Tag Archives: London

Conference relaunch exceeds all expectations (Rousse)

They all said that the new format of the conference from 2012 would be a more modest affair. How wrong they were! Swarming around one of the best hotels in London were top figures from the industry and legions of … Continue reading

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Come dine with me – please! (Belle)

When exactly had I booked my place on this ‘Surburbans Go to Europe by Coach’ holiday? And since when had zone 2 in south east London been considered ‘suburban’? I was a fish out of water stuck on a hot … Continue reading

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Disney millionaire discovers rare Morrissey album in Stockton-on-Tees (Rousse)

The mystery Morrissey album that I had been hunting for years finally turned up in the Stockton-on-Tees branch of HMV. The LP record sleeve confirmed that the female vocalist was Jacqui Abbott of the Beautiful South. I was all set … Continue reading

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A drag act and multiple germs (Belle)

Backstage at a run-down Vauxhall pub I watched the next act being introduced. Surely ‘Dorothy I Wantmour’ was the worst drag name ever? Meanwhile, and in a story that made the front page of the Daily Mail, scientists had discovered … Continue reading

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The long walk to London and cartoon china mugs (Rousse)

My mother could barely manage a few steps around her own garden, yet my husband’s powers of persuasion were such that she had signed up for his long walk to London. Much to his distress, however, I resisted his invitation. … Continue reading

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Last words of tragic crash victim two days before silver wedding anniversary (Rousse)

It was two days before my silver wedding anniversary and things were not going well at work. GR accused me of spying on him. I argued back that anyone sensible would put their job application into the post inside an … Continue reading

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Undercover mission goes awry (Belle)

I was tall sandy-haired boy. Although still only 15 I had been entrusted to undertake surveillance at the new cafe on Hilly Fields. Sipping a vanilla milkshake I saw a middle-aged man pushing a tea trolley. By dropping my napkin, … Continue reading

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Beware iPad cracked screen scam (Rousse)

Now that I had secured a top job in television my friends were much more interested in hearing about my work. At a university reunion dinner GW was intrigued at how I had managed to leap from one career to … Continue reading

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Shoe shops, a suitcase, and a dodgy taxi ruin travel plans (Rousse)

It was a real rush at the end of the Turku conference. Poor GW did her best to get me to the airport in time for my flight to London Heathrow (and onwards to meetings in Swindon), but I got … Continue reading

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NHS failure – doctors blame patients (Belle)

This really was the most unprofessional conversation I had ever eavesdropped. Standing on a cobble-stoned London Bridge, two GPs were discussing their ‘worst’ patients. Apparently these two malingerers, with their constant demands for health care, were draining the squeezed resources … Continue reading

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