Tag Archives: speaker

A proposed oral penalty (Rousse)

Posted on November 5, 2025 by Dreamaticus

EH was away so I was left to chaperone the learned dignitary who had flown in from the US to deliver a guest lecture to the final year students. She was the only British academic to have ever won the … Continue reading →

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Wedding speaker shamed (Rousse)

Posted on August 4, 2024 by Dreamaticus

VAE stood up from her pew seat, marched over to the speaker, and admonished him in front of the whole congregation: ‘This is a wedding of a couple very much in love. It is customary to speak about them during … Continue reading →

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Strange speech in Corstorphine (Rousse)

Posted on June 29, 2023 by Dreamaticus

I travelled to Corstorphine confident that SM would be able to help me. A man in overalls reluctantly answered the door. ‘Is SM in?’ I asked politely. ‘Next door’ he replied gruffly, waving his paint brush in the direction of … Continue reading →

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Belle rescues conference at the Hilton London Olympia (Rousse)

Posted on January 31, 2023 by Dreamaticus

I was back at the Hilton London Olympia running a one-day conference. The morning sessions went very well. My former colleague PT was the star of the show as he peppered his presentation with witty asides. I knew it! He … Continue reading →

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Pink dungarees for Kitty Bennet (Rousse)

Posted on March 23, 2021 by Dreamaticus

The speaker hesitated. Who were the Bennet sisters in Pride and prejudice? The audience helped out with four names – Jane, Elizabeth, Mary and Lydia – but nobody could come up with the fifth. We were meeting in a public … Continue reading →

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Barry Manilow keynote (Rousse)

Posted on February 5, 2021 by Dreamaticus

It took a few minutes for me to take in that we had secured Barry Manilow as the keynote speaker for our next networking event. Who would have ever guessed that the American superstar singer would join us as a … Continue reading →

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An unprofessional conference chair (Rousse)

Posted on January 5, 2021 by Dreamaticus

The keynote speaker – Professor EG from Berlin – was so excited to see me that she stretched out her hand and brushed my arm. I recoiled in horror. How could she be unaware that we were still social distancing … Continue reading →

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Audience appalled at arrogant speakers (Rousse)

Posted on November 11, 2019 by Dreamaticus

Our joint presentation was at midday. We split the half hour slot equally so that I took the first fifteen minutes and HP the second. I brushed my hair, put on my green corduroy jacket, picked up my data stick, … Continue reading →

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Double entendre speaking début (Rousse)

Posted on August 25, 2019 by Dreamaticus

While speaking to a class of disengaged further education students, BD made the most inappropriate double entendre. It was both appalling and hysterical – and I could not hold back my laughter from under a huge paper bed sheet at … Continue reading →

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Val McDermid in hidden class act (Rousse)

Posted on November 25, 2018 by Dreamaticus

Val McDermid presented as an invited guest speaker to my undergraduate class. Unfortunately the students found it difficult to see her, hidden behind the stack of tables and chairs at the back of the classroom. I could have done with … Continue reading →

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