31/10/2009 by admin.

Spider webs encassed in amber discovered in East Sussex by fossil hunters have been confirmed by scientists as being the oldest on record. They date back 140 million years to the Cretaceous period.  Professor Brazier said “the fossil is very rare and is right at the base of the Cretaceous layer.” His studies revealed that the web was created by a spider similar to the modern day orb or web spider.

So, we have a second example in just a few days of a major discovery relating to a web - as if to reaffirm our view that Mother Nature is warning us of the need to preserve the ‘web of life’ in the run up to Copenhagen.  The web of life features distinctly in our novel.

Posted in Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Q60 Have you ever experienced deja vu?, Q47 Do you know your history?, Q46 Do you value a good education? | No Comments »

26/10/2009 by admin.

This year’s 12 X-Factor finalists include the very talented Lucie Jones.  At the weekend during a live performance on the show of the song ‘My Funny Valentine’ a rose coloured petal landed on her head.  During the judges comments, Simon Cowell told her she had the petal in her hair so she could remove it. 

Its another example of world events linked to the name Lucy that relate to our story.  Its a remarkable coincidence given Charles Lamb begins his journal with an account of how he would lay down a path of flowers for his beloved Lucy! (page 225).  What’s more, later in the journal Charles reveals how he receives a Valentine’s message - presumably from Lucy. (page 382).  Here’s the performance with the petal in her hair (see 3.33) on the video…

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

Another curious link is Charles’ dream (page 444) about ‘Footprints in the sand’ and how Lucy walks barefeet along the sandbanks of the Nimley Bourne (page 408) to show that ‘humanity is out of step with nature - that we walk with heavy laboured steps.  Our curiosity is simple since ‘Footprints in the sand’ was Lucie Jones’ debut song on the X Factor.  Also, in week 2 of the show Lucie sang ‘How will I know’ which is about finding out if she is loved!  So the big question for us is do we love Mother Nature enough?

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q.8 Do you crave a better life?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion? | No Comments »

21/10/2009 by admin.

A new and rare species of ‘giant’ orb Nephila spider has been discovered in Madagascar - its the largest web spinning spider known to science.  The female of the species can spin webs up to 3ft 3in in diameter. 

The spider is located within two endangered biodiversity hotspots: Maputaland and Madagascar.

We see this as vindication of the Web of Life which features in our story and in Charles Lamb’s journal when Lucy Ebbs - Mother Nature personified - draws his attention to it to show that everything in nature is connected and if we continue as we are the eco-system will soon collapse.  Its another warning in the run-up to Copenhagen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhVB_wZ73WU&feature=related

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q54 Do you enjoy a bit of a mystery?, Q35 Do you trust your instincts?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted? | No Comments »

13/10/2009 by admin.

Boxing fans are licking their lips at the prospect of WBA Heavyweight Champion David Haye stepping into the ring on 7 November to take on the Russian giant Nikolai Valuev. The encounter is being dubbed David vs Goliath as the British boxer’s opponent is a towering 7ft 2in tall.

What’s this got to do with the environment and climate change? Well our readers will know all about the role played by Bill Richmond the uncrowned boxing champion who helps train Charles Lamb to develop a fighting spirit to help promote the cause.  The boxer also features in the Blakesware Set, contributing questions to the Survey.  So, its with much interest that we monitor the rise of David Haye and his next bout - David vs Goliath. We see this as symbolic of the struggle between the environmental campaigners and the opponents.  Come on the Haymakers!

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion? | No Comments »

11/10/2009 by admin.

Last night on the BBC’s AutumnWatch the presenters, Kate Humble, Chris Packham and Simon King discussed the millions of Painted Lady butterflies that invaded Britain in the Spring.  Painted Ladies are a regular summer visitor to Britain and conservationalists believe the number of Painted Lady butterflies this year was the largest seen here since the 1960s.   

Kate, Chris and Simon were curious as to what happened to them all - they seemed to have just disappeared - they’ve asked for viewers to give their views or offer clues and help solve the mystery.  Chris suggested the butterflies might be flying back to Africa at higher altitude, but he liked the fact that we don’t know for it shows we have lots to learn about Nature.

One solution might be that the butterflies arrived in such numbers to guide us to take note of another painted lady - Lucy Ebbs in the Haymakers painting by George Stubbs.  Our story reveals that she is Mother Nature personified. The butterflies mysterious departure maybe another hint that we risk letting everything precious in our natural world fade away! Malachi seems to alert us too - on page 35 he says, “the flame of a butterfly before it settles”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7W44Ljn5FA

Whatever, the arrival of the Painted Ladies are a spectacular phenomenon. Here’s a link of interest…

http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/

Posted in Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q22 Do you love our Earth?, Q54 Do you enjoy a bit of a mystery?, Q.3 Do you have a good imagination? | No Comments »

08/10/2009 by admin.

On page 409 of our novel Charles Lamb reveals in his journal how Lucy Ebbs - Mother Nature personified - gives him an insight into the magic of the Secret Inheritance at the heart of all creation. Charles reports, “Gaia I have seen the inheritance for myself. The phenomena of the magic circle astounded me. Should the chance arise I shall share the truth with you” Lucy’s response was, “Now you know how miraculous life is… on this living planet that circles the sun, accompanied by the moon and the stars.” Charles’ account was penned on 1 May 1823.

Curious then that in Moscow people have been left mystified by a huge circular halo hovering above them. Although scientists claim this was no more than a simple cloud formation. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT2jwkCirP0&feature=related

It may well be just a simple cloud formation., but if there’s another explanation. Why Russia? Well aside from the affinity with May Day, the country features in the message on page 289 of our novel when Charles Lamb tells Lucy of Turner’s painting ‘Snow Storm: Hannibal and His Army Crossing the Alps’. He says, “The might of nature is the real subject of the painting. The message is that Napoleon should have turned back whilst he still had the chance, but he drove on and used up all his resources. It was the cruel Russian winter that turned the tide.” It implies that the cloud halo is a sign sent in kindness that we need to change our ways.

But perhaps it goes deeper than that! How about this extract from page 301 when beside the fallen tree that exhibits the web of life Lucy Ebbs tells Charles Lamb, “Humanity is the only species capable of influencing its destiny… I need you to bear witness to my deeds.”  The text then reads, My lips parted. “Charles, sh!” She put a finger to her pursed mouth. Bemused, I watched her use the long straight stick she’d found to draw a clear circle around her, dragging it in the uneven wet soil. She invited me into the circle. I hesitated. “I circle our world* with this rod, against the sore stitch, against the sore bite, against the grim dread, against the great horror that is hateful to us all, and all evil that enters this land.” 

*Caleb Hitch later recorded in his footnotes that Lucy was reciting a charm from the Lacnunga spell book - Anglo-Saxon and from the 10th century.

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q39 Do you believe in magic?, Q22 Do you love our Earth?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted? | No Comments »