Author Archives: Dreamaticus

Dead grandmother finances tricky train travel (Rousse)

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Dreamaticus

I’d over-stretched myself with a busy morning of cycling to the Welsh border combined with talking to strangers along the route, and now it was time to head home to Newcastle. It was only when my family gathered at Waverley … Continue reading →

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Father Christmas explains quantum mechanics (Rousse)

Posted on April 11, 2011 by Dreamaticus

The first guest speaker was an absolute marvel. Anyone would surely struggle to beat that performance. When GR invited TPR to take to the stage, I really felt for him. He, however, showed no concern. The session began in a … Continue reading →

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Improvised jazz George Melly style, and a nightie (Belle)

Posted on April 10, 2011 by Dreamaticus

I hadn’t seen Russell for twenty years, and yet he had booked me to play jazz cornet at a corporate bash. The silver instrument had been delivered and I knew I had less that six hours to carry out the … Continue reading →

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Family life: a cure for obesity (Rousse)

Posted on April 10, 2011 by Dreamaticus

AD had shrunk into a neat tweed suit worn under a brown overcoat, with the whole outfit topped off by a forest green felt hat. When we found him on Darlington Road he thanked us for the offer of a … Continue reading →

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Three in a bed(room) and an unusual pet (Rousse)

Posted on April 9, 2011 by Dreamaticus

What kind of “romantic” hotel squeezes an extra bed into the room, then lets it to an additional guest? This one, apparently. It wasn’t until after breakfast that we met the small dark woman who had spent the night just … Continue reading →

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Secrets of the royal bride-to-be (not Kate Middleton, but Rousse)

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Dreamaticus

My royal wedding was just a couple of weeks away. How extraordinary that I had been chosen to marry a prince of the realm (groom as yet unspecified). My school friend AH (now AR) was green with envy. In spite … Continue reading →

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Rousse makes her choice from the Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppets, Ruby Wax, and Clive Anderson

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Dreamaticus

At last a taxi stopped in Bruntsfield and three of us jumped into it to shelter from the pouring rain. LM, however, couldn’t face the mess of discarded chicken bones, cold chips and KFC wrappers on the taxi seats and … Continue reading →

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Peter Mandelson and the Labour Party lodge at Belle’s B&B

Posted on April 5, 2011 by Dreamaticus

Being the landlady of a B&B was much more stressful than I had anticipated. My guests, the entire shadow cabinet and Peter Mandelson, had taken over the TV lounge to watch the LibDem conference. They demanded Pringles and endless cups … Continue reading →

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A library, two socks and a London bus (Rousse)

Posted on April 5, 2011 by Dreamaticus

Belle and I were having tremendous fun charging up and down the steps of the British Library like a couple of teenage scallywags – until I remembered that I was due at a meeting. I abandoned our game to jump … Continue reading →

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Rousse is runner-up

Posted on April 4, 2011 by Dreamaticus

The web page loaded with a simple blue typeface on a white background to reveal the winner as CU of Aberystwyth. Strangely it also noted the runners-up. I wasn’t too convinced that it was necessary that everyone should know that … Continue reading →

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