My name is Alan Morris, though most people don’t actually call me Alan. Over the years, I’ve picked up a few nicknames, and I can usually tell where someone's from by which one they use. If you knew me in England, you’d almost certainly call me Gooner. If you met me after I moved to Spain, you’d probably know me as Sharky.
Location: Michigan, USA
Summary: Mary Lathrap (née Torrans; pen name, Lena; known as "The Daniel Webster of Prohibition"; April 25, 1838 - January 3, 1895) was a 19th-century American author, preacher, suffragist, and temperance reformer.
Location: My bed, Los Alcázares, Murcia, Spain.
Summary: I’ve realised I always wake up about ten minutes before my alarm, no matter what time I set it for. It turns out my internal clock has a mind of its own, and it’s surprisingly accurate.
Location: Worldwide
Summary: How different could the world be if the people who start wars were the ones who had to fight them. Explore what most people truly want from life and compare the cost of feeding and housing the world with the money spent on weapons every year.
Location: Worldwide
Summary: Postcrossing is a simple idea that turns the world into a postcard exchange. You send a postcard to someone, somewhere, and a different postcard finds its way back to you. It’s a small, charming way to connect with people you’ll never meet, one stamp and one story at a time.
Location: Mostly Europe
Summary: EuroBillTracker is a volunteer-run project that follows the journeys of euro banknotes across Europe. By entering the serial numbers of the notes in your wallet, you can see where they’ve been, how far they’ve travelled, and the surprising places they end up. A simple idea, but an addictive one.
Location: Los Alcázares, Murcia, Spain.
Summary: Los Alcázares has been my home for more than a decade, and over the years I’ve come to appreciate its history, its calm beaches along the Mar Menor, and the steady rhythm of life that runs through its cafés, bars, and cultural events. What began as a small coastal town has grown into a place full of character, shaped by its past and the people who live here all year round.
Location: Los Alcázares, Murcia, Spain.
Summary: Every now and then something random on Farcebook actually turns into a good idea. That’s how I ended up signing up for a Boxing Day swim in Los Alcázares, a chilly little adventure that gave me something to look forward to over Christmas and turned out far better than expected.
Location: Torre de la Horadada, Alicante, Spain
Summary: My first night out with the SPICES group after a month in hospital and at home. A great meal, good company and a much needed evening out.
Location: Quiron Salud Hospital, Murcia, Spain
Summary: A sudden return of severe leg pain in 2018 led to a frightening hospital stay, where multiple blood clots were finally discovered after an initial misdiagnosis. Twelve days of treatment, scans and injections followed, marking the start of a long recovery and some major life changes.
Location: DisneyWorld, Orlando, Florida, USA
Summary: A day of fun and nostalgia exploring Disney’s parks with my friend Karys.
Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, England
Summary: A trip to visit Dave and Sue, see the Who Do You Think You Are Show at the NEC, enjoy a few walks, pubs and football, and then endure a long and awkward journey home.
Location: Barcelona University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
Summary: During a 2014 trip to Spain, I became critically ill in hospital and learned that my mum had passed away. Her spirit appeared to me, urging me to undergo surgery that ultimately saved my life.
Location: Hampshire, & Sussex, England
Summary: A Christmas spent with family, full of surprises, great food, party games, travel adventures and a triumphant Arsenal win to finish the holiday.
Location: Key West, Florida, USA
Summary: A funny memory from a trip to Florida with my mum, when a forgotten promise from years earlier came back to haunt me in a lively bar on Duval Street.
Location: Fareham, Hampshire, England
Summary: A deeply personal memory from the day my dad passed away, when his spirit appeared before me with a final message of guidance and responsibility.
Location: Church Street Station, Orlando, Florida, USA
Summary: A casual Friday night at Hooters turned into an unexpected meeting with one of America’s most famous crime writers, Mickey Spillane, the creator of Mike Hammer. What began as a friendly chat over beers became a memorable encounter with a literary legend.
Location: Fareham, Hampshire, England
Summary: A personal story about meeting World Darts Champion Les Wallace twice, including the night I unexpectedly beat him at pool in front of a packed club.
Location: TransAtlantic at 36,000 feet - Orlando, Florida
Summary: A flight to a new life in America takes an unexpected turn with a moment of panic and a mysterious connection.
Location: Negril, Jamaica
Summary: During a holiday in Jamaica in 1991, I rescued a man who was drowning after suffering an epileptic fit in the hotel swimming pool. This is the story of how it happened, how I reacted, and how it changed the people involved.
Location: Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, Hampshire, England
Summary: During a long hospital recovery in 1990, I witnessed something unforgettable, the moment an elderly patient passed away and what I believed was his spirit rising from his body, a memory that has stayed with me ever since.
Location: Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, Portsmouth, England
Summary: The third time I was pronounced dead, I left my body, watched the medical team work on me, and experienced something beyond anything I can explain.
Location: Fareham, Hampshire, England
Summary: A light‑hearted story from my early days at British Gas, when a simple meter replacement turned into a mix‑up involving two identical cottages, a very confused neighbour, and an elderly lady hiding upstairs while I unknowingly worked in the wrong apartment.
Location: Portsmouth – Southsea – M27, England
Summary: A late-night drive, a borrowed car, and an exhaust with other ideas.
Location: Hilsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Summary:A brief and unexpected meeting with Barbara Windsor outside a bank in Hilsea during my teenage years, a moment tied to my dad’s quiet professionalism, my early days as a British Gas apprentice, and the nickname my mum later earned because of her likeness to Peggy Mitchell.
Location: Walthamstow, London, England
Summary: Two early family ghost stories told by my parents, involving my grandmother Doris Morris, who passed away just sixteen days before I was born.
