Category Archives: Uncategorized

Class-conscious Cotswolds offers mixed welcome (Rousse)

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Dreamaticus

Everyone* we knew had moved to the Cotswolds. We drove down to see if life there would suit us too. My sister J set up an introduction for us with the vicar’s wife, also newly arrived in the village. The … Continue reading →

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

Death au John Peel (Rousse)

Posted on March 11, 2012 by Dreamaticus

I chose to die in the manner of John Peel. I stood just outside the entrance of King’s Cross Station, made my declaration, then turned back through the station concourse doors to set off to meet my maker. MW witnessed … Continue reading →

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

Why to tack a horse (Rousse)

Posted on March 10, 2012 by Dreamaticus

The High Street was almost completely covered in droppings. The only way for me to negotiate it safely was to ride a horse of my own. I found grey one in a field back at the guest house. It didn’t … Continue reading →

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

Stationery heaven and an unpaid debt (Rousse)

Posted on March 9, 2012 by Dreamaticus

Normally we would have flown down to London to catch the onward flight from Heathrow. However, because we were keen to go to MS’s party on Saturday evening, we were obliged to drive down afterwards overnight. It was such a … Continue reading →

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

Giving up gossip for Lent: Rousse debates the Archers rules

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Dreamaticus

TPR and I poured all our savings into a property purchase. Our new flat was on the first floor of a Georgian square in London that actually looked like it belonged in Edinburgh. Its size and layout very much resembled … Continue reading →

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

Gay marriage shocker eclipsed by enemy bomb attack on UK airports (Rousse)

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Dreamaticus

I met my gay friend at Edinburgh airport. After he showed me his scars he introduced me to a tall, slim and beautiful African woman, her mother and two children. These were his “wife”, “mother-in-law”, and his own son and … Continue reading →

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

Rousse’s killer presentation

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Dreamaticus

CO gave me a last friendly pat on the back for good luck as we negotiated the final set of stairs to the lecture hall. This was it then. It was finally time for me to deliver the closing keynote … Continue reading →

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

A cocktail goes global (Belle)

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Dreamaticus

I was the inventor of a new, globally famous cocktail. The ‘Angel’s Delight’ was enormously tricky to prepare, as each layer had to remain separate from the others. Crouched by the fax machine, I was busy slicing blood oranges to … Continue reading →

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

A pony, plastic surgery, and a visit to the mosque (Rousse)

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Dreamaticus

JW looked down on me from her vantage point atop a pretty white pony and launched into a speech on wrinkles and plastic surgery. I wondered if she was trying to tell me something? Perhaps she’d tried botox and was … Continue reading →

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

Red wine stains no longer a problem with Rousse’s special distillation

Posted on March 3, 2012 by Dreamaticus

We were meant to be discussing PhD studentships, but I could tell that the committee members were far more interested in the four unopened bottles of red wine in my possession. When I eventually suggested serving a few glasses, D … Continue reading →

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