Category Archives: Uncategorized

Gloria Swanson and unnecessary help with a literature review (Rousse)

Posted on February 26, 2011 by Dreamaticus

‘Gloria Swanson?’ confirmed TB (aka Texas T). ‘Recurrent dreams about a silent movie star means only one thing. Your future career lies in Hollywood!’ In response I led him to the far end of the bar away from our family … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bar, felt tip, Gloria Swanson, Hollywood, literature review, secret, TPR | Leave a comment

Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole and Gillian McKeith disappoint (Rousse)

Posted on February 25, 2011 by Dreamaticus

Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole’s sudden departure from the X Factor left a huge hole that I was expected to fill. Knowing very little about the music industry, I let the bony woman through to the next round. She almost … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged American, business school, car, cat, Cheryl Cole, dog, Edinburgh, exam, Gillian McKeith, Golf, great Dane, knowledge management, Simon Cowell, tourist, X Factor | 1 Comment

Searching for silver and scallops, with a car smash in-between (Rousse)

Posted on February 24, 2011 by Dreamaticus

With pick-axes and shovels we leapt into the old Land Rover and headed for the hills. Our secret mission was highly illegal: to mine a supposed seam of silver not yet charted by the authorities. It was a huge risk, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged accident, Allendale, Assembly Rooms, BT, bus, Christchurch, cycle paths, daughter, Dorset, Edinburgn, grand-daughter, Hexham, Isle of Lewis, knitting, Land Rover, laundry basket, make-up, mining, party, Peugeot 205, pick-axe, pirate, salmon, scallops, shovel, silver, Stornoway, Timsgarry | Leave a comment

Socks on the run (Belle)

Posted on February 24, 2011 by Dreamaticus

My favourite knee-length grey socks had run away from home. I tracked them down to a conference being held in a holiday camp and decided to become a delegate. As we ate dinner in the large refectory, my ex-boyfriend’s new … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged conference, plane, plane crash, socks | Leave a comment

Weebles wobble – and so does Rousse

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Dreamaticus

I was so well-practised at office moves that I soon organised the contents of my desk drawers, cabinet and bookshelves into neat piles: pens, notepads, paperclips, drawing pins, bath tub toys and Weebles (both commercially produced and ping pong ball … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1980s, bookshelves, cabinet, charity, desk, Disney, drawers, drawing pins, dresses, ducks, Dundee University, family, office, office move, paperclips, pens, ping pong balls, radio, Radio 4, sister, toiletries, toys, Victorian, vintage clothing, Weebles, weight | Leave a comment

Performance anxieties (Rousse)

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Dreamaticus

Over three decades had elapsed since my last encounter with this group of girls from my first secondary school, and I was curious to know what had become of them. In the course of conversation arch-bully CMcG confirmed that she … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bar, bully, cinema, death, dreams, drinks, Edinburgh, Edinburgh Fringe, film, forces, Fringe, geeks, Imperial College, police, school, seat, theatre, widow | Leave a comment

The Glasgow School of Spelling, David Bowie, Andy Warhol, Limmy and a retirement home for celebrities (Rousse)

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Dreamaticus

It was very sweet of the organisers to remember me, but I really didn’t deserve any recognition at all at the engineering teaching awards ceremony. I suspected that BB was behind this. The biggest clue was that it was one … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Andy Warhol, awards, basement, bedrooms, bigness, celebrities, chocolates, comedian, David Bowie, Edinburgh, engineering, foundations, Glasgow, grant, Hexham, holiday, Indian, Limmy, media and cultural studies, mobile, nursing home, PhD, professor, Spain, students, teaching, university, University of Glasgow | Leave a comment

Belle at boarding school

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Dreamaticus

I was a pupil at a mixed boarding school where a cruel practical joker was causing chaos and upset. Pupils were waking up on sofas with moustaches drawn on their faces and underwear was being pilfered and mocked. I sat … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged coach, head boy, practical jokes, school, sleep, underwear | Leave a comment

Gordon Brown’s sexuality questioned by single straight man (Rousse)

Posted on February 20, 2011 by Dreamaticus

News of AR’s impending visit spread fast. Those who came to see him included friends from Birmingham University SC (now SL), CP (now CA) and HJ (now HJ). AR’s fame even reached school friends keen to meet this eligible bachelor … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bottom, computing, denim, diplomat, driving licence, essay, Gordon Brown, hair extensions, Hartburn, invitation, nutrition, pepper, scandal, school, Scotland, sexuality, sister-in-law, Stockton-on-Tees, tabloid, TPR, University of Birmingham, wallet, Yellowcraigs | 1 Comment

Rousse falls foul of fake friendships

Posted on February 18, 2011 by Dreamaticus

Wherever I went I felt unwelcome. Even so-called friends gave me the cold shoulder. For example, when out walking across moorland with SS on the Isle of Lewis she feigned friendship, yet always ensured that she kept several steps ahead … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bar, bath, hug, Isle of Lewis, students' union, University of Birmingham, Warwick University | Leave a comment