Why I need three books of quotations, two style manuals, two kinds of one-volume encyclopedia, a couple of desk references, an almanac and an atlas, a pile of market books for writers -- there never seems to be an adequate enough explanation to satisfy the merely curious or the petty, rules before reason, guard.
A couple of desk-based condiments would be no bad thing – a sachet of ketchup or brown sauce that you might have stowed away – or treat yourself to a green salad with a mustardy dressing.
They weren't hiring, but still they had a couple of desks in hotels.
The room had enough space for a couple of desks and chairs; one desk had bloodstains running down its side.
Yet in announcing his selection of Mr. Holloway, the mayor observed that he "worked a couple of desks away from me".
Meanwhile, the Guardian OnLine section consisted of a couple of desks in a corner of the paper's newsroom in Farringdon, and a clutch of sparkling Apple Macs.
CaixaBank, a big Spanish lender, has taken the next step, sending iPad-wielding salesmen out of the branch altogether, to call on clients at their offices.Uniform branch formats are being replaced by a range of set-ups, from large flagship "stores" to poky ones with just a couple of desks.
Holding out her iPhone a couple of desks away, she turned to a younger member of her team, and said quietly: "Um, can I ask a stupid question... how do I get a podcast?" As anyone who has grappled with the iPhone app and its complicated system of dots and clouds will know, this was not a stupid question.
Actually, the word "office" paints the wrong picture – yes, there's a cubbyhole at the back with a couple of desks, but mostly it's a shabby sitting room with a couple of old sofas and a few framed film posters: Another Year, Topsy Turvy, Bleak Moments (Leigh's first film, from 1971).
There are currently a couple of desks in there we would need to remove.
"He wanted advice," recalls Nishikawa, who let Kasahara use a couple of desks in his office as work space.
