Monthly Archives: March 2012

Rousse’s killer presentation

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Dreamaticus

CO gave me a last friendly pat on the back for good luck as we negotiated the final set of stairs to the lecture hall. This was it then. It was finally time for me to deliver the closing keynote … Continue reading →

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A cocktail goes global (Belle)

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Dreamaticus

I was the inventor of a new, globally famous cocktail. The ‘Angel’s Delight’ was enormously tricky to prepare, as each layer had to remain separate from the others. Crouched by the fax machine, I was busy slicing blood oranges to … Continue reading →

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A pony, plastic surgery, and a visit to the mosque (Rousse)

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Dreamaticus

JW looked down on me from her vantage point atop a pretty white pony and launched into a speech on wrinkles and plastic surgery. I wondered if she was trying to tell me something? Perhaps she’d tried botox and was … Continue reading →

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Red wine stains no longer a problem with Rousse’s special distillation

Posted on March 3, 2012 by Dreamaticus

We were meant to be discussing PhD studentships, but I could tell that the committee members were far more interested in the four unopened bottles of red wine in my possession. When I eventually suggested serving a few glasses, D … Continue reading →

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Admiration for the ultimate Huf Haus garden accessory: a neolithic stone circle (Rousse)

Posted on March 3, 2012 by Dreamaticus

I looked through the vast downstairs window of my friends’ Huf Haus and out across the Borders countryside. Strange in itself was a purple-blue sunset, but of far more interest to me was the neolithic stone circle in the foreground. … Continue reading →

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The battle of the laundry basket (Rousse)

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Dreamaticus

Before TPR had pegged even a single item on the line in the garden of our holiday cottage a local woman appeared at his side, super-keen to take charge of the laundry basket. “Let me do that” she said. TPR … Continue reading →

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Babysitting tips: who to avoid (Rousse)

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Dreamaticus

E and R worked out quite quickly that we’d be pushovers when it came to babysitting. They insisted that they were responsible enough to be allowed to catch the bus to Darlington on their own. We were pretty sure that … Continue reading →

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Wedding day blues: you just can’t get the staff (Rousse)

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Dreamaticus

My wedding day was fast approaching. All that I needed to do now was transfer my hair straighteners and make-up to the hotel bedroom and then I’d be all set for the ceremony. The hotel bedroom was palatial. It was … Continue reading →

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1980s innovations in publishing: the musical academic journal (Rousse)

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Dreamaticus

GMcM and I were browsing through old copies of the Journal of Information Science. Back in 1989 the fonts were enormous. What surprised us most of all, however, was that each issue was musical, just like a novelty greeting card.

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The best car mechanic in town (Rousse)

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Dreamaticus

The best car mechanic in town is called Mr Reasonable. Every job costs just £50. The only drawback to engaging his services is that Mr Reasonable suffers from telephonophobia. This makes it rather difficult to book an appointment for your … Continue reading →

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