Weirdness and Worry
A Trip into the Unknown
After the financing fiasco, it was necessary to go to Bristol for an extended period to put a business plan together. We had to interest potential investors.
Leaving my house with a few clothes,
I arrived in Bristol in early December. All appeared to be set, although I was a little disgruntled to find I was supposed to sleep on the floor amidst some packing cases
in the spare room. Oh well, what did it matter, as long as we achieved what we'd set out to do. Perturbed by Mary's apparent domination of Steve, I began to investigate her. I pretended
to be fascinated by her and what she purported to be. Don't get me wrong, I don't dismiss the metaphysical side of life, but I am deeply suspicious of those
who claim such powers.
Psychic Attacks and Defences
Every time we made a decision, out would come the Tarot cards for a reading. Every morning, Mary would claim some "visions"
from the night before, enabling her to advise us on what to do next. As we put the business plan together, she seemed quite happy
to see Steve and I working so well together. She is a large woman who claims to have bad knees,
which keep her in bed watching television most of the day. Whenever Steve and I discussed something of import, out she would hobble,
claiming vital input from the "spirits" which guided her. It didn't matter what time of day it was, they apparently appeared to her.
She decided I was a healer, able to place my hands on others to help them get better. Suggesting I had a lot of power, she taught me how to lay hands
and what to look for. It was true that my hands would get unusually warm. This was definitely weird and excited me that I could, perhaps, help others in this way.
Business Business
An office was located and costs assessed to put the business together. If I was to stay there,
it was clear we would have to move. There were two options. The first, a crumbling a six bedroom house, costing about $1300
a month. The second was a mansion. Mary decided the mansion was the best option, even though it was double the rent.
The costs were incorporated into a cash flow model as the final piece of the Business plan.
Banks and Business Plans
Steve and I presented our case to a bank. It went well so we thought. We answered all the manager's questions, seeming to satisfy him. The meeting ended with
him promising to write a response within a few days. Mary was certain he would agree to support us and urged me to get the lease on the Mansion signed. I had enough money
to do this, but refused, at least until we knew the bank's answer. She didn't like that. She urged me to cast logic to the wind, claiming "spirits" had told her it was all going to come through.
Being a Taurean, I can be quite stubborn, so held firm in the face of her rantings. She seemed calmer the next day, willing to wait for the news.
Here Is The News
The letter from the bank rejected our application, saying we were under funded. I knew this was symptomatic of Banks at the time,
because of the embarrassment Banks had been subjected to, through incautious lending in the eighties. Mary was beside herself, but saved face,
by telling us that "spirits" had told her that very morning, it wasn't going to happen.
I found it funny that they seemed to have twenty twenty hindsight, but said nothing.
Much to my surprise, Mary went on to say that we should still rent the mansion. I said nothing to her,
but confided in Steve and Karen the next morning that I wasn't about to release the money to do that. Instead,
I would go to Los Angeles and work until I earned enough money to get us going. I knew I could earn well as a plumber,
even though I wasn't allowed to by US law. Later that day we sat down to discuss it with Mary. She flew at me, calling me every name she could think of
in an effort to intimidate me into changing my mind. I didn't budge of course. Mary, surprisingly agile suddenly, swept off into her room, screaming vitriol at me.
That evening, Steve and I were sitting together when Karen came in. She told us to prepare for "Maud", Mary's alter-ego, a man-hater.
MAUD
When she came in, Mary, who'd put on her best frock, swept her greasy hair back and put on make-up for a change, sat in a chair and tried to look imperious.
It was a comical sight, but I stifled the slow smile.
Suddenly, she rounded on me, "YOU !" she boomed " are an arrogant man and have made many mistakes. You know nothing about business and have no regard for women."
Well, I took the bait. She and I argued back and forth until she finally cracked, screaming and shouting back to her room. This time she was saying she was going to leave and
find somewhere to die. That was enough for me. Telling Steve and Karen I was off, I packed my bag and left for Twickenham, to prepare for another trip to Los Angeles. It was Christmas Eve 1993.