Category Archives: Uncategorized

Garfields survive house clearance deadline (Rousse)

Posted on June 17, 2025 by Dreamaticus

Now that my youngest sister had cleared our parents’ house (albeit a year later than the ‘final’ deadline), my middle sister and I felt able to accept the new owner’s invitation to visit it once more and look at his … Continue reading →

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A pyrotechnic phone thief (Rousse)

Posted on June 14, 2025 by Dreamaticus

I was training for the Great North Run with OC. Just after we crossed the swing bridge, I saw a lost smartphone propped up on a road sign. I reached out to pick it up. Suddenly, a man approached me, … Continue reading →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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