h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I will write MUCH shorter messages to you, and I won't rant. Well, I am forgivable. Send me a message.

Have you been writing?

Hello Leiann,

How are you - I am well thank you and writing a bit (my novel not an extended version of The Cherry Cake!) My novel is about a small village in the West Country (surprise surprise).

Are you still working on Serenity?

Carole

Is your novel going to be like Coronation Street? Or a small Village English drama portraying people with quirks and foibles?

I'm starting fresh the beginning to Serenity. I am starting with more of a theme of humour than last time.

Also, are you interested in Ghost Stories?

Hi Lieann

My novel is set in South West En gland - Coronation Street is in the North - but the things people get up to are pretty much the same in all parts of England (the World too I would say).

Oh yes I love ghost stories - I wrote one which I think is quite good and have sent to to the BBc - am waiting to hear what they think of it.

Glad you are still writing

Carole

PS Have you read The Woman in Black by Susan Hill? This is a great ghostly book which has also been produced on the stage and made into a film.

Carole

I haven't heard of "The Woman in Black" but tell me about it .

Look into this website: http://www.ghosthaunts.com/banff.html

I have been to the Banff Springs hotel in Banff, Alberta, Canada. This hotel is rated at 5 stars and is reputed to be haunted by several ghosts. I haven't see the apparitions (Why would I since they don't bother me?), however, the inside of the hotel can be spooky.

Here is a weblink to the Pictures of the Banff Springs Hotel:

http://www.peachmountain.com/narayan/Banff_06_Banff.asp

************************************************************************

I believe that ghosts exist -- actually, I like believing that ghosts exist. I like to believe that a ghost actually watches me and cares about what I do. I sound like I have an imagination.

I am fascinated by the haunting of ghosts. I have lived in a house in Canmore, Alberta, Canada (which is just 15 kilometres --a few miles-- outside of Banff). I was 12 while living there. In 1992, appliances that weren't plugged in turned on and off. Other supernatural phenonmena happened. For instance, the house was drafty and also a sweeping presence would brush past you and chill you with cold air. I couldn't sleep alone in my room since I was always afraid that zombies would fall from the ceiling, land on me, and then eat my brains.

My Dad wrote a story about the haunting and broadcasted it:

this is from several websites...

"Haunted House, Haunted Mind" is based on a true story by writer-broadcaster Don Hill. In 1994, Don Hill and his family sold the house they'd been living in, in Canmore, Alberta and moved out. They were convinced the house was haunted! It was your standard house with the mysterious noises, the chilling waves of terror that come to mind when one thinks of haunted houses. Once there was something that resembled your standard ghost - a luminous, transparent human-sized thing - which vanished. Frightened and intrigued, Hill kept a diary and set out to discover what was haunting his house.
http://www.aetheronline.com/mario/Heretic/originof.htm
http://interaccess.org/subtle/speakers/hill.html
http://www.ghostmag.com/issues/2004-12/2004-12-YourBrainandtheParanormal.html

My Dad concluded that the ghost haunting was an experience feigned by his own mind. That could be true.

Well, this message will be short. So, Carole, I am interested in ghost stories and I plan to grind one out.

Dear Leiann

Thanks for your E Mail - I would be really interested to read your ghost story when you have done it - will you be posting it on this site?

Where we live in Devon, my husband and I edit and produce a Village magazine and a year or two back we ran a series of ghost stories sent in by people in the village. It is a very small village - only approx. 250 people but we got some really good tales. Our house is said to have a ghost but we have never seen her. I myst say though that I often feel that someone has come into the room with me - I think it is Jim and when I turn around there is noboddy there. I will post my ghost story on H2G2 I think - and then you can read it.

I have to say I keep an open mind - unless I see one I am sceptical. But there are so many documented cases that there has to be something in it.

Where we used to live in Kent there was said to be a ghost on Bluebell Hill. She was always seen on dark rainy nights. Many motorists reported in to Rochester police station saying that a young woman wearing a head scarf had run in front of their car and they had knocked her down. When they had stopped and got out they could never find a body or any sign of the woman. Spooky!

Looking forward to your story
Carole

I will post my ghost story on h2g2. Certainly, I would like you to read it.

Also Carole, I would like to see the birthing of your ghost story.

Well, alrighty, I will tell you the abstract of my ghost story. I need your opinion...

In my ghost story, there is a girl (basically myself) named Leiann. I put my own in the story because 1) I want to and I can.

The girl is having a tough and miserable yet sometimes funny time, and she laughs at herself, in the current 21st century world. More specifically, Leiann is having a tough time in 21st century Canada (believe this or not). She then wonders if a ghost, if it could be present and watching her, would care about HER and her struggle. She then starts to feel a presence. Then she sees the ghost. However, she doesn't think that HE is a ghost, but she believes him to be a regular 30 something year-old guy.

...Please remember, Leiann isn't seeing a hallucination...
...Leiann isn't crazy...

More specifically, the guy looks like he is always ready and dressed for a costume party. His style of clothes look like that of a mariner's outfit dating at the time of 18th century England.

Leiann talks to him because she is friendly due to her loneliness (although she has family and a few friends, she feels a loneliness that is unresolved). He talks to her with real and distinct interest, but he tempers his eagerness to make himself not come on too strong.

Whenever Leiann talks to him, other people can see him and they also talk to him. But whenever Leiann doesn't talk to him, he can't be noticed anymore. The ghost's name is Edward Styles, and he is a wandering ghost who has beed dead since the late 18th century. He died while at sea, on voyage, on an English Merchant ship. He died and then he regained consciousness in the time and place in which Leiann exists. He realizes that he is dead, and is a ghost. But his purpose, of why he is in a totally different world, he does not know. However, he happens upon Leiann and he sees something special about her. He then talks to her and she sees him and his intention. He further realizes that other people cannot see him when he tries to talk to them but only Leiann can; and therein lies the mystery.

The above are the details (and without the end) of the story. What do you think?

Dear Leiann,

I think your synopsis is great - it really makes me want to read the story and I look forward to seeing it on the site. It would have to be AWW I think wouldn't it as it is a short story and "fiction".

I don't understand what you mean by "the birthing of my story". Goes back to what we were talking about - the transatlantic differences in our common language!

I also don't understand why you are so lonely - though I think you said that you argue with your family didn't you? That is a shame.

You have lots of friends on this site - but we are not there in person to help with your loneliness we can only try.

Carole

I don't argue with my family. I never argue with my mom. However, I *debate* with my brother. The word "argue" can sound like a petty fight. But debate does mean a discussion of religion, politics, science topics, and philosophy. I sometimes needlessly debate with my brother and my father does the same to me. However, pettily debating does become arguing.

I sometimes debate.

My brother and I discuss many topics, but I can anger him by needlessly debating what he says when he only wants to announce something he read or something he finds to be interesting. An example of this would be, my brother wanting to tell me about an article that he read about global warming, but I needlessly criticized the article that he read when he actually didn't want a debate but only wanted to tell me what he read.

About my loneliness:

I get lonely because I live away from my family and my close female friend Silvana Plada. I suffer bouts of depression because I am afraid of being forgotten by my distant family and close friend. I often keep in contact, but I am afraid of abandonment if my family and close friend forget about me because I am not physically there and involved in their lives. I write letters to them all the time and I phone them, but I do get sad and wonder if my words alone are enough to keep my treasured relationships alive. When I get phone calls and letters (and presents) from them, I feel VERY happy because I know that they love me. Last week, I was in a bout of depression because I was missing my mom. As my own person, I think that relationships with family and friends is what really matters because what do you have when these people don't exist? Without family and friends, you have no one's love and care EXCEPT your own mind to care for yourself. Some people can live with only themselves and things (they are materialistic) but I can't because a thing doesn't give me what matters the most, which is LOVE and CARE. My health needs love and care to keep me well.

Now, about what I meant by "birthing your story":

That is my own way of mentioning your creative writing process. I view gestation and the birthing of the child just like the formulation of the story and the final writing out of the story on paper.

I speak my own mind and I invent phrases, metaphors, to describe what I want to mention.

Now, about my ghost story:

Great! So you would really want to read it? Good.

You think my ghost story isn't fiction but classed as "Alternative Writing"? Hmmm, some people think ghosts are fictional but then some people don't, which is why ghost stories can be categorized as "Alternative Writing".

What else, what other subject, is classed as "Alternative Writing"?

Well, I've decided to write out my ghost story first because it is a few chapters long and not FANTASTICALLY LONG like my Serenity story. I would like you to read each chapter as they come out, and I would like to hear your comments. Ohhh, the ending is great (well, I think so).

Also, thanks for being nice to me.

Dear Leiann,

Thanks for your note. You don't need to fear that your family and friends would ever forget or be less close to you just because you are not with them all the time. Of course, you are sad to be away from them but they will always love you believe me and I am sure they miss you just as much - perhaps more.

My children, of course, had to grow up and leave me and I missed them terribly but that is life and we just have to get on with it. My daughter and her husband and two little girls live about a 2 hour drive from me but see them quite often. Luckily we have always been close and they all want to see me as much as I want to see them. I cont myself very lucky for that.

My son, on the other hand, left England in 2003 to live in Australia. Well I tell you, that just broke my heart (I am crying as I write this). I cried when he went off to University in England but nothing like when he left for Oz. He left in August and in December his wife gave birth to my third grand daughter. My husband and I finally got to meet her last October and we saw Chris again 14-months since that awful day when we all cried buckets at Heathrow airport. We had 5 great weeks with him in Australia but then came the parting again and then I also had to part with little Katherine who I had grown to love over that 5 weeks. Chris and I speak each week for an hour or more - we E Mail constantly (but I cannot see him and hug him and the baby). Oh, pull yourself together Carole - that is life!

So dont you think that they will not be missing you Leiann - I just know they are.

Write that ghost story I am anxious to read it

Oh, PS No I think your ghost story would be classed as fiction - I posted my story The Cherry Cake on h2gs and lots of people came on and told me it should not be there because it was fiction, but should be on Alternative Writing Workshop - so I moved it.

Best wishes Carole

Awww.

Good thing that you know and your children know that each of you care for one another, and all of you actually try to keep in contact.

How come your son, Chris, choose to go to Australia for University and then he decided to live there and not come back to England? Wow, I can live anywhere, but that does not diminish the fact that I would be a stranger in that land. As a stranger, I would have to struggle to form relationships that matter, which are of love and caring (the basis for good health, or I would die because of being ambiguous and neglected). Well, your son didn't move to Australia alone, or did he? He did move with his wife, and so he did move with *family*, which he could be comforted by while he was a foreigner in Australia?

Okay, thanks for clarifying that the ghost story is classed as Fiction.

Okay, so then, what is classed as Alternative Writing? Hmmm...

Could Alternative Writing be the following:

A Psycho History of, lets say for instance, Martin Luther. Martin Luther is analysed by a psychologist and then HE is presented according to his psychological profile, his nuances, his beliefs, and his fears.

What do you think is Alternative Writing?

Dear Leiann,

I am as baffled as you are by the categories here on this site. I think you need to speak to one of the Researchers in Authority. I was told that my story - being fiction - wasn't right for the h2g2 site but I have read other things on there that are clearly fictional stories just like mine! When you joined you probably had a message from an A.C.E. (I did) and they seem to know the ropes. Good Luck.

Chris went to University in London - that was OK - he came back in the holidays, but I still missed him having had him around for 18 years. The he went to work in the north of England (about 250 miles away), that was still OK because we could drive there in about 4 hours and he would often visit us here in Devon. But then he met his future wife who (although born in England) had been raised in Australia. They lived in England for 4 years after they married, but she has elderly parents in Sydney and when she got pregnant she wanted to go back and live near them. Chris made a bargain with her that they would stay in Sydney until her mother dies (her father would like to come back to England) and then they will come back to Chester (where Chris still has a house). I don't know if this will happen because I am sure his wife does not ever want to come back to live in England. We shall see. And who knows - her father could die first and then they will have to stay with her mother. Gosh - my husband and I could even die before them. So I don't know what will happen.

I just have to get on with my own life and try not to think too much about it. You raise your children to be independent - you want that for them and you want them to be happy doing whatever they want to do. So I must not complain and I don't really. But it is hard for a mother when her chicks leave the nest

Speak soon
Carole

Ohhh. You are sweet.

I believe that you have a right to want your son to live near you in England. You do raise your kids to be independent, but not to forget about you.

Chris lives in Australia, and his wife is supposed to compromise to let him come back to England, with her, once her mother dies. You matter, and so that agreement should be honoured. What I meant by "forget" is that family can be living apart and then get "caught up in" another life and then forget to honour promises. Chris is damned lucky to have a mother like you. The way you write, you sound like my own mother and I know that I be DEAD (D-E-A-D) if she didn't love me as much as she did.

When I was growing up, people thought that I was autistic, but my mom didn't listen to their opinions. She kept her patience, and her love and patience were rewarded when I finally spoke sentences when I was 5 years old. To this day, I value what she has done for me.

Parents do matter, and I do not believe that a grown child, better known as an adult, should be their own person to the extent that they get "caught up in" another life (their married life, whatever) and then forget their parents or the people who loved them and raised them.

From what you've told me so far about Chris consistently emailing you, I hope that he tells you truthly how much he loves you. I think that you deserve to have your son close to you (not actually in your house, but somewhere in the neighbourhood/call it England). I believe that family matters.

Aaah Leiann,

Thank you for those kind words.

I think if you love your children as much as I love mine they will always want to be close to you. And Chris and I are as close as we can be - given the distance between us. He would never forget me or his Dad. It breaks his heart that he has to live so far from us. But he also loves his wife - he is torn in two I know that and I understand.

Somehow it is different with daughters - there is a saying here (maybe you have heard it) A daughter's a daughter all her life, a son's a son 'til he takes a wife. And that is so true. So I can understand that Helene (Chris's wife) would want to be near her own mother. There were lots of tears there when she went away to England. It is just a bummer when two people from two different countries meet and fall in love. Always the problem - where to live.

I am lucky I still have my daughter, son-in-law and two beautiful grand daughters not too far away in England. We can reach them in 2 hours by car. They are coming on Sunday, as it is half term from school and my daughter, Lesley, will leave the girls here with us. She will be going to Worcester to check out the area. Her husband has just changed jobs and they will be moving to Worcester this year - still only about 2 hours away. I love having my grand daughters here -we have such fun. We go out together and cook together (they are 9 and 7). And the nice thing is that they want to come and spend time with us too.

It is great that your Mum believed in you and she has obviously raised a great daughter too. So many kids turn out badly because they don't have that love and care from their parents.

Keep writing - I'm still looking forward to that ghost story
Carole

I remember my mother's actions when I was a kid, and so I don't forget the good she has done. She is imperfect (but a fine example of a woman being a mother) and she has made mistakes since 1) I was the first born, and 2) she did what she thought was best but wasn't completely right. I turned out alright because she did what she thought was best for me according to her love, and I also reasoned for myself. I turned out alright because she tried and I tried.

Life is about effort.

Hmmm, you are right to say that "A daughter is a daughter all her life, and a son is a son until he gets a wife." I agree with you that a son takes on his wife's life, and so makes concessions to her and (if this is acknowledged as so) her need to be close to her own mother.

I want to be close to my mother all the time because the world is less scary when she is around. *I have tears in my eyes*. I am thinking of how the orphans because of the Second World War died in the care of orphanages because there were no nannies to personally care for them like a mother would. But soon nannies were hired, and there was a nanny for each infant.
When this was done, the orphanes stopped dying because the love and care of the nannies was exactly what was needed to keep the infants alive. I know that without love and care, the world is not worth living in. Or if the person does live a while without love and care, then he or she lives a loveless and uncaring life.

When my mom dies, I will miss her but be thankful that she was my mother.

Oh, in my stories the mother character (well the good mother) is based on my own mother.

Now about my ghost story:

I am writing it this weekend because AHHH! I have a midterm (an exam) tomorrow, which is Friday, and I have an essay to write as well.

All my characters are based on real people. Art is life, that is what I say. However, art is imagination and people determine how life is according to their own thinking minds and choices. So, I write about things that I imagine to be possible and I write to show how my characters determine their own lives.

I know that you will like my ghost story, but FIRST I have to get it out on h2g2 for you to see!

Also, are you writing?

Are you posting your novel-in-progress?