Things To Do In Bristol When You're (OCD)ead: Ghosts

Most Haunted in Transylvania - final night

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 12:54:28 GMT

Well, was the last night yesterday and (as ever) MH signs off in a thoroughly ambiguous fashion regarding its authenticity.

Cher's pronouncement of 'watch for Karl and Stuart starting the amateur dramatics' turned out to be a prophetic one! What troubled me about it all was this:

If the last hour was genuine then I find it near-impossible to believe that any responsible medium - as David Wells has always come across as to me - would have gone into the location after he was given crystal clear warnings by his guides not to. If he allowed himself to be bullied into it (which, if real, he clearly did allow) then shame on him: it was incredibly foolish and there are a lot of amateur mediums and psychics who could do without such an example being set.
Yvette Fielding. She's slapped her husband 3 times and admitted that, for the first time in 9 years of knowing him, he's scaring her - then calls out for whatever was there to 'make something else happen' with her next breath!! Now either she's the most practical, cold-hearted woman alive or said incident was simply rubbish and so she knew she could do so with no real emotional reservations.
Health and safety. Ok, so the first point can loosely come under this but for gods sake - having people climb up in the tower like Karl and Stuart did was a total exercise in stupidity. From an investigative perspective it invalidates anything they came up with/claimed, as there was a lack of camerashot and, with them in dark, cramped, dangerous conditions they could hardly be calm and objective. Yet also it again comes back to MH having a HUGE audience, made up of many people who do believe it all and take their lead from it. Not a good example to set, really.

Yeah, fair enough, it's just a programme and people should be able to decide themselves on dangerous situations w/o undue influence from it. But it's just so amateurish! So many groups would give anything for access to such locations, it's a shame that the ones who get it (MH) repeatedly make the same mistakes re: evidence gathering and objective filmmaking - and as a result make it impossible for any other group to go there as the price is then quadrupled by the location.

Grrr.

Most Haunted in Transylvania

Sun, 25 Feb 2007 10:50:53 GMT

2 days into the live shows and it seems that the scariest thing there by far is Julian - and a creaking table.

Still, perhaps it says something about MH's attempts to restore some credibility as, in the past, you'd be waiting for them to throw the spiritual kitchen sink at such a locale.

Yes, the footage caught by the security guard cameras was interesting - BUT for a medium like David Wells to play the 'explain away THAT' smug card was very premature, and doesn't really help matters. There have been an awaful lot of incidents where initially convincing footage has been looked at by photography experts and then proven to be an anomaly of the technology/atmosphere/film/lighting etcetc. Much as we're all seeking the 'money shot' so to speak, over-confidence before getting it properly analysed is pretty damn foolish.

With '24' and 'Lost' on this evening, will catch the last 2 hours on the +1 channel - but, if anything like the last 2 nights, will fall asleep long before the end of the programme. Nice location though.

Explosion - Naval Museum Ghost Invo Shenanigans

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 10:55:38 GMT

Saturday night was ghost invo night with UK Ghost Investigators - an evening at a naval museum in Gosport (think it was called 'Explosion' but may have been 'KaBoom' or something - my memory isn't great!).

Results? A little disappointing.

The place itself was absolutely huge - looked to be a former army barracks right on the south coast with, in addition to the main museum building, a huge old abandoned office building, some abandoned cellar blocks and a few other huts. Was a stormy night too (even had a thunderstorm at around 3am, which really added to the atmosphere) and so everything was perfect.

Apart from the lack of spirits wanting to play.

On a personal level, experienced a few things. Was a lot of energy around in various places (can usually pick up on it) but hard to tell whether it was 'active' or 'residual' - mostly residual, I suspect. Heard the usual sounds of banging and movement which tend to make you edgy but, in truth, could simply be down to it being a windy night and the overwhelming feeling of being followed once or twice - again, could easily be a trick of the mind, that.

In terms of decent phenomena, 2 disembodied groans definitely caught my attention. Heard the first one on the Torpedo room, coming from an adjoining room which was split from us by a plastic divider door. 3-4 of us heard it, so I walked to the edge of my side of the door and listened again for a few seconds - at which point I heard it again, a LOT louder (much to Andy's amusement as I visibly jumped back). no-one else in the room. Also suffered some extreme cold feelings during a seance where I picked up on a Russian soldier being there - both me and Andy (stood next to me) felt the same thing behind us.

Also picked up on someone alive who worked there! Go figure - but as sure there was someone there called Bill wh used to be in the army and was passionate about themplace and annoyed by people not understanding its significance. Turns out, there was/is an old guy who workes there called Bill who is the biggest supporter of the museum against the council's attempts to close it. A little odd but it can happen i guess - especially if someone feels passionately enough about a place to leave an energy imprint.

Still, frustrating that there wasn't anything strong or consistent there throughout (another group on the evening clearly heard footsteps walking past them in one room though), but for £15 you can't go wrong - and was nice to meet up with heidi and the others. Just annoying that it takes me 3-4 days to recover and get my OCD back in check after an all-nighter.

Next one in April.

This weekend's spook investigation...

Mon, 23 Oct 2006 12:12:55 GMT

...turned out to be fun from a social standpoint but, in terms of activity, was a little disappointing.

Valentines Mansion, aesthetically, looked to have all the ingredients - a 30+ room mansion house built in the 1600s, set in the middle of a large park with a history of odd occurences and now largely in a state of disrepair. UKGI worked a great deal to get full access to the whole place for the night at a good price as well. Had a tidy group of 11 of us, most with previous experience...should have worked well.

Problem was that it was just one of those locations that simply didn't want to play ball with us. Lots and lots of 'residual' energy there (kind've like imprinted energy left over from past events/inhabitants), perhaps too much as it seemed to blot out everything else. But in terms of the place being 'active' (so having any forces there with a consciousness and intelligence actively haunting the place)...well, it's sketchy.

Did get some stuff. Audibles were difficult (due to the constant stream of fireworks from the Hindu festival of light that night from 7pm 'til 1am) but picked up a lot of footsteps and noises on the top floor. Also seemed to get a brief but interesting instance of communication (via tapping in a room) upon request, but was frustratingly short. Best instance, in retrospect, was the appearance in the centre of one room of a set of copper dowsing rods, neatly placed. The items weren't seen previously on Alan's walkround, the group walkround or by 2 previous pairs that'd been in there and, knowing said people, I'm as certain as I can be that said rods hadn't been planted and wouldn't have been missed. Frustratingly of course, it can't count as scientific proof as you're dependent on a) trusting the judgement of others and b) nothing being there on camera. Accepting their word though, it does suggest interesting potential poltergeist activity.

Picked up some names, impressions, general feelings etc but could tie it in to nothing concrete in the location's history. Place then seemed to go flat at around 1ish and, after staying 'til 4, we called it a night. Que serra serra. Woul;d love to get up to the Nottingham one in November, but may struggle financially and, as I ghad some problems healthwise over the weekend, may have to take it easy.

UK Ghost Investigators on radio NOW!

Fri, 19 May 2006 14:49:12 GMT

'Tis the group i do most of my ghost invos with, folks - currently have Alan Smallwood, good mate and co-head of the group live on a 2 hour phone in on BBC 3 Counties radio.

You can tune in @ http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/three.shtml

Which reminds me - have never talked too much about all my ghostie-type stuff on T2D...will do so over weekend, perhaps.

Is my mother the new Egon Spengler?

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 10:59:04 GMT

It appears so - she had another spooky experience Saturday evening which sounds very much she saw a genuine ghost.

Bloody typical - I roam all over the country trying to hunt down evidence of supernatural activity and in the hope of 'seeing' something (saying that, next invo is on saturday week)...Mum (FOR THE 3RD TIME!!) just has to pop out round the corner in the car to have them jumping out in front of her.

Anyway, it happened at around 7:05pm on Saturday night (25/03) on Manor Road in Fishponds, Bristol. For those that know the area (I know some of you lot do), it was on the stretch between the entrances to Manor Park Hospital and Glenside Hospital...from her description, it was past the Old Inn and the road bottleneck and approaching the Glenside entrance (heading downhill towards Vassalls Park).

She suddenly saw a figure appear in the road 50 yards in front of her whilst driving. Was stood exactly in the middle of the road on the white line, facing the sideways (so looking at the pavement to Mum's left). No traffic was coming towards Mum, the traffic behind her was quite a way back. Mum wondered where the figure had come from and what it was doing there - hadn't seen anyone start crossing. Figure was stood absolutely, perfectly still. Wore baggy, light-coloured trousers and a a coat - Mum assumed hand were in coat as she couldn't see any, and could see no face (hood was up). Mum braked but, as she got to the spot where the figure was meant to be, it disappeared.

She's a good driver and the lighting there is fine. Also is certain this figure didn't move across in front of the car, or retreated to the other side of the road. Never took her eyes away from the road - said figure was simply 'there' one minute, 'gone' the next. Returned home feeling quite edgy.

Know there was recently a crossing put up outside the Glenside entrance - am wondering if there have been any RTA's there and any resultant fatalities.

Yet again, another seemingly psychic event in the stretch of land loosely in/around Vassalls Park. Talk about a hotspot!

MH meet John Lennon

Sat, 10 Dec 2005 00:03:31 GMT

Most Haunted provided a moment that nearly rivalled QI and Space Cadets for comedy this evening. Someone sent in a piece of 'psychic art' which they showed excitedly, and read out how the person who sent it in said that a person with the initials 'JL' would make themselves known.

Perhaps they should have looked a little closer at the pic - it was a sketch of John Lennon in his Sgt Pepper uniform!

Oops.

Most Haunted deemed 'Entertainment' by OFCOM

Tue, 06 Dec 2005 23:13:52 GMT

With friends like OFCOM, TVs governing body to deal with complaints, who needs enemies?

That's what the crew of Living TVs 'Most Haunted' will be thinking right now. It appears that after October's revelations about Derek Acorah's behaviour on the show (accusations made primarily by the show's parapsychologist Ciaran O'Keefe), many viewers complained to OFCOM about the show (particularly Acorah's behaviour) being fraudulent.

BBCi have reported that OFCOM have dismissed these claims - but by saying that MH is a piece of 'entertainment rather then a serious piece of paranormal investigative material, and so should be treated as such and not taken seriously'.

Terrible news for MH - strangely enough, I think they'd have preferred a guilty verdict which they could then attribute to DA's behaviour and say had been rectified through his subsequent release from the show and hiring of Gordon Smith. As it is, OFCOMs defence of them could hardly be more derogatory and damaging to the authenticity MH so desperately craves.

Will be interesting to see the viewing figures for this weekend's live shows.

Ghost Pic

Wed, 02 Nov 2005 00:42:20 GMT

Thought I'd attach two of the few interesting pics from Sunday's invo underneath. Whether the light anomalies on them are dust particles, photographic glitches or what the paranormal community refer to as 'orbs' or 'spirit lights' is up to you - I'm saying nothing either way re: my opinion.

FINALLY...A New Ghost Invo!

Tue, 27 Sep 2005 20:00:56 GMT

Has taken a while with one thing and another, but the night of October 30 will find me donning my particle accelerator (unlicensed) and gray overalls before setting off into the night to do battle with the undead. Or, more accurately, off to a Surrey pub on a ghost investigation! Have been to the venue once before and found it the most affecting place I've ever attended - had an extremely powerful experience there, picking up on a spirit of a child who had died through being locked in a room and left to starve to death (never knew this at time - was verified as an actual event on the debrief at end of night). Have mixed feelings about revisiting that particular room - will probably be driving up and back myself and could do w/o being emotionally traumatised for a few hours afterwards as I was on my last visit - but the rest of the location was great as well. Very atmospheric and very active....am out of practice on the whole psychic side of things as well, so can't wait!

Most Haunted Live - Living TV 9PM Fri, Sat & Sun (also on TMF Sun)

Fri, 02 Sep 2005 16:05:49 GMT

Much as I laugh at it, will probably still watch it as it's good entertainment.

And they have a mystery 'big announcement'...which is probably Derek leaving and the new guy taking over (Scottish guy, forget his name, not David Wells - though DW may do so in short-term).

Or they may have a USA deal.

MH's Derek Acorah on Talksport now!

Tue, 16 Aug 2005 21:59:25 GMT

http://www.talksport.net

James Whale has Derek Acorah on from 11 tonight - normally worth a listen, especially if he's taking calls. The guy is very impressive on the phone, regardless of what you think of him on the programme. Go to the above website and listen online.

Hmmm - perhaps tomorrow it may be time to expand on some of my ghostly experiences...

Most Haunted - still laughing now...

Tue, 16 Aug 2005 21:57:11 GMT

Anyone who saw this evening's episode of Most Haunted should be as well.

For those that didn't, regular crew member Stuart made the error of getting aggressive when calling out for some activity, saying something like 'come on you bastards, do something'. Not a clever move as it turned out because, when he returned to the area on a solo vigil, things seemed happy to oblige and scared the living daylights out of him.

A word of warning here, folks - the LAST thing you should ever do on an investigation is to challenge spirits in such an aggressive manner. However much experience you have, however talented you may be as a sensitive or medium etc, you're still dealing with an area that you have an infintesimally small understanding of. You can never have any real conception of what these things are capable of doing.

Stuart became overconfident and arrogant in his approach - and it returned to haunt him (no pun intended). Bear in mind, spirit people are as intelligent as anyone else and capable of getting offended, angry, upset in just the same ways as you or I. I find great amusement in assuming that whoever Stuart offended with his approach simply decided to bide his or her time and wait until he was on his own before proving a point.

Of course, if you're a non-believer, fair enough - you'll do what you want anyway (though I really wouldn't). But to anyone seriously interested in such things, take that example as the categorically 100% wrong way to do such things - and another example of MH's amateurism at times.

Last Night's Most Haunted Live

Tue, 21 Jun 2005 09:48:56 GMT

Ok, so it's an endlessly entertaining piece of fluff but even I have to say that the breathing/growling noises during Yvette's solo vigil last night were quite unnerving. Just a shame the programme repeats the same mistakes ad infinitum - too much focus on Derek (whose findings will always be subjective), too much camera focus on the crew rather then where they are supposedly hearing/seeing things from, too much emphasis on random bumps which any building makes. Plus anyone who's involved with any paranormal group knows there are a LOT of questions regarding MH's credibility floating around, and many of them seem quite valid - until the cast are willing to answer such questions, the validity of the whole thing is going to remain in doubt. A shame, as I'm actually a fan of the show, but you can only bury your head in the sand for so long really.

Things That Went Bump on Saturday Night

Mon, 20 Jun 2005 11:26:24 GMT

Haven't got the energy to go over it all in great depth - but was a grat night at derby gaol that fully made up for the disappointing visit 11 months ago. I think a combination of me being far more 'open' on a mental level, the place simply being more active and the right amount and combination of people on the invo meant that everything really did click. Personally, as well as the regular feelings and senses, was happy to pick up on something to do with water underneath the building (a river or well) which was later confirmed to be a recently-discovered tunnel underneath the gaol that had been flooded by the local river, and the presence of a young maid on an upstairs floor called Lily (also confirmed by our guide as historically accurate). Were lots of 'audibles' through the night - heard a drawer opening, a jangling of keys and many of us heard a harmonica being played (all of which are apparently regualr phenomena and believed to be made by 'Jack', a former jailer from a few centuries ago) and was sure I was being followed around at certain times during the night. My mate John had a good time on his first invo (having a number of decent experiences which is always enough to make a convert!) and the whole thing was a total success. Quick name to throw at you folks - anyone familiar with someone called 'Andrew Johnston/Johnstone' - would have died from TB in 1953, maybe in October? All will become clear if anyone is!

Who you gonna call?

Fri, 17 Jun 2005 20:03:24 GMT

Not me tomorrow evening, as I'll be doing my own dose of ghostbusting at Derby Gaol! Seriously though, have got that tingly sense of anticipation I always get before an investigation. Yes, we all take it seriously - explaining to people that we don't run around wearing particle accelerators and fighting evil Marshmallow Men is always a letdown for people. In fact, a lot of it is simply sitting quietly waiting amongst the odd circle and table-tipping experiment, keeping an eye on the trigger objects, trying to get EVPs and trying not to feel stupidly efgy on the odd occasion you do a solo vigil in a pitch black room with only a camera and walkie-talkie for company. But it's impossible not to get a thrill by knowing you're spending the night in a potentially haunted location and have a chance of encountering some unusual (and unnerving) phenomena that can't be explained. And there's an opportunity to develop whatever 'gifts' I may have and find out more about them. However sceptical some people can buy, the simple truth is that I've experienced too many things - noises & sounds, weird lights, smells, feelings and things I've seen - to doubt that life goes on far beyond our physical shell. As for where higher powers come into it - well, that's a topic for another day...

Off to Derby Gaol for a spooky invo next week!

Sun, 12 Jun 2005 09:32:12 GMT

After what seems like ages (though is only a few months), finally have a new investigation to go on with UK Ghost Investigators next weekend - at the famous Derby Gaol (any of those misfortunate enough to still be watching 'MH' will recognise the owner, Richard Felix). Went there last year and was amazed by how small the place was, which made it tricky because we took a team of around 15 - half that many this time, so should be far more effective. The place was also disappointingly quiet as well, but past history suggests that we were simply unlucky to hit it at such a time. Looking forward to it - one of the first invos I'd have gone on since getting my OCD really back in check, which should help my concentration when it comes to 'opening up'. And always great to catch up with Heidi & Alan. *grins* And, as John is on his first ever invo, the opportunity for wind-ups is irresistable. Muhahahaha.