Tag Archives: cousin

Expelled for missing the bus (Rousse)

Posted on August 28, 2025 by Dreamaticus

It was a huge honour to have been appointed to this high profile expert panel to work with the most senior UK academics and the country’s top civil servants. After Day 1 of important confidential debate, the chair released us … Continue reading →

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Adventures with a Ford Granada (Rousse)

Posted on July 8, 2025 by Dreamaticus

I took my mother’s car keys without her knowledge and set off in the Granada to the meeting at the Royal Society of Edinburgh. I followed the car in front, stupidly assuming that the driver was also heading in the … Continue reading →

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In defence of the ‘Nonsense Norwegian’ (Rousse)

Posted on April 20, 2025 by Dreamaticus

The residential staff retreat was a dreary affair. As I stood in a queue waiting for my turn to take part in the next ‘exciting’ activity – charity shop shopping – my mother-in-law lifted my woollen jumper to check that … Continue reading →

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A new life in a house by the sea (Rousse)

Posted on February 26, 2025 by Dreamaticus

At last, my dreams of a house by the sea were fulfilled. Granted, the village would likely be overrun in the summer, but that was a small price to pay for the view, not to mention the enormous garden with … Continue reading →

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Lion cubs join Oxford University for freshers week (Rousse)

Posted on January 29, 2025 by Dreamaticus

Dressed only in a navy blue towel, I wandered around chilly Oxford cursing the snow – and TPR, now onto the xth affair of our marriage. The new undergraduates looked both puzzled and proud at their achievement of winning places … Continue reading →

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Avoiding the expense of the House of Bruar (Rousse)

Posted on December 9, 2024 by Dreamaticus

My Uncle P, Auntie M, and cousins called in to check the arrangements for our family holiday in the far north. I was worried about the potential cost of lunch en route, especially if we broke the journey at the … Continue reading →

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Self-catering apartments in Edinburgh, with dogs (Rousse)

Posted on August 7, 2024 by Dreamaticus

My American friend JG bought the old mews building a long time before I moved to Edinburgh. I did see her there once with her sister A – but only because I had mastered time travel. My sudden appearance rather … Continue reading →

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A holiday cottage and wedding invitations (Rousse)

Posted on June 17, 2024 by Dreamaticus

I was worried about the safety of the family’s holiday cottage. Although the front door to the building that we shared with the neighbours was secured with a Yale lock, the door to our porch and the second one from … Continue reading →

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Sister with a shaved head – and wigs (Rousse)

Posted on November 25, 2023 by Dreamaticus

With her shaved head, my sister resembled our three boy cousins. Why would she take such drastic action to look so terrible? When she modelled her first wig, I understood. She could change her look instantly to match with her … Continue reading →

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When Her Majesty meets the family (Rousse)

Posted on July 21, 2023 by Dreamaticus

Queen Elizabeth II and I held hands – or, more precisely, we interlocked little fingers according to the limits of royal protocol. I wanted to introduce Her Majesty to my second cousin EB, but she was far more interested in … Continue reading →

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