Tag Archives: London

Toddler up a lamppost (Belle)

This was the opposite of what I expected to see on a quiet Sunday morning on the A20. Across the road, playfully giggling down at his parents, a toddler was sitting at the very top of a towering lamppost. How … Continue reading

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How to avoid the United States (Belle)

Travelling around south America in a decrepit school bus was not my idea of a holiday. In fact I had no memory of how this had happened or how I got here. Everywhere we went puppies and kittens sat in … Continue reading

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Undercover work at the sex club (Belle)

I had infiltrated a high end swingers party in London’s King’s Cross by dressing head to toe as an invisible ninja. I recognised politicians and influencers chit-chatting in an animated fashion in the bar. It was all pretty tame stuff. … Continue reading

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A London love affair (Rousse)

My mother-in-law pulled the sodden scrap of paper out of the stream, glanced at it, and quietly passed it to her husband. ‘That explains a lot. Now, at last, we know for certain what X has been up to!’ he … Continue reading

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Stolen iPhone misery (Rousse)

While scrolling madly through incoming text and images on their mobile phones, the crush of teenage girls in the tube carriage shouted over the heads of all the other passengers. What vile behaviour, I thought. I realised that I should … Continue reading

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Online conference revival (Rousse)

Last held in 2013, we all believed that that was the end of the annual Online conference – until this week, when it was revived in London. LVZ was operating the complicated lifts, and my colleague BMR selling miscellaneous books … Continue reading

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Jonathan Ross lover boy (Rousse)

Jonathan Ross was a surprise celebrity guest at RC-I’s London flat, where I was staying for a couple of nights. How bizarre to find myself standing next to the star at the bathroom sink, cleaning our teeth together, dressed in … Continue reading

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Belle meets ‘the one’ – twice

I was waiting in reception at my publisher’s when, to my horror, a former employer walked out of the elevator towards me. I sighed because this was going to be awkward – she had treated me dreadfully. However, I was … Continue reading

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Body building at the British Library heist (Rousse)

Barefoot and carrying a towel, I arrived at the British Library ready for action. A small Chinese woman whipped the towel out of my hands. ‘This is soiled and completely inappropriate for our criminal purposes’, she scolded. In the end … Continue reading

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Sexual harassment and a sermon at Smithfield Market (Belle)

I was walking home from work through the lawless streets of Clerkenwell, when a young man hid behind a lamppost and shouted suggestive insults at me. I was ‘rescued’ by an extremely posh young woman who insisted I report the … Continue reading

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