24/02/2011 by admin.

The Haymakers Survey uses art as a medium to help inspire love for Nature. Well. there’s an award winning museum and art gallery in Sandhurst, Gloucestershire which is the world’s first dedicated to art inspired by Nature.  Aside from the aesthetic and cultural appeal of what it has to offer we’re drawn to it today because of magical events in neighbouring Quedgeley.

The village of Quedgeley has close connections with the RAF. Its official name was No 7 Maintenance Unit, RAF Quedgeley with the motto, Omnibus Ubique Servimus which means, “We Serve All, Everywhere”.  Interesting…

The Haymakers Survey tells how if you put a frog in a jar of water and slowly heat it the frog will die as it fails to react in time to the threat that eventually brings its demise. It’s a parable often used to highlight the threat to humanity presented by global warming.  Is it just coincidence then that Donna Hunt discovered a tropical tree frog amongst strawberries purchased from her local Tesco store in Quedgeley? She found it at the bottom of her fridge and thought at first it was a mouldy strawberry. Is this rare event so close to the home of Nature in Art a clear message that humanity needs to ‘cool down’ the Earth by reducing its CO2 emmissions and moving away from our dependency on oil?

We’re not the story tellers - Mother Nature is. Is it weird or what?

http://nature-in-art.org.uk/

Maybe the frog arrived with a message from the creator…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4o8TeqKhgY&feature=related

Posted in Q52 Do you believe in miracles?, Q53 Do you prefer to keep warm?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q41 Do you like surprises?, Q39 Do you believe in magic?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion? | No Comments »

23/11/2010 by admin.

The opening scenes from our novel includes the flight of a white bird over the head of Ben Whittingbury. It happened just after he made his pledge to be Nature’s Champion and before his errie mystical encounter with the Lady in Grey.

In Christian faith the dove represents the Holy Spirit. Its also thought of as a symbol of love and peace. Curiously a white dove has befriended Rebekah Horsfield a 13 year old teenager from Surrey. Rebekah came across the bird last week sitting on the pavement. She approached it and it chose to fly up and sit on her shoulder. It now keeps close to her side and the pair are becoming inseparable. Rebekah has named the bird Snowy! Snowy sits on top of the computer when Rebekah is on the internet. She thinks Snowy might be a magician’s pet.

Meanwhile Bobby Haas a photographer has taken a remarkable arial photograph in Yucatan Mexico of hundreds of flamingos gathered to form the image of a bird. Mr Haas described the shot as the Holy Grail of photography. He said,”The reaction has been remarkable. Some people have said it is divine intervention and proof there is a God.”

Remember we’re counting on you to have faith, live in harmony and peace with Mother Nature and love this planet Earth.

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q65 Have you ever wished you could fly?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q39 Do you believe in magic?, Q52 Do you believe in miracles?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted? | No Comments »

17/11/2010 by admin.

Using a metal detector, James Hyatt, a 3 year old boy from Essex has unearthed an amazing engraved 500 year old gold locket estimated to be worth £2.5m. Believed to have once belonged to royalty the locket carries an engraving of a woman - assumed to be the Virgin Mary holding a crucifix and depicts a rose bud. The figure is also standing on a mesh or web. On the reverse are five bleeding hearts. On the sides are the names of the three kings or Magi who visited Christ after his birth, including Jaspar in Latin. Experts believe the locket once held alleged parts of Christ’s thorn of crowns.

James found the lost treasure in a field near Hockley when out with his father, a web designer. James said, “I was holding the detector and it went beep,beep,beep. Then we dug in the mud and there was gold there”.  

The discovery of a gold locket in mud against a web-log is central to our story - see free sample. A metal detector is also a key part of the journey of discovery. The locket in our novel belonged to a Great Creator and represents Mother Nature. It was heart shaped and brings a message of faith and hope. A message that we need to take care of Planet Earth and the natural environment. The locket’s discovery shows us that humanity is at the crossroads. It’s the begining of the journey that led to the Whittenbury Watch and the magical events recorded on this site.  A rose bud also features strongly in our tale - to symbolise the beauty of our world and we are warned that the rose is dying.

We believe the discovery is priceless. It vindicates the messages in the Whittenbury Watch. Afterall the very final words in the book are ‘To Jasper - we did it!” Do you believe yet?

It’s all a matter of faith!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=883t2Pac8pk 

Posted in Q80 Have you ever searched for buried treasure?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q52 Do you believe in miracles?, Q41 Do you like surprises?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q.5 Do you believe in fate? | 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 »

22/08/2010 by admin.

On 5 August the roof of the San Jose copper-gold mine near Copiapo in Chile collapsed trapping 33 miners some 700 metres underground. We’re delighted to report that after days of searching the miners have been located alive and seemingly well. Through a bore hole used to locate them they’ve sent a message to emotional loved ones above which translates to ‘The 33 of us are fine in the shelter’.

Hours later cameras were lowered into the bore hole, taking the first images of the trapped workers. How amazing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryUuw385jKk&feature=related

Plans are now underway to find a way to evacuate the miners, but in the meantime Los 33 have to live in a cave. Uncanny given the Whittenburys’ discussion in a novel about life in a cave… and the conclusion of the first part of our trilogy has similarities.  The shape of Chile is a distinctive ribbon of land. Chile’s territorities include Easter Island in the Pacific, featured in another Watch story because humans exploited the environment. Chiliens also call their country the ‘pais de poetas; the country of poets.  We’re sure Charles Lamb, Samuel Coleridge and Percy Shelley would be most interested in these coincidences. It’s a strange old world.

Posted in Q80 Have you ever searched for buried treasure?, Star Question - what happened to the blue ribbon?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Q52 Do you believe in miracles?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q29 Could you live without machines?, Q15 Do you sometimes fear the worst? | 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 »

26/05/2010 by admin.

In Thessalonika, Greece a flood of frogs has forced the closure of a key northern highway for two hours. The chief of traffic police for Thessaloniaka said that ‘millions’ of the amphibians covered the tarmac. There was a ‘carpet’ of frogs.  Authorities chose to close the road after three cars nearly sped off it.

The amazing spectacle was caught on camera - see video below.  The most favoured explanation is that the frogs merely left a nearby lake in search of food. Others have speculated that they were feeling in anticipation of an earthquake. Our take is perhaps more insightful. 

First our novel includes (page 171) the fable of the frog that stayed in the jar of water as it gradually warmed until he boiled alive - it’s an anology for humans being reluctant to change behaviour until crisis occurs, which from an ecological perspective will be far too late. 

Second in his journal Charles Lamb describes the gathering of ‘The Haymakers’ as a grand Salon (page 279) a coming together of great minds to ponder the consequences of population growth and the industrial revolution on planet Earth.  Fascinating since the original name for Thessalonika was Salonika.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/10167636.stm

Third the monuments of ThesSALONika are a recognised UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site was chosen in 1988 for cultural reasons the criteria for which can include “to represent a masterpiece in human creative genius.”  Maybe the message is deeper - another message from Mother Nature about preserving our natural heritage - planet Earth and its great and glorious diversity.  As we say ‘Its not that easy being green’.

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

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q52 Do you believe in miracles?, Q51 Have you ever taken part in a protest?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q46 Do you value a good education?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted? | 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 »

05/09/2009 by admin.

At Hartland Quay in Devon, a man miraculously survived a 200ft plunge in his car over a cliff.  Steve Jones, Watch Manager at Swansea Coastguard, said, “It beggars belief how he managed to survive.” The man was airlifted to safety and taken to a local hospital.

We’ve chosen to include this miraculous escape in our Watch because Hartland Quay sounds like Heartland Key -  and our readers know all about the three hearts in our story, illustrating Love, Art and Nature - and how we learn that faith is the key to solving the ecological crisis; trusting the forecasts and expected implications of climate chaos and responding quickly and sensibly to the challenges ahead.

Miracles happen…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4bFtJB4CLo&feature=related

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Q52 Do you believe in miracles?, Q43 Do you believe in happy endings?, Q22 Do you love our Earth? | No Comments »

11/07/2009 by admin.

Warning Plot spoiler

In our novel, Charles Lamb’s journal records how the Captain is lost at sea feared drowned yet Lady Plumer later reveals a sighting of him that leaves her suspecting he survived.

We were therefore thrilled to read about the adventures of a budgie named Captain who was miraculously found adrift at sea off the coast of Devon.  He was discovered by chance barelky alive by a diving team.  The bird was reunited with his owner, Mr Peel, after he saw its picture in his local paper. It seems the bird escaped from his enclosure and managed to evade predators before flying out to sea only to tire and fall exhausted into the water.  the bird was ringed which allowed him to be reunited with Mr Peel.  Curiously the Captain seemed all the better for his adventure.  Mr Peel said,”I’ve never seen a bird look so healthy - it has done him the world of good”.

Posted in Q65 Have you ever wished you could fly?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q52 Do you believe in miracles?, Q43 Do you believe in happy endings?, Q41 Do you like surprises?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you? | No Comments »