Tag Archives: sea

Conference title fraud (Rousse)

BB and I caught the train along the coast past the new complex of artificial ski slopes. Once settled at the conference venue we listened to a Norwegian who offered to present in French or English. Meanwhile a former PhD … Continue reading

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

A smoked salmon surprise and an unexpected dip in the North Sea (Rousse)

A quick glance at my calendar told me that I should be with AJ speaking about the new framework to female students. I made a dash for room C14, taking care not to trip along the poorly maintained corridors. ‘What … Continue reading

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

A prediction, skewered prawns, and rude remarks about Dame Kelly Holmes (Rousse)

The stranger was astonished when I guessed that he was a city worker who had retired early from a career in finance. I was almost right: he’d spent his entire working life at the Treasury. After queuing for my food … Continue reading

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

Island accommodation mix-up (Rousse)

HD-B washed up on the island having braved the high seas for an hour and a half in a tiny boat (barely the size of a coracle) with two others. Although she had suffered terribly from sea sickness, she was … Continue reading

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

Holy Island hideaway drifts out to sea (Rousse)

The house floated across the flooded causeway, drifting from its usual base on Holy Island. I assured everyone that all would be fine. The tide would reach the doorway, but was certain to subside soon afterwards, and we were all … Continue reading

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

Danger down under in Australian seaside resort (Rousse)

Tigers roamed the street of the Australian seaside resort where my colleague and I were conducting some research. ‘Isn’t this rather dangerous?’ I asked a local. ‘No’, he replied, ‘It’s very rare that any of the tigers attack anyone’. We … Continue reading

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

When to recycle means risking your life (Rousse)

The new system for recycling household waste was very dangerous. You had to carry the unwanted items to an old-fashioned steel dustbin, then climb onto an underwater conveyor belt. This took you to the seabed where you could make your … Continue reading

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

Birmingham graduate destinations: deep sea diving, death, and a hot rod librarian (Rousse)

We were all travelling on the Birmingham University French 1986 graduates’ bus. DM passed along the aisle offering cups of tea. I told her that TPR and I had made a brief visit to Rhyl and she said that we … Continue reading

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

To Australia by sea with an unlimited baggage allowance (Rousse)

It was so frustrating to find that both my meetings with the Scottish Government and Skills Development Scotland were cancelled. What made it worse was only discovering this news on arrival at the offices: first at Saughton House, and then … Continue reading

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

Canadian cousins, bathers, a family row, and South Yorkshire pop bands in Whitby (Rousse)

My sister J planned an ambitious itinerary for the visit of our Canadian cousins N and D. I doubted that it were possible to squeeze everything into a single day. I was proved right in Whitby. It would never be … Continue reading

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