11/01/2009 by admin.

Readers of the Watch will know all about the role of squirrels in our story and in helping to spread our message.  Well they’ve been up to their tricks again.  One has gnawed through cables at the former home of MP Lord Patrick Mayhew sparking a blaze at the cottage in Goudhurst near Cranbrook, Kent.  Interestingly, Lord Mayhew was once Attorney General for England and Wales . The role of the Attorney General is to advise and represent the Crown and govenment departments in court.  The Attorney General also represents the the Crown in many proceedings representing the public interest.  

So, did the squirrel act secretly on behalf of Mother Nature to send a clear signal to humanity that it would be in the public interest to take better care of the environment and the natural world? Perhaps it can be explained away as an anagram of LORD PATRICK MAYHEW is TIP  WORLD C HAYMAKER! Do you believe in justice? Secret Squirrel does.  Who can’t help but love him…

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-S_F9U9gNEQ

Posted in Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q61 Have you ever worn fancy dress?, Q54 Do you enjoy a bit of a mystery?, Q50 Do you miss someone you love?, Q11 Do you believe in justice?, Q41 Do you like surprises?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion? | No Comments »

09/01/2009 by admin.

On New Year’s Day, Marc Greenhalgh was out walking in Alkrington Woods, Middleton, when his dog, Jarvis, ran onto the ice to chase ducks.  When the ice broke the dog struggled to get out so Marc plunged into the lake to rescue him.  The scene pictured below could well have been taken direct from Charles Lamb’s journal - when he had to rescue Malachi after he slipped through a frozen lake (page 378 of the story).

Although he was criticised by the authorities for putting his own life in peril, a passer-by who took the photo praised him for his bravery, “A lot of people would say he was idiotic to risk his life for an animal, but I thought he was really brave. If my dog was in danger I’d like him to be there.”

SIRIUS STAR

On November 15 2008, the oil tanker, Sirius Star, was hijacked by Somali pirates, becoming the largest ship ever captured.   The tanker has a capacity of 2 million barrels of crude oil and an overall length of 333 metres.  The cargo is worth some $100m.  The two month stand off ended today as the ship was released after a ransom of $3m was parrachuted on board.  However, the twist in the tale was that five of the pirates drowned with their share of the ransom after their small boat capsized.

Aside from the natural justice against the pirates, the hijack is interesting as Charles Lamb’s journal recalls how he and Mary Shelley speculated on the presence of Sirius the brightest star in the sky.  Here’s the extract from 30 December 1822:

“Together she and I stood after dusk on the terrace overlooking the wilderness garden. On a misty night, only one star broke through to shine in the sky overhead. Confidently dismissing the myth that the star can cause madness, we secretly dedicated the bluish white light of Sirius in the constellation Canis Major to the late Percy Shelley. His light shall not fade!”

Sirius is also know as the Dog Star, which is fascinating given the role of the dog Malachi as our Messenger. 

So, is the whole hijack experience designed to remind us to switch from our dependence on crude oil?

Posted in Q43 Do you believe in happy endings?, Q53 Do you prefer to keep warm?, Q70 Do you like to look at the stars?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q26 Do you take poetry seriously?, Q23 Do you believe all the laws of physics?, Q.2 Are you an art lover?, Q15 Do you sometimes fear the worst?, Q18 Do you let your heart rule your head?, Q.1 Does your life have a purpose? | No Comments »

08/01/2009 by admin.

UFO hits wind turbine? So claims a media frenzy which has occured over a wrecked turbine on a wind farm in Lincolnshire.  The suggestion is the turbine was struck by a UFO after local residents claimed to have seen a glowing light at the scene, which resembled an octopus with tentacles.  One 65ft blade had broken off completely and another was crippled.  Experts described the damage as a unique incident.

The question we want to ask is why would a UFO crash into or damage a wind turbine? Perhaps it was a deliberate act?!? Why? Was it a reminder from a source unknown that we need to focus now on ’Green Energy’  solutions?  We believe it so - think of it as a ‘Wind of Change’. Ben Whittingbury alluded to this after he’d tossed his watch away in frustration at the lack of action by humans to preserve the natural world. He felt a wind of change on his face, after Malachi our Messenger warned ‘Tardiness can lead to all sorts of mayhem.” Read our online extract for proof.

Yet from a Watch perspective the most curious thing is that the key witness was Lesley Whittingham - so we have two very strange incidents occuring in quick succession (the Whitten Bridge event), each with names closely linked to the title of the Whittingbury Watch - what can it mean? The wind of change is blowing… Listen out for the comment at the end of the video.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=taVW8Kv2HcQ

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q54 Do you enjoy a bit of a mystery?, Q51 Have you ever taken part in a protest?, Q22 Do you love our Earth?, Q.1 Does your life have a purpose? | No Comments »

07/01/2009 by admin.

During our watch we’ve seen examples in Nature of delightful markings on animals each linked in some way to our tale, such as heart shapes.  Now we find a Smiley Cephalopod - a squid with wonderful markings etched on his skin pigmentation. The specimen below was collected by the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium where director Mike Schaat managed to capture it on film.

Readers of our novel will know of the role of a smiley face in helping to spread our message and Ben’s wish to restore a pig farm to former glory - interesting!

RUNAWAY HORSE AT THE MOVIES

An escaped farm horse shocked film-goers when it ran through the automatic doors of Cineworld in Boldon, Sunderland, England. A witness said the horse, one of three to escape from a local farm, was scared by a little girl blowing a raspberry outside of the complex. The animal ran straight for the cinema entrance and took a brief tour of the foyer and a corridor, startling and surprising those inside.  Fortunately, the horse quickly fled and was soon recaptured. Nobody was hurt.  Tim Hamlyn a spokesperson for Cineworld said, “It’s certainly the first time I’ve heard of this happening and I’ve worked in cinemas for six years.”  Perhaps it wanted to see the mati-neigh!

Interesting from our perspective given the role of the runaway horse at sunset on the autumn equinox close to the start of our tale (see Novel extract).  After all, the bizarre incident occurred in Sunderland. Perhaps Mother Nature wants the movie makers to sit up and take notice of our little adventure?

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Q68 Does the Earth have a spirit?, Q59 Do you like surprises?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q17 Can you speak another language? | No Comments »

06/01/2009 by admin.

The childrens’ clothing chain Adams has become the latest victim of the Credit Crunch with 111 stores going into administration.  A further 160 stores remain open whilst efforts continue to find a buyer for the business.

So far we’ve not passed any comments about the state of the economy as the UK heads into recession. However, we’re interested in the plight of Adam given the child’s perilious plight as recorded by Charles Lamb. It’s also curious that 111 of its stores should face closure as Malachi mentioned the number associated with Nelson as part of his messages to our society about the need for reform.  So, do we have a covert link that indicated the tenuous position we are now entering? We believe so especially as the stores demise follows that of the long established Woolworths or Woolies (remember were wool comes from) and Whittards the coffee store (Whittards and Whittenbury sound so familar).  Still, could e something or nothing - you decide.

Posted in Q38 Have you built a house of cards?, Q34 Have you ever restored something?, Q28 Have you ever lived in poverty?, Q15 Do you sometimes fear the worst? | No Comments »

04/01/2009 by admin.

A base jumper is lucky to be alive after his parachute failed while leaping from Melbourne’s EJ WHITTEN BRIDGE. 

Miraculously, the daredevil fell 100ft and survived only picking up injuries to his feet and ankles.   The paramedic at the scene said the man was ‘lucky to be alive’.  All very curious as this miracle occured at a place almost custom made to report a miracle under the Whittenbury Watch!  Are you a believer yet?

As for the bridge itself, its named after the Australian Football legend Ted Whitten. An extraordinary talent with superb all round skills, capable of kicking supremely well with both legs.  He was regarded as the greatest natural talent of his era in the 1950’s and 1960’s and bestowed with the title of Mr Football.

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q54 Do you enjoy a bit of a mystery?, Q52 Do you believe in miracles?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion? | No Comments »

01/01/2009 by admin.

We wanted to mark our first post of 2009 with an iconic statement - a reminder of our purpose.  Our readers will be aware of the symbolism of the sinking of the Titanic neary 100 years ago, when it infamously struck an iceberg and sunk following complacency and arrogance that the ship would never sink.

Well, the two co-stars of the marvellous Titanic movie, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, have reunited after 10 years to make the movie ‘Revolutionary Road’.  How apt!

Here’s the famous clip of the ship striking the iceberg - a poignant warning to all those complacent about the likelihood of impending human induced climate change on our world.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=nMMD-XeCFiM&feature=related

And here’s the link to Leo’s site devoted to his movie, ‘The 11th Hour’.

http://11thhouraction.com/seethefilm

Posted in Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q.5 Do you believe in fate?, Q.4 Have you ever wanted to stop the clock?, Q.1 Does your life have a purpose? | No Comments »