08/08/2008 by admin.

A truely spectacular opening ceremony for the 23rd Olympic games has taken place in Beijing, China.  In Malachi’s words, “The World Games are well and truely open!” The ceremony began at 08:08 on the 8th of the 8th 2008 - or ‘Triple 8′ day. The number 8 is revered as a bringer of good fortune.  The ceremony occured just one day after the Chinese Valentine’s Day or the Qixi Festival, with the demand for red roses blooming!

The Double Seventh Festival comes with a legend:

‘A long time ago, there was an honest and kind-hearted fellow named Niu Lang (Cowhand). He married a fairy from heaven called Zhi Nu (Weaver Maid) who was in love with him and escaped from heaven to earth secretly. They lived a happy life and she gave birth to a boy and a girl.  Unfortunately, the God of Heaven soon found out the secret and the Queen Mother wanted to separate the couple. She used her gold hairpins and made a billowy river between them. The Cowhand and the Weaver Maid were separated on the two banks forever and could only feel their tears.   Finally, their loyalty to love touched the magpies, so tens of thousands of magpies came to build a bridge for the Cowhand and Weaver Maid to meet each other. The Queen Mother was eventually moved and allowed them to meet each year on the 7th of the 7th lunar month.’

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q61 Have you ever worn fancy dress?, Q47 Do you know your history?, Q25 Do you believe in fairies?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion? | No Comments »

11/07/2008 by admin.

The ancient art of mask changing has been brought to Liverpool to help celebrate the city’s Capital of Culture status.  The art of changing faces is wrapped in mystery and tradition. How do they do it?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7502126.stm

Our very own masked magician, ‘The Emperor’ would be most impressed.

Posted in Q61 Have you ever worn fancy dress?, Q39 Do you believe in magic?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you? | No Comments »

13/04/2008 by admin.

As recorded in our Watch from last year, the 2007 London Marathon was run in record heat.  This year the weather was much kinder to the runners and helped many to achieve personal bests.  The winner, Kenya’s Martin Lel, broke the course record - completing the 26 miles 386 yards in 2 hours, 5 minutes and 15 seconds. 

We love this event - it captures the very best of human nature with over 30,000 runners, many of whom were raising funds for charity.   Last year,  we likened participation in the event to the need for humans to rise to the challenges of responding to the needs of Mother Nature.  The same qualities are required - generosity of spirit, determination, self-sacrifice, unity, courage and hope.  It comes as no surprise to us that so many records were broken.  The message is clear - we need to act fast to preserve our natural world.  Even the event sponsors carry a heart logo.

The course also takes in some significant landmarks in ’The Haymakers Survey’ - the Cutty Sark and Big Ben; even Admiral Nelson from his elevated vantage point can probably catch sight of the participants.  Hats off to all the runners! Oh, by the way, Ben Whittingbury has commited to running next years event! Go Ben!

Posted in Q61 Have you ever worn fancy dress?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q18 Do you let your heart rule your head?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion?, Q.1 Does your life have a purpose? | No Comments »

03/12/2007 by admin.

A man in a bear suit has won this year’s Turner Prize. British artist, Mark Wallinger, submitted a film called Sleeper which shows him wandering a Berlin gallery for 10 days dressed as a bear.  Although this grabbed the headlines, he was short-listed for his work State Britain which was a recreation of the London Parliament protest of an anti-war campaigner.

The award comes a no surprise to us given Ben Whittenbury’s decision to purchase a polar bear outfit and use it to protest in Trafalgar Square and use it to promote our project.  

Another amazing dinosaur discovery. This time the find still has much of its soft tissue intact! Skin, muscles and tendon rarely survive fossilisation - but they have all been preserved in a specimen unearthed in North Dakota USA.  It’s a 67 million years old Hadrosaur.  

Posted in Q61 Have you ever worn fancy dress?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q51 Have you ever taken part in a protest?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion?, Q39 Do you believe in magic?, Q.2 Are you an art lover? | No Comments »

19/10/2007 by admin.

It’s official, bears really do love art! One of the contestants short-listed for this year’s Turner Prize dressed as a bear wandering about an art gallery.  Okay, it’s a brown, not a polar bear but the point is made and the coincidence uncanny! Did the bear take a look at George Stubbs’ Haymakers by chance?

Elephants are at it too! At a Safari park in Worcestershire an African elephant named Five astonished her keepers when she picked up a paintbrush left in her enclosure. She even paints on demand!  Isn’t this curious?  

Posted in Q61 Have you ever worn fancy dress?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion?, Q.2 Are you an art lover? | Comments Off