Author Archives: Dreamaticus

Sheffield trains and brothels (Rousse)

Posted on February 2, 2023 by Dreamaticus

A tall French woman in a long white cotton dress stood perplexed on a platform at Edinburgh Waverley railway station. When I offered to help her, she held up her phone to me to display her train ticket. She complained … Continue reading →

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A cycle ride across the US (Rousse)

Posted on February 1, 2023 by Dreamaticus

I cycled miles and miles across the US. The most terrifying part was on the inside lane on the freeways; the most adventurous through dense forests, where the trees and the sky were my only company.

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An ancestral soup tureen (Rousse)

Posted on February 1, 2023 by Dreamaticus

I spotted an enormous Victorian china soup tureen inside a glass-fronted display cabinet in the British Library. Amongst the pastoral scenes that decorated the white porcelain was some elaborate script. This indicated that the tureen was given in commemoration of … Continue reading →

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Belle rescues conference at the Hilton London Olympia (Rousse)

Posted on January 31, 2023 by Dreamaticus

I was back at the Hilton London Olympia running a one-day conference. The morning sessions went very well. My former colleague PT was the star of the show as he peppered his presentation with witty asides. I knew it! He … Continue reading →

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Urban garden woodpecker and wood (Rousse)

Posted on January 28, 2023 by Dreamaticus

I looked out of the bedroom window and couldn’t believe my eyes: there was a woodpecker on our bird feeder! I looked out a second time and saw my old colleague BP picking up logs from the lawn. ‘Please just … Continue reading →

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Hostess goes missing from own party (Rousse)

Posted on January 27, 2023 by Dreamaticus

I met CW outside the beauty salon on Broughton Street. She told me all about the botox treatment around her lips as we walked up the street. Later we met the other members of our book group to travel to … Continue reading →

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Teaching and Trainspotting (Rousse)

Posted on January 26, 2023 by Dreamaticus

The school secretary informed me that my first class as a newly qualified teacher would be mathematics with the fourth years – even though I was completely unqualified to teach this subject at secondary level. When I learnt that my … Continue reading →

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Shorty gets lost with a stranger in the Scottish highlands (Rousse)

Posted on January 26, 2023 by Dreamaticus

‘Hey Shorty!’ I heard someone shout behind me. A course figure lumbered into view. I couldn’t tell whether it was a man or a woman, but s/he was definitely calling me. ‘I need a lift to work’ said she, for … Continue reading →

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Two dead queens and a kitchen conga (Rousse)

Posted on January 24, 2023 by Dreamaticus

T arrived at our door in a terrible state. His marriage was on the rocks. and he had no idea how to win back L. I accompanied T back to his house by foot. We passed some of the royal … Continue reading →

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Highland spirit triplets, hopeless handmade goods, an over-priced exhibition, and very public toilets (Rousse)

Posted on January 23, 2023 by Dreamaticus

A set of Highland triplet spirits danced across the heather as they sought to reunite me with my mother and sister S after I came off the narrow single track road in our hire car. As soon as we found … Continue reading →

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