Tag Archives: novel

Pink dungarees for Kitty Bennet (Rousse)

The speaker hesitated. Who were the Bennet sisters in Pride and prejudice? The audience helped out with four names – Jane, Elizabeth, Mary and Lydia – but nobody could come up with the fifth. We were meeting in a public … Continue reading

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Prince Harry and high heels (Rousse)

I travelled to locked down London for training as a new member of the British Secret Service. England’s capital city looked, and sounded, very quiet. I could even hear bird song through the closed top deck bus windows. Soon I … Continue reading

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Suspect social distancing and sub-standard library stock (Rousse)

The university was clearly flaunting the safe distancing ‘stay at home’ directive by allowing all the admin staff on campus and setting them up for work in one massive open plan office in the library. I also disapproved of the … Continue reading

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The Fringe, Finchley, and frightening fiction (Rousse)

One of the women at the cafĂ© table turned to me and asked how I was enjoying my annual trip up to Edinburgh and the fringe festival. I politely explained that I was a resident of this fine city, so … Continue reading

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Distracted by next season’s fashion must-haves and Harry Potter in French (Rousse)

At the height of summer I was living in North Berwick and working in Edinburgh, desperate to finish the data analysis and write-up of my second PhD. On the days that I couldn’t cadge a lift along the by-pass with … Continue reading

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Learning about Italians in Edinburgh (Rousse)

I was ashamed that I hadn’t finished reading the book that I had selected for our monthly meeting. However, and to my surprise, EH had not only reached the final page, but also enjoyed the story. She urged me to … Continue reading

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Hostage clings to novel entertainment at end of ordeal (Rousse)

By posting messages about a conference that did not exist, FR arranged my rescue from kidnap by an American gang. While I waited for my formal release, I begged my captors not to take away the two novels in bag … Continue reading

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Late for a placement visit in Kilkenny (Rousse)

My first placement visit in the Republic of Ireland was in Kilkenny so I took the opportunity to call in on the G family in Thomastown. There I found BG mid-morning sitting in bed in a pink nylon nightie reading … Continue reading

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Greedy Labrador scoffs B&B guest’s burger and chips (Rousse)

Mr and Mrs K ran a bed and breakfast in the Lake District. I visited with the intention of staying there to finish my first novel. I ordered burger and chips for my breakfast. The Ks’ yellow Labrador took a … Continue reading

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Katie Hopkins on University Challenge (Rousse)

‘Katie Hopkins? Katie Hopkins on University Challenge?’ I asked. ‘Yes’, replied HJ, ‘Representing Birmingham University’. This was all related to me on a Scottish beach where, by complete coincidence, was gathered an array of my undergraduate friends. Here I also … Continue reading

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