22/09/2008 by admin.

Summer? What summer? The season officially ended yesterday - in an ironic blaze of sunshine.  But the warm weather could not save this year’s summer from a place in the worst top ten on record. There was 14 inches of rain and 464 hourse of sunshine - 7% less than the average.  As mentioned earlier on our ‘Watch’ August was a particularly gloomy month.  The poor weather was blamed on a jet-stream of fast winds high over Britain which blocked warm weather arriving from Southern Europe.  All very interesting given Mary Shelley’s role in our story and the reference to ‘A year without a summer’ which led to her writing the famous Frankenstien story.

Meanwhile, the number of fake £1 coins in circulation has doubled over the past 5 years, and now stands at nearly 30 million.  A Survey conducted by the Royal Mint revealed some 2% of £1 coins are now fake.  There are ways to tell a forgery from the real thing, you just need to know what you’re looking for. This curious to us given our discovery of coins from the Maundy Ceremony and Julia’s observation, “Are the coins genuine?’ Coincidence?

And finally, habitat loss is contributing to the worldwide decline of populations of common birds, with Birdlife International reporting fa fall in numbers of 45% of Europe’s common birds.  Farmland birds were the worst affected with the number of European Turtle Doves falling by 79%.  The study shows that environmental degregation is having a major impact, not just on birds but on bio-diversity in general.  Readers may recall how Emma Isola and Ralph Emerson sing a lament to the newly weds, Captain Lewin and Lady Katharine on Christmas Eve, which is all about two Turtle Doves!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCB4-JWZ1kQ&feature=related

Posted in Q65 Have you ever wished you could fly?, Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Q33 Do you believe in life after death?, Q28 Have you ever lived in poverty?, Q10 Have you ever seen a ghost?, Q.3 Do you have a good imagination? | 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 »

15/05/2008 by admin.

Levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere have hit record levels. 

Scientists in Hawaii say levels of the climate change gas had hit 387 parts per million (ppm), the highest level for 650,000 years.  Levels of CO2 have been rising since 1958 and the rate of growth is increasing, rising by more than 2 ppm most years since 2000.  The level is just a few years away from what many regard as the tipping point of 400 ppm, when experts say the world will start heating up dangerously. 

Timely then that Madonna should release her new song, ‘Four Minutes to Save the World’, especially as her work, ‘Hey You’  was captured early in our Watch.  Here’s the video link:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5-BJY00nHI

More curious though is her YouTube message - what was it Malachi said to the world about humans obsession with cleanliness! Take a look (video contains a swear word)

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

Meanwhile, HRH Prince Charles has spoken of an urgent need to stop deforestation of the tropical rainforests.  The Prince asks for us to make the connection between felling of the Amazon, and the poverty of the local people.  He suggests investment in the local people is a like an insurance policy for the world; preventing climate chaos from escalating.  Acting against deforestation is a dramatic way to take action that will have an immediate impact, whilst other solutions are explored.  Listen:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7402104.stm

Posted in Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q39 Do you believe in magic?, Q21 Have you ever hugged a tree?, Q28 Have you ever lived in poverty?, Q.4 Have you ever wanted to stop the clock? | No Comments »

14/04/2008 by admin.

Research by the National trust shows that global warming is already bringing a huge amount of change to the British coast.  Increased flooding and erosion will force some species away from their habitats - but others may be attracted by the higher temperatures.  Rising sea levels could drown freshwater pools and isolate mud flats and marshes, forcing wading birds and terns out of their homes.  Shingle beaches used by grey seals to raise their pups could be isolated.

World food prices have become so high that hundreds of thousands of people in a large set of countries could starve, warned the head of the International Monetary Fund.  The rising costs of basic crops, such as wheat and and rice, are a global problem, reaching record levels.  Poor harvests and a shift to crops for biofuels are being blamed for the peak.

Meanwhile, NASA has released new stunning images of Phobos - one of Mars’ moons! Readers may recall that Ben speculated on the presence of Mars and its moons on the night Malachi unearthed Lucy’s locket! Creepy? 

Posted in Q70 Do you like to look at the stars?, Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Q53 Do you prefer to keep warm?, Q28 Have you ever lived in poverty?, Q18 Do you let your heart rule your head?, Q15 Do you sometimes fear the worst? | No Comments »

26/03/2008 by admin.

As if to symbolise our ‘throw-away’ society, a plastic space warrior has found its way to the incredibly isolated Pacific island of Midway. 

The little figure must have been at sea for months. It was found during a beach clean-up.  We talk about “throwing away” but in reality “away” can mean a place like Midway. And the cost is grisly. The island is littered with the bodies of albatrosses that haven’t made it. Their stomachs are brimming with plastic.  This has a poignant ring of Samuel Coleridge’s, Rime of the Ancient Mariner, where the Captain slays the albatross and it returns to haunt him!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7320000/newsid_7326500/7326581.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&asb=1&news=1&bbcws=1

Meanwhile, further South, an ice-shelf is on the verge of breaking-up much faster than experts had predicted.  A chunk of ice the size of the Isle of Man has started to breakaway.  View the story here…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7310000/newsid_7313600/7313662.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&asb=1&news=1&bbcws=1

This, as in Bangladesh, a plague of rats is threatening 150,000 villagers in isolated communities with starvation.  Legend has it that the events only happen every 50 years or so.  What did Malachi warn about the rat? Mmm.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7310000/newsid_7314300/7314308.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&asb=1&news=1&bbcws=1

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q35 Do you trust your instincts?, Q28 Have you ever lived in poverty?, Q11 Do you believe in justice? | No Comments »

15/03/2008 by admin.

An eye-catching all-white squirrel has been caught on camera in the village of Wye in Kent. Although the odds of an albino squirrel are 1 in 100,000, the Garden of England seems to be awash with them all of a sudden.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/southerncounties/community/white/critters.shtml

How strange given the role of squirrels in the Haymakers Survey and Lucy’s words about pure white capturing all the colours of the rainbow spectrum.

Remember too there have been several rare albino breeds of animals recorded in our watch. Ought the ‘white squirrel of Wye’ be better described as the ‘white squirrel of why?’ in honour of ‘The Haymakers Survey’, especially as the Hay-on-Wye literature festival is coming up in the spring!

A mystery donor has given £5.5m towards the BBC Sport Relief  Appeal!  The generousity of the gift was over-whelming, by far the largest donation to a charity telethon ever in the UK, helping to change lives here and in the poorest  countries in the world. 

Posted in Q54 Do you enjoy a bit of a mystery?, Q39 Do you believe in magic?, Q31 Are you a charitable neighbour?, Q28 Have you ever lived in poverty?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted? | No Comments »

13/03/2008 by admin.

In these trying economic times, it’s curious that gold has surged to a record high of $1,000 per nugget, whilst oil has reached $111 per barrel.  How much would the golden locket fetch if put on the open market?  And, what would Nelson say about the cost of oil? Let’s see where this is headed!

Posted in Q28 Have you ever lived in poverty? | No Comments »

18/02/2008 by admin.

The developed world’s passion for bottled water has been called into question.  Most of it is imported, bringing ethical and environmental concerns.  In Britain, we have perfectly drinkable tap water, yet the ‘love-affair’ for bottled water has gone unchecked and has grown significantly in the last few decades.  Pity those in the developing world deprived of fresh drinking water.  It brings a new perspective to Samuel’s prophetic words, ‘water water everywhere, nor any drop to drink!” To find out more view…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7250000/newsid_7250000/7250011.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&asb=1&news=1&bbcws=1

A 70 million-year-old fossil of a giant frog has been unearthed in Madagascar by a team of scientists.  The fossil has been named Beelzebufo or ‘Frog from Hell’.  The 16in long frog is thought to have had an agressive ’sit-and-wait’ temperament and been a formidable predator.  Just imagine such a ’sit-and-wait’ frog in a jar!

A study released today by Virgin Media shows Britons are racing through life faster than ever and will hit meltdown if they do not change their habits.  We are bolting our meals, spending money like there’s no tomorrow and not even slowing down to share some love.  Psychologist Honey Lancaster-James said Britons were now living life at a ‘crazy pace’.  She said, “The question we have to ask ourselves is, where is this going to end?” Any wonder that we struggle to respond to the challenges of our climate in chaos?

Posted in Q36 Should a good life cost the Earth?, Q69 Do you put off to tomorrow what you could do today?, Q28 Have you ever lived in poverty?, Q24 Do you get enough time to yourself?, Q15 Do you sometimes fear the worst?, Q22 Do you love our Earth? FREE CHRISTMAS PRIZE DRAW!, Q.4 Have you ever wanted to stop the clock? | No Comments »

30/01/2008 by admin.

Ripley’s famous, Believe It or Not! exhibition, featuring the weird and wonderful, has found a new home in London.  The exhibition will open in August 2008 at the iconic Trocedero in London’s West End.  The hosts plan to give visitors some truely exciting and unusual memories, which in some ways is what The Haymaker’s Survey aims to achieve!

The Treasury has announced plans to remove the traditional Britannia - the female personification of Britian - from coinage for the first time in over 300 years to be replace with an image representing modern Britain.  On the current 50p coin, Britannia is shown sitting beside a lion, with a shield on her right side, holding a trident and an olive branch, here:

Curious that Britannia features on the coins discovered by the Whittenbury’s in the garden at Keeper’s Cottage - the same coins presented during the Maundy Ceremony. We see this as further evidence that Mother Nature is at risk due to the impact of modern living.  

A hen in a small Mexican village has become a celebrity—it lays eggs with green shells.  It began doing so since 5 december 2007.  The chicken’s onwer, Romero, says she has never seen anything like it!  

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/01/080130-eggs-video-ap.html

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q39 Do you believe in magic?, Q28 Have you ever lived in poverty?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you? | No Comments »

17/07/2007 by admin.

Arizona has been hit by a massive sandstorm caught on video. It’s like something from a movie about the revenge of an Egyptian mummy. Sandstorms aren’t new to the area, but from our perspective it’s interesting because of its sheer size. Is nature trying to show the world that our message about our purpose in life is the right one? Question 1

This as life in England is like the “Best of times and the worst of times” That’s the view of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation based on evidence that the division between rich and poor is at its highest level for 40 years. Question 28

Ancient Viking treasure has been discovered in a field in Harrogate, North England. The British Museum, says it’s the most important find in Britain for over 150 years. They say the find is globally significant. It was found by a father and son using a metal detector. Bill Darvill would be deeply envious – it has 617 pieces of silver. The items were so richly preserved, as though they had crept through a time portal. For obvious reasons, we like the engraving of a rider on horseback that dominates the cup in which the items were discovered. Oh, did you know an anagram of Harrogate is Earth Agro! Questions 37 and 80

Posted in Q80 Have you ever searched for buried treasure?, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q28 Have you ever lived in poverty?, Q.1 Does your life have a purpose? | No Comments »