Paranormal Lockdown UK 1.6 "Newsham Park Hospital" Review

This ep was shown as there were technical issues with 1.5 thus out of order, but will be aired next week.

Newsham Park located in Liverpool, was originally built in 1874 and was specifically for the purposes of housing orphans of seamen lost at sea.  Leading to all manner of cruel punishment and a tough, harsh life for these orphans even having to endure separation and being sent to the punishment floor if they spoke out.  Queen Victoria visited the orphanage twice and a Royal seal was awarded after a visit there.  The hospital was also opened by the Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Victoria's son who was also a sailor.  It then became a  hospital in 1954 and housed some of the more criminally insane including allegedly Ian Brady, one half of the Moors Murder duo.  It then became a psychiatric hospital in 1992 until finally being closed down.

Reportedly one of the most sinister locations in England.  A place Nick and Katrina had been researching for a while and wanting to get in there to investigate.  With so much going on behind closed doors there was bound to be plenty of activity, including demonic rituals carried out here in the chapel and other areas.  The original owner commenting on finding bones and teeth.  Katrina also found a makeshift Ouija board on one of the original tables.  Thus giving it all sorts of energy and allowing anything evil to come through.


They were led on a quick tour by historian Paul who showed them where the orphans would eat their meagre meal and where there have been reports of footsteps, running and shadow figures.  There where also shown a slab where DBs would be laid and some investigators even used a Ouija board on it.  Was that really necessary especially since it's widely accepted you can never tell what will come through and also if the session isn't properly closed.  One reason for the so-called evil activity of the place.  The basement boasts of light anomalies and also a headless man in white.  Perhaps this was the man they got coming through on the Geoport whilst they conducted an experiment using the Hazer, which omitted smoke and the LED light panel, when a voice came through saying, "I lost my head...saw."  Nick thinking it could have been accidentally sawn off like during an autopsy or an accident.  They also got the name "Sid" coming through twice.

Nick used the EchoVox to scan through voices phonetically, as well as using a thermal camera.  With hardly anything coming through they went to the third floor and Nick saw a shadow figure here and heard footsteps as well as a banging door.  Putting it more down to children rather than anything darker.  A lot of running around was heard but again nothing was caught on camera, which is getting to be commonplace now.  You'd think with so much technical equipment they would catch something on camera.  Sadly not even Rob caught anything this time!  The only word Nick heard was "abuse."

Nick chose to spend the first night in the morgue (again) and didn't get anything except for a banging sound which he thought was a chair.  Swearing he doesn't want to spend another night in a morgue until he dies!  They investigated the tower which had a lot of bird droppings which made Katrina swear and it was painful to climb the stairs.  Either it was dangerous or she said it might be environmental factors which made her feel uneasy.

In the basement they set up the hazer and lasers and a still camera taking stills every five seconds.  Nick had some responses here, re the losing head comment and the light panels were going on and off quite frantically, more so than they've done before.  Both thought they saw something trying to manifest in the smoke and a white outline was seen in a photo taken by the stills camera.  I kept looking at the left side of the door and was sure there appeared to be something there, but perhaps it was just the smoke.  See pictures below where they saw a white figure. Personally it wasn't really that apparent anything was actually there.
In the first pic below I can see two faces one on the left corner behind the door and one in the right corner behind the right door, looks almost bearded the one on the right, a kinda laughing Nick to me!!  Ha. The arrow was where I kept looking.

Though I do have to ask why when they were reviewing the evidence the next day, they sat with the windows behind them cos there was quite a bit of light and reflection from the windows reflecting off the computer screen.  So it was hard to see if there was anything actually there.  Nick said the experiment was being carried out for the first time using the hazing machine.  It was a first for the UK but the haze generator has been used before in Paranormal Lockdown episode 3.8 Beattie Mansion when Elizabeth Saint came in to help them with it and she saw a dark figure break the laser beam.

Nick slept on the floor above and Katrina in the main hall but nothing happened during the night.  However before Nick went to sleep and after he set up his cot, an orb could be seen appearing from the left side of the door.  Also there were orbs in the main hall where Katrina was sleeping, just before she speaks to the camera.

On the final night they investigated the punishment hall where footsteps where heard and a child's voice came through saying, "I want my daddy."  Sadly many of the children were never to leave here or see their parents again which broke Nick's heart in particular.  Another voice said "let me out".  They seem to capture this phrase quite a lot and have done so in 4 out of 5 of their investigations at least.  "He's coming back" was also heard on the Geoport and it could be a child waiting for someone to return for them.

They decided that the activity isn't dark or as evil as people have said and mostly children, aside from the basement where they do believe something dark lurks there.  Ah well if nothing else be amused at Nick's pronunciation of NewSham as "Newshim."  And Rob got beeped before the first ad break, so much for letting the expletives remain!  HA.
Next ep is the one originally scheduled for this week  Skegness Hell House.

Vanity Fair Chapter 5 "In Which Battles Are Won and Lost" Review

                                                 
As the war rages on, Becky (Olivia Cooke) is out to make money however she can and in this instance it's by selling Rawdon's (Tom Bateman) prized horses, as they haven't been requisitioned since she's hiding them away in a stable.  Watching Lady Bareacres (Elizabeth Berrington) sitting in a carriage without any horses tethered to it.  Jos (David Fyn) is also in search of horses as they fear the French invasion.  However Amelia (Claudia Jessie) is overcome with George's (Charlie Rowe) departure with worry for him.  Obviously Becky doesn't feel that way as Rawdon is a Captain he would be at the General's side whilst the other man go into battle.  Becky reminds Jos of his sister and taking her with him.

Lady Bareacres sends her maid to enquire about selling the horses but as Becky sips tea, she is surprised she would send a servant to do her bidding.  However her two rubies she wore to the ball aren't enough to entice her to sell; as Lady Bareacres concedes she would invite Becky and her betters to the hall back home.  Becky refuses since what she is offering is not enough for even her betters had she any.  As Becky watches from the balcony Lady Bareacres stumbles and falls in the wet ground, only to sit in the empty carriage in the rain.  Becky sells the horses to Jos as she also tells him he looks like a military man in his attire and the French will see this when they invade.  She takes everything that Jos has and he rides away leaving Amelia behind as she refuses to leave.  Becky throwing the money into the air and rolling in it, well more lying than rolling but you get the picture.

As George and Dobbin (Johnny Flynn) ride into the woods, they are soon attacked by the French troops and must stand their ground.  Finally making camp in the rain as General Tufto (Richard Dixon) demands Rawdon find him Waterloo on the map.  Dobbin telling George he would kill everyone of those men on the hill if he had the chance, with George mimicking gunfire.  Amelia hears the cannon fire has stopped and the guns are silent for now.  The wounded men are brought back and Ensign Stubble (Jack Loxton) tells Amelia that George is fine.  As the troops further prepare for the Battle of Waterloo.  The General saying the men will be attacked by the cavalry and will be cut down.  They fight and Dobbin tries to rescue a wounded soldier on the field as the order to fire is given, George countermanding it until Dobbin returns.  Later as they began another march into battle, George cries "the time is now..." and is shot down.

As the news reaches Amelia, she cuts her hair and is driven away in the carriage as they cross paths with Sedley (Robert Pugh.  Dobbin speaks with him but he refuses to budge on the issue of accepting Amelia and even his own grandson.  As Sedley remarks on how "better men have died" and Dobbin repeats this in reference to George.  As they return home, Becky too has a son, Rawdy, whom Rawdon adores but she doesn't tend to him.  She sent French souvenirs and a letter to Aunt Matilda (Frances de la Tour) in the hopes she may forgive him and offer them money.  However when they arrive back, she dies not even hearing Becky whens he tells her in desperation how she loves Rawdon and to forgive them for their past actions.  Becky takes it upon herself to find them a place by throwing herself in tears at the mercy of Mr Raggles (Peter Wight) who offers them his property in Mayfair to rent.

Rawdon can't afford this place and at the reading of the will, he is only left those very same souvenirs and a meagre £100 with everything going to his brother, Bute (Mathew Baynton).  As Martha (Sian Clifford) and Pitt (Martin Clunes) smirk at Becky's prospects and what could have been for her if she married him.  Becky suggests Rawdon should get on the good side of Bute now.  As well as proposing they should use their rooms to play cards in a well-respected home to earn money.  Even Arabella (Felicity Montagu) got £600.

Dobbin looks after Amelia and Little Georgie with toys and tells her he's leaving for India but doesn't know how long he'll be gone.  She writes to him and he writes to Jane (Ellie Kendrick) imploring her to get Sedley to help her for the sake of his grandson.  Jane spies upon Georgie in the park and tells Sedley he should visit him since he resembles George.  Which he does and Amelia reluctantly lets him visit with him.  Later Sedley writes he will return the money to her that rightfully belonged to George if she gives up his grandson and she refuses.  Even though her parents think she should do this.  Then they too can live off the wealth.

Rawdon wins at cards and Becky won't stop her singing to look after their son.  As he does so Lord Steyne (Anthony Head) enters and Becky is enamoured to meet with him.  Still searching for a way to make more money.  Their fortunes are not so rife as both have had babies and need to make their way in the world.  The difference being Amelia actually wanted Georgie but Becky does not want Rawdy.  Well woman didn't you know you would get with child!  The depiction of the battle showing how pointless and futile war really is, even if a necessity at times.  Steyne#s entrance was typical in moustache twirling fashion and draped in his cloak, entering with menacing intentions!

Paranormal Lockdown UK 1.4 "Abandoned Park Hotel" Review

Another haunted location being a hotel, think these are top of the list as far as investigations are concerned, where Nick and Katrina try to help out a new owner, Martin.  Hey this hotel can't be classed as abandoned if it's been bought and other paranormal groups investigate here.  Shadow figures, disembodied voices such as screams have been heard by people.  Martin's property manager even caught a face on CCTV which resembled a devil face.  So ominous even before the investigation began.  With a man murdering his wife, Emma and then hanging himself in the tower, as well as other suicides.  A lot of the activity at the hotel was residual balanced against intelligent responses; with the spirits just going about their daily activities.  Even capturing a conversation where the man and woman appeared to be oblivious to their presence.  That breakfast reminiscent of the one from Paranormal Lockdown 1.6 Kreischer Mansion where at least Edward tried to communicate with them and the Geoport was turned off on him!

This hotel was the brainchild of Edmund Park who carried out seances here and ended up disappearing.  Some believed he was murdered and he cursed the hotel as are the rumours throughout the town.  His spirit is said to haunt the hotel, well if he practised in the dark occult then perhaps he was a victim of his own dark doings.  Other legends include the drowned body of a soldier being brought to the hotel and how his spirit haunted here too.  Many of the rooms have oppressive feelings.

As for that scream they heard to me it sounded like a cry for "help!"  Rather than just a scream.  Have listened to it many times now and it does sound like rounded letters, a word than just a scream.  Also it sounds more like a child, doesn't sound like an older woman. At first I thought it could have been Emma, but again the voice is too child-like than an adult.  Not any activity in figures at all this time round, except for something trying to manifest itself on the final night with the 3D imaging camera, but the stick figure never fully materialized.  Perhaps it didn't have enough energy or just didn't want to show itself.

Voices on the audio phonetics included "up here" and "come down" leading them a merry dance it seemed.  On day 2 they conducted an experiment where Katrina would wear headphones and listen to any voices coming through.  With Nick going to a different part and asking questions.  An experiment Nick carried out with Elizabeth Saint in Ghosts of Shepherdstown episode 2.4 I'm You're Biggest Fan at the Old Opera House and the results were surprising and completely corresponded with the Q&A session! Similar happened here too.  Nick asked the spirit to go to the tower and tell Katrina.  She heard "I'm Here" and "it's bright."  That could mean the bright light coming into the tower as it was day, or it could mean she's somewhere with bright lights around her. 

On the second day when Nick came to wake up Katrina, a door shut on him and still Katrina couldn't be moved from getting up from her sleeping bag, she said she was too tired!  Right Nick you know who you can rely on for help!  Ha.  Then the ballroom door also shut on them later, so it was apparent something or someone didn't want them there, coupled with the voices that told them to "get out" etc.  That voice that said "shut up bitch" on the audio when Nick was in that room downstairs.  Also asking her "if she wanted to find out" in a threatening manner!  Rude much!

They set up more audio and a female voice came through saying "I'll get you."  Katrina saying it resembled that of a witch.  A male voice was heard to say "that's the witches" and "the witch of..." That was remarkable as the Pendle witches were hanged not far from here and Martin's friend said how some witches were her ancestors.  Thus were probably trying to communicate with her in Katrina's view.

I like investigations with more activity, I know and where can actually see things manifest and captured and I know that's not possible all the time in every investigation, but some of these eps just end up giving validation to what is already known and nothing new appears so that the level of investigations and new findings can be researched and taken further.  Everything just stems around what is known.  I'm not blaming anyone for that, it's just the nature of the investigation and you have to make do with what you find.  Spirits are unpredictable.

Vanity Fair Chapter 4 "In Which Becky Joins Her Regiment" Review

                                               
This ep sees Becky Sharp (Olivia Cooke) putting her feminine wiles to full use as she attempts to gather money for herself (more for herself than Rawdon) and in the process Amelia (Claudia Jessie) realizes her true colours.  Well, finally as George (Charlie Rowe) makes a move on Becky!  Of course she wouldn't go after a mere pauper since his father now disowns him and only provides him with £2,000 severance pay.  Severance as he disowns him as his son and heir and removes his name from the family bible!  As he tells the servants to set a plate for George everyday in the hopes of seeing him return and begging for more money and erm his forgiveness.  Which I doubt Osborne Senior (Robert Pugh) would even give.  As George's sister, Jane (Ellie Kendrick) tells their father he should forgive George but he doesn't see himself as being in the wrong.  He even says this to Dobbin (Johnny Flynn) as he too believes that since they are on the eve of leaving for Belgium and war, that he should at least consider communicating with his son.  However Osborne makes a remark about pistols at dawn prompting Dobbin to leave.  Well he did his best and it was more so for Amelia than George since she will have scarce now't to live on. 

Poor Amelia (literally and metaphorically) can't see anything wrong with George and how he consummately despises her.  Of course he does, she cost him his fortune and holds Dobbin to blame for this too.  Dobbin brings the letter to George whilst they are at port and he holds noting but contempt for Dobbin for allowing him this fool's folly.  However, Dobbin would have Amelia in a heartbeat!

Now to Miss Sharp and how she and Rawdon (Tom Bateman) sneak off in the morning without paying their rent or any of their bills.  Rawdon complaining of needing a valet to dress him.  But fear not as Becky has a plan.  Not only did Rawdon manage to get George into further debt after gambling but she is determined that he should pay that £2,000 towards his debt.  Amelia not being able to understand why George frets so over the money as she thinks it's adequate.  But this isn't the life of luxury that George is used to.  Becky adding that it is a mere foot soldier's salary.  George further vexed when Dobbin tells him that he will have to live on his soldier's pay!  Perish the thought!

As they arrive in Belgium, it's not long before Rawdon and Becky entice George into another card game and Amelia knows that Rawdon is a very good player.  As Becky further flirts with George by lighting his cigar for him and telling him how she loves the smell of it. That was a line she also used to ensnare Rawdon too in episode 2!  General Tufto (Richard Dixton) also is beguiled by Becky and her charms, or rather her developed bust, as they attend the opera.  George not having any money to buy Amelia a bouquet and then has the nerve to ask why everyone has one except for her.  Amelia having befriended the wife of Major O'Dowd (Patrick Fitzsymons) Peggy O'Dowd (Monica Dolan).  However, all eyes are upon Becky in her new red dress as she and Rawdon sit in the General's box.  George waves to her and she waves back which doesn't go unnoticed by Amelia.  During the interval it's all George can do to stumble over to the box, just as the General is getting overtly friendly with her.  She thanks George for rescuing her and Rawdon invites him to another card game.

George also trying to impress people he believes are worthy of his company, i.e the wealthy parents of Lady Bareacres (Elizabeth Berrington) who snobs as as they are turn their noses up at Amelia and George too.  Yet he doesn't see that they don't want anything to do with him.  George telling Amelia they are wealthy and their daughter will marry a Duke by blood.  However George is a tiresome cad as he refuses to defend his wife for every insult they throw at her.  Even asking Lady Bareacres to save dances for him on her dance card and ignoring Amelia when she asks him to save one for her.

George even buys a bouquet for Becky and smuggles a note in there.  As Jos Sedley (David Fyn) arrives having a fearful journey on the boat and isn't invited to the dance.  Becky introduces Rawdon as her husband.  As the General gives her an even bigger bouquet.  Rawdon tells Sedly to remove the moustache as it's only reserved for soldiers.  Amelia is out of place at the dance and George deserts her as usual, as he asks Becky to dance.  Becky having told Amelia she should put her foot down and tell George to stop gambling if that's the case.  As gone are the times where women had to be girls all the time.  Even telling Amelia to dance with George.  Becky dances with George and Dobbin turns up to 'comfort' Amelia. 

Napoleon is at the outskttrs of Brussels and the men must leave the next day as they get their marching orders.  Becky tells Rawdon to come home with medals so they can flaunt them in his aunt's face.  That's the only few words she has for him.  Before he leaves for the night, he tells her that marrying her was the one thing that ever made him happy and still does.  But she hasn't got any such words for him.  In fact she reads the note from George confessing his love for her and stores it in the letter box Amelia gave her like a fanciful trinket!  The nerve!  Amelia cries alone as George isn't there and Dobbin urges him to go and see her when he's sitting outside Becky's window getting drunk.  Becky doesn't even notice him!

Next day they leave and Becky's fast asleep when Amelia can barely stand.  Dobbin tasks Jos with looking after Amelia and Becky bursts in to see Jos and asks if he's going into battle too with his military coat.  She wants him to look after her too, with a nod towards the camera again.  As Amelia tells her to leave.  She was poor and she befriended Becky but she treats her with betrayal and flirting with George, regardless of whether anything happened or not, it was the intentions behind the flirting and forgetting Amelia that was the point.  As Becky ventures out, cannon fire is heard and she doesn't know what that is as the battle commences next episode.  With Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill playing at the end of this week's episode as the soldiers march into war...(Not sung by Kate though!)

Becky finds herself alone but that shouldn't last long.  But strange turn of events as George now covets Becky, more lust methinks, whereas he couldn't stand her before and how Amelia realizes what she is really like and sees her in her true light.  When Amelia also questions her over whether she really does love Rawdon and she can't answer that, not in the same way Amelia loves George, albeit foolishly, she is still devoted to him and her marriage.  Whereas we know, Becky is looking out for her next meal ticket and ways of getting money coming in, such as presents from the General and of course shamelessly accepting them.  Funny moment when Jane thinks Dobbin has come to propose to her and he realizes he's used the wrong choice of words.  I say everyone was after Dobbin in some way or another!  Ha. 

Paranormal Lockdown UK 1.3 "Royal Oak Pub, Swanage" Review

Royal Oak Pub was a series of cottages which were built in the seventeenth century and became a pub later on.  From the outset there was something a little off about this episode I have to say.  The fact that the current owner Rachel used to work here when little and before she became the 13th owner.  Her friend and psychic medium Terri, knew that Rachel would buy the pub one day and they hold paranormal investigations there.  However they also said that before Rachel became owner there was no reported activity there.  So they had circles and seances and bought in the entities and spirits, including something ark and negative.  However other reports indicate that there was a history of hauntings there.

One of the residents of the pub was the Stevens family and Jack Stevens bought in his sister-in-law Mary when his wife died.  Though it wasn't stated how she died here.  Lots of voices coming through on the Geoport mentioning "the baby" and "what happened to the baby..."  As well as some French too which Katrina believed could be the presence of a soldier.  She translated the words on an app which were said via Geoport to "roche" meaning rock.  I heard "ici" too meaning "here."  As well as other voices saying "he killed her."  Aggressive male voice almost tyring to prevent the timid female from coming through and speaking!
Other voices said: "let me out," I will never forget.."  Perhaps in reference to what happened to the baby.  The impression that she was forced to have a baby and then have it taken away from her, whoever she was.  Since "you lost your baby" came through.

Nick saw a dark mass earlier on and this wasn't captured on camera.  Now is the time to wear some GoPros or other portable cameras since we would like to see what's happening before the handheld is able to catch anything or is aimed in the general direction, cos come on guys, it is all about investigating!  Nick's name "Nick's here" also came through later on when they were in the upstairs bedroom known as the Vortex Room, as there appeared to be some sort of portal or gateway there.  Katrina saw a flickering light reflecting off the candle holder in the Vortex Room where she slept the first night and that's what I saw too when she said she was woken during the night, before she said it.  Nick slept in the second floor hallway and nothing was caught there.  Katrina slept there too the second night and still they got nothing!

Nick used the Paranormalagies box for the voices and the Pint sensor in the bar, a last minute light gadget made by Elizabeth Saint to light up when the pint glass was touched.  Which it was and the various bumps and noises were heard.  Knew that one was Elizabeth's - can tell these things!  Aside from the voices they caught, nothing else was actually captured on camera.  To me this one seemed like a bit of a waste of time, so much for the owner wanting to confirm what they were seeing.  But it didn't seem that interesting an investigation to me.  Perhaps one that could have been foregone in favour of somewhere else, or one where the owner genuinely needed help.

It appears the spirits were agitated and wanted to be left alone, especially when a female voice came through saying "let me rest."  It does appear that Rachel and Terri have stirred up activity there whereas the spirits just want to be left in peace and Nick saying they should let them decide what they want to do.  It appears they are happy for the activity to continue, no comment on that from me.  As for being labelled one of the most haunted pubs: I wouldn't quite agree!

Celebrity Ghost Hunt Haunted Holiday 1.2 "Loftus Hall"

Loftus Hall is a veritable haunted horse in Ireland and I love the legend behind it about the dark stranger who pays a call on the family, has his way with the young daughter and then she sees his cloven feet.  Thus the devil called that dismal night.  However not the part about the family murdering the baby she had and burying it in the walls!  This was also the investigation of a Ghost Adventures Hallowe'en Special in October 2014 where they also got some great evidence.

Plenty of activity here with Nadia and Sam both being burned and then Simon feeling the part about the man hanging himself even before Alex told them of this.  All suitably creepy.  As well as the cat's meow when Alex mentioned animals.  But that ticking from the meter actually sounded like a clock coming through.

Also in the card room you can see another orb shoot out from where the tail end of the arrow is to behind the man.

Sure there was a rapid movement of some orbs when they entered the room with the bed, the Tapestry room, that did not look like the movement of dust at all.

28.16 orb shoots into Simon's back, no wonder he was feeling so nauseous and having the most experiences with the activity.  Whether it was to do with his colours as he pointed out is anybody's guess, but did back this up with the activity he was getting and going through physically.

28.24 Another orb here but you have to see the actual footage since they zoom about very quickly.

Sam hearing the rattling of the handle when he was in the room alone upstairs tallies with Zak Bagans capturing a door closing there in the Ghost Adventures investigation, though it wasn't the same door.  And the experience of a girl who felt something brush across her face which frightened her and similar with Alex when she said she felt something brush across her hand.  They also caught an orb in the Tapestry room too.