Tag Archives: room

Home décor disaster (Rousse)

N and S proudly presented their newly decorated sitting room. I was able to enthuse about like the fresh green colour scheme. However, I was unconvinced that the 1970s styling was appropriate to their low-beamed cottage. I also wondered who … Continue reading

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Flying ducks, a yellow Aga, and Nottingham University’s Nobel prize winners (Rousse)

I was appalled at how my sister S had persuaded my parents to change the decor of their house. Flying ducks climbed the drawing room wall to the left of the fireplace, the dining room was hung with shop sale … Continue reading

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Second cousins and a suspect chicken (Rousse)

When I arrived at T and S’s house, LO’N and CT were already there. L looked fabulous even though she had only just given birth to baby S. When I asked how she knew CT they both laughed. Surely I … Continue reading

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A failed meeting (Rousse)

The committee was due to meet in my study. I arranged the furniture so that everyone would fit in: two seminar table arrangements, with the smaller one inside the other. As people arrived I took drinks orders (three instant coffees), … Continue reading

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The price of popularity at Newcastle University (Rousse)

I held offers from both Durham and Newcastle Universities. I went for Newcastle in the end. The academic staff at Durham were just a little too stuffy for my liking. Many other students also preferred Newcastle – so much so … Continue reading

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A disappointing trip to Africa with Thomson (Rousse)

A Thomson Holidays trip to North Africa was as miserable as I feared. The hotel dining room was the biggest disappointment. It was as drab as a student refectory, and at mealtimes you were obliged to share your dinner table … Continue reading

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House purchase buyer beware (Rousse)

TPR and I were very pleased with our recent house purchase. Conveniently located not far from our old flat, the size of its reception rooms was its best feature. Something that was unclear to me, however, was the status of … Continue reading

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Rousse the terrorist and Belle the gangster’s moll (Rousse)

I left the swimming pool at about 2:30am when I noticed that all the lights had gone out and the staff had disappeared. I caught the lift to the third floor, found my room, and pushed open the door. The … Continue reading

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Child thieves adopt boy scout disguise in cash raids on Lake District hotels (Rousse)

On the final day of the conference in the Lake District I packed my bag, checked in online for my flight to Amsterdam, and then wandered down to the hotel dining room to ask for a sandwich (in French). Although … Continue reading

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Strathpeffer: highland holiday destination (Rousse)

My mission was to restore Strathpeffer to the glory of its Victorian status of sought-after spa town and top holiday resort. Braving the midges I set off along the river to the ornate former railway station, which I heard had … Continue reading

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