15/06/2009 by admin.

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.

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.

Posted in Q36 Should a good life cost the Earth?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q34 Have you ever restored something?, Q11 Do you believe in justice?, Q10 Have you ever seen a ghost?, Q.2 Are you an art lover? | No Comments »

13/03/2009 by admin.

Friday the 13th is embroiled in superstition as being unlucky for some.  So, on a day when campaigners have lost their battle to block the expansion of Stansted Airport, we speculate on the wider implications of the judicial decision.  Stop Stansted Expansion argued that the government did not give proper consideration to the ‘adverse effects’ of the expansion but the High Court Judge Sir Thayne Forbes dismissed the legal challenge arguing that there had been no misinterpretation of air transport policy. SSE were made to pay £20,000 in legal costs.

The decision follows swiftly on the heels of some profound and deeply worrying predictions on climate change from leading scientists at a conference in Copenhagen.  We won’t repeat them here but the message is loud and clear on rising sea levels and temperatures.  We are very much in The Age of Stupid with decisions of this kind replicated worldwide by governments preaching the environmental cause yet acting against it and popular demand in the name of ‘business as usual.’  Where is the democracy? Is it any wonder that some people resort to ‘adolescent’ acts of protest?

So, if we want to watch a horror film on Friday the 13th, try a preview of The Age of Stupid. In common with our tale it includes a take from the future which implores action now to preserve the Earth and creatures we know and love.  The significant difference between the film and our project is that we feel Mother Nature or a force of creation is behind us, leaving a trail of messages and signs to try to convince us beyond the hard evidence being presented by the scientists. Hay - all’s fair in love and war!

http://www.ageofstupid.net/

Posted in Q56 Do you believe rules are there to be broken?, Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q51 Have you ever taken part in a protest?, Q44 Is there anything worse than a fly at night?, Q22 Do you love our Earth?, Q29 Could you live without machines?, Q36 Should a good life cost the Earth?, Q11 Do you believe in justice? | No Comments »

16/01/2009 by admin.

Boy George, the former controversial frontman to the 1980’s band Culture Club, has been given a 15 month prison sentence for false imprisonment and gratuitous violence.  A barrister in the case said that, “At the heart of the matter was a descent into self destructive behaviour.”  The singer’s solicitor later claimed, “George is on the way to recovery, I sincerely hope this sentence doesn’t knock him back.” 

This is George in his hey-day! An artist known for wearing a ribbon or two in his hair and an ambassador for diversity in our world.

So, what does this have to do with the environment, we hear you ask? Simple really - in response to Ben Whittenbury’s decision to draw up ‘The Haymakers Survey’ our Magician invited the climate change sceptics to say no to climate chaos and join the Culture Change Club.  The implication is that Boy George’s troubles are a reflection of the unwillingness of many on our planet to take the environment seriously or see any real threat.  The culture change required remains a distant vision. 

Allow George to take you back to 1870 …

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=YqeTpbV9nt0

Posted in Star Question - what happened to the blue ribbon?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q61 Have you ever worn fancy dress?, Q11 Do you believe in justice?, Q.9 Do you feel in control of your life? | No Comments »

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 »

18/07/2008 by admin.

The world statesman Nelson Mandela celebrates his 90th birthday today.

As a lawyer and activist he campaigned against South Africa’s apartheid regime. Accused of trying to overthrow the government, he spent nearly 30 years in prison. After his release in 1990, he went on to receive the Nobel Peace Prize and to become his country’s first black president.

Here’s a video of the highlights from the celebration concert in London…

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=sWaYWA4hTwo&feature=related

Here’s a picture of the ambassador for justice and equality holding the FIFA World Cup after South Africa was announced as host for the 2010 competition.  Now, what was it Malachi said about the World Cup?

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q28 Have you ever lived in poverty?, Q11 Do you believe in justice?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion? | No Comments »

03/07/2008 by admin.

Columbia pictures has announced plans to direct a new film about the great detective, Sherlock Holmes.  In a comic remake, the film will star Will Ferrell and Sacha Baron Cohen.  Sarah will be pleased as she’s a fan of both actors - pity none will be Earth Detectives though…

New research suggests that the risk of extinction for many species has been seriously underestimated - by up to a hundred times greater in some cases.  Key factors have simply been ignored, including the ratio of the number of males to females.  Professor Alan Hastings from the University of California, Davis, said, ”There may be many species - and some will not be the large, charismatic ones, but things like insects and other smaller ones that are still very important - where we may be underestimating the risk by quite a bit.”The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has identified more than 16,000 species threatened with extinction. One in three amphibians, one in four mammals, one in eight birds and 70% of plants so far assessed for its Red Lists of Threatened Species are believed to be at risk.

Posted in Q54 Do you enjoy a bit of a mystery?, Q57 Have you ever spied on anyone?, Q48 Have you ever played solitaire?, Q36 Should a good life cost the Earth?, Q11 Do you believe in justice?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q.1 Does your life have a purpose? | No Comments »

28/06/2008 by admin.

In a recent posting, we commented on the success and fame of the controversial and troubled pop artist, Amy Winehouse. We noted how an anagram of her name is HAY U WIN SOME.   Curiously our novel records that the term ‘Haymaker’ also means being capable of delivering a hard punch - a knockout blow.  So, should we be surprised to find that the infamous singer chose to strike a fan whilst on stage at Glastonbury?  By no means do we advocate violence, but the incident might be seen as a covert message to inspire those who care for our planet to ‘fight’ for the cause!  Take a look, if you wish…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IN7yJWi21E

Posted in Q56 Do you believe rules are there to be broken?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q11 Do you believe in justice?, Q.9 Do you feel in control of your life? | No Comments »

30/05/2008 by admin.

Paddington Bear is celebrating his 50th anniversary today.  Here’s a picture of the famed stowaway bear from Peru discovered by the Brown’s at a railway station in West London.  They found him craving a better life at platform 8 and had the good heart to take him in and ‘look after the bear’.

As you can discover from the video below, Paddington emigrated on the advice of his dear old Aunt Lucy!

 http://www.truveo.com/Paddington-Bear-Please-look-after-this-bear/id/1035976138

As our story explains, Malachi was pleased he wasn’t called Paddington as he felt he’d have to wear Wellingon boots, but he secretly has much love for the mischevious bear!

How curious then that the Brazilian national Indian Foundation today released amazing picture of an uncontacted tribe on its border with Peru.  The Brazilian government says it wants to help protect the tribe’s land from illegal logging.  They are designed to prove those who doubted the tribe’s existence wrong.  More than half the world’s uncontacted 100 tribes live in Brazil and Peru.  Take a look at these warriors reacting to the plane… didn’t cupid draw back his bow in our story? Does this mean humanity should live in better harmony with nature?

Let’s ask Amy Winehouse. Does she think that’s right? Here’s a video aired on BBC Three

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymcPoYo8S20

Oh… an anagram of AMY WINEHOUSE is  HAY IN ME HOUSE.  In April, Amy won 5 Grammy awards at the biggest night in the rock and pop calendar.  The star celebrated by visiting her husband, Blake Civil-Fielder, in Pentonville Prison.  She dedicated her awards to her imprisoned husband and London’s blaze hit Camden Market, expressing sadness as the fire destroyed her favourite pub amongst other buildings.

Posted in Q31 Are you a charitable neighbour?, Q43 Do you believe in happy endings?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q22 Do you love our Earth?, Q21 Have you ever hugged a tree?, Q11 Do you believe in justice?, Q18 Do you let your heart rule your head?, Q.8 Do you crave a better life? | No Comments »

05/05/2008 by admin.

In recent week’s we’ve observed the troubled passage of the Olympics flame as it travels the globe ahead of the games in China this year. There have been protests against the torch bearer in Britain, America, Europe and elsewhere against the host nation’s human rights record in Tibet. 

 In response, Caleb Hitch reminded us of 3 things:

• Charles Lamb’s nightmare involving Lucy holding aloft a torch, similar to that representing the spirit of the games;
• Charles describing his training as being akin to that of an Olympiad in training; and
• Sarah’s trick with the London 2012 logo: where she transformed the shapes into one resembling a Samoyed.

What to make of it?

Posted in Q51 Have you ever taken part in a protest?, Q11 Do you believe in justice?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion? | No Comments »

21/04/2008 by admin.

A Yorkshire Terrier has been sent a polling card in his name to vote in the forthcoming local elections.  The card reads ‘Bobby Huckvale’ and advises the three-year old dog where to go to cast his vote on 1 May.  Swindon Council say the dog was sent the card because his details were on the electoral register.  Although knowingly providing false information on an electoral registration form is a criminal offence, we were struck that this particular dog had, in effect, been given the chance to ‘have his say’.  Assuming the 3Bs in BOBBY resemble hearts when turned sideways then an anagram of BOBBY HUCKVALE reads C UK HAY LOVE

Further East, and we find the secretive street artist Banksy’s been up to his tricks again, performing perhaps his most audacious stunt yet. In the heart of London’s  West End an image entitled ‘One Nation Under CCTV’ has appeared in the wall of a Post Office just yards from a CCTV camera.

A child in a red jacket is painting the writing on the wall whilst being filmed by a police officer accompanied by a barking dog.

Posted in Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q74 Do you like puzzles?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q57 Have you ever spied on anyone?, Q56 Do you believe rules are there to be broken?, Q11 Do you believe in justice?, Q41 Do you like surprises?, Q.2 Are you an art lover? | No Comments »