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By Allan Wadmore

I have shared with dogs. The
incredible perception of a dog has
There are many occasions that I have
sat through dreary tales of ghostly always filled me with curiosity and
experiences. But then I expect most envy. The reason I mention this is
of us during the course of our lives that even when my wildest thoughts
probably have. In my opinion, they have played ping pong with my
fall broadly into one of several imagination, the dogs provided me
definitive categories. Some are with some assurance that I was not
marginally convincing but at least suffering from early stage dementia
mildly entertaining (particularly if the or the effects of alcohol. You see they
host was doing the storytelling and view things in real time and only
had provided an agreeable vintage what they actually see in their eyes;
port after a scrumptious dinner), they are not clouded with satirical
others seem so far-fetched that even fantasy and don’t dress things up
Saturday evening TV would definitely to make them sound good. My
have been the preferred option! The experiences have converted me from
being a total sceptic, to a moderate
remainder could be classified as pure
satirical entertainment. I have never believer because there was no
really countenanced the rhetoric with credible alternative to question how
any real credibility, or at least, not I witnessed and recalled the events.
until some years later anyway. A Tanyard was a grade 2 listed rambling
host’s story would often get lost farmhouse built in 1555 with
with me while on many occasions inglenooks and oak beans. It was
seeking a plausible excuse to escape reputed to be one of the first Quaker
and perhaps at the same time meeting houses in the land. It had
attempting to remember not to use two drawing rooms, two dining
the same exit strategy as I had used rooms, and five bedrooms. With a
on our previous visit..., all whilst three acre garden with woodland and
having the presence of mind to pour a stream; the house with its long
another rather fine vintage port into history bore all the hallmarks of a
the glass rather than on the carpet good ghost story. To the south lay a
while falling asleep! Quaker graveyard which had to
become the final resting place for
Most ghostly stories for me were
witnessed during my boarding school the remains of 90 Quakers, upon
days while sitting terrified on the end which curiously, the grass never
of the bed in a cold dormitory grew! It had a grade one listed barn
somewhere in Surrey! and off the main bedroom suite, there
was a *priest hole, just in case the
But actually, over the years, I king's troops decided to pay an
personally have had two strange unannounced visit to this wonderful
experiences which coincidentally place of worship! After a situation
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