Many years ago, having been in the job for a couple of short years, and still (relatively) enjoying my chosen vocation, I was transferred to Parramatta.

After I'd started there, I was on a normal 0700-1500 shift, and I was no longer a probationary constable, I was permitted to work 'one up', on a day shift. Responding to a radio call, I attended a decaying old unoccupied cottage. Apparently neighbours had heard some loud noises emanating from therein, and requested police attend.

There, I conducted a cursory external inspection which revealed no intruders. So I decided to enter through one of the many broken windows, long after corrugated sheeting had been removed. The place stank of what most unoccupied houses smell of, and was quite cold ? There was no evidence of any squatters, whatsoever. Nothing ?

There was also an absence of human odour, a general sign of occupation. I found this quite puzzling, as all unoccupied homes (in the early seventies) generally attracted someone ? Here though, there was no evidence at all ? There was no refuse, cans/bottles, nothing. Most surprising indeed ?

Anyway, as I was leaving, a neighbour approached, identified himself and asked if I'd heard anything (not found anyone), whether I'd heard anything ?

Following a good thirty minute conservation, I discovered, neither he, nor any of the neighbours, had ever seen anyone enter, trespass upon, or damage the premises for many years, despite the badly neglected appearance of the exterior ?

Further, I was told, that over fifty odd years ago , a family of three were found deceased therein. Although no suspicious circumstances were attached to the deaths. Apparently the Coroner, was satisfied the cause of death was that of a tragic murder-suicide.

Upon my return to the Station, I made extensive enquiries, including colleagues, in order to determine the full antecedents of that property, including particulars of former ratepayers, owners, and tennents etc.

Indeed, the house had a 'real' history ! No trouble. Just a tragic history ? An address, that NO police member was ever, comfortable attending ?

OSW is this a ghost story thread?

A dear old bloke I called Pop, a dry laconic “old Aussie” born in the 1800’s, he died when I was eight. His daughter was like an aunt. Pop told me stories about his life but he never told ghost stories. For some reason I asked my auntie about ghosts, as kids do, she told me to ask Pop.

He told me this:
His father was a drover and occasionally he his mum and brother would go with him if it was a long drove. They were camped overnight at Temora and a local farmer said they can stay in a stone one room outhouse building some distance from the farmhouse. A furious storm came up and the drovers went out to the sheep leaving just Pop’s mum the kids and a dog.

As the thunder pounded the dog sat quietly in front of the fire, it then suddenly started barking rising up and raising its hackles focusing its attention to a bricked up doorway in the side wall. The dog growled and snapped in the direction of the door as the kids started to cry and the freaked out mother went for the rife. Pop said that the room temperature changed, it became hot not cold as in most other ghost stories.

The dog went ferocious and frantic running to the only exit door and jumping up against it again and again. Pop’s mum thought she would have to shoot the dog, then the fire went out and they were in darkness in the windowless blockhouse. Pop said that one of the drovers came back and the dog ran away yelping, they never got the dog back.

The next morning they told the farmer the story and told them that before his family bought the land the previous owner lived in the stone room but it had a wooden addition tacked onto the side with an access door cut into the wall. The father went crazy and locked his family into the wooden room and set it alight, killing the whole family.

o sung wo g,day mate.
Well we had a thread like this quite a few years ago, it was a long one.
And interesting.
Yes I am a non believer in Gods, but these following are true and most happened to me.
Knock on my door early am my dad was in hospital not expected to live.
I never got there in time, but within minutes set of by mums wish, to drive from Wollongong to Balmain, to inform my brothers.
Dad rode with me.
No I truly believe he did.
He stood 5 ft 4 inches was a happy laughing bloke, until provoked, and I felt his excitement every inch of the way.
His inquiring mind keeping me warm.
If that was the only time we could say my grief saw my brain take over.
But many times I have been aware of something that was not there.
Mums death near 30 years after, was the same.
Men still tell the old bush campfire story's if this subject comes up, maybe we will hear more, I have more to contribute.

I love reading ghost stories, and many cause my hair to stand on end.
However, I am sadly lacking in any actual contact with any ghosts myself.

Having worked in hospitals and seen many dead bodies over many years, I am yet to have any of these experiences myself.

Other nurses tell me they see and hear the ghosts of dead patients from years gone by, usually on night duty in old hospitals and nursing homes.

The closest I came to having such an experience was a sudden rush of wind (?) out of a window in a ward, just as a patient breathed her last breath...

Dear o sung wu,

I've shared my ghost stories on the earlier
thread to which Belly referred in his post
so I won't re-tell them here. I remembeer
when I was diagnosed with cancer a few years
back how hard I prayed in hospital prior to
my first operation. I prayed like there was
no tomorrow, fearing deeply that there might
not be.

I don't know if it made a difference. But I'm
still here. And as Marianne Williamson says:
" No conventional therapy can release
us from a deep and abiding psychic pain. Through
prayer we find what we cannot find elsewhere:
a peace that is not of this world."

Good evening - SONOFGLOIN, BELLY, & SUSEONLINE...

What an absolutely silly topic to put up here. I'll not be able to sleep now ?!

Actually, it's not meant as a ghost story. A tale that even today, there's never been a satisfactory explanation.

We're only permitted 350 words here. There were other facts I wanted to share with you all. Eg, the previous owner (this was back in the 70's remember), try as he might, with some fairly aggressive lowering of asking prices couldn't seem to find a buyer ? Nor could he rent the place. Squatters, though some spent time there, never stayed, nor occasioned any damage to the place.

The dwelling never actually caused trouble to police, other than many calls to the effect of noise from therein. Patrols, merely entered the yard, looked thru windows, yelled for anyone inside to come out, and that was that ? Nothing. Nothing at all.

The only real 'problem', if one could call it that, was the place simply existed ?

SONOFGLOIN...

Wow...there's no doubt about the bush, if there's anything mysterious or spooky even, the bush'll have it ! What an amazing story, really amazing, you'd agree ? Is this the only episode of such events that you can relate ? What can you say...better still does science have a better explanation ?

BELLY ol' mate...

You'd have a story or two tucked away in your enormous memory banks, I'd wager ? Back to you both again later, if I may ?

SUSEONLINE...

'...a gust of wind, at the very moment, a dying soul expended their last breathe, before death...' ?

Just a coincidence, or happenstance, perhaps even serendipity... ?

'Naw', just a fluke the naysayer's would mutter ? And perhaps they're right, or are they ?

Thank you all for your contributions.

O sung wo, no, I do not see this thread as silly or a ghost story one.
It is about a question we all ask our selves but shrink away from talking about.
Suseonline, gday, can you add to the view Nurses tell of the dieing waiting for loved ones to come before dieing?
My mum suffered for months, in hospital not being able to communicate after a stroke.
Visits every single hour we could daily, saw communication re start with good results.
But mums sister came from a very long way away, and told me to leave!
She said mum would not die while I was there,a spooky lady, claiming and seeming to prove, she talked to the dead, mum died 15 minutes after I left.
My days on the road work saw me count 73 dead, in just one 50 klm strip.
I stopped counting, it was more.
Standing on a spot that saw such an event, middle of the night, alone controlling traffic for yet another fatal?
You do not ever want to do that.
I am convinced, some thing takes place after death.
Remember however near death turns many away from formal religions.
And this fact, the God of my birth said no one is raised until he calls.
So while my remarks will offend some,the thread asks a question we can address if we put our fears away.

'afternoon to you both, LEXI & BELLY...

LEXI, what a beautiful piece you wrote ! As you say, and probably asked yourself a dozen times during those frightening days, does the power of prayer work ? Even if we don't believe ? There is so much we don't know, about everything really ? And I guess death does, in so many ways, really mystifys, even confounds us all.

I suppose many in the nursing profession, Doctors, Ambo's, police, and many others have been present at the exact point of a person's death. Certainly our SUSEONLINE described such an incident that she herself was witness too and was present ? What does a person feel, at that exact moment ? Are they aware they've died ? And for how long is that awareness present, before that person expires completely ?

All a bit silly really ? We're born, most struggle all their lives, (some even suffer, profoundly) and then in some indeterminate period in the future, we die ? Religion aside, why ?

BELLY, old mate...

You've mentioned working on roads, that've been subject to many fatals ? I'm in total agreement with you ! All that death, injury, misery, horror - surely, after such terrible events (similar to war) there must be something, albeit invisable, 'remain' ?

Even a sort of energy 'residue', an 'atmosphere', even a 'resounding vibration' - something must surely endure indefinately thereat. Obviously, it's an energy source of a kind we can neither see, touch, nor smell ? But it's something we can surely 'feel' though ! Similar to electricity ! We can't see it exactly, but by golly we can certainly feel it though, given the right circumstances !

Therefore in my limited reasoning, I can't rationally accept, that after an enormous vehicular collision, of such monumental sufficiency to cause death, and given the prodigious amount of unfettered energy released as a consequence of that impact, surely that 'energy' must remain somewhere, but where ?

Thank you both for your continued responses.

What an absolutely silly topic to put up here. I'll not be able to sleep now ?!

o sung wu, this is what happens when one mind has run out of fuel...Death is the last score, however, what ever members choose to veiw thy bigger pictures of life, still try to be as human as you can:)....well for some on here anyway.

PLANET3

Sorry p3, for you, such self assurance, and so badly miss placed.
O sung wo, yes my work area was the *Pacific highway death strip*
It was such, while a poor road poor driving played the biggest roll.
Head on, three dead Nuns, two dead drug carriers.
One month 3 smashes each took 3 lives.
Men are marked by such events.
Police too.
Young but far from green, loved and respected cop, small town but liked by all.
Sat in his car lights flashing, at his best mates sons fatal.
He was speaking in to the mike, informing all it was alright he was talking to the young bloke.
*Let no man say he was acting*, his life was destroyed by event after event.
Some thing remains, at least for an instant, after death.
I am a hard nut but knew, without doubt my dad was with me post death.
And one hard day, months after mums death while mowing the lawn, heard in my mind not as sound, her say she was proud of me.
Those shrinking away from this thread may re view their thoughts on why we live at all.
And why we can think a second chance at life will come but not this way.
If you visited that empty house in north Parramatta, just maybe it is the same one that sent us young blokes home in fear once was enough.
We often took our girl friends on ghost hunts, they usualy stayed after we ran.

Sorry p3, for you, such self assurance, and so badly miss placed.

Not really belly when it comes to the bigger picture. My opinions have been well stated here and have read the thread..... and I see quite well the subject matter here. Dealing with death whether it be by stupid actions or an act of god...still if some have decoded the bible right, god would tell you not to wait for him....even life its self calls for the survival of the smartest/fittest call, and all living things comes under the same bracket. How to handel the sight of death comes under the strength of the individual which by DNA...all are programed to handel such in-with the little or greater understandings of what the the meaning of life is...and with the add of hinesight, the more you have on the roads, well the maths shows the out-comes.

The big bang, start from there:)

PLANET

A friend of my Mum can "see dead people", just like in the movie The Sixth Sense, she can hear them speak and everything, the phantoms arent everywhere, mainly in older buildings but the way she describes it they sometimes notice that she can see them and try to talk to her. She's said that most of them are either looking for someone or they want to know what she's doing in "their" house, like a lot of "sensitives" she says that the spirits don't seem to realise that they are dead.
This woman has had a few frightening experiences, once in a rental property up in Sunraysia with the ghost of an old woman who had dementia and would follow her all around the house all day screaming obscenities and a very upsetting experience where at the wake for her young niece who'd died suddenly she saw the ghost of the deceased out of the corner of her eye but refused to turn around and look at her.
As is usual in these stories my mother's friend is a stoic, no nonsense woman who doesn't drink and has no mental problems, she worked at a senior job in the public service and held other responsible jobs all her life and is the model of trustworthiness and sincerity...but there it be, I don't know what to make of it.

Belly,
I've only ever seen one person expire before my eyes and something definitely "happens" and it's not at all like in a movie, it's a very weird feeling even if it's someone you don't know, in this case it was an old homeless man.
I've seen a couple of other people in the minutes after they've died from drug overdoses and again, they obviously look dead but they also look empty somehow.

Jay,

Perhaps those who inquire as to why your mum's friend is in their house, and who don't seem to know they're dead - aren't dead.

Perhaps it's a glitch in time - or in the experience of spacetime.

Physicists haven't found a law that says that time should only be a one way deal - maybe time is like a big loaf of something.

The persistent illusion is of "past", "present" and "future".

Here's an excerpt from "The Fabric of the Cosmos" by Brian Greene.

"....As a prime example, the intuitive sense of time's flow can be vividly portrayed in this framework by a variation on the movie-projector metaphor. We can envision a light that illuminates one time slice after another, momentarily making the time slice come alive in the present--making it the momentary now--only to let it instantly go dark again as the light moves on to the next slice.....But again, while this image seems to match experience, scientists have been unable to to find anything in the laws of physics that embodies such a moving light. They have found no physical mechanism that singles out moment after moment to be momentarily real...Quite the contrary.....there is convincing evidence that the spacetime loaf--the totality of spacetime, not slice by single slice--is real..."

I liked the contributions of Jay and Poirot.
And agree we can not truly know, while we live in any case.
Not a believer, and aware God says we will die until he returns not open a door to heaven and step in.
Heard of the English haunt that many report seeing, Roman soldiers marching out of a wall and it to another disappearing.
A family for generations more in fear and searching for under standing, passed down the story of a son appearing in the kitchen days before the telegram came informing his mum he had died in ww1 in France.
For every true person seeing things as Jay reports ten frauds exist.
For that reason this thread, talking mostly of personal happenings, has merit.
I while preaching openness on this subject, like most, am holding back, some things are unbelievable.

Belly.

"Heard of the English haunt that many report seeing, Roman soldiers marching out of a wall and it to another disappearing.

This belly can be put down as a glitch in time. The past over-lapping with present or ghost fragments since the past has already been. The future on the other hand is the event horizon, hence why you don’t see space creatures or our own futures (lets say,the year 2050, coming out of walls or thing else for that matter. Some fragments of the past are caught in loops ( you can look at it by flicking the pages of a book, and each page is a fixed point in times past) and when a weak spot in the time continuum happens, you get what I call, the cross-roads effect or ghosts if you like.

This is more than likely what happens. However these ghosts fragments only last for a few hundred years or so and then there compressed like the last pages of the book, and can no-longer exist because of the more future that comes at its current and steady rate....hence why no-one sees T-REX or cavemen running around in your kitchen.

These glitches are very few, and thank goodness for that....you would be all frighten out of your wits downing lots of heavy medication.

The persistent illusion is of "past", "present" and "future".

Only two of these are right.

Just a thought.

PLANET3

Hi there PLANET3...

An interesting theory I believe ? And who's to say you're not right ?There's so much we're yet to know 'out there', and I don't think a layman like myself could ever furnish an explanation that would satisfy, the most strident fatalist or philosopher for that matter.

Perhaps it's only those who harbour the deepest of religious conviction, that feel secure enough in themselves and in their own beliefs, not to concern themselves of the events immediately subsequent to own deaths ?

A while back, I recall talking to a young bloke at the old Prince Henry Hospital. A moment or two before he expired, he asked me how much trouble he was in ? A stupid question on the face of it, so I answered in the only way I could, he just kind of grinned, and was gone.

They called 'time', and that was that. He looked very peaceful at the time he passed...why ? Who knows ? I hope by my reassurance, he appeared to settle a bit and relax, seemingly a little happier, and died peacefully ? Right, wrong or what, I wouldn't have a clue ? I saw what I saw ?

The thread can be just as long as that very old one.
It has potential.
It questions our inner thoughts and ideas.
If we leave God out of it, or do we need to?
Belief is part of the whole thing.
I some how wounder if P3 has it right, a fold in time.
It would explain all ghost story's.
But not my trip with my dead father.
Mum had many hospital stays, each close to death, in her last years.
She told of a near death experience.
Dad she said, had sent her back, she had work to do.
I and mum, had our hands full doing what grand parents and elder sons/daughters do, raising grand children.
The job was done at the time of her death.
Every one, very nearly, has a ghost story.
One thing is certain we can not prove or disprove life after death.

I've just remembered a funny incident while
I was in hospital waking up after an operation
and seeing a priest bending over me. He scared
the living daylights out of me. As it turned out
he was merely there at the request of the nursing
staff who had informed him that I was a Catholic
during his visit to that particular floor of the
hospital. He was merely doing his job. While I had
assumed the worst - waking up from my procedure.
I hadn't been given any prior warning that the
priest was going to be visiting.

Anyway, once I realised that I wasn't dying - things
got much better. I was actually able to smile.

'evening BELLY & LEXI...

You're right my friend, you can't prove there's life after death - though imagine the 'bucks' you'd make if you could ! Not to mention the more serious sentimental component of death; of restoring past loving relationships, saying stuff you would've or should've said prior to the passing of that parent, relation, partner or friend ?

What wisdom would we all gain, by speaking with someone close, but who's pre-deceased us ? Awful, life altering mistakes, with the benefit of hindsight and with some sage advice from those from the 'other side' - wow, we could 'right' many of our 'wrongs' ? Much more importantly, repair many of the 'hurts' we've occasioned against people we've previously loved, and never had the opportunity to correct those dreadful mistake. Or being able to repudiate many of those angry words, though said in haste, nevertheless inexcusable and cutting deeply, the feelings of the person we loved. And never being able to apologise ?

Oh well, thats life I guess ?

LEXI...

By golly ! I reckon I'd die a million deaths myself, if I were to awaken in Hospital and see a Priest bending over my bed ? Good to see he's out and about doing his job though ! A job I wouldn't like to do. Dispensing news of a type that can often cause such misary, for people who are perhaps at their weakest, and most emotionally assailable ? Takes a very strong and compassionate human being to undertake such a task.

Thank you both for your brilliant contributions.

Dear o sung wu,

Thanks for your last post to Belly and myself.
It made me think about my dad who died suddenly
of a massive coronary at the age of 52 whilst
I was overseas. I nevr got to say good-bye to
him or tell him so much that I wanted to tell him.
It all happened so fast - and then he was gone.
He never got to see his grandchildren and I never
got to share so much with him. Even today, I wish
he'd have lived longer. I miss him so much.
Perhaps he sees everything after-all. Who knows?
I can only hope that he does.

o sung wu, belly, and lexi for the passes of distraction I thank you all for your very kind words. I think as long as there’s a question mark, timing is of great importances even if we don’t understand all about what we think we see and all that may not be. In theory, it works for me and I think that’s all that matters but not quite maybe a meeting of all things great will see the answers we seek and you know time waits for no man or women. Time I think, is a very slow and resighting moment , and it undertakes a great thought in all that we think for the out-comes of the future, and Iam sure that just one mistake, can spell a greater fear than life itself. Please look after this planet, because we only have one.

All the best.

PLANET3

Oh, when I say all the best:), it means I've just started thinking again:)

Fuller ghost and this one http://tinyurl.com/b6qeo46
maybe by theory, religion can also be just a theory, and at the end of the day, where right back where we started, so in theory of course, and thats all I,ve got:)

o sung wu mate, I know just about as much as you do:)

PLANET3

Oh gee LEXI...

I do understand exactly what you say, and how you feel. Perhaps he does know what's going on, in your life as well as the lives of your children and grandchildren.

As a resolute pragmatist most of my life, there's something that's habitually puzzled me. And as such, I'm exhorted to ask ?

...I just can't see, moreover I just can't accept, if, after we've spent all of our alloted time here on earth, we simply just pass on ! I don't believe ...that's all there is ?

Everything I know on this earth of our's, has some purpose attached to it ? In many cases, I have no knowledge what that purpose is ?

Therefore, can anyone explain this to me please ?

'...We're born; we live; and we die...'. Why ?

Why do any of that, if there's no purpose or reason beyond, 'we die' ?
Doesn't make any sense, does it ?

Thanks again for all your brilliant responses, I really appreciate them.

Been a good thread we need to air out our differences in politics.
Nothing wrong about them, those views but a rest is often called for.
Fishers ghost.
How do we avoid the story as it came to us?
Two convicted of murder and the victim showing the place his body would be found.
Sorry suseonline did not reply to my question.
But Nurse after Nurse told me of waiting for the last good by deaths.
And too of the strange things on the midnight shifts.

Dear o sung wu,

I remember reading an article some time back about
a cat who lived in an aged care facility (or was it
a hospital?). Who always knew when one of the elderly
patients was about to die. The cat would go into that
person's room and stay with them until they passed.

I'll try to Google that article for you and get back to you.
It makes for interesting reading.

Dear o sung wu,

Here's the link that I promised you earlier
about Oscar the Cat:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/77981.php

It's an interesting article.

Hello there BELLY Ol' Mate...

Yes indeed, politics can unquestionably create some divergence of views and opinions and therefore quickly divide people and their respective causes ? And as you say, we sometimes need to 'step back' a piece, take a big breathe, before launching ourselves back into the melee, once more !

The extraordinary sights, and sounds, not to mention the profound sadnesses, our nurse's often need to face, takes an astonishing amount of personal 'steel'. Moreover, to confront and manage a critical situation with a dying patient with a degree of dignity and solemnity. And all the while ensure they can maintain their own level of proficiency and propriety, often in the presence of distraught strangers.

It's little wonder BELLY, they may at night, alone in a quiet ward, hear and see things that are well beyond a normal explantaion ?

Good afternoon to you LEXI...

You're a real gem ! Thank you so much for your link about 'Oscar' the Cat, who continues to weave his mystery in the presence of dying patients. What an absolutely extraordinary little fella !

Call me dumb, stupid, anything you care to say. I really believe that animals possess a far greater insight into phenomenon, beyond anything we (Humans) can possible understand ? Their senses are so well attuned to 'things' we cannot possibly conceive. Proof of which, is their uncanny ability to forcast particular weather events etc., in fact we humans aren't all that good when you think about it really ?

Again, my profound thanks, go to you and BELLY, I really appreciate your efforts.

Dear o sung wu,

You're right about animals.

Perhaps, in the case of Oscar - he could smell
some sort of chemical that the dyhing give off
before they pass.

Anyway, I'm certain that animals have senses that
we humans don't possess. As in the case of knowing
when there's danger coming (earthquakes, fires, et
cetera).

Hi again LEXI...

Another feature of our beloved domestic animals - they all have this inexplicable capacity to give, enduring and unqualified love and affection. Beyond anything a human being would be capable of giving.

Dear o sung wu,

Humans are capable of unconditional love.
I know how deeply I feel for my family members,
my husband, my children, my grandchildren.
I've just recently written
a Baptismal Blessing for my newest grandchild
(which will take place in a few months time).
It's personal and it comes from the heart:

"Guardian angels
To you we pray
Kindly heed what we've got to say
Spread your wings and fold them tight
Around our grandson with all of your might
Shield him from harm is what we ask
Please dear angels make that your task
Let your light guide him day and night
Show him the difference between wrong and right

Guardian angels please keep him safe
Steady his path, asleep or awake
Take care of this innocent that's all we ask
Take care of him daily make that your task

Make him believe in the beauty of life
The goodness in people and avoidance of strife
Help him find peace, the deep calm it brings
That joy comes from the spirit, not material things."

Take care,

Lexi,

If your grandson takes after his grandmother - then I'm sure the applications embedded in your final verse are sure to come to pass.

Good afternoon LEXI...

There's nothing I can say...? Nothing at all !

You know, I've always thought LEXI that you've a rare talent with words. Whether it's your long exposue to the nature of 'libraries', your education, or something else of which I'm unaware, I don't know ?

Therefore, all that remains for me to do, is to fully and unequivocally, support everything POIROT (who herself, is certainly no dullard with words either) has said herein.

A truly beautiful piece. Thank you for consenting to share it with us, and with all your many friends here on our's, and Graham's Forum.

Dear Poirot and o sung wu,

Thank You so much for your kind words.
I wrote them from my heart to my grandson.
And Thank You for appreciating the message
that I was sending to him.