tapped at the keyboard with his highly polished nails (deep burgundy) I marvelled at the size of the enormous ginger cat, sprawled on the floor beneath my feet. I soon learnt that this was … Continue reading

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Travelling by minibus for tea with the Queen at Holyrood Palace (Rousse)

I was about to take my seat in the theatre when LF grabbed me from behind. ‘Hey’, she said, ‘Someone forgot the arrangement to meet outside!’ It was true. I had agreed to see her prior to the show, not … Continue reading

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Mostly unknowns at the online information relaunch (Rousse)

They tried to bring back the annual international online information meeting, but it just wasn’t the same. A couple of unknown academics from an equally unknown university were supposedly in charge. They didn’t seem to be coping very well. I … Continue reading

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Bedroom temptation and robots (Rousse)

TPR vacated the bed for B, who pleased me enormously by stretching over to turn on the World Service. ‘This is my kind of night-time companion’, I concluded, then rolled over onto my side in anticipation of sleep. Unfortunately sleep … Continue reading

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Paris wedding giveaway (Rousse)

I took my Cousin’s N advice not to post a cheeky Facebook comment about his son T and my sister J, then stood up to clear the dirty glasses from the top of the piano. We needed to get a … Continue reading

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Last minute wedding preparations (Rousse)

E was heavily involved in the wedding preparations, organising everything from her tiny flat. She even grew her red hair long for the occasion – or was that a ginger wig she wore with her green gown? When I called … Continue reading

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Unsatisfactory hotel accommodation and Bobby the dog ‘saved’ (Rousse)

TPR and I travelled to the Isle of Lewis for SG’s sister’s birthday party. When we arrived RG was busy installing pebble-proof windows. This was because unhappy tourists had recently taken to showing their displeasure by shattering the most accessible … Continue reading

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Smoking menthol cigarettes to lose weight (Rousse)

As was the tradition, my colleagues were in Glasgow staffing the National Museum of Scotland on 2nd January so that the museum staff could take an extra day off. Already there was trouble at the entrance. One of my colleagues … Continue reading

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A flying cat, a red-haired witch, and an all-inclusive school reunion in Stockton-on-Tees (Rousse)

A flying cat screeched as it swooped over us, the tips of its ears glowing fluorescent green in the darkening sky at dusk. It landed high above us in the canopy of the bare winter trees, only just visible as … Continue reading

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