Monday 18 December 2017

NOCTURNAL NOISES

I am generally a very good sleeper and rarely get disturbed however, there are two or three times a year when I sleep with one ear cocked up as it were. At those times this old cottage becomes alive with odd nocturnal noises and perfumes which assail the nostrils.

The front door is frequently rapped as if a visitor has arrived and would like to be to be admitted. These sounds I ignore, for who at four in the morning makes a visit without calling out to the occupier ?

The perfumes vary from that of subtle flower blossoms to those of
exotic concoctions best found in dance halls and not the sort that the country women wear or at least not daily.

Last night, or to be specific early this morning, I was roused from sleep by the sound of tip, tip tapping, as if many feet were dancing on a board and the shrill sounds of merriment. 

I arose quietly and quickly from my bed and crept rapidly along the hall and down, down the ladder to the front room to spy on the merry-makers. Unfortunately I made the mistake of switching on the light and immediately all noise stopped.



The Suspects

Note:
Dancing Boards were very common in the Irish towns-lands many years ago and were low stage like structures made of wood and situated on wide roadside verges often near crossroads for people to dance on.

26 comments:

  1. I like your bowl with the moon gazing hares. The faeries would not have been happy you disturbed their fun.

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    1. Thank you for the comment Sue and I will put things right with the faeries by leaving out some whiskey for three nights running.

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  2. Jack L said:
    That is an interesting and enjoyable story.....yes, we've noticed that since the stone circle has been energised. There has been the occasional 'odd thing' happen in the house. A and myself have heard the sound of our door opening and closing..as if someone has come and gone. But no one is there... ? We have three entrances to our house...but its always the same one that we hear the sound !.
    We don't lock our doors at night, but people do not enter homes at 3;00-5:00am in the morning..where we live anyway. Our sons have 'big foot-steps' so we know when its them....!

    So anyway, thanks for the story...and I hope you have some plans to enjoy the Solstice!!

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  3. Thanks for the comment Jack, it was very interesting what you had to say. To keep my reply brief, I rather think that there is more going on in the unseen world than what we are generally led to believe.

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  4. Serves you right for renting out your front room on Airbnb.

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    1. Ha' ha' ha ! That has to be the best comment ever and full marks to you Debra :)

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  5. Lovely, so you're invited to dance in the dark then. ;)

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    1. Thanks Ita :)
      Yes, I often dance in the dark, the horizontal Tango is my preference - what's yours :) ?

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  6. What a treat, you should have left the lights off and joined them.

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    1. Many thanks Janet... yes we are very wise after the event...!

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  7. One of these days you'll let me in...

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    1. I might if you are wearing the right clothing and come bearing gifts.

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  8. Oh I loved this, Mel. Such benevolent sounds can only lead to delight and I had a big smile at your group of suspects! Gorgeous!

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    1. Alas, yet another disturbed night has passed by and I am barely able to right this reply; so from a tired Mel
      I send by thanks to you Val xx

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  9. Ha ha, I'm terrible for hearing things that aren't there though!

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    1. Good for you Simon !
      Now some would call that a gift and others might know it as a hindrance.

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  10. I wish I hadn't read this shortly before going to bed, but as I take my hearing aid out before putting my head on the pillow, I wouldn't hear if somebody dropped a bomb at the end of the street.

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    1. Oh you will know wether they have made a visit during the night by their tiny footprints on your furniture Pat :)

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  11. You brought me back to my childhood (a happy part of my childhood, my imagination) with this post. The Suspects are adorable. I wish they would dance on my boards.

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    1. Thanks for the comment Mitchell and you never know for they might very well visit you. For last night they had a party in Mrs H's studio and this morning she found they had left the lights on and several empty bottles scattered across the floor plus other signs of merriment.

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  12. I have met quite a few Irish people who believe in the little people here in Ireland, Heron. I enjoyed your tale.

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    1. Dave !
      Am glad you that enjoyed the experiences of my occasional winter nights, as imaginative as a some people may consider it to be. All was very real to me I'll have you know :)

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  13. Ms M.C. said:
    Hi Mel
    This is my third try at sending you a comment on your lovely blog. The first went to my brother in Sweden,I had forwarded your blog to him.The second attempt was the blog itself..
    I know I am technologically retarded!!
    Anyway this is what I wanted to say
    Dancing Wee Folk at this time of year probably means they are excited about Christmas.They are eagerly anticipating their annual treat of porridge. But beware, should you forget, that you will loose socks and other small objects
    Love M

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    1. Thank you Ms M.C. For your comment and as long as you reach your destination... then all with you and yours will no doubt be fine.
      As for the light fingeredness of our dancing friends, well there is always a price to be paid and it is but a small one anyway; so the very best of the Season to you.

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  14. The twins in pink started it you know. The others were too timid at first, but when the realized that nobody really cared and that you'd be asleep for hours (yes they spiked your whisky) their feet suddenly flip-flopped and their beards flew out as they twirled around!

    Another country - clear across the Great Pond my daughter's doorbell rings every once in a while for no reason. It's come to the point where she just ignores it. Very strange.

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    1. If there were not any mysteries life would be rather boring and uninteresting. So raise a glass and toast the mysteries !
      Thanks for the comments.

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