Author Archives: Dreamaticus

The cost of milk and kittens (Rousse)

They’d been messing around with our office accommodation again. My temporary desk at the side of an enormous public room was the first port of call for any student enquiries. The latest question to come my way was ridiculous. A … Continue reading →

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Beyond the office window (Rousse)

After all the fuss over our new accommodation I was anxious to learn whether I would still merit a sole-occupancy office. We’d all be informed that nothing was guaranteed. At 01:00am I learnt that my new work space could be … Continue reading →

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How to write a novel: Rousse explains her strategy to imposter “Dave”

“Dave” claimed that he was a veteran of the Edinburgh Coffee Morning, and old friends with “Andy”. I couldn’t ever remember seeing this Dave at the Friday gatherings before, and on close questioning he couldn’t come up with a surname … Continue reading →

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Cool accommodation in Edinburgh (Rousse)

Our student accommodation was the best in Edinburgh. SL, ED and I shared a cool open-plan penthouse of pale wood and glass, with its own eight-person indoor jacuzzi bath. Everyone wanted to come and stay with us, including TPR and … Continue reading →

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Meeting mix-up means Rousse misses Belle (Rousse)

I had two competing commitments on Friday morning and I chose the wrong one! Whatever would Belle think of me, especially since she had travelled all this way so that we could spend some time together? The only compensation of … Continue reading →

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Bodies on Birmingham’s Bristol Road South (Rousse)

TPR and I lay naked on the tarmac on the Bristol Road South next to the pedestrian crossing. I was freezing. Many of the cars that passed slowed down to look at us, yet nobody offered to pick us up … Continue reading →

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Tricky theatre seating (Rousse)

This was not the easiest way to reach a theatre seat. You really needed to be very precise about your row and seat number when you were dropped in from above. I kept my fingers firmly crossed as I focussed … Continue reading →

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An encounter with the monochrome set (Rousse)

Unused to running late, I was full of apologies when we finally pulled up the gravel drive of the White House in Hartburn. The cyclist was waiting, leaning against the dining room window with his white bike. I learnt later … Continue reading →

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An embarrassing toilet tale (Rousse)

We drove west for miles, the entire family squashed into a tiny black car, to Dumfries and Galloway. At our final destination I inspected the bathroom facilities. Whoever thought it sensible to install the toilet in the open conservatory next … Continue reading →

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Commune cycle reunion of sorts (Rousse)

I can’t say that it was the most comfortable of nights, but the setting for sleep in the open was beautiful, right next to a beautiful Scottish salmon river. TPR and I would have been better off lying down on … Continue reading →

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