Monthly Archives: January 2026

Couple from America gatecrash drawing class (Rousse)

Posted on January 29, 2026 by Dreamaticus

KJR and her Texan husband T gatecrashed my final year honours class. The students waited patiently while I fielded KJR’s questions. This was a tricky task now that she spoke with a strange Americanised North East English accent. Eventually one … Continue reading →

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Ski-ing underground (Rousse)

Posted on January 28, 2026 by Dreamaticus

We skied into the underground car park. It looks ages to find my poles afterwards. I’d flung them all the way to the far end of the car park when our skis hit the tarmac and brought us to a … Continue reading →

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Unique garden design with pond and ornamental rocks (Rousse)

Posted on January 28, 2026 by Dreamaticus

We returned from holiday to find that our garden had been completely relandscaped. The pond was now ten times its original size and huge boulders took up most of the lawn. When I told the foreman that the workers had … Continue reading →

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Failed cat photographer seeks new post at music school (Rousse)

Posted on January 27, 2026 by Dreamaticus

It was pouring in Edinburgh and very difficult for me to navigate the puddles on my way to my 9:15 exercise class on campus. There was a real risk that I would arrive late. Along the route I heard the … Continue reading →

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Idi Amin’s secret son (Rousse)

Posted on January 27, 2026 by Dreamaticus

I couldn’t sleep so, in the middle of the night, I visited our old neighbours. It was about 1:00am and they were watching television as a wind-down before bedtime. I recognised an episode of The book group on the screen. … Continue reading →

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Exposed at Villa Park and a travel guide to a Hollywood star (Belle)

Posted on January 22, 2026 by Dreamaticus

As I was wheeling my suitcase slowly up a hill, I was accosted by two men, drinking cans of lager and invading my personal space. My normal response in such situations (aggressive, foul language) was not working and I felt … Continue reading →

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Dealing with an Uber scammer (Rousse)

Posted on January 21, 2026 by Dreamaticus

The Uber driver must have tricked his passengers dozens of times, but the four of us would not be fooled. We played along when he turned a short 10 minute trip to town into the charade of an extended trek … Continue reading →

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The Paris Apple iwatch thief (Rousse)

Posted on January 19, 2026 by Dreamaticus

When we rented a one-bedroomed studio holiday apartment in Paris, we didn’t expect that it would be open to other visitors day and night, and completely insecure. The thief who stole my iwatch cleverly replaced it with another watch of … Continue reading →

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Undergraduate accommodation options (Rousse)

Posted on January 17, 2026 by Dreamaticus

Student finances were so tight that the university accommodation choice for the typical undergraduate student boiled down to: A very expensive traditional room in hall A ‘blow-up bedroom’ – effectively a blow-up mattress inside a tiny tent ‘Suitcase sleeping’ – … Continue reading →

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Uninvited garden vandals (Rousse)

Posted on January 17, 2026 by Dreamaticus

What a sight greeted me when I opened the back door! Someone had bored a massive circular 20 foot deep hole in the centre of the lawn, most likely using the heavy duty digger that stood against the wall next … Continue reading →

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