Bowling Alley/'Sea Biscuit'

My friend and I were sitting on a couple of swings hanging from a tree. We looked out over a desert, hilly with scrubby bushes – her back garden. Acres of arid landscape. She was saying something about me going, not being able to see it when it’s all done. I said it was ok, and I would get to see the next one.

At the top of one of the hills was a concrete toilet block. I excused myself and wondered up the hill. As I stood at the entrance, I was able to see the ten-pin bowling alleys out back. I went to light a cig when a crowd of teenagers surged out of the ‘toilet block’, my son amongst them. I dropped the cig and it rolled under the stampeding feet. I went after it, but my son picked it up for me.

Next thing I am in my parents’ lounge and it was still decorated with huge yellow sunflowered wallpaper, busy carpet and kingfisher blue 3 piece suite, like it was when I was a kid. I had a hexagonal fish tank ready because my youngest wanted a seahorse. I got her one – yellow glittery outlined 2D on a piece of cardboard. The instructions said to drop it into water and watch what happens! So I did, and when she came home, she was delighted with ‘Sea Biscuit’. It was at that point that I realised it wasn’t real. I felt very silly so I went out right then to buy a real one.

Fish in Hot Water

I think I was cleaning out a fish tank. I ran water into the bath and put the fish in there. A yellow and blue one wasn’t too keen on being in there. I picked it up with tongs and inspected it. I went to return it to the tub and realised that I’d run a bath for me instead of the fish… hot and bubbly!! I quickly added cold and apologised to the fish for being so stupid. They were fine…

War of the Worlds

This was a slightly updated War of the Worlds… There were aliens on our planet, chasing us down like animals and massacring millions. I was running for my life with a friend and hid in a warehouse with a corrugated roof. We thought we’d be safe if we kept hidden but then a feeling of complete dread and terror came over us as we realised that we were going to die a very painful and gruesome death.

Search & Rescue?

There was a big ominous-looking mansion with outbuildings at the top of a cliff. A game show was being hosted at night time in heavy rain. There were a group of people holding torches in front of a converted stable block with green doors and shutters, the mansion in the background. There was a search underway for someone.

Things That Go Bump in the Night

I had just moved into in an old building with high ceilings, big sash windows and creaky floorboards. I was alone other than my baby son (who I couldn’t actually see). Once we were settled in, I sat on the single bed and heard a noise in the adjoining room that made me jump.

Mum and dad weren’t there, but there was an air of anger like we’d argued and they didn’t approve. Going about my daily business I was feeling generally ok except for a niggling sense of disquiet.

At nightfall, just before I climbed into bed, I heard a bang from the next room again. I tried to ignore it and pass it off as an old building noise knowing that there was no-one else in my apartment. I dozed off only to be woken shortly after to yet another bang from the same room as before. This time I knew something was wrong. I leapt from the bed and ran towards the door. As I grasped the door knob, I was overwhelmed by an awful feeling of foreboding. I was absolutely petrified, and knew at once there was a menacing entity beyond the door. For some obscure reason, I couldn’t just grab my son and leave.

Because of the layout of the apartment, I was able to look through a window on the landing and into the room from where the noise had come from. There was nothing much going on that I could see, so I walked back to the door, hand on the knob and forced myself to open it. My heart was pounding as I turned the knob. As quickly as I had opened the door, glimpsed inside and saw nothing unusual, the door slammed shut in my face and I was thrown backwards. As I sat on the floor, fear gripped me completely and I screamed.

I went back to the landing window to have another look into the room. I stood staring at something now leaning against the window. I had no idea what it was but it resembled a trampoline! Where at first it was static, it was now becoming increasingly animated. I felt pure unadulterated terror. I whimpered and fell to the floor, sensing impending doom.

Just then, my parents came crashing through the front door armed with prayers! I was so relieved. Whatever I’d been angry at them for was now forgiven in an instant.

[this left me feeling frightened and I kept thinking about it all day. I even drew the strange object at the window and a floor plan]

Postman Cat

My cat Willow was a Postie! But sometimes she was a dog, sitting in a puddle round the local shops…

Debris

When I woke up, I only had ‘snapshots’ of the dream – a canal, the ocean. I took the kids to eat out at a little café in a seaside village. We went walking along the canal and found lots of debris in the water like sticks and branches.

Tupperware/Werecats

I was over in France or possibly Italy with my best friend, standing in the middle of a ‘piazza’ or town square surrounded by shops and cafés. Something happened, although I can’t remember what, and we ended round someone’s apartment. The chap who owned it didn’t have a clue who we were. Two of his friends turned up, one of them threw up under the stairs, and then they sat around playing cards.

I got the feeling that we were hiding from someone. We left and ended up back at the town square standing beside a street vendor. Somehow we won a prize each. My friend handed me the first one (something quite small and insignificant), then proceeded to take the years supply of Tupperware, several clear plastic bags full of containers. I was pissed off but thought that I wouldn’t be able to get them home to Britain anyway.

Next there were 4 of us in a jeep driving through woods along a dirt track. We came across these huge panther-like creatures renowned for the viciousness. We pulled a tarp over us but panicked because my legs were sticking out like there was no front to the jeep. I pulled my legs up. I was terrified. The driver continued down the track even though he couldn’t see. As soon as we got adjacent to the big cats, we stopped and the tarp disappeared. The cats stared at us. One of them stood up – it was a werecat! It was almost human looking. I was very scared but went up to one and hugged it. They seemed ok and let us pass, relaying something about misconception.

Glimpse of the Past

I stood looking at a huge sprawling (possibly Tudor) mansion covering acres. I found the main entrance, thick oak double doors. It was cold and quiet when I first entered a stone hallway, not at all as big as you would expect. At the end was an arched doorway, which led to a narrow and dark passageway. As I walked slowly along the stone passage, it became gradually but noticeably warmer and brighter. At the end, I came to a huge open plan room with loads of people holding glasses of wine or champagne. The room had a stone floor in keeping with the hall and passageway, a high ceiling and big arched windows, some with stained glass. There was a sunken area with a large rich red rug. The heavy velvet drapes at the windows matched the colour of the carpet.

In a corner near where I had entered the room was a stone staircase. I went up the stairs, along various corridors until I came to what I thought of as my room. There was a period dress laid out on the bed. I went to the bathroom where there was a bath ready for me. I stepped into it and as I lay there I could hear the voices of servants. When I got out, I was helped into my dress by a couple of young peasant girls. Through the open door I could see a lot of activity along the corridor and in the room opposite – all were in period costume. Except this was not a fancy dress party. This was actually in the past.

I fell down some old worn stone steps and the temperature dropped suddenly. I found myself outside, seemingly miles from anywhere. I couldn’t find my way back to the mansion no matter how hard I tried.

[and even when I woke up I tried going back to sleep to find that mansion, it was that awesome and magical]