The legend of black dogs helped to reinforce values or to help establish new ones in days of old.

To prevent or discourage their children from wandering out onto the moors in desolate parts of the country families needed a deterrent. What better way to deter than to tell the story of a nasty creature that would kill you without a second invitation?

So, why are these legends still around? Are they true or are they still just a figment of our imaginations? Surely we still do not need the stories to discourage us from wandering into the desolate hills of the countryside?

I know for one I will not be wandering anywhere desolate alone.

Whilst reading another article about these mystical creatures I’ve come across a true tale of a sighting of a black dog by a policeman from Scotland Yard whilst investigating a murder. This has all the hallmarks of a Squidoo lens just right for Queen of the Wacky, so stay tuned! More research is definitely needed before I publish it .

Many sightings of black dogs take place outside; lanes, moors and graveyards are all common areas. However, this same article reports  a sighting of a black dog that occurred inside a house, upstairs to be exact. It took place back in 1974 and the victim was a child of four years old.

The child described the dog as a ‘massive black animal with horns or large ears galloping along the landing.’ Its eyes were saucer-like and yellow. It vanished as soon as it came near the boy’s bedroom door.

Could this be a true sighting or a very active imagination of a young child? Could the house have been situated on a ley line or an old cemetery which could account for the appearance of the hell hound?

What do you think?

Granted there have been some brilliant vampiric novels/films/TV series which include The Underworld and True Blood but I now think that vampires have had their day.

Vampires are often eroticised but why? They’re cold blooded killers. Is it because of their desire to go for the neck or throat which can appear to be quite sensual? But then ABC’s do too and we don’t eroticise them!

Is is because they tend to need or prefer to charm their victims before they go for the bite? Is it because they have the power to hypnotise their victims, also? But, surely that would frighten you more if you thought events would be out of your control? Or is it because they keep their human form?

Werewolves have been ’seen’ in many places over the world but has anyone reportedly seen a ‘real’ vampire?

Maybe I lean towards werewolves more because anything that resembles a wild, rabid dog is guaranteed to give me the heebie jeebies.

Which do you ‘prefer’ and why?

This new blog will focus on all the strange things that do not include beasties/animals/creatures etc.

Cryptid Sightings will be the blog to read if you’re interested in the furry or scaly creatures that inhabit this world.

So, if I publish a new Squidoo lens about a beastie, it will be featured on this blog. If I publish anything else to do with the strange or weirdy, it will be featured on The Queen of Wacky.

I hope I don’t get too confused! I’m sure you will put me right if I publish the wrong thing on the wrong blog

Oh! and true crime will be featured on True Crime

I think I have all bases covered until something else comes up! No more blogs though. I have too many as it is

Spooky, Phantom Ships

Spooky ships can be not just haunted ships but those who have mysteriously disappeared, have curses attached and have been left sailing alone with no crew.

We all know the story of the Marie Celeste and the question asked, “What happened to her crew?”

I believe several attempts have been made to solve the mystery one of which is the story of her cargo exploding and her crew escaping to their subsequent deaths on a small boat. This sounds plausible enough but why hasn’t that small boat ever been found?

Did they die one by one and the survivors ate them until there was only one left? Then did he die of starvation or thirst? How long would that take in real time? Days? Weeks? Months?

But then what happened to the boat after that?

Or were they attacked by sharks? Pirates? Pirates would remove all traces of humans but would they take the boat?

It still leaves a lot of unanswered questions which I don’t think will ever be answered.

But would we want them to be? Isn’t half the charm with a mystery is it staying as a mystery?

What are your thoughts?