Author Archives: Dreamaticus

Deadly and expensive, but ever so cool: Rousse debates smoking with an addict

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Dreamaticus

I didn’t believe JG when he said that he would give up smoking for our Caribbean holiday. A victim of peer pressure in Strasbourg (so it appeared to me, at least), he’d been addicted to the deadly habit since 1984. … Continue reading →

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Ambridge sensation: Pat Archer is “happy” (Rousse)

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Dreamaticus

The months of misery were over and my friend Pat Archer was finally smiling again. “It’s only been on the market for a week, and with the Christmas holiday coming up I knew it wouldn’t sell straightaway, but I’m optimistic … Continue reading →

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Rousse bakes mini lemon meringue pies while her husband holds court in the bath

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Dreamaticus

My first problem was that I had to choose between three competing commitments all taking place on the same night. My second was that I had promised my boss that I would attend one of them. However, I now had … Continue reading →

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The world’s most expensive lump of yeast (Rousse)

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Dreamaticus

Belle and I had a desperate need for live yeast. Convinced that we’d find some in one of the breweries off Dalry Road, we set off from my flat in two separate taxis. I climbed into the one that had … Continue reading →

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Britpop and a transvestite boyfriend (Belle)

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Dreamaticus

In the middle of a power cut, in which south east London was plunged into total darkness, I played chicken with the local girl gangs. No matter how many times I ran up to them and tweaked their noses, they … Continue reading →

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How to improve your REF 2014 ranking (Rousse)

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Dreamaticus

Once again, at the airport I bumped into someone I hadn’t seen for ages. This time it was MH. Our last encounter had been over quarter of a century ago on the campus of the University of Birmingham. We spent … Continue reading →

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Rousse’s nocturnal accident

Posted on January 8, 2012 by Dreamaticus

Lost in the dark in Holyrood Park, I fell into a bog. NB this Dreamaticus was related to TPR in the middle of the night by Rousse. Rousse herself has no recollection of it.

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The girl with the dragon tattoo is an Outer Hebridean alien (Rousse)

Posted on January 8, 2012 by Dreamaticus

Lisbeth Salander was just one of the surprises at the guest house on the Isle of Lewis. Also packed in with the “regular” guests were my nephew PF and his sister AF, Mikael Blomkvist (on hand to help Lisbeth track … Continue reading →

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‘Sherlock’ at the fish olympics (Belle)

Posted on January 8, 2012 by Dreamaticus

I stood on the quayside watching Benedict Cumberbatch, (as Sherlock) participate in the Fisherman Olympics. Not only were competitors asked to compare their ‘bucket o’fish’ (squids scored double) but the rules required them to repeatedly sink to their knees and … Continue reading →

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A mystery shop and a disappearing pie (Belle)

Posted on January 7, 2012 by Dreamaticus

I had walked past the ‘mystery shop’ several times now and finally my curiosity got the better of my shyness. There was no clue whatsoever as to what this shop was – no sign above the door, no branding and … Continue reading →

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