28/08/2011 by admin.

Yohan Blake has unexpectedly won the 100m final at the 2011 World Athletics Championship.  The Jamacian raced to victory after the defending champion Bolt caused a real shock after being disqualified after an obvious false start.  The triple world record holder and Olympic champion clearly jumped the gun to everyone’s surprise.  

We’ve run several features about the magnificent Usain Bolt and his record breaking exploits because we viewed these as a clear indication of the need for humanity to act with all speed to protect the natural world.  We were sorry to see him disqualified. However, let’s take a closer look at YOHAN BLAKE. 

An anagram is HAY ON BLAKE!  Which is very curious as the mystical artist William Blake had so much to say about the spiritual nature behind The Haymakers Survey.  It was revealed in Charles Lamb’s journal. Is this a game player?

Posted in Q72 Are you a good time keeper?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q41 Do you like surprises?, Q16 Have you ever had a psychic experience?, Q.4 Have you ever wanted to stop the clock?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion?, Q.2 Are you an art lover? | No Comments »

18/08/2011 by admin.

A British teenager, Horatio Chapple, has been killed by a raging polar bear on the island of Spitsbergen in the Norwegian Arctic. The animal also injured four other explorers in an attack on their campsite before being shot dead by the expedition’s team leader.  It was a horrific incident and we are deeply sorry to hear of the loss of a promising Eton student.

Horatio Chapple’s parents have paid tribute to their “fearless” son and have compared him to his namesake Lord Admiral Horatio Nelson who fought of a polar bear on the same island. In a remarkable and strange quirk of fate our novel includes a postcard image of the painting ‘Nelson and the Bear’ by Richard Westall.  The painting captured a young Horatio Nelson engaging a huge polar bear off an ice floe in Spitsbergen! The image was included by a mystery doner to illustrate the conflict between humanity’s pursuit of progress and growth against the need to care for our planet and Mother Nature’s creatures.  

It’s also curious that a post-mortem has revealed that the bear may have been suffering from severe toothache - several of its teeth were very badly damaged which means the bear would have been in serious pain and changed the behaviour of the bear. Why is this curious? Well in our novel having speculated on the plight of the polar bear, Sarah loses a tooth and Ben Whittenbury anticipates the arrival of the tooth fairy. Art imitating life!

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion?, Q.2 Are you an art lover?, Q.1 Does your life have a purpose? | No Comments »

17/04/2011 by admin.

Life is a bit of a mystery. Our novel records how Samuel Coleridge’s ‘Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ helped inspire the Blakesware Set and The Haymakers Survey. Curious then that an author named HAYES has brought Coleridge’s tale up to date as a cautionary environmental story.

It has been reimagined as a stunning graphic chic novel by Nick Hayes. The adapted tale refers to the North Pacific gyre - an enormous plastic and chemical sludge double the szie of Texas floating as if an island in the ocean, caused by humans excessive consumption.  Hayes was inspired to act after seeing an item online of an albatross whose stomach had exploded after eating plastic bottle tops which it mistook for shrimp. 

We wish the updated book every success.

Posted in Q42 Do you enjoy drawing?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q36 Should a good life cost the Earth?, Q26 Do you take poetry seriously?, Q.3 Do you have a good imagination?, Q.2 Are you an art lover? | No Comments »

13/12/2010 by admin.

A huge winter storms in Israel has brought 100kmph winds and 10 meter high winds crashing onto the coast. The harsh weather brought disruption and chaos but also revealed an unexpected surprise - the discovery on an amazing ancient 2,000 year old Roman statue in amazing condition.

The headless marble figure of a woman was found on the beach at Ashkelon after the partial collapse of a cliff due to the wind, high seas and rain.  The woman is thought to be Aphrodite the Greek goddess of love.

Given the significance of Roman marble statues in the Justice Hall at Blakesware Manor where the Haymakers Survey was first conceived, we wonder is this another poignant reminder from Mother Nature to love the natural world? In our story Caleb Hitch advised us to look to the Holy Land as a point in the curious mystical triangle of magic behind the Haymakers Survey.

It’s unbelievable to be part of this.

Posted in Q46 Do you value a good education?, Q47 Do you know your history?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q41 Do you like surprises?, Q34 Have you ever restored something?, Q11 Do you believe in justice?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q.2 Are you an art lover? | No Comments »

07/09/2010 by admin.

We’re very sad to report that Mike Edwards an early member of the British rock group the Electric Light Orchestra has been crushed by a giant bale of hay.  The bizarre accident happened near Totnes in Devon when the hay rolled down a steep hill and smashed into his van.  Police believe the 600kg bale fell from a tractor in nearby farmland.  The cellist was 62 years old and lived in Totnes - a place with a thriving centre for music, art and natural living.  It has a sizeable ‘New Age’ community. In 2007 Time magazine declared Totnes the captial of New Age Chic.

When ELO was formed the idea was to take rock music in the direction that the Beatles had left off. The band’s debut album was called No Answer. The band’s second album produced its first big UK hit ‘Roll Over Beethoven’.  They had a range of hits in Britain and the USA. Perhaps the most popular album was Out of the Blue which featured the songs’ Turn to Stone, Mr Blue Sky, Sweet Talkin Woman and Wild West Hero. 

Our condolences go to Mike Edwards and his family and friends. In celebration of his life and contribution to a fabulous pop group here’s ELOs version of Roll Over Beethoven which begins with a haunting rendition of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony - which features on page 27 of our novel. 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLNR4xfh1Qc

Posted in Star Question - what happened to the blue ribbon?, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q.3 Do you have a good imagination?, Q.2 Are you an art lover? | No Comments »

23/02/2010 by admin.

A copy of the first comic featuring Superman sold for $1m yesterday, smashing the previous record for a Marvel comic.  The issue of a 1938 edition of Action Comics No 1 considered the Holy Grail of comic books originally cost just 10 cents.  On the cover Superman is seen running with a damaged car held aloft above his head. Ben Whittingbury - our Earth Champion elect take heart.

Posted in Q11 Do you believe in justice?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion?, Q.3 Do you have a good imagination?, Q.2 Are you an art lover? | No Comments »

27/11/2009 by admin.

In our novel, Sarah liken’s her father, Ben Whittenbury to the classic children’s TV character Mr Benn. She did so because of his habit of dressing up in different costumes - a polar bear and an 18th century military man.  Mr Benn’s adventures always began when he visited a magical fancy dress shop.

Well, as if by magic the residents of the street that inspired David McKee’s Mr Benn stories have chosen to pay tribute to the writer and character by laying an engraved paving slab outside of David McKee’s former house.  For his stories Mr McKee changed Festing Road to Festive Road and had Mr Benn living at number 52, next door to his own house at number 54.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GXfUN1grtA&feature=related

Posted in Q61 Have you ever worn fancy dress?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q54 Do you enjoy a bit of a mystery?, Q39 Do you believe in magic?, Q.3 Do you have a good imagination?, Q.2 Are you an art lover? | No Comments »

23/09/2009 by admin.

Tate Britain has put on a new exhibition entitled ‘Turner and the Masters’ - an unforgettable show which places some of JMW Turner’s most dramatic paintings alongside beautiful masterpieces by the likes of Rembrandt and Titian.  The exhibition shines a light on the British painter’s obsession to be as good as if not better than his contemparies. Turner’s working-class background and relentless ambition led him to proclaim, “I am the great lion of the day”. 

We’re intrigued at the timing of the exhibition given the prominent role in Charles Lamb’s jounral of William Turner’s painting ‘Snow Storm: Hannibal and his Army Crossing the Alps’ which Lucy Ebbs suggests (page 289) is an analogy of the need to withdrawn when required to do so. 

 Are we to ignore the words of Mother Nature at this time?

Posted in Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q22 Do you love our Earth?, Q.2 Are you an art lover? | No Comments »

14/09/2009 by admin.

Today we’re celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Sir Peter Scott, proclaimed by some as the ’Patron Saint of Conservation’.  Sir Peter led a remarkable life and, amongst his many achievements and talents he was one of the founder members of the Worldwide Fund for Nature and designed the organisation’s famous Panda logo. 

It’s yet another example of an anniversary linked to our project - perhaps the most wonderful of all! Sir Peter was a born leader and communicator, he inspired the world to treasure its wildlife long before environmental groups were established. We’re so thrilled that the anniversary of his birth should occur during the period of our Watch as Sir Peter has a cameo role in our story - making a spontaneous visit to Keeper’s Cottage to wish us well on our venture, especially Ben in his self-appointed role as Nature’s Champion! 

In Gloucestershire, there’s a celebration of his paintings in a ’Nature in Art’ Exhibition. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4lkKcHiJQ0&feature=related

Posted in Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q68 Does the Earth have a spirit?, Q42 Do you enjoy drawing?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion?, Q.2 Are you an art lover?, Q.1 Does your life have a purpose? | No Comments »

08/08/2009 by admin.

Another symbolic anniversary relevant to THS; hundreds of Beatles fans have gathered to mark the 40th anniversary of the camera shot of the famous pedestrian (zebra) crossing cover of the Abbey Road album. 

A reconstruction took place with Beatles lookalikes - a tribute band known as St Pepper’s only Dartboard Band’ - wearing outfits the same as those worn on the day.  Billie Shears would be pleased! The original picture has been copied many times over by Beatles fans.  We’re especially taken by the iconic crossing - Malachi warns in our novel ‘We’re at the crossroads’. Perhaps that’s why Sir Paul chose to cross the road bare-footed as an unwitting reminder of the human ‘carbon’ footprint!

When visiting Abbey Road Beatles fans also like to leave personal messages on a wall by the roadside. Messages like these…

Abbey Road is also in St John’s Wood and St John’s Church is where Julia saw a ghostly figure wearing a replica ‘St Pepper’ jacket. Mmm. we do have fun don’t we?

Ben’s favourite song from the album is ‘Come Together’ which is what we need to do to address the ongoing environmental challenges. Here’s a video with rare footage of Abbey Road and the recording studios. Enjoy…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vAqekT-GuA

Posted in Q49 Do you ever think about the old days?, Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q47 Do you know your history?, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q18 Do you let your heart rule your head?, Q22 Do you love our Earth?, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q.2 Are you an art lover? | No Comments »