Monthly Archives: January 2011

Politics, boyfriends and other weighty issues (Belle)

Posted on January 20, 2011 by Dreamaticus

The good news was I had the most amazing new boyfriend. The bad news was we were living in an oppressive regime and were trying to bring down the government. Three political rebels were pinned to cricket scoreboards and I … Continue reading →

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Shoes go viral (Belle)

Posted on January 19, 2011 by Dreamaticus

Advertisements were blasting out over the loudspeakers in the street “Are THESE the new Birkenstocks?”. The new Birkenstocks! I couldn’t believe how excited I was. In order to view the advert, I had to look in an oversized Christmas tree … Continue reading →

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Animals run wild and household hints (Belle)

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Dreamaticus

In a cobbled courtyard a fox chased a goat. Then a rottweiler chased two police horses and got his tail spanked for his trouble. Meanwhile, a TV chef was making dinner party pudding recommendations. Why not place a big block … Continue reading →

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Rousse’s conference humiliation

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Dreamaticus

I should have known not to ask Belle how she was. The stress of conference planning was all too evident in her manic facial expressions. Now I’d given her full rein to reel off an unnecessarily detailed response about the … Continue reading →

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Rousse notes ecological concerns for native flora and discovers fire(places)

Posted on January 17, 2011 by Dreamaticus

Discovered: with VE on a Scottish headland: the extinction of heather. with TPR at the House of Bruar, Blair Atholl: the largest fireplace showroom in the country.

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Having a blast with new trainers (Belle)

Posted on January 17, 2011 by Dreamaticus

I was throwing plastic yoghurt tops across a busy main road to get them to explode. Irritatingly, a young man picked one up and ‘helpfully’ threw it back to me. My new trainers were much admired and I pompously told … Continue reading →

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A stolen suitcase and Champagne for singles (Rousse)

Posted on January 16, 2011 by Dreamaticus

Unless I was prepared to stay in London forever, I had to chance this last train to Edinburgh. I reasoned that if we reached Newcastle, I could always bail out and stay overnight with my parents. In the event it … Continue reading →

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Rousse’s trip to Spain uncovers NHS zombie and Sir Alex Ferguson’s secret château

Posted on January 15, 2011 by Dreamaticus

I acknowledged that this little game with passengers at Edinburgh airport was losing its appeal. Stopping dead in your tracks just to witness the reaction of people following immediately behind you is a bit childish. At the gate, and from … Continue reading →

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Belle honeymoons alone

Posted on January 15, 2011 by Dreamaticus

I had been married less than one day and yet couldn’t remember where I had put my husband. It was typical of me to mislay something like that. Meanwhile, back on the cruise, a simpleton was serving me a dish … Continue reading →

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Rousse’s new career as a dress-making waitress

Posted on January 14, 2011 by Dreamaticus

It was so thoughtful of my colleague EH – mother of Christmas twins and a waitress like me – to think of giving me a fabric shop gift voucher as a house-warming present so soon after we moved into our … Continue reading →

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