3 YEARS AGO

Three years ago yesterday, Candy tripped and fell when she went out for a walk one night and broke her left ankle.

In reality, she went out to commit suicide and I only found that out recently.

I was left alone, scared and frightened and I did not know where she was or what she planning on doing. I can't handle this, I love her and never stopped.

IF WISHES WERE HORSES

 This last week, I have been feeling really ill, very ill in fact.

My temperature has been dangerously high, as in rush to the hospital you’re about to have a stroke/seizure high of a 39.5! now my normal temperature is a standard 36.6.

I have been sleeping a lot to rest my body and mind, every fibre of my being has been in a lot of pain, everything was firing off.

Currently I’m feeling fuzzy, and my eyesight is a bit off. But last night, I hardly slept, due to thinking about all the mistakes I have made in the last 20 years and the reasons why and what my life would have been like if I had not made that one decision I did make back in 2004.

I am on a constant edge of my seat, every day I feel this is going to be my end and I hate it.

MAYAN PALENQUE ASTRONAUT

 "The mysterious Mayan Palenque Astronaut has captured the imagination of many scholars and enthusiasts alike. Depicted on the lid of Pakal the Great's sarcophagus in Palenque, this figure has sparked discussions of extraterrestrial connections to the Mayan civilization.

Could this intricate carving truly represent an ancient astronaut navigating a spacecraft, suggesting a deeper connection to beings beyond our world?"

HEADLESS JACK

 **Name:** Jack Roderick

**Alias:** Headless Jack

**Background:**

Jack Roderick was once a renowned magician, known for his death-defying acts and unparalleled illusion skills. His career took a tragic turn during a performance when a rival sabotaged his most famous trick, "The Vanishing Head." The act went horribly wrong, resulting in a freak accident that left Jack without a physical head but miraculously alive.

**Powers and Abilities:**

- **Ethereal Vision:** Despite lacking a physical head, Jack can see and perceive his surroundings through an ethereal form of sight.

- **Telepathic Communication:** Jack can communicate telepathically, projecting his voice directly into the minds of others.

- **Phantom Manipulation:** He can create and control ghostly hands and other appendages to interact with the physical world.

- **Illusion Mastery:** His background as a magician allows him to create highly convincing illusions, both visually and auditorily, to deceive enemies and aid allies.

- **Invisibility:** Jack can become invisible at will, making it easy for him to sneak up on foes or escape danger.

**Personality:**

Headless Jack is a complex character, blending a dark sense of humor with a strong sense of justice. He is deeply haunted by the betrayal that cost him his physical form, which fuels his desire to protect others from similar fates. Despite his tragic past, he often uses his wit and charm to uplift those around him.

**Appearance:**

Jack's appearance is striking and otherworldly. He wears a Victorian-era magician's outfit complete with a long, dark coat, white gloves, and a top hat that hovers where his head should be. A mystical aura surrounds the space where his head once was, often flickering with ghostly light.

**Weaknesses:**

- **Ethereal Fragility:** While his ghostly form gives him unique abilities, it also makes him vulnerable to certain magical attacks and artifacts designed to trap or harm spirits.

- **Isolation:** Jack's condition makes it difficult for him to form close personal relationships, leading to feelings of loneliness and isolation.

- **Limited Physical Interaction:** While his phantom limbs are useful, they are not as strong or dexterous as real hands, which can be a disadvantage in physical confrontations.

**Allies and Enemies:**

- **Allies:** Jack often teams up with other supernatural heroes and those who operate in the shadows, such as night vigilantes and other magically endowed individuals.

- **Enemies:** His primary adversary is the rival magician who sabotaged his act, now a powerful dark sorcerer. Additionally, he faces threats from those who seek to exploit or destroy supernatural entities.

**Mission:**

Headless Jack is on a quest to prevent others from falling victim to the same kind of treachery that befell him. He travels the world, uncovering and thwarting dark plots, protecting the innocent, and seeking out ways to restore his physical form while dispensing his unique brand of justice.

HADRIAN'S WALL

 Hadrian’s Wall was ordered to be built by the emperor Hadrian in the 2nd Century. It was designed to keep the Picts, the name of the Scottish warriors, from crossing into northern England, which was ruled by the Romans at the time. The Picts had become a serious problem for the Romans, regularly crossing into England to start battles or raid settlements.

The wall was built from stone in AD 122 and was 73 miles long, running from Wallsend-on-Tyne in the east to Bowness on the Solway Firth in the west. In parts it is large enough for two soldiers to do sentry duty side by side. The Romans built a special road - which was called the Stanegate - so that both soldiers and supplies could easily be sent up to Hadrian’s Wall.

To bolster the defences of the wall, the Romans built a mile castle every 1,500 meters (roughly). These mile castles would house around 20 soldiers who could keep watch to ensure no forces attacked from the north. But that’s not all, larger forts would also be built at around eight kilometres apart, which would house anything between 500 and 1,000 soldiers as well as important supplies and food.

Although it was designed by skillful engineers, Hadrian’s Wall was actually built by the Roman soldiers themselves - as well as being skilled in combat these men were also well trained when it came to constructing walls, forts and roads. Indeed, the fact that the wall still remain in the north of England today, albeit only partially, is a testament to the quality of the job the Romans did in constructing it.

On three different occasions the Picts attempted to destroy the wall but each time the Romans would rebuild the section that had been attacked. Hadrian’s wall was constantly patrolled and guarded for almost 250 years, marking the northern border of the vast Roman Empire.

ALNWICK VAMPIRE

 "The Vampire of Alnwick Castle, Northumberland UK Northumberland is a place that is renowned for its rich medieval heritage.

It's array of impressive castles have withstood the test of time.

Among these historic gems, is Alnwick Castle, with a legacy spanning over 900 years.

Alnwick was the esteemed seat of the original "Kings in the North" - the legendary Percy family.

It still remains in the same family today, being inhabited by the Duke of Northumberland.

While the castle is known in a more modern context for starring in movies like Harry Potter, this medieval stronghold also harbours a more unexpected and ghostly connection.

It is whispered in local folklore that Alnwick Castle is the very birthplace of its own chilling legend - the Alnwick Vampire.....

The tale of the Alnwick Vampire has been alive since the 12th century, and plays a part in the castle’s history.

Written by medieval chronicler William de Newburgh, the legend begins with a man who served the lord of Alnwick Castle, who suspected his wife was committing adultery.

On the journey to uncover the truth, he conspired to catch her in the act, by climbing the heights of their dwelling.

Tragically, he met his end by falling from the rooftop, his neck snapping upon impact.

However, despite the man being laid to rest after a traditional Christian burial, he could not rest in peace.

His presence lingered around Alnwick, creating a sense of unease and fear among the locals.

Unexplained illness began to spread through the village.

Livestock mysteriously perished - the townsfolk couldn't help but point the finger of suspicion at the dead man.

One fateful Palm Sunday, two young men from the town armed themselves with pitchforks, and embarked on a mission to unveil the hideout of the dead man.

Upon finding the corpse, they discovered that the burial shroud had been torn to shreds, and the body of the man was bloated, engorged, and putrid.

When the corpse was pierced with a spade, fresh blood flowed from the openings.

It was a grisly spectacle that seemed to offer proof that the dead man had indeed been nourishing itself with the blood of the living.

They took the body to the outskirts of the town, where it was burned.

It was only then that the curse that had fallen on the town was lifted, bringing an abrupt end to the devastating plague and the terror of the townsfolk.

To this very day, the haunting figure is referred to as the Alnwick Vampire.

Remarkably, William de Newburgh's account of this eerie tale, is the first recorded use of the word 'bloodsucker' in England."

MERE WIVES

 "East Anglia has many myths and legends. One is on the "Mere Wife" or Mere Wives who live, not in the sea, but in the many inland waterways, ponds and "meres" of the region. They were, and perhaps still are, responsible for the disappearance of many young people, especially boys, who are tempted to get too close to the waters edge. They may have inspired Grendel's Dam, the cannibalistic ogress in the Anglo Saxon "Beowulf", thought by many to have been originally written in East Anglia.

One poem from 1837 warns of their presence:

"Make haste and do your errand. Go not nigh

The River's bank, for there the meremaids lie.

Be home at five!" James Bird (born 1788)

The historic Suffolk market town of Bungay has not only the dangers of Mere Maids to contend with in the beautiful River Waveney but also the regular appearance of a malevolent and very large black dog known as Shuck. There will be more about him in my next posting here. He is expected to appear again around the start of August attracted no doubt by the festival bearing his name."