3 Paws Saloon Attic

Fergie · Senior Member

An Ectract from my Journal

valkricry · Guru

Fergie,

Do you usually smell chicken cooking at night?

Where I use to live, we heard gunshots fairly regular. Is it a 'normal' thing for you? Poor Ray! Not too sure I'd be keen on investigating shots. I'd be tempted to just call the cops.

Fergie · Senior Member

Val,

No, I don't normally smell chicken cooking at night! This was not the first time, but it doesn't happen too often. I didn't even bother to investigate this instance - with the previous times, I had come up empty handed.

Strangely enough, I heard three gunshots again last night, at 22:40. Sounds of a shotgun maybe? The previous night, the shots were from a handgun.
Well, lets put it this way; it's not abnormal to hear shots around here. It is pointless to call the cops - IF they respond, they will be at least an hour late. Years ago, when we had a murder in our back yard, at about 22:00, they didn't even respond - Ray had to physically go to the cop-shop, and call them out. The mortuary van only rolled up when it was light, the next morning.

valkricry · Guru

I had to ask about the cooking smells. Here the downstairs guy works weird shifts, and sometimes he's cooking 'dinner' the night before, so they can just nuke it the next day.

Holy! I thought our cops were sometimes slow! But at least they do respond.

Fergie · Senior Member

We live in a bungalow type house. We have people living to the right of us, but their kitchen is on the other side of the house, We never get cooking smells from them, unless they are having a BBQ outside.

It is not that unusual for me to have 'phantom' cooking smells, especially since Angel passed away. BUT - I only started keeping a journal after her death...so, who knows what I may have 'missed' before then? I know there is more than one spirit in our house, even though we are the first owners.

valkricry · Guru

I think sometimes people 'forget' that the land was here long before the buildings, and spirits can come from any period.

Will you be sharing more excerpts with us?

Fergie · Senior Member

I certainly can....if you wish? I usually note 'unexplained' (to me) phenomena in my journal. If you so desire, I will try to post excerpts not shared on another site (you know the one I mean).

valkricry · Guru

That would be cool. And no worries, you CAN mention YGS here. I'm not one of those who frown on people belonging to more than one group. If I did, I'd have to be mad at ME all the time! :laugh: All I ask is that there be no spamming.

Fergie · Senior Member

Val,

Would you like me to tack the older entries on to this post, or should I open up another slot in "Stories"?

valkricry · Guru

Go ahead and keep it here :)

Fergie · Senior Member

Thanks, will enter something later. Have to take our g-daughter home now, will be back tonight,

Fergie · Senior Member

Right-ho chaps, I'm back. This time, I am going to introduce you to another member of my family. Sorry, but we belong to a very family orientated little clan; pretty tight, and we watch each others backs.

Well we have the youngest member of our family, her name is Shenay. She is our granddaughter and is 8 years old. She lost her mom (our youngest daughter) last year in June. Since then, She lives with Nicky, her aunt, her mommy's big sister. During school holidays, and every second weekend, she stays with us.

I will now let you into my journal once more.

On Thursday 21st June, we went to fetch Shenay, for the long winter school holidays.

Sometime between the 25th & 28th June, I was in our laundry, when I felt a prod, on my left leg. Thinking that it was my lighter in my track-suit pocket, I reached down to shift it to a more comfortable position. Umm...The prod had been too low, for it to have been my lighter. The next day, I was again in the laundry, when I felt a soft ‘poke’ on my bum. I hadn’t bumped into anything! I was alone in the laundry, on both occasions.

Towards the beginning of this week, (must have been 2nd July) Ray & I were lying in bed, in the morning. We heard scuffling in the passage, as if Shenay had woken up & put on her gown & slippers, as she had done a few times before. We waited to see if she would peep around the corner, to see if we were awake; she never did! Ray went to check on her a few minutes later, but she was still fast asleep. What did we hear?

That's all folks, for now......

valkricry · Guru

Sounds like perhaps someone was trying to get your attention.

Fergie · Senior Member

Possibly....but I wonder who? In my next submission, I will continue. I apologize in advance, if it is sad; I have to include all the facts, if it is to make sense.

valkricry · Guru

Can't wait to read it!

Fergie · Senior Member

Wednesday, 4th July, was a bad day for all of us. Ray woke up at about 2am, with thoughts of Angel. He battled to get back to sleep. Midway through the afternoon, Nicky phoned me. She was feeling very down, saying she missed her little sister so much! She wept, I listened...trying to give sage advice. Soon, I was crying too.

That night, Shenay had a ‘melt-down’ too. Ray only managed to get her into her bed, & to sleep at about 1am. It was only the next morning that we realized that it was exactly 4 weeks since Angel had passed. I don’t know if that was coincidence or what?

The night of the 5th, Ray gave up his bed, for Shenay; we were anticipating a recurrence of the previous night, so Shenay slept with me in the double bed ~ she slept peacefully, as did I. Ray slept on the recliner in the lounge ~ poor Ray!

This morning, Friday 6th July, I was awakened by ‘something’ jumping onto my foot in bed. It felt like a cat. The ‘cat’ ran up my leg, till it reached my knee. I raised my head to have a look, nothing was there & the sensation went away. Shenay was still asleep, at my side.

If anyone is interested, I can post more..... Remember, this a journal, not a story...

valkricry · Guru

I can't speak for everyone, but I'm interested.

Fergie · Senior Member

Saturday 14th July, arrived at Angel’s house at 8:15 to help pack up the house-hold goods. Shortly after entering the house, my chest started feeling very ‘tight’. I thought “Oh oh, I’m coming down with something!” I found a small sip of cough medicine, left over in a bottle; took it, and the tightness went away.....thought nothing more of it.

Sunday morning, almost immediately after stepping into Angel’s house, the ‘tightness and burning’ in my chest was back! I suddenly realised, that I might have been displaying some of the symptoms that Angel may have had, due to the cancer. Coincidence?? Soon after the ‘penny dropped’, the sensation went away

valkricry · Guru

It's possible that your 'symptoms' were induced by stress. I know packing up my son's things was traumatic for me. We had an 'estate/moving' sale and every time I sold something of his, I would feel physically ill.

Fergie · Senior Member

Humm...I never thought of that! I suppose it is possible, though we never sold anything. The bulk of the furniture went into storage at our house, till Nicky could get her 'house in order". Granted, there was lots of stuff, which was given to charity ~ but I had no qualms about that.

We still have boxes and boxes of things which we kept for Shenay, till she is older ~ mainly kitchen appliances and books, stuff like that.

Strange then, that my 'symptoms' didn't persist throughout our stay at Angel's house.

valkricry · Guru

Well, stress symptoms can be quite odd. But there's no way of telling for sure, I guess. With me it came and went. Dealing with loss is never easy. I know I wasn't exactly myself for a while. It's almost like - I was there, but I wasn't if you know what I mean.

Fergie · Senior Member

Val, I know exactly what you mean! In my case, the loss was expected, but not so soon. Angel had been in and out of hospital so often; it was par for the course. Each time she would rally, come out of hospital, and seem almost fine for quite a while. So it seemed as if she could carry on, almost indefinitely.... The silly girl, she never let me know the WHOLE truth; just how bad things really were.
Nicky knew the whole truth, but she wasn't letting on, to me or her dad. Ray was still in denial - still waiting for the miracle to happen. The loss hit Ray far harder than it did me. Almost a year later, he is still very angry with "the Man upstairs".

I will post another extract tomorrow....

valkricry · Guru

There are those who would not agree with me, but I think it's ok to be mad at God. He understands, He knows you'd like to give Him a bloody nose. He also knows that it's the greif talking. He'll wait it out, and when Ray is ready, He'll be there for Him.

Fergie · Senior Member

My friend Liz, that lives across the road from me would agree with you. She too had 2 very traumatic losses, first her son in an automobile accident, then her husband, to cancer. She says that for ages, she was angry with God; and asking if He was punishing her. But it has taken years for her to come to terms with all of it.

Fergie · Senior Member

A coincidence that the "hat man" was being discussed on YGS ~ this was to be my next extract!

Saturday 21st July, sometime during the morning, I stepped up from the computer room, as I did so; movement from the passage caught my eye (through the serving hatch). I saw what appeared to be a dark shadow moving swiftly towards Nicky’s old room. The shadow was of medium height...for a man; wearing a wide brimmed hat and maybe a jacket or coat. Is this something new? I felt no fear...only surprise!

My next experience with a shadow in the same portion of the passage, happened almost two months later:

Sunday, 23rd September, Shenay was standing behind the ‘banister’, talking to Ray and me as we sat at our computers. I had swivelled my chair around to ½ face Shenay. As she was chatting, I observed a shadow move swiftly down the passage, blocking off the sunlight that comes through the bathroom window. Shenay’s head was in the way, so I didn’t get a ‘good’ look at it!

valkricry · Guru

Hmmm...most of the accounts of the 'hat man' over there have him just standing there, 'staring' as it were. So you seeing him, moving is unique.

Fergie · Senior Member

It seems as if the 'hat man' is an observer in most cases..... What the heck was he rushing through my house for?? Almost as if he felt guilty, or didn't want to be seen. I have never seen him again!

valkricry · Guru

Maybe he had the wrong house? *giggle*

I've been reading your recipies, there's a few I want to try real soon. smile

Fergie · Senior Member

Oh Val! What a thought! LMAO. No wonder he was beating a hasty retreat then..... Oh my golly gosh, I can't stop laughing at that thought. You have made my day!

The recipes that I have personally written out are all tried, tested and are 'flop proof' so good luck. May your taste-buds have a treat!

Fergie · Senior Member

I have just remembered something which took place a few months ago. (This was before I started keeping a journal.)

Let me explain, we have an 'alley way' about 4ft wide, that runs past our kitchen door. This alley runs the length of our house, and faces the neighbours dividing wall (6 1/2 ft high).

It was night, the back door was open & the back light was on.....I must have been in the process of feeding Zeus! (our black Labrador). All at once, I heard what sounded like heavy footsteps striding past the kitchen; it seemed they started at the back of the house, and went towards the front. I ran to the back door, looking towards the street...nobody was in sight. Zeus didn’t bark & Ray was inside!

At a much later date, I had a similar experience. This time, I was able to de-bunk the scary footsteps. It was nothing more than Zeus, scratching up the hard packed soil next to the kitchen door. He was trying to find a cooler spot to lay down in!

It just goes to show, how mundane things can take on an ominous, or supernatural turn, when our imaginations run away with us!

valkricry · Guru

Sooo true. I will share with you the most embaressing event.

We had just bought our first house, a large 2 1/2 story, 10 room nightmare of a place! Neighbors had warned us of having seen strangers going in and out of the house the week we moved in, so between new place jitters and thinking someone had a key, I was pretty wound.

Let me give you the layout, upstairs was just 2 bedrooms, and the down stairs was laid out like a circle. One room feeding into the other with small foyers or a hall in between.

It was our first night there. When I heard what sounded like boxes being gone through (paper rustling) and footsteps on the ground floor. I sat up and listened. I woke my then husband, "You hear that?" He allowed he did hear 'something that's probably nothing.' I then began to worry about our 3 year old son, what if he had somehow managed to navigate himself downstairs looking for the potty? I nipped across to his room and found him sleeping. I could stilll hear someone downstairs! Very quietly, I picked up our son and carried him back to our room. My husband informed me that he was NOT going to go check it out, but if I wanted to I could. Heck, I wanted to hide in the bed too, but what if whom-ever it was came up? Mom instinct kicked in - get between your child and whatever - period. Besides, I might have the element of surprise on my side. (Ok, I need to be honest here - although hubby was a chicken, I was the best canidate to go because I have had self-defense lessons and was taught hand to hand by my military brother.) I slipped down the stairs keeping close to the wall and straining my ears. I waited til the last possible second to flip on the lights revealing -nobody! Slowly I made my way around the entire circle checking every room, making sure doors were locked, windows closed. Finally all that was left was the small 2nd bathroom. Actually little more than a closet with a standing shower, toilet and sink. But the door was closed. I tried to remember if it had been left open. When not in use, we always left the bathroom door open... I was quite scared, my heart wanted to escape my chest, thinking, "Don't faint, don't pee" I slowly opened the door , less than halfway open I saw someone! Standing over by the toilet! I pulled the door shut and clutching the knob with both hands, bellowed as loud as I could for Hubby to call the cops! I'm little but I can be incredibly loud, the neighbors heard and dialed 911. Then I realised, there was no resistance from the other side of the door. You would think whomever it was would have tried escaping, and past me was the ONLY way out. I slowly released my grip on the knob, it didn't turn, or even rattle. Ok...upperhand tactic- I delivered a vicious kick to the door throwing it all the way open (gotta love solid oak doors). I flipped on the light forcing my opponent into complete visibility. I litterally gasped out loud at what I saw!

Have YOU ever tried to explain to the cops that you just had the beezeebus scared out of you by your own reflection? Hubby had leaned a mirror against the wall on top of the toilet tank, to be mounted later. But what about the noises? Nothing more than our loveable furball, Kalamazoo being a curious cat, and rummaging in the boxes playing with the wadded up newspapers!

All though I knew the cops were secretly laughing, they did give the house and grounds the once over- just to be sure.

Fergie · Senior Member

Oh my goodness Val! You are so brave to go seeking out the source of the noise on your own.
Never mind if the cops were laughing at you, at least they were decent enough to humor you and set your mind at ease. But no, I have never had to explain to cops, when I scared myself by seeing my own reflection (thank goodness), and that happened to me twice (that I can recall).

The first time, my two youngest daughters 'helped' me put highlights in my hair ~ they got over-enthusiastic and pulled nearly ALL my hair through the cap. Then, being the first time I had used this kit, miss-judged the timing. The results were disastrous! My hair came out a bright buttercup yellow. The first time I walked into my bedroom, I never glanced in the mirror, but went to fetch something on my dresser. For some reason, I looked up unexpectedly ~ as I caught sight of myself in the mirror, it was OMG.... who is in my room? For a second or two, I honestly didn't recognize myself. What a shock!

The second time, was shortly after my aunt passed away; she had a 'granny-flat' attached to our house, and lived with us for 28 years. I am short-sighted, but don't bother to wear my glasses around the house. One night I went to do, or fetch something from the flat. Instead of switching on the living-room light, I proceeded in the dark with only a light behind me. I looked up, through the bedroom door to see a 'specter walking towards me.... my knees turned to jelly! If I were a person that screamed, I would have! I stopped in my tracks, so did the 'specter'.... It took me a good ten seconds to realize that I was seeing myself in my aunts chevelle mirror, positioned directly opposite the open bedroom door. What a relief! I honestly don't know what I thought it could be at first, but it was enough to set my heart pounding.

My accounts aren't nearly as scary or dramatic as yours, but they sure did give me a jolt.

valkricry · Guru

Strange how often the 'ordinary' can scare us half to death isn't it?

Fergie · Senior Member

Oh so true! Well, here is one "not so ordinary" event that definitely had me freaked out...

Thursday, 4th Oct. I was lying in bed, trying to go to sleep. All of a sudden, I heard soft knocking on our head-board. The sound seemed to be coming from between Ray and I, but higher than our heads. Of course, I raised myself to look. With the street light filtering through the curtains, I couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary. Ray was breathing regularly, so I knew he was asleep. I even ‘traced’ his hand, to see if he was possibly knocking the head-board in his sleep. Nope! His hand was nowhere near the wooden surface. The knocking continued for quite a while, and then it gradually faded away.

What do you make of that one? It certainly spooked me!

valkricry · Guru

I dunno...I'm always hearing weird stuff. Sometimes, I figure it's people downstairs or 'echoes' from somewhere in the neighborhood. And then others...well I just don't know. I've slept alone for a good many years now, and one night I heard snoring right by me - like someone was sleeping next to me! Boy, did I jump out of bed in a hurry! Turned out to be Kirby, the cat!!! How something that little can snore so loud is beyond me.

You mentioned having mice now and then, could they have maybe gotten behind the headboard and caused the knocking sound?

Fergie · Senior Member

Mice you say??? Oh well.....nothing is impossible! I did think mice would be a bit more noisy though; we have papers and books (and a small stuffed teddy bear) on the ledge behind our headboard. Maybe the mouse came to read the newspaper, then needed the light on to see; that is why it was trying to draw attention!? LMAO.

PS: The teddy isn't our idea......

valkricry · Guru

No need to explain the teddy bear... little ones in the house. wink

Fergie · Senior Member

Mon.22nd, Oct. Somewhere around 8pm, I heard Ray go into the loo, shutting the door behind him. Within seconds, I heard ‘scuffling’ coming from the lounge. My blood ran cold! I jumped up from my seat in front of the computer, and went to investigate. My first thought being, an intruder, although I had not heard our security gate, which makes a distinctive noise. It was locked, I double checked.

The lounge was devoid of any living creatures, as was the kitchen and passage. Ray was still in the loo. We were the only two people in the house. Zeus was outside, and he hadn’t barked.

A few minutes later, Ray exited the loo, but I was so engrossed in what I was reading on the computer, that I didn’t hear Ray’s approach. Ray spoke, directly behind me ....I nearly jumped out of my skin!

I am such a ninny! *Shakes head and sighs*.

valkricry · Guru

LOL! If it makes you feel any better, I don't think there's anyone who hasn't experienced that at some point. We just get startled by the unexpected.

Fergie · Senior Member

Our daughter Nicky is a nail technician in her spare time. She has built up a little business at home to supplement her monthly income. She has a whole room devoted to her 'salon'. At this time, business was a little slow.

Wed. 7th Nov. Nicky phoned me at +/- 8:45pm. She had a ‘story’ to tell me. She had apparently placed an advertisement on the internet. It had attracted a young lady, whom was studying to become a lawyer. Nicky was doing this lady’s nails, when the lady asked, “Do you have ‘someone’ in the house?” She was trying, to be ‘delicate’ about asking if there was a presence in the house. Nicky, nonchalantly answered, “Most probably ...that would be my sister!” The lady then went on to say that she had seen a female presence walk past the door-way to the salon; and that it had a ‘calm feel’ to it. It seems as if, everything that Nicky has been doing, meets with Angel’s approval. (i.e. the way she had taken over Shenay and her welfare.)

Fergie · Senior Member

I don't have permission to give out the names of the people in the following extract from my journal. So for clarification, I will tell you that my close friend and confidant, that lives across the road from us, will be referred to as "L". L owns the house, but her daughter "A", son-in-law "G" and granddaughter "J", live with her in the big old house; I have been friends with them for the past +- 8 years.

Sat.17th. November Just after 8:30pm, our front door bell rang. Zeus was making his ‘greeting’ sounds, so even though I got ‘start’ at first, I knew that it was no stranger at the door. It was a ‘panic stricken’ "J". She was babbling incoherently; I had to hold her & soothe her, till she was able to tell me what was going on. There was something drastically wrong with her grandmother ("L" my friend). Her Gran was lying on the floor, struggling to breathe. I shouted for Ray, telling him to run across the road quickly, to see if he could help (he has a certificate from St. John’s in first aid), while I cradled this hysterical (15 year old) child.

It transpired that "L"had had a ‘problem’ with her heart! (Which she vehemently denied later) Eventually, when professional help arrived, with oxygen, "A" ("J"'s mom) came over to let me know what was going on, & to ask me to please keep "J" with me. They were getting an ambulance to take "L" to hospital. "J "was just adding to the panic & general chaos, by being at home; "A" had to go with "L" in the ambulance, as "L" was hitting everyone that came within striking distance of her. "G" ("A"'s husband) had to follow in the car, to bring "A" home again.

We ensconced "J" in Shenay’s bed-room, along with the stack of DVD’s that was retrieved from their house. "J"settled down nicely on Shenay’s bed, after I had administered a 'chill pill" (with her Mom's permission) to watch the DVD’s on Shenay’s TV. I was still ‘fiddling about’ with various chores, before retiring, when "J" burst out of the room, with a confused look on her face. "J" claimed to have been watching a DVD, when the TV switched off, of its own accord. A little while later, the TV switched itself on again. "J" was clearly unnerved, so Ray set up everything necessary for her, in the lounge. I went off to bed, as by this time it was very late (actually early in the morning). "J" spent a good few hours in the lounge, waking us just after dawn, to say that her mom was home; she wanted to go home too.

Now, my question is this: Shen's TV has never acted up, before or since this incident, why now?? I have no reason to doubt "J's" truthfulness......so what the heck?

valkricry · Guru

My guess it's just one of 'those things'. If the TV has a remote she may have unknowingly hit the power button. Kirby, my cat, will sometimes walk across our's , step just right and the channels will change. Took me the longest time to figure that one out.

Fergie · Senior Member

Hummm..... a possibility I never thought of!

Fergie · Senior Member

Wed.21st. November. I was lying in bed, battling to go to sleep; it was well past midnight! As I was lying on my stomach, I turned my head towards the right. Almost immediately, I felt a ‘cold spot’ on my face; it was centred on my top lip, nose & right eye. I opened my eyes, lifted my head & looked at the curtain, which is right there, beside me. There was absolutely no movement from the curtain, hence, no draft, even though the window was open an inch or so. I settled down again, turning my head the other way, but the ‘cold spot’ stayed with me until I eventually fell asleep.

valkricry · Guru

I do know that certain medical conditions can produce the sensation of cold spots on the face and body. But if that were the case, then I would think it would have repeated. And you ruled out drafts from the window, so... that IS strange.

Fergie · Senior Member

Thur.29th.November. Today, I am home alone; it is Ray’s first day of work. I have been feeling a bit nervous about being alone, as recently I have been having blood pressure problems. Possibly, I have ‘communicated’ my nervousness to Zeus, as he has come to the glass door of the computer room to whine and scratch, several times (this is unusual, in day time). This last time, 9:45, I wondered if his food bowl was empty, and got up to check. I stepped up into the dining room, and then entered the lounge; as I did so, the wonderful aroma of a roast assailed my nostrils. Thinking that my neighbour may be cooking early today, I proceeded to the kitchen. As I entered the kitchen, the smell of roast, abruptly changed to the sweet smell of....Jasmine? I suddenly have got the feeling that I am not ‘alone’ after all! It is very comforting!

Fergie · Senior Member

Tues.11th Dec. Shenay is here for the summer holidays. Nothing unusual has happened in a while. Well, not exactly.....four times, since Ray started work, I have heard, what sounded like a pebble landing on the roof, and rolling down. No, it wasn’t the usual ‘stone on the roof’, like when the neighbour ‘calls’. I must admit though, last night, as I was battling to get to sleep (around 11:30) I smelled food....couldn’t put my finger on the smell, something spicy, but not curry.

Sat.15th Dec. I was sitting at my PC after having left the stew to simmer. Shenay went off to play games on her PC. Out of the corner or my left eye, I caught a glimpse of a shadow. Almost simultaneously, I felt a light touch on my left upper arm. My first instinct was, Shenay had let Zeus in and they were both at my side.......wrong! Nobody there!

Fergie · Senior Member

Tuesday, 18th December.
Last night, Zeus behaved very oddly. When Shenay and I let him in, he ran through to the kitchen, where Shen gave him his bone. He ran into the lounge, dropped the bone, and then ran back to the kitchen. Shen and I exited the kitchen. We were on the way to her room; Zeus was in tow. As Shen climbed into bed, I sat on the end; Zeus was ‘all over me’. I wish that dog could speak, because, on reflection. I think that he was trying to tell me something. I thought that Zeus was just trying to cadge another bone. Anyway, we landed up giving him another small bone, which he promptly deposited on the lounge floor. As I tootled off to bed, Zeus was again in tow; I waved my empty hands at him, telling him “no more, all done!” He backed into the passage and lay down there, making strange noises. After a few minutes, I got up to check on him; he just lay there, looking up at me and wagging his tail.

At 23:13 Zeus started whining, like he wanted to be let outside. I got up, went to the kitchen to open the back door; Zeus sat in the kitchen/passage doorway looking at me, like he was saying “No way, you really expect me to go out THERE?” I trooped back to bed. About half an hour later (I was still awake), Zeus started whining again. This time when I got up, he happily exited via the back door (despite the ominous sound of thunder.) I left him outside for the rest of the night. This morning, I was greeted by the sight of two uneaten bones in the lounge.....so strange for him!

valkricry · Guru

Animals can be just plain weird, just like people!

Fergie · Senior Member

Monday 4th February, a big storm had been raging in our area. It was somewhere about 5pm, and Ray and I were hanging out in the kitchen, waiting for the ‘bowling alley upstairs’ to close down. I was sitting quietly at the kitchen table, while Ray stood at the kitchen door, looking out of the top half. Suddenly a loud “bang” interrupted the relative silence. I thought Ray had made the noise, and asked “What are you doing?” Ray stepped back from the door and asked “What was that?” We both realised that we had not made the noise. Logic told us, the sound must have come from the distance between us. Ray started looking for the source of the sound ... checking out all the electrical appliances. We couldn’t find anything to have created the loud noise. About an hour afterwards, I “duplicated” the noise, when I waged war on a fly, sitting on the kitchen table. I swatted it with our heavy leather fly-swatter!