An odd experience

[annwfyn]

I was walking down to the car last night after Zeitgeist. I was walking on my own, and as I went I thought I heard footsteps behind me, quite close. I stopped and looked around, wondering if Ginnie or jez had caught up with me.

No one there.

I kept walking. I heard the footsteps again, even closer than before. They really sounded like they were right behind me.

I stopped and looked around again. No one there.

It was at that point that this very random rhyme that I've heard before somewhere came to my head.

Rawhead close behind you treads,
Three looks back and you'll be dead,
But close your eyes and count to ten,
And Rawhead will be gone again,

I stood still, and closed my eyes and did count to ten, and then walked onward to the car. And I didn't hear any more footsteps.

Now, I'm fairly sure that I wasn't stalked by a hobgoblin and it was just someone walking behind me who stopped at their door or something, but it was still an odd and spooky experience.

Comments

That would

[reindeerflotila.livejournal.com]

Have disturbed me also.

;)

[adze.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Reminds me of something else that happened yesterday. I'm trying to think who I was talking to - it may even have been you - when I became utterly convinced there was someone behind me. I remember turning round to talk to them, and discovering that there was no-one even nearby. But I was absolutely sure that there had been someone just over my shoulder.

Very strange.

[puddingcat.livejournal.com]

Maybe he just wanted to go home? You live in Goblintown, after all.

[twicedead.livejournal.com]

Did you ever think that the rhyme in question may have been invented by a serial killer? Seriously, the last thing you want to do whilst someone is sneaking up on you is stop, close your eyes and count to ten...

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

*giggles*

It's a slow process of indoctrination. Convince children that they need to stop, count to ten, and wait til they grow up so you can start stalking them.

A very patient serial killer, I think.

[twicedead.livejournal.com]

Slow and steady wins the race. it's like the freddy Krueger Rhyme... kids stay awake so that when they do fall asleep, they're so deeply asleep that they cannot be woken from their killer dreams... they'd be much better with a series of power naps.

[the-laydee.livejournal.com]

Sounds very odd. Maybe you were being followed by a weirdo ghost or some such...

In other news, and practically the only reason I posted, to be honest, may I ask your advice about archaeology stuff?

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

Surely.

As ever I offer my rather pathetic disclaimer that I've not had the most well rounded archaeological training coz I only went into it as a postgrad student after doing a history degree.

But prod me and I'll see what I can say/advise.

[the-laydee.livejournal.com]

Thank you please... I was just wondering if you knew anywhere I may be able to find decent pictures of Oxfrodshire ware (probably 100 BC-100 AD) or if you know what the stamp "Q.GER.FL-" on the handle of a very large container made of "yellowish brown micaeous clay" might mean? 'Cos I'm stuck on that one...

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

Ah! Pottery! The real archaeology.

With pictures in general I have found two ways of finding them. One is google images, playing around with an assortment of phrases until you find something nice and easy to insert into your essay. The other way is just to go to the library and nick their scanner. I'm presuming you've got a reading list and I'm sure that there will be pics in at least some of the books.

Not a clue what the stamp might mean. Sounds like a maker's mark, but I'd need to look at it. Is it original or been added later? It also might be in Latin, but I wouldn't bet on that. By the way, one thing I have learnt lately is that it's always good to at least state your observations. Just carefully noting down what you can see, even if you don't know entirely what it is, and trying to analyse the possibilities is almost always a good start and looks better than not saying anything.

[the-laydee.livejournal.com]

Yes, I am doing Proper Archaeology like what real archaeologists do... I am looking at bits of broken pot.

I shall have a look through google with some different search terms, it doesn't seem to like what I tell it to look for most of the time. Damnit. I have actually been at my parent's this weekend for the use of their scanner as the one in the libraray always has a hideous queue attached to it. Thanks.

Hmm... Interesting thought. I had absolutely no idea what it was, at least I can now advace a theory... Thank you, I will remember to describe it, I have a habit of leaving things out if I don't know what they are.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

In general I've found it's possible to get away without knowing much if you analyse what it is you don't know.

The other thing that gets me a long way is 'if in doubt, analyse the question'. That, and write essay plans. 1500 words also seems much shorted if what you've got is three sections of 500 words. Coz 500 words is nothing.

[riksowden.livejournal.com]

Who is Rawhead?

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

A fictional beastie. He comes from the north of England and is sometimes called Rawhead and Bloody Bones.

[riksowden.livejournal.com]

Are we talking in 'proper' fiction (myth/folklore) or in a book or something..? Tell me about him.

Erm, if you like.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

He's a proper folkloric figure, but most of what I know about him comes from fiction.

I think the original lived in Lancashire and pulled bad children under the water. The rhyme came from a kids book, I think.

[riksowden.livejournal.com]

In Lancashire and pulling bad kids under water? Well...i didn't realise they even HAD water in Lancashire - but surely all the children were evil...

~grin~

Thank'ee!

[morinon.livejournal.com]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody_Bones
Gives it fairly accurately, from what I can remember.

[riksowden.livejournal.com]

ace, thanks!

[cairmen.livejournal.com]

Have you ever been alone at night/
Thought you heard footsteps behind/
And turned around and no-one's there?
And as you quicken up your pace/
You find it hard to look again/
Because you're sure theres someone there...

Honestly, I've waited years to have an appropriate moment to quote Iron Maiden in poetic stylee.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

Glad I've been able to fulfil one of your lifetime ambitions. :p

Rawhead

[eladriell.livejournal.com]

it's an old country legend, see rawhead rex by clive barker for a b-rate film version :0)

fear the shite film knowledge!