Something Fishy Going On?

There is something funny going on here, but I can't put my finger on it. Let's look at the evidence.

The chap on the left is holding a parasol aloft in his left hand, while balancing a cup of tea on the other. The mother with the child seems quite normal but look at the face of woman behind and to her left - the expression is very disconcerting. As for the chap in the suit, why is he holding his hat and is there something concealing beneath it. One might also ask why the ends of his tie have been cut off. Next is the woman in the dark trilby - why is she dwarfed by the camping table? Alongside her, the next woman seems distracted - perhaps she is receiving a message in an ear piece? Did they actually have ear pierces at the time this photograph was taken. Finally, who is taking the photograph and whose is the camera in the foreground. Questions, questions . . . Any ideas?

A Haunting Mystery

A few months ago, a book was published that has captured the imagination of everyone who glimpses into its pages and the call to read it is passed by word of mouth. That book is The Mystery of the Fool & The Vanisher by David and Ruth Ellwand. I recently read a copy and felt I should recommend it to you.

Part one of this gripping story is told by photographer David Ellwand who, while wandering on the Sussex Downs, finds a deserted house in which there's an old chest containing some extraordinary objects including a set of ancient cylinder recordings. The second part explores the recordings which are a diary of Isaac Wilde, a Victorian photographer on an archeological dig. Determined to prove their existence, he takes a daguerrotype (a photograph which cannot be faked) of a pixie - and then vanishes off the face of the earth. The daguerrotype goes missing. In the final part of this exquisitely illustrated work, having listened to Isaac's diaries, David Ellwand becomes increasingly convinced that pixies exist. But his need to discover the truth might be dangerous. His quest threatens to become an obsession that will change his life forever. This intriguing journal within a journal tells a tale of human folly and otherworldly revenge, leaving the reader to wonder about the magic of the natural world and the mysteries of the imagination.

This book is haunting and quite like no other I have seen. If you like to use your imagination, you will enjoy it so much. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It is a tale of the past that has an impact on the present. For more information, click on the book's title in the 'Books to help you think creatively and inspire' box at the top right of this blog. Enjoy!

This book was procured by Hunting Raven Books, Cheap Street, Frome, Somerset (01373-473111). If you are passing, please call in. These are booksellers that really care about readers!

An Enigmatic Scene that raises Questions

This young girl looks happy. Could it be her birthday? Is she on a day out? But, who is the enigmatic figure at the top of the steps? Could it be her father? He is smartly dressed, but why is he looking away and not towards the child? What is he looking at and is he posing for the photograph? I have already imagined several situations or scenarios to explain the photograph. What about you? What do you imagine is going on? Let me know?