Tag Archives: niece

Time travel to the 1960s, a meeting with Phil Davis, and a stolen bracelet (Rousse)

Posted on June 19, 2014 by Dreamaticus

I travelled back in time to the 1960s where I found myself outside a concrete football stadium, in the company of actor Phil Davis. Conscious of the sexist attitudes of a half century ago, I steeled myself for inappropriate remarks. … Continue reading →

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A record deal with Simon Cowell (Rousse)

Posted on May 12, 2014 by Dreamaticus

Simon Cowell was much shorter than I could have possibly imagined. I tried not to stare at his stumpy little legs when he waddled over to join us. For the sake of my niece’s singing career however, I really needed … Continue reading →

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Slade’s original line-up is back on the road again (Rousse)

Posted on April 1, 2014 by Dreamaticus

Dave Hill stuck his head from under the tarpaulin on the back of the tour truck. “I’m afraid that Noddy is indisposed”, he explained. “He’s struggling with the band’s paperwork”. This was unsurprising given that this was Slade’s first tour … Continue reading →

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Hugh Grant lookalike cited in affair accusations (Rousse)

Posted on October 23, 2013 by Dreamaticus

I tried to work out why TPR and I were staying in this business hotel by peering at the badges of the other guests. One man appeared to be “the friendliest of the friendly”. This didn’t help, other than suggest … Continue reading →

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A coping strategy for the strangely blind (Rousse)

Posted on October 6, 2013 by Dreamaticus

I suffered from an extremely rare form of blindness. Although I still had my sight, what I saw was completely different from what everyone else could see. I did all I could to disguise my disability by listening very carefully … Continue reading →

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Knowledge Management on ice (Rousse)

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Dreamaticus

This term I was studying the Knowledge Management module rather than teaching it. The new tutor brought in a number of major changes. For example, most of the classes were taught outdoors in the melting snow, and the regulation module … Continue reading →

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Toddler emergency essentials (Rousse)

Posted on June 5, 2013 by Dreamaticus

Three days after explaining to MSB why we were childless, I gave birth to a fully-formed toddler. While we wondered how we would break this news to our families (TPR’s mother would be delighted, our nephews and nieces probably less … Continue reading →

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Teenaged tutors at the University of Oxford (Rousse)

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Dreamaticus

It was festival time in Edinburgh and celebrities were everywhere. When we passed a BBC van my niece BMcC recognised a famous drama director and Oxford academic. As B was a keen actress herself, and planning to take up a … Continue reading →

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William Morris book design determines undergraduate reading habits (Rousse)

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Dreamaticus

Now that the degree results had been published it was time to prepare for the graduation ceremony on campus at the University of Birmingham. Of course, TPR would be in the audience as usual, and I invited my nephew P … Continue reading →

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James Bond and a hand-knit metallic jumper surprise (Rousse)

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Dreamaticus

HH opened the massive cardboard box that she’d brought on her visit. “Just a few presents” she announced as I spied the beautiful hand-knitted string jumpers in a dazzling array of metallic colours. I grabbed a golden one and pulled … Continue reading →

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