Creepy coincidences in Erdington

This eerie coincidence happened in a suburb village called Erdington, near Birmingham in England. Erdington itself was always a quiet sleepy place near a Roman road, with a mention in the Domesday Book. Surrounded by thick chase forests of wild animals, few of the villagers ever attended its church that fell into decay. This might be down to low population ever since the Bubonic Plague. Canals, railways, farms and mansions have sprung up over the ages in Erdington, making this a ward of Birmingham with many interesting features. A quiet sleepy village with two tornadoes in 1981. The most famous news to come out of Erdington are chilling coincidences of two murders 160 years apart.

In 1817, a 20 year old woman named Mary Ashford died on Whit Monday, 26th May. She had been a cheerful pretty girl with lots of admirers and had enjoyed a party late at night. She once confided in a friend that she had felt "bad feelings about the week to come". That evening she set off to the party at Tyburn House, had fun dancing and met a man there named Abraham Thornton. After midnight she was with Abraham and went home, but she was found dead in a ditch of Chester Road at 8 a.m. 

Abraham Thornton was the last person to see Mary alive. He was accused of murdering her. This went to trail and it came out that Abraham raped Mary so everything pointed at him being guilty. Then he was soon acquitted after no evidence was found and alibis came to the trial. The brother of Mary felt angry and wanted the trial reopened. The public all despised Abraham Thornton, so that he fled the country. 

Eerily similar was a murder in 1974, of another 20 year old woman who was found dead in the same ditch at Chester Road. The victim was named Barbara Forrest who vanished on Whit Monday after going to a dance. Police arrested a man named Michael Ian Thornton, who last saw Barbara alive and showed blood stains on his clothes. He was sent to trial and found not guilty due to lack of evidence, and alibi coming forward, making Barbara's sister angry who wanted the trial reopened. Before she died, Barbara had once told a friend "This is going to be my unlucky month. I just know it. Don't ask me why." There are many similarities of both cases. 

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The Pooka

The Pooka is a cryptid and a creature of legends. They're found throughout folklore in England, Ireland and the Channel Isles. Also called Phouka, Puca, Puck, Pookah, pwca and pucai. 

They're understood to be shapeshifters that take on many forms, from various animals and people. In human form, they may have animalistic traits such as a pair of fox ears, antlers or a bushy tail. These are a type of fairy, of the goblin variety. They are mischievous and play pranks, but they can be bringers of good luck. It really much depends on how they're treated.

For their description, they have large shining gold eyes. They can be either dark haired or very light blonde haired. When taking on beastly forms, they can have either black fur or white fur. It's said that they have a contradictory relationship with humans, as they can help people and look after agriculture, protect livestock and crops. Or they can be dangerous to farms and fishing communities.   

It's believed that the Pooka taint blackberries during Samhain by spitting on them, so people are warned not to eat them. Halloween is also named "Pooka Night". More mischief games of the Pooka is taking form of talking horses, luring people to mount them just so they can give them scary wild rides. Sometimes those people are never seen again. To protect oneself from this happening, people have carried sharp metal spurs so that if they might end up on the backs of Pooka, they can use the spurs to take control and get off safely. 

The Pooka has a much darker side. It's believed they have traits of vampires, as they have a big craving for blood. Oh and they're very carnivorous and like eating human flesh! Whatever you do when you're out, make sure that you don't get on the backs of strange horses!   

Extra tales of Pooka found at the Emerald Isles website here.

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Snow moon

The full moon in February is known as the Snow Moon. Other names of the February full moon are hungry moon, ice moon, storm moon and bear moon. We'll get the full Snow Moon appearing on the 12th February tonight, just in time for Valentine's Day. February is said to be the coldest part of the year with the most snowfall.  February itself is a hard time especially for animals seeking food and everyone snuggled indoors to keep away the cold. Temperatures plunge when thick heavy settled snow buries the ground and hides plants, making it difficult for small creatures to forage. Birds hide in their nests. Certain wildlife such deer, muskox, arctic foxes, squirrels and penguins enjoy winter and thrive in it.

While it's a bleak month, February is the lightest and shortest Winter month. The days gradually get longer and brighter as we experience more sunlight. The cold is one thing but celebrations of Imbolc, Disting and Valentine's Day are full of positivity, hope and warmth. 

February is a strange month compared to other months of the year, because it has different number of days, such as the 28 days usually, but the odd 29th day is a Leap Year. Often those born on the 29th February are "Leap Year children" whose birthdays miss out on the normal years when there's just 28 days in February. While February is the second month of the year, it was the last month of the Roman calendar. February is the last month of Winter in the northern hemisphere but the last month of Summer in the Southern hemisphere. 

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