01/01/2011 by admin.

On New Year’s Eve around 2000 red-winged blackbirds mysteriously plunged to their death covering a one mile area of Beebe Arkansas US. The number’s interesting as we printed 2,100 copies of the First Edition or our novel but there’s more…

Local residents describe the event as like a scene from a horror movie. The birds showed signs of physical trauma leading one ornithologist to suggest they may have been killed by lightning or high altitude hail. Perhaps there’s a deeper meaning?

The state capital of Arkansas is Little Rock, which is uncanny as the little rocks in our story are so key. Little Rock itself was named in 1821 the same year as Charles lamb’s journal. Arkansas’s nickname is The Natural State due to its wilderness and beauty - and this project is about supporting Mother Nature. Also, the State of Arkansas begins as 33.00 N latitude - and the number 3 is significant in our tale. Finally Beebe is a city in White County, Arkansas and Mother Nature tells us that white represents diversity in all its forms.

Here’s the City of Little Rock emblem…

Although not normally seen as a symbol of bad luck the blackbird is sometimes regarded as a symbol of vigilance, with the bird’s clear cry warning of danger. The Red Winged version suggests STOP! Its a final warning.

Here’s the Beatles song ‘Blackbird’ written after Sir Paul witnessed events in Little Rock unfold during the civil rights struggles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uqGCqMYaHQ&feature=related

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q54 Do you enjoy a bit of a mystery?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q15 Do you sometimes fear the worst?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted? | No Comments »

15/12/2010 by admin.

An iconic lighthouse at lake Erie Cleveland Ohio has been covered with snow in ice. A combination of high winds, subzero temperatures and crashing waves have turned the navigation aid into an ice castle from the Snow Queen. Although of breathtaking beauty the frozen beacon is potentially dangerous as Coast Guard Units have issued warnings to sea mariners. 

Mother Nature loves her Winter Wonderlands. In our novel Ben Whittenbury issued his cry for action to preserve the environment - adopting a pose akin to a lighthouse - and Lucy herself later repeats the pose as a beacon of hope.  Malachi warns, “Snow, did someone say snow!” (page 100) Our 18th century hero Captain Richard Lewin is also lost at sea.  Whilst Lucy warns us about Erie (page to follow).  Its not looking good people…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0_GO7cj0jk

Posted in Q53 Do you prefer to keep warm?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q51 Have you ever taken part in a protest?, Q39 Do you believe in magic?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted? | 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 »

23/11/2010 by admin.

The opening scenes from our novel includes the flight of a white bird over the head of Ben Whittingbury. It happened just after he made his pledge to be Nature’s Champion and before his errie mystical encounter with the Lady in Grey.

In Christian faith the dove represents the Holy Spirit. Its also thought of as a symbol of love and peace. Curiously a white dove has befriended Rebekah Horsfield a 13 year old teenager from Surrey. Rebekah came across the bird last week sitting on the pavement. She approached it and it chose to fly up and sit on her shoulder. It now keeps close to her side and the pair are becoming inseparable. Rebekah has named the bird Snowy! Snowy sits on top of the computer when Rebekah is on the internet. She thinks Snowy might be a magician’s pet.

Meanwhile Bobby Haas a photographer has taken a remarkable arial photograph in Yucatan Mexico of hundreds of flamingos gathered to form the image of a bird. Mr Haas described the shot as the Holy Grail of photography. He said,”The reaction has been remarkable. Some people have said it is divine intervention and proof there is a God.”

Remember we’re counting on you to have faith, live in harmony and peace with Mother Nature and love this planet Earth.

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q65 Have you ever wished you could fly?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q39 Do you believe in magic?, Q52 Do you believe in miracles?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted? | No Comments »

17/11/2010 by admin.

Using a metal detector, James Hyatt, a 3 year old boy from Essex has unearthed an amazing engraved 500 year old gold locket estimated to be worth £2.5m. Believed to have once belonged to royalty the locket carries an engraving of a woman - assumed to be the Virgin Mary holding a crucifix and depicts a rose bud. The figure is also standing on a mesh or web. On the reverse are five bleeding hearts. On the sides are the names of the three kings or Magi who visited Christ after his birth, including Jaspar in Latin. Experts believe the locket once held alleged parts of Christ’s thorn of crowns.

James found the lost treasure in a field near Hockley when out with his father, a web designer. James said, “I was holding the detector and it went beep,beep,beep. Then we dug in the mud and there was gold there”.  

The discovery of a gold locket in mud against a web-log is central to our story - see free sample. A metal detector is also a key part of the journey of discovery. The locket in our novel belonged to a Great Creator and represents Mother Nature. It was heart shaped and brings a message of faith and hope. A message that we need to take care of Planet Earth and the natural environment. The locket’s discovery shows us that humanity is at the crossroads. It’s the begining of the journey that led to the Whittenbury Watch and the magical events recorded on this site.  A rose bud also features strongly in our tale - to symbolise the beauty of our world and we are warned that the rose is dying.

We believe the discovery is priceless. It vindicates the messages in the Whittenbury Watch. Afterall the very final words in the book are ‘To Jasper - we did it!” Do you believe yet?

It’s all a matter of faith!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=883t2Pac8pk 

Posted in Q80 Have you ever searched for buried treasure?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q52 Do you believe in miracles?, Q41 Do you like surprises?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q.5 Do you believe in fate? | No Comments »

13/10/2010 by admin.

On 22 September New York photographer Jay Fine braved a storm to catch on camera a lightening strike on the Statue of Liberty. His amazing photo has caught the imagination of the world. He waited 40 years to get the image.

We’re intrigued for two reasons. First the image was captured on the autumn equinox - a date so significant in our story - see opening sample.  Second, a Statute of Liberty like figure features in Charles Lamb’s journal as Mother Nature standing as if in protest or distress with the beacon lit as a warning or siren. See page [to follow].

It’s a fabulous intriquing coincidence.

Posted in Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q54 Do you enjoy a bit of a mystery?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted? | No Comments »

22/09/2010 by admin.

News reports of polar bear washed ashore at Bude in Cornwall proved to be mistaken.  Video footage had shown a large white animal stranded on the beach which was understandably mistaken for a polar bear.

However, closer examination revealed it to be the carcass of a cow whose flesh had been bleached white by the sea. Polar bear numbers are threatened by climate change and an image of one features on the front cover of our novel.

As we suspect a creative spiritual force is behind The Haymakers Survey we’re also curious that the animal beached at Bude. The town’s name is thought to be shortened from Bude Haven a corruption of Bede haven which means ‘harbour of the holy men’suggesting Bude was a landing place for early Christians.  The town’s oldest property is Quay cottage in the heart of the town - all very fascinating because we also read in the media that countries surrounding the Arctic are showing an increasing interest in the oil beneath that wilderness. 

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q13 Have you ever been mistaken for someone else?, Q.3 Do you have a good imagination? | No Comments »

03/09/2010 by admin.

A unique Roman lantern made of bronze has been discovered in a field in Sudbury, Suffolk by Danny Mills - a young metal detector enthusiast. The lantern’s believed to be the only one of its kind in Britain. Dating from around the 3rd century AD the object’s been restored to its former glory by Emma Hogarth, Conservator at Colchester and Ipswich museums. Emma was amazed that the chains that suspend the lantern showed no sign of corrosion and move like any modern chain.

Coincidentally, our novel reveals how a metal detector leads to the discovery of buried treasure. More exciting perhaps is how Charles Lamb’s journal tells how they use a lantern when first entering mystical Royston cave. Here’s the extract from page 397

“Stukeley hung his perforaed lantern on a swivelling hook. Before it settled its light settled like a pendulum casting shadows that danced about the cave. As the carvings flickered in the unnatural light I wondered about the invisible people from days gone by whose feet had traversed the floor of the cave, whose hands had carved the figures into the stone. What would they make of us?”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZhY7fD1d4c&feature=related

Posted in Q79 Have you ever looked into the shadows?, Q80 Have you ever searched for buried treasure?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q60 Have you ever experienced deja vu?, Q34 Have you ever restored something?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q32 Are you afraid of the dark?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted? | No Comments »

22/08/2010 by admin.

On 5 August the roof of the San Jose copper-gold mine near Copiapo in Chile collapsed trapping 33 miners some 700 metres underground. We’re delighted to report that after days of searching the miners have been located alive and seemingly well. Through a bore hole used to locate them they’ve sent a message to emotional loved ones above which translates to ‘The 33 of us are fine in the shelter’.

Hours later cameras were lowered into the bore hole, taking the first images of the trapped workers. How amazing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryUuw385jKk&feature=related

Plans are now underway to find a way to evacuate the miners, but in the meantime Los 33 have to live in a cave. Uncanny given the Whittenburys’ discussion in a novel about life in a cave… and the conclusion of the first part of our trilogy has similarities.  The shape of Chile is a distinctive ribbon of land. Chile’s territorities include Easter Island in the Pacific, featured in another Watch story because humans exploited the environment. Chiliens also call their country the ‘pais de poetas; the country of poets.  We’re sure Charles Lamb, Samuel Coleridge and Percy Shelley would be most interested in these coincidences. It’s a strange old world.

Posted in Q80 Have you ever searched for buried treasure?, Star Question - what happened to the blue ribbon?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Q52 Do you believe in miracles?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q29 Could you live without machines?, Q15 Do you sometimes fear the worst? | No Comments »

16/08/2010 by admin.

In our novel Lucy Ebbs, Mother Nature personified, alerts us to the wonder of the albino in demonstrating the wonder of diversity on planet Earth. Since the Watch began we’ve seen many examples of albinos in nature, but none as dramatic as Migaloo the hunchback whale.

The unique and majestic creature has been filmed professionally for the very first time.  The only albino whale of its kind in the world, Migaloo was filmed close to Green Island off the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.  Reef Magic Cruise’s owner Tim North said “It was a breathtaking sight that made your hair stand up on the back of your neck.” The idea to film Migaloo was to help show how precious he is and to help protect him. We whole heartedly agree.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QisofzOVwK8

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q48 Have you ever played solitaire?, Q39 Do you believe in magic?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted? | No Comments »