Author Archives: Dreamaticus

A shoddy Edinburgh welcome at Portobello Town Hall (Rousse)

Posted on January 20, 2024 by Dreamaticus

All business travellers to Edinburgh were routed into the city via Portobello Town Hall. Strips of dirty blue plastic poorly fixed to the hall’s internal steps announced ‘Welcome to Edinburgh’ hundreds of times in a tiny font. Once in the … Continue reading →

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The burden of a mentally ill husband (Rousse)

Posted on January 15, 2024 by Dreamaticus

Towards the end of our stay in a shoddy three star hotel, TPR fell in with a group of other guests. He was so enraptured with them that he would have sat at their table at dinner had I not forbidden … Continue reading →

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Canals crowded in city blaze (Rousse)

Posted on January 15, 2024 by Dreamaticus

TPR shouted back to me that I should follow him up the hill to ‘See this!’ Ahead of me on the right hand side I could just make out an orange glow. As I approached it, I saw an occupied … Continue reading →

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Passion with a business partner (Rousse)

Posted on January 14, 2024 by Dreamaticus

PMF and CA worked for the family firm in Stockton-on-Tees. One day, when I was looking for a dress* in a cupboard in my parents’ bedroom, I heard CA arguing with my father and his business partner. A few hours … Continue reading →

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Sausages on a train (Rousse)

Posted on January 11, 2024 by Dreamaticus

Not long after my mother and I bought half a dozen sausages to cook on the train carriage grill, TPR suggested that we take advantage of the 40 minute break in the journey at Edinburgh Waverley station to play tourist … Continue reading →

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Life without a willy (Rousse)

Posted on January 11, 2024 by Dreamaticus

The biggest surprise at TPR’s work reunion was the Japanese engineer dressed in a dark maroon kimono-style mini-dress and black, strappy, high-heeled sandals, who boasted that life was so much better without a willy.

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Applause at the pool (Rousse)

Posted on January 10, 2024 by Dreamaticus

When the aquafit class was held up yet again by the squeals of the short, fat, ginger woman, I could stand it no more. I climbed straight out of the pool. Then, dripping wet, I announced that I was speaking … Continue reading →

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Academic promotion criteria (Rousse)

Posted on January 10, 2024 by Dreamaticus

My excitement at seeing DM again was wiped off my face when she told me that she hadn’t appreciated my contributions to online conversations about academic promotion criteria. Whatever was I thinking, ransacking a dialogue that was obviously none of … Continue reading →

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Fragile fingernails – and fame (Belle)

Posted on January 10, 2024 by Dreamaticus

I turned to a stranger on the bus and jokingly said “every time I simply look at my fingers, another nail breaks off”. What followed was a whirlwind. Within a week, my fingernails were the front page story of the … Continue reading →

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