S.P. Oldham's Blog, page 35
October 5, 2019
31 Days of Horror - 31 Days, 31 Books
31 Days of Horror 2019 - 31 books, 31 authors. Including books by Sarah NorthwoodJoanne Van LeerdamSue OldhamRichard RumpleScott DonnellyHoward CarlyleTheresa Jacobs David Gray Kevin J. Kennedy Allisha McAdoo Ed Bar Lee Franklin Alathia Morgan Suzi Albracht Lou Yardley Toneye Blakk Sam Gregory Carmilla Voiez Linda ODea Marc Johnson Kathy Denver Author Dean Michael Whitehead Alexander William Connatty Andy Graham Denise Doyle as well as a multitude of authors included in the featured anthologies.
For 31 Days of Horror, 31 Days, 31 Books - go to Red Cape Publishing
https://redcapepublishing.com/2019/10...
https://external-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/...
Our Experience - The Real Mary King's Close
We did it, The Real Mary King's Close in Edinburgh. The Real Mary King's Close
It was very interesting I must say. Very hard to fully comprehend what the poor souls who had to live in the depths of the city had to endure. As you might expect, the closer to street level you lived, the 'less poor' you were. The absolute poorest of the poor lived in the murkier depths at the end of Mary King's Close. Rats, disease, crime, abuse - unimaginable.
The photo shows me and Adam standing on the slope of the actual thoroughfare that once ran down through Mary King's Close. It was incredibly steep and very dusty. We had electric lighting to illuminate the way for us. The Close's inhabitants would of course only had lamp or candle light, if they were lucky, and the cheapest kind at that.
There were examples of some of the houses that once occupied the Close. I use the term 'houses' very loosely. They were hovels, with low ceilings and mud packed floors. Not all of them had fireplaces, most of them were overcrowded and desperately unsanitary. Twice a day, in accordance with the church bells, the full chamber pots would be dragged to the doorway and simply thrown down the street to the cry of "gardyloo!" Impossible to imagine the stench as every dwelling did this at the same time. (By the way, I took gardy loo to be garde loo, meaning watch out for the toilet. In fact it is apparently a corruption of the French phrase "gare de l'eau" meaning 'beware of the water.')
This unsavoury mix would often reach ankle height, sometimes even knee height. It would roll its slow and stinking way down to the Nor Loch below. I imagine many other things also rolled down to that dark body of water; dead animals, the odd corpse probably... Some more grim details can be found here: The Nor Loch, Wikipedia
The guides were very keen to stress that this is an historical tour, rather than a ghostly one, but it is hard to imagine such a place not being in some way haunted. So much tragedy, so many desperate human beings forced together in such an enclosed, dark, hidden space. How can there not be something left of those times, held within those cold, wide walls? There was mention of the ghost of a young girl wandering the levels. There was a second ghost, also a young girl, who let herself be known to a visiting psychic from Japan back in around 2004 I believe (I may have the date wrong.) It is said that this little spirit was lonely and in need of comfort. She told the psychic that her parents had abandoned her in their tiny hovel when it became clear the child had the plague. She had been left to die alone, in pain and fear. The psychic, so the story goes, went straight out onto Princes street, bought the first doll she could find, and laid it in the fireplace in the haunted hovel. Moved by this story, others followed suit over the ensuing years, bringing teddy bears and dolls to fill the room. To this day, the fireplace is full of such toys to appease the poor child. I do not know if there has been any reported sightings of her since. There are other stories, of witch trials, suicides, murder and incest - too many to recount here, but easy to find online if you are interested and want to know more.
There have been lots of repairs and renovations to make the area safe. Some parts are walled off completely and are inaccessible. The Close was used as an air raid shelter during the war. It would be fascinating to know if anyone sheltering there from the bombs, happened across anything paranormal down underground. Looking at the picture above, without us in it, it is not hard to imagine a spirit appearing from the darkness above to wander down the very steep slope...
Anyway, this was something I have wanted to do for years now, and so I am very grateful and happy to say that this is another one ticked off my 'to do' list. If you love history, or hauntings, or both, Edinburgh is a must, in my opinion.
If you have visited and have stories or experiences to share, I would love to hear them! Perhaps you know of other similar dwellings in other parts of the world. Please share, this is the stuff of life past it is true, but it is also the stuff of myth, legend and ultimately stories - and that's what we are all about here at So Lost in Words.
September 30, 2019
The Real Mary King's Close - Ediinburgh
Off to Edinburgh in the wee small hours, then to visit this fascinating place in the afternoon. Am looking forward to telling you all about it - and the castle of course - when I get home. In the meantime, if you can't be good, be good at being bad...
https://www.realmarykingsclose.com/
Photograph: https://www.ontheluce.com/underground-edinburgh-mary-kings-close/
September 29, 2019
Silly Zombie Limericks
September 28, 2019
The Clairvoyant - How it Went/My Views.
It was a very pleasant evening, a light and happy atmosphere in a Spiritualist Church where we were made to feel very welcome.
I am not mentioning any names and am being deliberately vague when it comes to details, in order to retain anonymity for others.
Before I start, I will reiterate what I said before. I am not for one minute suggesting that I have all or even any answers. Nor am I calling anyone a liar or any other name. I will also restate here that I am striving to keep an open mind. I would love to think that there is some way we can communicate with loved ones after they have died. If there is ever solid, evidential, undeniable proof of that then I will be one of the first to sign up for a reading.
I also readily admit that I am not remotely religious. That said, and before anyone calls me a hypocrite, I paid lip service to the brief prayer and the hymns out of respect for the company I was with, the church we were in and the purpose of the evening. I wanted to immerse myself in the spirit of the thing, pardon the pun. It also goes back to the open-minded bit. It could certainly do no harm to join in. (I will say it was the oddest rendition of The Lord's Prayer I have ever heard. I got lost along the way, forgetting the words (I learned it as a child) because of the oddness of the way in which it was sung. Still, each to their own...)
I went to this evening with three people, all of whom are believers to varying degrees but are not easily fooled. Our group had a lot of readings between us. I will say right here and now that I was not convinced. A lot of what was said was, in my opinion, very general and could be true of just about anyone. A lot of things were also said that were likely to give the readers a 'hit' simply because of our age group - grandchildren, someone at University or college, teeth problems etc... Accent etc.. gave away other clues that the readers passed along as 'messages.' Still other messages could easily be guessed at based on prior information that those being given the reading had already confirmed. For example, three of us had walking sticks with us. The 'medium' had already learned that one of our number had serious back trouble. The next message was in reference to weakness in her legs. Her walking stick was resting on the chair in front! It wasn't too great a leap to work that out, in my opinion.
One of the mediums hit on a name with one of my group almost straight out the gates. The person being read accepted this willingly. It wasn't until we were walking home when it was all over, that I pointed out that we had been sitting chatting for at least half an hour before the readings began, and I had used that name freely and quite loudly in that conversation. It was no surprise to me that the medium 'picked up on it.'
One of them gave an extremely accurate reading to a lady sitting behind us. People were impressed and perhaps they should be. However, when the lady first arrived it was quite obvious from the way they greeted one another that they knew each other at least reasonably well. I will say no more than that.
So many people volunteered information willingly when they should have just either confirmed or denied the message meant for them. It was blatantly obvious to me that a lot of the audience was doing half of the work for the mediums without realising it.
There were one or two things that were not so readily explainable, I openly admit that too. An interesting remark about something I did in my childhood that not even the close family members who were with me knew anything about. But even then, after mulling it over, I think I can see how that was potentially a guess - albeit a good one - hazarded from information she already knew about me. Maybe not, perhaps I am wrong and she genuinely got a message about that, but why?
That is another thing that puzzled me. The 'messages' for the most part were not really messages at all. They were statements, which the reader could either accept or deny. Surely if someone from beyond the veil got in touch, it would be for good reasons and not simply because they want to tell you that you're having trouble with the car - something mundane and which you already know? What would be the point of that?
I also maintain that if my dad, bless him, wanted to say anything to any one of us he wouldn't do it through a psychic, a stranger to him and to us, he would do it directly to us himself!
I don't say these mediums in particular set out to be deliberately fraudulent. They were kind in that when they did 'see' something slightly unpleasant, they offered common sense advice to the person concerned. They did not foresee doom and gloom at all and were gentle with those they were giving readings to. Credit where it is due. I can say that much for them. However, other psychics have been proven to be deliberately fraudulent and in it for the money and the status.
While we are on the subject of the mediums themselves: one of them was, for want of a better word, an established psychic. The lady with her was her protege of sorts, learning to be a medium from her. Which made me wonder. I was always led to believe that being psychic is a gift. How can you be taught to be psychic?
I know some of you will answer by saying that she was not being taught to be psychic, but that she already has the gift and is being taught to channel it. Not sure how I feel about that if I am honest. There again, you CAN be taught how to Hot or Cold Read...
So, to summarise: I felt that the vast majority of the evening was easily explainable. The rest, not so much, fair enough. It was a very ordinary group of people in fairly ordinary surroundings. There was no 'sense' of being in touch with the dead. No spine-tingling atmosphere, no hairs rising on the back of my neck, none of that at all. I was a little disappointed in that regard, I must admit.
I respect everyone's beliefs and do not mean to decry anyone. If there really is something to this then wonderful, I hope some day I witness unequivocal, genuine proof.
In the meantime, it is something that offers comfort to a great many people. It is widely believed in across the world, but then so are numerous Gods...
By the way, some people confuse my skepticism about psychics with general disbelief in the supernatural as a whole. Having had a few odd, strange and downright scary experiences myself, I utterly refute that. I have even used a few of my own experiences in my writing, and have a few more yet I may one day draw inspiration from.
It is undoubtedly a great tool for supernatural fiction of all description and ultimately that is where my interest lies. If and when I use a psychic medium in my work, I will strive to make him or her laden with atmosphere, intensity and feeling and on that front at least, I will do my best to make you a believer...
I welcome your thoughts and comments. All I ask is that we keep it respectful. Thank you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wtfhZwyrcc
September 22, 2019
Clairvoyant
Later this week I am going to a Spiritualist Church to see a locally renowned psychic. I am going to be totally up front here and say that, despite having what I consider to have been strange supernatural experiences in the past myself, I do not believe in clairvoyants.
I used to, completely. Members of my family whom I love and respect deeply are firm believers. I even have close family members who would describe themselves as psychic. Who am I to argue? For all I know, there may be something in it.
Trouble is, over the years I have discovered and looked in to the practices of Hot and Cold Reading. I have watched people such as Derren Brown demonstrate how such deceptions are carried out. I don't believe for one minute my close family members indulge in such practices. Quite the opposite in fact; I believe them to be totally honest, loving, caring and responsible people. All I am saying is when it comes to such things, I hold judgement in reserve these days.
Nevertheless, I am looking forward to our evening this week, not least because I will be in the company of two of my sisters. But also because I am interested to see how this psychic works and what messages, if any, 'come through.' I will report back next week with an honest summary of my experience. I may even end up basing a little story around it, who knows?
All of this aside, the psychic is obviously a great tool for horror and dark fiction. I love the sense of 'other' they bring with them to both story and film. Despite my beliefs these days, I have no problem in putting them on hold for the sake of enjoying a good spooky story - whether I am writing it or reading it or even watching it. I loved the medium in 'Poltergeist.' Scared me stupid!
Take a look at my limericks page for the new limerick of the week, a fun verse based, funnily enough, on psychics.
I include some links you may or may not wish to take a look at. I would LOVE to hear your thoughts and experiences on the subject, if you feel like sharing. In the meantime, take care and thanks for reading.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acnUkYNTk90 YouTube Derren Brown Fools Psychic Readers and Talk to the Dead
http://www.skepdic.com/coldread.html Cold Reading - The Skeptic's Dictionary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTNwkvHfE_Y Hot Reading - Psychic Methods Revealed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQMYzB6gUQc - Poltergeist - YouTube
September 17, 2019
The road up ahead...
A little snippet from The Undertaking, Book 2 of the Mindless Trilogy.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/…/B…/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i4
September 9, 2019
One Week Only
Heads up! Starts tomorrow at the cheapest price. Enjoy!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XJYGFC2
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XJYGFC2
September 3, 2019
The Dragon Has Wings - First Draft Complete
The first draft of The Dragon Has Wings is at last complete! Now for the hard work...
If you are interested in a free ARC copy (ebook only) then let me know. My first attempt at Grimdark. Will be interested to know what readers think.
In the meantime, thank you to my sons Christopher and Rhys for buying the cover - love it. I told you I would put it to use! The artist is Viergacht, purchased from SelfPubBookCovers.com/ Viergacht
August 25, 2019
Gremlins Abound! My Interview
Thank you to Lee Monroe for interviewing me this morning. Unfortunately the server was down and there were several tech issues in the studio. The interview went ahead nonetheless and went out to Blaenau Gwent and beyond. I hope none of my ghostly gremlins were responsible. Ghost Town by The Specials stopped playing - chilling stuff!
Lee has very kindly invited me back in two weeks time for a second interview, when hopefully it will all go smoothly. No matter, I enjoyed chatting to Lee. Thank you to BGFM for giving me the opportunity and the air time, I look forward to talking to you again.
For everyone who tuned in or tried to listen online, thank you so much. I will let you know when the next interview is up. Have a great Sunday everyone.
