IT HAPPENED TO ME...

First-hand accounts from FT readers and browsers of www.forteantimes.com

Moving wine glasses

I was advised by social media that a friend and colleague had passed away of natural causes. His body was discovered on 24 August 2017. A fellow airline pilot dying of “natural causes” aged only 55 aroused my suspicion. I was later informed that, in fact, he had committed suicide on 10 August. Between the 10th and 24th of that month, I was deeply aware of my friend’s presence; initially, just reminders of his existence and our friendship that started in 1993. It seemed that I could not move past that period, constantly dwelling on past experiences. I was even sufficiently moved to play one of his favourite CDs, wondering what he was up to.

One afternoon during that fortnight, when my wife and I were in our kitchen, our automatically operated garbage bin opened by itself. A short time delay automatically shut the lid. We both laughed it off but I felt, strongly, that it was not a normal event. The bin lid requires a firm light sense shadow across the sensors. A fly sweep would not be sufficient. It never did that before or since.

Like so many other people, I have regular spiritual experiences at around 3.45am. Again, during the period in question, I was awoken one morning at this time with the en-suite toilet flushing by itself. A couple of days later, at the same time, I was awoken with the sound of someone washing in the hand basin. I turned and noticed my wife asleep beside me. Learning later that my friend had died on the 10th and his body found on the 24th August, it seemed to me that the events taking place were caused by him.

I have had numerous, humorous discussions with friends and colleagues that should they pass before me, to let me know of an existence after death. Nothing frightening please, just something simple, like moving my glass of afternoon wine. Shortly after 24 August, out lunching with my wife, wine on the table, glasses poured, food at the prep stage, she went to the bathroom. Alone, but constantly aware of my friend’s demise, I moved my hand and grasped the stalk of the wine glass. I felt the top of the glass move with a push and instantly let go. The glass moved on its own six inches [15cm] across the table. I watched in astonishment. My wife returned while the waiter laid out the first course. I kept quiet about the event but felt deeply content that it was my colleague, answering my previous challenge. Then my wife’s glass of wine started moving a full 6in to 8in [1520cm] away from her. “Whaat?” she exclaimed. I told her that it was my friend but wasn’t ready to mention my own wine glass moving. That would really have spoiled the garlic bread!

Retired airline pilots like me are trained to analyse events very carefully. I have often attempted to simulate the event. Glasses do not move by themselves. The condensation drips will often form a condensation base from drips but the glass will not move. The table in question was completely flat. Once I became at peace with the passing of this dear friend, only fabulous memories remain. But, one last time, a few weeks ago, I was moved to play his favourite album tracks, some of which I didn’t like much. It was a final message from him to let go. I have. Gordon MacFarlaine By email

Lifting a curse

I used to design tyres for a living. We had a number of factories around the world. We visited them from time to time, and staff from these factories came to Birmingham. We were often in daily correspondence by phone and fax (no emails back then), so we got to know our opposite numbers quite well.

One of our technical managers at the Zambian factory, well respected, well educated and, as far as I know, quite popular, was unexpectedly taken ill. This was some years ago when AIDS was still making the headlines and there was some concern that this might be the problem, although he was adamant that this could not be the case. The doctors could find no cause for his illness, but he got progressively worse. Then someone suggested that a curse had been put on him. His rejected this out of hand, insisting he had no time for such superstitions. However, as he continued to get worse he was eventually persuaded, very much against his better judgement, to return to his village to consult the local shaman. He presumably greased a few palms and before long he began to improve and made a full recovery.

Was he suffering from some straightforward malady from which he would have recovered anyway, even though the doctors could not diagnose what it was? Or did he only think he was a sceptic when subconsciously he believed in the power of curses? Or does witchcraft really work? My money is on the second alternative, except he would have needed to know that someone had put the mockers on him, and he said he did not. Steve Yates Erdington, Birmingham

Maternal talent

On 30 December 2003 I attended a family party at my brother’s house. My two-yearold son Arthur was having a fantastic time running around being chased by his father and aunt. I was sitting in the front room talking to my brother when in my mind’s eye I saw Arthur running into the room, turning around and loudly colliding with the door. As I turned to the left, I could see the door in the exact position I had imagined and Arthur came whizzing into the room pursued by his aunt. As he did a lap of the room and headed back towards the door, I leaned across and pushed it shut, just before he ran straight past me on an exact trajectory to where the door had been.

I am certain I prevented my son’s injury, and there is no way that what I had envisioned could actually have happened before as I had never been in my brother’s house in that situation since Arthur was born. Has anyone else been able to prevent a future event in this way? Is it a version of déjà vu? Mary Haynes Melbourne, Derbyshire