Tag Archives: party

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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When a stag party prank goes wrong (Rousse)

TPR and I watched a gang of drunks on a stag night throw one of their party into a communal refuse bin. Their victim didn’t move. We feared that he would still be trapped inside when the bin men came … Continue reading

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Rousse’s rubbish reunion

This was the most peculiar of university reunions. First the woman across the table congratulated me on another successful event. “I didn’t organise this!” I responded. (I secretly added “Had I been in charge this would have amounted to far … Continue reading

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Fashion advice for brides: never wear jeans (Rousse)

We arranged to meet at A and C’s house in the Lake District. TPR and I arrived first and were just getting dressed when N and S came up the stairs. As I struggled to pull on a pair of … Continue reading

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Rousse forgets to dress

For a change I turned left as I passed through the gate, climbed the hill, and headed out along the coast road. Just outside the hotel gates a rather rough wedding party was gathered. The poor podgy bridesmaid wore a … Continue reading

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JK Rowling bakes a mean meringue (Rousse)

This is the tale of the day that JK Rowling and I finally secured our friendship. It didn’t start well… BR scolded me. He couldn’t understand why I thought it acceptable to walk the length of the railway line completely … Continue reading

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Last minute wedding outfit disaster and a cosmetic use for dust (Rousse)

We were last-minute additions to EM’s wedding party. EM himself lent me one of his maids for the afternoon and her first task was to rush back to our flat to fetch suitable outfits for us. Meanwhile I wandered around … Continue reading

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Birmingham University confessions, a career with moleskin trousers, and underwater cycle kayaking (Rousse)

SB kicked off the Birmingham University French department reunion by suggesting that we read the “confessions” from last time. She actually meant the comments on the 2006 evaluation sheets, which she passed around the table. Personally I would have preferred … Continue reading

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Dress alteration with a paperclip (Rousse)

I recruited TM to help me choose my dress for the party. I eventually settled on the sea green Didier D ball gown that I’d recently bought on George Street. The only problem was that the hook and eye on … Continue reading

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Novel bruise treatment offered by physiotherapist (Rousse)

GMcM, who I hadn’t seen for over a decade, kindly asked me to his birthday party. Even better, he also invited a bunch of my girlfriends, all from different stages of my life. They included ECM from primary school, my … Continue reading

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