poltergeists

The BAREARTS this Friday 19th in Todmorden, opposite Morrisons. 'Proper' beer, served in jugs, good company and the harp, of course - see you there? (starts early-ish - not sure myself yet but they have a website!)

We have had over 2 weeks of peace and quiet in the house so I dare write about it now! For the past 23 years we have lived with several ghosts. The house is Edwardian and the site has a very interesting history. No-one knows exactly when the poltergiest activity started but the teenage lad who lived here before us refused to sleep inside the house and took up residence in a caravan parked in the field at the back. The more sceptical the visitor, the more this particular 'spirit' played up. One guest left ashen-faced at 3 in the morning after he woke up to hear heavy breathing and someone sat on his bed. He gave a 'jungle' roar, leapt out of bed and charged out of the room, only to find the corridor outside his door had been blocked with a huge tower of chairs, cuddlies, toys and slippers.

In the last month we have been pelted with the crabapples I had picked; whilst teaching one afternoon we heard thud, after thud, on the music room door. My pupil had to help pick up all the apples which were still rolling round the floor outside the room. The tricks were numerous and after a few weeks of moving a particular piece of furniture every day, or a particular prank it would move onto something else. Occasionally we would have a few months of peace. I tried to find a pattern by keeping a diary but there was none.

Last night another pupil reminded me that last year it had attacked the Christmas Tree on every possible occasion. I would say goodbye to one pupil and walk into the room with another pupil minutes later and there would be baubles rolling round the floor and the tree would be on top of furniture looking like it had just been through a tornedo!

Things got so bad last month we decided to call in help. We had been kept awake for 5 nights in a row with tappings and very loud bangs on the bedroom door and on the bedhead. At 5 am one morning my exhausted husband shouted ... 'at least *** tap in rhythm'! The house had been exorcised 5 times but to no avail. We needed to do research and find the cause.

As a child one of my Dad's friends had sold a ghost in the local newspaper so I had even wondered whether we should put it on Ebay but the solution proved far simpler. I will have to leave you guessing as to how, but if anyone out there is as desperate as we were - just get in touch!!!

The Barearts

When Dave and I need cheering up we treck across the moors to Todmorden to The Barearts. Trevor brews his own beer (on a massive scale) and Kathy paints pictures (nudes actually and incredibly clever) - hence The Barearts. I love the way that they both welcome everyone through the door, no-one is ever left alone and they always introduce people. I always try to introduce people as well - it seems to be falling out of fashion in 'real life' but I am always pretty useless when it comes to Facebook!

We keep meaning to give Kathy a 'bare-harp' to paint. It would probably be pink and we would probably call it 'Virgin-Al'. Everything is painted bright pink - it shows off the paintings well and the serious beer drinkers don't seem to mind. Beer is served in jugs (posh-like).

Well I got a telephone call today wanting the harper who had been on Woman's Hour a couple of weeks back - big surprise to me as ever! It was recorded quite a few years ago when I made my first-ever harp. On the way back from recording in Manchester I got stuck on the M62 for 2 hours in scorching weather and the harp exploded in the back of the car ... Couldn't be mended so had to start all over again (now you know why so many trips to The Barearts are needed ...)

Back at Barearts - this Friday

Nearing the end of a very busy spell now! This is just to thank all of you who came to the Wuthering Heights and remind you about the next gig. This Friday at the Barearts in Todmorden - 7 pm. If you like good company and good beer - and of course good music - see you there...