Category Archives: Uncategorized

Stirrup hairdressing (Rousse)

Posted on January 11, 2023 by Dreamaticus

I sat at a make-shift hairdresser’s chair with my feet fixed in stirrups. A man attended to my hair, then a woman demanded £60 – for a simple dry trim. What a waste of money.

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Dealing with an extra last minute dinner guest (Rousse)

Posted on January 11, 2023 by Dreamaticus

We struggled to find L and EC’s bungalow as TPR led us in circles around the small estate. We were about to give up on our lunch date when we saw EC in the street hunting for us. EC’s face … Continue reading →

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Solo bikes, tandems, and trandems shelter from heavy Hebridean traffic (Rousse)

Posted on January 10, 2023 by Dreamaticus

The Isle of Harris was now such a popular holiday destination that hundreds of cars and camper vans surged through Tarbert and up into the hills whenever the CalMac ferry docked. The traffic was so heavy that all cyclists knew … Continue reading →

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Prince Harry’s sobs (Rousse)

Posted on January 9, 2023 by Dreamaticus

With hands held tight and fingers inter-meshed, the three of us hugged one another close so that Prince Harry could sob safely into our coats. I started to pull away. ‘We’re almost at the Balmoral gate’, I whispered. ‘The press … Continue reading →

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Secrets of a summer cycling trip (Rousse)

Posted on January 7, 2023 by Dreamaticus

A week in a dormitory on the converted Queen Margaret University campus was a very modest holiday for us, but fit the remit. Best of all, XX was there. Although her ex-husband and two children were with her, XX was … Continue reading →

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Lunch in Corbridge (Rousse)

Posted on January 5, 2023 by Dreamaticus

I set off to collect my cousin FA from the exam hall. I should have known that he would have left his desk long before the end of the allocated time to complete the paper. It took a while to … Continue reading →

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An unsupportive father (Rousse)

Posted on December 31, 2022 by Dreamaticus

My father’s joke that he and my mother were separating was in very bad taste given that TPR had just left me. Perhaps he thought I had a chance of winning TPR back with the lumps of chocolate that I … Continue reading →

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A sticky PhD problem with orange Blu-Tack (Rousse)

Posted on December 29, 2022 by Dreamaticus

MS had obviously not considered the existing provision for PhD student training when he created his ‘new’ programme. He stuttered unconvincing excuses when I reminded him that we were only accredited for the programme that we delivered in 2020. As … Continue reading →

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Chain bridge construction challenge (Rousse)

Posted on December 28, 2022 by Dreamaticus

The core of the challenge was to cross the narrow chain bridge. This would have been achievable had the task not also required the construction of sections of the deck as you made your way across. I simply did not … Continue reading →

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Dangers of dressing in the dark (Rousse)

Posted on December 28, 2022 by Dreamaticus

Dressing in the dark is never a good idea, especially not on the day that a photographer is booked to take your portrait for the university web site. In the daylight I discovered that I was wearing a florescent lime … Continue reading →

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