Author Archives: Dreamaticus

Distracted by next season’s fashion must-haves and Harry Potter in French (Rousse)

Posted on January 8, 2018 by Dreamaticus

At the height of summer I was living in North Berwick and working in Edinburgh, desperate to finish the data analysis and write-up of my second PhD. On the days that I couldn’t cadge a lift along the by-pass with … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Apple interface problems (Rousse)

Posted on January 7, 2018 by Dreamaticus

My new iPhone infuriated me. I was trying to contact JM and BR in London to check the venue of the conference dinner that evening, but the device’s interface was so poor that I couldn’t operate its telephone function. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Boobs at breakfast and John Humphrys at the Job Centre (Rousse)

Posted on January 5, 2018 by Dreamaticus

Although I was first in the queue at the Job Centre, I had to wait an age to be seen because John Humphrys was ahead of me, interviewing the woman behind the desk. I wondered whether it was worth waiting. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Back to work in boxer shorts (Rousse)

Posted on January 4, 2018 by Dreamaticus

Dressed in thin cotton boxer shorts, I arrived back at work after the Christmas holiday to find that someone had moved my desk into a shabby shared office with FR, IB, IH and SS. Here it was freezing cold, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Human harpoon target practice (Rousse)

Posted on January 3, 2018 by Dreamaticus

When TPR took up membership of an exclusive club I hoped that I would soon receive an invitation myself. However, TPR was dead set against my joining him once he discovered the main reason for bringing in new recruits: so … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Exam scripts and snogging in the School office (Rousse)

Posted on January 2, 2018 by Dreamaticus

There were strange goings-on in the School office. Admin staff were marking exam scripts with the authority of (retired) lecturer RK. ‘It’s easy enough to check that the numbers at the end of the calculations are the same as in … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A boyfriend returns (Rousse)

Posted on January 2, 2018 by Dreamaticus

KA danced at the bottom of the staircase in a fluffy pink bolero. One year ago she hardly mentioned AO. Now he was here too. Afterwards we went for a walk. KA’s daughter R was ahead of us, alone and … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A February break in Cornwall (Rousse)

Posted on January 1, 2018 by Dreamaticus

TPR and I took a holiday in Cornwall where the beaches were golden, the sky and sea were blue, and the weather unseasonably warm for February. My only complaint was that our accommodation was well below standard. We did not … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A secret exit from the British Library (Rousse)

Posted on January 1, 2018 by Dreamaticus

I am one the few people who know the secret of the fifth floor of the British Library. If ever lost in this august building, you should come to this level and turn left along the balcony above the reading … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Geordie Chinese chefs cook sausages in the Scottish islands (Rousse)

Posted on December 30, 2017 by Dreamaticus

All the kitchen staff in the Outer Hebridean guest house were Chinese Geordies, famous for their signature dish of pan-fried sausages.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment