Category Archives: Uncategorized

Rousse discovers a detective and a naughty little girl

Posted on May 11, 2011 by Dreamaticus

The scenario was familiar. I was sitting at the table of yet another dreadful meeting listening to grey-haired men say nothing of substance. When I finally grabbed a fleeting opportunity to speak the Chair nodded wisely, but only for a … Continue reading →

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Rousse despairs at the reluctant chef and gives up on the mini

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Dreamaticus

I was participating in some sort of cookery competition where the challenge was to create a delicious three course meal from a random set of ingredients. I looked at the root ginger, spices, tomatoes, bananas, pineapples and the lone tin … Continue reading →

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London at speed and bonus kittens (Belle)

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Dreamaticus

We were on board a modern white coach for a ‘London by night’ tour. The driver was negotiating the winding streets at breakneck speed and the city was reduced to blurred streaming bright lights. Meanwhile, it was kitten season. Tiny … Continue reading →

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Gywneth Paltrow and Chris Martin discuss kids’ future against the changing backdrop of the Outer Hebrides (Rousse)

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Dreamaticus

For a change we travelled to the guest house across the mountains on foot. This was quite a departure from our usual means of transport, normally tandem over the single-track roads. As the route became steeper and steeper we marvelled … Continue reading →

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Rousse’s qualifications quandary

Posted on May 8, 2011 by Dreamaticus

I spent almost an entire academic year pining for TPR in a tiny hall of residence room at the University of Birmingham, with only my Mac for company. Permanently logged into e-mail, I lived for his messages from the other … Continue reading →

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Celebrities gather for the wedding of the three-way bride – with Prince William, the Charltons, and Elton John (Rousse)

Posted on May 7, 2011 by Dreamaticus

It was the biggest party in Hexham since my own wedding in 1987. Everyone was at the reception. Prince William represented the royal family in his red tartan trousers, sporting heroes Jackie and Bobby Charlton entertained the younger guests with … Continue reading →

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Steak pie or the romance of the desert? Belle decides…

Posted on May 6, 2011 by Dreamaticus

The thought of eating another chickpea-based meal sitting under the stars with the camels was too much for me. I would so much rather eat steak pie in the John Lewis staff canteen (now open to the public). ‘Tabloid blindness’ … Continue reading →

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Decomposed body found near former film set (Rousse)

Posted on May 6, 2011 by Dreamaticus

Until Hollywood’s arrival, the village’s reputation was limited to “reasonable pit stop for British families en route to the French riviera”. Three years since serving as the backdrop to one of the most successful movies of all time, the village … Continue reading →

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Belle holidays with The Monkees

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Dreamaticus

The caravan was extremely small considering at least two of The Monkees had joined us for a holiday. To escape the cramped quarters, I went on a tiny train deep into the hillside for an “authentic taste of 19th century … Continue reading →

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Reality TV hits a new low (Belle)

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Dreamaticus

Despite reality TV being declared dead, here I was on the set of another lame programme. ‘Model Soldiers’ involved implausibly attractive people being put through their paces with real soldiers. The main prize – a trip to a combat zone … Continue reading →

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