24/09/2009 by admin.

Terry Herbert, an amateur metal detector, has found the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold ever discovered. The harvest of over 1,500 pieces of treasure included weapons, coins, helmet decorations and Christian crosses. The first scraps of gold were found by Terry in July with the last pieces removed by a small army of volunteers a couple of weeks ago.  The hoard is believed to have been in the ground for some 1,300 years and has been declared treasure by coroners with a monetary value of £1m.

Its a magical discovery and we ask, did we foresee it? Page 212 of our novel tells of Bill Darvill’s search for ancient treasure using a metal detector and how he paused now and then to dig the soil of an open field to hunt for gold. It was the prelude to the discovery of Charles Lamb’s journal (page 214). Here’s an extract:

“Legs astride, the metal detector swung too and fro in his [Bill’s] hands like a hypnotic pendulum…. [He] witnessed the heavy clunck as Jonas’ spade struck something buried within the soil. [He] also heard Sarah’s excited shriek, “Yes we’ve found the treasure”.

In response Malachi says, “Open your heart, we’ve got to change. There’s still a chance for us.” He adds in Latin (page 215) “Multorum minibus magnum levator onus” which means “By the hands of many a great load is lightened.”  His words have extra poignancy given a Latin inscription in a strip of gold amongst the Staffordshire hoard which translates in “Rise up O Lord, and may thy enemies be dispersed and they that hate the be dispersed.”

Could it be that the discovery is a timely reminder that we need to work together to salvage the real treasure - the diversity and ecology of the majestic and miraculous planet we inhabit?

Posted in Q80 Have you ever searched for buried treasure?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q68 Does the Earth have a spirit?, Q47 Do you know your history?, Q34 Have you ever restored something?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you? | 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 »

14/09/2009 by admin.

Our readers will know all about the intriguing but alarming notes from the future left to us by the Magician in Tomorrow’s World - 2100 to be precise.  How curious then that the BBC Archive website has launched a new section dedicated to its programme ‘Tomorrow’s World’.  The BBC’s flagship science programme began in 1965 and ran for some 40 years.

Here’s the link to the website…

http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/tomorrowsworld/

Posted in Q47 Do you know your history?, Q46 Do you value a good education?, Q29 Could you live without machines?, Q23 Do you believe all the laws of physics? | No Comments »

07/09/2009 by admin.

LORD MAY ‘GOD HELP US’ 

Lord May, president of the British Association of Science, has suggested that the world [humanity] may have to turn to God to save itself from climate change. On the eve of the association’s national conference, the government’s former chief scientist warned that no country was prepared to take the lead on the issues and a supernatural ’punisher’ was needed to ensure the rules of co-operation were not broken. 

He said that in the past a belief in a god, or gods, that punish the unrighteous may have been part of the mechanism of evolution that maintains co-operation in a dog-eat-dog world. He also believes religious leaders should be doing more to persuade people to combat climate change.

Well our project is designed to help show a deeper magic to creation - be it through God, the Earth Spirit or some other force - through the many examples on this Watch, including…

EASTER ISLAND: HATS OFF

Archaeologists believe they have solved one ancient mystery surrounding the famous Easter Island statues - the source of their giant red hats!

Researchers, Dr Colin Richards and Dr Sue Hamilton from the University of Manchester and University College London, think the hats were rolled down from an ancient volcano.  They came to the conclusion based on a series of clues on the island. Each hat, weighing several tonnes, was carved from volcanic rock. They were placed on the heads of the famous statues all around the coast of the island.  The researchers are joint directors of the “Rapa Nui (Easter Island) Landscapes of Construction Project”. They will be working on the island over the next five years.

We find the timing of the research and its early findings fascinating, especially as a ceremonial adze (axe head) was found in pristine condition next to the hats.  

Precisely how and why the hats were attached is unknown but the comparisions with the mystical top-hat figure at the heart of our story are striking. Its also intriguing that the axe head was discovered beside the monuments given that Charles Lamb’s journal records how Capt Lewin bought one back to Britain following his transatlantic tour and how he inadvertantly caught Charles’ hand with it at ‘The Haymakers Survey’.

The significance of the links is that Easter Island is infamous for the destruction of the eco-system through one of the worst cases of deforestation ever, potentially to help provide sustenance for an ever increasing population. There’s a clear lesson here, especially given the mysterious man in the top hat who seems to be orchestrating every in our tale.

Posted in Q54 Do you enjoy a bit of a mystery?, Q51a How many people does it take to fill up the Earth?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q52 Do you believe in miracles?, Q47 Do you know your history?, Q17 Can you speak another language?, Q22 Do you love our Earth?, Q35 Do you trust your instincts?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted? | 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 »

20/07/2009 by admin.

Another anniversary! Forty years ago today Apollo 11 made history.  

On this day Neil Armstrong spoke the immortal words, ‘One small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind’ as he became the first human to leave a footprint on another celestial body (as far as we know).  The mission fulfilled the vision of President John F. Kennedy made in 1961 to send a man to the moon and return him safely to the Earth before the decade was out.  The ghostly black and white images - viewed at the time by some 600m people - are now ingrained in human conscious, although some conspiracy theorists doubt whether the whole affair was a monumental elaborate hoax!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMINSD7MmT4

In our novel we refer to the remarkable vison, focus and determination demonstrated at that time as an example of what human endeavour can achieve, so the anniversary is a timely reminder in the run up to Copenhagen - when world leaders will come together to agree action on managing carbon emissions.   

Posted in Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Q79 Have you ever looked into the shadows?, Q70 Do you like to look at the stars?, Q47 Do you know your history?, Q29 Could you live without machines?, Q34 Have you ever restored something?, Q10 Have you ever seen a ghost? | No Comments »

04/07/2009 by admin.

As an Independence Day gift to the people of America, the crown on the head of the iconic Statue of Liberty has reopened for the first time since 9/11.  During the next two years, some 50,000 tourists will be able to climb the 168 steps to peer out through the crown to witness the exhilarating views of New York’s skyline and harbour. 

From a Haymakers’ perspective the reopening is poignant and symbolic since our novel features a dream by Charles Lamb in which Lucy Ebbs adopts a pose identical to that of the Statue of Liberty with a beacon held skyward. Her pose was in response to animals fleeing towards her from an oasis set aflame by a crashing ‘bird of iron’!  Within minutes a huge wave appears on the Horizon - then Charles awakes. Alarming yes - but we have to record as we find on this Watch. No apologies - remember the statue is officially entitled, ‘Liberty Enlightening the World’.

On a brighter note here’s a Peanuts video expressing love for the Lady. Enjoy…

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

Posted in Q47 Do you know your history?, Q34 Have you ever restored something?, Q11 Do you believe in justice? | 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 »

23/06/2009 by admin.

Early today a fire broke out in the historic Wellington Inn, Welwyn, Hertfordshire.  The blaze took hold on the top floor of the three-storey building.  Fortunately no one appears to have been injured, but we very much hope the building isn’t too badly damaged. The Wellington has its orgins as an inn dating back to the 13th century and was once visited by the famous writer and diarist Samuel Pepys. 

We feel rather unsettled by the fire. Our readers will recall the mysterious blaze on the Cutty Sark - at Greenwich the home of time - which we recorded in our Watch.  Now we have a fire at another venue linked to our story - afterall did not the Duke of Wellington chair the Blakesware Set?  It’s unsettling given the venue is so close to home.  Given global temperatures are predicted to rise unless carbon emissions are brought under control we wonder - is this a clear sign to us all that the mercury is set to soar? 

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q80a Do you keep a diary?, Q53 Do you prefer to keep warm?, Q47 Do you know your history? | No Comments »

27/02/2009 by admin.

The earliest footprints showing evidence of modern human foot anatomy and gait have been unearthed in Ileret, north Kenya. The size and markings reflect the size and height of Homo erectus - modern man. They’re estimated to be 1.5m years old. 

Perhaps the discovery is a reminder of the need to consider our carbon footprint? We believe so since we found a linked story on the BBC talks about Lucy - the name given to a fossil footprint of an early human who lived about 3 million years ago. The print was discovered in Ethiopia in 1974 by a group of paleoanthropologists who were fans of the Beatles’ song, ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.’ All very curious given the Beatles’ role in our story and, of course, the star role of Lucy - nature personified.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7F2X3rSSCU

Posted in Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q47 Do you know your history?, Q46 Do you value a good education? | No Comments »