Weekly Photo Challenge: From Above

Saturday 4th May 2013

Weekly Photo Challenge: From Above   click me for more info

Hi everyone just taking a break from my  hope you like..

http://geetoni.wordpress.com/2012/11/15/now-taking-your-requests-2/

http://geetoni.wordpress.com/

http://cobbie69.wordpress.com/

 

Carisbrooke Castle. My Story.

Friday 26th April 2013

Carisbrooke Castle. My Story.

by cobbies69 (Gerry)

Carisbrooke castle is one of the most impressive historic sites on the Isle of Wight, and was the chief medieval stronghold on the Isle of Wight, so much so that tradition asserts that whoever owned the castle also controlled the Isle of Wight.There has been a fortification of some sort at this site since Saxon times, and some of the late Saxon stone structure still survives within the earthwork and banks of the castle. It has also been speculated that there was a Roman structure on the site, but there is no archaeological evidence for this.

Gatehouse: by Simon Topham

The present castle was founded soon after the Norman invasion, and was a simple mott and bailey, which was greatly improved and built upon in the medieval period. The castle remains are impressive with much of the original structure still surviving, including the keep, medieval buildings, and two wells – one with a treadmill utilising donkey power to draw water.

The French once laid siege at the castle during the medieval period. During this siege, legend tells of a bowman called Peter Heynoe, who killed the French commander with a shot from the castle walls, causing the French to withdraw.

Great Hall & Ruins of Carey’s Mansion: by Simon Topham

One of the castles most famous visitors was Charles I, who was imprisoned here for ten months before his execution at the culmination of the Civil War. Charles attempted to escape from the castle a number of times, although each attempt was thwarted.

The castle is reputed to have a number of ghosts, befitting its long history. The deep well was the scene of the tragic drowning of Elizabeth Ruffin, her disembodied face is reputed to have been seen in the well water. The castle also has a Grey Lady, a phantom wearing a long cloak accompanied by four dogs, the ghosts of a man in a brown jerkin and trousers – seen near the moat, and other presences that have been felt by castle visitors.

Great Hall & Museum: by Simon Topham

The castle is a fantastic site with many attractions, and it is well worth spending a few hours exploring.

More information on the hauntings of Carisbrooke can be found in Gay Baldwin’s The Isle of Wight Ghost Book IV, also consider her website: ghost-island.com

My Story…

Dennis and Dave my partners in crime decide to go to the Isle of Wight, we caught the local ferry from Lymington and arrived at Yarmouth an hour later. As none of us drove, I don’t think I was old enough, which meant Dennis also as he was younger.  We therefor had to rely on local transport, so we caught a bus that was going to Carisbrooke. Carisbrooke is a nice stand alone little village, even without the castle standing guard, it was a nice picturesque village with beautiful buildings.

We decided to check out the castle, but it was closed, cannot remember as to why.  So we walked around the moat,, which had no water. just sleek slopes going downwards and rising to meet the walls of castle. We reached the far side and climbed the grass bank and reached the wall. Along the top was enough edge for us to walk along and follow the walls. Walking and looking and managing in places to see through parts of the eroded wall.  We were being very careful about not being seen, when suddenly Dave, who was leading, shouted “quick some one is coming” and without a second thought Dennis went running down the moat grass wall. Where it was so steep he stopped running and started rolling, and when reaching the bottom he actually bounced a few feet and came to rest. When me and Dave reached him, and asking the silly questions like  “Are you okay?” or “what the matter?”  He was  writhing about on the ground in great pain and shouting “my ankle it bloody hurts, it hurts like hell” I gently pulled his trouser leg up and exposed a blood strewn leg and ankle. Where he should have only one ankle joint he actually had two, and protruding slightly through a broken skin. “We got to get him some help” I said to Dave.. and after a short discussion Dave opted to go and find some while stayed with Dennis. After about half an hour Dave came back with a man, who turned out to be the castle caretaker, key keeper. He lived on the grounds in a small tide cottage. Me and Dave helped Dennis up,  and the man led us through a small gate and into the grounds, and onto a rampart, slowly walking, in Dennis’s case hobbling.  And then onto a wooden walkway, it was while we were slowly making our way across this walkway I noticed in the window across the yard in a room on a turret part of the castle, a person watching us as we slowly made our way across. I pointed the figure out to my friends and they supported me on this. So it was not my imagination. This actually moved back and forth before disappearing from our view.  The figure could be described as the one in this report,, As we eventually reached ground level and hobbled across the courtyard, “Well we are seeing the castle now, and it hasn’t cost us anything” Dennis said smiling, in pain. Again, I noticed another figure in a ground level window, but this time it was not witnessed by my friends. At the time I thought nothing of it. We sat on a low wall while the keeper phone for the ambulance, and when the blue lights and siren of the ambulance could be heard, Dennis was so happy knowing this was for him. He was taken to Newport Hospital, but me and Dave had to find our back to the ferry terminal at Yarmouth. Before we left we thanked the keeper, I asked him about the people I saw in the windows. The castle is closed and there is no one here in this castle apart from us.

Dennis was returned home in two days fully plastered up and told to be very careful because of the break he might have a leg slightly shorter than the other if it does not heal properly. It was not until a few years later that I found out how haunted this castle  was or is.,,allegedly.

I do hope you enjoyed this little story, it has been cut short purely for the post length,, and the boredom factor, but My Story is the truth and actually happened. Dennis was about 15 and my self would have been 16 and Dave 17. Dave had his own little guitar band, he was almost like a local John Mayall. Anybody that played a guitar would have played in his band for a short while at least. As did I.

     

The Coat.(Ghosty Tale)

9th March 2013 Saturday

I have changed the place and town to suit my local tale. But this story in itself does have many variations world-wide. So please just enjoy the tale for its content, and if you have a story similar them please let me and all our followers know. In 1981 an American academic, Jan Harrold Brunvand, wrote a book called ‘The Vanishing Hitchhiker: American Urban Legends and their Meanings.’

The Tale…

On a damp, dark miserable evening, the hospital standing hauntingly in the background. On this dark evening. the street lights burning dully and casting an eerie glow onto the road below. The A337 Southampton Road the main road leading out of Lymington, and heads towards Brockenhurst.

On this night an elderly couple were driving along this road and noticed a young girl trying to hitch a lift, and against the couples normal view of picking up hitchhikers, the young girl wet and bedraggled and looked very miserable. They stopped and picked her up.

She sat shivering in the back of their car, and told the couple that she had been shopping and had lost her purse, and she did not have the bus fare home. “Oh well, we’ll take you home dear” they told her.

They arrived in Brockenhurst and stopped just down the road from her house. They offered to walk her to her door.

“No, it’s fine”, she said “Thank you for the lift.”

The couple drove home, but when they got there they found the girls coat on the back seat of the car, all wet with the rain. Since they knew where the young girl lived they decided to return it in the morning.

When they knocked on the door, a middle – aged man answered.

“We’ve got your daughters coat. she left it in our car when we gave her a lift home last night”.

“Are you sick?” shouted the man. His wife then appeared behind him.

“People like you should be put away, locked up!” she screamed at them.

     Eventually the confused couple managed to persuade the girls parents that the they were serious – and then the girls parents told them the story: a year ago, the girl had lost her purse whilst on a shopping trip to town, so she had decided to hitchhike home. On this road just outside the hospital she had been hit by a car and was killed.

     Her parents then took the elderly couple to the cemetery to show them their daughter’s grave – and what should they see when they walked towards the grave?  There, draped over the headstone, was her coat.

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After reading this tale and knowing it from memory I have now found that there are so many tales similar to this but with the slight differences ranging from the place of the event, and the people involved. I have even seen a television show with the same tale. In fact the hospital in Lymington, no longer there, is one that I spent a lot of time in, supposed to have my tonsils out, but still got them, another story for another day. But this small area, where I have also hitchhiked a lift from, yes it did have an eerie feel while waiting for a lift  because, I lost my wallet.

~

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Dennis & Me, yes another!!

Monday 25th February 2013

The Love Sculpture story..

Welcome to you all from CyKlopps        enjoy the story. True it is.

It started one morning, when I went down the road to Dennis’s house and found him to be in a bad mood because he had an argument with his Italian mother. About his music, he played the drums and piano and minor part playing of guitar. But today his mother had told him to stay off the drums due to neighbors complaining. When his mother left for work he proceeded to play drums with me strumming the guitar. He was letting off steam and moaning rather like a spoilt brat, but I was agreeing with him because I had just been told off by my dad, who I never had a good relationship with anyway. We were discussing about running away from home. Silly I know but bear with it and remember we were young, my excuse and sticking with it.

A few days later so called arrangements made, which were I would meet him at his gate early Saturday morning and we would then proceed to the railway station and catch a train to Cwmbran, South Wales. This we did and arrived at Cwmbran safe and sound.  We both headed off, I had no idea where we were going, but Dennis said he knew where we were and where to go. Before I say more, Dennis’ dad is Welsh and this was his home town. All very  new to me but apparently not to Dennis, famous last words.

It was now getting dark, and Dennis eventually admitted we were lost, he could not remember where to go. By the end of the day I had now seen more or less most of the place and liked what I saw, we found a phone box,, a good old fashioned red one, don’t see them today, unless you get lost in a village stuck in time warp.

We eventually arrived at the house of Dennis’ uncles home. A nice little three bedroom terraced house in a small estate. They were expecting us, a few hours ago, they welcomed us and settled us into a bedroom, which did not take us long. Well it wouldn’t would it both of us chucking our duffle bags onto the beds and going back downstairs.

In the sitting room was a piano. That evening we all enjoyed a music night. his uncle playing some welsh folk songs and Dennis playing some of his music, classical and blues. I did not play, no guitars.

The next morning came and Uncle took us out and ended up at pub, name forgotten, and we went into the back hall and met up with a group rehearsing. One the guys was a cousin to Dennis, and they were playing the song Sabre Dance. We were introduced to them and needless to say it was Love Sculpture. We enjoyed the rest of the day with them. Even I had a little jam with them, they had spare guitars, I was only a learner, and that day I learnt a lot. Dennis learnt a lot, learnt he had an Uncle who toured the pubs playing Welsh folk songs with a small acoustic folk band, and also a cousin who was about to have the biggest hit single of their life, and become famous. And other members moving on and becoming icons of the British Rock and Pop Scene. Dave Edmunds being the main name.

Three days later we returned home to our abodes and my mum welcomed me home asking if I had a good time. It seems they, as in our parents were ahead of us.. Hope you enjoyed.. 2 naughty boys again.

Blog of the Year Award 2012..

31st December 2012….

Probably my last post of the year 2012. It is…

Blog of the Year Award,,,, Happy New Year to all and Thank you.

Enjoy the video,,,from me to you…

This award has been awarded to me by all the bloggers listed below, I actually think there is one missing but I cannot find it so it might just be imaginary and in my mind. I do not want to tell you about each of the sites because this is labeling and I don’t think a site should be labeled. Unless it is their choice label.So instead of all the descriptions etc,, I would strongly suggest visiting them and decide for yourself. I know that they are excellent blogs of differing characteristics and styles, and you would enjoy them and be welcomed, but the one thing in common with them is ‘They are all top quality’ 

http://scrapydo.wordpress.com/

http://canadiantravelbugs.wordpress.com/

http://lornasvoice.com/

Thank you to all for thinking of me and awarding this to me..I look forward to more posts and visiting to all of you…

Here are the rules to accept this award: yes more RULES….

1 Select the blog(s) you think deserve the ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award

Done but cheating…
2 Write a blog post and tell us about the blog(s) you have chosen – there’s no minimum or maximum number of blogs required – and ‘present’ them with their award.

Done and approved…
3 Please include a link back to this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award – and include these ‘rules’ in your post (please don’t alter the rules or the badges!)

Done..
4 Let the blog(s) you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the ‘rules’ with them

Done…
5 You can now also join our Facebook page – click the link here ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award and then you can share your blog with an even wider audience

Done..
6 As a winner of the award – please add a link back to the blog that presented you with the award – and then proudly display the award on your blog and sidebar … and start collecting stars…

Done x 3 fabulous blogger friends.

And what is so lovely about this award is that we start with 1 star and there are 6 stars to collect in total, so each time you get nominated for *this* award – you get another star and see if you can get all 6! 

Go for it everybody…I mean everybody, that includes you. Yes you.

I would like to award this to any one that visits my site and comments or even likes.. I find it so hard and to a point unfair to nominate any one particular. The reason for this is because you are all so deserving of it, and so worthy. So please help yourself and consider yourself nominated.

A further Thank you to all you have had me in your thoughts for these awards. Oh and if there is one of you that did nominate and I have missed, I apologise, but please let me know and I will amend…

     

Christmas’ Past 2011 Plus..

23rd December 2012 Sunday.

My Final one of my series and hope you have enjoyed. I have incorporated Jake’s challenge as it also topical.

   http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/2012/12/22/sunday-post-christmas/

Guys and gals, we have reached the end of this marathon challenge of mine. I thoroughly enjoyed it, even though I did experience a  little stress at times because it was difficult to find something relative to the year. But mostly trying to prove it was the stressful part. I might even have been wrong on one or two but it was the fun and enjoyment I had and you guys had. This made me happy knowing that I was spreading a little cheer for the season.  Happy Holidays.

My little bit of Christmas to you all...

This Military Wives was Xmas number 1 It was a charity single for all the serving and injured Soldiers.

One of my favourite old songs. …”The Little Drummer Boy” (originally known as “Carol of the Drum“) is a popular Christmas song written by the American classical music composer and teacher Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941. It was recorded in 1955 by the Trapp Family Singers  and further popularized by a 1958 recording by the Harry Simeone Chorale. This version was re-released successfully for several years and the song has been recorded many times since.

And to finish off a nice piece of Disney.

   http://wp.me/p2CYWA-b0

(Pop along and leave a comment or request, Click the link and join in with the fun)

Goodbye for this year and a very BIG THANK YOU.

    MERRY XMAS…..

Christmas’ Past 2005 – 10

Saturday 22nd December 2012

Nearly to the end guys and gals..

My little bit of Christmas to you all..

2005

2006…from A Twisted Christmas Album released October 2006. not the prettiest of bands, so just listen and hope you enjoy.

2007… I cannot understand how this guy is as big as he is. But my opinion only so please enjoy anyway. This was 2007 as near as I can verify..

2008

2009….In November 2009, Bob Dylan covered Brave Combo‘s version of the song in a polka style for his Christmas album, Christmas in the Heart.

2010

   http://wp.me/p2CYWA-b0

    MERRY XMAS….

Christmas’ Past! 1987 – 92

19th December 2012

My little bit of Christmas to you all..

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992.  Her beautiful live performance from Christmas in Washington 1992.

    http://wp.me/p2CYWA-b0

Pop along and leave a  request or challenge…

MERRY XMAS…..

Christmas’ Past! 1969 – 74

Friday 14th December 2012.

My little bit of Christmas to you all..

1969.  This Snowflake Song I am a little doubtful of the year, but as near as I can it shows up as the year but cannot verify. So just please enjoy this little piece of winter wonderland.

1970

1971

1972

1973

1974

      http://wp.me/p2CYWA-b0

Pop along and leave a request or challenge..

         MERRY XMAS.....

Christmas’ Past! 1963-68

Wednesday 12th December 2012

My little bit of Christmas to you all..

1963

1964

1965

1966

1967

Someday at Christmas…..

Christmas album by Stevie Wonder, released on November 27th, 1967 under Motown Records.

1968

   http://wp.me/p2CYWA-b0

Pop along and leave a  request or challenge…

        MERRY XMAS…..

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