Author Archives: Dreamaticus

Unexpected unicycling lunch guests (Rousse)

Posted on February 15, 2026 by Dreamaticus

AC was teaching a stranger to unicycle in our hall. After the ‘class’ I invited the pair of them to stay for lunch, even though I knew that this would cost us a fortune. The cycling student hesitated, then said … Continue reading →

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Sir Stephen Fry stirs up trouble on a River Tees boat cruise (Rousse)

Posted on February 9, 2026 by Dreamaticus

Sir Stephen Fry set a terrible example to the young men on the River Tees boat cruise. As well as gorging on takeaways and failing to clear up his mess afterwards, he persuaded a fit, young personal trainer to experiment … Continue reading →

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A fiery Edinburgh sunset and an escape from an unhappy home (Rousse)

Posted on February 7, 2026 by Dreamaticus

The fiery sunset behind Edinburgh castle was all the more vibrant on a day when the city’s street lighting was out of order. TPR, BMcC, and I rushed out of the flat with our iPhones to photograph the display. When … Continue reading →

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A Bruce Forsyth impersonator (Rousse)

Posted on February 6, 2026 by Dreamaticus

We were such good customers of Edinburgh’s Broughton Market that the staff were perfectly comfortable when we popped into the shop after-hours to pick up some pastries. JH, however, still disapproved of our ‘cheek’. Provisions acquired, we set off for … Continue reading →

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The Millwall shoe shop (Belle)

Posted on February 4, 2026 by Dreamaticus

I was both working at, and a customer of, a shoe shop in Millwall’s south London football stadium. My boss asked me if I’d graduated from the ‘Morley College of Violent Librarians’.

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Belle fails Geography

Posted on February 1, 2026 by Dreamaticus

PB and I were enjoying our trip across India in our old school VW Beetle. At some point, however, I took an incorrect turn and we ended up on the white cliffs of Dover.

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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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