22/10/2011 by admin.

In 1484, a scurrilous note was pinned to the door of St Paul’s Cathedral. It read quite simply, “The Catte, the Rattee and Lovell our dogge rulyth all Englande under a hogge.”  The brief, cryptic, satarical poem lampooned some of the highest born in the land, including Richard III who feared the poem would be used as proganda to lead a rebellion. 

In our novel Malachi warns us of the significance of the poem, perhaps directed at the inept way in which leaders across the globe are able to adopt a truely sustainable approach to living - being weighed down instead by economic crisis and war in the Middle East. 

Its fascinating then that an Occupy camp has set up outside of St Paul’s Cathedral. The group, Occupy London Stock Exchange, are protesting about the way financial institutions have mismanaged affairs in recent years.  Their presence has led to the cathedral being closed to visitors for the first time since the end of the Second World War.  The decision was taken for health and safety reasons. 

A spokesperson for the group, who gave her name as Lucy, said, “It was felt by everyone that we really wanted to stay and continue with the protest. This protest is massive, it affects everybody, everyone’s watching at home right now. It’s not just about a few people who have got some tents in St Paul’s, it’s not a stunt, it’s not a spectacle.”

Remember readers - in Charles Lamb’s Journal, Lucy’s the name of Mother Nature. Perhaps there’s a deeper spiritual message to all of this - that we should turn away from greed, money and possessions and live to saviour the beauty of the Earth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0qQyW0W0Rw

Posted in Q62 Have you ever helped the poor?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q51 Have you ever taken part in a protest?, Q36 Should a good life cost the Earth?, Q28 Have you ever lived in poverty?, Q33 Do you believe in life after death?, Q22 Do you love our Earth? | No Comments »

22/03/2011 by admin.

Knut, the world’s most famous polar bear, has died at just 4 years of age. 

 Rejected by his mother he was put in an incubator and raised by humans from a cub at Berlin Zoo. His story captured the imagination of an adoring public and was adopted by many as an icon on tackling climate change.  Polar bears can live for up to 30 years in the wild. 

His premature death from brain damage has provoked renewed debate about the ethics of keeping large animals in zoos.  Comments on the BBC website are wide ranging including, human arrogance in interfering with nature’s course, our sentimentality in relating to wild creatures, the role of status species in zoo’s as ambassadors for their breathen in the wild, and the importance of not judging nature by human standards. 

Whatever your view Knut’s short life should be cherished - we loved the polar bear champion. Maybe his early death is another signal that we need to act quickly to address the threats to the natural world.

Posted in Q48 Have you ever played solitaire?, Q50 Do you miss someone you love?, Q33 Do you believe in life after death?, Q24 Do you get enough time to yourself?, Q18 Do you let your heart rule your head?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion? | No Comments »

18/10/2010 by admin.

The state lottery in Isreal has drawn exactly the same six numbers as the draw 3 weeks before - an event statisticians claim was a one in four trillion chance. The numbers that rolled out on a live TV broadcast were 36,33,32,26,14 and 13. The chance of 6 identical numbers being drawn in this way was judged as a 1 in 10,000 year event.

The six numbers were the same as those drawn on 21 September - which took place at the autumn equinox - a date so significant to The Haymakers Survey.

The questions for these numbers are

Q36. Should a good life cost the Earth?

Q33. Do you believe in life after death?

Q32. Are you afraid of the dark?

Q26. Do you take poetry seriously?

Q14. Do you believe your stars?

Q13. Have you ever been mistaken for someone else?

Maybe these questions will prove significant in the weeks to come. Let’s see!

We believe this remarkable coincidence is designed to draw people to the magic of The Haymakers Survey. This watch is overwhelmed with remarkable questions. Our readers will know all about the message left by The Emperor in our novel on the prospects of life on Earth in its current form - see page 159.

We like these surprises. We love pulling the rug from under your feet.

Posted in Q41 Do you like surprises?, Q62a Is life logical?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q36 Should a good life cost the Earth?, Q33 Do you believe in life after death?, Q14 Do you believe your stars?, Q26 Do you take poetry seriously?, Q32 Are you afraid of the dark?, Q13 Have you ever been mistaken for someone else? | No Comments »

13/10/2010 by admin.

‘Mision cumplida Chile’ was the sign held up by the rescue workers after they returned 33 trapped miners to the surface. ‘ means in English ‘Mission accomplished Chile!’

The world watched in joyful awe and wonder amid suspense and jubiliance the miners returned to life to be greeted by loved ones. Each had their own stories to tell and reacted in their own personal way to being rescued.  The miners survived underground for a record 68 to 69 days.  As one story put it the miners claimed, “A deep religious faith powered this rescue; miners, rescuers and families alike believe their prayers were answered.”  The Chilean president declared the rescue a miracle.

Our previous item on the event captured the links with The Haymakers Survey - essentially about living in a cave and the biblical conclusion ‘ out of the depths I cried unto the’.  There are some other coincidences…

The second miner to be rescued brought rocks to the surface as momentoes: our novel refers to the magical stones and the biblical reference ‘I tell you with these stones I can raise children’.

Whilst another miner asked when he got to the surface, ”how the’s dog?’” we wonder if this was in reality a testament to Malachi -our messenger.  

It leads us to conclude that the whole episode is a message to humanity - that we can achieve great things together against all odds and that there’s a task to be done - to take proper care of this fragile Earth!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGecqHnN2gQ

Posted in Q68 Does the Earth have a spirit?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q69 Do you put off to tomorrow what you could do today?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q79 Have you ever looked into the shadows?, Q57 Have you ever spied on anyone?, Q52 Do you believe in miracles?, Q29 Could you live without machines?, Q15 Do you sometimes fear the worst?, Q32 Are you afraid of the dark?, Q33 Do you believe in life after death?, Q50 Do you miss someone you love?, Q43 Do you believe in happy endings?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion? | No Comments »

16/06/2010 by admin.

In the United States the state of Ohio is known as a ‘bellwether’ which is an entity that serves to create or influence trends or to presage future happenings. Ohio’s motto is ‘With God, all things are possible’.  Perhaps this helps explain why a 60ft statute of Jesus outside the Solid Rock Church in Ohio has burned to the ground after being struck by lightening on Monday during an intense thunderstorm.  With its upraised arms the statute was an iconic figure visible from far around and the sight of it ablaze was very dramatic.

One of the local observers at the Solid Rock Church suggested that this is a sign from God that we (humanity) are doing something wrong.  Rocks play a significant part in our tale and the statue was at the east side of interstate 75.  Well our question 75 is ‘Have you ever put on a show?’ and at the heart of our survey is faith for we believe that a divine force is behind it. Follow your heart. Expand your mind. Explore this watch against the online novel. Time to act to preserve our natural world is fast running out. The time for hesitation’s through…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG2NfVgfXV0 

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q54 Do you enjoy a bit of a mystery?, Q34 Have you ever restored something?, Q52 Do you believe in miracles?, Q33 Do you believe in life after death? | No Comments »

17/09/2009 by admin.

Page 184 of our novel recalls a discussion in the White Horse pub about Ben’s role as Earth Champion. Our anti-hero, Bill Darvill teases Ben and belittles the threat posed by climate change,

“I don’t get all this fuss about the polar bear. If the ice is melting in the Arctic then why not ship them south to the Antarctic.” In response Jonas Fosbrooke defends Ben saying, “Or to a greatly expanded Museum of Natural History… alongside the Dodo… and the countless others on the endangered list.”

So it comes as no surprise to us that the Museum has expanded - with Prince William opening a new £78m Darwin centre known as the cocoon - housing 17 million insect specimens and 3 million plant specimens. 

The centre also hosts a Climate Change Wall, which educates the public about the subject.  Yet more coincidences to serve as timely reminders on the need to preserve our living planet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNhwLe8hSfQ

Posted in Q49 Do you ever think about the old days?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q47 Do you know your history?, Q46 Do you value a good education?, Q36 Should a good life cost the Earth?, Q33 Do you believe in life after death? | No Comments »

02/07/2009 by admin.

Footage has been released of Michael Jackson in rehersal for the ‘This is It’ tour. 

The video which - was his last ever performance  -has a poignant haunting edge to it given the unexpected death of the pop icon.  We wonder did the King of Pop unwittingly leave a timely reminder to all of humanity?  Why so? Well, the performance concludes with the superstar and his fellow dancers revealing the same palm signal to that recorded in Royston Cave and explored by Charles Lamb in his journal.   The hands are also mentioned by ‘The Emperor’ as a clear warning about our treatment of this planet: Stop! Stop! Stop!

Here’s the link to the footage…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8131776.stm

And here’s a picture of Royston Cave with the hand prints.

One of Michael’s hits was ‘Earth Song’.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOnL5c8LMqM&feature=related

In his words, “Did you ever stop to notice this crying Earth is weeping sure.”

R.I.P Michael - We love you!

Posted in Q61 Have you ever worn fancy dress?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q47 Do you know your history?, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q22 Do you love our Earth?, Q33 Do you believe in life after death?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion? | No Comments »

24/01/2009 by admin.

An exhibition at Leicester Museum launched today and tells the story of polar bears, the largest land predators on Earth, and their journey to the museums and stately homes of Britain.  Titled, Nanoq - Inuit for Polar Bear - its a visual art display. Between 2002 and 2004 artists Bryndis Snaebjorndottir and Mark Wilson carried out a study of taxidermied polar bears in the UK.  33 bears were traced and photographed in situ.  The research forms the photographic exhibition and documents the history of each bear; its captivity and age at death.

The touring exhibition runs until 5 April.  It has previously exhibited at the University of Iceland, the Horniman Museum and the Fram Museum, Oslo. Nanoq also featured as part of HEAT: Art and Climate Change in Melbourne.

We’re still tickled that they identified 33 polar bears, given the significance of number 3 in our tale!

Posted in Star Question - what happened to the blue ribbon?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q47 Do you know your history?, Q33 Do you believe in life after death?, Q.2 Are you an art lover? | No Comments »

21/12/2008 by admin.

Our readers will be aware of the significance of the X Factor poser in our narration. Well, the saga continues for the winner of this year’s contest Alexandra Burke now tops the pop tree with her powerful cover version of the song, Hallelujah.  The version has two fewer verses than the original and includes a key change.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=wAaw6VWpk4A

Alexandra’s closely followed in the charts by a more sombre but much acclaimed version by Jeff Buckley, first released in 1984.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=AratTMGrHaQ

It;s the first time in 51 years that the same song has occupied the top two positions in the UK pop charts - and the first time ever at Christmas.

A remarkable trinity of the song’s presence in the Top 40 is completed by Leonard Cohen’s original version, released in 1984.

We wonder whether the trilogy represents Art, Love and Nature?  Is it a call to arms from God - afterall the Hebrew meaning of the word Hallelujah is a request for a congreation to join in praise (of a divine force’s influence on The Haymaker’s Survey)?

FACE IN THE CLOUDS

Our novel recalls how Caleb Hitch reminded Ben Whittenbury of the likelihood of an encounter with supernatural forces on the Winter Solstice - the shortest day - in the run up to his ghostly encounter with Queen Caroline that fateful night in 2006.  How strange that 3 years later we should unwittingly capture a strange face in the clouds at sunset on this Winter Solstice?  Its almost as though Mother Nature was trying to provide some evidence for the doubting public of the credibility of this project.  Here take a look at the video which we’ve produced…

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=U4WouBKSCm8&feature=channel_page

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q52 Do you believe in miracles?, Q46 Do you value a good education?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion?, Q33 Do you believe in life after death?, Q.1 Does your life have a purpose? | No Comments »

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 »