When the weird becomes normal

[Misty]

Below is an account of the property in which we have lived since 1997, which some might find interesting and like to comment on. In spite of all the activity in our present home, which was daily at one time, my husband and I are of the opinion there are no such things as spirits coming back from the dead, demons or any of the other suggestions people have made over the years. We firmly believe in a natural explantion, even if science might take a while to catch up. The 'haunting' stopped 2.5 years ago as abruptly as it started. The house didn't have a reputation before we moved in, neither did our field, make of that what you will!

As far as the field is concerned, we have not made any money out of it, in spite of suggestions that we should do so. We feel that would be very wrong. If people get some benefit from standing at the gate and taking in the vibes that is fine by us.

Reluctantly we have put our property on the market. Since my husband had a devasting brain haemorrhage in 2006 the property has got rather too much for us to keep up, and we need to downsize and move nearer our children. We are not mentioning in the marketing details the field or the strange things that happened in the house, we are not required to do so!

When the weird becomes normal

When moving to a new house you do not expect to employ an expert in the paranormal in addition to the surveyor and the solicitor. Maybe that is what we should have done before we moved into North Wales farmhouse (1610) in February 1997!

We had barely been in residence for two weeks when a reporter from our local weekly newspaper told us that an Irish couple had seen visions of the Virgin Mary in our field, and had subsequently experienced miracles of healing. Not being Catholics we were highly sceptical. The field is at the bottom of a quiet country lane and has nothing much to recommend it as it is steep and rugged. It is not much use for grazing, but we allow our neighbour to keep a few pet sheep there. In spite of my scepticism, when I was suffering with a frozen shoulder, that had defied medical aid, I stood at the field gate, and within five minutes my pain had eased; by the next day I was cured! I have a theory that if one has something like our field to focus the mind on, it acts like a catalyst in helping the body’s own healing mechanisms to kick in.

By June of 1997 our lane was becoming like a mini Lourdes with folk visiting the field in hope of a vision or a miracle. Thirteen years later, we still get a ‘pilgrim’ or two, and there are occasional reports of miracles. Two people have actually contacted me over the Internet from America, saying that they had been healed when they visited the field. According to a newspaper report, its tranquil vibes prevented a man from committing suicide in 1999.

Our youngest daughter, then 21, was on a visit home and woke up to find a monk sitting on the end of the bed. She found it a pleasant experience, until her brain kicked in, and then she wondered what on earth he was doing there! We thought it was a dream until I saw an apparition of a monk in broad daylight a couple of days later. From then on Brother Doli (Adolphus) became part of the family. Our son, who has Down’s Syndrome, saw him frequently, and accepted the fact as normal. I have seen the monk on about six occasions, each time I thought I was seeing a flesh and blood person for the second or two that I was aware of the presence.

In January 1999 the first stain of a Welsh religious word appeared on the wall in the lounge, TANGNEFEDD, meaning peace as in ‘peace be with you’. Soon the wall erupted in religious words, all in Welsh. We also noticed crosses and little monks appearing all over the place, inside and out. Carvings in the form of words, crosses and monks also materialised. This was a continuing phenomenon. Sometimes the words and images would remain for a year or two, other times they will come and go quite quickly.

I am a very amateur photographer, but I have taken a lot of photographs since 1997. From time to time an inexplicable image on a photo will appear that was not visible when I took the shot. One particularly memorable one was taken in the autumn of 1997. I happened to shoot some photos of the barn in our field, a really spooky image of a grotesque face appeared on one of the photographs. If I had seen it in reality, I think I would have been a few miles down the road!

Footsteps were frequently heard going up and down our staircase and along the landing. We also heard bumps and bangs of unknown origin. They could be so loud that one could be forgiven for thinking that the house was about to fall down! This phenomenon could occur at anytime of the day or night.

We often heard voices in the house at different times of day and night. The words are just beyond our level of hearing; we couldn’t pinpoint exactly where the sound is coming from. Occasionally these have sounded like the voices of children, a crowd of people, or just a couple having a conversation, we even heard a baby crying in our kitchen!

The transportation of very heavy objects like a 182lbs wooden owl and gravestone around the home and property were another remarkable feature of our curious activity.

There are a number of independent witnesses who have had strange experiences in our home. We have obviously considered the possibility of our activity being a hoax. However, if that were to be the case it would be one of the most remarkable. The phenomena have continued almost without a break for over 11 years, but suddenly stopped in January 2008 and we have been ‘spook free’ since then. We think that if all this amazing activity is genuine, and not a hoax, which is still a possibility, it is probably of natural origin and science will catch up in time. After all, things that we take for granted today, would have seemed paranormal 200 years ago!

Over the years the media have taken an interest in us. We have been the subject of several films, TV and radio programmes. Even the Foreign Office commissioned a film in the late 90s!

Strangely enough we didn’t find the activity frightening albeit a little disconcerting from time to time. Our house has always had a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, there was never a dull moment: we didn’t lack after dinner conversation when our unusual ‘houseguests’ were in residence.
RJG
June 2010

[Furrowed Brow]

Well, I guess there's no mystery;

No need to invoke a supernatural mystery at least.

you already know all the answers.

Not the answers, better methodology maybe, and there is no need to invoke the supernatural. Not because I know there is no such thing but because there is neither data nor methodological reason that warrants it. If someone wishes to do so fine, but to do the job well they need keep an accurate record as to what data they really have, and what data they don't have.

Somebody is obviously faking the writing,

This seems a very plausible theory that needs to be tested before any else....no? Could save a lot of time.

and everyone involved is either mentally unstable and prone to hallucination or a gullible idiot.

Yes to possible outright fakery, but this needs to be tested. Being gullible if you mean folk are not testing what their nearest and dearest are saying and doing, and not observing their own behaviour to see how it supports and perpetuates a group think. But words like “gullible� and “idiot� are emotive and a distraction

Put it this way....if you want to do science then proper objective study of the location and environment is required. The family are certainly part of that environment and contribute to it.

I guess those are the proper assumptions in an objective investigation.

Yes. You are right so why did you introduce such emotive language. Why is the request for rigour being closed minded?

Ain't science grand? And without even any investigation at all.

If someone wants to spend the money and put the time in and get agreement from the family, I’d be interested in the result. But if we are talking from our armchairs then all that is being pointed out is the nature and form of the data that presently exists and what science has already found out regarding placebo efftects and "paranormal" activity. If you think there is some flaw or bias please accurately list and analyse the assumptions made and that are unwarranted. Accurate and penetrating criticism is painful but usually beneficial.

[Goat]

I have a friend that is otherwise intelligent, but is very much into the 'paranoramal'. She brought me to a house she CLAIMED was haunted, had the reputation of being haunted, and wanted to show me the 'ghost' through the window.

She pointed the ghost that appears, and I pointed out that it was reflection of a light.

She saw what she wanted to see, not what was there.