Tag Archives: sofa

Blackhouse bathroom bonanza (Rousse)

KA was still in the middle of her shift when I arrived at the newsagent’s shop. I was meeting her from work to take her my new house in central Hexham, next to an outpost of Newcastle University. KA grabbed … Continue reading

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Bonding with Radcliffe and Maconie over the Farmer’s Boys and the BBC (Rousse)

Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie enjoyed the Fringe so much that they decided to stay on in Edinburgh, at least until Christmas. By now I was their best friend and had persuaded them to help run my seminars. The students … Continue reading

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Beware imitations: the case of the “handwoven” oriental silk rug (Rousse)

I was in a flap. My parents would be arriving for breakfast in 15 minutes. We had no food in the house, and our silk rug from Singapore was filthy from the ashes that had spilled onto it from our … Continue reading

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Pet Shop Boys lose their crown to brainy guitar duo (Rousse)

Our friends BM and RG gave up successful careers in academia and law to become the biggest pop sensation since the Pet Shop Boys. Such was their popularity that MTV played their latest video on a continuous loop. Against a … Continue reading

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Belle and the Russian oligarch

The three oligarch brothers were becoming increasingly influential in the borough. From appearing on the glossy pages of celebrity magazines to taking over the running of the local hospital, it seemed they had fingers in every pie in Lewisham. While … Continue reading

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Stephen Fry gone in a Wispa (Rousse)

Stephen Fry was was at my house. Stephen Fry was at my house? Is that right? Yes, there he was sitting on the sofa talking to my niece AF about his role as the new front man for the latest … Continue reading

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A grandmother, assorted colleagues, South American doctoral studies, and an ex-boyfriend (Rousse)

The venue for KB’s last meeting before she finally retired was the sitting room of my grandmother’s house in Hexham. My last visit to the house was in 1992, but little had changed in 20 years. I tested the comfort … Continue reading

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An intruder, a storm, and the terrible after-effects of tree resin rain (Rousse)

There’d been a number of break-ins at our flat over recent weeks, none of which had triggered our burglar alarm. We were sure, however, that it was just matter of time before we would walk in on the culprit(s). When … Continue reading

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Partying at the castle and tales of Blondie (Rousse)

I returned to the castle at lunch-time after a whole morning’s work. From the ramparts it looked like nobody was at home. Then RA poked her head out of a tower window, asked me what time it was, and complained … Continue reading

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Teenage bedroom furniture choices (Rousse)

LF and TF both glanced at me sitting on the futon. “No, that’s it. We’re definitely not getting him one of those“, said L. This declaration came at the end of a long debate on bedroom furniture choices for teenage … Continue reading

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