18/02/2010 by admin.

We have another example of a lamb with extraordinary markings that can readily be linked to our project. Our readers will know how in Charles Lamb’s journal the boxer Bill Richmond teaches Charles Lamb to defend himself and toughen up for the challenges ahead on the understanding that someone tasked with helping to care for Mother Nature needs to be ready for the fight (pages 255-256). Well take a look at this little fella born 5 days ago on a farm in Durham…

He’s been named Miyagi after fictional martial arts expert Mr Miyagi from the Karate Kid films, he was born five days ago with a thick belt of black wool around his middle. A Lamb with a fighting flare - the little Haymaker!  Farmer William Herbert said:

‘I’ve been farming for over 50 years but I’ve never seen anything like this before. Some lambs have a spot of discoloured wool, but it’s very unusual to see a  full thick stripe. It goes all the way around. It looks like I’ve gone out to him with a paint brush.

‘He’s one of a set of triplets but he won’t be treated any differently to his  brother and sister. They don’t have any markings on them – he’s the odd one out.’

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q35 Do you trust your instincts?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted? | No Comments »

20/12/2009 by admin.

The icy spell across Europe has brought travel misery to thousands of passengers using the Eurostar between London and Paris. A number of trains have broken down due to the difference in temperature outside the tunnel and within. Many have endured extremely long and uncomfortable journeys and we feel for their plight.

So, what does this have to do with our Watch we hear you ask? Simple really - maybe its Mother Nature’s way of drawing everyone’s attention to the role of the star in revealing the hidden message in ‘The Haymakers Survey’.  In our story, the star is at the centre of the unveiling of the key message - see page 198. What’s to follow we wonder?

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Star Question - what happened to the blue ribbon?, Q70 Do you like to look at the stars?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q.9 Do you feel in control of your life? | No Comments »

17/12/2009 by admin.

A first edition of Lewis Carroll’s classic book “Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There”,  dedicated to the real life Alice who inspired the story has sold at a U.S. auction for $115,000.

Southern California-based Profiles in History said the book, the sequel to “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland“, was the highlight of its children’s literature sale. “Through the Looking Glass“, published in 1871, includes the nonsense poem “Jabberwocky.” Both works were inspired by 10 year-old Alice Liddell, the daughter of an academic friend of Carroll’s. The edition is inscribed in ink “Alice Pleasance Liddell”, and was described as having been presented to her by Carroll.

Okay - we need to offer another explanation on how this links to our novel. Our very own Eath Detective - Sarah Whittenbury - examines a magic circle drawn in the soil before the ’Web of Life’ through her looking glass (pages 162 - 164).  She discovers a frozen tear! Is this a reminder to humanity - a message to let us know what’s really going on. That a state of emergency is being declared for the web of life is in peril!  

Posted in Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q79 Have you ever looked into the shadows?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q57 Have you ever spied on anyone?, Q54 Do you enjoy a bit of a mystery?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted?, Q22 Do you love our Earth?, Q.3 Do you have a good imagination? | No Comments »

05/12/2009 by admin.

Some 40,000 people gathered in London today to send a message to world leaders gathering in Copenhagen about the need for action on climate change.  Replicating his presence at a similar event recorded in our novel, Ben Whittenbury joined them in his polar bear outfit.  Ben, Julia and Sarah enjoyed taking part in the ‘blue human wave’.  Sarah loved the open top bus and the many blue ribbon’s waved truimphantly from it. All in all a happy event with a serious message.

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

Perhaps the organisers, and the PM Gordon Brown, were inspired by our novel - and page 183 in particular! Go take a look it includes the vision of the ‘wave’ symbolising predicted sea level rises and the blue ribbon which features to illustrate our fragile world - just ask Dr Mark Penning, President of WAZA for confirmation on how perilous things are!  

Remember people -we’re not one to gloat but we did after all receive the coverted ‘Blue Ribbon Award’ for our efforts.  Finally, page 183 also includes a reference to the ‘Flat Earth Society’ to illustrate how people often only grasp the truth when there’s tangible visible and physical evidence! Trouble is we’re at the point of no return! Its all a matter of faith. Bring on the magic fairy dust?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSIvZXuoj2s

Posted in Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Star Question - what happened to the blue ribbon?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q61 Have you ever worn fancy dress?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q25 Do you believe in fairies?, Q35 Do you trust your instincts?, Q51 Have you ever taken part in a protest?, Q22 Do you love our Earth? | No Comments »

03/12/2009 by admin.

In Argentina politicians have pushed, punched and thrown chairs at each other in a heated session to choose the president of a northern province’s lower house.  The scuffle broke out when legislators tried to stop opposition lawmakers from entering the parliamentary session. The scenes, which led to 10 politicians being injured, were caught on camera.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8392249.stm

We see this a significant in the run up to Copenhagen - for differing opinions are likely to emerge. So much is at stake so who knows what spoilling tactics might take place to try to persuade the populise of the right and just action based on the evidence.  Perhaps this helps explain why Charles Lamb’s journal records the Justice Chair - with its runic carving - upon which Samuel Coleridge recites his famous poetry watched secretly by the excluded Lucy Ebbs - Mother Nature personified.  Do you believe in Justice?

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q26 Do you take poetry seriously?, Q11 Do you believe in justice? | No Comments »

30/11/2009 by admin.

Heavy rain and winds have felled the House of Commons Christmas tree from its perch under Big Ben.  The 50ft tree was dislodged yesterday but contractors failed to get it back up and were scrambling to do so today. The tree is traditionally donated by the Forestry Commission from a sustainable forest. A Commons spokeswoman said: “The tree has been dislodged only once whilst it was in the process of being erected. Heavy wind and rain is thought to be the main cause. There is no risk to the public.”

Curious that this should happen outside Parliament and beneath Big Ben, given the importance of the evergreen Tree of Life named Yggdrasil in our tale. Our readers will know that the tree is also dubbed ‘The Goblin Tree’ because despite its benevolent nature the tree actually hosts our darkest fears.  In our story Lucy Ebbs warns that should it tumble then life is becoming out of balance with potential serious adverse consequences. Mmmn… but its only a tale.

Posted in Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Q67 Have you ever decorated a tree?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q15 Do you sometimes fear the worst?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted? | No Comments »

10/11/2009 by admin.

In Brazil some are blaming an intense concentration of lightening, rain and wind near Itaipu for triggering a huge blackout - possible the world’s worst ever - which covered half of the country. Some 800 cities were without power for around 3 hours, including Rio de Janiero and Sao Paulo.  Power supplies have been a sensitive issue in Brazil since blackout in 2001 and 2002 affected large parts of the country - although nothing on this scale. In response Brazil has invested millions in improving the electricity infrastructure which has prompted many to seek answers about the blackout - with a potential cause being the failure of 3 high-tension transmission lines.

Well, how about our explanation for the massive and mysterious blackout - Mother Nature has intervened to warn us in the run up to COP 15 that we need to change our ways! Why are we so confident - simples! Our novel includes an account of how an intense storm caused a blackout at Keeper’s Cottage, which prompts Ben Whittenbury to ponder life prior to the industrial revolution and the value of a life lead in harmony with Nature, exemplified by The Haymakers painting by George stubbs.  And, what better place to host a blackout than in Brazil - home of the Amazon Rainforest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wd7aWWTnrAc

Posted in Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q79 Have you ever looked into the shadows?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q54 Do you enjoy a bit of a mystery?, Q32 Are you afraid of the dark?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted?, Q23 Do you believe all the laws of physics?, Q29 Could you live without machines?, Q.9 Do you feel in control of your life? | No Comments »

07/11/2009 by admin.

We’re delighted to report that the British heavyweight boxer David Haye has enjoyed an incredible ‘against the odds’ truimph over the 7ft plus Russian giant, Nikolai Valuev.  The Londoner was 11 inches shorter and 7 stone lighter than his opponent. The bout went the full 12 rounds with David winning on points. He becomes the first British heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis retired in 2003.  The victorious boxer described his victory as a ‘dream come true’.

We see this as a message of hope in the run up to the climate change conference in Copenhagen. Why? As mentioned in an earlier posting, the boxer is nicknamed The Hayemaker!  Well our story records how the black boxer Bill Richmond, the unofficial world champion from the 18th century, participated in the Blakesware Set and was dubbed ‘The Haymaker’ by the Duke of Wellington.  Bill had a symbolic role in the direction of the Blakesware Set - take a look at the rear of our journal extract. http://www.thehaymakerssurvey.com/Journal.php  proclaiming ‘Now is the time for action, set Mother Nature free’. 

World leaders at COP 15 take note - this is Haymaker magic! As William Wordsworth says in the video, “Don’t throw away this chance” - search for the specific video  http://www.youtube.com/cop15 

Posted in Q80a Do you keep a diary?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q54 Do you enjoy a bit of a mystery?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion? | No Comments »

02/11/2009 by admin.

Our readers will know all about how our novel poses the question - “do we have the X factor?” That is do we (humanity) have what it takes to preserve our natural world or are we simply too selfish and greedy a species to merit our position as alpha species for very much longer?  Well we’ve seen a number of examples on this Watch of events linked to this point (just enter X factor in the search function below). 

Today we have another example to reveal: at the heart of arguably one of Europe’s busiest shopping streets a giant X has appeared in the road. Its a new pedestrian crossing at Oxford Circus based on designs from Tokyo which allows people to cross diagonally as well as straight across. 

So in these hey days of consumption we wonder whether the large X at the centre of a shoppers paradise is in reality a poser for humanity! 

Posted in Q36 Should a good life cost the Earth?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q34 Have you ever restored something?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q.8 Do you crave a better life?, Q.3 Do you have a good imagination? | No Comments »

26/10/2009 by admin.

This year’s 12 X-Factor finalists include the very talented Lucie Jones.  At the weekend during a live performance on the show of the song ‘My Funny Valentine’ a rose coloured petal landed on her head.  During the judges comments, Simon Cowell told her she had the petal in her hair so she could remove it. 

Its another example of world events linked to the name Lucy that relate to our story.  Its a remarkable coincidence given Charles Lamb begins his journal with an account of how he would lay down a path of flowers for his beloved Lucy! (page 225).  What’s more, later in the journal Charles reveals how he receives a Valentine’s message - presumably from Lucy. (page 382).  Here’s the performance with the petal in her hair (see 3.33) on the video…

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

Another curious link is Charles’ dream (page 444) about ‘Footprints in the sand’ and how Lucy walks barefeet along the sandbanks of the Nimley Bourne (page 408) to show that ‘humanity is out of step with nature - that we walk with heavy laboured steps.  Our curiosity is simple since ‘Footprints in the sand’ was Lucie Jones’ debut song on the X Factor.  Also, in week 2 of the show Lucie sang ‘How will I know’ which is about finding out if she is loved!  So the big question for us is do we love Mother Nature enough?

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q.8 Do you crave a better life?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion? | No Comments »