The whole house had been scanned, stuff to throw put in bin bags, cupboards emptied. One of my house mates and a very dear friend Oby left the nest.

After he left on Saturday, I started to clean the mess on Sunday, being alone at home and feeling bored. I threw all the bin bags out (except one filled with papers and books, which was too heavy to push, let alone lift), mopped, cleaned, mopped, cleaned. Then I cooked and started doing the dishes. All the while, I had the TV in a high volume listening to songs. I was so tired that my hands were shivering. I still continued to work away just to finish it off.

Suddenly the TV went silent. I heard a sound coming from the living room, as if someone tip-toed on the wooden floor towards the kitchen where I was doing the dishes. I was not expecting anybody - if it was one of the guys, I would have heard the main door shut.

"Did someone jump in through the window or am I just imagining...", I thought. The sound of the floor was clearer now. Out of a mad instinct I grabbed a butcher knife and headed out of the kitchen, my heart beating in my mouth. My eyes quickly scanned the living room - nobody. The TV showed a blank blue screen. I heard again and felt the tip-toe effect on the floor, this time as if coming towards me, but I could see no one.

"Is this house freaking haunted???", I thought and my throat went dry and a sweat broke on my forehead. I looked down at the floor.

It was that stupid heavy bag I had not thrown away earlier, sliding and shifting it's weight slowly to make the tip-toe effect. The TV went blank because of satellite problems. Talk about timing!

Feeling both relieved and silly about myself, I told AB about this incident. I thought he'd tease me, but he said the guys too had been fooled by similar noises many times in the house. On the contrary I was praised for my presence of mind to have carried the knife to face the 'intruder'.

Don't ask me how I'd have used it though, I have no clue myself! Oh, and I didn't stab the bag out of frustration :-)