03/07/2009 by admin.

We’ve previously commented on the sad death of Michael Jackson, the ‘King of Pop’ and how the star linked with our story.  Well given the reference Sara made to Neverland and the ghost seen by Ben and recorded in Charles Lamb’s journal, we were curious about the mounting speculation about a ghostly shadowed figure seen during a CNN tour of the popstar’s former residence. 

There may well be a logical explanation but it makes for fascinating viewing….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Am67-Sew7k&feature=related

Posted in Q62a Is life logical?, Q79 Have you ever looked into the shadows?, Q59 Do you like surprises?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q.6 Do you believe in fairy tales?, Q10 Have you ever seen a ghost?, Q.3 Do you have a good imagination? | No Comments »

27/06/2009 by admin.

The Royal Academy of Arts is presenting an exhibition of the works of the critically acclaimed artist J W Waterhouse.  The collection of public and private works is the first of its kind since the 1970s.  The wonderful collection includes ‘The Lady of Shalott’ a work close to the heart of Ben and Julia Whittenbury as described in the conclusion of our free online novel sample. 

The exhibition is another strange coincidence which seems to vindicate Ben’s claim that Julia has a kind of ‘third eye’ although Julia is too conceited to admit to her insightful abilities.

Ben and Julia plan to visit and have until mid-September to do so. Why not pay the Academy a visit? Here’s the link to relevant page on their website:

http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/waterhouse/

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q42 Do you enjoy drawing?, Q.6 Do you believe in fairy tales?, Q.2 Are you an art lover? | No Comments »

15/05/2009 by admin.

Norway has emerged victorious with record 387 points in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. Singer and violinist Alexander Rybak romped home with the simple high-energy ditty ‘Fairytale.’  He wrote the song himself saying, ”I had a story to tell and I guess people liked that story.”

Coincidental then given the role of the Scandanavian, Hans Christian Anderson, in our story and his fairytale telling.  We also have the ‘Shadows’ poem, which was all about belief in fairies! Above all, we have the presence of Yggdrasil - the magical tree of life from the forests of Norway. Clap hands if you believe!

Congratulations Alexander. Sarah really likes the song. Here’s the winning performance…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8JRtGMBUz0&feature=related

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q25 Do you believe in fairies?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion?, Q.6 Do you believe in fairy tales? | No Comments »

18/02/2009 by admin.

Congratulations to debut author Michelle Harrison. She has been named winner of the Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize with her book ‘The 13 Treasures’. 

Michelle won £5,000 at an award ceremony in London, which was delightful given her work was initially rejected by several publishers. The novel is set to charm and enthral a generation of readers and has drawn comparisons with the Brothers Grimm.  The book’s been described as ‘an inventive story that makes you glad you can’t see fairies.’

So, we have an author who shares the same surname as one of The Beatles receiving recognition for a novel about fairies! And is there not a reference in our tale to the work of the Brothers Grimm too?

Maybe her success was meant to be…

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

Posted in Q25 Do you believe in fairies?, Q.6 Do you believe in fairy tales?, Q.5 Do you believe in fate? | No Comments »

10/02/2009 by admin.

Arctic unicorns - more commonly known as Narwhal -  have been captured on camera for the first time from the air during their summer migration.  The elusive Narwal are sometimes called Arctic unicorns because of the long spiral tusk that protudes from their jaw.  The whales were filmed by a BBC crew as they navigated through cracks in the melting sea ice. 

The producer, Justin Anderson, said capturing the footage was, “like finding a needle in a haystack. It was an amazing sight. These creatures are just so completely unreal - they are just like something from mythology.”   The footage will be shown on ‘The Great Melt’ on BBC1 on 11 February.

Our interest is simple.  Charles Lamb’s journal records how, when discussing the purpose of the lion head statue in the Wildeness Garden at Blakesware Manor, Captain Lewin told him that, “It was either a lion or a unicorn, but the lion beat the unicorn all around the town.”  Is the footage a covert reminder to humanity about the treat posed by the potential melting of ice sheets on Greenland and Antarctica?

Interestingly, this is the second reference to a unicorn we’ve witnessed in our Watch - see post for 12 June 2008 for details.

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q.6 Do you believe in fairy tales? | 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 »

12/06/2008 by admin.

The unicorn has always been a creature of mythology. Well, in a nature preserve in the Tuscan town of Prato, near Rome, visitors are amazed to see fantasy become reality. Okay, the animal is a deer with a single horn at the centre of its head.   Experts say, single horn deer are rare, but one with a horn exactly in the centre seems almost unique.  Take a look:

This is yet another ’Haymakers’ curiosity given that, when discussing the lion head statue, Captain Lewin told Charles Lamb,”it was either a lion or a unicorn, but the lion beat the unicorn all around the town.”  Most odd!

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q68 Does the Earth have a spirit?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted?, Q.6 Do you believe in fairy tales? | No Comments »

10/06/2008 by admin.

Hot on the heels of the Paddington Bear celebrations is a story about another animal that has a fondness for wellington boots.  Bizarrely, a North Yorkshire piglet called Cinders has an aversion to mud.  In desperation, her owners provided her with some specially made wellies. She loves them and now happily walks in the mire. Bless her!

Now, if our memory serves us well, this is the same breed of pig that had a lovely heart shaped marking on it last year.  Curious all this given Ben’s wish to restore the pig sties at Noblin Green farm to their former glory.  

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q43 Do you believe in happy endings?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted?, Q.6 Do you believe in fairy tales? | No Comments »

23/04/2008 by admin.

A pocket full of posies, atishoo, atishoo we all fall down! Readers of ‘The Haymakers Survey’ will know the significance of the rhyme in helping to open eyes and see the big picture.  Curious then that we have discovered an amazing video of a baby panda sneezing: the panda being the adopted logo of the World Wide Fund for Nature.

baby_panda_sneeze.wmv

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q41 Do you like surprises?, Q.6 Do you believe in fairy tales?, Q.1 Does your life have a purpose? | No Comments »

30/03/2008 by admin.

Leona Lewis, winner of the 2006 edition of the X-Factor talent show, has become the first British female solo artist to top the US pop charts in over 20 years with her song Bleeding Love.  She becomes only the third British female in chart history to manage the feat.  Curious this as early in our account of events in ‘The Haymakers Survey’ we asked whether we - the human race - have what it takes to tackle the environmental issues we now face? Do we have the X Factor? This is the promotional video…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF84pIhP5UM

So far there have been over 37 million viewings - fairy tales do come true! Strange too that the lyrics themselves could almost be a plea from Mother Nature herself!

Posted in Q52 Do you believe in miracles?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q47 Do you know your history?, Q43 Do you believe in happy endings?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion?, Q.6 Do you believe in fairy tales? | No Comments »