05/12/2009 by admin.

Some 40,000 people gathered in London today to send a message to world leaders gathering in Copenhagen about the need for action on climate change.  Replicating his presence at a similar event recorded in our novel, Ben Whittenbury joined them in his polar bear outfit.  Ben, Julia and Sarah enjoyed taking part in the ‘blue human wave’.  Sarah loved the open top bus and the many blue ribbon’s waved truimphantly from it. All in all a happy event with a serious message.

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

Perhaps the organisers, and the PM Gordon Brown, were inspired by our novel - and page 183 in particular! Go take a look it includes the vision of the ‘wave’ symbolising predicted sea level rises and the blue ribbon which features to illustrate our fragile world - just ask Dr Mark Penning, President of WAZA for confirmation on how perilous things are!  

Remember people -we’re not one to gloat but we did after all receive the coverted ‘Blue Ribbon Award’ for our efforts.  Finally, page 183 also includes a reference to the ‘Flat Earth Society’ to illustrate how people often only grasp the truth when there’s tangible visible and physical evidence! Trouble is we’re at the point of no return! Its all a matter of faith. Bring on the magic fairy dust?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSIvZXuoj2s

Posted in Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Star Question - what happened to the blue ribbon?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q61 Have you ever worn fancy dress?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q25 Do you believe in fairies?, Q35 Do you trust your instincts?, Q51 Have you ever taken part in a protest?, Q22 Do you love our Earth? | No Comments »

09/06/2009 by admin.

In our novel Sarah speculates about the existence of fairies and asks Ben whether Neverland’s a real place. Well Ben we’ve news for you - Charles is off to Neverland! Well not Charles Lamb, but the environmental ambassador HRH Prince Charles.  The Prince will attend a royal gala premiere of the first ever production of J.M.Barrie’s Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens - the place where the story is set.  Video screens will recreate a moving backdrop as Peter Pan, Wendy and Tinkerbell fly over London.  

Clap hands if you believe in fairies!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wb7F8cNF5lQ

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q65 Have you ever wished you could fly?, Q25 Do you believe in fairies? | No Comments »

15/05/2009 by admin.

Norway has emerged victorious with record 387 points in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. Singer and violinist Alexander Rybak romped home with the simple high-energy ditty ‘Fairytale.’  He wrote the song himself saying, ”I had a story to tell and I guess people liked that story.”

Coincidental then given the role of the Scandanavian, Hans Christian Anderson, in our story and his fairytale telling.  We also have the ‘Shadows’ poem, which was all about belief in fairies! Above all, we have the presence of Yggdrasil - the magical tree of life from the forests of Norway. Clap hands if you believe!

Congratulations Alexander. Sarah really likes the song. Here’s the winning performance…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8JRtGMBUz0&feature=related

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q25 Do you believe in fairies?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion?, Q.6 Do you believe in fairy tales? | No Comments »

18/02/2009 by admin.

Congratulations to debut author Michelle Harrison. She has been named winner of the Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize with her book ‘The 13 Treasures’. 

Michelle won £5,000 at an award ceremony in London, which was delightful given her work was initially rejected by several publishers. The novel is set to charm and enthral a generation of readers and has drawn comparisons with the Brothers Grimm.  The book’s been described as ‘an inventive story that makes you glad you can’t see fairies.’

So, we have an author who shares the same surname as one of The Beatles receiving recognition for a novel about fairies! And is there not a reference in our tale to the work of the Brothers Grimm too?

Maybe her success was meant to be…

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

Posted in Q25 Do you believe in fairies?, Q.6 Do you believe in fairy tales?, Q.5 Do you believe in fate? | No Comments »

10/11/2008 by admin.

Tinker Bell, arguably the most famous fairy in the world, has been immortalised in wax at Madame Tussauds musuem in London.  The figure is the smallest ever created at the attraction, measuring just 5 and a half inches.  The artists involved in the pixie’s creation worked studiously to re-create her in a perfect life-like form  - in a way that reveals her magic and love.  At the attraction, children can see Miss Bell at Pixie Hollow, the home of the fairies in Never Land.  All delightfully enchanting given Sarah’s desire in our tale to see a real fairy at Never Land and the, yet to be fully explained, role of the Shadows’ poem.

Let’s celebrate…

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

We do love a green fairy…

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=uwyCfi6qcS0

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q25 Do you believe in fairies?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted?, Q.3 Do you have a good imagination? | No Comments »

08/08/2008 by admin.

A truely spectacular opening ceremony for the 23rd Olympic games has taken place in Beijing, China.  In Malachi’s words, “The World Games are well and truely open!” The ceremony began at 08:08 on the 8th of the 8th 2008 - or ‘Triple 8′ day. The number 8 is revered as a bringer of good fortune.  The ceremony occured just one day after the Chinese Valentine’s Day or the Qixi Festival, with the demand for red roses blooming!

The Double Seventh Festival comes with a legend:

‘A long time ago, there was an honest and kind-hearted fellow named Niu Lang (Cowhand). He married a fairy from heaven called Zhi Nu (Weaver Maid) who was in love with him and escaped from heaven to earth secretly. They lived a happy life and she gave birth to a boy and a girl.  Unfortunately, the God of Heaven soon found out the secret and the Queen Mother wanted to separate the couple. She used her gold hairpins and made a billowy river between them. The Cowhand and the Weaver Maid were separated on the two banks forever and could only feel their tears.   Finally, their loyalty to love touched the magpies, so tens of thousands of magpies came to build a bridge for the Cowhand and Weaver Maid to meet each other. The Queen Mother was eventually moved and allowed them to meet each year on the 7th of the 7th lunar month.’

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q61 Have you ever worn fancy dress?, Q47 Do you know your history?, Q25 Do you believe in fairies?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion? | No Comments »

29/07/2008 by admin.

In Humberside, England, a young romantic named Robert ploughed a proposal for his sweetheart to marry him. The message read ‘Sarah Marry Me’.  He then flew his surprised girlfriend of 10 years over the field. Sarah was amazed, and shed a few tears. She accepted at once, saying the magic words, ‘I do’. 

The Blakesware Set must be delighted. Our Sarah hopes that one day someone might do something similar for her!

Another celebration - The National Areonautical and Space Administration (NASA) are celebrating 50 years since they were established.  The highlights are many - orbiting the Earth, landing on the Moon and adventures into our solar system.  The most famous quote remains, ‘One step for a man, one giant step for mankind,’ and echoed in The Haymakers Survey.  NASAs motto is ‘For the benefit of all’.  NASA’s Office of Education’s motto is ‘Shaping the Future’. 

We recommend a visit to NASA’s website to witness all they’ve achieved.

 http://www.nasa.gov/50th/home/index.html

We come down-to-Earth with a visit to the West Midlands and a safari park to rejoice at the sight of six rare white lion cubs, which is remarkable since according to African legend white lions are a lucky charm and only come along once every 100 years.   Take a peep at the darling cubs…

Word for word, letter for letter, their names are Star, Haze, Neptune, Ariel, Oberon and Ophelia. Fortunately, none are made of stone, unlike Uncle John Plumer’s lion head statue!

Posted in Q65 Have you ever wished you could fly?, Q70 Do you like to look at the stars?, Q79 Have you ever looked into the shadows?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q42 Do you enjoy drawing?, Q41 Do you like surprises?, Q22 Do you love our Earth?, Q25 Do you believe in fairies?, Q29 Could you live without machines?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you? | No Comments »

20/11/2007 by admin.

A new map released by Visit Britain, ‘On The Trail of Britain’s Fairy Folk’  gives people the chance to go to some of the most famous places in folklore known for some mysterious inhabitants - fairies!  They include the legend of the piper who made fairies dance in Kelso, Scotland.   Perhaps the next edition will feature the Nimley Bourne stream? Time will tell!   

The company behind Britain’s national lottery say the luckiest three numbers are:  25, 31 and 38.    Question 25 is - Do you believe in fairies? Interesting!  The number 13 was officially the unluckiest number.   

Posted in Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q38 Have you built a house of cards?, Q31 Are you a charitable neighbour?, Q25 Do you believe in fairies?, Q13 Have you ever been mistaken for someone else? | No Comments »