Tag Archives: Birmingham

Haunts old and new, and party dresses (Rousse)

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Dreamaticus

The small Birmingham back garden was crowded with people clamouring to climb trees, the shed and the summer house. Even I managed to scale the trunk of a bare apple tree. From the top I looked back up the garden … Continue reading →

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Mention of Elton John and exotic work trips sets off swoon (Rousse)

Posted on May 31, 2011 by Dreamaticus

When the policeman searched my Birmingham hotel room for weapons he found the bicycle chain slotted down the side of the bed. Surprisingly my claim of possible self-defence was accepted. The next day I set off for my meeting at … Continue reading →

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Tiffany Blue box “engagement” mystery (Rousse)

Posted on April 1, 2011 by Dreamaticus

“That Tiffany Blue box from New York, what’s in it?” I carefully chose the moment to pose the question that was on everyone’s lips. The pair of us were bound together by rope, clinging to a mountain ledge, and RL … Continue reading →

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Rousse nets £25 million research grant, and mends her glasses

Posted on March 26, 2011 by Dreamaticus

The bad news at work was that I couldn’t shake off the ranting member of library staff from the University of Birmingham. It was unclear why she felt that she had to tail me all day, but I wished that … Continue reading →

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Kevin McCloud advises Rousse on housing law

Posted on March 13, 2011 by Dreamaticus

Kevin McCloud wandered into my Edinburgh flat just at the right moment. His knowledge of housing law would deal with the squatting Spaniards. I had never heard of this strange ancient tradition that, they claimed, gave them the right to … Continue reading →

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Tea out training and “terror” on the trains (Rousse)

Posted on March 8, 2011 by Dreamaticus

Running through the countryside with LF urging me on was all fine and dandy, but who had come up with the idea of serving afternoon tea at the same time? I struggled to keep the tea in my mug, especially … Continue reading →

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Belle goes clubbing and meets a resistance heroine

Posted on March 1, 2011 by Dreamaticus

After an excellent night out in a ‘cave rave’ we were forced to take four night buses home, changing at Croydon and Birmingham Broad Street. The five year old poppet in ribbons was carrying two pink tulips and a carnation … Continue reading →

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Dissertation deadline dilly dally (Rousse)

Posted on February 9, 2011 by Dreamaticus

Romana left my office carrying three enormous sheets of flipchart paper covered in red writing. My message “Your dissertation won’t write itself” buzzed through her brain. Earlier in the day she had arrived with a stack of empirical data, an … Continue reading →

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Life as an abandoned wife (Rousse)

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Dreamaticus

I made an uncomfortable 47 year-old undergraduate banished to the University of Birmingham to finish my degree, and to do so properly this time around. The youngsters resident at the Manor House gradually became used to my presence, and gladly … Continue reading →

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A bomb, a bath and a bête noire (Rousse)

Posted on December 20, 2010 by Dreamaticus

To begin with I thought that this would be a very long journey: to Birmingham first, then on to London by train. Then I noticed the boy with the wires hanging out of his anorak. Instead it could be a … Continue reading →

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