12/06/2009 by admin.

Gerrit Blank a teenager from Essen in Germany has been hit by a meteorite yet lived to tell the tale.  He was on his way to school when he saw a fireball heading towards him from the sky.  The missile from space hit the boy’s hand then bounced off to leave a foot long crater in the tarmac.  Gerrit was left with a 3 inch scar in his hand.  It came to him like a bolt out of the blue. It knocked him flying with a sound like thunder that left a ringing in his ears for hours.  The pea-sized meteorite had sped along at 30,000 mph.  There is only one other case of a human  surviving after being hit by a meteorite.  It was a one in a million chance - perhaps a reminder of the reference in our novel of the remarkable speed at which the Earth is moving through space.

Posted in Q70 Do you like to look at the stars?, Q52 Do you believe in miracles?, Q43 Do you believe in happy endings?, Q41 Do you like surprises? | No Comments »

16/04/2009 by admin.

Our readers will know all about the mystical ‘Tree of Life’ at the heart of our story and recorded in Charles Lamb’s journal.  Yggdrasil is an evergreen or fir tree and represents the essential role of trees in the continued survival of humanity on this planet. Trees are often said to be the ‘Lungs of the Earth’ so at a time when deforestation threatens the beauty of the Amazon rainforest isn’t it strange that a small fir tree has been found within the lungs of a man?

Reports claim that Artyom Sidorkin from Russia inhaled a seed which then sprouted inside him. After he complained of severe chest pains, doctors were convinced he had cancer after an X-Ray revealed what appeared to be a tumour. 

However when he operated, Dr Kamashev, thought he was hallucinating for growing inside Mr Sidorkin’s lungs was a 2 inch spruce!  He blinked three times as he was sure he was seeing things!

The presence of the tree is a real mystery as biologists say it is absolutely impossible for a green plant to grow from a seed inside a mans body; claiming that they need certain conditions -light, water and certain temperatures.  So, we have a person from Russia - home of the Samoyed tribe - operated on by a doctor whose names (Artyom and Kamashev) include the word HAYMAKERS!  It’s magic!

Celebrate for all we need is the ‘Air that We Breathe’….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMSAnZR2Q8Q

Posted in Q52 Do you believe in miracles?, Q54 Do you enjoy a bit of a mystery?, Q79 Have you ever looked into the shadows?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q43 Do you believe in happy endings?, Q41 Do you like surprises?, Q15 Do you sometimes fear the worst?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q21 Have you ever hugged a tree?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted? | No Comments »

12/04/2009 by admin.

“Be proud of your faith!” These were the words of Archbishop Vincent Nichols the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church spoken on a day of hope and renewal for Christians the world over.  His Easter message was especially interesting to Julia given Lucy Ebbs’ words to her through dreams recorded in our novel (eg see page 65), ”I need to tell you - you hold the key.  You must never break faith Julia. Can you promise me that?”

How curious then that the new archbishop said, “Be proud of your faith and don’t be afraid to live by it and act on it and be as deeply as rooted as you can in that faith and as open to the world as you can. We all need to take a bit more time to live life a bit more deeply, with a bit more reflection, a bit more spirit. We are so rushed.”

Readers of our novel will be familiar with the importance of the word, “rush” as part of an anagram key to the central message within it.  Perhaps its worth reminding ourselves of what happened in Julia’s dream immediately after she’d heard Lucy speak. Here’s the extract: “Julia looked at her cupped palms. Rotating within it was a tiny Earth - she literally had the whole world in her hands.”  

What does it all mean? Let’s have some music….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mmd83LIADnE

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q68 Does the Earth have a spirit?, Q52 Do you believe in miracles?, Q24 Do you get enough time to yourself?, Q22 Do you love our Earth? | No Comments »

26/03/2009 by admin.

Love is one of the key three themes embedded in our novel. But today we ask is there a cure for a broken heart?

 OR   ?

Why? The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has urged a radical change of heart in order to prevent runaway climate change. He said humanity should turn away from the selfishness and greed that leads it to ignore the interdependence with the natural world.  He warned that God would not guarentee a ‘happy ending’, saying, “God’s faithfulness stands, assuring us that even in the most appalling disaster love will not let us go - but it will not be a safety net that guarantees a happy ending in this world.”

Without a change of heart, Dr Williams warned, the world faced a number of “doomsday scenarios” including the “ultimate tragedy” of humanity gradually “choked, drowned, or starved by its own stupidity.” The poorest and most vulnerable and our children and grandchildren would pay the heaviest price for climate change, he added.

Given the spiritual nature running through our story and the curious numerous examples of coincidences we’ve witnessed since we began our Watch, we are moved to ask once more are we being warned by an unseen force of the need to act and do so now? Let us heed the final words in our book… in the footnotes, ‘Out of the depths I have cried unto the‘. You decide!

For now we ask, if Mother Nature could sing might she plead…

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

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q52 Do you believe in miracles?, Q43 Do you believe in happy endings?, Q22 Do you love our Earth?, Q15 Do you sometimes fear the worst? | No Comments »

15/01/2009 by admin.

The world has been marvelling at the miracle of US Airways Airus A320 which crash landed into the Hudson River after a flock of geese caused engine failure just 3 minutes after take off from La Gaurdia airport, New York. All 155 people on board survived whilst the experienced pilot - Captain Sullenberger -has been hailed as a hero for his prompt action and expert flying skills.   It’s the first time in 45 years that an airliner has crashed into water without loss of life - a truely remarkable escape for everyone on board. 

By a strange coincidence on the day when Mother Nature was responsible for bringing down an airplane the British government approved a 3rd runway at London’s Heathrow. 

Despite the rhetoric behind the decision, its ecological madness which will also lead to the demolition of the village of Sipson. 

Baa-humbug! At least there are some determined campaigners, including some celebrities, who have purchased some land in the proposed development area, which may hold things up for a while.

Any wonder that Mother Nature should intervene with kindness in an attempt to warn us to stop!  Even the Captain’s name fits - Sullenberger.  A warning about the hidden berg that we may, unwittingly, be on a collision course to strike. And, oddly, the plane hit the water just a couple of minutes before 3.33 New York time.

Time to celebrate a hero with the help of our X factor friends…

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=HiwwOttHuv0&feature=related

Posted in Q56 Do you believe rules are there to be broken?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q52 Do you believe in miracles?, Q29 Could you live without machines?, Q15 Do you sometimes fear the worst?, Q22 Do you love our Earth?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion? | No Comments »

04/01/2009 by admin.

A base jumper is lucky to be alive after his parachute failed while leaping from Melbourne’s EJ WHITTEN BRIDGE. 

Miraculously, the daredevil fell 100ft and survived only picking up injuries to his feet and ankles.   The paramedic at the scene said the man was ‘lucky to be alive’.  All very curious as this miracle occured at a place almost custom made to report a miracle under the Whittenbury Watch!  Are you a believer yet?

As for the bridge itself, its named after the Australian Football legend Ted Whitten. An extraordinary talent with superb all round skills, capable of kicking supremely well with both legs.  He was regarded as the greatest natural talent of his era in the 1950’s and 1960’s and bestowed with the title of Mr Football.

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q54 Do you enjoy a bit of a mystery?, Q52 Do you believe in miracles?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion? | 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 »

03/12/2008 by admin.

Stargazers have enjoyed the sight of a smiley face in the night sky.  An extremely rare positioning of Venus, Jupiter and a crescent moon provided a smiley face over Asia.  What a wonderful coincidence to have the crescent moon right beneath the two planets just as they appear close together in the night sky.   The next time the 3 will be this close together will be in 2054.

It’s amazing as the Moon, Venus and Jupiter all feature in our story, and the ‘magician’ chose to leave us a emoticon ’smiley face’ in one of his messages.  What’s more, the date of the event is curious too - the 3rd of the 12th - when our story is designed to promote 3 things - Art, Love and Nature - and the role of the 12 sacred stones in helping to reveal the wonder of the survey.  

There’s more magic to this life than we know! LOL!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=7ljA9y7QRF8&feature=related

MARCH OF THE INVADER ANTS

A recently discovered ant species, Lasius Neglectus, capable of forming supercolonies has begun to invade Northern Europe, including the UK.  Originating from Asia, a garden infested with them will contain between 10 to 100 times more ants than their European counterparts.  One of the species co-discoverers, Professor Jacobs from the University of Copenhagen, said, “When I first saw them I didn’t imagine it possible that so many ants on the same lawn.”  Perhaps Charles Lamb would have something to say about this given his encounter with ’super ants’ invading his boots just prior to the arrival of Malachi, the messenger.

Posted in Q70 Do you like to look at the stars?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q52 Do you believe in miracles?, Q39 Do you believe in magic?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q27 Do you like gardening?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted? | No Comments »

08/11/2008 by admin.

For one week only, the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral will be lit up was part of search for answers under, ‘The Question Mark Inside’ project to help celebrate the 300th anniversary of the completion of the topping out of the cathedral.  The project seeks to answer the question, “What are the things that make modern life worthwhile and what does St Paul’s Cathedral mean in that context?” A stream of possible answers will appear as text projections on parts of the Cathedral.  The projections will run from the 8th to the 15th of November.

Most curious given the reference to St Paul’s Cathedral in our tale and the role of questions in our story! It makes you think?

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q52 Do you believe in miracles?, Q.1 Does your life have a purpose? | No Comments »

21/10/2008 by admin.

We have an encore! A mysterious luminous fushia cloud appeared in the sky above London last night, turning the heads of amazed commuters.  Metrologists suggest that the pink cloud is simply a reflection of city lights on a low cloud against the background of a low sun.  Others suggest it’s the work of Breast Cancer Awareness - pink is their adopted colour and October is devoted to their campaign.  The proposal is they simply sent a beam of pink light into the sky.

None of these explanations are especially convincing.  We judge this the most amazing of all the signs from Mother Nature or a divine force of the need to change our behaviour. Why? In our story Charles Lamb’s journal opens in May with he and Lucy - Nature personified - sat upon Philosopher’s Point when he witnesses a rose cloud in the zenith. He tells Lucy it represents his undying love for her.  Prior to this he had speculated about adorning her way with petals from the Mayfair celebrations from the day before.  So, on the eve of the birthday of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, we have the spectacle of ‘The Rose Cloud over Mayfair’.     

For the benefit of the doubters, here’s the text verbatim (from page 227)! Remember - we published the book in May!  In the journal Charles wrote:

‘To convince her of my devotion, I searched the heavens for inspiration. Clouds drifted serenely from west to east, from whence it came; and ambassador of love.  “Lucy, open your eyes,” I enthused. “Look, directly above us - in the zenith.  There, the cloud, do you see it?” I asked.  In the heavens was an ancient symbol of love  - a rose in the shape of a cloud, as though sent to us as a gift from the Greek goddess, Aphrodite herself. “Mother Nature speaks,” she said. “Why it is the rose I vowed to thee, to honour our eternal love,” I claimed.  Lucy smiled. I kissed her. “hark, they call in celebration,” I cried, as a peel of bells rang out from the distant St John’s Church, Widford. “May this rose endure?” I called, with my arms outstretched.  “Do you wish it so, Charles?” she said, as I watched the rose travel across the sky. “I do.” Two little words that rang in my heart. “Then it shall be,” she claimed, but the shape of the cloud was soon lost.”

Surely, this is beyond coincidence? What’s more, the cloud appeared at 08:30pm for an hour or so before fading away, which is also very strange as there are 83 questions in ‘The Haymakers Survey.’  As the magician in our tale says, “I save the best ’till last”.

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Q52 Do you believe in miracles?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted? | No Comments »