Tag Archives: present

Boxes and foxes (Rousse)

Posted on August 23, 2024 by Dreamaticus

KH handed me a small white box with a promise that he would explain the contents just as soon as he had checked the pan on the stove in the kitchen. When he failed to return, I popped the box … Continue reading →

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Black and white bearded ballerina (Rousse)

Posted on January 6, 2024 by Dreamaticus

I was astonished at the beauty of the framed black and white photograph. It depicted a bearded ballerina in the foetal position, arms wrapped around his knees, his long feet shod in ribboned pointes. KD (recently deceased) had put a … Continue reading →

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Gifts and guests shattered in Sunderland (Rousse)

Posted on April 25, 2023 by Dreamaticus

M and AP hosted their joint 60th birthday and ruby wedding anniversary party in Sunderland – a place with which they had no connection whatsoever. I travelled most of the way there by car up the A1, finishing the journey … Continue reading →

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Donald Trump will run for President: exclusive interview from David Elstein’s offices (Rousse)

Posted on February 6, 2023 by Dreamaticus

Donald Trump’s fall from power was so great that he now worked in advertising sales for David Elstein’s media empire. My good friend JM also worked for Elstein, so gave me access to the once ‘great’ man. One day I … Continue reading →

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A cat and a cleaner (Rousse)

Posted on October 16, 2022 by Dreamaticus

My former neighbour JS cradled a beautiful tabby cat in her arms. It was a leaving present from her friends. The cat, however, was not the focus of our conversation. Rather, JS wanted to show her displeasure at my nephew … Continue reading →

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Teddy bears and a tall Swede (Rousse)

Posted on November 8, 2021 by Dreamaticus

My latest strategy for clearing my mother’s house was to gather together any presents that I had given her in the past and reclaim them for myself. I picked up two handmade lawn cotton teddy bears. The larger one was … Continue reading →

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Lurid art birthday gift (Rousse)

Posted on September 11, 2021 by Dreamaticus

My colleague FC led me to a basement. Here she had assembled an art exhibition with all pieces displayed for sale. I selected a lurid night time scene in dark oils from the freezer and took it home as a … Continue reading →

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New boys in town (Rousse)

Posted on June 5, 2020 by Dreamaticus

The first duty of CM’s three boys when they moved up to Edinburgh from Leeds was to surprise me at 6:00am on my birthday. The little one was most enthusiastic, especially when I said that I would play board games … Continue reading →

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The mark of a dyslexic (Rousse)

Posted on August 6, 2019 by Dreamaticus

AO was so severely dyslexic that he bought me a fancy pencil case with the boy’s name Mark incorporated into the design. When I questioned his choice of present, he confessed that he had no idea what the text said. … Continue reading →

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Dangers of regifting unwanted presents (Rousse)

Posted on July 29, 2019 by Dreamaticus

I was on stage facing a line of dignitaries, including Donald Leach and former Moderator of the Church of Scotland Alison Elliot, to be awarded my latest undergraduate degree (classification 2:2). I took great care when asked to sign for … Continue reading →

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