28/04/2009 by admin.

The world is facing a potential ’swine flu’ pandemic.  The outbreak has already claimed more than 100 lives in Mexico with thousands more infected and the virus has now spread overseas.

Now transmitted from human to human the virus is said to have arisen from people working on pig farms.  So, how does this link to our novel? Well in our account of events:

• To help open her mind to the power of the imagination to see the otherwise unseen, Sarah Whittenbury recites the nursery rhyme ‘Ring a ring o roses, a pocket full of posies. Atishoo, atishoo, we all fall down.’  Many have associated the verse with the Great Plague of London in 1665 or earlier outbreaks of bubonic plague.
• Ben Whittenbury dreams of receiving ‘pennies from heaven’ to restore the disused pig-stys in the grounds of Keeper’s Cottage, whilst Charles Lamb’s journal records the pig farm in its full glory.  And, Malachi our messenger claims that ‘it’s gone to pigs and whistles’ an idiom which means its become ruined or worthless.
• Sarah likens Ben Whittenbury to Dr Who:  WHO is an acronym for The World Health Organisation a specialised agency of the United Nations acting as a co-ordinating authority on international public health.  The WHO have a key role in leading the global response to the threat.
• The curious notes from the future left within our pages include one that speculates on the potential growth of the human population. It concludes with an observation that the predictions for growth by 2100 may well be impacted by a pandemic.
• In Charles Lamb’s journal, Lucy Ebbs, Mother Nature personified, warns that humanity needs to mend our ways and show the planet more respect or we will feel her wrath.

Life on Earth is indeed most mysterious. If previous pandemics are replicated then a whole generation is potentially at risk.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0XknwXqLDo

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q73 Do you like nursery ryhmes?, Q44 Is there anything worse than a fly at night?, Q16 Have you ever had a psychic experience?, Q15 Do you sometimes fear the worst? | No Comments »

19/04/2009 by admin.

One of the main inspirations for our project was the artist William Blake.  How coincidental then that Tate Britain are recreating the William Blake 1809 Exhibition in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the first solo exhibition of his work which took place in a small room above a shop in Soho.  This is an artist who was obscure and impoverished at the time yet is now regarded as ‘the greatest most individual genuis of Britsh Art’.  A most worthy acolade for the visionary poet and painter in our view - creating mystical works of otherworldliness and depth. Ironic then that when he first exhibited Blake was derided by the critics and was a commercial failure.  Only by a twist of fate did his work resurface after his death. 

William, of course, has a cameo yet insightful role in our story being the guiding light that led us to monitor world events. Could it be that he had some insight on all of this - the array of coincidences reported here  - as our novel suggests? Who can say?

Let’s celebrate by reciting the extract from his ‘Songs of Innocence and Experience’ which acts as an introduction to our tale, designed to give our planet a voice:

Earth’s Answer

‘Earth raised up her head, From the darkness dread and drear. Her light fled, stony dread! And her locks covered with grey despair’.

The exhibition runs until October 2009. We encourage you to pay it a visit.

http://www.culture24.org.uk/art/painting+%2526+drawing/art67779

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q43 Do you believe in happy endings?, Q16 Have you ever had a psychic experience?, Q.3 Do you have a good imagination?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted?, Q.2 Are you an art lover? | No Comments »

21/09/2008 by admin.

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? 

Posted in Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q16 Have you ever had a psychic experience?, Q15 Do you sometimes fear the worst?, Q10 Have you ever seen a ghost? | No Comments »

11/01/2008 by admin.

Readers of ‘The Haymakers Survey’ will be familiar with the the frog in the jar analogy. Well, a frog called Nong Qui from Thailand has enjoyed a rags to riches rise to stardom and is thought to possess mysterious powers of prediction after bringing lottery luck to a village. The talented frog has even learned to mount a minature motorbike!

Sir Edmund Hilary, the first man to conquer Mount Everest, has died, surrounded by his family in Auckland New Zealand.  The country’s Prime Minister described him as a heroic figure, a colossus who lived a life of adventure, determination, generosity and humility.  Come, lets follow his lead - and climb that ‘climate change’ mountain.  Oh, do you know an anagram of SIR EDMUND HILARY is MINUS HAY RIDDLER!

Posted in Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q16 Have you ever had a psychic experience?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion? | No Comments »

28/11/2007 by admin.

Tate Britain have put on a special display to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of William Blake.  It includes items from the permanent collection, but also some recently discovered work never before exhibited.  It’s curious that this landmark should occur in the year of our Watch, for the mystic artist and poet, managed to have a discreet yet profound impact on the Blakesware Set and, ‘The Haymakers Survey.’  

Across London, a new gallery at London’s Natural History Museum, will showcase a collection of gems, cystals and meteorites from around the world.  The specimens were chosen for, ‘their beauty, rarity and history’ and are described as ‘the creme de la creme’ of the mineral world.  Perhaps they ought to add the Royston Cave stones to the collection?

Hertford museum are running an exhibition celebrating local peoples passion for Dr Who, featuring a locally made Tardis, Dalek and K9, the robot dog.  This is very curious given Sarah’s love of Dr Who and her time travel antics.  

Posted in Q24 Do you get enough time to yourself?, Q23 Do you believe all the laws of physics?, Q16 Have you ever had a psychic experience?, Q.3 Do you have a good imagination?, Q.2 Are you an art lover? | No Comments »

29/10/2007 by admin.

Readers of ‘The Haymakers Survey’ will be aware of the link between the Oasis song, ‘Wonderwall’ and the medieval carvings at Royston cave.  They’ll also know how much of a Beatles fan Ben Whittenbury is. Well his favourite Beatle was John Lennon.  So, isn’t it strange that Liam Gallagher the ‘Wonderwall’ singer claims to have seen an apparition of his idol. He said, “I was… having a sleep. I remember getting up and feeling really weird. I turned around and there I was lying on the bed, and I sort of fell back into my body. There was a presence there, it was him, Lennon!” He added, “Some might say I imagined it!”  This prompted Ben to take a fresh look at John Lennon’s haunting video for ‘Imagine’. 

After everything we’ve experienced the sillouhetted figures in the opening scenes of, ‘Imagine’ seem quite incredible.   You have to read our book to understand all of this, but the past has caught up with the future! Amazing!

Posted in Q79 Have you ever looked into the shadows?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q39 Do you believe in magic?, Q16 Have you ever had a psychic experience?, Q33 Do you believe in life after death?, Q10 Have you ever seen a ghost? | Comments Off

24/09/2007 by admin.

A key which could have prevented the Titanic disaster has sold for £90,000 at auction. The key opened a binoculars store but was not on board, so lookouts had to rely on the naked eye.  It was brought by an anonymous bidder.  Julia was especially curious given all that we have seen and expereinced. We know the significance of the key in ’The Haymakers Survey’ - verbatim, letter for letter! Is this the final warning?

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q39 Do you believe in magic?, Q16 Have you ever had a psychic experience?, Q.5 Do you believe in fate? | No Comments »