Author Archives: Dreamaticus

Sunshine in the Highlands, a glug jug and a job offer in New York (Rousse)

Posted on December 26, 2011 by Dreamaticus

I hoped for good weather to show off the highlands to my sister-in-law SB. She had never travelled so far up the country before and I wanted her first impressions of the north of Scotland to be memorable for the … Continue reading →

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Elton John and the transsexual mother-of-the-bride (Rousse)

Posted on December 25, 2011 by Dreamaticus

Everything about the wedding was on a gigantic scale. No wonder the bride was permanently in tears. Her mother had invited everyone that she had ever met to the reception, including a tiny man from her church who turned up … Continue reading →

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Fried chicken and a saucy professor (Belle)

Posted on December 23, 2011 by Dreamaticus

How many more times was I going to have to explain to my father that these were NOT the Lithuanian model factories he insisted they were?  They were simply fried chicken restaurants on Lewisham High Street.  They had however, had … Continue reading →

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Missing trains and an airborne ice cream (Rousse)

Posted on December 23, 2011 by Dreamaticus

PC and I missed yet another train. This time it was my fault that we were stuck in Cardiff railway station. I wasted the vital three minutes required to walk along the platform to catch the 17:00 service on zipping … Continue reading →

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Commune kitty money worries (Rousse)

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Dreamaticus

CO reckoned that if we pooled the grant, then asked the other members to make a small contribution, our commune could easily afford the £122.50 a week rent on this tower block flat. TM and SC were certainly up for … Continue reading →

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The perils of shopping in Manchester (Rousse)

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Dreamaticus

My recent experience proved that trading standards really needed to sort out the Manchester market trader problem. A stall owner almost sold me a “solid gold” chain at a knock-down price. I only backed out of the deal when she … Continue reading →

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Pensioners unmoved as earthquake strikes Sussex (Rousse)

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Dreamaticus

My in-laws were experienced in earthquake emergency prodedures. They simply followed the drill to lie down on the floor until the last of the shocks had passed through the West Sussex village of Birdham. Meanwhile I did all I could … Continue reading →

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Rousse longs for the beautiful south

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Dreamaticus

It was the height of English summer. TPR and I stood in the country lane, short-sleeved and carefree. Over the hedge we saw a happy family play tennis in a vast garden. We could just make out the peal of … Continue reading →

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A mother’s secret career and further clues of the Baby Ted graveyard (Rousse)

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Dreamaticus

The party of external examiners included an elderly man from Sheffield University, a woman from Loughborough, and a dark-haired systems librarian called Mike Hirst. They all seemed friendly enough although none were interested enough to acknowledge (or perhaps question) who … Continue reading →

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Partying at the castle and tales of Blondie (Rousse)

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Dreamaticus

I returned to the castle at lunch-time after a whole morning’s work. From the ramparts it looked like nobody was at home. Then RA poked her head out of a tower window, asked me what time it was, and complained … Continue reading →

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