Wednesday, December 31

12 Ancient UFO Sightings As Seen On Earth

Ancient UFO sighting
Aerial battle over Nuremberg April 4, 1561
While reading about UFOs, a while back, it stuck in my mind that on New Year's Day in 1254 the monks at St.Albans in England sighted 'a kind of ship flying' in the sky that was 'large, elegantly shaped and of a marvellous colour.' The UFO phenomenon isn't something new.

I thought, for a change therefore, I'd look at a dozen of the UFO visits from the distance past.

1504 BC: This is probably one of the earliest written accounts of a UFO - the following description is an excerpt from an Egyptian papyrus under the reign of Thutmose III.

'In the year 22 ... sixth hour of the day ... the scribes of the House of Life found it was a circle of fire that was coming in the sky ... it had no head, the breath of its mouth had a foul odour. Its body one rod long and one rod wide. It had no voice ... Now after some days had passed, these things became more numerous in the skies than ever. They shone more in the sky than the brightness of the sun and extended to the four supports of the heavens ... Powerful was the position of the fire circles ... It was after supper. Thereupon these fire circles ascended higher in the sky towards the south ... It was ordered by the Pharaoh to be written in the annals of the House of Life ... so that it be remembered for ever.'

500 BC: In the ancient Indian text Samarangana Sartradhara there is a description of piloted flying machines called vimanas. These were powered by some unknown source and they could 'carry death' to anywhere on earth.

216 BC: Julius Obsequens wrote in his book Prodigorium liber of how 'things like ships were seen in the sky over Italy ... At Apri a round shield was seen in the sky. At Capua, the sky was on fire, and one saw figures like ships.'

214 BC: This time in Italy at Hadria 'an altar in the sky' was seen

66 AD: The historian Pliny the Elder tells of a big spark as 'big as the moon' which fell from the sky - and then returned to the heavens. He also told of how 'a burning shield scattering sparks ran across the sky at sunset from east to west.'

584: St. Gregory, the bishop of Tours in France, recorded various sightings in his Historia Francorum. 'There appeared in the sky brilliant rays of light which seemed to cross and collide with one another.' He also described 'golden globes' which flashed at speed across the skies of France.

793: The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle reports, 'In this year terrible portents appeared in Northumbria (England) and miserably afflicted the inhabitants. These were exceptional flashing and lightning and fiery dragons seen flying through the air.'

1170: Roger Niger described 'a wonderfully large dragon' which was 'borne up from earth though the air. The air was kindled into fire by its motion and burned a house, reducing it and its outbuildings to ashes.' This was seen at Osyth, Essex, England.

1180: In Japan something similar to a flying saucer was seen, though they described this as a flying 'earthenware vessel.' The object or UFO was heading in a northeast direction from a mountain in the Kii province. This suddenly changed direction and vanished below the horizon, leaving a luminous trail.

1290: The monks at Byland Abbey in Yorkshire spotted a 'large round silver disk' passing through the skies.

1561: This time the sighting was in Nuremberg in Germany where it was said that there was 'a very frightful spectacle.' During daylight glowing tubes, globes and crosses were seen in the sky and appeared to do battle. This lasted for an hour and some then fell to the earth as 'if on fire.' The image at the top of this post refers to this.

There are many, many other UFO sightings on record from the distant past. We sometimes seem to think of such things as a modern phenomena, probably starting with the Kenneth Arnold flying saucer stories from 1947. But very little in life is actually new - much has already been seen or experienced previously by past generations.

Other Recent Posts:
The True Story Of The Fanny Scratching Ghost Of Cock Lane
The Telepathy Of Random Thoughts Of Kindness
Place Of Dread Where The Dead Fear The Watcher At The Gate

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Tuesday, December 30

White Feathers Told Her That She Would Win Millions On the Lottery

Lottery Winner

A week back there was a show on UK television about big Lottery Winners, and how receiving  all of those millions changed their lives - for good and bad.

It was interesting how people reacted so differently to their wins. There was the woman who gave most of her money to charity and did so much good for the local hospice and then there was the bloke who blew the lot, got into drugs and goodness knows what else, and ended up stony broke and on welfare.

But the point of this post is a very short coincidence story, from the show, which also includes white feathers.

One of the lottery winners told of how her win was exactly two years following her father's death. On the few days prior to the draw she started finding white feathers everywhere. The assumption of this being that it was her father giving her advance notice that her life was about to change. Spirit communication in other words.

Okay, that's the coincidence.

But thinking about her story, it made me wonder if those who have 'gone before' know of what might happen to us during our life on Earth - surely not, that can't be possible, can it?

Oh, and just in case you were wondering, the photo at the top of the post is only a mock up.

Other Lottery Posts:
Bizarre Chinese Lottery Coincidence
Senior Citizens Lottery Agony
The Bulgarian Lottery Coincidence

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Monday, December 29

Coincidence Of 400 Year Old Chalice Being Re-United With It's Lid

16th century chalice

Sara Richards
Sara Richards has had an interest in antiques for many years and acquired a silver lid some twelve years ago. She wasn't too sure what the lid belonged to: a teapot perhaps or a sugar basin?

Eventually, after much research she discovered that it was in fact a lid to a chalice - a very old one at that, could well be from the 1500s.

Time passed, as it tends to do, and about twelve years after discovering the lid Sara went to evening classes on the subject of archaeology. At the class she met Canon Graham Loveluck a priest on Anglesey in Wales.

Canon Graham Loveluck
The pair got talking and for some reason Sara mentioned the lid she had found and how it could well belong to a 16th Century chalice. Canon Loveluck told her he had such a chalice at his church and this had a missing lid.

Surely they couldn't belong together! Out of interest the lid was taken to the chalice and sure enough, like Cinderella and her slipper, the lid fit.

But that wasn't all, through various markings and designs they discovered that this was the actual, original lid to the chalice. A photo of the two was even discovered in a very old book. How the two parts were ever separated is a mystery but the two are now happily reunited. After existing for over 400 years they belong together.

Old book showing 16th centiry chalice

The photo below shows Sara Richards and Canon Graham Loveluck reuniting the lid with the chalice - or maybe the other way round: the chalice with the lid.

Sara Richards and Canon Loveluck reuniting the lid with the chalice

Random Coincidence Stories:
He Discovered That The House He Bought Was Built By His Ancestor
Photo Taken Of Father Showed His Missing Daughter
D'Artagnan And The Violinist's Castle Coincidence

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Sunday, December 28

Vintage Photos Taken From My Google Plus Page - 3

Vintage mother and child photo
Vintage Photo
Four more photos taken from my Google+ page. The one above I find kind of scary, there's something about those faces! The char lady below is happy enough though.

Vintage char lady laughing photo
Vintage char lady photo
1933 Sphere cover
1933 Sphere Cover
Vintage photo of car accident

Not sure what actually happened in the photo above but it originated from the NSW, Australia police.

Other Vintage Photo Posts:
Vintage Photos Taken From My Google Plus Page - 2
Vintage Photos Taken From My Google Plus Page - 1

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Saturday, December 27

A Chuckle And An Alarming Coincidence

Coincidence cartoon

As regular readers know I have published many coincidence stories on this blog over the last five and a bit years. So the cartoon above seems apt.

And below another coincidence story.

An alarming dream

Tonight was my ballet school's annual concert. A couple of nights ago, I was lying in bed, not quite asleep but not awake either, when I had a half-dream of the theatre being on fire.

It was on my mind for the day, not because I believed it would come true, but because I decided it'd be fun to build on it and write a short story.

Today, we drove up to the theatre, and I was dropped off outside, surprised to discover that the entire dance school was standing outside. Why? The fire alarm was going off.

It was a false alarm, and there was no fire for the rest of the night, but it was still oddly coincidental, and almost scary.

~ Kelly

More coincidence stories:
He Discovered That The House He Bought Was Built By His Ancestor
Top 10 Coincidence And Synchronicity Stories
67 Not Out Readers Coincidence Stories

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Friday, December 26

The Reason Why December 26th Is Called Boxing Day

Fox hunting

Today, the 26th of December, is known as Boxing Day in Britain and in several other countries as well.  It is what we call a Bank Holiday (a normal working day when the banks are closed) but no doubt would be called a Public Holiday in other parts of the world.

How Boxing Day came about is not absolutely clear. The most popular thought is that this was the day when servants and tradesmen would collect their Christmas Boxes - i.e money tips for good service - from the gentry or their employers.  These money gifts or 'boxes' were mentioned in Samuel Pepys' diary entry for December 19th 1663, so the tradition goes way back.

In days of old churches would have a box in which to place contributions for the poor at their Christmas Day services. These boxes were then opened on the 26th for distribution to the needy.

Another explanation for Boxing Day dates back to when sailing ships set off to discover far away lands. They would take with them a sealed box full of money as a good luck talisman, to help keep them safe on their voyages. When they returned safely a church service of thanks would be held and the box was presented to the vicar or priest. This would be kept until Christmas, when the contents would be shared with the poor.

I personally look at Boxing Day as being family time, though often sport is involved. In the UK there isusually  a full programme of sport including the top football (soccer) clubs. I remember going to matches at the London clubs: Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, with my father when I was young.

One of the traditional events (unfortunately) in England is the Boxing Day Fox Hunting. In 2005 hunting, however, with dogs become a criminal offence but the hunts still go ahead where the scent of a fox is followed.

I have to admit that this is quite a sight with the riders in their red jackets, the sound of horns blowing, the dogs and the horses in splendid condition. It's a actually one of my very first memories.

I believe I was three years old and at Christmas we were staying in a country location with friends of my parents. The Fox Hunt started from outside the cottage where we were staying. I remember distinctly the horses and dogs, the colour and all of the excitement. Back then I didn't, of course, realise that the idea was to kill the foxes, with the dogs tearing them to pieces - something truly horrific in my eyes today.

Today I'm with my family, what could be more perfect? I hope you are having a perfect day too.

Oh yes, and now Boxing Day is when the sales start in many of the shops and stores. The January Sales now come early. Commercialism has taken over. Once it was simply family, sports and thinking about those less fortunate than ourselves, but now it's greedily shopping for supposed bargains. What skewed priorities we have.

Other Random Recent Posts:
The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot
The True Story Of The Fanny Scratching Ghost Of Cock Lane
Look Out! Look Out! Karma Is Coming to To Get You!

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Thursday, December 25

Tuesday, December 23

The Secret Hidden Within The Twelve Days Of Christmas

With Christmas fast approaching I like to hear the old carols as it transports me back to childhood and all of the happy times with my mum and dad, who are no longer with me.

My dad was a bit of a singer and one of his favourites, which I could always join in as a child, was The Twelve Days Of Christmas: "On the first day of Christmas my true love said to me ..."

But there is a secret about this English Christmas carol. It's one that may be true, though I know many will disagree. Here's an email I received that delves into this song's past. See what you think.

There is one Christmas Carol, The Twelve Days Of Christmas, that has always baffled me. What in the world do Leaping Lords, French Hens, Swimming Swans, and especially the Partridge who won't come out of the Pear Tree have to do with Christmas? Today I found out at a church luncheon its origin.

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.

It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a secret meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

* A Partridge In A Pear Tree:
The partridge represents the courage and devotion of Christ dying for his people. A mother partridge will lure predators away from her chicks, even sacrificing her life for them. The pear tree symbolizes the wooden cross upon which Jesus died.

* Two Turtle Doves:
This represents the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. Doves also symbolize truth and peace.

* Three French Hens:
French hens were the food of kings in sixteenth century England. Here they represent the expensive gifts brought by the wise men to the newborn Jesus. Three French hens also stood for faith, hope and love.

* Four Calling Birds:
The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

* Five Gold Rings:
The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

* Six Geese A-LayingHere we have the six days in which God created the world. The eggs, from which new life springs, symbolize creation.

* Seven Swans a-Swimming
These represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit outlined by the apostle Paul: prophesy, service, teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership and mercy. The swan, a graceful bird, symbolized these virtues.

* Eight Maids A-Milking:
The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

* Nine Ladies Dancing:
Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit-Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

* Ten Lords A-Leaping:
The ten lords a-leaping were a reminder of the Ten Commandments.

* Eleven Pipers Piping:
These represent the eleven faithful apostles who followed Jesus to the end and spread his message after his death. While there were twelve apostles, one betrayed Jesus.

* Twelve Drummers Drumming:
This is a symbol for the twelve tenets of the Catholic faith laid out in the prayer, 'The Apostles’ Creed'. The drummers may provide the cadence for reciting this prayer.

So there is your history for today.

This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol - so pass it on if you wish.

~ Yvonne

As someone who likes the thought of secret organisations the above explanation appeals to me. However some will say the carol could have been adapted from something called A New Dial which was known to have been published in 1625. And, by chance, I just happen to have the words!

We have one God alone
In heaven above sits on His throne:

What are they which are by two?
Two testaments, the old and new,
We do acknowledge to be true:

What are they which are but three?
Three persons in the Trinity
Which make one God in unity:

What are they which are but four
Four sweet Evangelists there are,
Christ's birth, life, death which do declare:

What are they which are but five?
Five senses, like five kings, maintain
In every man a several reign:

What are they which are but six?
Six days to labor is not wrong,
For God himself did work so long:

What are they which are but seven?
Seven liberal arts hath God sent down
With divine skill man's soul to crown:

What are they which are but eight?
Eight Beatitudes are there given
Use them right and go to heaven:

What are they which are but nine?
Nine Muses, like the heaven's nine spheres,
With sacred tunes entice our ears:

What are they which are but ten?
Ten statutes God to Moses gave
Which, kept or broke, do spill or save:

What are they which are but eleven?
Eleven thousand virgins did partake
And suffered death for Jesus' sake:

What are they which are but twelve?
Twelve are attending on God's son;
Twelve make our creed. The Dial's done.

And for good measure here are the full words for The Twelve Days Of Christmas. Please join in if you wish and sing along.

On the first day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the second day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Two turtle-doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the third day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Three French hens,
Two turtle-doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle-doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Five golden rings.
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle-doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings.
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle-doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings.
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle-doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings.
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle-doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings.
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle-doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings.
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle-doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings.
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle-doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings.
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle-doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

Okay, that's enough for today -  glass of mulled wine anyone?

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Monday, December 22

Two Black Stick Men Sightings - They Are Still Stalking Our World!

Stick Men

Here's a coincidence: two stories in two days from readers about Black Stick Men, one from the USA and the other from the UK. You may recall that I published a post back in March of this year The Black Stick Men Who Stalk Our World At Night. As 'things' supposedly come in threes, wonder if there will be a third experience soon ...

"I don't want my name published as I don't want to be called crazy.

I actually stumbled across your blog because my husband and I were Googling stick men sightings. He has just encountered one while taking our dog out to the bathroom at our apartment complex.

He was walking by the pool area, and it is night mind you, and looked over and saw a tall stick figure of a man who, he said, seemed surprised and took an odd startled stance when he realized he'd been seen.

My husband looked at the stick man for a second and then took off, running as fast as he could to tell me.

He was out of breath and visibly shaken, so we started looking this up and are quickly finding out there are a lot of people who have seen the same.

My husband is definitely not crazy, so I just wanted people to know that this is definitely a real thing."

"We were returning home after a night out, and we had been drinking, but what we saw was nothing to do with alcohol. There were five of us, but three went off in a different direction. This left me and my girlfriend.

It was dark, after midnight, and we passed an open area between houses.

"F***!" said my girlfriend, "Look at that!"

She pointed to the open space where something thin and lollopy looking was coming towards us. Definitely human shaped but much, much taller and very skinny and completely black. I couldn't tell if he was wearing clothes, it looked like an animated stick man. I'm fairly sure he was wearing a hat of some sort.

We started to run away as fast as we could. The man was going to catch us because of his long, skinny stride. He didn't appear to have any facial features. But suddenly he changed direction, almost as if he hadn't seen us at first and headed towards the houses.

My girlfriend was shaking with fright but gradually calmed down once the stick man was moving away from us. I have to admit that I was scared stiff myself.

It all sounds unbelievable but it was as if a cartoon had come to life. I think the man must have been well over 10 feet tall. Whatever he was, looking back, we don't think he meant us any harm."

~ Roger - Bristol

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Sunday, December 21

Vintage Photos Taken From My Google Plus Page - 2

Five vintage photos taken from my Google+ page, a mixed bag from cops on motor cycles to fashion and a 1910 vacuum cleaner.

1950s police motor cop and squad car
1951 Motor Cycle Speed Cop and Flying Squad Car
The image above is from a 1951 childrens' book called 'When I Grow Up'. One of the suggestions is that they become Speed cops.

Vintage photo NSW, Australia
Vintage Photo NSW, Australia 1920s
The photos above and below are police photos from NSW, Australia said to have been taken in the 1920s, but the picture below looks more like 1940s fashions.

Vintage fashion photo
Vintage fashion photo from Australia"
1050s office coffee machine
1950s office coffee machine
1910 Star Vacuum Cleaner
1910 Star Vucuum Cleaner
Previous Images & Photos From My Google +
Vintage Photos Taken From My Google Plus Page - 1
Vintage And Other Photos And Images From My Google Plus Pages
Vintage Photos And Images Taken From My Google+ Page Over The Past Week

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Saturday, December 20

The Telepathy Of Random Thoughts Of Kindness

Random acts of kindness
Daily Mail December 17, 2014
I've written several posts about how my wife seems to know what I'm thinking - which can be very worrying at times! There was an example of this today which was fortunately quite harmless.

Actually, thinking about it, this time it may have been telepathy or me reading her thoughts.

I had been upstairs, in the room I call my office, and decided it was cup of tea time. I made my way down the stairs. As I was doing so I started thinking about random acts of kindness, such as paying for someone else in a queue for something. Like paying a toll bridge charge for the car behind.

I walked into our living room and Karin was reading a newspaper I hadn't seen. She looked at me and said words to the effect of, "There's a man here who does random acts of kindness like paying for someone in a queue for the person behind ..."

I had to butt in, "That's exactly what I was thinking about coming down the stairs."

Karin showed me the article and then said, "Almost forgot, I poured you a cup of tea."

As I wrote once before, it does make me wonder who is pulling the strings!

So, to recap, I went down the stairs for a cup of tea and Karin had already made one and I was thinking about what she was reading!

Scary!

It really is strange how couples, who have been together for a while, start thinking similar thoughts at similar times. Makes you wonder where the thought originated.

A couple of other posts I have written on this theme are The Sixth Sense Between Soul Mates and Telepathy Between Husband And Wife.

Now if we were to put in an effort into trying to develop telepathy, well, who knows what we might be able to achieve.

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Friday, December 19

Messages From The Dead Via White Doves, White Feathers And Butterflies

White dove

Following on from all of those other posts about white feathers, white doves and butterflies witnessed following a loved one departing this world, here are two more readers experiences. Both wish to remain anonymous.

"I lost my mum in 2007, I was with her when she passed away.

A few days later there was a gorgeous white feather on my doorstep. Unsure, I asked my neighbour what this could mean. She told me I had been visited by an angel. The feather is still in my Bible to this day. It's not a seagull feather, nor any other known bird in this area. It's a beautiful white downy fluffy feather and I still have it! xx"

"A few years ago my life changed forever. My husband showed up at my office with tears streaming down his face telling me my brother passed away. I remember him driving me home. We sat outside taking it all in, and waiting on phone calls from other family members to make driving/flying arrangements to his town (10 hours away).

I was beyond devastation when a beautiful butterfly flew directly in between us. It hovered for probably a whole minute, circled around my head..then circled around my husband;s head and then flew away.

We were actually crying and laughing, as this was clearly miraculous.

On our very long drive to the funeral I took with me my books on Angels and connecting with loved ones who have passed away.

As I'm engrossed in my book, a few hours into the trip, I was startled by the loudest sound I've ever heard. Something slammed into the windshield ... we were travelling at 70 miles an hour.

I asked my husband, "What was that?"

He said (as we were pulling off the highway into a gas station), "A white dove came out of nowhere and hit our windshield!"

The craziest part is it left no blood ... no feathers ... just this white powder that made the most beautiful image of a perfect angel wing. It was as fine as flour, dusted lightly on our windshield. I actually took my finger and touched it in amazement.

Has anyone else ever been hit by a dove? I'd like to think the dove didn't die but, at 70 mph, how could it not."

Other Similar Posts:
20 Examples Of How The Dead Contact Us With Messages Or Signs The White Dove As A Messenger Of The Dead
The Meaning Of White Feathers As Messages From The Dead

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Thursday, December 18

He Discovered That The House He Bought Was Built By His Ancestor

I think that today's coincidence or synchronicity story is quite remarkable and on several layers. See what you think.

Douglas Hunter lived in Australia but his family had been in New Zealand for at least five generations. He met and fell in love with Ros, a girl from England. They became partners and consequently had two children.

When Ros was pregnant, with their third child, the couple decided they would move to England. They agreed to settle somewhere in Suffolk, near to where Ros's parents lived.

Ros went on ahead to look for somewhere they could call home. One of the places she saw was an old disused chapel. It was for sale and was ripe for converion into a family home. The chapel was in Rendham near to Aldeburgh in their chosen county of Suffolk.

Ros said, "I was pregnant and jet lagged but I thought it was wonderful. I loved the pillars inside and managed to ignore the problems."

The deal was done to buy the property and Douglas duly arrived from Australia to see what she had bought. He viewed the enormous dilapidated building with holes in the roof, broken windows and rows of pews. He looked at Ros and said one word, "Why?"

Then came what Douglas describes as a spooky surprise.

His mother came over from New Zealand for a visit and was looking through some of the very old documents that had been left in the chapel and made an amazing discovery. She found that the chapel was built with money from one of their ancestors!

As Douglas emphasised, "I didn't know any family connection with Suffolk."

Isaac Watts
His ancestor a Dr Isaac Watts was a wealthy man who was a prolific hymn writer including 'Joy To The World' and ' Our God Our Help In Ages Past'.

The chapel was built back in 1750s from a donation made by Dr Watts and has quite a history. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, made visits in the 18th century. The building was finally deconsecrated in 1979 as the congregation gradually diminished in size.

Douglas and Ros coverted the chapel into a wonderful five bedroom family home in which to bring up their children.

How strange that Douglas should meet Ros, a girl from Suffolk - where there just happened to be a link to his ancestors. Some links appear never to be broken.

Other Recent Posts:
The True Story Of The Fanny Scratching Ghost Of Cock Lane
Look Out! Look Out! Karma Is Coming to To Get You!
67 Not Out Readers Coincidence Stories

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Wednesday, December 17

The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot

Little boy Santa Claus forgot

With Christmas fast approaching, as with many people, this makes me remember days from when I was a child.

Christmas was an important event for us. By us, I mean my Mum, Dad and me. Just the three of us, but it was always something to look forward to with great excitement. Looking back I don't know how mum and dad always managed to persuade Father Christmas to bring me what I wished for, He must have received the letter I sent up the chimney each year.

One of my memories is of Dad singing to me, especially the song 'The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot'. It always made me cry but I would still ask him to sing it one more time.

I felt so sorry for that 'laddie who hadn't got a daddy' and how the boy had to 'wander home to last years broken toys.'

Today, of course, there is a profusion of presents and gifts, and many of them very expensive. I feel disappointed that in Britain we have now imported things like Black Friday from the USA (thanks initially to Amazon). It's crazy, profit is king and we rush about like mad people having to grab the latest bargain, Is that really the spirit of Christmas?

And yet there is terrible poverty in parts of the world with many children wandering home to what? Not even last years broken toys.

I don't want to put a downer on Christmas. I love the event and can't wait to see the look on my grandchildren's faces as they open their presents. But perhaps we should also try to remember those who aren't so lucky.- and fully appreciate all that we have,


THE LITTLE BOY THAT SANTA CLAUS FORGOT

He's the little boy that Santa Claus forgot
And goodness knows, he didn't want a lot

He sent a note to Santa
For some soldiers and a drum
It broke his little heart
When he found Santa hadn't come

In the street, he envies all those lucky boys
Then wanders home to last year's broken toys
I'm so sorry for that laddie, he hasn't got a daddy
The little boy that Santa Claus forgot

You know, Christmas comes
But once a year for every girl and boy
The laughter and the joy they find in each brand new toy

I'll tell you of a little boy that lives across the way
This little fella's Christmas is just another day
He's the little boy that Santa Claus forgot
And goodness knows, he didn't want a lot

In the street, he envies all those lucky boys
Then wanders home to last year's broken toys
I'm so sorry for that laddie, he hasn't got a daddy
The little boy that Santa Claus forgot

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Tuesday, December 16

A Star Is Born Synchronicity

School Navity Play

Nothing too dramatic today, must be getting the Christmas feeling. Well I should be as we went to see our 4 year old grandson in his school Nativity Play last week. That's the scene above before the start.

There is a sort of synchronicity to this, but perhaps I'm pushing it a bit.

When my son and daughter-in-law chose our grandson's names they chose Oscar as a middle name. I remember Karin wondering why, and I said, "Because he's a little star."

And in his first school play he was a star - as were all of his class - the youngest pupils. Thus the star in the photo below. They all sang and did various movements.

Sammy on stage

Also at the school, for the young ones, there is a symbol next to each pupil's name where they have to keep their coats and other bits. Each child has a different symbol and Sammy's is a star! And that's my synchro for today.

My grandson on stage

Just remembered from a dusty corner of my brain. When Sammy's dad went to Uni I kept wishing and hoping that his room - he was staying on campus - would be first class. When we helped to move him in, for the first time, I realised his room number was A1 - which means 'first class' or 'top quality'. So my wish for him came true.

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Monday, December 15

The True Story Of The Fanny Scratching Ghost Of Cock Lane

1800s Illustration of where 'Scratching Fanny' was heard in Cock Lane
The story of the Cock Lane Ghost began back in 1760, in a house near to London's famous Smithfield market and just along from St Paul's Cathedral. Cock Lane still exists today.

Map showing Cock Lane, London

William Kent, a stockbroker, rented a house from the parish clerk, Richard Parsons. The arrangement was fine until 1762 when Kent's wife died and he began to court her sister, Fanny, who soon became his 'housekeeper'.

Miss Fanny and Mr Kent sealed their love by making wills and naming each other as beneficiaries. Shortly following this Kent and Parsons fell out following a disagreement over money, so Kent moved out of the property and began legal proceedings against Parsons. As this turmoil was happening Fanny fell sick and died of smallpox.

With Fanny dead Parsons hatched a cunning plan. He concocted a story saying that Kent had murdered Fanny to get his hands on the inheritance.

Now comes the ghostly bit, which became known as Scratching Fanny.

Parsons made claims that Fanny was now haunting the house in Cock Lane. He alleged that Fanny had come back as a ghost. What's more he said that she had contacted his 12 year old daughter, Elizabeth. Fanny told her that Kent had poisoned her.

The room where the scratching fanny ghost was heard
The room where Scratching Fanny was heard
The story spread like wildfire and seance's were held in the house. At one time Parsons invited a committee of 20 men to witness Fanny's ghost possessing his young daughter. Elizabeth, under the influence of Fanny, declared once again that she had been poisoned and that the only way she could rest would be if Kent were hanged.

This got the house more publicity and curious people wanted to hear Fanny Scratching. So much so, that Parsons began charging people to come inside to hear the ghostly sounds of knocking and scratching.

Cock Lane, London sign
Cock Lane sign today
Of course there are always doubters about anything psychic, even back in the 1760s, so an investigation was started. One member of the investigative team being none other than Dr Samuel Johnson. He wrote the following about his experience of a seance held in the Cock Lane house (it's quite long and in the language of the time.)

Dr Samuel Johnson
Dr.Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)
"On the night of the 1st of February many gentlemen, eminent for their rank and character were, by the invitation of the Reverend Mr. Aldrich, of Clerkenwell, assembled at his house, for the examination of the noises supposed to be made by a departed spirit, for the detection of some enormous crime.

About ten at night the gentlemen met in the chamber in which the girl, supposed to be disturbed by a spirit, had, with proper caution, been put to bed by several ladies. They sat rather more than an hour, and hearing nothing, went down stairs, when they interrogated the father of the girl, who denied, in the strongest terms, any knowledge or belief of fraud.

The supposed spirit had before publicly promised, by an affirmative knock, that it would attend one of the gentlemen into the vault under the Church of St. John, Clerkenwell, where the body is deposited, and give a token of her presence there, by a knock upon her coffin; it was therefore determined to make this trial of the existence or veracity of the supposed spirit.

While they were enquiring and deliberating, they were summoned into the girl's chamber by some ladies who were near her bed, and who had heard knocks and scratches. When the gentlemen entered, the girl declared that she felt the spirit like a mouse upon her back, and was required to hold her hands out of bed. From that time, though the spirit was very solemnly required to manifest its existence by appearance, by impression on the hand or body of any present, by scratches, knocks, or any other agency, no evidence of any preter-natural power was exhibited.

The spirit was then very seriously advertised that the person to whom the promise was made of striking the coffin, was then about to visit the vault, and that the performance of the promise was then claimed. The company at one o'clock went into the church, and the gentleman to whom the promise was made, went with another into the vault. The spirit was solemnly required to perform its promise, but nothing more than silence ensued: the person supposed to be accused by the spirit, then went down with several others, but no effect was perceived.

Upon their return they examined the girl, but could draw no confession from her. Between two and three she desired and was permitted to go home with her father. It is, therefore, the opinion of the whole assembly, that the child has some art of making or counterfeiting a particular noise, and that there is no agency of any higher cause."

~ Samuel Johnson (1762)

The findings of the investigation meant that Parsons was put on trial for fraud - remember he had been charging people to visit the house and attend seances there. He was found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison.

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