Ya know when you get those really whacky days when you just cant work out how you managed to get into a situation, and even more-so how to get out of it.. well this is one of those days. This is a true story not just about myself and Jan on a day’s outing – but also that of Joshua! – Jan’s spirit guide. (hopefully he will approve of this.. or else I’m pretty stuffed in later life!)

Since Jan started to focus on her Spiritual side about 5 years ago now – she has flourish into quite a gifted woman. She has dug deep into past and come to realize that her long forgotten past is at last catching up with her. She’s become a Pagan, (a wiccan to be exact!) – welcoming the seasons, and doing all the usual witchey things you’d expect someone who’s connected to the earth to do.

But this is about Joshua, her guide – a spirit person who connects with her when she’s working with the paranormal. It’s a guide that can not only keep her safe from unwanted dark energies, but also pass on information from the other realm. Infact there’s been a few times when Joshua has stepped in – during the working day, to warn or notify her of something important.

Now I respect her guide, I trust his judgement to keep not only Jan safe but me –  I occasionally have a laugh at his expense.. and I’ve been told so does he at mine – and sometimes we both go at it, with Janis getting both barrels. Quite funny to hear her telling us both off at the same time! So Joshua.. what can I tell you about him? well really that’s for Jan and him to discuss what should be said – but I can tell the basics that I know..

He’s a Droid – (Hang on.. got that wrong, that’s Star Wars!) – Druid.. he’s a druid, wears a large white gown with matching hood, he’s  in his late 20’s/30’s – and apparently good looking! (Isn’t she the lucky one!) – thankfully he also has a good sense of humor too, something he really needs putting up with me, Jan and the kids!

And so it was on one bright sunny day that Jan and myself thought we’d go for a cream tea, somewhere special it being our wedding anniversary.. Osborne House, home to Queen Victoria to be exact. Walking up to the entrance of the house, Jan remarks that Joshua is walking with us..  So two has now become three! – (just glad I didnt have to buy an extra ticket) – She tells me he’s proud of my decision to visit the house, and is very excited. He’s wearing his very best gown out of respect – and although he’s a spirit guide, its a place he’s never visited before.

Now when this happens during investigations, he’s usually about – does what he needs to, then he’s gone, but this time Jan tells me he’s going to be with us for the day. It’s at this point I’m trying very hard to understand just whats going on here, has Jan finally flipped – or do we actually have a spirit guide walking with us!?

As you can guess, every few minutes throughout the day – I’m asking Jan where he is? what’s he doing?? – apparently he spent most of the day looking at the pictures hung on the walls, while I was trying to find the Queens toilets! (seriously.. you wont find them!) Midday, the lovely clock-tower chimed out, time to have our cream-tea. Sitting down with a plate of seriously lovely looking sandwiches (salmon) – and a choice of yummy looking cakes, I asked if he was still with us. ‘ He’s upstairs in the old private halls ‘ replied Jan – ‘ he wants to know more about the little girl ‘

Apparently Joshua had not only found the spirit of a little girl roaming the upstairs corridors, but also one of the Queens butlers. Strangely enough, although Joshua was off doing his own ghost investigation – Janis wasn’t picking up on anything at all, that was until we entered the private stateroom.. immediately her body reacted to a very powerful energy-force.

She was starting to come out in huge goosebumps all over, the sweat starting to pour off her. ‘What’s going on?’ I asked.. ‘It’s here – the energies in this room are very very strong’ – we later learned that this was the room the body of Victoria was placed in state for 10 days of mourning after she died before being moved to Westminster.

They try to cover it up now, with a table setpiece – many years ago a plaque was set into the floor, marked the very spot she lay.

Eventually we moved on out of the room, and just like that the energy dissipated. No longer was Jan looking like she’s just had a dip in arctic seas. With Joshua returning to us, and finally saying his goodbyes – myself and Jan enjoyed the rest of the house and the gardens. It’s a beautiful building, even more-so now a lot more rooms have been opened to the public, if you get the chance it really is worth a visit. And maybe.. just maybe you might catch a glimpse of the little girl!

So there we were, enjoying Calbourne Water Mill – when I decided that I’d like to take a look at another local attraction ‘Winkle Street’, if you’ve seen a picture of it on a postcard – you’ll know what to expect. It’s suppose to the the prettiest and oldest street/lane on the Isle of Wight. The land actually dates back to 826 CE, yeap I’ve no idea what ‘CE’ means either.. but there ya go.

Anyway.. the local church looked a lovely place to visit, open to the public – with its doors wide open. Such a pretty building, even the graveyard had a pleasant look about it. Tall grass with wild flowers mixed throughout, and butterfly’s flitting amongst the gravestones. Janis noticed a very old looking barn in the field next door to the graveyard which she felt drawn to.

‘Ok.. so lets have a look at the barn, then a wonder into the church’, I replied. I noticed she was very hesitant coming into the churchyard through the gates, and sort of scooted around the main building. What are you doing!? – ‘I’m not allowed in the church.. they wont let me!’

Rightttt.. so we carry on through the graveyard, up to the back wall – and take in whats left of the barn. It was indeed a very old building, surprising really that its still standing. Time for the church.. we made our way back through tall grasses and old headstones to the main entrance.  In I went.. but she wasn’t following.. giving up – I went ahead, taking in the lovely colours and solid construction of the old building. Eventually I made my way back out to Janis, who was still stood at the entrance.

Whats going on? – ‘ They wont let me..’ – who? – ‘ The people here’ – errrr ok, care to explain!?

Turns out that we have 6 spirits stood infront of her, 2 blocking her path – and another 4 stood between the main doors of the church. Janis being Wiccan had managed to upset the local ghostly residents!

Through her guide, she was relayed the message that ‘ her kind was not welcome! ‘.. they had allowed her access through the graveyard to checkout the old barn, but under no circumstances was she to enter the church. Her guide calmly told her that she should respect their wishes and beliefs, so she did – and we left.

Think I might try that one the next time I’m railroaded into accompanying her into a girlie clothes shop!

If you HAD to pick one.. what would you choose to be…

A) Vampire
B) Ghost
C) Werewolf (or some-other type of monster)

Should aggressive spirits be forcibly removed from a property, if they are causing a nuisance to the new owners?

Hmmm.. what’s your thoughts!?

Can an object really be “haunted”? – how about a painting that was painted with the blood of the artist mixed into the paints??.. the new owner is reporting frequent activity in his house, but is it really the painting? or just the thought of it playing tricks on his mind??