Ghost Investigators

Ghost Watch - BBC1's classic spoof

2012-02-12T15:50:00.001Z

This video is of Ghost Watch. A "mockumentary" about a fictitious haunting that had the country in uproar. It was aired on Halloween in 1992. It received over 30,000 calls to the BBC switchboard in just one hour.....enjoy!

Ghost Hunts - How long before the bubble bursts?

2012-01-26T16:25:00.000Z

There have been ghost clubs, mediums and ghost investigators for donkeys years, but the advent of Most Haunted and subsequent other offerings, both British and American,have fuelled a new business in paranormal related tourism. We are spoilt for choice with literally hundreds of companies offering ghost hunts in buildings as various as old factories right through to castles, pubs and disused air bases. You can go online and book a ghost hunt in a haunted building as easy as buying a new pair of trainers. I just wonder if supply is beginning to outstrip demand. I am asking this question in all truthfulness - I really don't know. Has paranormal tourism become such a growth industry or is it a dying trade? (no pun intended - oh OK, yes there was).
If anyone is reading this please let me have your feedback. By the way, you can go to my website and look at a few of said companies to save you the trouble of trawling the net. I am not guaranteeing the quality or expertise of these organisations. It is merely a list for your perusal. http://www.ghost-investigators.co.uk/ghost_hunts.html

Prisoners call in the ghostbusters

2012-01-19T16:31:00.000Z

According to The Sun newspaper, a priest was called in to Durham Jail to bless a reputedly haunted cell after prisoners complained of "feeling uncomfortable" and as if someone was watching them (someone dead, not the prison wardens).
The cell block had previously been F wing, colloquially dubbed "She Wing" because it had previously held notorious female murderers such as Myra Hindley and Rose West. It was reported to be Myra Hindley's old cell that was the haunted one
The cell block now houses male prisoners, and they are reported to now be "as happy as Larry" since the blessing. All's well that ends well then eh?

You can read the article in full here.

Have they found a cottage used by the Pendle Witches?

2011-12-08T14:39:00.000Z

Well according to the BBC report there is a possibility they have!!
Whilst the Water Authority were doing some maintenance they found an old 17th century cottage under a mound of earth. No one knew it was there. The fireplace and several other features were remarkably preserved. They also found a mummified cat that had been bricked up in the wall. The suspicions are that it was bricked up whilst still alive. You can see the original report and video here.

December is here

2011-12-06T14:59:00.000Z

Yes, it's almost Christmas again. I am hoping the BBC does a few re-runs of the classic M.R. James ghost stories over the Christmas period. It's become almost a tradition. I did a search on their website but I can't see anything planned. Keeping my fingers crossed though. I'll post them on here should I see any listed later in the month.

Things to consider before saying you have definitely seen a ghost

2011-11-03T15:33:00.003Z

As has been scientifically proven, seeing is not always believing. The mind often fills in the blanks when it sees some shape it cannot naturally comprehend. Added to this, there are several other factors that can affect the senses.

1) Lack of sleep - This can often lead to minor hallucinations and those "out of the corner of your eye" occurences.

2) High EMF readings - These can also illicit spooky feelings with prolonged exposure to high EMF readings.

3) Infrasound - Low frequency noise that is often inaudible to the naked ear but can cause those feelings of dread similar to high EMF. Infrasound has been used by the military for this very purpose, so we know it to be scientific fact.

4) Sleep paralysis - Or Hypnagogic hallucinations. This is when the brain is not fully awake and still in a semi-dream state. The muscles are paralysed (hence the feeling of being pinned down). In this state the mind can turn common objects such as clothing and furniture etc into monsters and ghosts.

5) Charles Bonnet Syndrome - this is when the brain erroneously assembles data from the eyes and fills in the missing pieces. During this eye condition sufferers have seen a wide range of anomalous things from elephants to people who are not really there. A common feature is a criss-cross of lines making the sufferer feel they are viewing everything they see through some kind of fencing.

These are just a few of the things that can affect the body's senses. Add to that the chemical induced hallucinations from over-indulgence of alcohol or use of recreational drugs and a great deal of so-called ghost sightings can be explained away. It's the ones that can't that interest me. Or the ones verified by multiple people or recorded on equipment.

Take any spooky location at night. Add a healthy sprinkling of hysterics and screamers, and the most innocuous of noises can cause mild hysteria - but surely that's half the fun of it - isn't it?

Can dogs see ghosts when we can't?

2011-10-16T11:32:00.000+01:00

I found thos clip on Youtube whilst browsing one day. This dog is reacting in exactly the same way my dog behaves on occasion. It is clearly directing its bark towards a specific area and not just barking in general. See what you think.

"The Sun" goes ghost hunting

2011-10-15T16:08:00.000+01:00

Here's a video on The Sun's website of alleged poltergeist activity. I'm sure it's true if The Sun says so (cough).

The use of psychics on ghost hunts

2011-10-03T17:25:00.000+01:00

Whilst a psychic can add to the fun and the overall atmosphere of a fee-paying ghost hunt, it does always leave the doors wide open to criticism. The psychic obviously has to know the name of the venue in advance. This means he/she will have ample time to research the history of a venue and come up with a whole list of accurate names and dates. I'm not saying this is what they do (for legal reasons) but it does leave any information they pass across as being suspect.

If I investigate a property, the last thing I want along is a psychic. I check for tangible and measurable results. I check for all the supposed anomalies such as spikes in EMF readings, temperature drops etc. Messages from the other side via a medium are anecdotal at best.

What I would like to see is a third party organise a walk around a building and just arrange to collect the psychic en route. There would have to be no communication with the psychic either before or on the way to the venue. Ideally the psychic would be blindfolded, driven to the venue and lead inside before removing the blindfold. Only then would I truly believe in their input. I can't help it - I have a scientific mind!

Here is my standpoint on ghosts and the paranormal:
Do ghosts exist? = I have no idea. I have seen too much weird stuff to know that anomalous events do happen. Whether this is just a phenomena that is as yet unexplained or they really are the spirits of departed people...well I wouldn't like to guess.

Is there an afterlife? = No idea.

Are mediums real or fake? = Again I have no idea. There do seem to be a lot of charlatans around, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are all fake. I do doubt whether any psychic can contact one of my departed loved ones on demand though.

Is a ouija board a useful tool? = I would never personally endorse the use of one. It is too open to abuse. It's easy to push a glass around and spell out a name, and you can't use on in the dark!

Can you measure the presense of a ghost? = Again, I don't know. I just go along with popular theory like everyone else. I take toys along such as EMF meters and lazer thermometers to try and "measure" any anomalies.

This may sound like I am a rampant skeptic. I am a skeptic, but I have a completely open mind. I am on a journey of discovery. I would love to prove the existence of ghosts and come up with firm evidence. As yet I haven't but I will still enjoy trying.

Psychic hears voices from other side (via a hidden earpiece)

2011-09-28T16:30:00.001+01:00

TV's beloved psychic Sally Morgan has been accused of getting her messages from the other side via a hidden earpiece The Guardian claims. The article is attributed to Chris French. Apparently people who were attending one of her shows at the Grand Canal Theatre in Dublin heard a mans voice from a room at the back of the building passing information which was then repeated some 10 seconds later on stage by Sally.The trouble with stage psychics is that they are like any entertainer. They are expected to perform. If they turned up and said something like "nope - nobody here tonight - sorry", there would be demands for money back from the box office. Is it any wonder that TV programmes featuring psychics always begin with the phrase "For entertainment purposes only" ? I think there's a clue there if we look for it - don't you?You can read the article here

My thoughts on the unexplained

2011-09-25T16:59:00.000+01:00

First and foremost, my own personal beliefs have nothing to do with this post. I am writing it to try and give a balanced perspective.The unexplained is a fact. It does exist. If it didn't the word "unexplained" wouldn't exist. This does NOT mean that anything unexplained must be of a paranormal nature. It simply means that no logical reason for an event or occurence has yet been categorically explained in normal terms. On the other hand, this does NOT mean that there MUST be a non-paranormal answer. The simple answer is that no-one knows whether ghosts do exist or they don't. I am personally in that camp myself. That said I have personally witnessed occurences that, as yet, I can see no logical explanation for.The paranormal does seem to polarise opinions and initiate responses from extremists on both sides of the belief spectrum, from the diehard skeptics who believe that anything paranormal is complete and utter bunkum, and that anyone who hold such beliefs are deluded simpletons, right through to people that believe that EVERYTHING they seem to see is governed by fate, the afterlife or paranormal entities. Somewhere between probably lies the truth. I have no idea!The paranormal is, at best, an amusing diversion and a bit of fun. To, at worst, damaging and mentally scarring. Our own imaginations are very powerful, and dabbling in the darker side can have implications undreamt of at the outset. Death is a reality. What happens after death is speculation.The birth of paranormal TV shows have fuelled the debate in recent years and spawned quite a lucrative trade in paranormal tours, ghost hunts etc. There has also been a massive surge in ghost hunting teams who ply their trade (most often free of charge) to the general public and business owners. My website www.ghost-investigators.co.uk lists dozens of such teams. The interest in ghosts has been around for generations. The victorian era saw a rise in mediumship and seances. Many were fraudulent. The backwash of this is that most mediums today are still viewed by many as fakes. This is another argument completely, and another one where my mind is split on whether they are genuine or not. Again, I just don't know, but I have personally witnessed them come out with some remarkable pieces of information previously unknown to either the medium or the recipient.I suppose I am trying to say that I believe extremes are never a good thing. Only when absolute and undeniable proof is available can one side or the other crow out loud "SEE, I TOLD YOU I WAS RIGHT".

Acronyms by the dozen

2011-09-23T20:50:00.001+01:00

Whilst researching on Google for new paranormal investigation teams (or P.I.T's seeing we are discussing acronyms) I am always amused at the imaginative way that some of these teams try and make the initials of the teams name spell somethink like G.H.O.S.T or S.P.O.O.K or some such. Cute though it is it makes me question their dedication to their allotted cause. Maybe I am just growing into a grumpy old bloke!Diversity is the spice of life. Long may they all continue to flourish!

Why is it always Jesus?

2011-09-15T13:55:00.002+01:00

Whilst trawling through the weirder sections of the internet (all in the name of research of course) I stumbled across another visit by the almighty on someones property. This time it was a tea towel. To me it just looked like a brown stain. I think she should change her detergent to another brand.After examining the photograph for an insane amount of time (about 15 seconds) I concluded that it looked more like Orville, the fluorescent green duck and friend of ventriloquist Keith Harris.This led me to thinking. Why is it that when something resembling a face appears on something do they always think Jesus (or whatever deity suits their particular religion). No one alive has ever seen these deities, and there is obviously no photographic evidence to compare these stains to so we can say "yep - that's him alright!". One face that appeared on a piece of toast I saw a picture of recently looked more like Bette Midler in my opinion. LOOSEN UP EVERYONE!!!!. I am sure if Jesus or Buddha or whoever wanted to talk to you they would find a better medium of communication than bread products and towels.

Warming up for the new season

2011-09-13T19:49:00.001+01:00

I decided to get out my little box of tricks to check out all my ghost hunting toys to see if they still all worked. Fortunately they did. Even the ones I had stupidly left the batteries inside!I have in my box:1 Torch (Flashlight to those in the US)2 EMF Meters2 Motion detectors1 Lazer thermometer1 Night Vision Monocular2 Digital cameras1 Franks Box (which I rarely use because I find it so annoying)1 Digital voice recorder1 First Aid Kit (you never know)1 Stainless steel thermos flask (lovely hot soup on those long night vigils)1 Notebook and pen (to note down times of weird stuff)What do any of you have in yours over and above these?

Michael Jacksons psychiatrist in the afterlife!!!

2011-09-07T12:23:00.000+01:00

Dr. Abraham Tribesky proclaims himself to be a psychiatrist to deceased Hollywood stars, and has penned a book entitled "Michael Jackson is Being Harassed in Heaven".
The 95 year old claims to be in regular contact with the spirits of departed celebrities, and has regailed us with stories with such titles as:

DJ Decapitates Fan with Flying Vinyl.
Lady Gaga’s CDs Torched in Rock ‘n Roll Heaven.
Karen Carpenter Blasts Brittany Murphy: “No Fatties Allowed on the Other Side!”
Sinatra’s Frank Advice for Justin Bieber.
Same Ghost Appears in 20 Episodes of Paranormal State!

You have to love the entrepreneurial spirit of these people don't you?
Compiling my website Ghost Investigators has meant quite a lot of online trawling through the weird and wonderful. I tend to think I have seen and heard it all, but occasionally something so outlandish and ridiculous crops up and reminds me that I haven't.

Ghost Removal Services

2011-08-30T19:36:00.000+01:00

It had to happen didn't it?
At one time you just popped round to your local church, chapel, mosque or whatever and politely asked your chosen holy man to come round and bless your house. After a few prayers and incantations and chucking a bit of holy water around, the troublesome spirit or poltergeist gave up the ghost (DEFINITELY a pun intended) and left in a huff (or was it a poof?).

Now (apparently) you can call in a professional ghost clearer. I have seen a few websites during my travels on Google, a lot of them seem to have one thing in common - they charge for their services. I have no issue with anyone making a living, but how does one go about getting qualified as a ghost remover? The obvious puns such as "going to night school" and "working the graveyard shift" spring to mind, but I do have a few concerns with people outside a recognised religious structure or learned organisation offering paid services to scared or worried people. The psychological aspect has to also be brought into play doesn't it?

If you do hire a professional ghost removal service, personally speaking I would ask them how and with whom they hold a qualification. How they plan to go about their service. Ask if they are insured, ask them for references from satisfied clients, and finally ask if they give a money back guarantee.

VOTE FOR MEEEEEE! (please don't)

2011-08-28T17:46:00.000+01:00

Whenever I do a search to try and find more paranormal investigation teams on Google, I keep tripping over gaudy, animation-infested, background sounds type websites with little icons on them proclaiming them to be "The best paranormal website" or some such elaborate claim. Best for what though? Most annoying animations all on one page? The most over-the-top background sounds?

By the very nature of paranormal websites, they have to be a little bit creepy, but let's not get daft! Imagine that someone is doing a little surfing at work on the sly, only for some eerie noises to start blarting out of his/her PC speakers totally giving the game away (and no, I am NOT speaking through personal experience).
I think the old saying "less is more" should definitely be applied to some of these "award winning websites". Whenever sounds of thunder or creepy laughter starts pouring out of my speakers I hit the back button. I just can't take sites like that seriously no matter how good the investigators might be.

How to weigh your soul

2011-08-27T16:04:00.001+01:00

Yes I know, it sounds like I have finally gone insane, but someone actually tried to prove that a soul exists by weighing people shortly before and after death.
I came across an article describing some experiments that were done back in 1907 by a Dr Mc Dougall of Massachusetts USA. He had a bed that was balanced on a measuring apparatus and reported that immediately after death the corpse weighed approximately three quarters of an ounce less. Therefore (the theory goes) the human soul or life-force weighs about the same weight as a teaspoonful of sugar.
On hearing this I checked it out on a few urban legend debunking sites, and apparently these experiments did actually take place.

At best, this is scientific proof that some form of change occurs to the body's mass immediately after death that cannot be explained, or, at worst, it is a very extreme new weight loss tip! (and I bet my Google ads are showing dieting ads).

Paranormal TV programme makers - a suggestion

2011-08-21T17:39:00.000+01:00

Whilst watching a recent paranormal TV programme (yes, sadly I do still watch them even just to tut and shake my head)one of the investigators said "did you hear that?".
I almost shouted at the television set "NO I DIDN'T". The reason being that the small tapping noise we were supposed to hear was being totally drowned out by the inane, supposedly spooky, third-rate new age music being played as a backing track.
I know these programmes are supposedly for entertainment only (or so the disclaimer always says) but don't ask us to listen out for subliminal noises whilst playing music. It's like listening to Metallica on your Hi-Fi with the volume on max and trying to hear if the birds are singing outside.....please programme makers, wise up!

A neat recording on an EVP

2011-08-21T14:56:00.000+01:00

As mentioned before, please make up your own mind as to the reality of this clip or otherwise.

Ghost in WW11 Japanese tunnel

2011-08-19T11:40:00.002+01:00

This video made me smile for several reasons. I'll let you make up your own mind as to it's validity and realism.

And some fell by the wayside

2011-07-15T21:11:00.001+01:00

As a good housekeeper I decided to check that all the links on my investigators page http://www.ghost-investigators.co.uk/investigators.html were still all active. I don't know about you, but I hate it when you visit a site and half the links are long since dead. I found it a depressing exercise. When it came to the USA sites it was as if a plague had swept through the place. I dropped around 12 links that were either dead or "domain for sale" pages.

The depressing part is that I now have gaps where there are no investigators in certain states - I HATE GAPS!!!

I found a couple of links in the UK investigators section, but the rest all seemed healthy and thriving.

Ghost Hunting Advice and Tips

2011-07-07T14:28:00.000+01:00

Here are my thoughts on ghost hunting, the equipment used and the conduct whilst participating.

What is a Ghost Hunt

In its simplest terms it is an exploration of a building or other site where the presence of ghosts or other similar paranormal occurences have been reported. A person (or more often a team of people) then proceed on to enter the property to conduct an investigation. They often use items of electronic equipment - these are described below.

Ghost Investigations, or Ghost Hunts can be performed by a dedicated team of "ghost hunters" who then report their findings to the property owners. They often have websites where they post their findings (with the property owners consent of course)

There are commercial companies who offer organised ghost hunts for a fee and take their paying customers to a reputedly haunted location. They often provide some items of electronic gadgets.

Who goes on a Ghost Hunt?

There is no one type of person. Many are believers in the supernatural and equally there are many sceptics or non-believers. Originally, Ghost Hunts were usually performed by small teams of investigators for their own enjoyment, or occasionally for a fee. Since the popularity of many TV programmes on the subject it has become a new commercial field of opportunity with many companies offering such events to the paying customer.

So, what is the attraction of Ghost Hunting?

This is an almost impossible question to answer. Different people go for different reasons. Some merely go for the thrill of the event and the possibility of a dose of controlled fear. Some go to prove or disprove their own personal theories on the subject depending on whether they are a believer or a sceptic. Ghost Hunters come in all different types with varying belief systems.

Speaking purely from a personal perspective, I have been on several privately organised Ghost Investigations and a handful of the organised, fee paying ones. On both types of investigations there is always something that happens to make the small hairs stand up on the back of my neck, and I am something of a sceptic. I have to say that they are great fun. On a more serious note I do take my equipment along and keep a personal log of anything I think is worth noting.

Whether you believe in ghosts or are a firmly entrenched sceptic or non-believer, being in a dark place that is reported to be haunted does tend to throw your belief systems and your imagination into overdrive. The senses are heightened and the smallest noise is likely to cause alarm to believers and sceptics alike. If this were untrue then cinema attendees watching a spooky film would be split into two distinct camps. Those cowering in abject fear, and those laughing out loud at all the far-fetched ghosts and monsters. So, even if you are a sceptic or a believer, going out prepared for the night is a must.

What will I need?

Initially, very little, apart from a few basic things, such as a torch, a notebook, a pen, a warm jacket (it can get cold at night-time) and basic refreshments.

Most ghost hunters carry pieces of electronic equipment that are as yet unproven to detect the presence of ghosts, or indeed to do anything apart from the jobs they were originally designed to do (like EMF meters etc). The theory is that ghosts are capable of absorbing or emitting energy, and as such, their effects can be measured.Listed below are the most important things you will need and the most popular tools used:

A Torch/ Flashlight

It is very important that you take along a torch. If you are walking around unfamiliar properties with the lights off then a torch is a must. It is very easy to get disorientated and this makes accidents more likely to happen.

Refreshments and the right clothing

As most ghost investigations take part at night time the temperature can plummet in the wee small hours. If you have a nice warm jacket and your trusty thermos flask it can help make the night a little more bearable.

A Notebook and pen

This is one of the items that is often forgotten but is a crucial item. You cannot store everything to memory - especially times. It helps in making accurate notes when you write up the case files later on. If you write in your notebook something like "anomalous shadow seen on main staircase - time 2-45am" this is better than trying to recall times and locations from your memory at a later date.

An open mind

The most important thing to take to an investigation. If you are a believer then resist the temptation that every tap or bump you hear is of a paranormal nature. If you are a sceptic then try to allow for the possibility that odd things do happen.

First Aid Kit

You can buy those little kits that slip quite neatly into your pocket from most camping stores. They are not expensive. As mentioned before, when you are walking around unfamiliar properties with the lights off the risk of an accident is increased.

Mobile phone or Walkie-Talkie

Very often on a ghost hunt the group can split up into smaller groups to cover more ground. For safetys sake it is very important that everyone should have the means to contact each other should an emergency occur.

EMF Meters, Digital Thermometers and other electronic gadgets

An EMF meter is a device used to measure small changes in electromagnetic fields. It is believed by many ghost hunters that this can indicate the presence of a ghost. It is also useful for finding any electromagnetic hotspots. A high electromagnetic field is reported to possibly cause hallucinations and the feeling of a presence being in the room if exposed to these magnetic fields for long periods of time. This can help to "debunk" any reported stories from property owners about their anecdotal evidence. Such things as "that corner always feels weird" etc.
Digital lazer thermometers are a hand held piece of equipment that emit a lazer beam and can measure the ambient temperatures of different areas of the room. This can be useful in finding cold spots (or debunking them).

Conduct whilst on a ghost investigation

The first hurdle to overcome is the obvious one - do try not to over-react. A creaking door, an anomalous thud or creak does not necessarily mean paranormal activity. In fact, it almost always doesn't. Hysteria spreads like wildfire, and soon the whole team of people are a bunch of over-sensitive, jibbering wrecks. (But isn't that where all the fun lies?). Be prepared to enjoy yourself, but not to the detriment of others enjoyment. On investigations many people turn into gigglers. This does not mean that they are not taking the investigation seriously, they are just covering up their fear with laughter. A common reaction. Personally I prefer them to the screamers and the hystericals.

On organised ghost hunts always obey the rules and follow the directions of the tour leader. It is unadvisable to strike off on your own, especially as you are a guest in someone elses property. There may be opportunities for exploration later on in the tour. Even then it is advisable to take along a companion in case of emergencies.

Usually there will be stated break times during these organised events. Try and stick to them rather than having any unfortunate accidents, such as spilling the contents of your thermos accidentally in the dark. Firstly you can scald yourself, and secondly you can damage others property. Imagine the effects of a thermos full of coffee on an antique carpet!. Eat and drink with the lights on with the main group. It also makes for a social occasion where you can exchange anecdotes with the others.

Where can I go on a Ghost Hunt?

As previously mentioned, there are many organisations who offer these services for a fee. There are also many local teams of Ghost Hunters who occasionally take people along on their private investigations. It is always worth approaching such people. You may be able to go along for free!

There are many haunted locations to be found by doing a little research on Google. You may even have heard a few stories from your surrounding area. It is inadvisable to do an investigation on your own for safety reasons. My personal advice would be to go along with an experienced team of people for your first Ghost Hunt. You can then learn the etiquette of such events and pick up a few tips on how to conduct an investigation and how to use the equipment.

I have been on my first Ghost Hunt - what do I do with my findings?

As they are your personal findings, photographs, recordings etc, they are yours to either keep as your own personal notes or to share with others. Always remember, any such material concerning other peoples property can only be shared with their consent. They may not want the world to know they own a haunted property. This can lead to unwanted attention from others wishing to do a Ghost Hunt there as well.

There are several forums to be found online where you can share all your thoughts with like-minded people, or it may even spur you on to join a team. Some of them have great T Shirts (smiling as I type that)

This is in no way meant to be an exhaustive guide to ghost hunts, but I have tried to cover all the points that I have personally encountered. The most important thing is to be safe and to enjoy yourself.

HAPPY HUNTING

Barn Dance bands, Hoedown band North West

2011-06-29T16:06:00.000+01:00

Barn Dance bands, Hoedown band North West

Different faiths and their belief in ghosts.

2011-06-26T17:00:00.001+01:00

It may seem like a strange thing to ask whether people of different faiths believe in the existance of ghosts or whether they don't. Surely it's down to the individual, you may ask?

This may well be, but I just wondered what a persons particular faith teaches in respect of the existence of hauntings and ghosts. There are so many different faiths that it would take more than a mere blog post to cover the subject adequately. From reading different posts on different sites it seems that it is very much down to the individual. If you read this post then please let me know your thoughts.

The Haunted Sat Nav

2011-05-31T14:20:00.001+01:00

No, I haven't gone bonkers. I KNOW that voices come out of a sat nav. This is a bit odd though.
I have the sat nav in a little basket in the kitchen with other oft used odds and ends. I hadn't used it in over a week. To switch the sat nav on you have to press and hold an inset button for a few seconds (it's inset so it can't be switched on accidentally).
I was having a conversation with a mechanic friend in the kitchen. My car had been giving me some trouble, and the mechanic said that this time he is confident that the problem had been fixed. He then said "let's just hope it's fixed this time". Then my sat nav suddenly issued forth with the command "turn around when possible". Not only did this seem vaguely on topic, but this shouldn't be possible. Firstly it can't switch itself on, and secondly it would have had to plan a journey to give directions. If someone has a simple explanation I would love to hear it.

Ghosts on the underground

2011-05-10T16:56:00.002+01:00

A very good and spooky video

How seasonal are ghost investigations?

2011-04-20T16:25:00.001+01:00

Now that the warm weather is here and my local lake is calling me to it's bankside with my fishing rods, I haven't felt much in the mood for creepy stuff. I noticed the stats on my blog have also taken a hit with the onset of a bit of sunshine. It set me to wondering if the whole ghost-hunting thing is actually seasonal. What do you think?

I suppose that now the rain isn't tapping against the window pane and the lighter nights have arrived everywhere seems less creepy. After all, the atmosphere of a ghost hunt is the biggest part of the thrill - or it is in my case.

I will be having another look at my main site Ghost Investigators again over the next few days. I'll Twitter you all when I do.

Losing my religion

2011-03-25T17:43:00.000Z

Yes, I know it's a song by R.E.M. but it's also a little how I feel. The more and more I investigate the paranormal and the more TV shows and documentaries I watch the less and less I am becoming a believer and more a cynic.
I do still have my core beliefs that hauntings and ghosts do exist, it's more the techniques that some investigators use to "prove" the existance of spirits. Take EVP's for example - or Electronic Voice Phenomena to the uninitiated. Nearly every EVP I have heard is indistinct (and that's being a little kind). Most of the EVP's I have heard posted on the internet have a caption beneath them telling you what they think the ghost/spirit/entity is saying. Once the idea is planted in your mind you are lost. No matter how hard you try you only hear the suggested words in your mind.
If a poltergeist has the energy to hurl things around a room, including people (supposedly) then surely it has the strength to speak up and speak clearly!!

The other pet hate is orbs, but I have exhausted that topic previously on this blog.

Most bits of electronic equipment (and I have them all) measure only theories. Every ghost hunter worth his salt carries an EMF meter to measure fluctuations in electromagnetic fields. The theory goes that ghosts can cause a spike on the meter because they are a form of energy. I have indeed found spikes in EMF levels but if we take the theory to it's extremes it could also be UFO's or experimental government death rays!!
OK I am being a little mean. We have to start somewhere in trying to understand and measure this phenomena we know and love. I suppose I have become a little desensitised by all the sensationalist programmes on TV. When I am in the situation for real I am like everyone else. Rational thought can very easily become upset by the smallest noise when I am investigating some haunted location and creeping around in the dark. It's hardwired in our psyche. In the dark 95% of people become believers!

Poltergeist Activity - a university boffin's take on it.

2011-02-26T13:17:00.002Z

As I was merrily ambling off along paths whilst Googling the paranormal I accidentally tripped over a piece on poltergeist activity. I followed a link to Cornell University Library website and found an entry there. 75% of it went straight over my head. I hadn't got a clue, but one intriguing sentence at the end of the entry made me sit up and think. Are scientists really coming round to believing paranormal stuff?
Here's the bit of the entry I mean "Arguments based on Prigogine' nonequilibrium thermodynamics are proposed, which show how transformations in brain of some pubescent childs or young womans might be the cause of these effects."

Wow, seems they ARE thinking along those lines! - here's the link to the page in question.

BBC3 Exposes Fake Mediums

2011-02-23T21:58:00.002Z

I found this video whilst trawling through Youtube and the millions of videoclips extolling themselves to be "Real Ghost Videos". I find it a trifle sad that this sort of stuff goes on. Why pretend to be something you are not? You are sure to be caught out eventually, and this videoclip exposes three of them wonderfully well. Enjoy......

How times change

2011-02-21T12:10:00.003Z

Once upon a time, before the advent of Most Haunted and other such paranormal TV shows, any hotel with a resident ghost would play down these stories and actively discourage staff from talking about spooky events. Now it seems a resident spectre is one of the most valuable members of staff!
The price that establishments now charge for ghost hunting teams to investigate their properties has turned a group of once amusing tales into a real money spinner. It isn't only hotels either - any building with a suspected spook is being offered as a venue for ghost hunting. So popular have such events become, there are a few insurance companies offering policies specifically designed for ghost hunters.
It came as an amusing aside to me when I found out that Bridgnorth Town Hall has banned such activities. You can find the story here. It seems the local councillors voted against allowing ghost hunters into their lovely old black and white building.

I hate orbs - I really do

2011-02-05T00:29:00.001Z

Who was it that first came up with the theory that orbs are some kind of manifestation of ghostly activity?
I have never yet seen any kind of conclusive proof that they are anything more than dust particles and/or insects. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the orb phenomena is something particular to the digital camera era. I don't believe I have seen an orb picture taken with 35mm old-fashioned film. I have a few pictures taken during a wedding where some 50 or so guests were whirling around on the dance floor in an old hall that is only used for such gatherings and meetings etc.
Old halls and buildings have dust. It's par for the course. So when a heap of people are dancing it stirs up minute dust particles, the photographs I took make the place look like spook central.
Please - let's lay this lame theory to bed once and for all.

Levitating girl

2011-02-04T11:10:00.000Z

This made me smile when I saw it. Cool effect if it's fake (and it almost certainly is)- cool skill if it's real :-)

Early spring cleaning

2011-01-26T16:57:00.000Z

I've been working on Ghost Investigators' Paranormal Investigators page. Instead of just having all the UK links in alphabetical order I have broken the list up into England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. This has brought home to me that England has a lot of entries and Scotland, Ireland and Wales only have a handful. I will be working on this. If you know any drop me a line.

Two new Charity Ghost Hunts

2011-01-23T12:03:00.001Z

I have posted links to two new charity ghost hunts on my events page. Both need your support. You can see details by going to my events page http://www.ghost-investigators.co.uk/paranormal_events.html

Green Lazer Grid - the new paranormal toy

2011-01-20T16:16:00.000Z

Just when I thought I had seen every gadget going, another one (of course) pops up out of the ether. A Green Lazer Grid thingy. It projects a grid of little green dots in front of you, and when a supposed ghost walks in front of this device then shadows are supposedly seen.

You know what this means don't you? - curiosity will eat me up until I buy one and have a play around with it. It will probably end up in the same drawer as my Franks Box, but who knows?

Ghost Hunt Evenings

2011-01-20T15:47:00.000Z

The idea of the paid ghost hunt really does seem to have hit the mainstream. To my surprise, most of the providers of experience days now have these included within their itinerary.

Paranormal Events, Ghost Hunts etc

2011-01-19T18:55:00.000Z

I have now added a forthcoming events page to my website www.ghost-investigators.co.uk - email me on editor@ghost-investigators.co.uk if you would like to add an event.

Haunted Places

2011-01-13T14:22:00.000Z

I have updated my list of haunted places

I now have 35 UK places, 5 USA places, 3 Australian places and 1 Canadian BUT I NEED MANY MORE. If you have a suggestion please let me know.

Haunted manor fails to sell

2011-01-12T14:55:00.000Z

Wymering Manor had been put up for sale by Portsmouth City Council, but it failed to reach the £400,000 reserve price. It went under the hammer at the Grand Connaught Rooms in Central London. Portsmouth council says it will now attempt to sell the property privately. The manor is believed to be one of the most haunted properties in Britain.

We all enjoy a night-time investigation round some old, haunted, stately pile, but would we want to live in such a place? It does make me wonder how much of a detriment the haunted tag has on property sales. From doing a little digging around on Google I find it has more than one ghost. One site claims the old place has 25!!! - I think such a place might test the nerves of even the strongest sceptic!

BBC Ghost Story for Christmas

2010-12-24T11:00:00.000Z

They are doing a version of the M.R. James classic "Whistle and i'll Come to You". It's on BBC2 tonight (24th December). John Hurt is playing the lead character, so something tells me we are in for a treat. I think it's on at 9-30pm. I have a recording of the version Michael Hordern did back in 1968. Excellent stuff!

The new season kicks off

2010-11-09T19:46:00.000Z

Halloween and bonfire night have been and gone and here we are in the dark nights again. My birthday is on the 31st October (yes Halloween). No wonder I have ended up liking all things spooky!
This Halloween must have been the first year in many when we haven't had Yvette and the team of serial screamers out on a live do. I almost miss the corny entertainment of it all. It must be my guilty secret!
I wonder what televisual delights are held in store for us this winter?

Is Wisconsin very haunted?

2010-10-25T17:16:00.000+01:00

I have just been updating the investigators section on www.ghost-investigators.co.uk and I have found about 3 new teams in Wisconsin I hadn't found before. Are the dead rising in WI?

Hello again - almost Halloween

2010-10-25T13:57:00.000+01:00

Bet you wondered where on earth I had gone. I'm here again. Been having a bit of bother with a kidney stone - but enough of my troubles!
It's almost that time of year again - and by that I mean Halloween. The 31st of October also happens to be my birthday. As you can imagine, this was a hoot when I was at school. Some of my nicknames were a bit non-pc.
I have been scouring the internet for new spooky gadgets to waste my money on, but haven't come up with anything so far apart from a little platform on which to place objects. It is a weight sensitive platform and will sound an alarm if the item is moved during an investigation. Beats a bit of chalk doesn't it?
Be back soon - off looking for more gadgets.

Derren Brown Investigates

2010-06-07T15:23:00.000+01:00

These shows are quite simply brilliant. Derren is simply asking for answers to the questions we all seek the answers to. He is skeptical, that's for sure, but he also quite clearly states that he would LOVE to be proved wrong and for the existence of the paranormal to be proved without any shred of doubt. Meanwhile he is probing into people who are making elaborate claims. The results are not only as I expected they would be, but also make me chuckle.

James Randi has had a challenge running for quite some time now "The One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge" - They offer a one-million-dollar prize to anyone who can show, under proper observing conditions, evidence of any paranormal, supernatural, or occult power or event.

If any of the people that Derren Brown is investigating are so sure of their claims, how come they aren't now one million dollars richer?

An excuse to dress up

2010-05-25T14:40:00.000+01:00

It has been reported that wearing period costume in the appropriate period building or location can actually increase paranormal activity. How true this is I do not know, but what a marvellous excuse for a good dress up!

Just imagine it. A whole team of paranormal investigators all dressed as, lets say, 17th century characters parading around a building in the dead of night. I don't know whether it would increase activity. I do know it would increase the spectacle and the theatre of it all.

This may all sound flippant, but there is a serious purpose behind me mentioning this. It seems that during airshows that feature period aircraft such as those from WW11, the aircrew and ground crew dress up in period outfit to add to the authenticity. This has been reported to trigger happenings in lonely hangars late at night when watching over the aircraft. I suppose the resident spirits would feel more secure and at home seeing the living dressed in appropriate attire from their period.

I have never been one to dress up in a uniform you are not entitled to wear. Don't wear the gear if you haven't done the service. I feel it is in some way disrespectful. If there is a legitimate excuse as at the airshows then I feel this is fine. Similarly, as a one-off investigation at an appropriate old airfield, maybe it could prove a useful tool to bring out the shy spirits.

A Good Piece of Advice.

2010-05-22T12:16:00.000+01:00

I have had someone mention something to me on a forum, and I have to admit it is something that has never crossed my mind. If you are planning a ghost hunt somewhere, and it isn't one of the "done to death" places on the normal ghost hunt tour circuit, it would be advisable if you told the local police about your forthcoming activities.

If you see a property that is all in darkness but you can see the odd flash from a torch appearing inside one of the rooms, the first thing that springs to mind is burglars, NOT ghost hunters. Try and make any neighbours and the local bobbies aware of what you have planned. It would be best if you weren't descended on by sirens and flashing lights! It can spoil the ambience when some burly policemen is banging on the door shouting "come out - I know you are in there. We have the place surrounded".

Makes sense to me anyway - and no, this article is not written from personal experience!

Benefit of the doubt

2010-05-19T11:26:00.000+01:00

I am a self confessed sceptic. This is the online dictionary definition of a sceptic "a person who habitually doubts the authenticity of accepted beliefs".
Note a very important word in there. The word DOUBTS.
Most sceptic posts that I read are nothing of the kind. They are saying quite clearly that ghosts and the paranormal do not exist, and they seem to see anyone who could have an interest in such things as either delusionalists or idiots. I hope to think that I am neither of these things, but I am still struggling to find an answer to the phenomenon of the ghost. This (in my thoughts anyway) makes me a sceptic.

It does seem to be that SOMETHING is going on. Surely to goodness all the millions of things that have happened to people of a paranormal nature can't purely be written off as delusion or hallucination - or even worse, pure lies?

They also seem to mock anyone who believes in the existence of UFO's, but many people say have seen them. Amongst the reported stories are many commercial and RAF pilots who even wrote these encounters in their flight logs. The UFO phenomenon seemed real enough for the RAF to have a dedicated team investigating these things. So, who do I trust the most. Some guy writing a blog or the RAF?

The whole concept of those two huge words "truth" and "proof" are by their very nature flawed. Science is endlessly rewriting the book and totally rejecting what was once taken as established fact. We can still only take an educated guess as to how pigeons can navigate back home over hundreds of miles. The established logic is that they can see the lines of the earths magnetic field and can navigate home via these invisible highways. I can't do that. So does that mean that because I can neither see, experience or measure it that it must be garbage?

All I ask is that people nail their colours to the mast and say what they are. If they are a sceptic then BE a sceptic. If they are total non-believers and won't be swayed in their arguments then say so. The latter are not sceptics.

Ghost Hunting Toys

2010-05-18T11:01:00.000+01:00

I am a bloke therefore I like gadgets - there, i've said it!
After seeing those two on Ghost Hunters using a K-ll meter I was intrigued. Mine has turned up in the post today, so no doubt I will be asking questions to thin air again tonight to see if I can get its pretty lights to twinkle like they do on the TV programme.
Flippancy aside, it is another tool in the armoury. I have the night vision scope and IR torch, so I am all set for stumbling around in the dark. I also have the standard stuff such as the digital voice recorders, laser thermometer, digital cameras, intruder alarms thingies etc - I even have a Franks Box (as previously discussed on here).
When I have saved my hard-earned pennies a little more I may invest in a night vision digital video camera. If I get a real rush of blood to my head I might even get one of those infra-red video cameras, but they cost an absolute fortune. I think that last item will remain a pipe dream. I am only a happy amateur after all.

Shadows of the past

2010-05-16T18:45:00.000+01:00

As it was a quiet sunday I passed the time by watching a little TV. I sat through a documentary about the Somme. As always happens any time I watch anything to do with WW1 I immediately think of my grandad. He was the single biggest influence on my life and the way I think today. He was also my living hero and someone I still feel privileged to have known.

He managed to survive the living hell of the Flanders battlefields for almost three years before being wounded by a mortar shell. After all his experiences and the horrors he encountered, he came through it all not only sane, but one of the gentlest and loving men I have ever met.

It was whilst watching the flickering, black and white film clips taken at the time I realised something so very obvious but something I had never really thought about before. These happy, virile young men gallantly waving their hats in the air for the cameras were all now dead and part of history. The very nature of cinematic photography had created something not only poignant but it had also created a type of ghost. The dead are replaying a vivid and powerful time in their lives over and over again. Oh I know they aren't really ghosts in the strict sense of the word and that film is merely a recording medium, but the feelings it can evoke at certain times can almost be as powerful as the real thing.

A Telephone Line to the Dead?

2010-05-15T13:19:00.000+01:00

After doing a little research online I recently purchased a new piece of equipment. Originally invented by Frank Sumption, it is a Franks Box. Well in actuality it isn't. It works in a similar manner, but a Franks Box (I believe) is a trademark, so everyone now seems to call them a Ghost Box. How it works is quite simple. It is a radio that has autotune but never actually settles on a channel. It sweeps the A.M. band constantly. A little like if you constantly turned the tuner knob slowly backwards and forwards. The idea behind it is that you ask questions and snippets of conversations come back out of the speaker that are supposed to be spirits communicating with you.

Being the open-minded person that I am I thought I had at least better test one of these things before coming to any conclusion, so I bought one off Ebay quite cheaply. Consequently I sat down on a quiet evening when I had the house to myself and prepared myself to "have a conversation with the other side". I have to admit that some of the snippets it came back with after I had asked a question ranged from total jibberish to the coherant. One question I asked was "how is the best way to contact relatives who have passed over" and it answered by telling me to buy the greatest hits of Johnny Cash. Another question I asked was "Is anyone in the room with me right now", to which it answered "well of course" - that sort of made me raise my eyebrows.

After playing with the new toy for about fifteen minutes I found myself getting a headache with the constant channel tuning. It really can become most annoying. If I had to be honest I found it to be less than 20% coherant in its answers, the rest of the time it was just total nonsense. Just to give balance I found my copy of the Collected Works of Sherlock Holmes (yes I am a Conan Doyle fan) and asked the same questions and opened the book with my eyes closed and pointed to a place on the page with my finger. The coherancy of the answers were actually slightly higher, at around 30% - but yet again a degree of interpretation came to bear. It was a little like someone answering you in riddles.

My conclusion is that the Ghost Box and a copy of a big thick book will both give random answers as long as you are willing to use a little imagination, but the ghost box throws out more random junk because of the nature of radio advertising. My thoughts are that the box is an amusing parlour game but not to be taken seriously. It is merely a random phrase generator.

What's in a name?

2010-05-11T20:42:00.000+01:00

It seems to be a popular thing for anyone with a resident spectre, spook or spirit to give it a name. I am no different. I have christened mine George. I know he is male because I have heard his voice on two different occasions (and no - I don't hear voices!). Both times no one else was in the house and no one was outside. Both times I did a complete house search, and both times the voice was as clear as if in the next room. An odd anomaly, and I have no proof (of course) that it was a ghost.

I wonder what the most popular names for resident ghosts are? - has anyone taken a poll or done a study?. I wonder if the most popular names change between here (the UK) and America?

If you have any thoughts on this then please leave a message.

Lost in translation

2010-05-09T13:42:00.000+01:00

I often wonder when watching paranormal programmes how the resident medium manages to cope when the spirit they are conversing with is from a completely different time frame. The dialect they speak in the 1300's would be pretty much unintelligible to the modern ear and vice versa. Also, I often wonder what happens when the spirit they are in contact with doesn't speak any English at all. It's all very confusing!

Maybe there is no need for the mundanity of words in the after-life. Maybe all communication is done with feelings and pictures and the medium merely transcribes these into modern language for us.

As you can probably tell by most of the writings in my blog, I am still on the journey of making my mind up as to what is true and exists (to me anyway) and what I see as utter garbage. TV programme mediums are no different. I still have to make up my mind. To use Arthur Conan Doyle's words in the Sherlock Holmes stories "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth" - and isn't THAT accurate?

That's the problem with the paranormal, it's a little bit like quantum physics. Everything we are dealing with is so vast that the truth is merely an evolving theory, because our minds can only encompass so much in one byte. Every year we come to accept something that was once soundly trashed as total nonsense. Science and the paranormal seem to make very uncomfortable bedfellows, yet they have so many things in common.

Ghost clearances

2010-05-08T13:10:00.000+01:00

Are there some special powers that some mediums/clairvoyants etc possess?. I am talking about those clearances that these people perform in allegedly haunted locations. I have seen a few different approaches on those TV programmes taken during this "service" that they perform for distressed property owners.
I have seen them announce that the malevolent spirit is a violent and evil character and something of a tough cookie, only for him/her to "walk into the portal of light" as gently as a little lamb. I saw one particular TV programme last night where one of the clairvoyants actually claimed to be leading the spirit outside by holding his arm. It didn't show what she did when the hapless spirit was outside. She probably just told him to "get lost and don't come back".

The point I am trying to make is whether the clearances have a physical effect in actually ridding a property of spirits, or are they actually just having a placebo effect on the property owners. If you THINK your house is haunted then every creak and bump is paranormal. If someone has assured you that your house IS NOT haunted then you dismiss the same creaks and bangs and put any actual anomalous sightings down to imagination.
Maybe I am being over-cynical (as usual). I have no idea. Maybe I only saw edited highlights of these clearances and loads more stuff went on beforehand. Maybe the constant pounding of more and more paranormal TV programmes is de-sensitising me a little. All I can think is that if a spirit really is a nasty piece of work then he/she wouldn't give up without a bit more of a fight - surely?

Daytime Ghost Hunts

2010-04-28T11:50:00.000+01:00

I can't imagine why ghost hunts always have to be conducted at night time. Surely if a ghost is present in a building it is present all the time. Some say that night time is better because ghosts are more active when the room is dark. I tend to think it is because imaginations tend to be more active when the room is dark!
As previously mentioned on this blog, the senses tend to be heightened in dark rooms under high paranormal expectations. I live in an old creaky house. It creaks just as much during the day time, but if I have been watching some spooky film in the evening I tend to notice every tap and creak.
I think if the location is quiet and the building is yours for the alloted time then a ghost hunt can be just as successful from a scientific or spiritual point of view. Can the same be said from a commercial point of view? - I tend to think that organised ghost hunts would probably be a total flop if operated during the daytime hours. People pay to be frightened, and there is more chance of that happening if they are stumbling around in the dark in a group containing a healthy sprinkling of hystericals.
Please do not think that I am in some way rubbishing organised ghost hunts that take large parties of guests around allegedly haunted locations, I am certainly not - in fact I think they are huge fun. That's the point I am making. These are not scientific investigations (well, not serious ones anyway).
I have personally had a few "paranormal" experiences (or was it just my imagination?) and the majority of these have happened during daylight hours. Has anyone out there ever carried out a serious paranormal investigation during daylight hours? - if so I would love to hear what you think.

Views on the afterlife

2010-04-20T16:02:00.000+01:00

It's another one of those days where work is a little slack, so as per usual I started thinking about stuff!
One of the thoughts was the whole "everlasting life" thing. I think most people would hate to carry on just getting older and older but the body staying roughly the same. All the people you love shrivelling up and dying around you and you just staying at whatever age the fountain of youth froze you at. Horrendous thought. I would think you would slowly go insane - and then imagine an eternity of pain and mental anguish. I think this is why people turn to the afterlife as some kind of refuge. It is a way to live forever devoid of all pain and anguish, because all your loved ones are in there with you. That reminds me of a gravestone I once saw. The inscription read "To my beloved husband Frank. Rest in peace" which is a lovely sentiment, but underneath it was the inscription "Until we meet again" - sounds like the poor old sod won't even get a minutes peace even in the afterlife!

Sceptics v Believers

2010-04-07T13:28:00.000+01:00

I suppose by my very nature I am sceptical about most things that need a measure of faith to believe in. I do actually believe in paranormal phenomena, I just don't know what the explanation is as to what these things are.
There seems to be two different kinds of hauntings. The ones that just replay an event over and over, and then there are the ones that seem (and yes I DO mean seem) to communicate intelligently. OK, so there you are, I am a sceptical semi-believer! - so why do the hardened sceptics think that anything that hasn't yet been proven is just total rubbish and everyone who even half believes in all this stuff is just a halfwit.
There seems to be an influence of fashion at play in both sides of the argument. It is very fashionable to be a sceptic in all things of a spiritual nature and dismiss the other half of the population as mere village idiots believing in witches and goblins. There is also a very fashionable new-age movement that believes in everything from fairies to healing crystals. I believe somewhere in the middle lies the truth.
As the believers cannot prove their beliefs, just as equally the sceptics cannot disprove them. They point to science as an answer to all lifes questions, but wasn't it scientists that claimed that the Black Death was spread by bad air just over 200 years ago?
Science is constantly evolving, and all the theories and doctrines we now hold dearly are derided and laughed at some years later. All I am saying is "vive la difference" and throwing insults back and forth solves nothing. It is a very twee little saying but nonetheless true "To a believer no proof is needed, and to a sceptic no proof is possible"
An open mind is a wonderful thing but it closes if you don't exercise it regularly by just not bowing under to peer pressure. Make up your own mind - it's one of the last freedoms we have.

Animal ghosts

2010-04-06T15:47:00.000+01:00

There are several websites out there on the internet sharing stories about animals coming back to haunt us. I wonder where the line is drawn on what would be able to come back to share our lives again over and above the usual dogs, cats and maybe horses?
Let's face it, if all animals came back to haunt us then KFC, your local fishmonger or your local butchers shop would be paranormal hotspots wouldn't they?
OK, it's a very flippant remark, and dogs especially do seem to be more prone to supernatural presences and things we can't see or feel than other animals, but maybe this is because we don't share our houses (normally) with cows and pigs?
If dogs are more sensitive to spirits does this mean that they themselves are capable of becoming spirits and coming back to visit us?
I have a very loose theory that may be totally off-beam, but maybe these animals are an extension of the haunting of a human being. A little bit like when people report seeing phantom airmen in their aircraft. They see the aircraft along with the ghost and not just a man floating through the air in a sitting position.
Maybe this is belittling the nobility of the dog and maybe they DO come back on their own merit - I obviously have no idea. It would be nice to think that a beloved faithful pet might come back to see we are OK wouldn't it?

Good progress

2010-04-03T14:19:00.000+01:00

As promised I have extended just about every category on the website. I didn't realise how many paranormal investigation teams there are out there - there may even be millions! (well maybe thousands anyway).
I have found loads in the good old UK and USA, but I am really struggling to find them in other english speaking countries. I only say that they must be in English because I can't give a link to a website if I can't read what it is about (my French is appalling and my German virtually non-existant) and I can't afford the services of a translator!
I have only found ONE investigation team in New Zealand - ONE, surely there must be more? Australia and Canada aren't doing much better either.
If anyone knows any teams who aren't appearing on my fledgling little list then please feel free to suggest them to me.
Enjoy the rest of Easter.

New stuff

2010-04-02T11:20:00.000+01:00

I have to admit I have been hellish busy (no pun intended) and have neglected both this blog and my website www.ghost-investigators.co.uk a little. Now that Easter is here it gives me a bit of time to start to expand my site a little. I suppose I was prompted to do this by receiving an email asking if I would like to exchange links, and so it concentrated my mind upon actually putting up the link and getting on with some work. I hope to be concentrating on the US side of things today, but anyone out there with a UK website that I still haven't added, please do contact me.

Have a happy and safe Easter.

Standing room only!

2010-03-04T13:06:00.001Z

The second meeting of Leigh Paranormal took place last night (wednesday) to a packed house of around 60 people. Quite a lot for the small pub room it was held in. I have been invited to be part of the team - should be fun.

Leigh Paranormal Investigation Team

2010-03-03T15:49:00.000Z

Tonight marks the second meeting of Leigh Paranormal. A group of paranormal investigators from my home town of Leigh in Lancashire. They already have investigations planned and are all ready to go!
Tonight they will be choosing certain members for key roles within the organisation. So far I will be attending myself, but many a slip twixt cup and lip.
ALL ARE WELCOME

Meeting to take place at The Boars Head in Leigh

CLICK HERE FOR WEBSITE

Eddie Burks

2010-02-23T14:37:00.000Z

A great video clip - took me ages to re-find this

The dog is NOT happy

2010-02-19T13:24:00.000Z

We have a Border Collie x Alsatian female dog (I hate the word bitch). All of a sudden it has taken fright at a television programme and becomes quite upset about it. It shakes, drools a little and is most unhappy - and what is this TV programme, is it some horror film with scary music? - no, it's BARGAIN HUNT!!!

I do wonder what the heck can be scary about dear old Tim Wonnacott and friends. I even wondered if it was the sound in some way, but no, even with the sound very low it still hates it. Weird!

Website Updated

2010-02-03T15:09:00.000Z

At long last I have got round to updating the www.ghost-investigators.co.uk website. I have added more to the Investigators and the Links pages. If anyone out there would like a link adding then let me know (does this mean I am saying "Is there anybody there?" - probably!)

All in the mind?

2010-02-02T14:06:00.000Z

Most old, disused buildings are spooky when night falls and the air is still. Every little creak and noise you would ordinarily ignore becomes terrifying. It becomes even worse if that old, disused building is a former asylum or mental hospital. We all have horrifying visions of all those old treatments that were administered donkeys years ago - they seem almost like torture. Things like electro convulsive therapy etc. What I am trying to say is that the former use of an old building can heighten the sense of fear and expectation. I daresay we wouldn't feel as scared in an old teddy bear factory as we would in some old high security mental institution. It is assumed that all these tortured souls have had a greater effect on the building and hence these places are more haunted - and we all think them to be haunted by bad spirits. I suppose that this is a remnant from the past for the feelings we have towards mental illness. These people weren't bad, merely ill.

If the stone tapes theories hold true and strong emotions can be absorbed into the magnetic resonance of the buildings then the logical conclusion is that these former institutions should be rich in residual hauntings. It would be interesting to see if that is scientifically true wouldn't it?

I wonder what excuses will be used?

2010-01-30T13:33:00.000Z

Apparently, in the year 2012 we are "ALLLLL DOOMED" as the scots chap on Dads Army would say. Call me a sceptic but I think we will still all be happily plodding along in 2013 without even a toaster breaking. It wasn't long ago since the last doomsday and believers were in the streets hugging, kissing and saying their goodbyes. When will we stop looking for correlations from ancient bits of text and saying it means this and that. I am sure if I look through the Mayan predictions I will see something that suggests to me that Wigan Athletic will be european champions within 3 years - I hope they are as they are my team, but I wouldn't put a months wages on it.

Animals about the house

2010-01-25T20:14:00.000Z

The latest "manifestation" in our humble little pile appears to be that of an animal. I have no idea as to what this is or why it should suddenly start to occur. At first I thought it was the usual peripheral vision stuff that sometimes happens when you think you have seen something out of the corner of your eye, but you then put it down to tiredness or rogue shadows etc, but it started to happen on an almost daily basis. I kept it to myself convinced that it was something to do with my vision, but now Fran has started seeing it as well. She announced last night that "I must be cracking up. Did a cat just dart across the room?" I chuckled and asked which corner it was in, and it was the corner I always see it in.
This could (I suppose) go towards explaining as to why the dog (after all these years) suddenly seems afraid to set foot in the lounge. At first we thought it was noises on the TV, but it never freaked out at the telly before. Maybe the dog has been seeing it longer than us!

My Childhood Playmate

2010-01-08T14:17:00.000Z

As I am writing this I am in my little farmhouse listening to logs crackling on the fire and looking out across the snowy garden outside my office window. We spend years wishing for a white Christmas and then when we get one we all want it to go away now that January is here. The weather has lousy timing! At least this has given me a little time to devote to this blog.

One episode I wanted to write about was from my childhood.
Between the ages of about four and five I had an imaginary playmate. Most children do I am told. I would play with my little pal up in my bedroom. He would just turn up in the room but I never saw him arrive. One day we were playing with my toy cars and he suddenly asked if I would like to come and see where he lived. I said I would, so off he went and I followed him. We went into my parent’s bedroom.

In the bedroom there was a cubby-hole; a sort of full size door, behind which lay a small square room about three feet by four. Most old houses had them. He opened the door to this and went inside. I peeped around the door, and off to the right was a flight of stairs. Really unkempt and dirty looking – like in a derelict house. He was half way up the stairs gesturing for me to follow him. Some time before my mother had told me never to go in there but never really explained why, so I thought I had better pop downstairs and ask her if I could follow my pal.

I arrived downstairs and mother was at the kitchen sink washing up. I tugged on her apron and asked her where those stairs led to. She asked which stairs. I said “the stairs upstairs” she said I wasn’t making sense and there were no “stairs upstairs”
I was insistent and told her my I.P. (imaginary pal) had gone up them. I was so insistent I dragged her off upstairs to see.
When we arrived in her bedroom I pointed at the cubby-hole door and said “in there”
She reminded me that she had told me never to go in there. I pointed again and said “IN THERE” so she looked.

She gestured me to come see. There were no stairs, just a pile of old junk such as old vases and lampshades etc. She forbade me to go in there because I could have hurt myself. I looked and just couldn’t figure it all out. It WAS there – there WERE stairs. I sat down in a heap and cried.
That was the last I ever saw of my imaginary pal. I suppose I.P. must have thought I was no longer any fun to be with. I do often wonder though, what would have happened had I followed him?

Many years later I was recalling the story with mother when she took me completely off guard. She asked if my I.P. wore green velvet. I said yes he did. “Did he also wear white knee length socks, patent leather shoes with big silver buckles?” she asked – again I said yes. I asked her why she asked and if I had described him to her at some time in the past. She said that I didn’t need to. When she was a little girl, if she was about to come down with some bad illness, the night before she would say to her mother (my gran) “hey that little boy is sitting on the foot of my bed again” and gran would say “Oh Lord I better call the doctor now” It seems I had inherited the little beggar!

I had a couple of these little forays into the paranormal around that age. Another time I had been ill in bed. It was night time and somewhere around nine o’clock. I got out of my bed and my legs felt like jelly. I still had a fever and was far from right. I walked to my bedroom door and shouted down the stairs that I wanted a glass of water. The stairs were all in darkness.
Slowly, out of the gloom, I could see the figure of a woman coming up the stairs, I didn’t recognise her but she was smiling. I assumed she was some friend of my parents or some neighbour. As she drew closer I saw in complete terror that I could partially see through her. To say I let out a scream would be doing my efforts a gross injustice. I shrieked like a banshee, and as if from nowhere I found the strength to leap clear over my bed to the other side whereupon I hit the wall and slid to the floor in a quivering, crying, screaming heap. The whole family came rushing upstairs convinced that I was being attacked and murdered. My mother picked me up and said “David, what’s wrong? Speak to me” but I couldn’t. I had a big lump in my throat and could barely stutter out the words “woman on the stairs” and “ghost” Everyone knew I wasn’t making it up just by the colour of my face and lips. Apparently I looked like a corpse. I slept with the stairs light on for years after that.

Some years later an aunt had died and we came into possession of some old photographs. I was looking through all the old sepia tone snapshots when I came upon one particular picture that almost made me fall off my chair. My mother said “what’s up, you look like you have seen a ghost” I said “I bloody have, that’s her, the woman on the stairs” holding up a photograph. Mother said “Oh that’s your Aunt Lily, she died before you were born, I’m sure she meant you no harm” and do you know, she probably didn’t. She was probably just concerned; hence her smile, but she damn near gave me a heart attack that night.

The really ironic punch-line to all this is my birthday. It’s Halloween!

Happy New Year

2010-01-03T10:26:00.001Z

Here's to a hopefully better year than 2009 was.

Ghost Stories at Christmas on the BBC

2009-12-22T15:58:00.000Z

For all you fans of the Christmas Ghost Stories I have found a few listed on the BBC.
Here's the page http://search.bbc.co.uk/search?go=homepage&Search=Search&tab=tvradio&q=christmas%20ghost%20story&scope=all

Pretoria Pit

2009-12-19T15:15:00.000Z

The Pretoria Pit Disaster is the worst coal mining accident to have occurred in Lancashire, and the third worst mining disaster in British history. The Pretoria Pit was a complex of coal mines owned by the Hulton Colliery Company, and situated on the border of Westhoughton and Atherton. 344 lives were lost in an explosion underground on the morning of the 21st December 1910.
It is reported that dozens of pairs of eyes look out of bushes along Platt lane, the lane that the miners would walk along en route to their work, and that they belong to the spirits of the miners who died in the accident at Pretoria Pit. Prior to this disaster, miners on route to work would sometimes encounter the sound of an invisible horse which ran past them. It is said to still be haunted as reports still come in from time to time. How many of these are accurate or misrepresentations are (of course) open to speculation. It will be the 100th anniversary of the disaster next Christmas. Maybe I will plan a vigil for that day.

Time slips

2009-12-13T14:59:00.000Z

There have been quite a few stories of people experiencing buildings and surroundings from days gone by and actually interracting with people from the past. I remember seeing one such story of two married couples who were touring France and staying at small hostelries on the way. They stopped at a small village and saw a delightful little place. The prices seemed to me remarkably cheap but they thought they would give it a try. They had excellent meals and first class wine. The beds were clean and comfortable, and the rooms even tastefully decorated in the Art Deco period. They paid their bills and made a mental note of the hotel name and address to stop off again on the way back from their tour, as they had to pass along this route again. Imagine their surprise when they came back some 2 weeks later to find the place a ruined and boarded up old shell. When they quizzed one of the locals about it the name and their description did indeed perfectly match the once small but elegant hotel, but it had been burned out some 20 years earlier.
This is just one such story. I can remember seeing several others. This begs the question to be asked "do we experience occasional holes in time, and are ghosts just visitors from past times who are unaware of our presence?" - Personally, I think it is a theory that has some basis in science, and therefore has to be considered. We do know that time can be affected and that it isn't constant. I wonder if occasionally the needle skips on the record now and then and back we go, only to be flung back again almost seemlessly some time later? - I dunno, but it's an intriguing thought!

Auras

2009-12-10T17:00:00.000Z

An aura is a supposed field of light that shines around the outline of the body that is invisible to the majority of the public. Apparently certain "sensitive" people can not only see these auras but also read and interpret them, and depending on what colour they are, they can tell you what your mood is, or if any part of the body is injured. It is (loosely) linked to Kirlian photography, which is said to be a method of photographing the human aura. Hmmmm!
This sounds a little loose scientifically. Surely if the body was emitting an aura then this would be a form of energy, and therefore measurable by some scientific instrument or other. We are able to measure all wave forms from microwaves to subsonic wave forms - the lot. Is this a new form of energy?. If so, the eyes of certain people must indeed be very sensitive to be able to see them. I may be entirely wrong about this of course, and maybe some people can just see our magnetic fields - but if they can then life must be absolute hell, because they would see magnetic fields around every electric appliance in their house. Their whole life must be one technicolor dream ride!.
I am putting auras in the same convenient box as orbs. The box marked "Highly Speculative"

The fairest way?

2009-12-07T20:26:00.000Z

We do seem to be awash with paranormal investigation shows (no bad thing as I like them) but all the programmes who use mediums as part of their investigations always have one fatal flaw - previous knowledge of the location, and hence it's history. I would love to see a firm of well respected and trusted lawyers who are sworn to secrecy actually arranging and then choosing the locations for investigation. Then vans/cars are sent to pick up the entire crew who are waiting in a designated location, unaware of where they are about to be whisked off to. The insurance and all the red tape will have been sorted out in advance and the entire crew will be driven to the location in vehicles with blacked out windows until they arrive at the destination.
OK, there may still be some "contamination" if any of the participants know the said location and building, but it would cut out a great deal of the suspicions about the prior knowledge of the mediums. There would also be an off-site historian who DOES know the history, and who is listening live to the crew as they do the investigation and can report back on the accuracy (or otherwise) of the information the medium is coming out with and report this to the audience. The team on site wouldn't know what was being said.
This may all sound a little brutal, but if mediums are to be used there have to be proper scientific controls. Give me prior knowledge of a location and I reckon I could be quite convincing about my conversations with the afterlife!

Expectations

2009-12-06T22:09:00.000Z

I may have previously mentioned the fact that I live in an old farmhouse. Due to its age and its remote location it could be said to be blessed (or cursed) with the feeling of being just a tad spooky when it's dark and the weather conditions are right. I have long since grown accustomed to living here and the small eccentricities of the building. It can be a draughty old place at the best of times, and yes, occasionally doors do open with a creak that would grace any Hammer film. During the daytime these are barely noticed, but at night time I do notice them a little more, though only for a brief second before common sense reigns once more.
The latest odd anomaly is the kitchen units have started to occasionally eminate taps. They really do sound like someone is rapping on the work surface with a knuckle. As buildings of this age do occasionally get mice I think it may well be that. We get them every year, so it's no surprise.
What I am trying to say in my own clumsy way is that I have become a little desensitised when I am presented with spooky old places. I learn to EXPECT odd creaks and tapping noises as this is no different to my own old place. This doesn't mean that the reactions of other people in the room don't give me a start. There's nothing like someone suddenly shouting an unexpected expletive or screaming to raise the heart rate.
I suppose that's the joy in "ghost hunting" in a group. No matter how serious the intentions may be, there's nothing like shared fright, even though the causes may well be normal and innocent.

Friend of a friend

2009-12-04T20:08:00.000Z

A new word has been made to describe these stories that we have all heard and are very familiar with. That word is Foaflore - (Friend-Of-A-Friend lore).
There are hundreds of them. Probably one of the most famous being the phantom hitch-hiker. For anyone who has led a very sheltered life and has never heard the story it goes something like this:
It is a wild and rainy night, and a man is driving down a country lane when he comes upon a bedraggled young lady hitch-hiker. Being a gentleman he stops to pick her up and drives on a mile or two and drops her off outside her house. The next morning he discovers she has left her scarf (or purse, or handbag depending on which version you have heard) so he thinks "I know, I will drop it off at her house on the way to work".
He arrives at her house and knocks at the door and the door is answered by an elderly lady. He told her that he had picked up a young lady hitch-hiker and she had left this item in his car. The woman asked where he had picked her up and he described the area on the country lane. The lady then told him that her daughter had been killed in that very spot by a hit and run driver exactly one year ago yesterday, and the item was hers.
Great story - and no doubt is based upon some earlier tale of a stagecoach driver or some such. One wonders where these marvellous tales spring from. They provide endless amusement to me.
I once heard a lesser tale about a local shop - the details I won't divulge because they are totally untrue and libellous. The person who told me the story told me who had told him, so I went off to see if I could track down the originator of the tale. I got back 4 people into the chain before I gave up.
These stories are the obvious next generation of folk tales. Now we are no longer interested in listening to grannies old tales and remedies we seek them elsewhere - within the wonderful world of FOAFLORE.

Christmas ghost stories

2009-12-03T16:50:00.000Z

Every Christmas there used to be "A Ghost Story for Christmas" on the BBC (I think it was). Usually they were the M.R.James classics. I still have those old black and white TV dramatisations on DVD, and I think it is the fact that they ARE in black and white with primitive special effects that makes them so delightfully creepy. There are no massive Hollywood plastic demons leaping out at you leaving nothing to the imagination - most things are merely implied just by the look of terror on the actors face.

Then of course there is always the adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" - even then I prefer the old version with Alastair Sim. I think I must be pining for my youth!. I don't know why, but the more sophisticated modern films get and the more they try and terrify me or make me jump out of my seat, the more I feel disinclined to watch them. Well, I say I don't know why. In truth I DO know why. I really don't want to be terrified and stressed out all through a film in the sure and certain knowledge that something is going to leap out of a cupboard and make me spill my beer all over my shirt!

Dear BBC - please bring back the M.R.James classics - if only for me. I like my fear in gentle, measured doses!

Poltergeists or something else?

2009-11-28T14:51:00.000Z

I suppose we are all aware of these pesky anomalies through several ghost investigation TV programmes and that one very notable Hollywood film, but what exactly are they?
I don't think there is one accepted or popular explanation, we just know they move things and throw things etc.
This brings me to my next question. There have been items that I KNOW EXACTLY where I put them down, only for them to totally disappear, then to re-appear some time later. One notable occasion is when I had a very important piece of information on a floppy disc (so you can see it was a few years ago) which I left on my desk just to the right of my monitor and just in front of my mouse mat. I went off into the kitchen to make a cup of tea and when I came back it wasn't there. This was extremely annoying as I had a piece of work to finish to which the information stored on the disc was vital. I ended up lifting every item and piece of equipment off my desk and putting it all down on the floor - the monitor, computer, desk tidy, everything! - all I had left was a completely bare desk top. In defeat, I then lifted everything back onto the desk and went off to make another cuppa (as the previous one had gone stone cold during the hunt). When I came back into the room I couldn't believe what I saw. The disc was back on my desk. Not in the place where I left it but nonetheless in full view. Now, there wasn't one item on my desk after I had cleared it. Not even dust, as I had taken the opportunity to run a duster over it as it was the first time in ages it had been totally clear.
The question I am asking is this. Was that the actions of a poltergeist? - I thought it would have been more likely to throw stuff or be a little more violent. It was very restrained for a poltergeist as that was the only thing it moved.
I think we have a tendancy to pigeon-hole things with a nice convenient title. Poltergeists being one such thing.

The scent of a ghost

2009-11-27T22:48:00.000Z

Apparently there have been many reports of smells at haunted places. I have to admit, I have had out of place smells around here very occasionally. (Please resist the temptation to be flippant and ask if it was me after a curry or the dog). The kind of smells I mean are things like a very old fashioned perfume - the kind you remember from your granny and now are never worn these days; or in my case here, the smell of strong cigarettes and sometimes pipe tobacco. It isn't drifting in from outside as we live a mile outside of town, so it isn't someone walking past the door and has flicked a fag end into the yard. These smells usually exist for just a few seconds (and we both smell them) and then they disappear entirely as if they never existed. Normal smells don't do that I believe!
If this is the case and these smells exist (and it would be odd if two of us had an olfactory anomaly at the same time) then how are they generated? - from what?. OK, I can deal with the stone tapes theory and the idea that the fabric of a building can act as a film tape and replay happenings from the past when the atmospheric conditions are just right, but this is like saying that smellyvision must exist! - its bizarre!
Is there some logical explanation for it?. If there is I can't think of one. I try to be rational and logical whenever possible, and I am always willing to believe the mundane over the paranormal, but I just think we have a ghost that likes to pop off somewhere for a ciggie now and then.

Dumb and Dumber

2009-11-26T12:05:00.000Z

The are very few subjects that seem to polarise people's views but the existence of ghosts certainly seems to be one of them. On one extreme you have the sceptical side, where if it can't be touched, tasted, smelled, measured or otherwise quantified with the current knowledge at our fingertips then it plain doesn't exist. At the other extreme you have the believers who are willing to believe just about anything including fairies and angels.
Somewhere in all this is what could laughingly be called the truth. I say "laughingly" because we are dealing with the unknown. It is certainly true to say that many many people have seen what they claim to be ghosts (me included) and sometimes whole groups of people. Only a real bigoted sceptic would put EVERYTHING down to either delusional people or hallucinations.
So where do we go from here? - well science and the educational system have certainly taken it seriously because they have spent taxpayers money by setting up paranormal study groups at several universities. So for the sceptics to say it is all complete nonsense is certainly not within the current academic thought process.
I have no idea whether the mystery will ever be solved. I cannot say that hysteria, delusional people and downright liars don't severely muddy the waters, but I would say (in my humble opinion) that there is certainly a little meat on the spiritual bone. It can't all just be flippantly brushed aside.
Still this will make no difference to the two extreme factions. Belief is a very powerful thing - even if that belief happens to be that you don't believe anything at all!

Can quantum physics partially explain ghost sightings?

2009-11-25T13:41:00.000Z

OK, before you think I have gone barking mad or I am some kind of eccentric professor from a 50's sci-fi movie, it isn't as daft as you may think.

If you look up "The Double Slit Experiment" on Youtube, you will see a video being explained by a sort of American cartoon character. Don't let that put you off. The content is fascinating. To briefly explain the double slit theory. When they fired electrons through a single slit at a target board behind they made a single stripe (as would any particle - be it a marble or an electron) but when they fired electrons through two slits they made an interference pattern of many stripes on the target board behind, as if they WEREN'T acting like particles but waves. Baffled by this they put up a device to watch the electrons pass throught the slits and how they behave. As soon as they did this the particles switched from behaving like waves back to behaving like particles. It was almost like the particles knew they were being watched and switched their behaviour. Pretty spooky on it's own, and remember this was a scientific experiment, not a paranormal experiment.

Now if we take a small leap of faith (well a massive one actually) and say that spirits are indeed a form of energy. Could it be that they are simply behaving like the electrons in the Double Slit Experiment, and the simple observance of them makes them automatically act differently and even disappear from sight? - could it be that the simple act of pointing a camera or measuring device at them makes them undetectable or disappear altogether from sight? - makes you think doesn't it?
It was a good friend of mine who told me about the double slit experiment and it has intrigued me ever since. This is of course complete and total speculation on my part, but it is at least a semi-rational explanation isn't it?

10 Things that make me smile about paranormal TV programs

2009-11-25T11:51:00.000Z

1) When a certain female investigator says "everybody keep calm" then runs out of the room screaming accompanied by a row of bleeps on the TV.
2) When the pet sceptic waves around an EMF meter like it is a magic wand when it has never actually been proven to detect the presence of spirits.
3) When the investigators ask the spirits to throw something at them - be careful, one day they just might!
4) When psychics get "possessed" by some spirit and do really bad music hall impersonations of characters from days gone by.
5) When we are told to listen out for background taps and noises and the crew say "did you hear that?" and there is spooky background music playing to the film track - like we could hear a damn thing anyway!
6) The way they demand a spirit shows itself by calling it a coward or some other insult - like THAT's gonna work!. If I were the resident spectre i'd think "well, up yours" and do nothing.
7) When investigators say "we don't mean you any harm". They are dead for goodness sake. Something tells me they are already beyond further damage.
8) The way a whole "new-speak" language has been invented around ghost hunting. We now talk of "residuals" and go on "vigils" etc etc.
9) Celebrity guests on ghost hunts. Why would a pop singer or TV celeb add anything of value to a paranormal investigation?
10) The way I "tut" and comment on every one of these paranormal programs but still watch them avidly.

A new piece of detection equipment?

2009-11-24T20:59:00.000Z

I live in an old farmhouse that I believe to be haunted (it's either that or several friends and relatives have all had similar hallucinations). One thing I have noticed is that my old dog who died and my now current dog both follow with their eyes these same shadows that I see out of the corner of my eye. One time, a few years ago my old dog was standing on his hind legs looking through a window at someone outside and wagging his tail. Which is odd as that particular window was bricked up many years ago.

There have been several other examples of them seeing or sensing something that is outside my range of senses. This begs the question that maybe one of the most valuable pieces of detection "equipment" we could take along on a ghost investigation is the humble pooch! - they certainly seem to be as sensitive as we are and indeed probably more so. I wonder if there is any particular breed that is better at this than others, or are they all similarly blessed. Makes you wonder!.

Are we all lost?

2009-11-20T15:23:00.000Z

Even in these most modern and supposedly enlightened times when we are bombarded almost daily with sceptics and scientists views on all things spiritual or religious, there still appears to be no shortage of people who are willing to believe in the existence of ghosts and/or the afterlife. Why should this be? - well the obvious and truthful answer is that no one is 100% sure why.
My theory (for what it's worth) is that technology is advancing at a mind boggling rate, and even those of us who embrace change and march on with the tide of science still get a little fearful at times. We still wonder where is will all end and we feel more and more insignificant when faced with the enormity of data that is so readily placed before us in ever increasing doses. There is that little voice that says "enough" and we yearn for a little spirituality - a little colour in the sterile and clinical world of science and technology. We are willing to believe our primitive instincts.
This "gut reaction" has nothing whatsoever to do with belief in my opinion. It goes a little deeper than that. It is almost at DNA level. To over-analyse it would make it go away, and the little primitive savage inside us doesn't want it to go away. The mind knows when it needs something and sometimes it does know best, no matter how misguided that may be. As long as the ethereal side doesn't dominate and take over the real side of life it can actually be beneficial I think.

Natural "explanations"

2009-11-19T14:03:00.000Z

I agree that most ghost sightings can be viewed as being very suspicious. Especially as most of these are anecdotal. Most people point to the fact that no definitive, undisputable, clear and accurate picture of a ghost has ever been taken. But does this mean that they don't exist? The eye is not a camera. It is true that there are some similarities - both having a lens etc. But it has never been proven one way or the other what the accurate range of light waves is that eyes are capable of picking up. It may well be that the eye is able to detect some subtle ranges that the crude camera cannot! Also we have to throw into the equation the fact that high EMF readings can affect our senses. As can infrasound.

When we take all this into account, how likely is it that two or more people will have exactly the same hallucination in the same location at the same time. Even mass hysteria needs some time to propagate!
When all reasonable doubt has been removed and two (or more) people see something anomalous then the argument stands that this is a real anomaly.

The new Ghost Train

2009-11-17T22:12:00.000Z

I suppose it could be said that with the advent of Most Haunted and other such programmes a new industry was spawned - that of the organised ghost hunt. I don't know whether there is an ideal number of investigators in any one haunted location before the resident spirits are driven back into their ethereal boltholes. Maybe there isn't! That said, I can't see how forty or so fee paying people trudging from room to room in organised little groups can be conducive to any serious hunt for the paranormal. The simple answer is that it can't. They are organised for no other reasons than entertainment and making money. This is not to say that it is necessarily a bad thing. In fact I think it's a great idea. Very often the funds raised from renting out many of these historical buildings to the event organisers puts much needed funds into the coffers for maintaining and restoring these places. Several hotels have actively advertised the fact that they are haunted and are all the more popular for it (something that may have had the opposite effect 20 years ago). I suppose the organisation of it all helps to keep people safe and provides the thrill that they seek. A little like the trip on the Ghost Train at the funfair when you were a kid. You were willing to suspend belief for a little while to get a mild fright.
The upshot of it all is the fact that the people are getting what they crave, the building owners are making a few bob, and the ghost hunt companies are making money and consequently employing people. Long may it continue.

Ghostly graphics and digital demons

2009-11-16T20:55:00.000Z

Since the invention of digital photography and video recorders a reinvention of an old art form seems to have emerged - the ghost picture. I have already discussed my views on orbs (that I think they are dust) but digital photos are a different thing. They can (and should) give proof of something wacky and paranormal happening at a location. I say "should" because of the very nature of digital photography. It isn't like the old 35mm film - with that there was a negative. Something an expert could look at and usually come to a satisfactory conclusion as to whether it was a fake or real. With digital pics they are a bit more transient in nature. They can be played around with using photo editing software. With this in mind I either choose to ignore the obvious flaws in the proof and believe the taker of the photo or I don't. If you go on to good old Youtube and type in the search "Ghost Videos" you will see literally hundreds. I found a few that made me think, a few that made me doubt their authenticity and a few that made me almost cry laughing - but it has to be said that the latter were made with that effect in mind.

I suppose this means that even if a digital pic or video was taken even under the strictest control situations by a team of respected scientists and sceptics, it would still be viewed with some suspicion. The conspiracy theorists would say it is all a government cover-up or some such rubbish. Is there an answer to the conundrum? - I have no idea!

"For entertainment purposes only"

2009-11-12T00:02:00.000Z

I don't quite know which law makes programme makers put up that silly announcement before every paranormal programme on TV but it's getting a little tedious. Does the nanny state think us unable to come to our own rational decisions without havine the "there-there" brigade patting us on the shoulder and telling us it's all OK and the big scary bogeymen aren't real. Who cares what these PC-gone-mad little jobsworths think. If I choose to believe, disbelieve, suspend belief or swear vehemently at my TV set whilst these programmes are on TV it is completely my choice. I notice they never put that stuff on just before Songs of Praise!

Belief is a personal choice and still (thank God) something that is a basic, fundamental, personal freedom. Please stop trying to protect us from something that 99.99% of us feel neither unsettled by or worried about. There are some TV programmes (and you know who you are) that I now watch in amusement and fond affection, when one of it's resident psychics gets possessed more often than cars after loan defaults!
You are right about that at least - it IS entertaining. Now stop being like some boring granny and repeating it endlessly...WE KNOW.

Could ghosts sometimes be Charles Bonnet Syndrome?

2009-11-10T21:53:00.000Z

Charles Bonnet Syndrome is the name given to explain the situation when people with sight problems start to see things that they know are not real.
Sometimes called visual hallucinations, the things that people see can take all kinds of forms, from simple patterns of straight lines to detailed pictures of people or buildings. These images can be enjoyable, frightening and/or sometimes upsetting. It can be that the sufferers just see a latticework of lines as if the room is covered in strands, but it can also take on a frightening guise when people actually see other human beings that aren't there.
Could this be an explanation for SOME supposed apparitions?. Especially when these visions actually appear as solid flesh and blood.
It is certainly another layer to add to the whole spectrum of ghostly sightings. That said, the sufferers usually do know they suffer from this condition.

The Ubiquitous Orb

2009-11-09T15:31:00.000Z

Is it only me that thinks that orbs are just dust?
I took a few pictures at a wedding a couple of years ago where there was a roomful of dancers all leaping around wildly at the wedding reception (as you do after a few alcoholic libations) - there we orbs by the dozen on most pics, including some large and wonderful technicolor jobs. Now - either this council owned, modern municipal building is one of the most haunted locations in Britain, (which it isn't) or the dust being kicked up by a few dozen feet was the culprit.
I can't quite remember when this phenomenon first came into the public domain, but I doubted it from day one.
A few questions to ponder:
1) Why do materialising spirits always appear as perfectly round orbs all of a similar colour?
2) Who first hypothecised that this is what they were?
3) Why have they only started showing themselves in abundance since the advent of digital photography?

The "professional" sceptic

2009-11-09T15:22:00.000Z

I agree with the fact that any supposedly serious paranormal investigations show should have an on-board sceptic. It is a requirement to have someone who isn't as ready to believe the odd creak or other noise is always of a paranormal nature. I do find it amusing though that these sceptics have received wide public recognition by appearing on shows who's aims and findings they are largely out to disprove. I would imagine that their services are also being paid for by these very shows. If a sceptic IS being paid by the television company who's show he/she is appearing on then how unbiased is it possible to be?. After all they can't be TOO critical of the show and it's findings or they would swiftly find themselves being replaced by a "gentler" sceptic - perhaps they should do it as a public service free-of-charge and really tell us what they think (says he grinning)
A few shows spring to mind, but I think you probably know the ones I have in mind.
Please don't think that I am decrying them in any way, because I am most definitely not. I think most happenings that have been described as paranormal have some rational, earthly explanation. It's the anomalies that can't be rationalised that are obviously the most intriguing.

Beginnings

2009-11-07T12:26:00.000Z

I suppose I have always been in touch with the paranormal and taken it as a matter of course. My mother was certainly very mediumistic and often as a child at night I would hear her having conversations and I would only be able to hear one voice. It was a bit like eavesdropping on a telephone conversation someone was having. I never saw it as unusual as it was just part of our normal family life.
I haven't inherited her gifts (sadly) but I do seem to have certain abilities. If I was a little more open-minded I could possibly be a little better at it, but I still have the sceptic side to me. It's a Jekyll and Hyde existence I am a firm believing non-believer!!
There are a handful of happenings that I will go into in depth later on some time, but yes, I HAVE seen a ghost.
Fervent sceptics will always scoff when you say that, and claim it was a hallucination or hysteria. Then there are others who do believe you but say "I have never seen a ghost myself". When they say that I always say the same thing. Which is "how do you know?" They look a little confused when I say that, but if you think it through, when we are walking down a street or road and there are people, we always make the very natural assumption that they are all solid, living beings. We may have seen dozens of ghosts in our lifetime but been unaware. That strange looking man or woman in outdated clothing that we gave a glance and merely thought "how oddly dressed" may well have not been there at all in the real sense. OK, I am being dramatic and maybe a little silly, but it IS a possibility.

Spooky stuff on TV

2009-11-05T15:53:00.000Z

After getting Sky TV some years ago I found (to my joy) that there were programmes on ghosts and the paranormal. I watched all the Ghost Hunters programmes over and over. Not the TAPS thing, the British ones that were single episodes for each story. I have them all on DVD now.
After that "Most Haunted" came on TV on Living and I was hooked (well both me and the missus actually) - we were avid fans and waited with anticipation for each episode.
It seems now there's a glut of all things paranormal and ghostly. We have become almost de-sensitised. It takes more to impress us these days!
At one time we used to get excited if they recorded knocks and bumps - now we take it as standard fayre.
Speaking personally, this de-sensitisation has actually helped to keep my sceptical side healthy. Although I believe in the existence of ghosts (whatever they may be) I am still unsure as to if they exist as more than just images that are replayed when conditions are right. The fact that some entities seem to interract with the living would suggest that they do exist as free thinking entities - now THERE'S the journey. Investigating the possibility that it may be true.
I will share my thoughts, feelings and journey so far on this blog. Feel free to send me your thoughts.

Welcome to my new blog

2009-11-05T15:30:00.000Z

This is the blog page associated with my main website http://www.ghost-investigators.co.uk

On here will be my latest thoughts, musings and anything else that falls out of my brain.