22/09/2009 by admin.

In celebration of the Autumn Equinox - an event significant in our project - we’ve put together a promotional video, which is featured below.  

Sky TV and You Tube are running competitions for video entries to inspire and engage the world on the issues.  We could use the video as an entry but it may be judged a commercial activity (which it isn’t as we make no money from the project) or the mention of our website could disallow it.   These are fundamental parts of our project - we’re tempted to ‘break the rules’ but will have to tinker! Oh these things are so difficult sometimes!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xbcG5bphlk

Posted in Q56 Do you believe rules are there to be broken?, Q68 Does the Earth have a spirit?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Q51 Have you ever taken part in a protest?, Q43 Do you believe in happy endings?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q22 Do you love our Earth?, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q.3 Do you have a good imagination? | No Comments »

13/09/2009 by admin.

On page 86 of our novel, Malachi, says, “What is it with humans - this obsession with keeping things clean and tidy?”  

How charming then that Sir David Attenborough, the famed wildlife ambassador, presenter and naturalist appeared at the Last Night of the Proms playing a FLOOR POLISHER as a musical instrument as part of a comic music piece, ‘A Grand, Grand Overture by Sir Malcom Arnold. Sir David was joined at the Royal Albert Hall by pianist Stephen Hough.

Did Sir David unwittingly endorse Malachi’s words? Might we substitute our obsession for cleaning and tidying with caring for the environment?

Another curiosity with Sir David’s appearance is that the Last Night is traditionally connected with British Patriotism because our discussion under Star Question (page 499) explores why The Haymakers Survey was shared with the world in Britain.  We identifed many reasons why here and now. Let’s celebrate with Jerusalem with its reference to those ‘Dark Satanic Mills’ mentioned by Charles Lamb at the start of his journal (page 233).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bggV_Dbj87w

Posted in Star Question - what happened to the blue ribbon?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q22 Do you love our Earth? | No Comments »

24/08/2009 by admin.

“Hedgehogs: why can’t they just share the hedge?”

The amusing question has been voted the funniest joke at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival.  The winning joke was by the comedian Dan Antopolski from his ‘Silent but Deadly’ performance. Its another example in our Watch relating to Hedgehogs - a way of describing Hertfordshire folk as captured in our novel.

If that wasn’t enough of a coincidence, the runner-up was a joke by Paddy Lennox about a chicken and an egg - a subject on which Malachi speculated in our novel. the joke goes: “I was watching the London Marathon and saw one runner dressed as a chicken and another runner dressed as an egg. I thought: ‘This could be interesting’.”

Environmental chaos is no laughing matter of course as the forest fires outside of Athens illustrate but we go to any lengths to make our point!  One of Sarah’s favourite jokes is “Why don’t polar bears eat penguins? Because they can’t get the wrappers off.”

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q19 Do you love hedgehogs? | No Comments »

17/08/2009 by admin.

Crasher the Squirrel has become an internet sensation recently after he popped up in a photo taken by Melissa Brandt and her husband at a National Park in Canada. Since then the curious fellow has gone global with his image superimposed in many famous pictures around the world. 

Here’s the original….

And here’s some of the follow ups…

It’s another delightful story involving grey squirrels whose antics have intrigued us given their role in our novel as a partner to Yggdrasil - the mythical ‘Tree of Life’. The squirrels are present to demonstrate that the time for talking on action to preserve the environment is over, so its fascinating that Crasher popped up in a National Park - a reserve of land declared or owned to protect it from human development and pollution. 

According to the World Conservation Union there are now over 6,500 such parks worldwide. The National Parks of England and Wales are relatively undeveloped and scenic landscapes. There are currently 12 in England and Wales - the same number as the mystical stones revealed in our story. The national parks include the Lake District, which William Wordsworth described in 1810 as a ’sort of national property in which every man has a right and interest who has an eye to perceive and a heart to enjoy.“

Posted in Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q41 Do you like surprises?, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q.3 Do you have a good imagination? | 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 »

26/07/2009 by admin.

Yesterday, Julia and Ben had the pleasure of going to see the Bootleg Beatles at a charity concert at Hopley’s Gardens in Much Hadham. The performance was just a stone’s throw from the key landmarks in our story: Keeper’s Cottage, Blakesware Manor and St John’s Church Widford.  Given the role of The Beatles in our story, how curious that the world’s premier Beatles tribute band should perform in the county during the period of the Watch and at a time when they are celebrating their 30th anniversary!

The Whittenbury’s had a fabulous time and took a few pictures of the celebrated fab four tribute band.  

Perhaps their visit has somethng to do with our sequel? Time will out all!

Here’s the link to their website…

http://www.bootlegbeatles.com/

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q61 Have you ever worn fancy dress?, Q49 Do you ever think about the old days?, Q37 Do you know how to have fun? | No Comments »

06/04/2009 by admin.

Tate Britain is rereating an interative exhibition from nearly 40 years ago. When it first showed in 1971 US artist Robert Morris’s ‘Bodyspacemotionthings’ featured cylinders, ramps and weights on chains.  The exhibit closed after just 4 days when audiences went wild, including ‘going wild’ on seesaws.  However, the relaunched exhibits will be much safer as they will have to conform with current health and safety rules.

So, how does all this relate to ‘The Haymakers Survey’? Well, Tate Britain is home to the ‘Haymakers’ painting by George Stubbs which triggered Ben Whittenbury’s pursuit as Nature’s Champion as recorded in our novel.  A novel which includes a scene where Julia and Sarah use a discarded cart as a make-shift seesaw.  On it they discuss the appearance of the ‘Lady in Grey’ who represents the spread of the industrial world over the natural world.  As they swing to and fro Malachi climbs aboard to keep everything in balance - which is what humanity needs to do much better. 

Posted in Q49 Do you ever think about the old days?, Q60 Have you ever experienced deja vu?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q46 Do you value a good education?, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q.3 Do you have a good imagination?, Q23 Do you believe all the laws of physics?, Q.2 Are you an art lover? | No Comments »

02/02/2009 by admin.

The South-East of England has experienced its heaviest snow fall for nearly 20 years, bringing travel chaos, school closures and causing millions of people to take the day off work.  So far, some parts of London have had 8 inches of snow, covering the heart of government with a blanket of snow for politicians to enjoy.

So, Global Warming is just a rouse right? Let’s look at this from ‘The Haymakers Survey’ perspective. In early February 1823, Charles Lamb’s journal begins (pages 374 and 375), “A magnificent deep white snow has settled about the [Ware] Uplands… changing it into a fairytale land.  I wish Hans [Christian Anderson] and Albert [Thorvaldsen] had remained to witness it. Hans could have recounted his Snow Queen tales, and Albert could have borne witness to the majesty of Yggdrasil in deep snow - yes Gaia for he claimed the real magic of the tree is only witnessed at that time.”

Later that day the journal records how Charles witnessed 12 snow angels perfectly formed about the tree and how Lucy - Mother Nature personified - invited Charles to, “look at the snow. Isn’t it simply beautiful?… Wonderful isn’t it how no two snowflakes are alike.” The young Malachi stretched up to greet her and she said, “Hello, my little polar bear - enjoying the snow are we? Make the most of it my friend for it will disappear befor you can say Jack Frost.”

What’s more, the journal [page 289] records how William Turner’s painting ‘Snow Storm: Hannibal Crossing the Alps’ features in the Gallery to serve as a warning to learn from Napoleon’s demise and turn back whilst the chance still prevails rather than press on and face defeat.  Captured by the Curator’s Assistant, it warns of the might of Nature!

Interesting too that the snow brought commerce and travel to a standstill on a day when a report by the Children’s Society invited us to review our relationships with our children - promoting love and fun!  Did a forgiving Mother Nature intervene on our behalf?

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

Poignant too that across the other side of the globe, the South-East of Australia,  a country so strongly linked to Britain, are experiencing record temperatures of 40 degrees plus over a sustained period, causing power outages in Melbourne.

Here’s a special report on the snowfall on behalf of Sky News… enjoy!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qa3DcGqqBQ&feature=channel_page

Posted in Q53 Do you prefer to keep warm?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q46 Do you value a good education?, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted?, Q22 Do you love our Earth?, Q.6 Do you believe in fairy tales? | No Comments »

23/01/2009 by admin.

Barrack Obama has been sworn in as President of America for the second time in as many days because one word - faithfully - was spoken out of place during Tuesday’s inauguration ceremony.  The Chief Justice at the US Supreme Courts, Jonathan Roberts, administered the oath at the White House. 

The decision to repeat the oath was taken out of caution, but President Obama joked, “We decided it was such fun.”  Given the new President’s Green credentials, maybe the erroneous first oath was somehow meant to be.

Meanwhile, hundreds of tonnes of wood are beginning to wash ashore off the coast of Kent and Sussex in England. 

The load fell from the Sinegorsk cargo ship in the English Channel on Monday. The vessel is now berched at Southampton.   The incident follows a similar event last year when the Ice Prince shed at 2,000 tonne-load off the Sussex coast.  We see this as another timely reminder of the tragic deforestation taking place across the globe and the extent to which much of it is wasted needlessly.

Finally, we return to Mayfair, recent host of the Rose Cloud experience. 

On this occassion we report on a £22m property which has been taken over by a group of young ‘posh-squat artists’.  The group are occupying a house in Clargy’s Mews is owned by TimeKeeper Ltd who discovered the occupation last month when they spotted a Christmas tree inside.  As the group face immediate eviction they have been holding open days under the theme of an ‘Open School of Thought’.   Our curiosity is the link between the May Fair which featured at the beginning of Charles Lamb’s journal; Art, a central theme in our project; and TimeKeeper.  As the artists suggest, it makes you think!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=QWKdokcvM7A

Posted in Q56 Do you believe rules are there to be broken?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q60 Have you ever experienced deja vu?, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q21 Have you ever hugged a tree?, Q.2 Are you an art lover?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion?, Q.1 Does your life have a purpose? | No Comments »

18/01/2009 by admin.

Sadly, the much loved TV presenter, Tony Hart has died, aged 83.

For some 50 years, the presenter inspired children to paint and draw.  He designed the original Blue Peter badge and developed the delightful animated clay character, Morph.  His shows included Vision On, Smart and Hartbeat.  Fellow artist, Rolf Harris, described Hart as a, ‘talented and gentle man”.  In an interview last year, Tony said not being able to draw after suffering two strokes as, “The greatest cross I have to bear.”

We admire Tony so much as an ambassador of one of the three aspects of our project represented by hearts - Art! Thank you Tony for all the joy and fun you brought to so many.  Your creativity and vision lives on.  Lets celebrate…

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=iVR83ooN0gc&feature=PlayList&p=D1C0D633D6A90070&playnext=1&index=2

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=UcCHRW8G9yY&feature=related

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jSMRPKM1evk

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Q42 Do you enjoy drawing?, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q.3 Do you have a good imagination?, Q.2 Are you an art lover? | No Comments »