A clairvoyants chronicle

Gypsy girl

2011-10-07T04:04:00.000-07:00

“She was just a gypsy girl

with her dark and dreamy eyes

she danced for zena martell

she was gifted and so wise”

As I was standing, waiting for Caden to go into class one morning Mel commented that she had a book that she thought I might be interested in reading. Before she had even gotten her words out one of my Guides gave me a very strong YES reaction (I call it my Spidey Sense, it’s sort of like being hit by a great big static electric shock down my spine).

Two days later I found myself sat with a cuppa and Mel’s copy of “The girl in the painted caravan” by Eva Petulengro.As I opened the book my Mum’s maiden name of Pattison popped into my head with the words “you’ll find your family in here!”

I began to read. The story was about Eva’s childhood growing up in a Gypsy caravan during the war years. This true story gripped me and I could not put it down.

Day two passed and no sign of the name Pattison, I forgot the message as the story pulled me in.

Day three and I was nearing the end of the story when I read a line that sent my Spidey sense a tingling. There it was in black and white “Sony Boy Pattison from an old Romany family”

I did a little research and found out that Pattison was the Irish version of the name Patterson. My Mum always said that there was Irish blood in her. The Pattisons left Ireland probably in the fourteenth or fifteenth century and settled in the North East of England. My Mum’s Granddad walked in the Jarrow March, we are a Geordie family from South Shields. But most impressive of all was the fact that the Irish Pattisons who settled in the North East were an old Romany Gypsy family. Guess that answers a lot of questions about my gifts.

opening up

2010-05-16T08:41:00.001-07:00

Opening up

1 Sit or stand and allow your body to relax. Feel the muscles around your eyes and mouth relax, and allow yourself a slight smile. Feel your shoulders coming down and any tension in your back or neck easing. Now feel the relaxing feeling flowing up and down your body.

2 Allow your breathing to deepen and become even, flowing comfortably. When any thoughts come into your mind, just allow them to float away for this short period of time. You do not need them just now.

3 Now imagine a beautiful white light shining down from the universe. It flows right into the top of your head, flowing down and connecting you with the universal energy that knows everything. Feel the energy connect you, and allow your own energy to flow easily and naturally.

Closing down

1 After each exercise allow your breathing to become regular and feel the white light slowly drawing back towards the universe. It has now completed its job.

2 Allow your own energy- your aura and Etheric Energy- come back to its usual size and shape. Know that each time you use your energy and tap into the universal force the connection has become a little stronger, protecting you and keeping you aware.

3 Feel yourself connect with your body and its usual state. Feel your feet on the ground and your body and mind strong.

Spiritualist Jedi

2010-04-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

I was recently shocked to discover how much I hate the word God. So much so that I had to look within and discover why. My meditation helped me to realize that it was not God I had a problem with rather it was the hatred and religious intolerance shown towards me by some so called Christians.

I decided to use this experience to write a talk for use next time I give a talk on philosophy at the Spiritualist centre service.

During my development class I was given a questionnaire to fill in. I froze when I saw “Write no more than 4 things which should be included in a prayer to God.
My initial reaction was GOD, what does he have to do with my Spiritualism and how can I continue if I do not believe in him?
I have come to trust my gut reactions; they are normally a sign that work needs to be done here. Why did I react so badly to the word God? I have suffered discrimination and yes abuse due to my beliefs. Once I was refused to rent a shop because the ladies in the charity shop next to it decided that healing is not Christian and I was accused of Devil Worship and working with Demons! This did nothing to endear their so called loving God to me, the idea of there being an all knowing, all seeing “old man” watching, judging me is not my idea of the divine.
I could pretend and just continue, but that would not be fair to me, or Tom (my teacher), and most importantly it would not be fair to you!

So what is my idea of the divine?
If you look at all the major religions of our world then you begin to see the common link in them all. There is a Golden Thread of truth which has been woven into the ideas and philosophies of their founders. From a Pagans love of Nature, the Buddhist’s reverence for the Tao and a Spiritualists understanding of the spark of divinity that is in us all, our immortal souls this thread can be seen weaving in and out of beliefs the world over.
I belief that whatever we call him God, Universe, Allah or Elohim she is always the same deity. So I guess I do belief in God, but in the one that connects us all, he does not judge us, she does not discriminate between us, and it flows through and around us offering nothing but energy and love.
So what religion do I class myself as following; I am an eclectic, I consider myself part Buddhist, part Pagan, but All Spiritualist.
Why am I telling you this?
If like those kind ladies in the Salvation Army charity shop you go about your life judging other religions as false or misguided or even evil then you will miss that beautiful golden thread that offers us truth and love and hope. That would really be a shame because once you see this thread you then see the beauty that is in all the different cultures and beliefs that are on this planet. I wish that more people could see that no matter what our religions, we are all the same. Brothers and Sisters each with our own nick name for our Lord.
No more Religious intolerance what great way to celebrate all our different faiths.

What do you think?

Ghostly playmate

2010-03-30T04:09:00.003-07:00

Those of you who know me will also know that I don’t half have some weird dreams. Sometimes they are just plain old weird dreams but occasionally they are more than that. I woke this morning and realised that I had just had one of the more than dreams.

Before I tell you my dream let me just introduce you to Caden’s friend.

From my grandsons birth I have been aware of his playmate. This cheeky little boy has, from day one, been by his side. Caden was only days old when I woke to the sound of a small toddler playing by his Moses basket. As Caden has gone from toddler to the terrible two’s and beyond this small child has gone toddler to a school boy, he has “grown up” with my grandson! This was fine whilst Caden was little because he just accepted him as a friend and I spent hours listening to games and laughter as they played together. The problem is now that Caden has got older, he knows there is something odd, different with his friend. This was fine until his school mates became obsessed with monsters and aliens; Caden’s friend now scares him! It eventually got to a point where I had to ask him to stop playing for a while, just until Caden accepted him again. He has been good, sort off; Caden has been more relaxed since I explained to his friend that he was scaring him. I woke two nights ago to a familiar voice exclaiming “come on, let’s play”, Caden was fast asleep at the time!

He has been here for many years before Caden arrived and I guess he is lonely, but even so I wish he didn’t wake Caden up in the middle of the night.

In my dream I was at my development class, we were asking for a sign that someone was there when we noticed a mist forming. This mist formed into “smoke circles” before it created several more patterns, each one becoming more intricate and beautiful. As I looked I became aware of a small boy who was forming these patterns in the mist, he slowly floated up to me and as I looked into his eyes my heart melted. I knew at that moment that all he wanted was to be a part of a family again. That lonely child had maybe the first hug since he had died. I woke still with the feeling of being hugged.

I do not know what to do now, this little soul has captured my heart. But how do I help him, can I help him? Should I even try? Does he need to find his own family? Is there some other reason that he has become so close to Caden and now to me? For now we will continue as we are, until I can work out what to do about our little friend, if anything.

The washing machine curse strikes again!

2010-02-26T04:10:00.000-08:00

There are times when I wonder whether it’s worth it!

Don’t get me wrong, I love my gifts.

I love how I can talk with my loved ones who are no longer here.

I love how during a reading you get that look of absolute amazement, shock, how the f**ck did she know that moment.

What I don’t like is my ability to affect electrical appliances, or EPK

Electrical Psychokinesis (EPK): the ability to manipulate electrical objects.
Where street lights, [electrical] clocks, computers, and any /or
all electrical appliances are affected; usually negatively.

This week I have blown up my 4^th microwave and fried my 17^th washer, yes you read that right no 17 has just died!

On Monday I walked into my kitchen only to see my washer turn itself on (yes it was turned off at the time) and begin to fill up with water. I should’ve just walked out the room but I had to go see what it was doing. As I got closer all the lights started flashing, I turned the power off as I didn’t trust it not to blow up. I have just tried it again and yes it is still filling itself with water and flashing at me. So RIP no 17!

This is really getting stupid, is it worth me replacing it? Apart from the inconvenience and the real possibility that it could cause an accident, there is also the cost of replacing them.

Am I destined to always wash my clothes in the bath? At the moment my bath is full of soaking clothes ready for me to finish washing them. It’s not hard to do and it is saving me a fortune in electricity!

Maybe I will just not buy washer no 18! Think that I can also do without a microwave; I really don’t like using them anyway.

Now the problem is the rest of the electrical items that I have to regularly use.

Think yourself lucky that this doesn’t happen to you as it really does affect my life. Computers crash, TV’s lose their signal, tills go mental, and car alarms go off. The list is endless as it can strike any electrical appliance that I happen to be near.

Beware if I come to visit you, don’t let me touch anything electrical.

I have broken a washer belonging to my sister!

Recipe for life

2010-02-21T14:30:00.000-08:00

When you bake, things taste better if you actually follow a recipe. Whilst meditating today I received a cake recipe.

The cake of life.

Ingredients

Tub of kindness

6oz of love

5oz of patience

1oz of trust

6oz of compassion

Packet of knowledge

Jar of hope

Method

Add 6oz kindness with the love, patience, trust and compassion to a mixer.

Mix

Grease a cake tin with a little kindness and pour in the cake mix.

Bake in a medium universe

Once cool slice in half

Mix together a little kindness and knowledge until smooth and creamy

Spread a layer of hope over one cake half and then use the creamed knowledge to sandwich your cake together

Finally sieve a little more knowledge over the top of your cake

As with any cake, this one tastes a lot better if shared with family and friends. Maybe with a cup or two of fun!!!!!

Who wrote this recipe?

I don’t know, but it needs to belong to everyone.

Share your cake and pass on the recipe for life. Let’s see how much sweeter we can make this World for us all to enjoy.

Seven Steps: Moving from Meditation into Dynamic Prayer

2010-02-20T13:07:00.000-08:00

Years ago when I first started out on this journey I was given a meditation that I have used week in week out for over 11 years.

This very powerful meditation can literally be life changing.

I have used it to gain answers, heal and to help me to overcome my fears so that I can develop my gifts.

Seven Steps: Preparation

Find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed for at least 20 minutes. Close your eyes and breathe deeply and consciously.

If you are burdened about anything happening in your life, try imagining that each breath out removes toxins from your system, and that each breath in fills you with pure white light.

When you are calm and centered, you are ready for the next step.

Seven Steps Explained

Step One:

1. I release my past, negatives, fears, human relations and inner self into the Light

Visualization

Think on a beautiful summer day. See the Sun shining before you. Use your power of visualization to bring that Sun so that it is placed right in front of you.

Release your burdens into that Sun:

I release my past, negatives, fears, human relations and inner self into the Light

Your past is everything that has happened to you since the time your were born.   If you believe in reincarnation, this can mean everything that has happened to you since your soul was created.

When you think on your past, you can have feelings of regret, remorse, guilt - which can initiate an entire host of negative feelings about self and about others. Release these memories into the Light.   Consciously let go of them and see them being consumed by the brilliant Sun before you.

Your negatives are those things you perceive about yourself that you really don't like.   You may see them as personal limitations, ignorance, self-hatred, anger and nonforgiveness.   Release these things into the Light.   Consciously let go of them and see them being consumed by the brilliant Sun before you.

Your fears can be about a host of internal problems.   Perhaps the fear of the loss of a relationship, fears about money, things, people, places, events.  We do not talk here about the sense of alert that helps us to be careful about our actions. We talk about negative and crippling fear that causes spritual paralysis and lethargy. Release fears into the Light.   Consciously let go of them and see them consumed by the brilliant Sun before you.

Human relations can be either positive or negative - our feelings about them, our attempts to possess another, or having another try to possess us, or feelings of resentment regarding the actions or inaction of another.   An entire host of psychological problems can be traced back to our human relations, family interactions between ourselves and our father, mother, brother, sister, friend, perceived enemy, bully, teacher.   The list goes on and on. Release human relations into the Light.   Consciously let go of them and see them consumed by the brilliant Sun before you.

Finally, the monad that you perceive about yourself as the soul - your identity - you.   After your releasing - consciously merge into the Brilliant Sun before you.   The brilliant Sun is completely in, through and around you - you have become an integral part of that brilliant Sun.

Step Two: Affirmation
2. I am a Light being.

The essence of the soul is spiritual light. It is the native part of who we are. "Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter." In step two, you are affirming this and claiming it as well as accepting your spiritual inheritance in the Light. See and feel this affirmation deeply and allow the meditation upon it to focus for a few minutes.

Step Three: Turn up the dial

3. I radiate the Light from my Light center throughout my being.

Like a dimmer switch, here you are turning up the Light of the Sun you have become and flooding every atom, cell and electron with ineffible steely white light.   Your Light Center is a centered in your heart.   See yourself completely immersed and charged with the Light.

Step Four

4. I radiate the Light from my Light center to everyone.

Radiate the intense Light of your inner Jedi, your inner identity in the Light, to everyone you meet, to people you know, to your family, friends, loved ones, and to people you do not know - to everyone.

Step Five

5. I radiate the Light from my Light center to everything.

Flood your room, your home, your block, your city, your nation, your planet, your solar system and your universe with your Light.   Radiate the Star of your being to everything.

Step Six: Protection

6. I am in a bubble of Light, and only Light can come to me, and only Light can be here.

Your Light Bubble is about nine feet in every direction - about eighteen feet in diameter.   It is an inpenetrable armor of Light that can protect you spiritually from the discord of others and the arrows of hostility.

Protection is very necessary. Use and affirm your Light Bubble throughout the day.

Step Seven - Final step - A heartfelt thank you....

7. I thank the Light for everyone, everything and for me.

Gratitude for the Light blesses the experience and allows us to magnetize even more Light and the abundant life.   You are sealing your energies with this final step.

How do you fancy meeting your spirit guide?

2010-02-16T02:47:00.001-08:00

At my class yesterday this is exactly what I did. Before I explain the meditation for you let me introduce him.

For several years I have been aware that I have a Native American helping me.

I first met him in a very vivid dream.

There was an eagle flying high in the sky. Slowly this magnificent bird swooped lower and lower. As I watched I became aware of an American Indian warrior sitting on his horse, he was watching the eagle as well. Silently he raised his arm and the eagle swooped down to gently land on his arm.

I had no idea who he was but this dream was so much more than just a dream and instinctively I new it. His next sign was even more impressive. I fell in love with a crystal bracelet, so I bought it for myself. As I sat gazing at it I noticed a figure emerging in the crystal, there in front of my eyes was an Indian Warrior! He is still there standing watching me from my bracelet. Since then many mediums have mentioned the fact that he is with me.

In the years that I have known him he has gently guided and helped me. When I need it he can be very persistent. His patience is only exceeded by his sense of humour and fun.

I am also now aware that he also acts as my protector, and a very imposing figure he makes as he stands with his spear to watch over and guard me. I have seen him block at least one troublesome spirit from interacting with me.

I have wanted to be able to interact with him more. Talk with him; build a strong relationship with him. My first step was to learn his name, I have been asking for a while and last night he finally introduced himself. He goes by the name of Running Water. Not a name I was expecting but then he has always surprised me.

The meditation seems very long and complicated and it may take you a while to relax with it.

Stick with it; it is well worth the effort.

Meditation for meeting your guides.

Sit or lay whichever feels right for you.

Relax and close your eyes.

Slowly breathe out through your mouth.

Now slowly to a count of 6 breathe in through your nose, and then hold before breathing out from your mouth slowly to a count of 6.

Do your pranic breathing for several minutes as you slowly relax and go deeper into a meditative state.

Next as you breathe in see yourself breathing in positive signs, breath out negatives.

Breathe in the positives and out the negatives for several minutes.

This gives your body permission to release any negative energy that it is holding onto.

Now you are ready for your visualisation:-

See yourself in a log cabin and go to the door.

Open it and step out into a forest.

Allow your spirit body to stretch.

As you look you notice the sunlight streaming through the trees.

A beam of white sunlight shines down onto you.

Allow the light to flow through you knowing that this light is a light of protection and that it will stay with you during this meditation.

Notice the forest; see the many shades of green, smell the scent of trees.

Look up and notice how very tall the trees are.

Slowly bring your gaze down to the path in front of you.

Standing there you see an animal waiting to guide you down the path.

Feel this animal guides love for you as you greet them.

Follow your animal guide as he leads you down the path.

Notice the scenery as you walk.

Your animal sits waiting for you at a junction in the path.

His gaze is focused on the path leading to the left.

Follow him down this path as he leads you to a clearing.

He sits and urges you to continue, he will wait to lead you back.

As you walk into the clearing you notice a cliff to the left, the sound of falling water fills your ears as you see a mighty waterfall falling into the valley below.

You now look back from the cliff and you notice a house in the clearing.

This is where your guides wait to meet you.

Walk up to the door and notice any details that you see.

Knock

When the door opens it will be your main guide that is standing there to greet you.

The door slowly opens, notice who is there.

Your guide signals for you to enter and leads you into a sitting room.

As you sit on the sofa your guide sits or stands in front of you.

This is your chance, ask questions.

Anything you want to know advice, help, be nosey!

A good place to start is “What do I call you”

Your answers can come in many ways,

Sounds, words, thoughts, feelings.

Just notice what you receive.

When you are ready your guide walks out of the room.

When he returns he will have been joined with some of the guides who are currently also working with you.

Again be nosey, they have come to answer your questions.

Your main guide re-enters the room followed by some of your other guides.

Again when you are ready they say their farewells and leave the room.

It is time for you to leave the house.

Get up and go outside.

Your animal guide is waiting for you.

Spend a moment to greet your animal.

Gently your animal leads you back to your log cabin.

Enter and either sit or lay down.

Slowly allow yourself to return to your normal awareness.

Wriggle your toes.

Wriggle your fingers.

Open your eyes.

It is a good idea to write down the information you received whilst it is still fresh in your mind.

It’s Valentines Day

2010-02-14T02:13:00.000-08:00

There are times when I am really grateful that I married an unromantic man!

It is supposedly the day to show your loved one how much you care for them. How does that work? Does a bigger card really mean that you love them more?

For many people unfortunately it does!

The multi-million pound card industry must be rubbing their hands with glee today.

Am I the only one that thinks that there is far too much commercialism taking over our lives without us creating even more?

Why not agree next year to make Valentines Day everyday, no I don’t mean for you to buy cards and presents everyday. Just give them a cuddle and tell them that you love them. Maybe next year on this day the size of your card won’t be an issue.

As for me I guess I’m also un-romantic., I would panic if he suddenly bought me a card or a bunch of flowers.

It would be a case of “Oh my Gods what has he done now?”

Where I live

2010-02-13T14:01:00.000-08:00

First posted on http://www.globalfamilyroom.com/
I live in beautiful South Yorkshire and I thought you might like to visit!

If you did come to see me here are a few places that I would take you.

Local view.

First we'd visit a small village in Nottinghamshire-Everton. The place where I grew up.

Here is the church I was christened and married in.

The church of the Holy Trinity at Everton may be taken as the model of a group of village churches, built by the Normans shortly after the Conquest
The village still has its windmill.

Robin Hood's Well, West Yorkshire

A Lytell Geste of Robyn Hode is very different from the version of the Robin Hood story we know today. In it, Robin isn't a nobleman. He and the outlaws are yeomen – low-born freemen. But the most obvious difference is the setting: it is not Sherwood Forest. The poem is set in the forests of Barnsdale, between Doncaster and the village of Wentbridge in Yorkshire.
Robin Hood's Well is the earliest known place-name associated with the legendary outlaw.
The well was first mentioned by local antiquary Roger Dodsworth in 1622. The 17th-century diarist John Evelyn wrote of it: 'We all alighted at the highway to drink at the crystal spring, which they call Robin Hood's Well, neere it is a stone chair and an iron ladle to drink out of, chained to the seat.' The stream, known as the Skell, bubbled up into the well and flowed beneath the old Roman road. Close by was Robin Hood's Stone, first mentioned in a deed of 1422 lodged at Monk Bretton Priory at Barnsley. The stone has since disappeared, and the well stands isolated in the lay-by, removed from the stream because it stood in the way of the modern A1.
In a layby on the south-bound carriageway of the A1, near the hamlet of Skellow, South Yorkshire, 6 miles north-west of Doncaster, about half a mile north of the junction with the A638.
My grandad was born in the farm opposite the well.

Major Oak

Robin's hideout?

This forest veteran is a huge oak tree thought to be around 800 years old. In a 2002 survey, it was voted “Britain’s favourite tree”. According to local lore, its hollow trunk was used as a hideout by Robin Hood’s men, though if Robin was – as legend suggests – active in the 12th or 13th century, this tree could only have been a sapling then. So it must have been another, much older oak that hid the outlaw.

Today, the world famous tree weighs an estimated 23 tonnes, its trunk circumference is 33 feet (10m) and its branches spread to over 92 feet (28m).

As a young child I have hidden in its trunk!

Roche Abbey, Maltby, South Yorkshire

The joint founders of Roche Abbey owned lands on both sides of the Maltby Beck, so when the colony of monks arrived in South Yorkshire from Newminster Abbey in Northumberland, they could choose the most suitable bank of the stream on which to build their new Cistercian monastery. Officially founded in 1147, the stone buildings were began on the north side of the Beck some 25 years later. By the end of the 12th century the great Norman and Gothic church had been completed, as well as most of the claustral buildings.

From the cliff footpath running along the site boundary, a very good view across the whole site enables the visitor to understand the plan of Roche Abbey. Although many of the buildings now survive only as low standing walls, the transepts of the church remain almost to their full height and are a magnificent example of the French-influenced early Gothic architecture. Later buildings were constructed on the other side of the stream, including the Abbot's lodging, kitchen and infirmary, and a 13th century arched bridge still spans the Maltby Beck. It is perhaps more difficult to understand what kind of life the Cistercian monks experienced at Roche Abbey for nearly 400 years, as no recorded history has been discovered. What is known is that there were 14 monks and 4 novices at the monastery at the time of the Dissolution in 1538.

Once in Crown possession, it was usual for anything of value to be sold off before rendering the buildings unusable. However, the local community apparently decided they would have first claim on Roche Abbey, and a very detailed account exists describing the terrible destruction of the abbey and its artefacts, and subsequent quarrying away of stones, lead and timber. Neglected and ruined, the site subsequently passed through many private hands but it was when it eventually came to the 4th Earl of Scarborough that it was almost lost forever. As part of a programme to enhance his adjoining family seat at Sandbeck Park, in 1775 Lord Scarborough commissioned Capability Brown to landscape the area.

With little regard to the archaeological importance of Roche Abbey, Brown extensively demolished the remaining buildings, constructed huge earth terraces, and turfed across the entire site, leaving only the two transepts as 'romantic' features in the grounds. Until the end of the 19th century the remains of Roche Abbey lay disguised beneath Brown's wooded parkland, but with a successful programme of excavation during the 1920s, Roche Abbey was 'reborn' out of the ground.

Secluded in the deep valley, and contained within the natural boundaries of magnesium limestone cliffs, Roche Abbey is almost as inaccessible today as it might have been over 800 years ago. Roche Abbey was an extremely peaceful site buried with the secrets of its history in an area of great beauty.
I regularly walk through the woods to wander round the Abbey.

The Blue John Cavern in the Peak District is a series of caverns considered to be the finest range in Great Britain.
Blue John is Britains rarest mineral first discoverd at Castleton by the Romans almost 2000 years ago. And are the worlds only known deposits of this extremely rare and beautiful stone.During excavations at Pompeii two vases of Blue John Stone were supposedly unearthed, evidence therefore that the Romans not only discovered the stone but also appreciated it for its ornamental value.

a piece of Blue John stone, its beauty never fails to dazzle me.
The Blue John Cavern is home to 8 of the 14 known veins of this beautiful mineral

The cavern entrance
I have walked down into the bowels of the Earth many times.
Near here is another favourite haunt of mine.
The Shivering Mountain

Mam Tor stands guard at the Western end of the Hope Valley, its dramatic landslip showing the 'insides' of what would otherwise be a gently rolling Peak District hill. Its 'cake-like' layers are sedimentary bands of shale and gritstone laid down some 300-350 million years ago within a river delta.

The landslide is a classic example of a rotational landslip; and it continues to be highly active, slowly engulfing the flat fields at its toe. The ground moves after periods of heavy rainfall: water seeps between the rocks layers lubricating the joints and enabling the different layers to slip over one another. Debris falling from the face adds to the weight of material below. The slip probably began in pre-historic times when the drier climate of the bronze age changed to today's Atlantic period, geologists think it will only stop when the face of the hill reaches an angle of 30 degrees - possibly in another 1,500 years.

York Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe It is the seat of the Archbishop of York (the second-highest office of the Church of England), and cathedral for the Diocese of York, and is run by a Dean and Chapter under the Dean of York. Its formal title is The Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St Peter in York.

Lincoln Imp

The story goes back in the 14th Century Satan sent two Imps down to earth to do evil work. Firstly the two Imps went to Chesterfield and sat on the church spire twisting it (that is why in Chesterfield you will still see the crooked spire).

After vandalising the spire the two imps headed to Lincoln Cathedral. When they arrived the devil instructed them to cause as much mayhem as possible. The Imps started by smashing up tables and chairs and tripping up the Bishop and then they started destroying the Angel Choir. An angel appeared and told them to stop. One of the imps was brave and started throwing rocks at the angel but the other imp cowered under the broken tables and chairs. The angel turned the first imp to stone and this gave the second imp a chance to escape.
Even now I love to visit with the Imp

During the school holidays I would stay with my aunty in Lincoln. Every night I would drift of to sleep whilst gazing at the Cathedral all lit up by floodlights.

Eyam village and the Great Plague
On one of our trips to the the Derbyshire Peak District as a child my dad brought us to a lonely little village. Little did I know how the story of this place would leave it's imprint on me.

It's hard to imagine that the quiet village of Eyam, off the A623 in Derbyshire, could have such a fascinating, yet tragic story to tell. But .... at the end of August 1665 bubonic plague arrived at the house of the village tailor George Vicars, via a parcel of cloth from London. The cloth was damp and was hung out in front of the fire to dry, thus releasing the plague infested fleas. On 7th September 1665, George Vicars, the first plague victim, died of a raging fever. As the plague took hold and decimated the villagers it was decided to hold the church services outdoors at nearby Cucklett Delf and, on the advice of rector William Mompesson and the previous incumbent Thomas Stanley, villagers stayed within the confines of the village to minimize the spread of the disease. Cucklett Delf was also the secret meeting place of sweethearts Emmott Sydall, from Eyam, and Rowland Torre, who was from a neighbouring village. They would call to each other across the rocks, until Emmott Sydall herself became a victim of the plague. Six of the eight Sydall family died, and their neighbours lost nine family members.

To minimize cross infection, food and other supplies were left outside the village, at either the Boundary Stones, or at Mompesson's Well, high above the village. The Earl of Devonshire, who lived at Chatsworth House, freely donated food and medical supplies. For all other goods, money, as payment, was either purified by the running water in the well or was left in vinegar soaked holes. The Riley graves, close to Riley House Farm and approximately 1/2 mile from the village house the bodies of the husband and six children of farmer Elizabeth Hancock. All died within a week of each other. Because of the high risk of infecting her neighbours she had the traumatic task of burying them all herself. Even more tragic is that the infection probably came to her family when she helped bury another villager's body. Twelve months after the death of George Vicars, the plague was still claiming its victims, and on 25th August 1666 Catherine Mompesson, wife of the recently appointed rector William Mompesson (aged 28) , died of the plague. She had loyally stayed with her husband and tended the sick, only to become a victim herself.

The Plague in Eyam raged for 14 months and claimed the lives of at least 260 villagers. By 1st November 1666 it had run its course and claimed its last victim. Eyam's selfless villagers, with their strong Christian convictions, had shown immense personal courage and self sacrifice. They had prevented the plague from spreading to other parishes, but many paid the ultimate price for their commitment.
Plague Sunday

Almost 350 years later a remembrance service is still held every Plague Sunday (the last Sunday in August) at Cucklett Delf, Eyam.

Derwent Dam
617 Squadron, RAF, "The Dambusters" was a single squadron formed during the Second World War to carry out a single special and dangerous task. That operation "Chastise" has since become a legend in the annals of military history and it possess all the traditionally admired military attributes of originality, surprise and heroism coupled with a very dramatic outcome. Operation Chastise has in many ways overshadowed the later exploits of the men who formed the squadron.
The Derwent dam was used by the Dambusters to train for their mission to destroy three dams in the Ruhr valley. Squadron Leader Les Munro, the last surviving pilot from the mission, was a guest of honour. As the distinctive roar of the Lancaster's engines echoed across the lake it evoked memories of the daring raid, which used the “bouncing bomb” invented by Barnes Wallis.

A Lancaster bomber swoops over Derwent dam in the Peak District during a flypast to mark the 65th anniversary of the Dambusters raid.
There is a car park at the reservoir, we would regularly picnic here as a child. Later it became a favourite place to take my children, now we take Caden.

A footpath runs round the reservoir, even when busy it can be a place of great beauty and serenity.
These are just a few of the places we would go to.
Where would you take me?

My talk at the Spiritualist service

2010-02-13T10:21:00.000-08:00

I was asked to work the rostrum at my local spiritualist centre last Sunday. I had to give a reading, give a talk on philosophy and finally give messages.
I thought I'd share.

I was really struggling to think of an idea to talk about tonight, so I asked for inspiration.
I was sort off watching a programme on growing old and an experiment was taking place where a group of elderly men were made to look after themselves rather than being nursed in a home. The results astounded the scientific community, the men acted as if they had grown younger. One even threw away his walking stick. The experiment only lasted 1 week.
Science has now proven the mind, health link.
Before you think what a load of New Age Hocus Pocus let me share my story.
Believe it or not but I used to be extremely fit, I thought nothing of running 5 miles or cycling 20. I would even cycle to Worksop; do my shopping then cycle home.
Then about 8 years ago I had a nasty accident and broke and dislocated my right ankle, after 6 months in a wheelchair it still had not mended properly but I could walk on it. Soon after this my knees began to cause me major problems and I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
My Doctor offered me a simple piece of advice
“If when you wake in the morning the only part of your body that does not hurt is your little toe, then you need to give thanks for that toe and ignore everything else.”
I ignored him and slowly my pain increased. I went from limping to hobbling and eventually I could only walk if I had support. My life became a constant battle with pain and that was all I could focus on. Eventually I was on several painkillers including morphine but still my day was controlled by pain.
After my Grandson Caden was born I decided for his sake that I could not go on this way and I remembered my doctor’s advice. Feeling really stupid and silly I began to focus on the areas in my body that caused me the least pain. Slowly my pain level decreased and I was soon aware of areas that no longer hurt. I still had bad days but I refused to let myself be pulled down again.
That was 5 years ago and I have now realised that as I created a life of pain it is just as simple to create for myself a life free from pain. I am now off all my painkillers as I am pain free and I am slowly returning to what passes as normal for me.
At the time I thought my doctor a fool for his words of advice, how could I not focus on the pain and the bad?
I wish I had known then that thoughts are just that thoughts and we can choose them. I wonder sometimes what would’ve happened 7 years ago if I had listened to his wise words.
Don’t do as I did, remember that what we focus on increases. You can focus on the good things and create the life that you choose to live.
One final thought
Have you noticed how when you focus on the good you smile? It also works the other way, when you smile your focus shifts. So when you pass someone on the street, flash them a smile. It’s catching, I bet they smile back. You never know it may be their first step towards healing.