Good U.K. Mystery book series: Knots and Crosses: An Inspector Rebus Novel

Upon the suggestion of our good friend Paul Fogg of Langdon House B&B in Windsor, U.K. I (Rob) bought a copy of
Knots and Crosses: An Inspector Rebus Novel by Ian Rankin and really enjoyed it! It's about a detective in Edinburgh, Scotland who went through a traumatic time in the armed forces and is still getting over it. He has a brother who is a hypnotist, an ex-wife who lives with his Captain's son, and Rebus' daughter lives with them. 
   When Rebus gets strange letters delivered and gets on the case of murders with knots - he has to figure out who the mysterious killer is... It's full of interesting characters and I highly recommend it.  - Rob

SUMMARY:   Detective John Rebus: His city is being terrorized by a baffling series of murders...and he's tied to a maniac by an invisible knot of blood. Once John Rebus served in Britain's elite SAS. Now he's an Edinburgh cop who hides from his memories, misses promotions and ignores a series of crank letters. But as the ghoulish killings mount and the tabloid headlines scream, Rebus cannot stop the feverish shrieks from within his own mind. Because he isn't just one cop trying to catch a killer, he's the man who's got all the pieces to the puzzle...

Knots and Crosses introduces a gifted mystery novelist, a fascinating locale and the most compellingly complex detective hero at work today.

 

Our Garden Flowers for Rob's Parents' 60th Anniv./Mom's 88th birthday

Today would be my (Rob) dad and mom's 60th anniversary and my mom's 88th birthday.  
    Rather than dwell on their not being here physically, they would want me to share pics of flowers they'd love from our garden. So I am! Besides, I get messages from them from time to time. 
   Last June 19th when their house was vacant and pending sale during the estate time, their spirits made the house alarm go off at 5am. No one had been inside for a month. So, like your loved ones, they are still around!

Ed and Norma

 









 








 

Hydrangea

 

















































 

  

Ireland Trip Part 24: Galway's Spanish Arch and Downtown Castle Ruins

The Spanish Arch and museum

This is Part 24 of our Ireland Trip blog, when we were still in Galway. This is about the Spanish Arch and an old castle located downtown near the waterfront.

WHAT IS THE SPANISH ARCH? -(Thanks to http://galwaycity.galway-ireland.ie): The Spanish Arch built in 1584, stands on the left bank of the River Corrib, where Galway's river meets the sea.  The arch is the remainder of a 16th century bastion, added to the town's walls to protect merchant ships from looting. At this time, it was known as Ceann an Bhalla (Head of the Wall).

Sign over the Arch

It was originally an extension of the famous city walls, designed to protect the quays. The Spanish Arch is, in fact, a misnomer, as there is no proven association between the Spanish in Galway and the building of the Arch.   The Arch features a wooden sculpture, called Madonna of the Quays, which was sculpted by the well known artist, Claire Sheridan, who lived in the adjacent building during the 50's.

Today The Spanish Arch is home to the Galway City Museum, which nestles into one of its impressive walls. Its current title Spanish Arch dates from the last century - a reference to the former merchant trade with Spain, whose galleons often docked under its protection.

SO WHAT HAPPENS TO OLD CASTLES? Well there was part of an old castle near the waterfront  at 21 Quay Street, Galway. It's  near the Spanish Arch. It's now "Costa Coffee!" Sadly, I couldn't find out anything about the former castle.
 NEXT: A LAST LOOK AT GALWAY, OLD BUILDINGS AND THE STORY OF THE CLADDAGH RING

Ireland Trip Part 23: Unexpected Galway Ghosts in a Shopping Mall

Entrance to CorbettCourt Mall

This is Part 23 of our Ireland Trip blog, when we were still in Galway. This is about our weird encounter with actual ghosts in a modern shopping mall- and we learned who they were later that night. For those who don't believe in ghosts or understand how we can sense them, just go with it. Here's the story.

Before we met our tour guide and went on the "Haunted and Historic Tour" of Galway, we had dinner at a pub and walked through the downtown area, including through an actual shopping mall (that turned out to be on ground level and a basement level, filled with about 40 stores).

SENSING SEVERAL GHOSTS - We both have the ability to sense ghosts or spirits and never, ever expected to run into anything in a modern shopping mall. However, Galway, like the rest of Ireland is ancient, and things linger. As we walked in the front entrance of the mall on Williamsgate Street, we felt like we ran into a wall. For people who don't feel these things, it's like walking through a swimming pool. Anyway we both realized that there were a couple of ghosts there.  We also got the sense that these were traumatic deaths that  occurred close to the entrance of the mall or door that led to the main street. They were lingering around an escalator close to the entrance, near the ""Shake" and "Vodafone" stores currently sit. Whomever died there, died trying to get out of the building. We'd later learn who and why.

Escalator where we sensed several ghosts

SO, WHAT IS THE CORBETT COURT SHOPPING MALL? - It opened its doors in 1987 and was the first Shopping Mall in Galway City Centre.  According to the website for the mall, it was built on an historic site which once housed an Army Barracks for her Majesty the Queen of England. However, there was something else there.

Ground floor near Escalator

ANSWERS: THE IDENTITIES AND EVENT  - We told our tour guide about our feelings that night as we walked through downtown Galway. We knew he wouldn't think us crazy, because he was forewarned we were both on a ghost investigation group and have abilities... (so it made his ghost tour more entertaining for him).

He said that our feelings made "Perfect sense" to him. Because before the mall, another building stood there, and it was the site of a big fire in downtown, that killed a number of people trying to escape (by trying to run out onto Williamsgate Street), and likely died just inside the building, and exactly where we sensed them as we walked into the mall!

I did find this historic article about the massive fire from August 1971: http://places.galwaylibrary.ie/history/chapter90.html.
Wikipedia mentions: In 1972, part of the city center was destroyed by fire. The area involved the southern-west corner of Eyre Square, where the Bank of Ireland used to be situated.

NEXT: THE SPANISH ARCH AND CASTLE IN DOWNTOWN GALWAY

Ireland Trip Part 22: The Ghostly Soldier and O'Brien's Bridge

Former residence of the ghostl y

Today's Blog of our Ireland Trip is Part 22: The Ghostly Soldier and O'Brien's Bridge. Galway appeared to be a small city, but there was a lot to see. There are a lot of ghostly legends in the town, too. As we walked near St. Nicholas Church,our tourguide told us about a ghost who has been seen quite often in the vicinity.
  
THE GHOSTLY SOLIDER- On Bowling Green Street, people have reported seeing a ghostly soldier walk back and forth. The sightings have happened for over 100 years, apparently. The soldier is said to be a 14 year old boy who lived in one of the houses on the street. He was told not to drink the water from the nearby river, because it would cause sickness. Yet, he did drink it, and as a result, he fell ill and died in that street. So, next time you're in Galway and you walk past Bowling Green Street, look carefully.

THE LEGEND OF O'BRIEN'S BRIDGE - The first bridge over the Corrib River was the "West Bridge," where O'Brien's Bridge stands today. The town side of the bridge was heavily fortified, and it was here, on an arch that the legend "From the ferocious O'Flahertys O Lord deliver us" was reputedly carved.

O'Briens Bridge

SUICIDE BRIDGE - O'Brian's Bridge also has
the weird distinction of being known as suicide bridge. Several teenagers have jumped from this bridge into the roiling river below and committed suicide. What's odd, is that the suicides have always happened in the winter months. There's a myth that says these teens are driven to suicide because of the "presence in the river" - like a water elemental of sorts, that draws them in and convinces them to jump. 

NEXT: WE ENCOUNTER GHOSTS AT THE GALWAY MALL, NOT ON THE TOUR

Ireland Trip blog Part 21: Galway's St. Nicholas Church, Lynch Castle and "Lynching" & Ghost

Oscar Wilde Statue in Galway

This is our Ireland Trip blog Part 21:  Galway's St. Nicholas Church, Lynch Castle and the origin of the word "Lynching." In addition, we saw a statue erected to honor Oscar Wilde in downtown Galway. These were more stops with Brian Nolan on our "Haunted Galway Walking Tour."

OSCAR AND EDWARD- English writer Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), who was born in Ireland, and Estonian writer Eduard Vilde (1856-1933), both of the same generation, sit on a bench together. Sculptor Tiiu Kirsipuu, who modelled the writers according to photos, has noted that the year she had in mind when she created the sculpture was 1890, when the two Wildes could have met for a witty chat.

Lynch Castle

THE LYNCH FAMILY - MAYORS OF GALWAY FOR CENTURIES -  The Lynch family are so well known as to need little introduction as one of the Tribes of Galway. They arrived in Ireland with Hugh DeLacy, and were sufficiently well established to supply the majority of the Mayors of Galway during the 15, 16 and 17th centuries. Fine castles and seats remain in Galway City, Newcastle, Barna, Drimcong, Lydican, Moycullen, and Shannonbridge.We saw the one in Galway.

A seal on Lynch Castle

Ornate carvings on Lynch Castle

   For more info about the famous Lynch family, visit: http://www.galway-ireland.ie/lynch.htm

 LYNCH CASTLE - This Town Castle is Galway’s best example of a fortified house, built by the prosperous Lynch family in the 16th century as protection from the raids of the chieftains of the 14 Tribes. Spanish decorative motifs are visible on its stones, along with decorative windows and the Lynch family coat of Arms. The Lynches were a wealthy family, many of whom served as Galway mayor (for 129 YEARS!)

The "Lynching Window"

ORIGIN OF WORD "LYNCHING" - In the late 15th Century, James Lynch, sent his son, Walter to Spain. Long story short, His son murdered someone on the ship back to England.  The mayor had no choice but to hang his son for murder. The story goes that " On reaching an upper window overlooking the street he fastened a rope around his son’s neck, secured the other end and launched him from the window hanging him in full view of the crowd assembled below." The hanging then became known as "Lynching." The window was preserved from this tragic and horrible act and sits propped near a church. For the full tragic story, go here: http://www.legendquest.ie/mayor_lynch.html

ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH - located at Market Street,Junction of Mainguard Street and Lombard Street.,Galway,, Ireland, is known for housing the remains of the first Mayor Lynch.
  According to the church website: The Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas is the largest medieval parish church in Ireland in continuous use as a place of worship at the heart of Galway's life. A tour through the Church will allow you to glimpse the part of its rich history. You will see signs of the iconoclasm of the soldiers of Oliver Cromwell.
  For more information, visit: http://www.stnicholas.ie/history

ancient tablet in the church

The monument haunted by the church ghost

GHOST IN CHURCH!  When I (Rob) was walking around the back of the church, near a monument with a Celtic Cross (the 1916 monument), I sensed an ancient church goer who still stays for every mass. Yes, a GHOST. This ghost remained in shroud, and I couldn't tell if they were a man or woman- just a dark figure, heavy in grief, and around the monument, which suggests that they lost someone in the 1916 war. The ghost did, however, tell me - and made me feel that the end of their life brought them an intense pain in the head, specifically in the left ear. They died of an infection or fever that brought that pain. 

NEXT: THE SOLDIER'S GHOST ON BOWLING GREEN STREET AND OBRIEN'S BRIDGE

Inside of St. Nicholas Church

Ireland Trip Part 20: Galway's JFK Memorial and James Joyce Haunt

The monument to President Kennedy at JFK Park, Galway

This is our Ireland Trip blog Part 20: Galway's JFK Memorial and James Joyce Haunt. These were two of our stops with Brian Nolan on our "Haunted Galway Walking Tour." We met Brian at 9pm for the tour, and the temperature plummeted to 32F/0C. It was literally freezing and we did not have warm enough clothing, so although we weren't shaking in fear from the ghost stories, we were from the cold!
 

The corner where the Gallows stood

JFK MEMORIAL PARK  - It was on (the formerly known) Eyre Square that President John F. Kennedy made a speech in June 1963 (5 months before his assassination). The (rectangular) square has been renamed John F. Kennedy Memorial Park."  During his famous speech, President Kennedy promised to stop emigration of the Irish to the U.S. to prevent the population from continuing to flee the country (since the famine). It was important to Ireland that its citizens stayed in their country. JFK also brought technology industries to Galway that continue to thrive. One of the current technology companies makes artificial heart valves.

HISTORY OF THE SQUARE - The origin of the square comes from medieval open space in front of town gate, known as The Green. Markets mostly took place in the northern part of the space. The square was in existence in 1631 and on one corner of the square stood the town GALLOWS. Keep that in mind, because on that same corner is a building haunted by the next ghost we'll introduce you to.

JAMES JOYCE HAUNT - There's a building, an apartment (now) at the corner of JFK square, where the gallows used to stand. This is the site of a haunt connected (loosely) to author James Joyce.
   James Joyce's wife had a teenage lover. The boy was 17 years old and lived in that row house. Brian told us that the boy died of consumption in that very building. The boy is seen haunting that building in one of the top windows.

OTHER GHOSTS IN THE AREA - Since the gallows are right there in the square, there are stories of ghosts. Brian explained that when the square was being updated and streets were being renovated, they had to be excavated. During the excavation workers found headless bodies buried there. There are stories of people seeing ghosts of headless people walking the streets in that area around where the gallows once stood.

NEXT: ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH, LYNCH'S CASTLE AND ORIGIN OF "LYNCING"
 

Attended the DC Pride Parade!

Yesterday, we went to the big 3-Hour long Washington DC Pride Parade. Our friend Chris is visiting from Florida and he had never been to the DC parade before. We met our friend Jeff and enjoyed the colorful parade in the intense heat (it was in the mid-90s with a heat index near 100).  

Ken and Jill stopped during the march

Great band playing

  Our friends Jill and Ken marched in the parade with their sign that said "God blessed us with 2 gay sons" (my nephews), and stopped for a hug a picture. It was a family-friendly event, with lots of things for kids to do along the route, too.

Marching band

church group

LOTS OF CORPORATE SUPPORT OF GAY RIGHTS -  It was awesome to see so many companies like Hilton, Wells Fargo, Starbucks, a dog rescue, dog boarding, Embassy Row hotels, Celebrity Cruises, a bunch of accepting churches, PFLAG, a gay country bar with dancers, and more. 

Nationals Baseball characters

Dancing cowboys

GROUPS FROM OTHER
COUNTRIES -
   There was a Russian contingent marching, and a group of bagpipers from England, and what was really moving to me was a group of people who left countries where being gay is a crime, and emigrated to the U.S. to be safe. That choked me up! 

Marching band

DRAG QUEENS - 

We liked these outfits, too. :)

     Of course there were drag queens for the more flamboyant, entertaining side- dressed as Dolly Parton, Ella Fitzgerald, Cher and others. 

Ella Fitzgerald, drag queen and nice umbrella holder

An outfit we liked

Rob, Tom, Chris

The crowd was overwhelming

 

Tom, Chris and Jeff

Zach Wahls

The Hilton Hotels

There were a lot of celebrities that marched, too. One was marching with the Scouts group who supported including gay leaders and kids. It was led by Zach Wahls. Zach made is mark in Iowa Legislature as a guest speaker. He has two moms, and spoke eloquently (years ago) about how they are his family, and they are no different than a family with a mom and dad. Zacharia "Zach" Wahls is an author, LGBT equality activist, and co-founder of Scouts for Equality.

Bagpipe group from England

The float with the Dolly Parton drag queen !

  Another was Gene Robinson, the  retired gay bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire in the Episcopal Church in the U.S. 
     The support gave me chills. What a different, more accepting world it is today from when I was a kid in the 1960s-70s and had to hide in fear. (of course, gay people in the south still have to hide to keep jobs and not be beaten up).

A beach-themed float

   It was a great parade and a great show of support, love and acceptance. 
What a difference the younger generation has made by rejecting the ridiculous fears from conservatives our generation. The world is a more accepting, welcoming place. You can see that from this parade.  

The Pride Not Prejudice Bus

Freddies bar in VA had a ship float with people dressed as sailors

Video game float-Mario Bros and some other game