Author Archives: Dreamaticus

The care home ‘death routine’ (Rousse)

Posted on June 13, 2025 by Dreamaticus

Although my mother was still alive and well, the care home staff convinced me to participate in a dry-run of their ‘death routine’. A carer showed me into a small room that contained a low, blue plastic platform. ‘This is … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My bearded Swedish love (Rousse)

Posted on June 8, 2025 by Dreamaticus

I really didn’t have much to do with the refereeing the journal article, but my new Swedish collaborator was keen for my input to be acknowledged. I was happy to go along with this – especially because when we leant … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Curious rucksack contents (Rousse)

Posted on June 8, 2025 by Dreamaticus

I grabbed my rucksack and followed my Canadian colleague BD out the door. If this was the last time that we were together, I wanted to be with him as long as I could. We walked across the big public … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A lost baby, a father risen from the dead, drug addicts, and an unlicensed driver (Rousse)

Posted on June 7, 2025 by Dreamaticus

‘Wake up! Wake up!’ I screamed at my mother in the bed next to mine. ‘Naomi’s baby has vanished!’ I made such a noise that I literally woke my father from the dead. When I noticed his corpse stir at … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fated never to play Catan (Rousse)

Posted on June 3, 2025 by Dreamaticus

For months I had been trying to find an opportunity to teach the board game Catan to my neighbour KB and online friend KJD. Now, at last, they were both at my flat and eager to learn. Even my sister … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Mother of Minions (Belle)

Posted on June 2, 2025 by Dreamaticus

I was travelling on an American-style school bus and couldn’t remember why, or where I was going. I took a sneaky peak at my fellow travellers – a handful of Minions were sitting quietly staring out of the bus windows. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Hair bobble clues point to sub-standard cleaning (Rousse)

Posted on May 31, 2025 by Dreamaticus

Under a thick layer of dust beneath our bed, I found three hair bobbles. What were they doing there, and why hadn’t our cleaner J found them? More to the point, when had she last cleaned under the bed? Of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Contributing to a Media and Cultural Studies compilation in Canada (Rousse)

Posted on May 31, 2025 by Dreamaticus

I had only volunteered to review a couple of papers, so it came as a shock to be told that everyone taking part in the compilation of the book was also expected to write a chapter on a relevant theoretical … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rumoured death of Canadian boyfriends 1 and 2 (Rousse)

Posted on May 27, 2025 by Dreamaticus

I was passed from one Canadian young man to another. It was as if the second had asked the first if he could borrow a bag of sugar. This was such a disappointment. I had become quite attached to Canadian … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Is Olly Murs coming for dinner? (Rousse)

Posted on May 25, 2025 by Dreamaticus

There were several areas set out for dining in the canteen. I first found a table with AA-D. He had placed only two jam tarts on his plate for his main meal of the day. When I questioned this, he … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment