The former George Mason grocery-shop in Witton Road, Aston, had the reputation of being haunted.
Now that is really weird / coincidental Big Gee, as the old George Mason shop in Bilston was said to be haunted (in the 60's, I believe) too!!! I have a news cutting about the matter somewhere!
I concur totally with Astonian: there would seem to be certain people who have a distinct knack of being able to 'experience the paranormal', but it is the likes of the sensationalist - frequently TV related - psychics which make a mockery of such matters...... Needless to say, it all boils down to money and attention seeking at the end of the day!
My own experience with a 'spiritualist medium' of a few years ago was exceptionally revealing, I must admit. I normally wouldn't have entertained the idea of such things, but this chap had been explained to me as so 'gifted', I couldn't resist a sitting.
'I've got two spirits standing behind me who are associated with you, but I cannot see them'.
Well - bl**dy turn round then!!!
'I get the feeling that you have a bad back'.......
No, I hadn't, but I do perch on the edge of my seat and crane forwards when feeling uneasy - which I was at that time. Eventually, he went from my back, to my arm, to my wrist...... and there I had to admit that I had a break from about 15 years earlier (though I never, ever have any pain from it!!??)
'My grandfather was described to me as a 'big built bloke' - like me.....'.
He was - in life - medium heigh, but a rather 'willowy' man. Certainly nothing like my dimensions whatsoever.
'He used a stick to walk'.
No - he never did, as he was fitter that me the day he died! When I pointed this out, he said: 'Oh no, that's right, it's your nan that's giving him the walking stick.....' My nan had never used a walking stick in her life and was, at that point in time, alive and well and living in Aldridge !!!!
'He spoke of my mother as if alive....'
My mother had actually died a couple of years earlier!
'I'm getting the names Bob and Dave...'
I wasn't being awkward, but I honestly don't know anyone called Bob or Dave!!
'Errrrmmmm - they're some blokes from down the pub!'
Another no-no, as I don't (socially) frequent any pubs !!!!
'I'm picking up a sense of motorbikes and a warning to be careful'
I'm sitting there in black denim jeans and coat, pony tail, facial piercings, rock related t-shirt and so on. Funnily enough, I have nothing whatsoever to do with motorbikes - ever - and, if I'm honest, I wouldn't trust myself riding a kids trike........ so no worries there!!!
As the session dragged on, he got poorer and poorer with his predictions (if that could actually be humanly possible!?!) and his parting comment almost merited him a smack in the eye:
'I'm getting a message to warn you not to receive any stolen goods.....'
I was safe from a stolen goods angle, but certainly close to being up on 'charges of assault' if I spent any more time with this liar!!!!
Visiting a Spiritualist Church in Brum a few years later, I was told that I had a 13th Century, Mexican spirit guide watching over me... The friends I had attended with apparently had their own guides too - those of a sumo wrestler and an ancient China-man......
As we were leaving the church one of the mediums thanked us for attending and said: "I'll see you again...." I couldn't help but reflect on his potential psychic powers, as, after the rot we'd been exposed to that night, he most certainly wouldn't!!!!
Regards,
Nick