More from Fred

He’s been fairly quiet lately, but from what I’m told by other people who share this rather curious gift is that it’s not necessarily there all the time.

Also, there is a need to block it out some of the time otherwise it can be nothing if not intrusive.

Fred tends to talk at me last thing at night and first thing in the morning, but I’ve noticed that incoming information tends to coincide with an increase in my tinnitus levels.

I’ve suffered from tinnitus for a long time; it accompanied a rather nasty flu virus about fifteen year ago and I’ve had it to some extent ever since.  I tend not to notice it unless I’m somewhere quiet or silent, then I’m aware of high-pitched whistling which can get rather irritating.

I’m now coming to know that if the noise level suddenly rises to about 70-80 dB then I need to listen up.  The downside of this is that if Fred talks quietly (as he sometimes does) I can miss what he’s saying.

He was doing this a few days ago; kept stumbling over a word he was trying to tell me and I really didn’t know what he was on about.  Sometimes when this happens, you get given this information in another way, one that you will comprehend (which reminds me, I must go and see the lady who is giving me “lessons” in how to wield this).

This time there were no pictures, just Fred trying to stumble over a word that I couldn’t understand.

He had more luck with another one and has made me realise that he quite enjoys a joke. 

Canterbury.  I didn’t have a clue when he said this in my ear on Thursday morning so I had to think about it for a while. 

Canterbury… the place? The Canterbury Tales? Canterbury Road somewhere? Canterbury Bells? 

Stop right there; it’s a pun - and I have figured out who Canterbury Bell is.  ‘Nuf said.

Then I googled them and found out that my fairy friend is far, far more clever than I have ever given him credit for.

Not only are Canterbury Bells associated with fairies (thanks for the reminder Fred), they are beloved of beekeepers for producing a particularly sweet honey (beekeepers! ha!).  Their proper species (Latin) name is Campanula medium.

I get the joke Fred - very droll……

Then this morning, I finally figured out the word he had been trying to give me unsuccessfully for days, mainly because he doesn’t seem to be very good at Latin.

Cantabrigiensis.  Cambridge.

Canterbury went to Cambridge - which is why I was getting both words at once.  I really ought to listen a bit more.  Sorry Fred.

Cambridge was also the home of my only ecclesiastical ancestor, so maybe I ought to trace him as well.

Dropping off to sleep last night, I saw a very odd picture in my mind’s eye; something that I can only describe as half human, half goat.  It had most of the lower half of a goat’s face, with human eyes and forehead - in fact, a very wide, bony forehead, topped off with goats’ horns.

If that was the Goat of Mentis, then I’m outta here……