In Pure Spirit

The Chequers pub on Reading Road in the Hampshire town of Eversley is believed to be haunted by up to eight different ghosts.

The pub has been the centre of haunting phenomena for some time now; lights turning themselves on, sudden cold spots and kitchen items moving themselves. The presence of a little boy known as “Jack” has been reported by others – including the previous landlord.

Angela Turner, the landlady, told local press one story which featured a young girl who became separated from her parents. She was found in the restaurant toilets, “Her parents heard her scream and she said ‘Mummy, there has been a lady talking to me’, but there was no-one there.”

Arthur Pendragon, formerly known as John Rothwell before his deed poll name change 30 years ago, has been ordered by the English Courts to leave Stonehenge.

The pagan protester is 10 months into a Stonehenge sit-in against the enforced restricted access to the world famous stone circle. Pendragon believes not only should visitors be able to walk through the stone circles at any time but they should be able to touch them.

In particular, Pendragon is upset at the fence that has been added to the site in order to keep visitors away. The druid suggested the religious site was now “in a stranglehold like a snared animal”. The visitor centre is also under criticism. He said: “It was supposed to be a temporary building. It’s awful. It is a national disgrace so what I am hoping to do by my protest is embarrass the government.”

On Saturday spiritual healers turned their attention towards beloved family pets. The North Oxford Christian Spiritualist Healing Church has run spiritual and holistic healing for a number of years but this year the session was opened up to pets.

The idea is credited to Oxford Brookes University tutor Humphrey Truswell. He told Oxford press, “Healing works for human beings, so I thought we could try it with animals.”

Families and pet lovers travelled for miles to attend the event. Lynwood and Lorraine Hagin travelled over 240 miles so that their dog Elbie could benefit from the healing. Elbie suffers from suspected mouth cancer.

At the last minute a court in China has decided to postpone judgement on a living Tibetan Buddha.

Phurbu Tsering Rinpoche faces allegations of illegally possessing weapons and seizing government land.

The delay is widely interpreted as promising by legal experts. It is incredibly rare for a Chinese court to issue a delay and signs suggest that both the international public audience and the highly spirited defence has resulted in on-going judicial debate in China.

A man and three women have glued themselves to the statue of Viscount Falkland outside the central lobby of the Houses of Parliament.

Exactly 100 years ago the Suffragette Margery Humes chained herself to the very same statue. She was removed by force as the police deployed chain clippers.

The 2009 April 27th group are believed to be climate protesters from Climate Rush. The protest is designed to be a wake-up call for the British government. Climate Rush are protesting against the government’s decision to allow a new evolution of coal power plants to be built in Britain.

The Ultimate Pet Show this year will attempt to find Britain’s Most talented Pet. Held in the NEC Birmingham, this year, between the 2nd of May and the 4th of may the Ultimate Pet Show will feature dancing dogs, singing horses and piano playing pussy-cats.

Britain’s Got Talent winner George Sampson will feature alongside judges Kevin Sacre, the UnderDog winner, and Marc Abraham, TV vet and the dog behaviourist Caroyyn Meneith.

The winner of the competition – held on the 2nd of May – will walk off with prizes worth £250 including a digital camera and a professional pet photography shoot.

Some scientists believe that the wild Tasmanian Devil cannot be saved. One high risk strategy may be to let the wild devils die out which would provide a chance to re-populate the island with disease free devils currently in captivity.

The Tasmanian Devil suffers from an unique extinction threat. The population is being wiped out by a contagious cancer – one that’s spread by biting.

Summer solstice in Pendle this year will feature the Pendle Witch Camp but not a Shamania Festival.

The Pendle Witch Camp is due to be held in the field adjacent to last year’s event. Last year the events took place at Brown House Farm which is just off Giburn Old Road and this year it will be at Blacko.

The Pendle Witch Camp in 2009 will be significantly quieter than the Shamania festival of 2008. There will be no activities which require Pendle Council granting a license although organisers have not yet suggested they were facing difficulties in obtaining licenses.

Image by cobalt123 via Flickr There are five elements according to Feng Shui lore. Each has its own set of characteristics and its own role. Wood The energy of wood flows upwards. It is active and full of hope. It is akin to the enthusiasm and optimism you might feel on a sunny morning. The [...]

An animal sanctuary on the outskirts of picterquese Torquay will close today unless a good Samaritan steps forward at the last minute.

The sanctuary is currently home to 150 abandoned animals including cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, ducks, chickens, geese, turkeys, Reppy the point, Barbie the sheep and some goats.