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Archive for the Q10 Have you ever seen a ghost? Category

War Horse and the Iron Lady

As the New year begins to unfold its of interest to us that two movies have been grabbing the headlines - War Horse and the Iron Lady.

warhorse.jpg   theironlady.jpg

We’re amused since our environmental project is all about finding the right balance between industrial growth (otherwise known as Gross Domestic Product) and defending Mother Nature. This is symbolised in the opening scene of our novel when an unknown figure is galloping on a horse to save Mother Nature from unbridled exploitation and destruction by humanity with a ghostly Lady in Grey (who represents industry - an Iron Lady) mournful at setting humanity on a precarious path. Its a struggle that continues today and everyday, perhaps these movies are a timely reminder of the need for humanity to progress ethically and morally? Here’s the trailers…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7lf9HgFAwQ 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDiCFY2zsfc

Hex Factor

This year’s X Factor talent contest apears cursed. 

 hex-factor1.jpg

The calamaties have come thick and fast:

  • Claims by contestants that the X-Factor mansion is haunted.
  • Goldie, one of the final 16 contestants, pulled out prior to the first show and had to be replaced by Sami Brooks
  • In a sing-off, Sami’s mentor Louis Walsh decided to keep Kitty and Sami should leave the show. Sami then suggested Louis should be pensioned off!
  • Complaints from viewers about the unreasonable number of adverts between performances
  • Ratings have crashed - 2 million less than in 2010 
  • Accusations and rumours of bulling amongst some contestants
  • The girls’ band Rythmics had to change their name because it clashed with a children’s charity - they’re now called Little Mix
  • Due to his faith Ashley Baptiste, member of The Risk, decided being in a boy band wasn’t for him and choose to leave the show. He’s been replaced by Ashford Campbell one of the members of NuVibe, with some arguing about the legality of this as NuVibe were voted off a couple of weeks ago.  
  • The ‘Hex’ has even spread to the judging panel - with arguments breaking out with Kelly Rowland missing this weekend’s show due a ‘throat infection.’

Perhaps the Hex Factor is because humanity is falling to demonstrate to the Earth’s creator that we have what it takes to be its guardian. Our novel anticipated this - see the free opening sequel. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YPdeFknh34

X-Factor Hertford Heath

 x-factor.jpg

X-Factor has come to Hertfordshire with the 16 finalists for the 2011 singing contest being housed in a luxury £6m mansion at Hertford Heath, Hobby Horse Wood, East Hertfordshire.  The contestents will stay in the mansion rented by ITV for the duration of the contest.

x-factor-mansion-hertford-heath.jpg

The hugely popular show attracts millions of viewers each weekend. We wish the contestents every success and look forward to watching the shows, especially as our novel based in East Hertfordshire asks the telling question of whether humanity has the X-Factor? Do we have what it takes to care for this planet or should we be voted off? The difference is that for us and the animals we share Earth with they’ll be no phone vote, texting or judges decisions. Mother Nature will make the decision on whether we stay or go. How exciting.

And, in a telling twist the contestents claim the mansion is haunted, even though its brand new. Strange occurances have been keeping them awake at night. Spooky.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5CGy3obdoU

Winter Solstice 2010 -The Moon, the Quake and a Peanut

On page 316 of our story dated 21 December 1822 Charles Lamb describes the winter solstice as “an unnerving and foreboding date” whilst introducing the arrival of many of his distinguished guests to Blakesware Hall, including William Wordsworth and Samuel Coleridge. He mentions how Blakesware’s foundations shake with glee at their arrival. Adding, “Bring the Doubting Thomases to the door - those who said it would never happen”.  They talk about releasing a deep magic on the world.

Curious then that on yesterday’s winter solstice at about eleven in the evening an earthquake measuring 3.6 hit Cumbria, The epi-centre was the Lake District home for many years to William Wordsworth and Samuel Coleridge.  Nobody was injured but it was an alarming experience for many with Christmas trees shaking in their tubs.

 cumbria-solstice-quake-map.jpg

There’s more! Page 186 of our story recounts Ben Whittenbury’s errie walk home in the snow on a 21st century winter solstice. Its a starlit night with a full moon. He carried an empty peanuts bag wrapper and was singing “Blue Moon”.  He checks his watch - it reads almost midnight (before GMT time adjusted it would be about eleven).  A disturbing supernatural encounter with Charles Lamb and Queen Caroline - they bring a clear WARNING left on a Peanut wrapper for humanity that time is nearly past to save Lucy Ebbs, Mother Nature personified. We are on a path of self-destruction.

So, with some trepidation we report the first total lunar eclipse to occur on the winter solstice in nearly 400 years. Not a blue moon but a one in coppery shadow, beautifully caught on camera.

winter-solstice-lunar-eclipse.jpg

Now the sting in the tale, which we report relunctantly - Bill Darvill pointed out that a ghastly inhuman individual who we refuse to name once described himself as ‘Peanut’ to an acquaintance. The person was rightly sentenced to life imprisonment for his henious crimes yesterday.  

Combined do these events amount to a WARNING?

The Eagle has landed!

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

apollo-11.png 

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.   

Dick Turpin Rides Again

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. 

 dick-turpin-e-fit.jpg

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

The Ghost of Michael Jackson at Neverland?

We’ve previously commented on the sad death of Michael Jackson, the ‘King of Pop’ and how the star linked with our story.  Well given the reference Sara made to Neverland and the ghost seen by Ben and recorded in Charles Lamb’s journal, we were curious about the mounting speculation about a ghostly shadowed figure seen during a CNN tour of the popstar’s former residence. 

 neverland.jpg

There may well be a logical explanation but it makes for fascinating viewing….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Am67-Sew7k&feature=related

Ghost forest at Trafalgar Square

A ghost forest of huge tree trunks from Africa will appear around Nelson’s column in Trafalgar Square this November.  The dramatic artwork will highlight the threat of deforestation. The iconic world reknowned column will be surrounded by stumps of trees that once stood at similar height. The project is the brainchild of artist Angela Palmer who travelled to Ghana to locate naturally fallen trees to use in the display.  The artwork will then move to Copenhagen ahead of the crucial UN Conference on climate change in December.  The fate of the rainforests will be high on the agenda.

ghost-forest-intrafalgar-square.jpg

Our novel records how Ben and Sarah took part in a protest in Trafalgar Square about climate change. Dressed as a polar bear Ben Whittenbury poses beneath Nelson’s column as his daughter takes photos.  Whilst Charles Lamb’s journal records the significance of ‘Nelson and the Bear ‘ a painting by Richard Westall and gives an insight of the trip the Admiral made to the Arctic when just a boy; a venture captured in the painting.

Another ‘Year without a Summer’ <> Are the coins genuine? <> Bird species decline

Summer? What summer? The season officially ended yesterday - in an ironic blaze of sunshine.  But the warm weather could not save this year’s summer from a place in the worst top ten on record. There was 14 inches of rain and 464 hourse of sunshine - 7% less than the average.  As mentioned earlier on our ‘Watch’ August was a particularly gloomy month.  The poor weather was blamed on a jet-stream of fast winds high over Britain which blocked warm weather arriving from Southern Europe.  All very interesting given Mary Shelley’s role in our story and the reference to ‘A year without a summer’ which led to her writing the famous Frankenstien story.

frankenstein.jpg

Meanwhile, the number of fake £1 coins in circulation has doubled over the past 5 years, and now stands at nearly 30 million.  A Survey conducted by the Royal Mint revealed some 2% of £1 coins are now fake.  There are ways to tell a forgery from the real thing, you just need to know what you’re looking for. This curious to us given our discovery of coins from the Maundy Ceremony and Julia’s observation, “Are the coins genuine?’ Coincidence?

fake-coins.jpg

And finally, habitat loss is contributing to the worldwide decline of populations of common birds, with Birdlife International reporting fa fall in numbers of 45% of Europe’s common birds.  Farmland birds were the worst affected with the number of European Turtle Doves falling by 79%.  The study shows that environmental degregation is having a major impact, not just on birds but on bio-diversity in general.  Readers may recall how Emma Isola and Ralph Emerson sing a lament to the newly weds, Captain Lewin and Lady Katharine on Christmas Eve, which is all about two Turtle Doves!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCB4-JWZ1kQ&feature=related

The Haunted House

A millionaire businessman in Yorkshire has become so spooked by his haunted mansion that he fled and left it to the bank.  The owner, Anwar Rashid, described how he and his family became so terrified after hearing screams, knocking and seeing apirations in the mansion at Clifton Hall.  He compared his experience to Nicole Kidman’s movie, The Others. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu494-Dr5po

If Charles’ diary is to be believed, perhaps he ought to pay a visit to Blakesware Manor to witness the ghostly events there too?