Tag Archives: news

Imprisoned by the Taliban (Rousse)

The pilot instructed the air stewards to set the alarm, and explain its function to the passengers. My response to the news that we were under attack was to send a farewell text to my parents – just in case. … Continue reading

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

Con trick confession at house-warming celebration (Rousse)

TPR was clearly not pleased with the guest list for our very last minute house warming party. I argued that very few people were available, hence the rather strange assembly of friends. This ranged from a bloke that I met … Continue reading

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

News of sex scandal ‘of BBC proportions’ breaks at British university (Rousse)

BD and I were dealing with a wee dilemma. Our colleague X was doing the rounds asking for sponsorship. Meanwhile we needed to approach the same people to gather contributions to X’s retirement present. We feared that few people would … Continue reading

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

Royal family shooting (Rousse)

The first I heard of the shooting of members of the British royal family was when I turned on the television news and saw live footage of Princess Anne and her daughter under fire. As she fled the scene, I … Continue reading

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

Irish politics and star of the Voice Fionn Gardner (Rousse)

My companion was a highly intelligent Irish woman. When she started talking about politics, I was grateful that I had paid attention to the radio news that morning. She seemed impressed that I was able to pass on some information … Continue reading

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

A confused news report (Rousse)

At first the news report gave the impression that there had been a terrorist attack at Heathrow Airport. In fact police had shot dead a terrorist infiltrator disguised as an airport security guard.

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

Finns support childcare specialist spread the news in Northumberland (Rousse)

KA passed around a set of printed cards. ‘I very much hope you can come along to my talk on childcare at the Queen’s Hall, Hexham’ she said. ‘It’s sponsored by the University of Kent and Åbo Akademi, Finland’.

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

A party castle and six in a bed (Rousse)

We’d been sharing our big double bed with four PhD students for some time when one day I found a gift bag on my pillow. Inside there was a bottle of wine and a card. The present was from F’s … Continue reading

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

Impatient engineers and cigar-smoking students (Rousse)

At 3pm I joined a meeting of colleagues in the School of Engineering. I never realised before just how many there were of them: hundreds! When it came to my turn to speak it was hard work to shout above … Continue reading

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

A record deal with Simon Cowell (Rousse)

Simon Cowell was much shorter than I could have possibly imagined. I tried not to stare at his stumpy little legs when he waddled over to join us. For the sake of my niece’s singing career however, I really needed … Continue reading

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