Lady in the Kitchen -
written in 1980 while living at Holly Hedge
Until a few years ago, I had thought very little about ghosts - I did not believe or doubt their existence, but I will tell you my honest experience.
It was my usual habit to wash-up directly after lunch, but this particular day I had some task in the garden that was uppermost in my mind, and as it looked as if it might rain during the afternoon, I thought I had better do the gardening first, so I intended to put the dishes to soak before I started. I stood at the sink and turned the taps on, but instead of doing my usual thing - washing-up - I turned round quickly to go into the garden - and there she was! - just where my washing machine now stands.
She was sitting on a chair and eating an apple. I wish I could draw, because I noticed so many details. I could see the back of the chair as she was leaning forward, and it was light oak colour and quite plain, ladder-backed.
Her dress - I had the impression of several layers, a blouse with a double frill down to the waist, and a jacket over it, and all these were different shades of cream or beige, three different colours not quite the same. I can't say how long the skirt was, but I did not see any legs so it was probably ankle length. Her hair was straight and held back with a slide which was very clear. It was a plain rectangle, sort of mother of pearl. Her hair did not come below the bottom of her ears, it was probably pulled back into a bun, but I am not certain about that as she was facing me. The apple was half eaten, and she was holding it about shoulder level, but forward, just as if she had just taken a bite. She was aged about 30 to 40.
She was surprised, even startled, when I turned round - she thought I would be washing up for at least ten minutes, but I turned round and caught her unawares. She looked surprised, and then she smiled and was gone.
Was I afraid? No, no, certainly not. She looked so cheerful and a bit saucy at having been caught napping. I wish I could see her again.
Could I see through her? No, she was quite solid.
Did she speak? No.
How did she leave? She just disappeared.
My thoughts before this happened were certainly not of ghosts - I was going to rush out into the garden and work before it rained. We had not seen or heard any programme or talk on ghosts for months, or years, and anyway, if anyone was going to "invent" a ghost, surely it would someone more colourful - say from King Charles days.
I always used to think that ghosts were moaning and groaning about something or someone who had died, but this lady was happy - perhaps nosey. I don't know who she could be or why she was watching me.
Incidentally, there may have been a house there hundreds of years ago, as there was a pond just over the hedge, and they used to build near water.
And another story - about the gremlin in the Ford Anglia!
Three of us could verify this, and it went on for a long time. The horn wound not sound on the last corner before we got home to Holly Hedge. I could go shopping, returning up the hill and using the horn on the narrow corners perfectly alright. We could go out all day in the car using the horn at any time during the day, but it would not sound on the last corner. We could drive up to the house and the horn would work alright then. John examined the wiring and switches and they were quite in order, but it still continued.
You have to admit that some things are difficult to explain. We have had other examples of our gremlin working, sometimes to our advantage.
