Tag Archives: London

Fashion must-haves: white shorts, a purple cape and a supply of knickers – plus Elton John (Rousse)

Tiny, white shorts and long bronzed legs – the hot look for summer 2011! I made this discovery on the second day of spring, observing the young women of Edinburgh make their way into work dressed as if they were … Continue reading

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The Thames at night with rappers (Belle)

Blue Peter was broadcasting live from the back of a limousine being driven along the embankment. The presenters, two child friendly rappers, were pointing out the nightlife on the Thames. I admired the paper-lanterns illuminating the oriental boats near the … Continue reading

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A late resolution to train for the Olympics at London 2012 (Rousse)

It felt like a University of Birmingham reunion. In reality we were gathered together to celebrate the birthday of the youngest person in our year. HW (now HJ) was finally 40. Everyone was there for the party: Spotted for the … Continue reading

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Celebrating Twitter’s fifth birthday in a London skyscraper (Rousse)

Our new offices were on the fifteenth floor of a London skyscraper. I was pretty pleased with how my old belongings fitted into my new space until RK invited me into his new room – or, should we say, “suite”. … Continue reading

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Noël Coward’s sick sense of humour and fridges full of carcasses (Rousse)

The faster runners soon pulled away from me and in a short time a significant gap developed between us. At least I was managing to keep everyone else in sight. Fortunately for them, the others reached Royal Terrace before the … Continue reading

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Belle fails to buy bread

Once again, the Thames had become as broad as the eye could see and I was punting up-river on a massive barge. I was off to fetch ‘the best bread in the world’. When I got to the bakers, I … Continue reading

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The “dead” return to life at the British Library, and deer management concerns (Rousse)

I walked into the foyer of the British Library and identified the conference registration desk. Beside it some delegates were crowded around an electronic display board on the wall. Some others were fighting over a grubby postcard at a table … Continue reading

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Tattoos, travellers and television (Rousse)

I was aghast: TPR’s latest protest at the time that I spend away from him in London took the form of a small tattoo just above his right breast. To me it looked like it spelt out the word “Greece”, … Continue reading

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Archbishop of Canterbury reigns over Wembley and David Cameron settles into Edinburgh pied-à-terre (Rousse)

I was summoned to 10 Downing Street, but I didn’t know why. The house was as packed as a pub on a Friday night and I had to force myself through a throng of MPs, including George Osbourne, to reach … Continue reading

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Drugs raids ruin City living (Belle)

The Barbican became the centre of a series of ill-judged Metropolitan Police drug raids. Then the service at the Chinese fast-food restaurant started to go downhill. Once again, they gave me the wrong paperback with my order, and my friend … Continue reading

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