Tag Archives: Reading

Cheese throwing with Billy Connolly (Rousse)

Posted on October 25, 2014 by Dreamaticus

Although the purpose of the exercise was unclear, I enjoyed an afternoon of ‘cheese chucking’ with Billy Connolly and BP. The concept was simple. All you had to do was throw lumps of cheese up onto a high shelf. I … Continue reading →

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A temporary loss of digits and dancing to the Wombles (Rousse)

Posted on October 4, 2014 by Dreamaticus

One of us was required to chop off all digits on the hands. TPR bravely volunteered. Then he headed off to Reading to meet MP before the big party. They spent the morning engaged in geeky conversation and activities. I … Continue reading →

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A log cabin date on the Isle of Skye (Rousse)

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Dreamaticus

I left my MacBook Air under my desk at the British Library and chased across the reading room to intercept the young man in a navy blue suit who was carrying a briefcase. “Nick!” I shouted. He spun round and … Continue reading →

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A sister’s wedding, smokers and cycling (Rousse)

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Dreamaticus

We all gathered at my parents’ house in a small town off the M4 corridor for my sister’s wedding. It was a huge affair, largely because the expected guest list of family and friends was supplemented with the names of … 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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JK Rowling bakes a mean meringue (Rousse)

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Dreamaticus

This is the tale of the day that JK Rowling and I finally secured our friendship. It didn’t start well… BR scolded me. He couldn’t understand why I thought it acceptable to walk the length of the railway line completely … Continue reading →

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What Rousse learnt last night

Posted on July 3, 2012 by Dreamaticus

Startling news I learnt last night: The night-time taxi fare from central London to Reading is only £10.02. My friend V has multiple pseudonyms (including “Deany”), and was the head girl at her Swiss boarding school. My new American lodger … Continue reading →

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Unwelcome distraction at the British Library (Rousse)

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Dreamaticus

It was a huge commitment to travel from Edinburgh to London by train every Saturday to study medieval manuscripts in the British Library. This is why I objected so much to the shopping concession in the Humanities Reading Room and … Continue reading →

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Famous beards and underwear (Rousse)

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Dreamaticus

DB and I were cataloguing journal issues, then filing them in slim cardboard boxes, in the reading room of a large academic library. I also took this opportunity to consider the common data elements in MARC records and APA referencing. … Continue reading →

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Pre-school reading opportunities boost life prospects: a three year old’s perspective (Rousse)

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Dreamaticus

If ever there was a need for evidence of the catastrophic effect of public library cuts, it was here. The place was marshalled by rough-looking women in navy blue overalls, without a qualified librarian in sight. They were more interested … Continue reading →

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