Tag Archives: US

President Donald Trump fails to attract inauguration ceremony audience in tatty Victorian theatre (Rousse)

In the basement of the Muirhead Tower at the University of Birmingham, SPC and I learnt to program. I was surprised at the ease in which I could code. If only it were so easy to program domestic appliances at … Continue reading

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Helicopter rescue for fashion disaster (Rousse)

I was really struggling with my work wardrobe. Everything I liked was unsuitable; everything suitable I disliked. Meanwhile my sister J was having much more success – largely because she had gone on a shopping spree before the start of … Continue reading

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An iPhone snapped in two (Rousse)

I unexpectedly found myself free one afternoon so I took a walk across the Meadows to photograph the flowers. There I found a huge gathering – mainly of women – at a celebration hosted by the University of Edinburgh. JS … Continue reading

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Sourcing a stash of hard-to-buy vintage anti-feminist placards (Rousse)

The research seminar was my responsibility and time was running out. My main concerns were that: (a) I had confused everyone by corresponding with the speaker as Tivol (or Tivo for short) – my Aboriginal name; (b) the event was … Continue reading

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A cruel white lichen attack (Rousse)

I hadn’t appreciated the poor state of public transport in the US until I attempted to use the service to get from a conference hotel to an airport. The driver and his lackeys were particularly unkind to passengers. They did … Continue reading

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Copycat campus shootings come to the UK (Rousse)

AM was interviewed first. Then it was my turn. By the end of the day each of us had been offered a chair at Northumbria University. How amazing that we would be working together! We were both happy to be … Continue reading

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A useless sabbatical, a stray student, and a delicious brand of cell phone (Rousse)

My boss pass me a typed sheet of paper. This stated that I had been granted a sabbatical between 29th April and 31st August 2015. It was already the end of June. What use was this to me? Then the … Continue reading

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Open plan living and outlet stores (Rousse)

TPR came out of retirement to do one last rotation in the US. We lived ‘open plan’ in a gym-sized hall alongside many other people. This meant that we had to share furniture and dress in front of the others. … Continue reading

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Rousse the terrorist and Belle the gangster’s moll (Rousse)

I left the swimming pool at about 2:30am when I noticed that all the lights had gone out and the staff had disappeared. I caught the lift to the third floor, found my room, and pushed open the door. The … Continue reading

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Direct flights from Edinburgh to Boston (Rousse)

We’d never flown in such comfort before. The economy seats folded down into beds complete with soft fleece blankets. “This is a bit over the top for a flight to London” I mentioned to TPR, just as it dawned on … Continue reading

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