29/07/2009 by admin.

Venus, a planet synonomous with love, has caught the heart of star-gazers. A strange spot has emerged on the planet and astronomers are at a loss as to know what caused it. 

An amateur skywatcher spotted the new feature on the same day that another first witnessed the scar on Jupiter.  The bright spot appears in the southern hemisphere of the planet.  A leading scientist said, “It’s fair to say that something unusual happened on Venus. Unfortunately we don’t yet know what it is!” Early suggestions for the activity on our ’sister’ planet include a powerful volcanic eruption, charged sun particles or waves on the surface. 

All the same, the mysterious event is all the stranger since it took place almost simultaneously with the Jupiter hit and the longest solar eclipse this century, and Mars has also been featured on our Watch.   We politely remind you that each of these celestial bodies feature in our novel! Venus also suffers from a runaway greenhouse effect.  As explained in this interesting video, astronomy can help us see our place in the Universe….. hmmm….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqIkKxhjW4U&feature=fvsr

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q70 Do you like to look at the stars?, Q54 Do you enjoy a bit of a mystery?, Q41 Do you like surprises?, Q14 Do you believe your stars? | No Comments »

27/07/2009 by admin.

A ewe nicknamed Aretha - after the singer Aretha Franklin - has been entertaining people by taking up a lonesome residence on a cliff’s edge near Whitby in North Yorkshire - an area made famous in Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstien’. 

People are mystified as to how the independent sheep managed to find her way 220ft down the cliff face and she seems in no hurry to leave.  The sheep was first spotted by pleasure boat captain, Bryan Clarkson, who has been keeping watch on her ever since.  She’s been dubbed Aretha - as she sung the soul hit, ‘Rescue Me’.

So we have another odd antic involving a sheep - Mr Lamb would be most amused given his witty sense of humour.  Our interpretation is clear - has our wanton use of energy consuming machines without thought of the environmental consequences brought humanity to the edge?

Posted in Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q57 Have you ever spied on anyone?, Q54 Do you enjoy a bit of a mystery?, Q29 Could you live without machines?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you? | No Comments »

26/07/2009 by admin.

Yesterday, Julia and Ben had the pleasure of going to see the Bootleg Beatles at a charity concert at Hopley’s Gardens in Much Hadham. The performance was just a stone’s throw from the key landmarks in our story: Keeper’s Cottage, Blakesware Manor and St John’s Church Widford.  Given the role of The Beatles in our story, how curious that the world’s premier Beatles tribute band should perform in the county during the period of the Watch and at a time when they are celebrating their 30th anniversary!

The Whittenbury’s had a fabulous time and took a few pictures of the celebrated fab four tribute band.  

Perhaps their visit has somethng to do with our sequel? Time will out all!

Here’s the link to their website…

http://www.bootlegbeatles.com/

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q61 Have you ever worn fancy dress?, Q49 Do you ever think about the old days?, Q37 Do you know how to have fun? | No Comments »

24/07/2009 by admin.

A woman whose lottery ticket was found and cashed in by someone else will receive £15,000 - or half the money on offer. Amanda Stacey, 34, from Swindon, Wiltshire, reportedly found the prize ticket on the floor of her local Co-op. She and her husband spent half the money, but when Dorothy McDonagh reported the ticket as lost the Staceys were arrested and the rest of the money was frozen. The Staceys admitted fraud and false representation and were given suspended sentences. On Friday Michael Stacey was ordered to pay Dorothy McDonagh £15,111.24, the amount the couple hadn’t spent - including interest.

In a discussion forum covering the story the BBC begs the question - ’should finders be keepers and losers be weepers?’ Curious this since Ben makes the statement, ‘Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers’ at the discovery of Lucy’s Locket (page 35).  The contents of which are later revealed to Charles Lamb.  Presumably the message here is that we’re gambling with our future!

Posted in Q56 Do you believe rules are there to be broken?, Q11 Do you believe in justice?, Q.8 Do you crave a better life? | No Comments »

22/07/2009 by admin.

Some 2 billion people across Asia have experienced the longest total eclipse of the sun in the 21st century. 

(Source: Lutfar Rahman Nirjhar - www.nirjhar.com )

The eclipse lasted 6.6 minutes and took place at 3.00am Greenwich meantime.  The exceptional duration was because the moon was just 3 hours away from its closest point to Earth in its orbit.  The length of the eclipse will not be surpassed until 30 years into the next century.  The clipse was the second of three to take place in a one month peiod. It was an amazing awe inspiring spectacle falling as it does within our 3 year Watch and taking place so close to the 40th anniversary of the first Apollo Lunar landing.  The moon is subject to much mythology and superstition in cultures the world over.  A full moon features prominiently in our tale at several key moments; at points of discovery and understanding.

The eclipse has also given scientists an opportunity to learn more about the sun.  For example, solar scientist Lucie Green, from University College London was aboard an Amercian cruise ship heading for the Japanese island of Iwo Jima to examine the waves in the corona. Well done Lucie! 

Jupiter also receives a mention in the novel - so its rather odd that almost to the day an amateur astronomer reported the discovery of a mysterious scar the size of the Earth near the pole of the gas giant. It has caught NASA scientists by surprise with an early conclusion that the planet was hit by a comet or asteroid. Such an event last took place 15 years ago when Shoemaker 59 crashed into the orb.  News of the impact has stunned the astronmy world. Jupiter also has its share of mythology with the Roman God Jupiter being in charge of cosmic justice. In Rome, in the courts of law people used to swear ‘By Jove’ to witness the oath. 

Posted in Q70 Do you like to look at the stars?, Q79 Have you ever looked into the shadows?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q54 Do you enjoy a bit of a mystery?, Q46 Do you value a good education?, Q14 Do you believe your stars?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q41 Do you like surprises?, Q11 Do you believe in justice? | No Comments »

20/07/2009 by admin.

Another anniversary! Forty years ago today Apollo 11 made history.  

On this day Neil Armstrong spoke the immortal words, ‘One small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind’ as he became the first human to leave a footprint on another celestial body (as far as we know).  The mission fulfilled the vision of President John F. Kennedy made in 1961 to send a man to the moon and return him safely to the Earth before the decade was out.  The ghostly black and white images - viewed at the time by some 600m people - are now ingrained in human conscious, although some conspiracy theorists doubt whether the whole affair was a monumental elaborate hoax!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMINSD7MmT4

In our novel we refer to the remarkable vison, focus and determination demonstrated at that time as an example of what human endeavour can achieve, so the anniversary is a timely reminder in the run up to Copenhagen - when world leaders will come together to agree action on managing carbon emissions.   

Posted in Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Q79 Have you ever looked into the shadows?, Q70 Do you like to look at the stars?, Q47 Do you know your history?, Q29 Could you live without machines?, Q34 Have you ever restored something?, Q10 Have you ever seen a ghost? | No Comments »

17/07/2009 by admin.

Following Ben’s sighting of the runaway horseman and the ghostly lady in grey, our novel includes discussion on the exploits of highwaymen in Hertfordshire folklore, including the notorious Sixteen-String Jack - a character mentioned by Charles Lamb in his journal. 

Curious then that a photo E-fit of the infamous highwayman Dick Turpin has been released by North Yorkshire Police some 270 years since he was sent to the gallows for murder, robbery and cattle rustling. 

York Castle are displaying a wanted poster based on the E-fit drawn from descriptions from the 18th century.  Dick Turpin is legendary for riding 200 miles from London to York on his beloved Black Bess! Maybe he was the ghost rider Ben saw - all will be revealed!

Here’s the opening music to the TV series Dick Turpin. It reminds Ben of his ghostly encounter. You can read about his experience in our novel extract.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GrOcTAKboE&feature=related

Posted in Q80 Have you ever searched for buried treasure?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q46 Do you value a good education?, Q10 Have you ever seen a ghost? | No Comments »

14/07/2009 by admin.

In our novel the term Hedgehog is used fondly to describe Hertfordshire rural folk due to their slow and sometimes prickly manner.  It led to the rather odd question about hedgehogs in the survey, but at the time we didn’t imagine it would feature much in our Watch. 

Well, to our surprise we’ve had a number of stories relating to hedgehogs - the latest being about a little fellow named Spud! Back in March, the likeable creature was found barely alive and suffering from a skin condition that caused all his spines to fall out. 

However, under the care and support of Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital the animal’s spines have begun to reappear.  the little chappie’s bristling with good health once more. 

So we have it - a message perhaps that humanity’s response to the ecological crisis has thus far been spineless? You decide!

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q43 Do you believe in happy endings?, Q34 Have you ever restored something?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q19 Do you love hedgehogs? | No Comments »

11/07/2009 by admin.

Warning Plot spoiler

In our novel, Charles Lamb’s journal records how the Captain is lost at sea feared drowned yet Lady Plumer later reveals a sighting of him that leaves her suspecting he survived.

We were therefore thrilled to read about the adventures of a budgie named Captain who was miraculously found adrift at sea off the coast of Devon.  He was discovered by chance barelky alive by a diving team.  The bird was reunited with his owner, Mr Peel, after he saw its picture in his local paper. It seems the bird escaped from his enclosure and managed to evade predators before flying out to sea only to tire and fall exhausted into the water.  the bird was ringed which allowed him to be reunited with Mr Peel.  Curiously the Captain seemed all the better for his adventure.  Mr Peel said,”I’ve never seen a bird look so healthy - it has done him the world of good”.

Posted in Q65 Have you ever wished you could fly?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q52 Do you believe in miracles?, Q43 Do you believe in happy endings?, Q41 Do you like surprises?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you? | No Comments »

10/07/2009 by admin.

At the heart of our novel and Charles Lamb’s journal is the role of the mysterious medieval carvings at Royston Cave.  On several occasions it’s described as a Wonderwall! Its purpose - to serve as a warning to humanity about the need to curb our runaway consumption of the world’s resources.

How curious then that during the performance by Oasis of Wonderwall at Wembley stadium the sound cut-out due to power problems! Odd too that we should have such a reminder of the Wonderwall so soon after the final video performance by the late Michael Jackson which ended with the hand signs engraved on the wall, perhaps as a reminder to stop!

Given that we remain largely unknown - has the time come for our voices to be heard?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hzrDeceEKc

Posted in Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q35 Do you trust your instincts? | No Comments »