Tag Archives: school

Students, school skirts, and Swindon (Rousse)

It might appear cruel, but I insisted that the students sit their exams at desks lined up outside on the main road in the pouring rain. If they got soaked, I had a supply of grey school skirts in a … Continue reading

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Misplaced Midlands towns (Rousse)

After delivering my lecture on the management of book groups, I met my old school mates for another of our ad hoc reunions. The location of the venue was meant to be a surprise. When I opened my eyes I … Continue reading

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Babysitting at Elizabeth Archer’s request (Rousse)

Elizabeth Archer asked me if I could look after Ben and Daniel Graham for the afternoon, then take them to East Linton to spend the night with their grandmother (ED). Aged 8 and 6, these two boys were quite a … Continue reading

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Waiting for the headmistress (Rousse)

The teachers stood patiently in a long line, creating a human snake that encircled the school hall. I joined them, keen to discover whether or not the attraction out of sight at the head of the queue was worth the … Continue reading

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Ape World attractions (Rousse)

I took the coach to Ape World with a bunch of school friends. All were in the same form as me, but with the exception of KM, they were in a different class. Amongst my travelling companions were Dippy Dawn … Continue reading

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Limbless torsos in Speedos, a bare-breasted woman, children in litter disguise, and booklet giveaways in Morningside (Rousse)

I abandoned weeding a municipal planter on the southern outskirts of Edinburgh so that I could catch a 23 bus back into town and meet my mother on Colinton Road at 6:30pm, as previously agreed. The bus was frustratingly slow. … Continue reading

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A dream audit for house contents insurance renewal (Rousse)

Since I couldn’t visit the property to check in person, I reckoned that the best way to audit my mother’s belongings for the house contents insurance renewal was to dream myself there. TPR agreed to ‘come’ with me, and we … Continue reading

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Hanged for minor misdemeanours (Rousse)

In my new life, in my new town, I immersed myself in voluntary activities. First, I helped out at the public library, and then served on the school board. My main priority, however, was to outlaw the archaic practice of … Continue reading

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Party crashers (Rousse)

It was meant to be a small gathering of my immediate colleagues, but the invitation had  spread much further than intended. Now I found myself serving food and drinks to a wide range of staff. I was so overcome that … Continue reading

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Football obsessive forgets his manners (Rousse)

I hadn’t seen SA – a boy I first met aged 7 at primary school – since a school reunion in 2011. I thought that he would have better manners at our surprise meeting than to start the conversation with … Continue reading

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