Apparitions but are they for real?

Apparitions but are they for real?

 

Most people like a real scary ghost story and there are thousands of accounts of sightings - as much as there are of UFO's - two of life's big mysteries of which we cannot seem to grab any definite proof, like the beginning of the universe itself.  But there is some light at the end of the tunnel when, new technological scans take us deeper into space  enabling us to understand maybe the cause and effect of the big bang theory,  seemingly  created by a  collision with matter and anti-matter.

 

But what about UFO's?  Numerous recordings have been made but none seem to be evidence of some real proof that life does exist out there.

 

And down to earth, we have apparitions and all the paraphernalia that has been written and recorded in pictures and TV, Those 'orbs' still fascinate us although I am still not convinced they are anything but light reflections.

 

But as much as I have seen UFO's and a spirit or two - and I am sure in my mind they were something out of this world, I am still unable to prove that they do really exist.

 

Such is the human mind we can make all sorts of images from things like cloud formations and maybe imagine they are real.

 

Delving into the past and more exactly, into Torbay's past, there are records of ghost sightings hovering around most of the historical piles;  the headless Monk of Torre Abbey, the Spanish Lady seen moving around the Spanish barn and 'gliding' along the sea front.

 

Also, the white and blue Ladies of Berry Pomeroy Castle who continue to elude us - like they are teasing us and showing up when least expected, for you can bet your life - go there to investigate and if you are looking and waiting they just aren't going to appear.

 

But for me a sighting of a spirit in Paignton Churchyard was quite unexpected. I was in a hurry and the only thought in my mind was to take the short cut through the cemetery to get from A to B.

 

I was suddenly aware of a semi floating form approach me to the left. It was a young woman in Victorian garb. ."Cheer up, Pete!" she said quite clearly. She was young, attractive and had a radiant smile - and she knew me, but shouldn't I have known her?

 

Stopping abruptly and glancing around as she passed quickly by, I clearly saw a form which became transparent and somehow disappeared, dissolving near a grave, all thoughts of reaching my destination were gone, I just had to go back to the place I had seen the apparition disappear.

 

A grave bore the inscription of an Ann Luxon who'd died in 1850 aged 20.

I just knew it was her, the girl in Victorian garb. Why on earth I should see this joyful young woman, who had died so early baffled me. And still does. I have strived often to get a glimpse of this happy spirit again but to no avail.

 

But the most baffling of my sightings was that of  a figure standing behind  a gravestone in a Paignton cemetery.  I was doing some research and taking a couple of pictures for my research  -  I hadn't been aware of anything unusual while I was there - I guess I was more involved in concentrating on the subject matter for my article, a historic piece about Oliver Heaviside.

 

Later a friend picked up distinct apparitions in one of my photographs of the scene. Primarily I couldn't see anything unusual and surmised that whatever my friend had observed was like making cloud images.  But she sent a couple of close -ups from the same print and it was then I could pick out something - the transparent figure of a man in a cloak peering over the tombstone.

 

For a moment I was flabbergasted, thinking I had captured some real evidence that could persuade others that there really is something in spiritual sightings.

 

But it wasn't to be. Most of my acquaintances have been unable to see the apparition and looked at me in that certain 'never mind he can't help it' way - so my hopes plunged.

 

So it is back to the drawing board I guess, but I doubt if the human kind will ever discover any real proof, perhaps that is how it should be but like many others I have a dogged feeling that there is a mighty lot we don't know about out there.

 

For the record though I have included the picture taken in Paignton Cemetery and would be interested if anyone can shed some light on this.