About Me

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Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Sunday, February 03, 2013

D is for DEVILS or DEMONS?

No doubt, one of the most devilish excursions we had while in Wales was to the Skirrid Inn!  It is designated as one of the oldest pubs in Wales dating back over 900 years.  History deems it that the first floor of the inn was once used as a Court of Law and over a period of many years, as many as 180 prisoners were declared guilty of crimes serious enough to demand the sentence of death by hanging, a decree that was carried out at the inn itself. Judge Jeffreys is well known as the "Hanging Judge" because of his desire for harsh sentences to nearly all defendants.

After a night's dreaming of the delightful Welsh landscapes, we decided to have a down-to-earth day taking a drive through Abergavenny towards the Skirrid Inn. My friend Jane had disclosed to Cathy and me that we would definitely love the dwelling, so we were really looking forward to it.  We drove through breathtaking landscapes over the softly rounded hills until we were dizzy and desperate with desire to arrive!

My excitement dissipated at first sight of the Inn because it led me to deem it derelict, decrepit, dark, and dreadful.  So I was not that anxious to enter its depths as I thought it might be dangerous. It looked as though it might disintegrate with the entire roof falling down upon us.  I drifted across the street and had a nice dialogue with two horses who had some doubts about the strangers in town.  Finally, I approached the front door and dared to step inside.

A life-sized dummy of Judge Jeffreys greeted us in the foyer before we directed ourselves  into the pub. There we discovered a homey dining room with designs and displays on the walls about the history of the inn.  As we drifted around reading the signs in the dim and dingy room, my worries began to dissipate.  The inn was not in disrepair nor was it disagreeable.  The atmosphere was one of wholesome fun and we could hear the drinkers laughing and chatting as they devoured their dishes of fish 'n chips or meat pies.  Dropping my purse on the bar, I began to dally a bit with the innkeeper Geoff Fiddler who delights in his Inn's ghostly reputation. I told him my maiden name was "Jones" (how Welsh can you get?) and that I'd come all the way from western Canada. When he heard that, he asked if we'd like to see the lodgings that were available for holiday rent.  As he dived for the keys, a lady who lived in the district leapt up to say she wanted to come, too. She told us that the last time she'd climbed the stairs she'd sensed a ghost, so she desired to try again with others to drive on her courage. Oh, oh!

Pushing the swinging door, we entered a dark and dull hallway with stairs rising upwards.  I disguised myself as a daring day tripper and began the ascent.  Partway up the first section, I discontinued my climb as I detected the noose hanging from the rafters.  I shivered in disgust but decided to push on.  Just as I placed my foot on the middle landing beside the door to the "prisoners' cell," we all heard the most demonic and devilish howl!  I jumped and screamed with horror but was drowned out by the screams of everyone else who was on the stairwell.  Then came deafening roars of laughter as the owner of the pub dismissed our silly fears.  Apparently, he does it to all the gullible tourists! 

Determined to continue on, we peered into all three of the rooms. We were surprised to see that the owners had developed some very nice rooms done up with ensuites.  Each room was different with two of them having four-poster beds.  I decided right then that I would later return with Lorne to this domicile so he could have the same experience.

And we did.  Unfortunately, the owner wasn't on the premises that day, but as soon as we entered the first room we danced our way into the four-poster and Jane took our photo.  Lorne was dazed when he saw the ensuite and for a moment we deliberated about taking a holiday there another time.  We resumed our tour in the second room, but as soon as we stepped inside, all three of us felt a cold, creepy sensation!  Out we went, and descended the stairway, exiting via the closest door and ran for the hills!
Haunted?  Possessed by demons and devils?  Who know?  But we were very discomfited and disturbed by the experience!  I don't think we'll be going back to stay any time soon.  I defer to any other brave soul to dare to dwell there overnight.

Great thanks to our darling and dynamic Mrs. Nesbitt, the creator of ABC Wednesday, and to the dapper and debonair Roger, our current administrator.  Also, thanks to the team who are dedicated to visiting all the dandy, dazzling, and deliciously devoted contributors to ABCW.  And now, on with my weekly slideshow!  Be sure to turn up your sound so you can be delightfully diverted.
Click to play this Smilebox slideshow

30 comments:

Roger Owen Green said...

a hell of a good time, I'd say!

ROG, ABC Wednesday

anthonynorth said...

I've studied many such cases. A fascinating subject.

Carver said...

Sounds like fun but scary. You got so many D words into this post. I'm impressed.

Meryl said...

What a DELIGHTFUL DIVERSION!

Luna Miranda said...

that was fun!:p i'd love to stay overnight! perfect for a Halloween vacation.

Tania said...

So many cool D`s. I like the picture up to the top green very much!:-)

photowannabe said...

Delightfully scary Leslie.

Anonymous said...

what a devilish post. i enjoyed it immensely.

Wanda said...

Chills running up and down my spine...but loving every minute of the slide show. The music was so purrrrrfect~~~ Great post of D's.

Joy said...

I see you have been toying with the demon drink:-) Better to have one before the stroll up Skyrrid Fawr. I think I recognise the path and shape from when I stayed nearby,
http://araftofapples.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/abc-wednesday-ysgyryd-fawr.html

Hildred said...

Leslie, - you are very clever with the Smilebox. And the great number of Ds - congratulations on a devilishly entertaining post.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

I don't like devils, real or pretend.

Hazel said...

OMG nooses! Scary surely but I might try exploring the place for fun. Screaming sometimes and then laughing afterward is good lung exercise. I remember the four-poster beds in the charming inns there.

Gemma Wiseman said...

O my goodness what an adventure! I guess the real fun starts when you tell the tale later! At the time it must have been a bit "disconcerting"!

Reader Wil said...

Thank you for this delightful devilish dramatic story! It is so well written and full of a great sense of humour. Of course I had heard of this judge Jeffries and how cruel he was.
Thanks for your visit. There are snakes in Tassie, but they are very shy. I have only seen one.i hope that your week will be delightful as well!
Wil, ABCW Team.

SRQ said...

Delightful tale. I particularly enjoyed it, as well as your video, because I'm heading to Wales this year. Seeing the beautiful landscape in your photos is making me really look forward to seeing it in person.

Chubskulit Rose said...

Would scared me to death.

Discover
Rose, ABC Wednesday Team

Janet said...

I am downright scared now! Great use of D.

mai said...

what a Delightful post! I had fun reading it. I'd ran for the hills as well as if I felt that creepy sensation!

Melanie Kennelly said...

The Welsh and the Scots seem to have that sense of humor in common. Your adventures remind me of some I had with my cousin in Scotland. Can't say I'm a fan of the creepy but I'm glad that you had a delightful time!

Nonnie said...

what a dazzling bunch of 'd' words!

Demons are so sly and sneaky, what out for them, truly!

Ann said...

I'd be running for the hills too!!!I've been in places where I have felt the same thing and it's not a place I want to be. I can't imagine anyone spending the night there.
Ann

Beverley Baird said...

Loved your "D" tale ! What an interesting place to discover and visit>

Powell River Books said...

Your travels are never dull. - Margy

Latane Barton said...

Wow, that's a lot of demons and devils and a bunch more Ds as well. Delightful!!

Lise said...

Sounds devilishly delightful!

Black Jack's Carol said...

Great story. I enjoyed that are dedicated and un-daunted by the use of D words, but where's that photo of the 4 of you dancing?

Russell said...

That post was just DARN good! Heh!! You certainly have an amazing ability to use a lot of words that start with "D" -- I never could have come close!

Always fun to read your posts and this was most interesting!

Unknown said...

You were not daunted by those "d" s! Darned delicious piece of history!














Saz said...

you are a dervish of deadly D'sss

hah xxx