So, I was just browsing through the blogs of local people over at BritBlog and came upon an entry that touched me greatly. This poor blogger has an irrational fear of windmills – and not just any windmills, but specifically ones with sails. Now most people will probably snicker at such a revelation, but not me. You see, I have an irrational fear of something that one is likely to stumble upon while driving through the countryside as well. The name of this horror? Electricity pylons.

Now these things absolutely terrify me. I figure it’s something to do with my intense fear of heights and slight agoraphobia, cause where do you see these awful metal monstrosities? Yup, in the open and stretching miles into the sky. OK, miles is an exaggeration, but it may as well be true. It could also have something to do with those make-you-crap-yourself adverts I saw as a child, warning you not to touch electricity or you’ll die. Anyway, I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve turned a corner to find one looming down at me. Twilight is the worst time, because they take on this menacing silhouette against the darkening sky. I even shiver as I pass under the lines, if it’s quiet I can hear the faint buzzing of the power going through. *shudder*

To top it all off, I even have the occasional nightmare about them. Sometimes they come marching across the countryside at me, other times they fall down into my path and crush me. I think they’re possessed. You’re all looking in entirely the wrong place for the Anti-Christ – it’s name is National Grid.

Now this will surprise you though – for all my fear and loathing of pylons, I used to enjoy visiting a very unusual website dedicated to them called Pylon of the Month which is sadly now offline. Perhaps it’s because of the sheer silliness, or because I like to punish myself in some way, who knows? But strangely, I do have a weird kind of fascination and even admiration for them. Now I’d love to know what a psychiatrist makes of that!