A Ghost Story for Christmas?

Many years ago (1983-3), after I finished my OND in Horticulture I went on to do further study with the Institute of Parks & Recreation Management, which changed it's name to the Institute of Leisure & Amenity Management (ILAM) a student at their headquarter, at a place called 'The Grotto'.

'The Grotto' is (I assume it is still there?) a simple white Neo-Classical late Georgian mansion house, in Lower Basildon, near Streatley & Goring, on the side of a steep chalk hillside, at the entrance to the 'Goring Gap, between the Chilterns and the Berkshire Downs. It has a large stretch of Thames riverbank at the bottom of the hill and nearby a fine redbrick railway bridge, part of Brunel's Great Western Railway. (Co-incidentally, the chalk grassland there, in the grounds, is the only place I have ever seen glow worms).

'The Grotto' is also reputed to be haunted by a 'White Lady'. A woman who supposedly fell down a deep well within the house.

One evening, a fellow student Charles (a lovely chap from Ghana) and I were studying in the library, which had, besides lots of bookcases (what a surprise! LOL!), a few cupboards with locked doors. As befits a Neo-Classical building, the Library was painted in white and light pastel shades (of blue? I think? or was it pink?). So Charles and I were sat reading and taking notes, when we heard a strange noise. It was like a dull knock against wood. Not a rap, but maybe if you couldn't rap in a 'normal' way. But more than just a knock. A slightly distant, muffled knock, more of a thud; distant, but also sounding from with the room.

A "Thud!".

It was followed a few seconds later by another. "Thud!"

And then another! "Thud!"

Charles and I looked at each other. We had never heard the noise before, but then again, had we been in the library at this time before either?

All was quite. Then about a minute or less later. "Thud!" Followed a few seconds later by another. "Thud!" and then a third. "Thud!"

The noise appeared to be coming from one of the cupboards. Charles and I looked at each other.

All was quiet again for about a minute or less, then again "Thud! Thud! Thud!" Each time there was a gap of a few seconds between each "Thud!"

This noise pattern kept repeating, about a minutes silence, followed by three thuds.

Charles was staring white eyed with concern now at the 'creepy' sounds coming from the cupboard.

We investigated the foresaid cupboard. It was locked!

And then the three thuds again!

Charles and I decided to leave. It was all too uncanny for us.

We scurried along the corridor outside, heading back to our rooms.

But.... Then ...... As we were passing along the passage (LOL!), we heard the noise again. "Thud!"

"Thud!"

"Thud!"

This time the noise was clearer.

Closer!

We could hear it, coming from the behind the door that led down to the cellar.

The cellar that was our student club house.

We braved ourselves to investigate, and cautiously approached the door, and with some fear dared to descend the stairs.

"Thud!"

"Thud!"

"Thud!"

We had little idea what was causing the noise.

"Thud!"

"Thud!"

"Thud!"

And then .......

Then .....

At the bottom of the stairs.

All ....

Was revealed.

You see there was a wooden post, a support for the floor above, and on it was hung .....

was hung .....

??????

A Dartboard. And a couple of the other students were playing darts!

"Thud!" "Thud!" "Thud!"

Happy Christmas!

Hekate's Keys!

Hekate's Keys!

Hekate was introduced to me by a customer some years ago soon after I started making my bronze jewellery. Steve the Green Man Jewellery. She asked me to make her an Hekate Wheel, and thanks to her and Hekate, this has since been one of my best sellers, and I have felt that I have had the blessing of the goddess on myself and my work. But for a long time I have been thinking I should do more for her than just the one design and size variants on it, but also as an archaeologist by training I wanted something with a connection to antiquity, or at least looked antique, and that I could do within the limits of my abilities and materials I use (I can't do neat, I can't do small, and I can't do fiddly!). For a long time I have thought that the key to this were her keys; but ancient style keys, not modern ones like most use.

But the moment was not quite right, until a few days ago, when suddenly I found myself on a surge of new designs and variants on my work, most of which went very well. And among these was this new design that the Goddess inspired within me. I wanted something feminine and hadn't realised until I finished it that my symbolic long skirted female shape was in fact the more modern keyhole shape! But it was the shape that she inspired me towards. The three long ancient keys on her skirt (I know far bigger than any would be, but we are dealing with symbolism here :) ), and then a nod towards my personal past with her, with her fire bowl at the top. To me, it all fell into place! :)

Whether purists and modern book led pagans of any kind will like it or not, I don't care. To me, this has come straight from her to me as a gift! It may turn out that it is not original, that perhaps I saw something in the past and it was in my sub-conscious (like composing a tune. Is it original, or something heard? Or part of many things heard?). If it is, then it is my version of that.

All I hope is that she is pleased with what I have done in her honour? What am I talking about?? I know she is pleased with what I have done for her.