Tag Archives: university

French at the University of Birmingham (Rousse)

The Birmingham University campus was unrecognisable. It was so hi tech – and the main library had been flattened. SH was still top of the class, and I a complete dunce. I wondered whether there would be time for me … Continue reading

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An athletic library user (Rousse)

I burst through the main door almost taking out RR (who had just returned from a trip by train) and offered to carry his newspaper upstairs for him. While he took the lift, I charged up the the wide sweeping … Continue reading

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A paper on the informational content of food – rejected (Rousse)

SM agreed to leave the house and type an email to the conference organiser at Sunderland University. ‘If you ask for a start time of 4pm, I can attend after conducting a PhD viva’, I suggested. When SM learnt that … Continue reading

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A new ‘seaside university’ (Rousse)

Over the summer months one of Edinburgh’s venerable institutions of higher education transformed itself into a ‘seaside university’ complete with beach, sea and funfair. Portobello was no longer the only show in town.

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Katie Hopkins on University Challenge (Rousse)

‘Katie Hopkins? Katie Hopkins on University Challenge?’ I asked. ‘Yes’, replied HJ, ‘Representing Birmingham University’. This was all related to me on a Scottish beach where, by complete coincidence, was gathered an array of my undergraduate friends. Here I also … Continue reading

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Library staff roles in University elearning systems (Rousse)

The vice chancellor was going to the US for a fortnight and left SC in charge of everything, including finance. Just before he left, he asked SC to read out the history of the University as printed in gold embroidery … Continue reading

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Stop distracting me, Sir Ian McKellan! (Belle)

Three weeks into my mathematics degree I still hadn’t made it to a single class.  Every time I tried to make my way to the classroom, I would be waylaid by Sir Ian McKellan and Michael York offering me small bottles … Continue reading

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Middle-aged errant husband enjoys ‘space’ in the arms of a 21 year old student (Rousse)

TPR announced that he needed some ‘space’ so he moved out of our marital home and into a shared flat in Bruntsfield with a bunch of undergrads and some young professionals (one of whom had just been offered a lectureship … Continue reading

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‘Intelligence calipers’ measure IQs of aspiring spooks (Rousse)

The job advert had read ‘civil servant’ but I knew that the panel members opposite me were assessing my suitability for a role that included subterfuge, espionage, honeypots, and data decryption. I played along answering the standard interview questions with … Continue reading

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A pin-up litter picker (Rousse)

TPR was the pin-up of Newcastle University. My nephew PMF was his agent. He arranged for TPR to live free of charge in the a hall of residence room, provided that he would pick up the litter on campus.

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