Adrian the Monk - 2025

Report: Ghost Hunting in North Devon! (29.8.2025)

With most of the lights off by 11pm, I sat on my religious chair (the Church dates back to the 14th century – and so does the chair). I cleared my mind and immersed myself into the ancient nature of the stone-work. The stone was cool to the touch – I went bare-foot to ground myself – and felt the calm structure of the place. No fear, no deception, and nothing to worry about, Although I neither support or oppose theology – I sensed the spiritual feel that all the attendees developed and projected into rge physical structure of the place. In many places in the UK, the Christians deliberately built their Churches on already existing Pagan sites of ancient spirituality – with nothing to do with a Christian god. The mistake that Christians make is that their own mind creates the religion they believe in – but they mistakenly believe that their religion exists “outside” their heads, independent of the mind that generates it. The perception is inverted and the wrong way around.

The Book I Am current Reading!

Stalin – A Biography (Re-Examining Stalin – Learning from Past – Taking the Right Path) By Dai Longbin (戴隆斌)! [20.8.2025]

Deprived of his father’s love at a young age, Stalin developed a distinctly rebellious character, a daring spirit of adventure, and a willingness to fight—key factors in his subsequent development as a staunch Marxist and Lenin’s successor. His personality enabled him to make tremendous historical contributions to Soviet governance, the Communist Party, and the military, leaving behind both glory and retribution. He was a historical giant, both charismatic and discerning.

Duddington Plaque Contains Our "Wyles" Ancestors!

Northants: Duddington [Area] War Memorials – Digitalised! (1.8.2025)

We have been travelling around Duddington and the surrounding area – research genealogical information for the local surname “Wyles”. Whilst carrying-out this vital historical investigation – we decided to gather data pertaining to the often forgotten War Memorials and Rolls of Honour. We include four such projects that we have completed this week (we are thinking of extending this to any area we find old Churches containing War Memorials).

Stairway to Heaven!

Northants: Kirby Hall – [1570] Elizabethan Home of Nobility! (1.8.2025)

This building reminded us in structure of Hampton Court (not far from where we live in London) – and Berry Pomeroy in Totnes, South Devon (not far from where my parents live). This is not surprising, as I believe from reading the available “English Heritage” literature that the same architects and engineers were used by the Court of Queen Elizabeth I and the nobility that served her. The front of the Hall faces North – with the back of house facing South (built on a North-South orientation). Local serfs (landless or homeless peasants) and peasants (land-occupying peasants) were employed by the nobility when large-scale building projects were initiated. Indeed, with the development of Guilds (primitive unions) – certain groups of peasants became highly skilled in specific construction and maintenance skills. Whether any such labour was employed from nearly Kirby Village, (situated to the South-West of what became the ornate rear garden of the complex), is open to debate.

Ancient Document - 1060 CE - St Peter's Church - Deene

Deene & Deenethorpe: St Peter’s Church [c. 1060 CE] Historically Significant Building! (31.7.2025)

Even a committed atheist will be at one with the deepest aspects of the mind and nature whilst sat quietly in these hallowed halls. On the way out, whilst walking back to the car, we met a man with a dog who used to live in Leicester – and even in Barclay Street, where my father and his parents lived! He has relatives in St Helena – and although an English gentleman – we got the impression that his White relatives had mixed with the Black population (former slaves) who lived on that famous British colonial island that once housed the Great Emperor Napoleon during one of his exiles!

Duddington Postcard to Diane Wyles!

Duddington: A Special Postcard to Diane Wyles! (31.7.2025)

We visited (the 16th century) Kirby Hall today situated in the Northants countryside. On the way back – a solitary road-sign directed us to a “Historical Church”. This turned-out to be the 11th century “St Peter’s Church” (of Deene) – founded in 1060 – just six-years prior to the Norman Conquest of 1066. Well, this Church was unlocked and in it we found a selection of free postcards. On the way back to the place we are staying at in Easton-on-the-Hill – we stopped at the Highfield area of Duddington so that Kai-Lin could play in the adventure playground situated there. We wrote out the postcard, affixed a stamp (we only had 2nd Class) and popped it in the Duddington Post-Box – filming and photographing the entire process. The post will be collected tomorrow – at 9 am. The card will then meander its way to Paignton in Devon!

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