Tag Archives: Birmingham

A cat-assisted attempt to avoid divorce (Rousse)

Posted on March 24, 2012 by Dreamaticus

There was only one way that I would find time to do my own research ever again: to register for a second PhD. I considered several options. I could return to the University of Birmingham where I had studied as … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged African, Annandale Street, attempt, badge, badges, Birmingham, Birmingham University, boyfriend, cat, Claremont Crescent, dance, dancing, director, divorce, door, doorbell, dress, East Claremont Street, Ediburgh, ex-husband, eyes, garden, home, husband, identity, initials, lecturer, lights, marking, metal, Newcastle University, Oxford Internet Institute, Oxford University, parent, parents, PhD, railings, reconciliation, research, TPR, university, University of Birmingham, University of Newcastle, University of Oxford, wall | Leave a comment

Hall of residence handicrafts at the University of Birmingham (Rousse)

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Dreamaticus

Nobody needed any persuasion to take to the floor at the Manor House reunion disco. With the first beat of the first record it was filled with enthusiastic dancers. I mentioned to TPR that we should list all these popular … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Birmingham, Birmingham University, card, cards, Christmas, dance, dancers, disco, father, hall, hall of residence, handicraft, handicrafts, library, Manor, Manor House, paper, papers, party, playlist, record, records, reunion, scrap, scraps, surname, university, University of Birmingham | Leave a comment

Flatmate shoot-out (Belle)

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Dreamaticus

I didn’t know what I had done to upset my flatmate but she was not taking it at all well. The gunfire had been going on for at least ten minutes and I was fortunate that my swivel chair was … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Birmingham, bullets, chair, flatmate, gun, police, shoes | Leave a comment

How to improve your REF 2014 ranking (Rousse)

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Dreamaticus

Once again, at the airport I bumped into someone I hadn’t seen for ages. This time it was MH. Our last encounter had been over quarter of a century ago on the campus of the University of Birmingham. We spent … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged airport, Birmingham, Birmingham University, Blackberry, broken, cell, degree, degrees, documentation, friend, inoperable, iPhone, Isle of Man, Masters, meeting, mobile, phone, ranking, rating, REF, REF 2014, school, student, students, submission, submissions, teacher, teachers, undergraduate, undergraduates, university, University of Birmingham | Leave a comment

A college education and life as a call girl (Belle)

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Dreamaticus

In a large hall in an American high school I was amused to see three students wearing Aston Villa shirts watching Match of the Day on a big screen. As I looked closer, I realised that the students had arranged … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged America, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Birmingham, Charlton Athletic, football, high school, Match of the Day, necklace, prostitute, vending machine, wig | Leave a comment

Belle holds down two jobs (Belle)

Posted on December 29, 2011 by Dreamaticus

My life was so pressured I was holding down two jobs. Not only was I a Serie A ballgirl, looking after the away end at Palermo’s ground but I was simultaneously walking through a derelict house trying to assess its … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged ball girl, Birmingham, care home, derelict, fans, football, Hawthorn Road, Kingstanding, Palermo, Serie A | Leave a comment

How to speak French – again (Rousse)

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Dreamaticus

I was back at the University of Birmingham under the care of Mr H. He questioned my motivation for joining the second year class. What was I doing here? Didn’t I already hold a first degree, as well as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Birmingham, Birmingham University, degree, doctorate, French, learn, Masters, PhD, speak, university, University of Birmingham | Leave a comment

Humiliated Belle and a clownish revenge

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Dreamaticus

As I walked through the streets of Birmingham, three New Zealanders stopped their car to ask for directions to the jewellery quarter. I confidently gave them directions, despite not knowing the answer. However the men called my bluff pointing out … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Birmingham, car, clown, directions, jewellery quarter, New Zealander | Leave a comment

School reunions: beware the ex (Rousse)

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Dreamaticus

It was difficult to establish my role at this reunion. For example, when KP and I disappeared to the ladies for an hour we felt terribly guilty, believing that we would be missed. However, when we emerged again afterwards, nobody … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged auditorium, bathroom, Birmingham, Birmingham University, car, cashmere, classmate, classmates, driving, film, friend, Hoppings, house, jersey, jumper, ladies, movie, Newcastle, Oxford, pupil, pupils, reunion, school, sweater, teacher, teachers, Town Moor, TPR, university, University of Birmingham, University of Oxford | Leave a comment

Illegal clown disrupts travel plans (Rousse)

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Dreamaticus

We’d waited two hours at Digbeth coach station in Birmingham and still the 22:00 service to Edinburgh was not ready to depart. The tannoy announced that it would now leave at 02:00. This was far too late for us, so … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 22:00, Astra, Birmingham, bus, car, clown, costume, Digbeth, drive, driving, Edinburgh, GTE, late, rules, sequinned, sequins, shoes, staff, station, tannoy, TPR, work | Leave a comment