1.   After a brief spell in the army, I returned to teaching.

2.   Apart from the brief cold spell in late November, we have had very few hard frosts.

3.   For a brief spell in early summer it is the most beautiful of all the trees.

4.   His bedside locker held the conglomerate of offerings, necessities and minor diversions considered indispensable to a brief spell in hospital.

5.   I should know by now that heavy drinkers are awfully fond of high-flown rationalisations for any brief spell of abstinence.

6.   The Rumanian talent was world number one for a brief spell in the same year.

7.   After a brief spell in Senegal, from where he was deported, he spent the majority of his years in exile in The Gambia.

8.   After a brief spell as ambassador to Turkey, he was expelled from the party and then worked for the Slovak forestry commission.

9.   Before Leyritz back to New York he was in Boston for a brief spell last year.

10.   Airport police were summoned to search Sorkin, who suffered a brief fainting spell but declined medical help.