Do you believe in ghosts? (Part I)

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(Hint: I’m not sure I do… but I’ve had a few moments that make me wonder!) 

Halloween is fast approaching, the evenings are drawing in, and it’s the perfect excuse to get cosy with a little seasonal crochet. My Jack o’ Lantern jar cover crochet pattern adds just the right touch of spooky glow to a mantelpiece or table — cheerful by day, a little bit eerie by candlelight. 

You can find it in my Etsy and my Ravelry shops. To celebrate the season — and the run-up to Samhain — I thought I’d share a few spooky things that have happened to me over the years. I can’t say I’m a true believer in ghosts… but I’m definitely not on Team Sceptic either. 

First up: the time someone (or something?) walked right behind me in a rented house ... 

Back in 2009, we were living in a characterful early 19th-century cottage, two cottages knocked into one. It was quite isolated — surrounded by arable farmland with just a handful of other houses dotted about. It was chocolate-box beautiful, the sort of place that was in that film The Holiday — picture-perfect, complete with climbing roses round the door and a welcoming glow from the windows. 

Every evening before bed, I’d let our little dog, Missy, out into the fenced front garden. I used to stand in the hallway, just inside the open front door, while she sniffed around and did her business. One fine, moonlit night, as I stood there gazing up at the sky, I heard MTM walk behind me from my right (the lounge) and go into the dining room to my left. 

I heard his footsteps on the laminate floor — that soft tap-tap-tap — and even felt him pass close by. He’s a jocular sort of person, so I half-expected him to make me jump, but he didn’t say a word. Odd, I thought, but maybe he was just tired — it was past 11pm, after all. 

Missy came scampering back in. I locked the front door and followed MTM into the dining room, which leads straight into the kitchen. But when I got there — he wasn’t in either room. 

He must have gone into the back garden, I thought. Despite the moon, it was really dark, there were no streetlights at all. Maybe he’d gone to the car for something. But the back door was locked — and the key was still in the lock. 

I checked the small downstairs loo (the door was slightly ajar). Empty. 

There was absolutely NO WAY he could have snuck back past me. Feeling a bit shaken, I grabbed a glass of water, retraced my steps through the dining room, down the hallway, and into the lounge. I went up the stairs — and there he was, already in his PJs, getting into bed! 

When I asked if he’d just walked behind me, he looked genuinely puzzled. He swore all he did was turn off the TV, unplugged it, and gone straight up to get ready for bed while I was with Missy. 

So… who (or what) did I hear walking right behind me? Even now, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when I think about it. What do you think — just an overactive imagination, or did I really have a supernatural visitor that night? 

I’ll be sharing a couple more spooky little moments over the next few days as we head toward Halloween, so stay tuned if you enjoy a good shiver down the spine! And if you’d like to add a bit of ghost-free glow to your own home, my Jack o’ Lantern jar cover pattern is waiting in my Etsy and Ravelry shops — perfect for flickering tealights, fairy lights, or a touch of cosy autumn charm.