I have a heck of a lot of stories around the paranormal that I could share, but I hope y'all won't take offence that I don't want to share them all....
When my Dad passed four years ago, we were all at home tucked up in bed. It was around 2am. My Mum didn't want to ring my Granddad (My Dads Dad) as he was around 83 at the time and she didn't want to scare him by making the phone ring in the middle of the night. So she rang the next morning and my Granddad said: "So it was you that did something with my phone at two this morning?" and she said: "No, I deliberately waited to contact you. Why?" Apparantly at the time my Dad died, my Granddads mobile phone went beserk- Lights flashing, vibrating (He didn't even know how to put the vibrate setting on!) and all kinds, but there was no incoming call or message. It just went mad. We see that as being a bit spooky.
Later that evening, my Mum and me were sat in living room. There were lots of bouquets of flowers that had been delievered to us with sympathies. One contained loads of lillies that were yet to bloom. We were utterly shocked when the heads began to 'jump' off the lillies. Not dropping to the ground, literally firing across the room. One by one... About 14 flowers in total, and all the heads shot straight across the floor.
This is one I never ever told my Mum about as she was distraught when my Dad died and somehow I thought this would upset her more. I got a voicemail from my Mum one day at school (Shortly after my Dads funeral) and in the background, clear as day, I heard my Dad's voice say 'Robyn'. At first I thought I was hearing things, so listened a few more times. I then passed the phone to 8 or 9 different people (I didn't tell them what to listen for). The ones that knew my Dad freaked out and said they could hear his voice saying my name. Those who didn't know him said they could definately hear a mans voice saying my name. My Mum was alone when she left the message.
Now, I'll share some that don't involve my Dad (Even though there are so many more!)...
When I was very young, a friend of mine insisted there was a ghost in her house. Naturally, I didn't believe her. Even though her house was a big old rusted place with loads of history, I refused to believe in a ghost. She said it was a girl about our age who'd died of illness, which again, I wouldn't believe. One day in the summer we were all in the garden (Me, her, her brother, her Dad, the dog, and three or four other kids from our street). It was a really hot day, very still, with no breeze. Her windows fastened on big old fashioned hook latch kind of things (I hope you know the ones I mean!) that were really rusty, and it was a struggle to get the window open or closed most days. Her Dad had gone round the house that morning and forced them all open onto the big rusty latches to air the house. We were all playing games, and Kim (My friend) mentioned the ghost and said she would have liked to play. Someone else said: "Theres no such thing as a ghost! Theres no Isabelle here." (I say Isabelle because thats the name Kim used for the ghost...). We all then freaked out when the big heavy metal latch suddenly lifted in the air and something slammed (And I mean slammed!) the window shut! We ran inside to check and there was no-one there at all, and no wind or breeze to blow the window shut. Very creepy! I started believing in the ghost after that. She used to move toys round and things like that, nothing too severe. Her Dad still lives in that house and little bits and bobs still happen occasionally, but not so much since all the toys and childlike things have left the house.
Another one is a bit more recent. Shortly after our engagement, we'd gone to Robert's parents for the weekend. Now, I've never liked Robert's bedroom. His parents live a big old terraced house and his room is the Attic. For some reason, it just creeps the hell out of me. In the daylight, not so much, but at night I hate it. In the dark when we've gone to bed, I would swear I'd seen faint outlines moving around the room, but I can't say for definate as I obviously don't have my glasses on when I'm trying to sleep! Theres a couple of little rooms that lead off the attic, and the doors from them sometimes slam open (One came off the hinges once, at which point I launched down the stairs and refused to come back up.) but again I could attribute that to the breeze. However, on this particular occasion I was not a happy chappy at all! Smoking is strictly banned in Robert's house, and the few visitors who do smoke are made to do so at the end of the driveway. We were upstairs in the attic, and all of a sudden I was hit by a VERY strong smell of cigarette smoke. And I mean really strong. Robert noticed my nose wrinkle and asked what was up. He couldn't smell it at all. It was driving me mad. However, his auntie and uncle were visiting, and his auntie smokes. I went downstairs to see if she was outside smoking. Nope. I popped my head round the living room and asked if she'd been out for one. Nope. I marched back upstairs and was this time hit by the smell on the landing. It seemed to follow me back up the stairs, and wherever I moved. Then it got cold in front of me. That sounds weird, but thats what it was. Just in front of me. I turned round, and it was cold in front of me again. And I could still smell the smoke. I was getting really upset now as I naturally thought I was loosing my marbles!! Robert was adament there was no smell of smoke, which is why I was getting so upset! Then I remembered. Robert was desperately close to his Nanan (Which I believe is a Yorkshire word for Nana as I've never heard it anywhere else) as a child. He was her favourite grandchild by a long shot and she adored him. She passed away when Robert was only 11. She was also a very heavy smoker. Robert's Mum has often said she wouldn't be surprised if she followed him in the spirit world as she was crazy about him, and she often claims that she reckons she 'haunts' the attic a lot of the time because thats where Robert is (Actually, when Robert moved out, his Mum and Dad reported a lot of strange bangs and thumps for a few weeks afterwards!!). And indeed, a medium friend of the family who had never met Robert before picked up on her presence on a seperate occasion stating that she could see a "Grandmother figure." Before quickly saying: "I'm being informed she's a Nan figure? A nanny figure? Something that sounds like Nan but isn't."...! So I wondered if it was her following me around the attic. I jokingly said: "I wonder if your Nanan thinks I'm not good enough to marry you!" and all of a sudden, the atmosphere in the room changed. It suddenly felt lighter (If that makes any sense at all!) and the smell of cigarette smoke got lighter. Then I felt the cold kind of all around me, almost like a hug?! Robert said: "Don't be daft, she'd have loved you. She'd have thought you were a lovely wife to be." and with that, the smell completely vanished, as did the cold. Robert still maintains I was out of my tree that night, but I would swear on my life that it happened. Since then I've still felt weird feelings about the attic, but I'm not really scared of them anymore. I often think it's his Nanan following her favourite Grandson and seeing what he's up to!
I'm so sorry if these all sound nuts, but I promise that they did happen and I've only told you all what I know!
Bob xoxoxoxox