Ghosts, spectres, phantoms, entities; however we describe them is not important, what motivates me is our fascination with them.
Many people reading this will know someone who claims to have experienced something paranormal, whether you buy into it yourself or not.
What we should consider before I tell you my latest story of the unknown is that ghost stories appear to have been around as long as mankind itself, with one of the earliest recorded incidents dating back to 490 BC – commonly known as 'The Battle of Marathon', in Greece.
Since then an incalculable number of people have claimed to have come face-to-face with the supernatural.
Admittedly, I've never seen a ghost but in my rather unique position, I have spoken to many people who are absolutely convinced that they have experienced something paranormal.
I was regaled with this week's tale many years ago by a family friend who lived in a three-storey building above a shop in Longton town centre, with only his pet cat for company.
I knew the gentleman in question – who will remain anonymous to protect the identity of the well-known property, and its current inhabitants – very well and have no reason to doubt a word of his story.
On a Sunday evening – much like any other – in June 1985 he was sitting in his armchair reading a book taking time to relax when suddenly his cat, which was resting on the arm of his chair, arched its back and began to hiss as if extremely agitated.
Noting that it was staring anxiously towards the living room door, the gentleman detected an incredibly strong, nauseating smell. It was akin to the aroma of violets.
After a second's pause, he watched in amazement as a lady dressed in an all-black flowing Victorian dress and wearing a picture hat 'glided' in through the door.
At this point it's important to stress that I insisted that he must have been afraid, but he assures me he wasn't at all – and that's a common theme with stories of this nature.
On the contrary, he felt quite calm, he says, unlike his cat, which remained animated.
The Victorian dress-clad lady continued across the room towards him before, just as she came close, slowly turning and walking into the wall next to his television stand.
Instantly the smell of violets that had seconds before dominated the room, ensnaring every sense, disappeared entirely.
At that moment his cat flopped down on the chair as though nothing had happened – and for a second the gentleman had to steel himself and question if he had imagined it.
But when I asked him if it is plausible that he had, indeed, imagined the whole thing, he said it wasn't an isolated incident.
Over the next few weeks the same thing happened, in the same order, over and over again. He explained why it didn't bother him – he said: "I knew she meant no harm and so I accepted her sharing my home."
Some months afterwards, the visits became less frequent – and the gentleman decided to decorate his living room.
Upon removing the wallpaper he found that, in fact, there was evidence of a blocked-up doorway behind the wall fixtures – in exactly the place where the ghostly figured had continually disappeared.
Creatures of habit it would seem, ghosts.
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