Tom’s cottage is snug, though the air is thick from the turf  he uses to keep the old range going. I sat at the table and watched as he took plates of cold meats and cheeses out of the fridge.

He had prepared these ahead of time, and I was glad I hadn’t refused his offer of lunch. I was touched and honoured to find he had bought packets of gluten free biscuits for me, and he offered me juice instead of tea. Once he had finished setting the table, he sat opposite and started to talk, as he ...

Tonight I’m going to tell you the story of a haunted house. This house exists. It was built over three hundred years ago and it’s still occupied by one of the original owner’s descendants. She’s an old woman now and worried that once she’s gone that the house will fall to ruin.

The house is in the countryside, in a bleak and desolate spot. Now that the men are gone, the grounds are overgrown and other than the small path that lead to the main door, the garden on either side is a gree...