Tag Archives: shed

Brand new bike giveaway (Rousse)

A woman opened the shed door, pulled out my bike, and rode away on it. TPR explained that he had given it away to her because I hadn’t been using it. ‘That’s because it is winter’, I responded, doing all … Continue reading

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Timber frost danger (Rousse)

My entire immediate family crowded into the garden shed for my brother-in-law to pass judgement on the tiny defect in the wood above the door frame. ‘Bad news, I’m afraid’, he said. ‘This is frost damage. Your shed is falling … Continue reading

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Fly-tippers and drunks (Rousse)

I expected to sit with JB (resplendent in a green dress) at table 19 at the staff meeting, but instead found myself next to GR. Even though retired for almost a year, LM joined us. GR had just swept the … Continue reading

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Edinburgh marathon star grants interview, ruins parquet flooring, and pets a pig (Rousse)

While BC gave media interviews about her forthcoming Edinburgh marathon appearance, I waited back at the flat with N and TPR. TPR kept himself busy making batches of soup and serving them to passing friends. KT and her glamorous sister … Continue reading

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Giant baby kangaroo paddles in Luskentyre Bay (Rousse)

A, C, S and N proposed a commune holiday on the Isle of Harris later in the year. Since TPR and I were already there, the others tasked us with checking out the various self-catering cottages that A had identified … Continue reading

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A log cabin date on the Isle of Skye (Rousse)

I left my MacBook Air under my desk at the British Library and chased across the reading room to intercept the young man in a navy blue suit who was carrying a briefcase. “Nick!” I shouted. He spun round and … Continue reading

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Sir Paul McCartney sings for information scientists (Rousse)

BC organised an evening reception for all the summer information science interns based in the US. I was delighted to be invited: I’d been getting very lonely living in a shed in my hosts’ garden. I was beginning to feel … Continue reading

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Learning to love minibeasts (Rousse)

My bags were packed and loaded into the hold for the long coach journey through France. I realised too late that my iPhone and headphones would now be parted from me for several hours. Why hadn’t I remembered to keep … Continue reading

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Disney millionaire discovers rare Morrissey album in Stockton-on-Tees (Rousse)

The mystery Morrissey album that I had been hunting for years finally turned up in the Stockton-on-Tees branch of HMV. The LP record sleeve confirmed that the female vocalist was Jacqui Abbott of the Beautiful South. I was all set … Continue reading

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Haunts old and new, and party dresses (Rousse)

The small Birmingham back garden was crowded with people clamouring to climb trees, the shed and the summer house. Even I managed to scale the trunk of a bare apple tree. From the top I looked back up the garden … Continue reading

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