Author Archives: Dreamaticus

A sticky, sludgy end (Rousse)

Posted on May 28, 2015 by Dreamaticus

My friend decided to take the ‘short route’ over the boggy moorland. ‘I won’t rescue you if you fall in!’ I called after her – just at the point that she sank up to her thighs in muddy sludge.

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An Edinburgh colony house visit (Rousse)

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Dreamaticus

I met LK sitting on the narrow pavement outside her colony house on Easter Road. She wanted to show me her garden so we left her two daughters by the roadside and I followed her through the main door of … Continue reading →

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England v Sweden: where to watch the match (Rousse)

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Dreamaticus

Belle and I debated where we should spend our evening together. The final choice depended on who won the football. We really wanted to be with the fans of the victors, whether or not England beat Sweden.

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Birmingham graduate destinations: deep sea diving, death, and a hot rod librarian (Rousse)

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Dreamaticus

We were all travelling on the Birmingham University French 1986 graduates’ bus. DM passed along the aisle offering cups of tea. I told her that TPR and I had made a brief visit to Rhyl and she said that we … Continue reading →

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The secret night visitor (Rousse)

Posted on May 24, 2015 by Dreamaticus

The H family bought a white 1970s house in a small close not far from our bedsit. I preferred their place over ours: there was so much more space. So I would regularly sneak into their sitting room late at … Continue reading →

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A cold shoulder for book group defectors (Rousse)

Posted on May 24, 2015 by Dreamaticus

When EH and I climbed into the car for our lift to work we could not understand why JS was so cold towards us. She soon provided an explanation. She’d cooked up a feast the night before for our book … Continue reading →

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How to keep warm when sleeping in a pond (Rousse)

Posted on May 24, 2015 by Dreamaticus

TPR and I slept outdoors, afloat in a pond. The trick to keeping warm was to move the mattress into the sunlight whenever possible.

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Academic exclusion (Rousse)

Posted on May 23, 2015 by Dreamaticus

My boss chastised me for not meeting my targets. As punishment I was to spend two days in solitary confinement. On reflection I realised that this was completely unfair. I had actually exceeded all my targets. I complained and the … Continue reading →

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Change your hair, change your life (Rousse)

Posted on May 23, 2015 by Dreamaticus

Following years of misery XY finally cheered up. She chopped her long lanky hair into a punky Siouxsie Sioux style, dyed it jet black, and started to smile. When she returned to her student haunts everyone was amazed at what … Continue reading →

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The sad fate of a cute snow-white baby bear cub (Rousse)

Posted on May 22, 2015 by Dreamaticus

I chased TPR over the moorland and past the skiers who were racing down to the loch along a single strip of snow. When TPR threw his sticks in the air and dropped over a steep cliff I thought that … Continue reading →

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