Monthly Archives: January 2018

To Redcar on a grey marble chopping board (Rousse)

Posted on January 29, 2018 by Dreamaticus

We travelled by grey marble chopping board to the north east of England. In Redcar I asked our driver (BC) two questions: (1) why were we going by way of the beach; and (2) wouldn’t a taxi be a better … Continue reading →

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A busy seaside highland hotel (Rousse)

Posted on January 28, 2018 by Dreamaticus

I hoped that all this cycling was helping me to lose weight. I’d seen a shocking video of myself in a mustard yellow shift dress over black leggings and did not the idea that kindly people had taken to describing … Continue reading →

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Helping out with a history essay (Rousse)

Posted on January 28, 2018 by Dreamaticus

I sat next to Colin in the reading room of the library. I had thought he was my niece AF’s boyfriend, but then remembered that she was going out with DL. Perhaps Colin was her ex? Whatever his status, I … Continue reading →

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Neil Diamond concert gate-crasher (Rousse)

Posted on January 27, 2018 by Dreamaticus

I gate-crashed the Neil Diamond concert in Paris. I ran to the front of the auditorium, grabbed a seat at a cabaret table, then plonked myself down between DP and AD.

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Bike theft at Queen Margaret University (Rousse)

Posted on January 26, 2018 by Dreamaticus

The Californian sunshine lifted my spirits so high that I was convinced that it was unnecessary to padlock my brand new bike outside Queen Margaret University. Of course, when I came back out of the building, my bike was gone. … Continue reading →

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A caravan, a conference, and carbonara (Rousse)

Posted on January 24, 2018 by Dreamaticus

I elected to sleep in the static caravan, along with the students. However, I had hoped that I would still be allowed to use the bathroom in the house. When the students told me that they used the caravan shower, … Continue reading →

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Monkeys and kangaroos stalk the glens (Rousse)

Posted on January 23, 2018 by Dreamaticus

The monkeys and kangaroos that recently escaped from Edinburgh Zoo have colonised vast swathes of the Scottish Highlands.

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Cult TV, a pirate ship and Gothic furniture (Belle)

Posted on January 23, 2018 by Dreamaticus

I was on the set of “the greatest kids’ TV programme ever made” (my own words). The presenters included the entire cast of Rosanne and a famous American newscaster of the 1970s, whose name I couldn’t remember. There were dance … Continue reading →

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A box of sayings from Switzerland (Rousse)

Posted on January 23, 2018 by Dreamaticus

When SL first held the open the small box I thought that she was offering me a cigarette. On closer inspection I saw that it contained long slim strips of card. On each there was a different uplifting saying or … Continue reading →

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A thick-ankled waitress (Rousse)

Posted on January 23, 2018 by Dreamaticus

I admired ET as she served everyone in the dining room single-handed. This was a feat in itself, but she did it with so much grace, without a hint that she would consider this demeaning work for someone of her … Continue reading →

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