§536

‘I had just moved into a ground floor flat in *** and was going through the process of doing some decoration. I had moved in about six weeks before and on the Saturday [I] was planning to pull up the old bedroom carpet and underlay and then lay some laminate flooring down the next day. All that proceeded as planned. Part of the carpet was damp. The flat did have damp issues and also I learned later that a [stream] runs underground below the house. That night I did go out, [had] two pints of old speckled hen so certainly not drunk but need to mention this in the spirit of full disclosure. I got home about ten pm, read for a bit and went to bed. I was woken up several hours later (I think about two am) by someone tapping me on the shoulder. I was awake, and there was a gnome, grey beard and pointy red hat tapping me. He was about three-foot tall, and the hat was another nine to ten inches, chattering to me in what was clearly a language but I couldn’t make it out. He looked cross and was there for a good minute or two before fading. The experience never repeated and all I can think is somehow clearing the carpet upset his home. Nowadays I would have made amends to him, but [I] didn’t know to do that at the time. It certainly wasn’t a dream and where it came from is still a mystery to me.’ ‘Literally a classic description of a gnome with red hat and beard.’ What are fairies? ‘Phenomena to explore.’