Monthly Archives: January 2023

Mother’s ruin (Belle)

Posted on January 20, 2023 by Dreamaticus

My mother and I returned home late – it was 1:30 in the morning. The street was packed with badly parked cars. I was even more confused when I let myself into the house to find it full of unknown … Continue reading →

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An award-winning Australian and pelicans (Rousse)

Posted on January 15, 2023 by Dreamaticus

On the bus back to the airport at the end of the conference, the organisers informed us that there would be an award for the most friendly delegate. From the looks on their faces, I guessed that everyone felt the … Continue reading →

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Online games in bed (Rousse)

Posted on January 12, 2023 by Dreamaticus

My depiction of Iceland in our game on online charades was a hopeless failure. I had hoped that the others might have realised that my shuddering body represented a cold country. I would have had more success if (a) my … Continue reading →

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Stirrup hairdressing (Rousse)

Posted on January 11, 2023 by Dreamaticus

I sat at a make-shift hairdresser’s chair with my feet fixed in stirrups. A man attended to my hair, then a woman demanded £60 – for a simple dry trim. What a waste of money.

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Dealing with an extra last minute dinner guest (Rousse)

Posted on January 11, 2023 by Dreamaticus

We struggled to find L and EC’s bungalow as TPR led us in circles around the small estate. We were about to give up on our lunch date when we saw EC in the street hunting for us. EC’s face … Continue reading →

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Solo bikes, tandems, and trandems shelter from heavy Hebridean traffic (Rousse)

Posted on January 10, 2023 by Dreamaticus

The Isle of Harris was now such a popular holiday destination that hundreds of cars and camper vans surged through Tarbert and up into the hills whenever the CalMac ferry docked. The traffic was so heavy that all cyclists knew … Continue reading →

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Prince Harry’s sobs (Rousse)

Posted on January 9, 2023 by Dreamaticus

With hands held tight and fingers inter-meshed, the three of us hugged one another close so that Prince Harry could sob safely into our coats. I started to pull away. ‘We’re almost at the Balmoral gate’, I whispered. ‘The press … Continue reading →

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Secrets of a summer cycling trip (Rousse)

Posted on January 7, 2023 by Dreamaticus

A week in a dormitory on the converted Queen Margaret University campus was a very modest holiday for us, but fit the remit. Best of all, XX was there. Although her ex-husband and two children were with her, XX was … Continue reading →

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Lunch in Corbridge (Rousse)

Posted on January 5, 2023 by Dreamaticus

I set off to collect my cousin FA from the exam hall. I should have known that he would have left his desk long before the end of the allocated time to complete the paper. It took a while to … Continue reading →

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