Tag Archives: university

Luxury yellow bathroom is no substitute for missing wife (Rousse)

Now that it was the fashion to return to university to repeat your first degree, I found myself back at the University of Birmingham reading French. However, by the end of first year I was struggling to study and hold … Continue reading →

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Old university perks (Rousse)

Now I understood why my colleagues at Edinburgh University were more productive than me. When my friend took up her new chair there, not only was she provided with a PA, but her department also paid for her parents to … Continue reading →

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Sorting sleeping arrangements for house guests (Rousse)

My parents had only been in the house for 12 months and already it was looking shabby. I almost tripped over the split lino as I ran upstairs to check who was sleeping where. If we weren’t careful, we would … Continue reading →

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A polite Newcastle audience (Rousse)

After spending the night at JM ‘s house, I delivered a guest lecture at Northumbria University. Everyone was terribly friendly, listened intently, and kindly ignored my orange stained pale blue suit.

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Matt Smith speaks at Aberdeen information science conference (Rousse)

I spied Matt Smith sitting at a table preparing his presentation. Up until this point I didn’t consider it an unusual prospect to be sharing the stage with him. Then it dawned on me that this was Dr Who! I … Continue reading →

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Cycling academics, poor publishing standards, diet Coke rations, a farewell disco, and stiletto heels (Rousse)

I cycled to work to mark the last day of operation of Queen Margaret’s Corstorphine campus. Many other Edinburgh academics did the same, discussing the poor standard of journal submissions as they rode the route. Because it was such a … Continue reading →

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David Mitchell’s photography one-upmanship lands university professor in trouble (Rousse)

David Mitchell showed me his DSLR camera and its a full range of lenses. It was then – two days into our two week holiday touring the Scottish highlands – that I realised that I only had the telephoto lens … Continue reading →

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Adventures in Aberystwyth (Rousse)

Aberystwyth was buzzing with activity: ET-S was organising some event to collect data for her doctoral research; I was invited to deliver a keynote speech at the university; the theatre was running a “white festival” where everyone dressed in white; … Continue reading →

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Queen and Archbishop of Canterbury join forces to bless new university campus (Rousse)

I unfurled the parchment invitation from the Queen and the Archbishop of Canterbury. The pleasure of my company, and that of TPR, was requested at the service to bless the new campus. I prayed that TPR would join me on … Continue reading →

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