Category Archives: Uncategorized

London runner saved by the kindness of strangers (Rousse)

Posted on November 14, 2013 by Dreamaticus

TPR ran ahead of me, clearly appalled at my lack of athleticism. If that was how he felt, I would just give up. I stopped for a while and read the discarded Argos catalogue that I picked out of the … Continue reading →

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Fireworks set off at once by grumpy party host (Rousse)

Posted on November 14, 2013 by Dreamaticus

TPR never wanted to host this party and it showed. He put very little effort into the preparations, even though the numbers invited created a lot of extra work. We even promised fireworks. We felt obliged to open up the … Continue reading →

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A log cabin date on the Isle of Skye (Rousse)

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Dreamaticus

I left my MacBook Air under my desk at the British Library and chased across the reading room to intercept the young man in a navy blue suit who was carrying a briefcase. “Nick!” I shouted. He spun round and … Continue reading →

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Billy Connolly and his kids trick tourists while the Queen keeps track of village crime (Rousse)

Posted on November 10, 2013 by Dreamaticus

Billy Connolly and his kids tricked tourists by hiding behind the sea wall in the west coast fishing village and jumping out whenever anyone passed by. Not far from the tricksters we tried to park our metallic green mark 4 … Continue reading →

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A horsewoman turned financier and an injured charity boss (Rousse)

Posted on November 9, 2013 by Dreamaticus

I heard that my school friend LF (then ED) had taken a job at RA’s charity. “What’s she doing for you?” I asked. When I learnt that that L was in charge of finance I had to admit that I … Continue reading →

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A coiled sausage surprise at the White House (Rousse)

Posted on November 8, 2013 by Dreamaticus

I found the uncooked dinner on the staircase after KA and I returned from the swamp. I wondered whether the coiled sausage in puff pastry would be enough for us all: me, KA, KS and HT. My mother would know. … Continue reading →

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Rousse loses it at a meeting

Posted on November 7, 2013 by Dreamaticus

I was officially hopeless. At a meeting at work: I couldn’t remember PhD student L’s name and mistakenly introduced her to everyone as “Valerie”. My old colleague JB, with whom I had last worked in 1999, took my place in … Continue reading →

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Hotel thefts in Hawaii (Rousse)

Posted on November 7, 2013 by Dreamaticus

Very soon I would be heading home from Hawaii. In the few hours before my flight I planned to sunbathe in the hotel grounds. I couldn’t risk lying on the beach. The waves were too unpredictable. That morning they’d already … Continue reading →

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A puffin child prodigy (Rousse)

Posted on November 6, 2013 by Dreamaticus

Although I’d given up my gym membership long ago, from time to time I still popped into Virgin Active at Edinburgh’s Omni Centre. This was largely because I liked sitting in the café and pretending that it was my own … Continue reading →

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Lonely Rousse does a runner

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Dreamaticus

I sat in the crowded pub hoping that someone would notice that I was on my own and strike up a conversation with me. Nobody made a move – not even the couple next to me, despite my attempts to … Continue reading →

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